Here’s the top three golf industry developments from November 2019
More golf clubs closed down in November – but the relatively small numbers that have gone, plus positive data from many other venues, suggests the industry is actually performing well at the moment.
The argument that golf clubs are men-only institutions is no longer applicable
While golf in the UK remains a male-dominated activity, only a tiny minority of golf clubs operated men-only membership policies. Yet this still damaged golf’s image – and hurt hundreds of clubs that were trying to attract women to their facilities.
Today the argument no longer applies. In recent weeks Glasgow Golf Club, thought to be the last men-only golf club in the UK, announced it has changed its policy, while the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers admitted its first female members this summer*.
It’s been a tough couple of months for the industry
Between September and November, at least 12 UK golf clubs closed down or announced they will close, including Letham Grange, Carswell and Dollar golf clubs.
It is worth remembering, however, that there are more than 2,900 golf clubs in the British Isles (2,988 as of 2018), and England alone has lost a quarter of a million members of clubs in the last 15 years to less than 650,000 members today (a drop that has steadied in recent years).
While each loss of club is devastating for those involved, that the losses are small relative to the total number of clubs – in the face of these membership drops from about 2005 to 2015 – this suggests the industry is actually responding well to these new challenges via diversification and modernisation.
It’s also been a good year for the industry
Reports of growth don’t get the same attention as golf club closures but they are no less significant. And there have been several lately.
* We originally reported that the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers changed its policy ‘in recent weeks’ – it was actually changed in 2017.
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