Small Club, Big Vision: Cheadle Golf Club’s Strategic Leap Through Surveys

“We are here for our members.”

At Cheadle Golf Club, tradition blends with community spirit to create a welcoming haven for golfers of all backgrounds. With roots as the oldest 9-hole club in the county and a growing membership of around 350 players, Cheadle is both proud of its past and actively shaping its future.

And at the heart of this future-focused approach is feedback.

Listening to What Matters

For the club’s marketing team, connecting with members and potential players isn’t just a job: it’s a mission. With a focus on engaging newcomers to golf and encouraging membership growth, Cheadle’s leadership understands that, if you want to grow, you must listen first.

“We are here for our members, so we wanted to find out what they think of our club, the course, facilities and team,” Jo Taylor explains. With the support of their local Club and County Support Officer from England Golf, Ben Johnson, Cheadle turned to Players 1st to structure their feedback efforts.

The timing was intentional. “This most recent survey was timed to gather feedback after a series of improvements,” Jo adds. “As always, there is work to be done, but we have a focus as to where funds and effort should be directed.”

Data with Direction

The survey results spoke volumes and offered more than just validation. They provided clarity.

“The course scored very well, showing a vast improvement from the last survey conducted 18 months earlier,” Jo Taylor says. “[It was] also highlighting some surprising positives.”

This wasn’t just feel-good feedback. The data gave the club hard evidence to guide future planning. “The results were useful as a comparison tool too, analyzing our performance against other clubs”, she notes, “and that gave us a useful marketing angle: our course had moved from the bottom percentage to the top.”

That momentum was shared proudly with members and even made it to a Q&A session.

Strategic by Design

For Cheadle, the survey wasn’t just a one-time check-in. It’s now part of their long-term plan.

“The feedback will form an invaluable part of the ongoing strategic review of the club and its team,” the marketing team says. “It highlighted areas that need the most attention and most quickly.”

But not every insight was celebratory. One area of concern? Low participation. “That was one of our main concerns,” they admit. “So our next survey will have some kind of incentive linked, perhaps a prize draw, to encourage people to take the time to participate.”

Advice to Other Clubs

To those considering Players 1st, Cheadle Golf Club has a simple message: “Don’t hesitate.”

“Don’t be frightened to find out what your members think. It’s the only way to improve with purpose and make your club the kind of place where people want to join and stay for years.”

Indeed, Cheadle Golf Club scored an impressive 84 out of 100 on the statement “I feel well informed about the club’s competitions”, along with a similarly strong 83 out of 100 for “there is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the club.”

By embracing feedback, Cheadle has done more than improve its course; it’s strengthened its community, aligned its strategy, and proven that even the smallest clubs can take big steps forward when they put players first.