Survey: 78% of Regular Golfers Unsatisfied with their Home Course
Only 22% of regular golfers in Ireland and the UK are satisfied with the year-round condition of their home golf course.
The eye-opening findings of a new snapshot survey from Carr Golf reveal a pressing commercial challenge for golf club managers and owners:
Keep pace with golfer expectations for consistently high-level playing experiences.
The survey highlights the increasing importance of course standards for customer satisfaction as golf participation continues to surge worldwide.
Golfer Expectations vs. Reality
The goal of the survey was to better understand not just the importance of golf course conditions for frequent golfers – but also how their experiences compare to their expectations.
An overwhelming 90% of respondents identified the course as the key aspect of their golf club experience.
However, the survey found that most clubs fall short of the average expectations.
Areas for Improvement
The survey also discovered how golf clubs can deliver better playing experiences.
Participants – 90% of whom play golf at least once a week – identified three areas of their home course in need of the most improvement:
- Bunkers (68%)
- Tees (60%)
- Fairways (42%)
Numerous venues where Carr Golf oversees course maintenance operations have recently undertaken or completed bunker renovations.
Specifically, Seapoint Golf Links renovated 16 bunkers before hosting the 2024 OFX Irish Legends.
What the Average Golfer Wants
Finally, the survey investigated the course characteristics that golfers value the most.
In order of importance, participants ranked their top three priorities:
- Smooth greens (93%)
- Visual appeal (67%)
- Level tees (62%)
At Corballis Golf Links, another Carr client, the maintenance team recently integrated a new 8th-hole tee box and green complex built by DARGolf Construction.
Mitigating Threats for Golf Course Businesses
The survey results reflected feedback trends from management teams at the 22 venues where Carr Golf manages course maintenance.
Managing Director Ed Pettit said: “These findings confirm the high levels of post-COVID customer expectations reported by course managers. It also underscores the fundamental role of the golf course experience in member satisfaction.
“Golf course businesses must prioritise their most prized asset to mitigate potential threats and achieve long-term stability.
“However, prolonged inflation, ever-more stringent regulations, labour shortages, and unpredictable weather make it increasingly difficult to maintain the same level of conditioning year-on-year.”
Meeting Member Expectations with Carr Golf
Recognising these challenges, Carr Golf equips greenkeeping teams with a results-driven roadmap to deliver tournament-ready conditions for golfers year-round.
Their collaborative approach is based on daily maintenance and agronomic prorgammes set against 12 key performance indicators (KPIs) for course performance, presentation and sustainability.
Clients receive monthly on-site assessments alongside KPI, labour, equipment and treatment reports via their IT system
This in-depth reporting and analysis support:
- Transparent stakeholder communication
- Increased staff productivity
- Streamlined operational efficiency
- Data-backed maintenance decisions
- Measurable golf course improvements
In a previous survey, 88% of members of venues partnered with Carr Golf said they were ‘very satisfied’ with course standards.