Workforce and Facilities Survey 2024
BIGGA is working with GCMA, England Golf, Wales Golf and Scottish Golf to survey golf club professionals about about salaries, working conditions and workforce challenges.
Course managers who have begun to gather data in recent years will tell you that it isn’t about doing research just once – it needs to be a continued effort over time as that will show whether your efforts are making the changes you want to see.
As greenkeeping has become more scientific, collecting measurable data on a regular basis has become the norm. Soil moisture, green speed, volumetric water content, clipping yield, soil temperature and surface firmness, smoothness and trueness can all be measured, recorded and analysed.
The same is true if we are to make the required changes in the golf industry. For challenges to be understood and changes measured, it needs to be a continued effort and so BIGGA has once again teamed up with independent research company Sporting Insights. In collaboration with the Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA), Scottish Golf, England Golf and Wales Golf, the Workforce & Facilities Survey 2024 will further our understanding of the state of the golf industry in 2024.
BIGGA campaigns on behalf of our members, placing pressure on other key organisations in the sport to improve golf club governance and advocating for appropriate salaries and a minimum expectation for working conditions. This is all part of our ambition for greenkeepers to receive the respect we believe they deserve in recognition of their commitment to high performance and professional development.
These surveys provide benchmarking figures as we seek to discover whether the necessary change is taking place.
Take part in the 2024 survey by tapping herePlease complete the survey ahead of it closing on Friday 15 March 2024.
What did we learn last year?
- 20% of greenkeeping teams said COVID had led to an increase in staff, with 26% saying it had led to a reduction
- 57% of respondents said they did not have enough greenkeeping staff on their team
- A quarter of golf clubs do outreach work such as open days, work experience or engaging with community groups, but a quarter don’t do any community engagement at all
- 74% of greenkeeping teams said they had a drying room, 60% said free wi-fi, 76% said kitchen facilities but only 22% said gender-specific toilets were available. Worryingly 2% said they had no on-site facilities for the team.
- Positively, 87% said their club provides funding for individual training and 90% of employers enable the team to attend education during working hours.
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