The golfers have spoken. Course conditioning is the deciding factor in membership renewal.
According to a new survey from Carr Golf Maintenance, 90% of UK golf club members say that year-round course quality will impact their membership decision.
When ranked against other membership factors, course conditioning dominates at 55%, significantly ahead of value for money (39%), tee time availability (39%), and price (22%).
On the surface, the data couldn’t be clearer about what motivates members in 2026.
However, for golf course maintenance teams, the situation is only becoming more complex.
The Challenge: Rising expectations, changing climate and inadequate resources
The survey revealed that 78% of members are currently satisfied or very satisfied with their golf club experience. Yet their expectations are even higher.
Notably, 88% of respondents expect good-to-excellent course conditioning year-round. Against this backdrop of exacting member standards, course managers also face mounting environmental and operational issues.
In 2025, the UK experienced its hottest summer on record, 1.5°C above the long-term average. When combined with progressively milder, wetter winters, these volatile conditions have stretched maintenance teams to their limits.
Ed Pettit, Managing Director of Carr Golf Maintenance, explains: “Many clubs still rely on inadequate equipment, resources and practices to navigate modern challenges.
“For example, with drier summers and wetter winters, investment in irrigation optimisation and water storage is now critical for managing turf stress, minimising drainage pressures, and maintaining year-round playability.
“Furthermore, such warm, mild and wet conditions significantly increase the threat of turf disease. But the chemistries at the disposal of course managers are limited and less curative, making it extremely difficult to overcome costly outbreaks,” he said.
The Solution: Data-driven golf course maintenance
As the survey demonstrated, to ensure membership retention and growth, golf clubs must provide excellent course conditions year-round to meet rising customer expectations. And in today’s ever-changing landscape, this requires a more strategic, transparent and scientific approach.
Carr Golf Maintenance helps member-owned clubs and private venues achieve continuous, measurable improvements to course performance, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Based on 13 key performance indicators and in-depth reporting, their custom data-driven programmes deliver long-term results through ongoing testing, measuring and optimisation.
Recently, the company partnered with Burhill Group Limited (BGL) to enhance agronomic standards, elevate playing conditions and maintain sustainability certification at five of its golf venues across England.