Walsall Golf Club boasts a stunning terrace and clubhouse, set in 102 acres of manicured greens and fairways, with hundreds of trees, hidden at the end of a driveway off the Broadway.
The club, which was founded in 1907, has launched two new membership schemes to reach out to new members and make the most of its fantastic facilities.
Former Club Captain Chris Hewitson said the idea was to continue the progress of the club as an inclusive sporting facility, and offer a more cost-effective way for people to enjoy one of the region’s best golf clubs.
Chris said: We have launched our Five Day Plus membership, and our Pathway Programme to open up the club to more people.
“Walsall Golf Club has a really healthy membership but, as with all clubs, there’s a real focus towards Saturday and Sunday play, with only around 20% of our members playing on weekdays.
“So, the idea of the Five Day Plus membership is to encourage people to join with a proper membership and have an official handicap which gives them access during the week, for a more affordable fee, with the addition of “Plus” for seven-day social membership.
“We’re pricing it at £828, which is about £500 less than the standard Full membership. For someone who wants to be a member of a golf club, but has time to spare during the week, it’s a game change – as it’s the best value for money in this area.
“Golf can be expensive but the Five Day Plus membership gives people the greatest value for their money, if they want to play golf to a decent standard but are not overly obsessed with winning trophies, or competitions.”
The club hopes the new membership will appeal to people who want to get back into golf after time away from the sports, or who have weekend commitments that leave them with time on their hands during the week.
“The Five Day membership is also an opportunity for people to join with their partners, or for older people who have distractions at the weekend, such as seeing their grandchildren or families.
“So, the membership perhaps suits mum and dad as they get older, if they want to get the right balance of lifestyle with their families or grandchildren.”
Over the last 18 months, Walsall Golf Club has invested nearly £400,000 in the club and its facilities, including £50,000 in the clubhouse alone.
Chris said: “It really is a fantastic place that so many people simply don’t even realise is here. When they come along the driveway for the first time and see the course, the clubhouse and the beautiful terraces it’s often quite a surprise to them.”
The club has also launched its innovated new Pathway Programme, which aims to provide a cost-effective way of helping complete novices learn how to play golf while sampling the benefits of club membership.
Chris explained: “The Pathway Programme is a great way for a complete novice to come into the club and get the whole golf experience.
“They join on a limited low-cost membership, which provides lessons that take them from being a complete novice to being capable of going out onto the course on their own, within a matter of months.
“It’s also an opportunity to not only learn to play golf but to experience the club as a member, to find out about the facilities and the social side of the club, so they can then make an informed decision on whether golf is for them.”
The two new memberships – Five Day Plus and Pathway – provide a tiered way to getting involved in the golf world, with the opportunity to move up to a full seven day membership, and the chance to take part in competitions available too.
Chris said:” The hope is that these new membership schemes will reposition the club to make sure these fantastic facilities are used throughout the week, so that more people can make the most of them. It’s about providing a flexibility that fits in with people’s lives.
“But it’s also about opening up this brilliant place so more members of the community get to experience the social aspects of joining.
“The days of golf being a pastime for the borough’s elite are over, and our club has a really friendly, welcoming energy with a fantastic social side, with events like BBQ’s, quizzes, party nights plus Sunday lunches and evening dining to name just a few of the events which are perfect for socialising.”
“During COVID, when we had to close down, we realised that the thing people missed the most wasn’t the golf, it was the social aspect of the club – the friendships.”
“That’s why we hope these new membership deals will encourage more people to come down and take a look.”
Visit www.walsallgolfclub.com for more information, or you can get in touch by phoning 01922 613512 extension 1.