Golf memberships are falling below-par

FREE $100 bar tabs, no joining fees and revamped “family friendly” golf courses – Sydney’s golf clubs are desperate for new members - their membership has been hit hard.

Rod Perkins and Therese Siebel with their daughters Sophia, 10, and Charlotte, 11, at Kareela Golf Club, Kareela, Sydney, today. GOLF clubs are trying to entice people back through the doors after declining memberships. A new organisation has taken a different approach at a number of clubs around Sydney by making the courses more family friendly. Picture: Justin Lloyd

FREE $100 bar tabs, no joining fees and revamped “family friendly” golf courses – Sydney’s golf clubs are desperate for new members.

With dads now more likely to be ferrying kids to soccer and cricket on weekends, and women working longer hours, golf membership has been hit hard.

“Golf’s biggest problem has been that it lacks a 20/20 cricket equivalent,” industry expert Simon James, from HLB Mann Judd, says.

But many of Sydney’s 100 plus public golf clubs are fighting back with incentives including “tradies’ 9 hole” games, twilight comps and $100 vouchers for free drinks if you sign up.

Forget waiting lists of old, golf clubs at Cammeray, Bankstown, Gordon and Penrith now offer prospective members vouchers worth $100 on the bar if they join.

“Seven day introductory membership for $400.00 - buy now and receive an extra month free and you also receive a $100 bar tab included in the price,” Cammeray Golf Club advertises.

Other clubs have dropped joining fees altogether and slashed annual subscriptions, which previously cost thousands.

“A quick 9 holes of golf in two hours is what people are looking for”

Balgowlah Golf Club has brought in a new “pay as you play” full membership for just $150 for the time-poor.

“A quick 9 holes of golf in two hours is what people are looking for,” says the club’s manager Deb McDonald.

Sophia, 10, and Charlotte Perkins, 11. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Sylvania’s Par 3 club offers a “Mad Monday” unlimited holes deal for $10 and Pennant Hills is promoting free membership for under 21s and a suite of new flexible “lifestyle packages”.

A new family friendly approach is being trialled at a growing number of clubs, with special tees for children.

“The idea is that there are shorter tees for kids, so they can play and keep up with grand-dad, or walk around and finish alongside mum and dad,” Kevin Wallis, from US Kids Golf Australia said.

“We want to make it fun and enjoyable.”

Popular in America, the children’s tees have been installed at eight Australian clubs including Cammeray, and another seven are slated to come on board this year.

“We want to make it fun and enjoyable”

“We really encourage family involvement - in fact kids have to have caddies - parents or guardians for eight years and below.”

Mum Therese Siebel, from Kareela in Sydney’s south, introduced her daughters Charlotte, 11 and Sophia, 10, to golf several years ago, partly for the fitness, and partly as a way they could spend more time with their father, her golf-loving ex partner Rod Perkins.

“We play as a foursome and that’s great,” she said. “The girls have also done the US Kids Golf where they play with the shorter tees and it’s really accessible, I think it’s a great idea.

“Golf is a good game for girls, as they can play alongside the boys and gain confidence.”