We’ve been gently urged since the start of the World Handicap System to divorce competitions from our overall experience of playing golf.
There has been an inexorable rise in the number of general play scores submitted since the introduction of the system in GB&I in 2020. England Golf’s last published figures said social scores now comprised 46 per cent of all those submitted.
But make no mistake, competitions remain absolutely pivotal to club life. At least that’s what you are telling us.
In the latest results from our massive NCG Club Golf Survey, you told us in overwhelming numbers what you thought about competitive golf.
The survey, sent as part of our daily email newsletter, was filled in by 3,250 players. We’ve already revealed surprising data on crucial clubhouse issues such as what you think about the World Handicap System, dress codes, and if you’ve experienced cheating on the golf course.
Then we turned your attention to competitions, and this is what you had to say…
Club golfer competitions: What did the NCG Club Golf Survey reveal
How important is playing in competitions to you at your club?
Not important at all – 6.5%
Not concerned either way – 18.9%
Important – 42.1%
Very important – 32.5%
What do we make of these results?
They shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. For decades club and competition golf have been inextricably linked – you had to be a member of one to gain a handicap to play in events.
The advent of iGolf, and other independent golfer initiatives, has removed this to some extent but core club golfers remain competitive animals at heart.
Nearly a third of you, 32.5% or 1,056 respondents, can’t consider club life any other way while, taken together, just under three quarters of you (74.6%, or 2,424) are indicating you regularly sign up for trophies, medals, Stablefords – whatever they can put your names to in the club app.
Looking at those numbers, it’s probably no surprise that summer golf, in particular, focuses so strongly on competitions in the club calendar. I was once a member of a club that held 11 of them each month – basically one every three days.
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They’re obviously what get you down to the club each and every week. But there is a word of warning for clubs that go overboard in the competitive stakes.
While the numbers who didn’t think competitions were important, or were not concerned, are dwarfed by those who do they still add up to just over a quarter of overall respondents.
Extrapolated, that’s a decent proportion of overall club members and probably not a section anyone would want, or could afford, to lose.
Many clubs do a very good job of balancing the needs of those who want to play in events, and those who don’t. They need to continue to walk that tightrope.
Now have your say
What do you think of these survey results? Are competitions really important to your club golf experience? Do you choose not to play in them? Let us know all your club golfer competition thoughts by leaving us a comment on X.
