Cost Of Golf In The UK Set To Sky Rocket - Here's What You Need To Know...

As reported over recent months, golf participation has increased dramatically since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The total number of people playing golf increased some 61%, which equates to around 2.1 million people. An increase in demand certainly makes for more excitement at golf clubs but it does come at a cost... Literally. Is golf now too expensive?

The Members and Proprietary Golf Club Survey, undertaken by Hiller Hopkins LLP, gives us a detailed insight into the financial impact of increased participation. Keep in mind a higher percentage of clubs reported membership higher than 600 with greater retention levels. Subsequently, 60% confirmed they now have a waiting list.

Longer rounds and struggles to get a tee time may be the least of our worries. The report highlighted a scary rise in cost across the board, ultimately increasing the financial burden placed upon golfers to take part in the beautiful game. 

34% of clubs that took part in the survey confirmed they have either increased, or reintroduced, a joining fee in the last year. 63% of clubs permit the joining fee to be paid in instalments, compared to 79% in 2020 and 90% in 2019. Not only are joining fees more commonly imposed, more and more clubs are now requiring the fee to be paid in full prior to joining. Typically they were to be paid between 1 and 5 years however, that seems to be on the decline. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. 73% of clubs reported that their standard playing membership cost annually exceeds £1,000. This is up 11% from 2020. Further, 80% of clubs expressed their intent to increase the cost of membership subscription in 2022, compared to 61% in the previous year. These increases are expected to range between 2% and 9% of the annual subscription cost. 

For those that are thinking it might be cheaper to pay and play, I'm afraid there is more bad news. As the price of membership continues to rise, so too does the cost of a green fee. The report confirms that green fees across all categories has increased by an average of 17% with the average green fee said to be £50, up just shy of £8 from the previous year. A higher percentage of clubs are now reporting green fee revenue in excess of £140,000, up 7% from 2020. 

No matter which direction you turn, we are continually greeted with rising costs. Whether it be energy, manufacturing or the result of inflation or Covid-19, we can now confidently add golf to that list. The challenge for 2022 will be to maintain the success that increased participation brings, all the while trying to maximise member enjoyment, whilst keeping one eye on the financial uncertainty surrounding the industry.