How much do golfers really care about golf course maintenance?
Based on the results of a recent survey, “Growing Golf in the U.K,” Syngenta has concluded that course design and maintenance is “the most important factor in attracting golfers to visit a golf course,” or at least a golf course in the United Kingdom. The firm says that course design and maintenance matters most to low handicappers, men and younger players and that “clubhouse factors” – things like the quality of a course’s food and the merchandise in its pro shop – hardly matter at all.
For this reason, Syngenta advises course owners wishing to generate more rounds to invest in their courses instead of their clubhouses.
“If you have a capital sum to invest,” writes Rod Burke, one of Syngenta’s business managers, “redesigning holes, upgrading bunkers and investing in tools to improve turf quality is going to assist in attracting more players and deliver a better return than spending money on improving clubhouse facilities.”
Burke also counsels course owners to heed the quality of their turf, particularly their greens, because “the condition of the playing surfaces” gives golfers “the greatest satisfaction” during their rounds.