Declining memberships, falling participation and club closures – headlines often brandished around golf industry causing concerns about the future of the game. Brothers, Tim and Angus Lloyd-Skinner share this concern but where others have lost all hope, they have seen opportunity for the evolution of golf at grass roots level in the UK.
The Lloyd-Skinner brothers are launching their new venture – Melior Golf. Having already secured two franchise regions with Golf Management Group helping clubs to manage their costs, they are now aiming to promote better golf for beginners and a more sustainable future for golf facilities.
“We’re delighted to be ready to launch the new business. It is something we have been considering for a while,” said Tim Lloyd-Skinner, Managing Director.
Both Tim and Angus are former Golf Club Managers at North Weald Golf Club in Essex and they have experienced the golf industry’s frustrations first-hand when it comes to attracting newcomers.
“We thought to ourselves – none of our friends play golf – why is that? I’m 29 and Angus is 24. Our friends are very active and love their sport – this is surely a captive market but what is stopping them from picking up a set of clubs?” said Tim.
“At the same time, we have seen a number of clubs in the UK start new initiatives such as relaxing the dress code and offering 9 hole competitions in order to rid the game of perceived ‘stuffiness’. We think this is a good start but question the sustainability of such actions,” added Angus.
The Lloyd-Skinner brothers believe the problem lies in the lack of ‘starter’ centres in the UK.
“There aren’t enough facilities that combine golf with entertainment. Something that offers golf in an easy-to-play format in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. This is where the golfing seed is sewn in a beginner.”
With over 2,500 golf facilities in the UK, the brothers are asking club operators, ‘do you have the right facility for your area?’
“Facility conversions are needed and the governing bodies recognise this. We’re here to help clubs secure this transition and make a success of it,” they say.
Melior Golf is offering free facility reviews to assess the potential for starter centre conversions and funding options. For further information, head to http://meliorgolf.com/ or contact the team via tim@meliorgolf.com