The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) have distributed their biennial Golf Club Membership Questionnaire to all affiliated golf clubs.
This vital research helps to monitor significant membership trends within England, measures the pursuit of targets, produces valuable data within the England Golf Partnership (EGP) structure and highlights the progress of development initiatives already in place.
This is the fifth time the biennial survey has been sent to all clubs (the first was in 2002), and this year there are 1,954 golf clubs affiliated to the EGU and 1,782 clubs affiliated to the EWGA which have been invited to take part. A detailed ‘Results Book’ will be produced later in the year with full analysis of club responses.
The four previous Results Books have picked up on significant trends and issues, including steady improvements to the junior golf scene, the need to encourage more women and girls into golf clubs, and how clubs are responding positively to fill membership vacancies. In recent years more opportunities within golf clubs have been identified with many facilities offering a variety of activities with reduced waiting lists and entrance fees, suggesting there hasn’t been a better time to become a member of a club.
In each case, survey results have helped the EGU and EWGA take action to support golf clubs and their counties, including:
• The production of the EGU/EWGA Junior Organiser’s Handbook.
• Support for junior coaching and activity through the EGU/EWGA National Skills Challenge.
• The production of the EGU/EWGA Recruitment & Retention Toolkit for golf clubs.
• Best practice support for flexible membership packages.
• EGU/EWGA coaching grants to grow the player base and specific support for women and girls golf.
Results have also led to modernising and supporting the junior personnel structure at clubs, the further development of County Golf Partnerships and targeted support for priority groups in golf clubs. Data produced has helped golf clubs to measure their own progress and the EGP to prepare their ‘Whole Sport Plan’ submission to Sport England and bring major funding into the sport.
It is hoped that the 2010 survey will chart significant recent efforts to improve and develop the sport at the golf club level.
Richard Flint, EGU/EWGA Golf Development Manager, said: “Following County Golf Partnership activity over the last two years, the EGU and EWGA are hoping to see developments in a number of areas including junior membership, increased opportunities and flexibility within clubs.”
The 2010 Questionnaire can also be completed online at www.gcmq2010.org. As an incentive for golf clubs to complete and return the questionnaire, all clubs who respond online by 2nd April 2010 will be entered into a draw to win a laptop and all clubs who return a completed questionnaire will be entered into a draw to win four lots of funding for junior or beginner coaching, valued at £300 each, and a fourball on the Hotchkin Course at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa.
The EGU/EWGA Golf Club Membership Questionnaire is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and EWGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
English Women’s Golf Association www.englishwomensgolf.org
English Golf Union www.englishgolfunion.org