In mid 2007 an edition of the BOTC offered a glimpse of what golf might look like in 2020 and as some of these predictions made begin to materialise, I thought it was appropriate to re-visit them and in the process also introduce to you what many clubs have or are now somewhat uncomfortably becoming – a golf playing facility.

The following realities were forecast to be in store for club operations as they tracked towards 2020:

Increased membership flexibility, playing passes
Weekend yield management
More midweek golf
More associated member benefits, local reciprocal playing opportunities
More cost effective marketing
Fewer golf clubs
Greater involvement of committees
Less reliance on entrance fee income

Many of these predictions are indeed beginning to play out across Australia?s clubs and are briefly discussed below.