Encouraging participation in clubs a research report on volunteering 2 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 3

Contents Welcome

From Golf From the research team

At England Golf we were keen to enhance Volunteering has been a feature of golf our understanding of the experiences of clubs ever since the first clubs were volunteers in golf clubs to enable us to formed in the nineteenth century. From provide support where it is needed the most. the board room to the tee, volunteers continue to play vital roles in running Our strong existing relationship with golf clubs. Yet, to our knowledge, Manchester Metropolitan University and there has never been any research into their understanding of golf meant that, in golf club volunteers. Since volunteers commissioning them to undertake a PhD, represent some of a golf club’s most they would provide valuable insight. committed members, understanding them offers potentially valuable insights into Furthermore, the experience of Chris Mills participation more generally. (PhD Researcher), aligned with MMU’s knowledge of golf, has impacted our work The research has been conducted as part of from the start of the PhD, not just in the a PhD degree. It therefore benefits from the final year. intense focus of a PhD candidate and the wider involvement of an experienced team The qualitative nature of the study has built of academics. The research also builds on on what we thought we knew, as Chris was prior work done by Manchester Metropolitan able to dig into the reality of the journey and University on member retention and experiences of volunteers in golf clubs. understanding golf club volunteers.

One of the most exciting elements of the We have enjoyed researching golf clubs and research is how it joins the journey of a golfer their volunteers and have met many great and that of a volunteer. Too often we have people along the way. We are indebted to considered these elements in isolation and those that took part in the research. the research highlights that if a golf club actively supports golfers to integrate and We are grateful to the team at England become volunteers this will, in effect, create Golf for facilitating this research, especially uber Members. These members are loyal, to Matt Bloor, England Golf’s Volunteer committed and keen to contribute their time Manager, whose enduring enthusiasm and Welcome 03 to help sustain the club into the future. practical support has been invaluable. Executive summary 04 We hope you find this research report interesting and that it inspires you to make Background and research process 06 some positive changes at your golf club. The participation pathway 08 The pathway to participation model 12 Life circumstances 16 Volunteer-Member Discussions 18 Final reflections 21 Richard Flint Matt Bloor Chris Mills Dr Chris Professor What high impact actions can you now take? 22 Chief Operating Volunteer Mackintosh Cathy Officer Manager Urquhart 4 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 5

Executive Summary

We started our research with the understanding that golf clubs want to attract and retain more golfers and to engage members as volunteers in the running of their clubs. We were conscious that the long-term health of golf depends on engaging a diverse range of participants.

In our research, we sought to understand volunteers’ experiences within golf clubs. We explored how members became volunteers and what helped sustain their involvement. We considered how these experiences varied across different types of people.

Summary of key findings Summary of recommendations

Our research highlights The research found the following: • While life circumstances We recommend that golf clubs: We provide detailed Golf club volunteering is may limit each individual’s recommendations on pages 15, • There is a common pathway to • Take a strategic approach how golf clubs are capacity to get involved, 17 and 20. By implementing these bound up with a sense of becoming a golf club volunteer. to managing the pathway essentially social places volunteering is also dependent recommendations, golf clubs This pathway involves a journey to participation to improve belonging, involvement on the availability of convenient can create an environment that in which everyday from feeling uncertain as a new member retention and create a opportunities. The availability encourages and sustains active and pride in the club. It’s member, through becoming diverse pool of volunteers. social interactions of accessible opportunities that participation among all members. not something that can be an established member shape members’ and can be fitted in alongside other • Encourage participation We recognise that clubs won’t and culminating in active turned on and off like a life commitments promotes among members with other be able to implement all of the volunteers’ experiences. participation as a volunteer. participation. life commitments by creating recommendations. We therefore tap. Volunteering thrives Some members make this accessible and convenient suggest two high impact actions journey more easily than others, • Volunteers encounter and where the club actively opportunities to get involved. on page 22 and 23. with the formation of social interact with a wide range of and consistently supports relationships being vital to this members. Many discussions • Nurture constructive member member participation and process. with members are constructive, discussion of club affairs. This but some are not. The nature should help members find where the culture is open of these interactions has a common ground and create and inclusive. significant influence on whether a supportive environment for volunteers feel supported or volunteers. frustrated.

Volunteers are some of golf clubs’ most committed members. Understanding how they became a volunteer and what sustains their involvement is important. We can use this knowledge to encourage participation and commitment among all golf club members. 6 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 7

Background The Research Process

There are approximately Over Qualitative research Who did we speak to?

44,000 Since we were interested in the experience of golf We interviewed 28 golf club volunteers. The club volunteers, we listened to what volunteers volunteers performed a range of roles, including had to say – in their own words. It was also vital board members, captains, committee members, volunteers that we, as researchers, understood the golf club junior organisers and grounds maintenance helpers. in English golf clubs. They make an enormous 99%of golf club volunteers are environment. The research, therefore, collected We talked to a diverse range of volunteers: contribution to our enjoyment of the sport. members of their golf club. and analysed a range of qualitative data. • A third were female. We collected data via the following means: • Half were aged under 50 and in work. • Observing activities at four golf clubs, covering a range of geographies, size, cost of • 28% had played golf continuously since being a golf club membership and club culture. junior, 40% had taken up golf as an adult, and 1 in 6 32% had returned to golf as an adult having members are female. • Reading documents from golf’s governing 2 in 3 initially learnt to play as a junior. bodies, golf media and golf clubs. golf club members We are enormously grateful to all those volunteers • Conducting in-depth, semi-structured are aged over 55. golf club that took part in the research. Without them telling 1 in 3 interviews with golf club volunteers. Participation in golf volunteers are female. their rich and vibrant stories, this report wouldn’t clubs is not evenly 5 in 6 Data was analysed using coding techniques have been possible. distributed across golf club volunteers Only 1 in 6 which facilitated the analytical comparison of the generations. are aged over 55. club directors are female. similar and different experiences.

Number of live births in England and clubs are heavily Silent Baby Boomers Generation Millenials Latest Aged 75 Aged 55-75 Aged 40-54 Aged 20-39 Under 20 reliant on 900,000 the ‘baby boomer’ 850,000 generation, 800,000 both as members 750,000 and volunteers. This presents golf clubs 700,000 with a challenge 650,000 because younger generations often have 600,000 different attitudes and 550,000 expectations. 500,000 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Generational averages shown as dashed lines

For the long-term health of the game, golf clubs need to diversify participation. 8 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 9

The Participation Pathway

From our research, we discovered a common pathway to becoming a An interviewee described how she felt as a new member: golf club volunteer. The process involved several stages, with transitions “The three of us would come down late in the evenings. Out of sight! between them. We term this a ‘participation pathway’ to reflect the idea We were frightened of getting involved in the golf club. We used to that participation comprises different levels of involvement, from playing park up at the far end of the carpark and zip on to the course to play golf to volunteering. We describe this process over the next three pages nine holes and back in the car and out. We never ever came in the clubhouse. We got people coming up to say, “When are you going to and provide some illustrative quotes from interviewees. We then make get your handicaps?” Very scary. We just thought it was very scary.” recommendations for managing the pathway on pages 14 and 15. The interviewee is now a volunteer at her golf club and runs a program to help new members settle into the club.

On joining a golf club, new It’s important to note that Social relationships also play members are faced with a range not all new members make an important role in activating of uncertainties. New member the transition from newcomer volunteering. Through social uncertainty may exist about club to established member. Bad relations, there is a shared An interviewee described feeling An interviewee described how he culture, behavioural expectations, experiences sometimes push understanding between uncertain when first joining a club: settled into his golf club: social relationships and playing newcomers back towards prospective volunteers and golf. While previous golfing uncertainty. Several interviewees, club members that they have “There is a supposition that you “When I joined, for the first experience reduces newcomer who were now volunteers at their something useful to contribute. know what you’re signing up for. uncertainty, even the most current club, had been unable to Furthermore, established couple of years I didn’t experienced golfers described a form social relations and become members are familiar with the If you’ve never actually been in know many people….. period of adjustment when joining part of a group at previous clubs golf club and the personalities the club and been involved with There was a Burns Night a new club. and had left. involved, and can therefore it, well, how does it work?” make informed decisions about supper here. I came with Golfers described the transition After a period of settling in, volunteering. Sometimes, my wife. We sat on a from feeling uncertain to feeling golf club members begin to knowledge of what is involved comfortable as ‘settling in’. This feel comfortable and consider table with a guy called turns members off volunteering. transition was made possible by themselves as established Ed and had a great night spending time at the golf club, members. Routines and group The pathway to participation A volunteer described the and Ed said, “You want developing confidence in playing participation are essential to tends to result in meaningful importance of relationships: golf and social interactions. feeling comfortable. Regularly volunteering. Volunteers like to to join the club?” He said, Forming social relationships playing and socialising within ‘give back’ to the club because “I think as soon as you get “You’d really enjoy it.” I was particularly important. a group of members helps to they have enjoyed membership said, “Ed, I have joined Newcomers with family, friends develop strong bonds with and the friendships they have friendship in a club it means and work colleagues in the club the club. formed. The golf club is a lots. It’s not coming just to golf, the club. It’s costing me tended to settle in more easily. significant part of their lives. it’s coming for friends, and 500 quid a round at the Some volunteers, especially those moment.” Right, he says, who experienced challenges we sit and have a coffee and ‘settling in’, identify changes a drink afterwards and it’s all “Get your arse down here that they would like to make to part of the deal.” tomorrow morning at 9.30, their golf club. However, most you’ve got a game.” There volunteers, because they have been socialised, tend to enjoy the was a group called The golf club’s ways of doing things. Slugs and they meet every Modification goals are, therefore, Wednesday morning and limited. In volunteering, members tend to preserve what they have Saturday morning and I’ve become comfortable with. never looked back.” 10 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 11

A board member described why he left a previous club: “I was there for just over two years and I only ever played in the same four ball. I never ever got invited to play in another group. Never got approached ….. I was low enough to play in their first team. Yeah, I wasn’t overly comfortable there.”

The interviewee is now an active and influential board member at his golf club.

A volunteer described how becoming known to other members was central to him being asked to volunteer:

“I think because I integrated so well, I came to the attention of the men’s committee. They’re always looking for individuals willing to help out.”

A female volunteer, who had taken up golf as an adult and found it difficult settling into golf, describes the changes she wanted to make at her club:

“One thing I felt strongly about was that [less able golfers] are not always as visibly supported and valued. One thing I really wanted to do was to make as much of a fuss of them as the more elite players. I felt that was important. That was one of the things that I wanted to do.”

A board member described why volunteering was meaningful to him:

“I like to give back. I’ve enjoyed joining the golf club, I’ve enjoyed the golf, I’ve enjoyed the social side of it, and I just thought I’ll do something.” 12 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 13

Overall, the ‘pathway to participation’ It is important to think about who does The pathway to process is both a strength and a weakness. and does not make their way through the pathway to participation. Why do It is a strength because it generates some new members become established volunteers who are committed to the club members, whilst others leave the club? and for whom volunteering is meaningful. participation Why do some established members However, the pathway to participation become volunteers, whilst others is also a potential weakness because never contribute? Management of the it tends to generate volunteers with model transitions - ‘settling in’ and ‘activation’ similar socio-demographic profiles who - should help to increase new member reproduce the cultural practices and retention and improve diversity among behavioural norms that have become Stage 1 New member volunteers. meaningful to them. This acts as a • Unfamiliar with potential barrier to change. behavioural norms • Relational uncertainty • Playing uncertainty

Transition Settling in • Spending time at the club • Social interaction • Confidence in playing the sport

Stage 2 Established member • Feeling comfortable • Routine • Group participation

Transition Activation

• Social relationships • Informed decision

Stage 3 Volunteer The long-term future of golf rests on it remaining relevant • Meaningful contribution to future generations. That outcome can be more readily • Limited change goals secured by increasing diversity in club governance. It is, therefore, important that clubs diversify participation upstream, both in the membership and among volunteers. 14 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 15

Recommendations Golf club actions

The research findings highlight We recommend that golf clubs member retention. Helping new the importance of golf clubs adopt a strategic approach members settle in should also actively managing the pathway to integrating new members. create a larger and more diverse Reduce Help new to participation. Helping new members to membership. It is from among this uncertainty for members to settle in and form strong social pool of members that golf clubs new members settle in relationships should improve can activate new volunteers. • Provide a great welcome. Offer an induction • Provide an orientation meeting and a tour of the club’s facilities. Give programme for new members. new members the opportunity to ask questions. Sustain this over several months and beware overloading them • Hand out a welcome pack with essential with information. information including the club’s history, vision, strategy, policies, rules, cultural practices, course • Help new members form information and personnel. relationships with other newcomers so that they can • Relax club rules and cultural practices, support each other in learning thereby creating a less daunting environment about golf club life (e.g. create for new members. new member groups). • Provide on-course coaching and support for inexperienced golfers, ideally in new member groups, as this helps members Activate develop confidence in playing volunteering the course. • Establish a buddy scheme that pairs up new members with • Encourage engagement in club affairs. Consult established members who can on strategy and major decisions. Reach out to all provide informal advice about members to let them contribute and feel involved. the golf club. • Find out more about the skills and experiences • Help new members find a of your members. Ideally, do this face-to-face and playing group with like-minded talk about how they could contribute to the club. members. Especially reach out to members on the periphery of the club. • Establish a ‘New Member Champion’ role and/or a • Ensure everyone has access to information about working group of volunteers volunteering by advertising role vacancies via to design and coordinate an noticeboards, newsletters, social media. Include orientation programme. strong messaging around inclusivity. • Find out why new members • Where volunteer roles appear unattractive or overly leave. Do this by speaking to demanding, redesign role requirements to make them individually or asking them more manageable and appealing (e.g. them to complete an exit dividing the role and sharing out responsibilities, survey. Reflect and then act on stripping out unnecessary activities). your findings to improve new • Emphasise the support that is available to member retention. Helping new members settle in and form strong social volunteers (e.g. from management and other relationships should improve member retention. Helping volunteers, availability of training, support from England Golf). new members settle in should also create a larger and more diverse membership. 16 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 17

Life Circumstances Recommendations

Our research found that life For many volunteers, it was a We recommend that golf commitments. Opportunities won’t over-commit themselves. circumstances affect how people change in life circumstances that clubs take practical steps to participate need to Providing some accessible engage with golf, including created the space for greater If golf clubs are unable to to encourage participation complement members’ other life time-limited opportunities to playing golf, joining a golf club engagement. Some interviewees engage younger adults as among all members, including commitments. Busy people also get involved may lead to more and volunteering. talked about children growing up volunteers, there is a risk those with work and family need to be assured that they substantial volunteering. and how this left them with more Volunteers often spoke about time. Older golfers often talked that club governance will family commitments, including about how retirement was a remain the preserve of partners or spouses, children, catalyst to greater engagement. grandchildren and elderly parents. older members. These family commitments Although other life commitments Golf club actions affected how much time they act as a constraint on could spend at the golf club. volunteering, it doesn’t make it impossible. During the research, Importantly, this research Work commitments similarly we spoke to several golfers challenges assumptions that affected the amount of available with extensive work and family non-participation is due to time. Where work commitments commitments that were still able selfishness or apathy. Rather, Create accessible Help members to were flexible, members could to volunteer. It wasn’t always non-participation is often due to a more readily find time to play golf volunteer integrate competing easy for them, but if volunteering combination of other competing and volunteer. opportunities life commitments could be fitted in and around life commitments and a lack of their other commitments it was convenient opportunities. While possible. Indeed, we spoke to not much can be done about the • Offer a range of different participation • Reduce gendered organisation within several younger volunteers that former, golf clubs can provide opportunities some of which should be less the club. Reduce tee-times set aside were having a significant impact more accessible opportunities to time-intensive (e.g. time-limited working for a single gender. Host more mixed on their golf clubs. participate. groups to address a particular issue, one-off competitions. bite-size volunteering activities). • Offer more family participation • Organise and manage meetings effectively. activities that involve both adults and Arrange meetings at times that people can young people (e.g. offer family tee-times, attend. Hold short, structured and well- family tournaments or family managed meetings. Support chairpersons to volunteering activities). conduct productive meetings by offering them • Allow people to stay connected whilst training on effective chairing skills. at the golf club (e.g. allow mobile phone • Use technology to involve members with busy use, provide WIFI, hot desks and meeting A board member described how he had few An interviewee described how with some lives (e.g. use online meeting technology). room space). opportunities to participate earlier in life: adjustment, he was able to be club captain:

“I had a young son at the time “I could only be there at who had some pretty significant weekends, not often during health issues. I was working the week. Not with work and away in the week. I was having a baby daughter and travelling all over the place. The a partner I actually wanted last thing I could do is come to spend some time with….I home and spend five hours say to anyone that will listen, A volunteer described how meetings were time-managed playing golf before I left home “Look, if I can be captain of to avoid putting off younger adults: on a Monday morning at five this golf club anybody can.” “We limit each section to 10 minutes. No one o’clock and saying ‘see you’.” filibusters or anything like that at these things. It’s 10 minutes and then that’s it. If there’s any questions that they need answering thereafter then we do it in the bar.” 18 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 19

Volunteer-Member Discussions

Through their role, volunteers encounter a wide range of members. Volunteer-Member Discussions Meeting lots of different people and developing new social relationships

is one of the great things about volunteering. Constructive Destructive

Significant/ Importance of Trivial/ Given their roles within the club, However, not all interactions were Volunteers noted that most meaningful the issues discussed inconsequential volunteers are approached by positive. Volunteers frequently members tended not to members to discuss various talked about their experience with engage in discussions about Volunteer feels frustrated ‘moaning members’. club affairs. While some issues. As a result of this, Misinformation, volunteers often find themselves volunteers suggested this lack Full and accurate Access to ‘Moaning members’ tended to rumour & debating club affairs with fellow of engagement was due to information reliable information come from a vocal minority within speculation members. apathy or consumerist attitudes, the club. Volunteers described other volunteers recognised that Volunteers recognised the how they invariably raised trivial their golf club could do more importance of discussing club issues and how complaints were Who is involved to encourage participation. In Inclusive/ Exclusive/ matters with members. It was often based on speculation, in discussions particular, there was a need to all members vocal minority important that members should misinformation or rumour. actively engage a more diverse have their say and welcomed Volunteers observed how some range of members in club conversations about significant members sought to legitimise their affairs and include the ‘silent matters. Volunteers were often viewpoints by drawing on their Reasoned Source of Status of the

majority’ and not just the ‘vocal supported feels Volunteer able to act and do something status derived from previously legitimacy minority’. Golf clubs face many argument individual about issues raised. As long as holding high office, long-standing challenges and embracing discussions were constructive, membership or golfing ability. diverse perspectives could help volunteers found them helpful. Volunteers described how generate positive change. Furthermore, by discussing issues members occasionally adopted an Respectful, Tone Aggressive, with members and developing aggressive or hostile tone. cordial hostile mutual understandings, Moaning members were a volunteers could develop a frequent source of frustration to feeling of ‘we-ness’. They felt volunteers. In some cases, it had supported by the members. a negative impact on volunteers’ enjoyment of their golf club.

A section captain reflected on the importance A former club captain describes how member of members resolving differences: discussion affected his enjoyment of golf:

“In any group of people, you’ll always “I used to come up to play my golf on have differing opinions and differences a Sunday to play in the competitions about how things should be done. And and you get accosted in the car park, The Power of Three sometimes that can get a bit onerous. “Mr. Captain, why is this being done? We found younger adult volunteers were happier and You get the older members wanting Why is this being done?” You have to more productive when teaming up with their peers. it all to stay the same, stay as it’s stand and explain and so your golf Having at least three like-minded individuals on always been. You get newer blood, for that day is affected…….. I’d then board enhanced their ability to make change. new people coming in, and they want be thinking about it all of the way to change things a bit. Both sides of round when I’m playing golf. I did let the story have their merits.” it get to me.” 20 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 21

Golf club actions Final Reflections

Golf clubs have large memberships. This represents a significant resource and activating the skills, experiences and enthusiasm of Bring significant issues Make club discussions to the fore in club inclusive by encouraging all members has enormous benefits. Our research suggests that improving communications members to get involved member participation can energise golf clubs.

• Involve members in developing a vision • Consult with members when developing At the same time, we recognise Importantly, our research has Beware quick easy fixes though. and strategy for the golf club. Consult club strategy and before major decisions are that golf is a leisure-time activity emphasised how social interactions Building social bonds does not widely and seek to engage members made (e.g. on significant capital expenditure). and that members’ primary with other members are a key simply mean organising social from across the club. Make it a ‘big When consulting with members, encourage interest is usually playing feature of the golf club experience. events such as a club dinner or a conversation’. Try to reach consensus, or at all members to participate by using a golf and socialising, and not The development of relationships BBQ. Golf clubs need to develop least compromise, on contentious issues. range of accessible engagement methods necessarily volunteering. For this and connecting with other everyday practices and club Once agreed, promote the vision and (e.g. member surveys, online tools, forums, reason, volunteering must be members is essential to member culture that fundamentally support strategy among members. workshops, consultation stands). engaging and enjoyable. retention and participation. positive social interactions. • Provide members with regular reports on • Consider who among the membership is Cultivating an environment that progress against the strategic plan. not contributing to discussions and make supports positive social interactions special efforts to involve all members in and relationships among members club discussions. For example, make sure seems to us a necessary feature of new members, younger adults and juniors a successful golf club. are included in discussions just as much Provide members with as established older adult members. regular, accurate and • Report back to members on consultation reliable information findings and what actions have been taken as a result of member input.

• Treat internal member communication • Don’t leave member engagement to the as a strategically important function. AGM and other general meetings. At general Communicate regularly with members and meetings, members tend to vote according share information. Use a variety of media to preconceived ideas. Voting also tends to (e.g. newsletters, social media, noticeboards) establish ‘majority rule’ by those most able to to ensure that members access information. participate. Over-reliance on voting to make formal decisions risks discouraging and • Try to be open and transparent in the driving out dissenters. provision of information. It helps others to see what you are doing and why you are doing it and creates trust.

Promote civility and respect throughout Value arguments based the club on their merits, not on • Develop and promote a set of club who is making them values as they help shape club culture. Consult with members to develop these • Emphasise the value of well-reasoned, values. Once agreed, regularly promote creative and innovative thinking rather the values and make them visible. than historical precedence. • Recognise the contribution • Promote contributions made by non- of volunteers through club traditional members and volunteers. communications. Encourage members to thank volunteers for their efforts. 22 | ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN GOLF CLUBS 23

What high impact actions can you now take?

We hope that the research Whilst this report makes a We have, therefore, suggested While this research was conducted during covid-19 and many golf two actions below will maximise findings set out in this report range of recommendations, we two high impact actions, which prior to the covid-19 pandemic, clubs have seen an influx of new a golf club’s ability to build and have resonated with you and recognise that golf clubs have should encourage and support we believe the two action points members. Golf has been presented sustain new member participation that they will inspire you to act. limited capacity and won’t be participation in your golf club: noted below are especially with an unexpected opportunity to and involvement. Achieve that and able to implement them all. important in these unusual times. generate and sustain growth. We your club’s long-term future will be Participation in golf has increased strongly believe that pursuing the brighter for it.

1 2 Engage members in developing Create a new member a club vision and strategy retention working group

If your club doesn’t have a vision and strategy, or your current Establish a small working group of staff and volunteers to create strategy needs a refresh, engage your members in creating a new a strategy and orientation programme for supporting new one. Start the process by consulting with all members. Make sure members. Recruit to this group a diverse set of volunteers with it’s a ‘big conversation’ with lots of different opportunities to get different skills and perspectives. Seek out members from sections involved. Reach out to all members across your club, including new of the club that don’t ordinarily volunteer. Include members members and juniors. Encourage discussion and try to establish that joined the club recently, because they will have a fresh a reasoned consensus. Build a vision that is inspirational and will perspective on the new member experience. When the group motivate all members to get involved. improves new member retention, celebrate their success.

If you need more support we recommend the following:

Meet your regional club support team A governance How to Golf Club Your Steve Doughty Surrey Allison Boozer +44 (0)7710 712721 Kent Victoria Crosbie-Cowley [email protected] +44 (0)7710 095030 Partnership Manager [email protected] +44 (0)7726 994154 A GOVERNANCE guide for golf clubs improve your buddies support [email protected] volunteers GUIDE FOR

Matt Webber Sussex

Helen Tarttelin +44 (0)7736 880932 Essex & Middlesex Jordan Dymond [email protected] +44 (0)7702 913926 Useful guidance Norfolk & Suffolk This guide provides excellent [email protected] Check out our GOLF CLUBS governance network +44 (0)7710 701274 [email protected] VERSION 2.0

and resources SAFEGOLF ACCREDITATION advice on formal golf club – provide a safe and secure full range of HOW CAN WE HELP MARKETINGGROW – update YOUR and innovate GOLF environmentCLUB? for all golfers with a marketing plan to sell your club KNOWING YOUR CLUB – what WORKFORCE – identify gaps in Take a business- makes your club stand out and how BUSINESS PLANNING – a helping volunteer recruitment and training England Golf has can it grow? hand to plan for a bright future RECRUITMENT – identify your GOVERNANCE – work with you to on establishing a potential members and players and ensure best practice to give your governance. Since member how to find them club a sustainable future resources and RETENTION – develop new ways to keep your golfers happy and loyal to like approach to a network of Club your club Our Club Support Officers and Partnership Managers are there to help. Let them provide hands-on, volunteer buddies’ expert support for your club as well as guiding you to a range of external partners. participation provides the www.englandgolf.org support on golf running your club Support Officers, bedrock for good governance, scheme club volunteers. and download our who are well placed the recommendations in governance guide to provide advice and VIEW HERE this report complement the VIEW HERE VIEW HERE VIEW HERE VIEW HERE and pack support to your club. governance guidance. The National Golf Centre The Broadway Woodhall Spa Lincolnshire LN10 6PU

01526 354500 [email protected] www.englandgolf.org