New members need to be encouraged

OPINION: Tomorrow is the last session of the "Get Into Golf" classes so I thought it was a chance to talk about club membership and how clubs are encouraging new members, writes Anthony Barkley in this week's Golf Pro.

I think all clubs would agree that they need new members as numbers are falling away, which is a national problem.

The big centres are generally more prosperous due to increased golfing numbers. Wouldn't it be so much easier for local clubs if they had 800-1000 members?

But that's always going to be tough down here in Southland. Invercargill has four 18-hole clubs, which is almost one too many for the number of golfers. So what are the clubs doing to attract new golfers to the game of golf?

I say the game, not just the club, as I feel many clubs are too focused on getting people as members but forget it's more important to get them into the game of golf itself, and the membership will come later. That's exactly what Golf Southland have tried to do with the "Get Into Golf" promotion so it's interesting that I sense a bit of apathy from local clubs about this promotion and getting new players to the game. It should be the club's board/committee members that need to be proactive in this area but during these sessions I really haven't seen this.

I have to be fair here as people are very busy, and I understand that, but I still think clubs could be more active.

At the clubs these days it's great to see that the nine-hole membership is promoted more and more and NZ Golf are pushing this in their own nine-hole promotion. I think nationally, nine-hole golf is more accepted and actually the way of the future as then we can attract the people out there that are short of time. Some local clubs have done well in getting new players on to the course by having days where they are accompanied by a member of the club that guides them around giving them hints as they go.

Not a sudden ambush of golfing etiquette and rules, but a gradual feed of information. This is a great way to do it, so if you have some spare time, put your name forward at your club to help out or take charge of it yourselves, you are needed.

» Anthony Barkley is a New Zealand PGA qualified golf coach based at the Invercargill Golf Club at Otatara.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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