Volunteer-Member Discussions

Through their role, volunteers encounter a wide range of members. Meeting lots of different people and developing new social relationships is one of the great things about volunteering.

Given their roles within the club, volunteers are approached by members to discuss various issues. As a result of this, volunteers often find themselves debating club affairs with fellow members.

Volunteers recognised the importance of discussing club matters with members. It was important that members should have their say and welcomed conversations about significant matters. Volunteers were often able to act and do something about issues raised. As long as discussions were constructive, volunteers found them helpful. Furthermore, by discussing issues with members and developing mutual understandings, volunteers could develop a feeling of ‘we-ness’. They felt supported by the members.

However, not all interactions were positive. Volunteers frequently talked about their experience with ‘moaning members’.

‘Moaning members’ tended to come from a vocal minority within the club. Volunteers described how they invariably raised trivial issues and how complaints were often based on speculation, misinformation or rumour. Volunteers observed how some members sought to legitimise their viewpoints by drawing on their status derived from previously holding high office, long-standing membership or golfing ability. Volunteers described how members occasionally adopted an aggressive or hostile tone.

Moaning members were a frequent source of frustration to volunteers. In some cases, it had a negative impact on volunteers’ enjoyment of their golf club.

A section captain reflected on the importance of members resolving differences:

“In any group of people, you’ll always have differing opinions and differences about how things should be done. And sometimes that can get a bit onerous. You get the older members wanting it all to stay the same, stay as it’s always been. You get newer blood, new people coming in, and they want to change things a bit. Both sides of the story have their merits.”

Volunteers noted that most members tended not to engage in discussions about club affairs. While some volunteers suggested this lack of engagement was due to apathy or consumerist attitudes, other volunteers recognised that their golf club could do more to encourage participation. In particular, there was a need to actively engage a more diverse range of members in club affairs and include the ‘silent majority’ and not just the ‘vocal minority’. Golf clubs face many challenges and embracing diverse perspectives could help generate positive change.

Volunteer-Member Discussions

A former club captain describes how member discussion affected his enjoyment of golf:

“I used to come up to play my golf on a Sunday to play in the competitions and you get accosted in the car park, “Mr. Captain, why is this being done? Why is this being done?” You have to stand and explain and so your golf for that day is affected…….. I’d then be thinking about it all of the way round when I’m playing golf. I did let it get to me.”

The Power of Three

We found younger adult volunteers were happier and more productive when teaming up with their peers. Having at least three like-minded individuals on board enhanced their ability to make change.

Golf club actions

• Involve members in developing a vision and strategy for the golf club. Consult widely and seek to engage members from across the club. Make it a ‘big conversation’. Try to reach consensus, or at least compromise, on contentious issues. Once agreed, promote the vision and strategy among members.

• Provide members with regular reports on progress against the strategic plan.

• Consult with members when developing club strategy and before major decisions are made (e.g. on significant capital expenditure). When consulting with members, encourage all members to participate by using a range of accessible engagement methods (e.g. member surveys, online tools, forums, workshops, consultation stands).

• Consider who among the membership is not contributing to discussions and make special efforts to involve all members in club discussions. For example, make sure new members, younger adults and juniors are included in discussions just as much as established older adult members.

• Report back to members on consultation findings and what actions have been taken as a result of member input.