These car park golfers turn up, change in the car park and go out and play. Let's get it straight, I've no issue with golfers going out as early as possible in the summer light. I'm a firm believer in golf being as accessible as possible and if you have work or family commitments then getting out as and when you can to get your fix is fine by me.
However I do have issues. I have never seen these guys use the clubhouse after their round. They don't even use the changing rooms afterwards. Changing in the car park is against the rules at most clubs, but why bother having these in place if they are never enforced. These guys never step into the 19th for a drink and literally put their clubs in the car, put their shoes on and drive home.
Do golf clubs really need members like this? Granted they do supply the club with a annual revenue stream with their annual subs, but after that what value do they get or do they give the club. From personal experience, these guys never play in club competitions. How can they when the pro shop is closed and they can't pick up their cards? This begs another question. How do they keep an active handicap if they are off so early and never in any club event. Is there any point having a handicap at all if you are never going to test it?
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| Car park golfers - do we need them? |
While I accept that in these challenging times golf clubs need each and every member they can get to balance the books, does a car park member really help? My argument is no. Until last year, the club had a bar levy. Only £50 but on a use it or lose it basis. Come the final weeks of the year, the bar would suddenly have a run on members trying to buy copious bottles of wine to use up their levy. Now call me mercenary, but if you can't spend £4.17 per month in the bar after playing then what is the point in being a member. What exactly are you getting for your membership that you wouldn't get at a local pay and play, arguably at a cheaper cost than your annual subs.
These golfers, and it isn't just at my club, give nothing. If there are ten of them that go out each weekend at first light, and each was to come back into the clubhouse for half a pint or a soft drink at say £1.50 a go, then that is £15 per week. Multiply that by say 50 weeks per year, allowing for holiday or the course being shut for inclement weather, and that is £750 per annum that group has added. Granted it won't go far but how many members does your club have? If you add all these groups of ten up, these £750's mount.
It isn't just weekends either. As you may have grasped by now, I'm a bit of a fanatical golfer. I've been known to hit the practice ground for an hour before going to work. In the week, there are still cars in the car park and evidence of golfers on the course so it isn't a weekend epidemic. Whenever I've taken a day off, and I'm out and about on the putting game, short game area etc. I've watched golfers do exactly the same thing. They come off the course, jump in the car and shoot off home. Surely if you don't work you have time to saunter in for a coffee or a swift half. Even if you are going into the office after your game, then a drink, and maybe a sandwich is going to help you feel more refreshed and in better shape to deal with the challenges to come.
It isn't even the fact that they aren't buying a drink. More hope of England or Team GB winning a penalty shoot-out than these car parkers buying food. As anyone who has had dealing with golf club administration will know, the catering, whether in house or franchised out, has a big impact on the annual outgoings and the final profit and loss figure. These guys make zero contribution. Now I'm not one of these guys that will eat regularly, but I play in club matches, for a match fee, attend events like Captain's day etc and so feel I do "my bit."
I'm pretty certain, these guys would be hard pressed to point out the club vice-captain, members of the board or even the current club champion in an ID parade. That is my next point. While it's great to play with the same gang of friends, surely golf is so much more than that and gives a unique opportunity to meet other people and compete on a level playing field. How can you do that if you never play matches, competitions or even venture into the clubhouse and get a feel for what is going on. I would rather give more five day members the opportunity to play on the premise they use the facilities and spend a little of their hard earned. They would have the opportunity to play in the midweek competitions, mingle and become known and so will feel part of the place if they decide to, or are offered a chance to upgrade.
Royal Ascot has regular membership open days to give potential members a chance to wander around the place, play nine holes with a member of the committee and discuss joining terms and fees. Since their introduction we are seeing an influx of new members about the place and do you know what, they get involved. They play in club competitions and use the 19th afterwards. What more can a club ask?
As I said at the outset, if teeing off at the crack of dawn is the only way to get your golfing fix that is fine by me. Do you really need to be a club member to do so? What are you really getting for your money you couldn't find elsewhere and cheaper? Does a club really need this type of member. Yes and no but what do you do to combat it? Prevent them from going out until the clubhouse opens and you will drive them away and lose their subscription. Not a good option unless your club is fortunate enough to have a waiting list or can entice new members in on a regular basis.
How do you break the circle and entice these members into the club after a round to spend a few vital pounds per week? I've not got a definitive answer but it is an issue golf clubs need to address. It is a problem, not just at my club but everywhere. I remain unconvinced that clubs really need car park golfers in the grand scheme of things. Am I too hard line and intransigent in my views or is the scourge of the car parker really a drain on a modern club?
Where does it say in the rules that as a member you are expected to spend £x each year in the bar etc. Personally I spend far too much in there and kindly offset these golfers. However I dont see what they are doing wrong and it seems because they dont fit into how you operate that you don't think they should be allowed. As long as they are paying their subs then they can play when they want and use as much or as little of the facilities as they choose.
ReplyDeleteYou also seem to think people only join to get a handicap and play in comps. Again that applies for you, and also for me, but for some the membership is so they can get a guaranteed game at a regular time, usually with the same group of mates where they manage their own handicaps.
Seems to me you are creating a problem where one doesn't exist because it doesn't fiot in with your perceived view of how a member should behave - and we wonder why outsiders view clubs as snobby lol
I used to spend as much time in the club as I did on the course, but these days I can't afford to do so. I might pop in for the odd pint or sandwich, but I don't spend much over the bar. What the club does get from me, and probably from the "car park golfers", is an annual membership, a conscientious golfer who replaces almost every divot / rakes every bunker in need - whether they're my fault or not and someone who uses the course at a time when it would otherwise be empty.
ReplyDeleteI just can't see a problem with this
Totally agree with anonymous above. They pay their subs it is up to them then how they use the other facilities. Bar prices are usually inflated anyway and they probably go home and have a beer. What next only buying golf balls from the club shop?
ReplyDeleteLet me clarify. It's in the blog but let me reiterate, these guyspay their subs and so contribute to the club. There is nothing to say the HAVE to spend anymore but as my examplr showed if 10 of them paid £1.50 per week they'd give £750 to the club. Can any club survive without as much coming over the bar as possible. We even had members who couldn't spend £4.17 per month to use their bar levy. Club members at my club actually get a discount for using their bar card rather than cash etc so prices are actually competitive with local pubs
ReplyDeleteWhat benefit are these guys getting for their money they couldn't get at a play and pay if they never use the clubhouse, enter comps etc. I never said anything about their etiquette and have never had an issue following them and seeing huge divots or unrepaired fresh pitchmarks.
The article isn't suppose to be a definitive right or wrong. The take is purely my own and I dont expect anyone or everyone to accept it or agree with me.
I appreciate people taking the time to respond. I've had some feedback on twitter and others have said its a problem at their place and they think the fact that clubs aren't getting any other revenue, however small per week, from these members isn't helping clubs balance the books.
Seems that it's a subject that has people in two polar opposite camps but some great comments to date
I guess they like to play a course in good condition as opposed to a pay and play that may not be kept so well.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I often wonder if people who play that early and avoid the pro shop and all other facility's are even members!! If the pro shop is closed how do they police it?? Would be interesting to now how each club do this.
ReplyDeleteI have rarely read such a biased and ill informed item in my life! I play early because the course is less busy and full of officious people like you. I change in the car park because at 6.00 am the clubhouse isn't open because the lazy clubhouse staff cannot be bothered to get up. I rarely spend my drink and food allowance because the bar is full of people who are constantly on the look out for unsavory types like me.. As a full fee paying member I want to play golf, enjoy golf and improve my golf. If I wanted anthing more I would join the Freemasons.
ReplyDeleteSorry you feel it was biased although not sure what you base that on. Ill informed - definitely not. I have no issue with you or anyone changing in the car park because the clubhouse isn't open. However I feel its you that has a biased opinion on your membership and seem paranoid as they see you as "Unsavoury". Like you I'm keen to play as often as I can, as well as I can and work hard on my game.
DeleteYou tee off at 6.00 and so must be finished by 10.00. How busy is the clubhouse at that time? Surely the odd drink and bite to eat wouldn't make a huge difference and as the advert says "every little helps"
Who the bloody hell do you think you are to criticise ANYBODY for how they spend there money. Maybe money is tight for them and they can barely pay their fees and would rather not draw attention to the fact that the don't have much spare cash going. You come across as an odious little toad most of the time and this post does you no favours, one of the worst pieces of "writing" I have ever read.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brave keyboard warrior you are. Clearly you didn't read it properly or perhaps nursey read it to you too quickly. I didn't criticise but merely asked the question. I come across as odious "most of the time" but you continue to read so perhaps somewhere deep inside you like it really.
DeleteNot a keyboard warrior and tell me how your competition for the wedge went?
DeleteNursey? Surprised mummy let you out long enough to play golf.
Ohhh some interesting comments here on this article. If at my golf club the clubhouse opened earlier than 11am and the staff were friendly the bar spend per member would be higher. . Its amazing how busy the bar becomes when thers is a young smiling happy attractive female behind the bar.
ReplyDeleteYes I think the car park golfer is a scourge on the modern club and should be discouraged. Definitely. Tell them to pack their bags and be done with their £1k plus joining fee.
ReplyDeleteAnd then watch your club go down the pan.
What a load of bollocks you spout
Show me where I said pack your bags, you aren't wanted. I made in abundantly clear that if a silly o'clock start is the only option to get a golfing fix then I'm all for it. Also if they are already members why would they still be paying a joing fee? Thanks for tyaking the time to comment though
DeleteI think that maybe it would be of benefit to you and your club if you turned the question on it's head. As these players are already members, instead of just questioning the worth of them being there, you should see these players as a market segment and try to:
ReplyDeleteA) Better understand why "car park golfers" use the facilities the way and at the times they do. Many of the points you make show what you consider to be reasons a member should or would want to join a private golf course, a view that I'm sure is shared by many other course members around the nation and I'm not going to argue with it. However, with regard to the question you are asking it is more important to understand how "car park golfers" view golf memberships and why they use their memberships in the way they do.
and then
B) Use this greater understanding to create a strategy/ offer services that will encourage these members to spend more money at your club. The onus is on the golf course (or any business in general) to offer a service to make the member (or customer in general) pay their money for extras over and above the core service they offer.
I'm a "car park" golfer myself. I work 9 to 5 and prioritise my weekend time at home with my wife and young daughter. Therefore I play after work one evening in the week and at the crack of dawn on a Saturday so I'm home by late morning to spend the rest of the day with my family. As is the case with many of my friends, I have a membership for solely financial reasons. It works out to cost half as much for a year's membership than if I were to pay and play for my golf.
I really enjoy playing golf (most of the time!) but I have no intention of becoming any more involved with my club as my time and money are spent on what I consider to be more important pursuits away from the sport. At the times I play the course is very quiet so the club has benefitted by several hundred pounds for me to play, without the potential to "block" more involved, bigger spending members as I could see may be the case if I played at peak times.
But that's just me, you may be able to entice other "car park golfers"...
I've met other "car park golfers" in my time, some for the same reasons as me, some because they don't like the atmosphere in the club house and others for a number of other reasons. The point is you shouldn't stereotype these players (if you do currently) and question why they don't use the club as you do. As I mentioned above, you simply need to try to understand the reason these players use the club the way they do and create a strategy/ service to increase usage and therefore expenditure by these players.
If it were me I'd try to get some of the senior or very involved members at your club around a table with some of the "car park golfers" and see what the two sides combined can come up with to increase the latter's engagement.
Jon
Marketer and "Car Park Golfer"
There are lots of reasons why the "car park golfer" exists, and after reading that drivvle, your most definitely one of them as your stereotyping and victimisation of them suggests!
ReplyDeleteFor some, like my club, the bar and catering does not open until 11am and even then its too expensive even with the 15% discount as the prices are already loaded to allow for it!
Some may not like the clubhouse mentality, which you clearly display with your judging of others on what they may or may not or even should, do! They have joined to play golf, which is what they are doing, their is no caveat that they are obliged in any other way to participate in anything else, is their!
If competitions start at 07.00hrs as ours do, then the pro should be in at that time for those people to collect their cards so your comment towards that is a total nonsense! If they don't want to play in the competition then they can go out 20 minutes before the first tee time.
Not everyone wants to play in comps and may wish to keep an active handicap when playing at other courses which may have restrictions, so, they enjoy social golf and sometimes the best time for that without enduring slow play, stuffy old draconian views and poor clubhouse mentality is, to play as early as possible to avoid people like you, had you thought of that!