These Storm Clouds Are Hanging Over Golf Clubs

While we believe that 2025 looks set to be another healthy year for golf not everything in the garden is rosy and there are some areas of concern.

When asked if you would be renewing your membership in 2025, 89% of you told our survey that you would be doing so. On the face of it, that is pretty positive, but it is what you had to say that rang a few alarm bells. 

Unsurprisingly, the usual bugbears raised their head once again - many of you are unhappy with what you are being asked to pay and do not believe you get value for money. Other areas of concern include the impact of the weather upon your course, issues when it comes to booking tee times and other club-related issues.

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Here are the key areas that worry you:

Rising Costs & Value For Money

Members are increasingly questioning the value they get when set against rising fees, especially when facing poor course conditions or limited playability in winter. Climate change continues to have a massive impact on our sport with wetter winters leading to more course closures - and clubs refusing to offer any form of compensation.

Several have downgraded memberships (e.g., from seven-day to five-day, or to flexible/points-based models). I know of several golf clubs who have done away with five-day memberships, forcing everybody to pay for full seven-day membership. This is something that risks alienating senior golfers who may not be in a position to pay the increased the sum - and have no interest in playing weekend golf.

Weather & Course Conditions

Winter playability and drainage issues are major pain points. It is becoming increasingly clear that courses that are prone to flooding are facing some very difficult decisions. Putting in flood defence systems is not cheap and any club that chooses to do so is going to have to pass on that cost to its membership. The alternative is to do nothing and risk losing unhappy golfers. 

Many mention 4-5 months of poor conditions, closed or shortened courses, carry-only restrictions, or overused temporary greens.

Booking Access & Overcrowding

Increased membership leading to difficulty booking tee times, especially at peak (e.g., weekend mornings). This is a really tough one. A large and healthy membership means that your golf club has every chance of being able to offer competitive annual membership fees but allow too many new members to join and you will soon be faced with an army of angry golfers who are unable to get on the course when they want to. And when you throw visitors into the mix, you can see what a difficult balancing act this can be. 

Some cite frustration that even though they are paying more, access has become worse.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Switching Clubs or Membership Type

A large number of comments mentioned switching clubs or changing to a different category (summer-only, flexible, points-based). It seems pretty obvious to me that golf clubs are going to have to adapt by offering more flexible membership. If flooding is an issue during the winter, how can you possibly charge your membership for a full 12 months and then not expect them to be looking for a refund? Summer memberships look like something that is only going to increase. Perhaps the time has come for many golf clubs to look at how they use their clubhouses during the winter months - make the bar and food offering more attractive to the wider public, stage quiz nights and comedy nights and such like. Make your clubhouse the place to go for Sunday roasts.

Affordability, course quality, and politics/management often drive these changes.

Health, Age, & Life Circumstances

Health problems (e.g., awaiting surgery, cancer treatment, aging). Inability to carry clubs due to injury. As a senior golfer who has experienced injury problems in recent years this is something I can relate to. I am extremely lucky - I belong to a golf course that drains well in wet weather so we do not face trolley bans. If I had to carry my clubs then I might be looking for another sport.

Others express that as they age, they must assess how much they can realistically play. Many of the seniors at my club opt to play just nine holes.

Club Management & Communication

Complaints about poor communication, unmet promises, grumpy or under-resourced staff, and a focus on non-golf aspects (e.g., fine dining, TopGolf). Please do NOT get me started on communication. I could complain for Britain when it comes to golf club websites and the inability of so many clubs to communicate properly with their primary asset - their membership. Without a membership a golf club ceases to exist. Period. Keep your membership informed, tell them what you are doing, what you have planned. Give them a detailed outline of precisely why their fees are increasing. Believe it or not, they will actually thank you for it.

Some feel the club’s priorities are misaligned with members' needs.

Sadly, some of you have told us that you feel you have no option but to stick with your current golf club simply because you have no choice. It is also a fact that some clubs have to be ruled out because they have waiting lists and the dreaded joining fees. You tell us that you have stayed at your club purely because it is the best available option.

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