Would Flexible Membership Work At My Club?

Flexible club membership can be a progressive way to appeal to the modern golfer, but would it be of benefit to your club?

- Fergus Bisset

Through my role at Golf Monthly and as a committee member at Banchory GC in Aberdeenshire, I’m conscious of the challenges members’ clubs in this country face. The way people play the game is changing and, although total numbers striding out on the fairways seem to have stabilised, the number of clubs looking for members continues to grow, as more people take advantage of reduced green fees and choose to play their golf itinerantly.

Golf clubs across the UK must look to enhance what they offer to current and prospective members to deliver value for money. A few success stories have emerged in recent years from golf facilities offering ‘flexible membership’. I wanted to find out if it might be something my club could consider. In the style of Seve on a rainy day at Wentworth, I donned two hats – both my journalist’s and my golf club vice captain’s – and began researching.

What is it?