RECORD OF THE FORUM HELD ON 3 NOVEMBER 2006 AT MINCHINHAMPTON GOLF CLUB
The inaugural forum on the County Golf Partnership was recently attended by representatives from a number of Gloucestershire golf clubs. The purpose of the evening at Minchinhampton Golf Club was to give the clubs information on the County Golf Partnership, the strategies at national level and to give the delegates the opportunity to put their ideas and questions to the Steering Group prior to a Development Plan being compiled. Copies of the presentations, plus relevant leaflets regarding development initiatives were given to all the delegates for future reference. It was emphasised that the Partnership valued the input from the clubs and that the Development Plan would place a great deal of importance on the points raised at club level.
Full details of the topics discussed can be found on the Gloucestershire Golf Union website (www.gloucestershiregolfunion.co.uk) and the Gloucestershire Ladies County Golf Association website (www.glcga.co.uk). A new County Golf Partnership website (www.gloucestershiregolfpartnership.org) is currently under construction and will contain all information on the partnership in due course.
The main areas that were highlighted by the delegates were as follows:
· Communication should improve between clubs, school, county, external agencies and National Governing Bodies
· Assistance from the National Governing Bodies in respect of recruitment, retention and development
· Time restrictions on members in respect of playing and volunteering
· Legislation in terms of child protection and equity issues
· Recognition and training of volunteers
· Cost of joining and maintaining membership of golf clubs
· Restrictive dress codes
· More encouragement required for beginners of all ages and adult-specific initiatives
· More family orientation/social aspects of clubs need to be emphasised
The Steering Group will meet on 1 December to discuss the results of the forum and to agree the next steps prior to compiling the Development Plan, which is aimed to be launched in February 2007.
RECORD OF THE FORUM HELD ON 3 NOVEMBER 2006 AT MINCHINHAMPTON GOLF CLUB
The forum opened with the Chairman of the Partnership, Don Harmer, welcoming all of the club delegates. He outlined that the purpose of the evening was to give the Gloucestershire clubs information on the County Golf Partnership, the strategies at national level and to give the delegates the opportunity to put their ideas and questions to the Steering Group prior to the Development Plan being compiled.
The national overview, covering Golf England, the Whole Sport Plan and the initiatives for development was presented by Sharon Heeley, the English Golf Union/English Ladies Golf Association Regional Development Officer. The detail on the progress of Gloucestershire and the benefits of the County partnership to the clubs was presented by Ros Ewer, the County Development Officer. The role of the PGA in the success of a Golf Partnership was emphasised by James Latham, County PGA coach from Cotswold Hills. Copies of the presentations, plus relevant leaflets regarding development initiatives were given to all the delegates for future reference.
One of the most important parts of the forum was to encourage the delegates to interact in seven group discussions and then give feedback to the forum on their ideas in respect of the questions posed to the groups. It was emphasised that the Partnership valued the input from the clubs and that the Development Plan would place a great deal of importance on the points raised at club level. The aim of the Steering Group was to reflect the specific needs and requirements at local level, whilst still mirroring the national strategy.
The findings from the discussions were recorded by each group in no particular order of precedence. The details have been copied into this record and are enclosed on separate pages for each discussion group below.
Group discussion points raised
Group One. ‘ How do we raise the profile of golf clubs within the community?’
1. Get a working group, including the professional, to discuss, and agree the approach.
Also need to pick the right person to present the club.
2. Clubs could adopt primary schools within their area and have representatives to
Liaise with the school, delivering Tri-Golf or other opportunities to learn the game.
3. Work with the Local Authority/Council to use available land as an academy to give
an introduction to golf to schools.
4. Advertise in local papers, magazines, on local radio, use posters.
5. Ask existing members to introduce a friend or group to a taster session – then
follow up.
6. Get club reports/results into the local press.
7. Organise taster sessions, offer loan equipment utilise the clubhouse facilities (such
As the bar) so that newcomers see the full range of facilities available.
8. Send leaflets to organisations such as the WI, Rotary Clubs etc…Emphasise the
social aspects of clubs, try to make people feel comfortable with the facilities
available,dispel ideas that golf is elitist and that it is available to all.
9. Hold Open Days aimed at family participation, emphasising ‘fun’.
Group 2. ‘What are the barriers to volunteering and how can we break them down?’
1. Most people are at golf clubs for leisure.
2. Most people have very busy lives outside of golf.
3. Legislation concerns volunteers.
4. Child protection issues inhibit volunteers.
5. Carping from non-volunteers to volunteers.
6. Disinterest from committees.
7. There is a need to open up the timings and days of meetings.
8. Discount on subscriptions could be attract volunteers.
9. Proprietary clubs need to overcome the reluctance of owners to spend money.
10. Face to face recruitment.
11. The roles need to have specific criteria so that volunteers know what they are
expected to do.
12. The length of service on committee needs to be clearly defined.
13 Look outside of the club membership for volunteers that have specific skills.
14. Volunteers should shadow the previous incumbent so that they have a good
understanding of what is expected of them when they take up the role.
15. Early responsibility for juniors – keeps them involved with the club.
16. Too much red tape on qualifications (such as time as a member).
17. Too much work involved in a volunteer role.
18. Possessiveness of current incumbents can inhibit new volunteers.
Group 3. ‘What steps can we take to increase participation in golf (all ages)?’
1. Members should actively encourage juniors.
2. Put in a system to encourage new members.
3. Advertise in the local community (eg hairdressers, other sports clubs)
4. Starter courses for beginners should be put on.
5. Have starter facilities for beginners.
6. Encourage family memberships.
7. Attract society players to become members.
8. Encourage existing members to bring non-members to the club.
9. Have flexible subscription options.
10. Have a national communication of golf facilities.
11. Run a roadshow for local companies.
12. Attract younger volunteers to relate to juniors.
13. Have company days that cater for non-golfers as well as golfers.
14. Operate joint club initiatives to share the cost of facilities.
15. Relax the dress codes.
Group 4. ‘ How can we attract 20-40 year-olds to the game and retain their
interest?’
1. Have flexible financial arrangements for subscriptions.
2. Have advertising campaigns immediately following big competitions (eg Ryder/
Solheim/Curtis Cups ).
3. Consider 9-hole handicaps and competitions.
4. Hold more competitions for non-club members.
5. Advertise that you do not need to be a member of a club to have a handicap (eg
EGU/ELGA Associate membership)
6. Relax dress codes, particularly with respect to the necessity of having golf shoes
from the start.
7. Hold more competitions open to ladies at weekends to attract the career women.
8. Stress the social side of golf.
9. Have more Par 3 courses and focus on family participation.
10. Abolish joining fees.
Group 5. ‘What do you consider the role of the golf professional to be in developing
and retaining members?’
1. The pro is pivotal as he/she is usually the first point of contact for newcomers.
2. His/Her attitude has to be enthusiastic, warm and welcoming as they present the
first and lasting impression that is formed when people first approach a club.
3. He/She is a salesperson for the game, influencing new players and promoting all
aspects of the game.
4. A key role that should be central in the communication chain from club
Administrators
5. Should your pro be on your committee?
Group 6. ‘What are the barriers to membership and how can we break them
down?’
1. Cost: joining fees, transition from junior/colt/student to full.
2. Is a members’ club a business?
3. Clubhouse Dress Code: fashion? Jacket and tie is a stuffy image and there is
inconsistency from club to club.
4. Catchment area: geography, socio-economic type and age profiles
5. Protectionism/fear: not prepared to take on ‘different’ members. Snobby ‘don’t
want those’ attitudes etc…Access.
6. Juniors: location implications such as travel, transport, access. Fashionability of
the sport versus other sports such as football, rugby etc…Get the other sports
bodies/celebrities to promote golf. Lack of time for golf versus other sports, study
pressure. Maintaining affordable membership when into intermediate period (further
education early years in employment) – this area loses a larger number of girls than boys.
The perceived ‘inconvenience’ to adult members at weekends and in adult competitions.
Commitment of committees to juniors.
7. Ladies: Most competitions in the week, restricted at weekends. Work and children
restrict ability to commit to full participation. Tradition still dominates organisation of
ladies sections. The male mindset and domination, plus discrimination deters ladies. The
age group of ladies sections tends to be over 60, thus not appealing to the younger
generation. Competition structures can be restrictive (such as qualification into
knockouts).
8. Men: Clubs offering 5-day memberships to full-time workers are not being
helpful. The need to have proposers and seconders puts people off. The dress code is
off-putting and wives and girlfriends are not always made to feel welcome. People are
put off by restrictions on such items as mobile phones in the club.
Group 7 ‘ What added value can the County Golf Partnership bring to the county?’
1. It has improved and will improve further communications between clubs, the
county and the national governing bodies. By ensuring that the information is passed
both up and down the chain, it can ensure that no ideas are overlooked and that assistance
can be given at local levels.
2. Outside of the golf environment, it can communicate the sport to industry and
schools, as well as liaising with local authorities for use of facilities.
3. It can help to identify and share best practices.
4. It can promote college courses for golf, giving details to those at club level.
5. It can coordinate and assist with funding of PGA Level 1 for volunteers, thus
assisting professionals and providing better qualified and motivated volunteers.
6. It can encourage interest at all levels.
7. The promotion of development initiatives and mirroring development officers at
club level can help to give a more structured approach by clubs to achieving more players
and sustained membership numbers.
8. It can encourage corporate organisations to promote golf and advise on corporate
memberships so that people can try the game at a more affordable cost (wetting appetites
for future full memberships).
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