Golf Course Reviews

What can potentially ruin a terrific round of golf? It can be something as simple as a slow partner or a disinterested caddy, or something important as the overall failure of the golf course to deliver you a great golf playing experience. It is precisely for these reasons why reviews of golf courses and clubs are vital. Golf course reviews are generally given by fellow golfers and can cover all aspects of their experience. When it comes to your favourite pastime, knowing what to expect is crucial as there is absolutely nothing worse than going unprepared and returning home disappointed.

What Can Reviews Reveal about a Golf Course?
As mentioned above, the golf course plays a key role in influencing your golf playing experience. Reviews can provide you with a clear idea of what to expect from a golf course and it usually includes the following:

1. Design and layout of the course
2. Condition of the course and how it is maintained
3. Pace of play
4. If it offers good value for money
5. The efficiency and friendliness of the staff
6. Off-course amenities, if any

If the reviews are good, then you know you can book the course with confidence.

Why You Should Read Golf Course Reviews
Most golf enthusiasts enjoy planning a full day out at the course of their choice . There are also others who plan golf vacations in the UK and abroad. If you are planning to spend an entire day or holiday playing golf, it is of utmost importance to know what your chosen golf course offers. Make sure you go through golf club reviews before booking.

Bored of playing the same golf course? Why not try a Social Network for Golfers

Many golfers no longer see the value in playing the same course over and over and with the increase in the numbers of golf clubs opening their doors to more visitors, there has never been a better time for the golfer to increase their portfolio of clubs they play.

Coupled with the plethora of online golf tee times platform that have driven down the price of some tee times green fees, now is the time to look at joining an Online Golf Club. There are number of platforms and apps available to join – just search ‘Golf Groups’ in Google and you will see many options but what is the criteria for judging which Online Golf Society to join?

Here’s ten top tips for choosing which golf website platform or app is right for you…

1. Is the site being used and are there any active forums?
2. Is the site easy to navigate and use?
3. Does the Online Golf Society have a list of upcoming events?
4. Is there a messaging system within the App?
5. Can you build a Golfers Profile and grow your numbers of golf contacts?
6. Is there a ‘Society’ options in which you can promote your events?
7. Can you track your golf handicap and get a handicap certificate?
8. Do they offer discounted Green Fees to members?
9. Can you add photos, society results and your society handicaps?
10. Does it allow you to meet with other golfers in your area?

Each Social Network for Golfers offers its own unique way or presenting its layout and functions but as with all these things, simplicity is key. Try to find a website or platform that is quick and efficient and of course one that does not sell your data or bombard you with email promotions.

There is no doubt they in the future this is the way that many golfers with connect with other golfers and with the technology constantly evolving, there is no reason why anyone, rich or poor should ever play golf alone again!

The benefits of good Golf Course Reviews or Golf Club Reviews

When leaving a golf club review for your fellow golfing nomads, there is a number of criteria you should look to include in any feedback. Firstly, ensure your review is not based on the quality of golf you played on the day. In addition, take into account the weather conditions and the price of the round – just because it was expensive, does not mean it was not good value for money.

 Ten Top Tips to consider when writing your golf course review…

1. Was the club located close to major roads?
2. Were you given a friendly welcome on arrival?
3. Were the Pro shop and bar staff professional?
4. Was there a good selection of food available?
5. Was the course well maintained?
6. What was the condition of the tee boxes and greens?
7. Was there good signage on your entrance to the course?
8. Was there a history to the club?
9. Was the green fee reflective of the quality of the course?
10. Would you return?

It goes without saying, that every golfer will have a different experience to the next but in today’s modern world, it is paramount that clubs take heed of the reviews that travelling and visiting golfer give their club, as this could, and in time will, affect the ability for clubs to survive.

Sadly, gone are the days when clubs can just rely on their local constituents as a steady trade. In fact, with golf club membership continuing to fall – it is paramount that golf club owners start listening more to the views of visitors. A good golf club reviewer will also take pictures and share these in their reviews – this is particularly useful for readers, as they can provide images of how the course looks throughout the seasons.

Finally, be generous, its easy to give negative feedback than positive but above all, be honest!

How to manage your Golf Society or Golf Group online

Ideally, when looking for a golf group or golf society management system, look for one that provides the following:

1. Score Tracking – This prevents any unnecessary argument over group members handicaps
2. A leaderboard table – Meaning you can keep you member informed of their rankings
3. Email or Messaging – A system that you can update your results in one stroke (no pun intended)
4. Photos/Images - A place where you can store images of your golf days & golf events
5. Handicap Certificate – No more arguments over who’s playing off what!
6. Grow your Society – Increase the awareness of Golf Group Online
7. Special Rates - Take advantage of Golf Society Website Partner Green Fees
8. Increase Participation - Promote your games and events to other golfers
9. Total Control – Organisers can add or delete members at their discretion
10. Everything in One Place – No more searching for email address and contact numbers

Of course, having a stand alone golf group or society website yourself, arguably gives you a certain amount of control but can you create the sophisticated functions available on the bigger websites? In today’s world, a website or social media page will get you so far but using this route will have its limitations.

With so many golf society platforms now growing fast, it’s only a matter of time before traditional golf club membership as we knew it, will be a thing of the past.

Alas, there is no reason why anyone should be forced into joining a club to find golfers to play with.

So, if are you looking to meet playing partners online and join a group or golf society near you … Try out one of the many golf group online platforms and start playing more golf today!

How to write Golf Course Reviews or Golf Club Reviews

Having written many reviews of hotels and restaurants (think trip advisor) writing a good golf course review is just as easy but there are some fundamentals that you should include in any description. It should not be an account of your day but an independent and balanced view of your overall golf experience when you visited the club.

Her is our Top Ten Tips to consider when writing your golf course review.

1. Is the club easy to find?
2. Was there ample signage?
3. Were you welcomed on arrival and treated well?
4. Were the Bar and Catering Facilities to your satisfaction?
5. Did the Pro shop offer you any advice on playing the course?
6. Were the tee boxes and fairways well maintained?
7. Were the Greens in good condition?
8. Was their wide history to the club?
9. Was the course good value for money?
10. Would you return?

Obviously, every golf club reviewer will have their own personal style of writing, but try to avoid giving a review of your round. Sadly, the way you scored on the day can have a big effect on how you rate and judge the course – so be objective. In addition, as well as giving your feedback, try to always find at least one positive thing to say. No one wants to read a wholly negative review and rather than encourage the club to improve its service – it will probably just annoy them (short sighted, I know!)

Finally, if you are in a position to take photographs, add them to your golf course review. Over time this will allow your fellow ‘nomadic golfer’ to gauge what the course may look and play like at various, and huge differentiating times of the year.

Of course, if the website you are using offers you to rank your experience ‘by ratings’ – use these to full effect…. Happy Reviewing!

How to find Golf Groups Online in your area

Whether you are looking for new golfing friends, a local golf group or society of golfers to play with regularly, there are now many options to find Golf Group online with a plethora of websites, apps and social media platform on which to try….

When looking for a good golf group online, there are many options:

• Join an online golf club (e.g. the Social Golfer)
• Join a Facebook Group
• Join A Meet Up Group
• Join a WhatsApp Group
• Join a Twitter Group
• Join a Traditional golf club

Which is best for you?

Much of this will depend on whether you want to play with the same group of golfers, in the same areas or whether you wish to keep meeting new golfers and like to play different courses?

As such, if it’s the first option, then we recommended that you local a club near you, book an appointment with the Director of Golf or The PGA golf Pro and discuss the membership options on offer but if you like playing new courses and meeting new people, the latter will probably appeal to you most.

This is where a good online golf club comes into its own. Joining this type of new golf club (appealing to the nomadic golfer) will mean you will have plenty golfers available to play and keep your interest over time.

In addition, while the Facebook, WhatsApp and Meet Up groups can help you find golfers, they will not offer you a handicapping certificate service or allow you to run and grow your own golf society efficiently.

Furthermore, it may be the online golf community you decide to join will also have deals and green fees offer with traditional clubs, so check what the website platform offers, outside of email, forums, handicap tracking, as you can probably receive discounts and offers too.

Choosing to play a Golf using a Golf Course Directory service

You're excited about your trip, you’ve booked your accommodation, you’ve picked your Restaraunt for the evening and you know you want to play golf while you're away but what the best course to play, what are the green fees? Are they any offers available at the time you wish to play? Using a Golf Course Directory that is up to date, full of information, maps and other detailed content regarding the club is the best way to decide. Furthermore,  there are numerous website platforms on which to source this info.

Look for a Golf course directory that offers you all of the above but most importantly one that provides golf club reviews. Not only with these give you an insight into what your fellow nomadic golfers think of the course but it will also supply you with an objective view of the course, its green fees and its overall value for money. The best course directories will offer a star-rating system making it quick and easy to decide whether it's worth reading on or if to avoid.

By the mid-noughties, many websites like Amazon and eBay were offering customers the opportunity to leave a ‘review’ for the next person and this system is now being widely adopted by all markets and sectors.

A few tips to improve your reviews

1 - Write truthfully and be fair
2 - Talk about the club as well as the course
3 - Be sympathetic to the time of year
4 - Don’t write a review based on what you scored (!!)

However, a word of warning…. what one man (or woman) may think is a luxury, may, in fact, be another person nightmare, so try to take into account the contact in which the ‘review’ has been written and read more than one golf course directory before making up your mind to visit!