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I suspect most of you are members of a golf club, but there is definitely a growing trend of women choosing a different path. More and more new players are opting for things like pay-and-play, joining a society, or finding a local community group instead of committing to a club. The cost of membership is an issue, especially when women work or have children. As a long-time member myself, I get it. My own club subs are due on 1st September, and I've been doing the maths and asking myself, have I really played enough this year to justify the cost? Honestly? Definitely not. PGA Professional Katie Dawkins uses a club’s facilities to coach, but she has no intention of joining a golf club and shares her 7 reasons (and probably those of others) in this article. Cost is one of them. She might consider an affiliate or off-peak membership if such a thing was available. I agree that golf clubs should reconsider their membership structure if they want to attract more working women or those with a young family. Katie likes the idea of a flexible membership, which would appeal to the more casual nomadic golfer and most likely a younger demographic. If I had my time again, I’m not sure that I would join a golf club. Don’t get me wrong, when I wasn’t a full-time member, I missed my friends and the Saturday routine that I’d always had, but that’s many years in the making and I’m not going to change that. Other options, like those I’ve mentioned above, weren’t available to me back then. Yes, there were pay-and-play courses, but I would have been playing on my own! There were no communities of female golfers, or the number of simulator venues that we have nowadays to enjoy the game. I had to join a golf club and it felt compulsory to get a handicap and play in competitions. It’s a real shame because many clubs are continuing to cry out for female members because over the years, women’s sections have shrunk and numbers are not being replenished. As Katie also points out, the way the World Handicap System works frustrates golfers and for many it has made it less enticing to go down the competitive route. I see this at my club, fewer women wanting to enter the weekly competitions. Culture has changed so much, and some golf clubs really need to catch up. A lot of women who are new to the game might not be interested in the competitive side of golf, but they absolutely want a great cup of coffee and some good food options after their round. Even better, a club with a gym on-site suddenly becomes much more valuable. Of course, not every club has the space or the budget for new facilities, but it’s all food for thought for clubs looking to grow and evolve. Happy golfing! By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly |
