Here’s the top three things I learnt about the industry while editing Golf Club Management in May

Concessions for elderly golfers is a contentious topic

Many golf clubs allow people of an advanced age to be members for a cheaper rate than younger adults. But with a disproportionately higher number of elderly people playing golf and the industry’s need to attract younger people to golf, are these concessions a sensible idea?

Stockwood Park Golf Club thought not and ended them. The result: More money for the club but at the expense of alienating some of its most loyal – and vocal – members.

If you want new members, set yourself a target of 100 more

Both Sandiway and Kingsfield golf clubs set up projects to attract new members: this year Sandiway worked with more local schools and had a target of 100 new girl members by 2020, while Kingsfield marketed its nine-hole course so that it offered a faster and more affordable version of the game in 2009 to secure 100 new members by 2019.

Sandiway hit its target in just a few weeks and Kingsfield comfortably surpassed its one with three years to spare.

Muirfield does not represent British golf clubs

Its decision to continue its ban on women from being members drew criticism and ridicule from all over the world, but what was significantly less reported was the good work British golf clubs have been doing of late.

It’s not just Sandiway and Kingsfield, Virginia Park Golf Club teamed up with a football club to offer evening coaching and sport to youngsters from socially deprived areas that resulted in behaviour from antisocial children ‘improving dramatically’.

Last month we looked at Stock Brook Country Club’s charity work, Lincoln Golf Centre using golf to tailor a physical, mental and social stimulation service to dementia sufferers, Shropshire Golf Centre delivering more than £500,000 of benefits for children in a deprived area thanks to it setting up a ‘satellite club’ at a local school and Brandon Wood Golf Course and Club being heralded as a key learning destination for giving local children increased access to golfing activities.

Stories to remember when discussing Muirfield.