The R&A Chief says golf clubs need to change to encourage more people to become members
Slumbers: 'Clubs Are Not Providing A Product Golfers Want To Buy'
He says that clubs need to change their approaches, giving examples of how non-traditional clubs featuring coffee shops, short par-3 courses and no dress codes are "busy."
“We have to change,” he said.
“Grassroots is going to struggle unless the game changes.
“The traditional way of looking at the health of golf in Great Britain and Ireland is number of golf club members, and that’s about a million golfers.
“We had independent research done, myself and [European Tour Chief Executive] Keith Pelley, to look at how many people consume golf, which means 18‑hole golf, nine‑hole golf, driving ranges, par‑three courses, adventure golf, TopGolf, all of those things.
“That group of people is 10.2 million people; it’s much more diverse, and it’s younger [than the golf club membership].
“There’s only two sports that have more people who participate in it in this country, swimming and the gym.
“Because we’re all a bit cynical, you reckon maybe half of them really don’t think they’re consuming golf, but even if you do that it’s still five million.
"Why aren’t those five million joining golf clubs? I would argue it’s because the golf clubs are not providing a product they want to buy.
“You go to clubs which deliver non‑traditional forms of the game, they’re busy. And I think that’s a lesson for all of us who love this game.
“Those are clubs that are very family orientated, have fitness, have creches, have coffee shops, have wi‑fi, have no dress code, have short par‑3 golf course, have short 9‑hole golf course, pitch and putt, those are the ones that are going to succeed.”
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We've seen contrasting figures on golf club health in this part of the world over the past few years.
Related: Somerset club introduces £1 membership
