KEY POINTS:
Change or perish - that is the blunt message being delivered to New Zealand's ailing clubs.
New Zealand Golf officials are about to launch Golf Nation, an ambitious project designed to arrest then reverse the alarming slump in club membership.
That trend is not unique to New Zealand - memberships are falling worldwide - but NZG has decided it cannot stand by and watch clubs go to the wall.
NZG estimates at least 60 per cent of New Zealand's 392 clubs are in financial difficulty, with membership numbers dropping but labour and course maintenance costs increasing.
Do nothing and NZG fears many clubs will inevitably wither and die. The average age of a club member nationwide is about 60 and clubs are crying out for younger members.
However, since 2004 national club membership has dropped from 129,902 to 123,924. "If they [clubs] don't change then the game is going to be in deep trouble," said NZG chief executive Bill MacGowan yesterday.
"Golf clubs are asset rich and cash poor, and it's getting worse. Their overheads are going up and their fixed income - memberships - are going down."
NZG wants to play a role in saving the sport at grass roots level, hence it is encouraging clubs to jump aboard Golf Nation, which it sees as a workable solution to the many issues confronting the game.
It has targeted an initial take-up of between 80 and 100 clubs agreeing to a set criteria which will offer players options currently denied them.
These include a variety of membership options designed to remove barriers.
MacGowan and NZG commercial manager Dean Murphy will take the concept on the road in June and will liaise with clubs up until October when they plan to launch the membership campaign.
- NZPA