My son is a manager of a golf club and consistently informs me of the challenges within the golf industry at the moment.
Maintaining membership levels during the past year has obviously been one. Resisting copying other clubs that seem successful is perhaps also a temptation to avoid.
Requests from committees, owners and members that perhaps include the lowering of rates and membership fees, suggested course design changes and clubhouse improvements, hiring of high-profile staff, new equipment purchases, investing in better marketing and advertising projects etc, all must be thought through extremely carefully.
In a recent article it stated that adopting and implementing any of the above points could be "a very dangerous move because beneath the surface, the situation is never the same at two golf clubs. The added financial strain incurred to make any of these moves may take a club deep into the red.
"Top-notch intelligence is essential before you consider matching anything with any other club, and you need to chart your own course in a clever strategic way. Charting your own course may mean taking a totally different direction."
Spare a thought for golf club general managers who must be going through a rough time right now. Not too far removed from the plight of football managers, their shelf life depends on how successful the club is, and if their club begins to slip down the league, they will be the first to be scrutinised.
Out of Bounds: Over the years Prince Philip has made some cringe-worthy comments here is one he put to an Australian Aborigine during a visit "Still throwing spears?"