The future of golf tourism on the CDS

As the coast’s golf clubs wrestled with the changes wrought by the mini-invasion of new residents – many of whom seek reasonably priced golf – green fees were being forced down well before the summer “low” season by the plethora of pub golf societies which now proliferate, ostensibly to cater for our new residents. But the fact remains that the Costa del  Golf is set up primarily for golf tourism, which will always remain the long term future for the coastal area of Andalucia.
There is surely room for both, and the fact that so many clubs can now offer substantially reduced green fees for residents via golf societies bodes well for the future health of golf tourism, as tourists should soon experience the benefit of reduced green fees.

But there is a proviso. A condition of membership of golf societies is that it is restricted to full-time residents, the sole reason for the existence of these societies. Once visitors are permitted to join these societies, the future of golf tourism is at risk. Why should legitimate travel agents and tour operators send clients to the Costa del Golf, only to find that they join some pub society or other and no longer book their golf through the agency which persuaded them to come here in the first place?

Travel agents and tour operators are obliged by law to be properly licensed and bonded, are bound by contracts to the golf  clubs, employ staff, pay social security, VAT and profit tax.  Pub golf societies have no such overheads and their motives have more to do with selling beer than providing a service to local golfers.

It’s time our golf clubs remembered how the Costa del Golf became recognized as Europe’s no.1 winter golf destination. The agents responsible for our initial success will not hesitate to send their clients elsewhere if they continue to receive such slip-shod treatment.  There is a simple answer which would solve the dilemma for all parties.  A 3 tier system of green fees,  comprising rack rate, society rate and tour operator rate would be simple to initiate and would provide a fair playing field for all parties.

Tags: golf tourism