While we believe that 2025 looks set to be another healthy year for golf, but there are some areas of concern. When asked if you would be renewing your membership, 89% of golfers told our survey that they would be doing so. On the face of it, that is pretty positive, but it is what these golfers had to say that rang a few alarm bells about the future for golf clubs.
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For years, many golfers had been critical about how regularly their clubs communicate with them, but our recent survey has found that venues are now doing a far better job at keeping in touch with their members, as Golfshake's Derek Clements explains. read more ...

We wanted to find out a little bit more about the habits of golfers and how they engaged with the game, uncovering some key differences in the behaviours of golf club members compared to those who aren't members of a particular venue. read more ...

England Golf recently unveiled a fascinating series of statistics that offered a view into the typical member of a golf club, revealing how old they are and even what handicap they possess. read more ...

When you see stories of golf clubs being threatened with closure, it's easy to feel anxious about the future of the game, but new evidence has shown that there is reason for optimism that this season could deliver a welcome boom for the sport. read more ...

You will get out of club membership what you put into it, but some of you may be a little bit nervous about the prospect of joining a club where you don’t know anybody, all the more so if you are joining a club for the first time in your life. This is what you should do to make sure you get the most from being a golf club member. read more ...

Like it or not, we can probably expect to see more golf courses closing in 2025. There are all sorts of reasons why clubs close their doors for good. It seems pretty obvious that for courses that are facing proper challenges, some lateral thinking might be required. read more ...

What do golf clubs need to be doing to keep our business in 2025? Here are some essential things that all venues should be looking to get right in 2025 to ensure that they deliver the best possible experience to both members and visitors. read more ...

Right or wrong, golf is a sport that has a reputation for being a sport that tends to get stuck in its ways. But have things got better? In our recent membership survey we asked what you expect from your golf club and what changes you would like to see. read more ...

In our most recent golf club membership survey we asked whether you were expecting to see your membership costs rising in 2025 and it should come as no surprise to learn that the overwhelming majority of you believe that they will. But do these fees still offer value for money? read more ...

Sit back in any clubhouse bar and listen in on the conversations going on around you. What is the most common subject for discussion? The condition of the course will be right up there, but will golfers ever be happy about it? read more ...

What improvements do golfers want to see made at their golf clubs? That was a question we put to more than 3,000 of you who responded to our recent golf club membership survey, and the comments we received were illuminating. read more ...

The results of our latest golf club membership survey are in, with 3,000 Golfshake subscribers responding, revealing the current health of memberships in the UK and the general happiness of golf club members. read more ...

Earlier this week, Golfshake's Derek Clements wrote an article calling for a rethink on the annual subscriptions paid by senior golfers, which drew a significant response from those who believe that senior golfers are already getting a fair deal. read more ...

For many senior golfers, their club membership is an essential lifeline, but the cost can be challenging to meet. While many clubs do offer reduced rates for older members, that isn't the case everywhere, far from it, and Golfshake's Derek Clements, a senior golfer himself, believes that has to change. read more ...

There is a perception among non-golfers that our sport is expensive. Unsurprisingly, those of us who play the game are quick to reject such claims. But with a new year ahead it got Golfshake's Derek Clements thinking about how much a full season is actually going to cost the average club player. read more ...

Golf club memberships can be invaluble and rewarding, but there are times when golfers take the decision to leave a particular club, but when would that be the right call? Here are some factors that would make leaving your club justified. read more ...

Some golfers decided to cancel their memberships this year, while others wanted to join a club, but found that they couldn't. Why has this happened and what does it mean for the game? We surveyed those golfers to find out the reasons. read more ...

Golf clubs have made a lot of progress to become more inclusive and accessible, but are there areas where they could still improve? Golfshake's Derek Clements believes there are several issues that need to be addressed. read more ...

There are many reasons why people decide not to join a golf club including many preconceived misconceptions.  Why some choose to opt out of membership, could this feature make you change your mind? read more ...

Craigie Hill Golf Club in Perth has made a bold decision in order to secure its long-term future after submitting plans to reduce itself from 18 holes to nine and transform the landscape into 175 homes that will help to fund a wider redevelopment. read more ...

If your golf club came to you and requested that you pay an immediate levy to help alleviate short-term financial concerns, would you do that? That's exactly what the members of Musselburgh Golf Club have unanimously approved, agreeing to pay £100 to solve cash flow issues at the acclaimed venue in East Lothian. read more ...

Last month, two Scottish golf courses - The Hirsel in the Borders and Torrance Park in Motherwell - announced that they would close their doors, but now a leading industry figure has warned that even more clubs could suffer the same fate. read more ...

After a summer that has seemed to be all too short, we are fast approaching the time of year when many of you might well be considering whether you want to renew your golf club subscription in 2025. It got us thinking about a simple question: what do you want and/or expect from your golf club? And, as it turns out, none of it is rocket science. read more ...

We have written a great deal about the respective benefits of club membership and nomadic golf. Golfshake's Derek Clements falls firmly into the membership camp. For him, it represents great value and offers a great social life, as well as the opportunity to play some competitive sport. This is how he would convince someone to become a golf club member. read more ...

Golf memberships remain the foundation that the sport is built on in this country, but it's clear that a nomadic existence is more suited to other golfers. Despite being a club member, Golfshake's Derek Clements explains why he understands the appeal of paying when you play. read more ...

An increasing number of golfers are becoming drawn to the concept of flexible memberships, which should make this new points-based pass that has been introduced by the Bridgedown Group, owners of three London golf courses, most intriguing. read more ...

Due to rising costs and other reasons, some golfers may have already or could be considering leaving their golf club. But Golfshake's Derek Clements believes that would be a mistake as he explains why ending your membership could be the worst possible thing you can do. read more ...

The health of golf clubs remains the truest way to assess the current state of the game. And things currently look pretty strong. However, it would be remiss not to reflect on the continued challenges that golf clubs are presented with, all of which have a potential impact in the shorter, but particularly longer term. read more ...

When it comes to costs and tee times, it's a constant challenge for golf clubs to successfully balance the needs of their members alongside ensuring that they continue to attract visitors. But is this really achievable? Golfshake's Derek Clements has some thoughts on the subject. read more ...

Traditional memberships at clubs are robust, but there is a growing segment of the golfing population who are seeking alternatives. That's where flexible, or points-based memberships are becoming more common, essentially allowing golfers to buy a certain number of credits that can be redeemed for rounds as they go. read more ...

The traditional model of golf club membership has retained its place at the heart of the game, but there is a nagging question about whether it's the most suitable way to conduct business as we look towards the latter half of the third decade in the 21st century. read more ...

Golfshake's Derek Clements has recently returned to the game after several years of injury problems. Having joined a club and deciding to make his comeback to the golf course, Derek shares an update on his journey that many of us can probably relate to. read more ...

Golf survived a global pandemic. However, the cost of living crisis is taking its toll in a way that COVID never did. You will no doubt be aware that many councils across the UK face serious budget shortfalls and are looking to make cuts. You also probably will not be surprised to learn that several municipal golf courses are under threat as a result. read more ...

The most traditional form of experiencing golf is through a club membership, which offers plenty of incentives to retain your interest throughout the year. However, some clubs are seeing a drop in memberships across the country, which poses the question - why do golfers give up their club memberships? read more ...

Whilst many golfers prefer the lifestyle of belonging to a club, there are clear benefits that only nomadic golfers can experience. Of course, nomadic golfers may miss out on the social benefits that are so rampant through membership - but there are plenty of positives too! read more ...

Our recent survey was a real eye-opener, revealing many things about what you consider makes a good course. There were also plenty of areas of concern for you, with joining fees, increased subscriptions and slow play among your bugbears. It got us thinking about what makes the perfect golf club, the one that you would never consider leaving. read more ...

Golfers are increasingly searching for alternatives to the traditional club membership model, with the QHotels Group's Fairway Membership being among the most prominent, and it has continued to grow alongside the patterns outlined by the latest Sporting Insights Report for Q3 2023. read more ...

As spring approaches and we get the chance to get out there and play more golf, some of us may be drawing up wish lists for what we hope to see at their golf clubs in 2024 - all the more so as subscription renewals start to drop through our letterboxes or pop into our in-boxes. Here are a few of the things that you might be hoping for in the months that lie ahead. read more ...

Whether you are currently a member or have been in the past, there is no question that golf clubs remain at the heart of the sport, serving as the bedrock that supports the recreational game. However, there are clearly some issues that clubs need to address. And here are the specific areas that you most wanted to see golf clubs tackle in 2024. read more ...

Perhaps more than anything, the overriding concern among golf club members this year is cost and the general unease around the rising expense that many are facing to maintain their current subscription at a club in addition to the lofty barriers that may prevent newer players from joining in the first place. read more ...