Revealed: Over 70% of golf clubs have no corporate membership for businesses

Online retailer GolfSupport.com have compiled a report on corporate golf membership in the UK, and the results have proved to be surprising.

Away from the everyday pressures and challenges of the workplace, golf clubs provide companies with the relaxed environment to reward employees and entertain clients. In the case of the latter, the golf course also enables them the opportunity to conduct informal business discussions and negotiations over an enjoyable round of golf.

Subsequently, golfing retailer GolfSupport.com carefully reviewed 218 golf clubs from 17 different towns and cities across England and Scotland, to see if they offered a membership option specifically for businesses in the form of a corporate scheme/package.

GolfSupport.com included 17 different towns and cities that are widely considered prominent business hubs in England and Scotland. They are as follows:

Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle. Nottingham, Oxford and Southampton.

The research revealed that Glasgow (46%) has the highest proportion of golf clubs offering corporate membership possibilities to businesses.

Cambridge (43%) and Bristol (42%) followed, with a respectable amount of golf clubs in each city providing businesses the opportunity to play golf and use their facilities on a corporate package.

On the other hand, surprisingly, golf clubs respectively located and reviewed in Leeds, Newcastle and Nottingham do not have any corporate membership choices for interested businesses.

Overall, an overwhelming 74% (161) of golf clubs from the 218 analysed, do not have a single corporate membership option available for businesses in their pricing structure.

 

Moreover, GolfSupport.com carried out an independent survey – which discovered that 64% (165) of businesses (in a range of industries) from the 258 questioned across England and Scotland would be interested in a corporate membership scheme to entertain their clients and/or treat employees.

From the 64% (165) of businesses, 48% stated a fair and affordable price as the most important factor for them when assessing the value and suitability of a corporate membership. Contrastingly, for 30% – the additional privileges offered to businesses when they sign up to a corporate membership (such as the ability to clearly advertise their brand on the golf course and/or via the golf club’s website) as the highest-ranking variable in their considerations.

From the 57 golf clubs who have a corporate membership option(s), GolfSupport.com scoured through all of them to determine the best and most competitive prices. They were found to be:

Gary Swift, the Managing Director of GolfSupport.com commented:

“Away from the contained and stressful setting of an office environment, the calm nature of golf lends itself perfectly to businesses seeking to better connect with their clients as well as employees. Alongside the other benefits corporate membership usually comes with, such as free or discounted use of any available conference and function rooms – joining a local golf club can be highly desirable proposition for businesses. Therefore, it’s highly surprising more golf clubs are not providing a corporate membership scheme exclusively for businesses in their pricing structure. If golf clubs get the price right, this research certainly shows that there is an encouraging demand for corporate memberships”.

https://golfsupport.com/

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As an avid golfer since the age of eleven Dan lives and breathes all things golf.  With a current handicap of eleven he gets out and plays as often as his work life (and girlfriend) allows. Dan confesses to still being like a kid at Christmas when it comes to seeing the latest golf equipment. Having served as GolfPunk’s Deputy Editor, and resident golf geek for the past 13 years and working for golf's oldest brand, John Letters Dan brings to GOLF RETAILING an excellent understanding of the sector.