Despite my waning golf skills, in recent years I’ve been fortunate to expand my golf travels around Scotland and finally visited Ireland this past week. Each time I’ve visited the “home of golf”, I’ve wondered about why the culture of the game is so different in America and how we could learn from the Scots and Irish to help golf grow and be more accessible and sustainable (economically & environmentally) in the US.
For sure, the waterside links courses provide the course and some of the weather conditions Scottish golf is well known for with wind, rain and the legendary firm and fast fairways and somewhat slower green speeds. It also offers some wonderful natural beauty, summer temps in the comfortable mid 60’s and low humidity and yes we wore shorts half the days we played. Just about everyone will enjoy the extra roll on the tee shots and the plethora of intriguing and interesting short [<350 yards] par 4 holes and short-iron one-shutters. There are numerous courses of less than 6,500 yards that will get the attention of even the most skilled players.
But what intrigues me are two things most of all:
- Club Culture
- The economic operating model
As my friend, GM at Royal Dornoch, Neil Hampton says, golf in America is a status symbol, while in the UK it’s an “everyman’s” game. The bar is often buzzing with members, visitors, club staff and caddies where stories and laughs are shared not only by foursomes, but usually among interacting tables resulting in a most congenial and relaxed atmosphere. Service staff (each of whom are club members) joke with and needle those they’re serving and I’ve never been there when it didn’t seem like everyone was having fun. This compares with many American clubs where staff and caddies have limited (if any) privileges and in many cases are required to address members as Mr., Mrs., Sir or M’am. Of course, we can’t forget one other major difference – man’s best friend – our dogs, are allowed to go round the course with their masters and the walking of dogs is seen at almost every course we visited, by golfers and non-golfers alike. Doesn’t seem to do any harm and I didn’t see any evidence left on the ground.
Another difference is the economic operating model used by clubs in Scotland versus the US.
During our visit this year, we inquired of the clubs we visited about # of members, dues levels, gross revenues and maintenance costs. Whereas American clubs might have anywhere from 200 to 600 members per 18 holes, the Scottish clubs have more, often 1,000 or more, many being non-resident or international members, with even the local members paying far less in dues than clubs in America, even for the most highly rated courses. There are excellent clubs, some in small town and some with only 9 holes that offer memberships for as low as £200-350 ($250-450) per year. These clubs offer intriguing courses, excellent playing conditions and outstanding camaraderie. While certainly the climate helps with maintenance costs in Scotland, the expectations are different as well with no mandates for a 200 acre emerald green carpet. The playing surfaces are wonderful!
Maintenance costs at even the most highly ranked courses like Royal Dornoch, Nairn and 2019 & 2025 Open Championship venue Royal Portrush (Ireland) were reportedly half or less of what comparably notable courses in the US spend. Few of the clubs we visited had annual dues (even for the local members) of more than £1,000 (about $1,300). Wouldn’t that avail quality golf to a broader population? An 18 hole round rarely takes 4 hours unless you have a slowpoke in the group.
Among the most significant differences is that these clubs all welcome visitors. It’s part of the culture and the economics, with the more noteworthy clubs reserving visitor times and commanding high £200+ green fees. That said, from my observations and inquiries, I’ve learned that the Scottish clubs I’ve visited both this week and in the past thrive on far less revenue than clubs in America. I’ve always wondered if such an operating model could work in the USA.
This trip, my son Jack, a writer for Golf Magazine/Golf.com, our friends Kevin & Griffin and I took a most intriguing and stimulating adventure to Scotland’s northwesterly most golf course at Durness (https://www.durnessgolfclub.org) which both on the drive (mostly one-lane roads) and at the course offered amazing scenery and a wonderful 9 hole golf course well worth the 2+ hour drive each way. Last year, and again this year we visited Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC near Inverness (https://fortrosegolfclub.co.uk), another visually stunning and super fun layout where I surprised Jack with a membership for 2024. We also visited Bonar Bridge Ardgay GC (https://www.bonarbridgegolf.co.uk) where club captain Nigel Baird greeted us and invited us to play this delightful 9 hole layout with a northeastern US feel overlooking the Dornoch Firth and presenting some interesting challenges.
I often wonder about the sustainability of golf in the US, both environmentally and economically. Like the US, Scotland & Ireland golf clubs experienced a surge in play and activity from COVID. That said, it seems as though their operating model might be less sensitive to economic fluctuations than clubs in the US, especially those with large debt obligations. It begs the question: Are the expectations of American golfers reasonable and sustainable? It wasn’t that long ago that clubs in the US were begging for members. Can the Scottish model, with visitors welcome, a greater reliance on green fees than dues and a different club culture work here? Is this a concept that struggling clubs and those in secondary markets with lots of competition can benefit from? For sure, there are places it wouldn’t work, but I think that there is much we can learn that will make quality golf more affordable, sustainable and culturally diverse in those instances where it might fit.