The modern golfing landscape is changing and I fear that the governing association and clubs are not changing with it.
I don't think the present day golfer (excluding us old fart traditionalists) wants to pay $1500 per year to play golf at the same club for 12 months and then do it all over again the following year. Golfers these days want the flexibility to play numerous courses and at the same time play competitively and our current governing body does not provide for this with a 100 year traditionalist system......change is needed.
Add to this the fact that many golf clubs now occupy very valuable developement land which as a golf course is being under utilised.
I just hope in the long term we don't revert back to the bad old days where golf was only for the wealthy.
BruDi said
01:45 PM Sep 19, 2019
My goodness Montie, $1500 is cheap.
Di
montie said
02:40 PM Sep 19, 2019
BruDi wrote:
My goodness Montie, $1500 is cheap.
Di
That's membership for our club on the Sunshine Coast.
That's the lowest up here with average probably around $3500 but they are all struggling.
Social golfing groups is becoming more popular.
Wizardofoz said
09:45 AM Sep 20, 2019
You are right Montie, I reside for 7 months in Qld (Port Douglas) and 5 months in NSW (Kiama).
I belong to Kiama Golf Club because membership is $700, but I only play about 25 rounds there, I play about 70 rounds in Port Douglas but membership is $3000 and they wont let me have a 6 month membership so I just pay $300 for a gold pass and pay 1/2 price for all games plus 10% discount on all purchases at the club, admittedly, it would be cheaper to pay the mebership fee,but as I am unsure of whether I can make it back each year because of my wifes health...I dont become a full time member.
Despite several requests, the club wont offer me or anybody a shorter term membership, it seems to me, an unreasonable decision but then again, the course is owned by Clive Palmer!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 20th of September 2019 09:49:00 AM
ANOTHER REGIONAL GOLF CLUB CLOSES
After almost 90 years, the Mendooran Golf Club closed its doors on the weekend.
In a sign of solidarity, 11 golfers from Dunedoo travelled to Mendooran to play one final round with their neighbours.
It's brought up a lot of reminiscing from locals and concern for the future of other smaller golf clubs in NSW.
Almost 100 golf clubs across the country are on the brink of financial collapse following two decades of declining memberships.
Mendooran is a small country course with sand type greens. It is a shame to see it and many other that have already closed.
Including some top class course like North Lakes Golf Club to the north of Brisbane.
I am a member of the O.B.E club (over bloody eighty) and I play 18 holes twice a week. Hope to do so for many more years to come
We at the Riverlakes Golf club in Logan City Brisbane region, are so far one of the lucky ones.
Our Veteran's Club has grown from some 30 players back in say 2008 to now where we see around 100 players teeing it up every Tuesday.
New owners are making improvements every month.
further article below for those avid golfers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-10/golf-club-membership-in-decline-across-australia/11209234
Golf is a game to be played and very rarely won.
Jay&Dee
I don't think the present day golfer (excluding us old fart traditionalists) wants to pay $1500 per year to play golf at the same club for 12 months and then do it all over again the following year. Golfers these days want the flexibility to play numerous courses and at the same time play competitively and our current governing body does not provide for this with a 100 year traditionalist system......change is needed.
Add to this the fact that many golf clubs now occupy very valuable developement land which as a golf course is being under utilised.
I just hope in the long term we don't revert back to the bad old days where golf was only for the wealthy.
Di
That's membership for our club on the Sunshine Coast.
That's the lowest up here with average probably around $3500 but they are all struggling.
Social golfing groups is becoming more popular.
You are right Montie, I reside for 7 months in Qld (Port Douglas) and 5 months in NSW (Kiama).
I belong to Kiama Golf Club because membership is $700, but I only play about 25 rounds there, I play about 70 rounds in Port Douglas but membership is $3000 and they wont let me have a 6 month membership so I just pay $300 for a gold pass and pay 1/2 price for all games plus 10% discount on all purchases at the club, admittedly, it would be cheaper to pay the mebership fee,but as I am unsure of whether I can make it back each year because of my wifes health...I dont become a full time member.
Despite several requests, the club wont offer me or anybody a shorter term membership, it seems to me, an unreasonable decision but then again, the course is owned by Clive Palmer!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 20th of September 2019 09:49:00 AM