Having a club’s golf staff take over the operation of women’s golf leagues may be worth considering for course operators looking to make an impact with this crucial demographic. It’s certainly proven to be a smart move, both intellectually and financially, at Woodholme Country Club in Pikesville, Maryland.
Most clubs allow their women’s leagues to operate independently, with members volunteering to take responsibility for their events. In a somewhat unconventional move, head professional Mark Beran brought the administration of the nine- and 18-hole women’s groups under the umbrella of the golf operation when he arrived at Woodholme, a private club located in the Baltimore suburbs. The Woodholme staff now plans the formats, sets up the scorecards for the tournaments, and pairs the players.
According to Beran, moving the women’s leagues in-house allowed him and his team to strengthen their bonds with the club’s female membership. Meanwhile, it’s allowed the female members to enjoy their events free from the hassles of administration, a benefit that has increased the perceived value of their membership.
The bottom line has been helped, too. Before the changeover, the women’s group would purchase many of their gifts and giveaways from outside vendors. Since the golf staff began to oversee the leagues, the women now award all their prizes in golf shop credit. Beran says this has resulted in approximately $4,000 of additional merchandise sales.
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