Golf club membership has been a gateway into the game for generations. Joining a club is a milestone for many, that traditional model plays a foundational role in their relationship with the sport, providing golfers with the opportunity to play regularly, engage in competitive events, and to build connections with others that are forged on the course.

Membership numbers are generally strong in the UK and beyond, having been boosted hugely during and after the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is fully satisfied and that there aren’t aspects that they would ideally change.

We recently surveyed more than 800 golf club members who were asked to identify ways that they would improve and adapt the classic model that we see at the overwhelming majority of venues.

It’s worth stating that a decent proportion were completely happy with their current situation, but most had some critique or desire for change, as golfers broadly, while respecting the framework that makes membership what it remains, want greater variety and value for money.

Modernisation can often be seen as a dirty word in golf, but gradual progress is what many golfers are looking for from their golf clubs.

Flexibility & New Membership Categories

Golf Club Members

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Roughly a quarter of the responses we received called for increased flexibility and the wish to see individually tailored memberships introduced, as the standard five- and seven-day categories are prohibitive to many golfers who can only play on certain days of the week.

If you can play both during the week and at weekends, then a normal membership is perfect, but if that doesn’t apply to you, then compromises have to be made and the question of whether you’re really getting value for money arises.

The likes of points-based, seasonal, weekend-only, and even 9-hole categories were suggested, as golfers want the system to be adaptable to their own availability and ability to play.

Let’s take a look at some key comments:

“A points-based system would be far better for me – I don’t play enough to justify full fees.” “Why only five- or seven-day memberships? Offer weekend or seasonal options.” “A 9-hole or summer-only membership would make far more sense.”

Much of this explains why some golfers simply prefer being nomadic, and it captures the factors behind the rise in alternative forms of membership, but it’s essential to note that these respondents value their clubs deeply, they just wish that categories on offer were a touch more suitable.

Affordability & Value For Money

Somewhat more controversially, around a fifth of the members who left a comment in our survey mentioned concerns related to cost, wishing to see greater transparency when it comes to how their fees are being spent, especially in regards to improving the course itself.

Golfers are generally content with paying the fees they are asked to – that was apparent in the survey – but they want to see more for that expense.

We’ve seen price rises across the board in recent years, but has the quality of the layout, its conditioning, and facilities improved in line with that inflation? That’s a question that more golfers are asking themselves as the 2026 season looms.

Loyalty is a key word that is continually raised – and how that is recognised. Should someone who has been a member for years, even decades, receive discounts and added benefits? That’s what more golfers want to see introduced, as these comments demonstrate: 

“Reduce fees or show where the money goes.” “Loyalty discounts should reward long-term members.” “Value for money – we’re paying more, but not always seeing the difference.”

Think of how much you spend on a membership and how often you play, what are you paying per round? Some golfers are asking themselves that question and comparing the expense to what’s available for society days and regular green fees. 

Related to the first section on flexibility, if you aren’t playing often enough to justify a membership subscription, when is the the breaking point?

Course Access & Fairness

We mentioned concerns related to visitor and society golf, but rather than just the cost argument, there is the issue of course access and how many tee times are taken up by guests of the club.

If you want to play regularly – especially if your time windows are more limited – then it’s an understandable frustration if you are finding (or at least have the perception) that visitors are taking priority over you.

Members who responded to us have found themselves increasingly squeezed between society and corporate groups, while online tee-time platforms routinely sell prime slots that members would rather have.

Ultimately, as these comments demonstrate, golf club members want to come first:

“Less society days – members can’t get weekend tee times.” “Visitors shouldn’t be given better slots than those paying memberships.” “We pay all year, but competitions and societies get priority.”

The income offered by visitors and societies is essential for clubs to survive and thrive, but if the line is crossed into antagonising their core base of customers, that’s when this conflict becomes more intense.

Finding the balance between these two groups is a difficult act for club management to solve, but it’s clear that members increasingly want to feel like a club truly is their home.

Ability to Play More Golf Courses

We’ve covered this before to showcase the benefits of being a nomadic golfer and to explain why flexible memberships are enjoying a growing presence in the game, but more members would value variety. Playing the same course all the time can be rewarding if you love the layout, but if you’re someone who enjoys visiting other places, then you may feel restricted by what’s offered by a traditional membership.

Members want to play a greater range of courses, which they often do through reciprocal arrangements or county cards, but they wish to see that expanded and enhanced into the future, meaning that one membership fee covers the opportunity to play a wider range of venues, as these respondents described to us:

“Reciprocal play with other local clubs would add value.” “A multi-club or county membership would keep things fresh.” “Partnerships between clubs would benefit everyone.”

Golfers appreciate their membership and core club, but the chance to play a wider number of courses would be greatly welcomed, and perhaps that’s the future of some locations as they seek to maximise what they can offer to members.

Desire For Modernisation & Inclusivity

There is a perception from outside the game that golf is stuffy and exclusive, but what might surprise you is that some club members themselves share that same view:

“End snobbery and cliques – make it friendlier.” “Encourage younger and female members.” “Bring back the sense of belonging without all the formality.”

Do you feel that golf clubs are still overly restrictive and unwelcoming?

While some of you may think that cliques and such like are a problem, there was a vocal group of golfers who believe that the modernisation of golf clubs has already gone far enough.

These golfers say that traditional standards, etiquette, and dress codes are part of what makes golf special. 

It showcases a divide in thinking between progressive standards and conservatism within the game. Whether those two elements can be bridged is an intriguing equation for clubs to solve.

Age & Health Concerns

Golf club members span generations in age – which is a favourable appeal of the game – but that also presents questions. Older members have increasingly called for senior discounts and 9-hole memberships, suggesting that they aren’t physically able to keep up with younger members.

That said, other golfers have commented that those retirees – who have the most free time to play golf – should actually pay more than those who don’t have the opportunity to play as frequently.

It’s a contentious topic, which Golfshake’s Derek Clements explored last year, but it’s clear that having one membership fee and style for everyone is no longer applicable, which some clubs have already recognised.

Transparency, Communication, and Governance

If you’re the member of a golf club, do you feel that the communication is good enough? Some members who responded to us want to see greater openness when it comes to how the club spends money, maintains the course, and plans ahead for the future, with frustration expressed about limited scope for consultation and discourse:

“More transparency about where money is spent.” “Better communication – too many decisions made without members.” “Let members see the investment plan.”

Golfers spend a considerable amount for their membership – as explored above – and they want to know where that money is going.

Quality of The Golf Course

Investment in facilities – namely the golf course – creates the product that golfers are ultimately paying for. Value isn’t just related to sheer cost, but arguably more so what they get for that money

“Better greens, better course management.” “Spend more on the course, less on the gym.”

While the environment around the venue and the relationship and social life between members is key, ultimately it’s the golf course, and its condition, that makes this a club that someone wants to be part of.

Some Golf Club Members Are Completely Content

We’ve looked extensively into complaints and things that golfers want to see change about their membership, but it’s important to report that roughly a fifth of the comments we received were from those members who were entirely satisfied about the state of things.

What is The Message For Golf Clubs in 2026?

Every golf club is different, and its membership is unique, but there are trends to take notice of as members are increasingly looking for flexibility in their membership and ensuring that they get the absolute most from their money.

That said, it’s important to say that golf club membership remains a vital ingredient for the game. It may just need to gradually evolve to fit within the lives of the golfers of today and tomorrow.

As one respondent aptly said: “We don’t need to reinvent golf. We just need to make it fit the way people live today.”

Next Up: Is it Time to Tear Up The Traditional Golf Club Membership Model?

We’ve shared a great deal about what members think, but what are the views of those keen golfers who aren’t part of a traditional club? 

In our next article from the survey, we’ll explore what those golfers are saying and what it could mean for the future.

Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.