2009 Jamestown Park Golf Course Survey
Results
25 August 2009
By
R. E. Pifer, Ph.D.
Meaningful Analytics
Background
• The Jamestown Park Golf Course (JPGC) is a well-known
landmark in Guilford and surrounding counties
– Play initiated on the course in 1975
– Besides providing opportunity for healthy outdoors enjoyment, it
and the associated Park facilities add to the prominence and
property values of the Town
• Many JPGC facilities are dated and a rejuvenation is
being considered
– To help with the planning, a survey of golfers was conducted
• Information was collected from April 15 to May 31, 2009
• 174 golfers who play at JPGC responded to the survey
• This document summarizes results from the survey
2
Executive Summary
• All survey participants play at Jamestown
• Many details were discovered …
– About the players, and
– About features they would like to have at the course
• The majority of players consider a round of golf at JPGC
to be a “Good” value
3
Methodology
• Data was collected by both paper questionnaires that were
collected at the Park and online surveys
– A “sweepstakes” was held to encourage participation
• The prize was fee and cart with lunch for a group of 4
• To collect the prize if chosen, each golfer had to list his/her name and
contact information at the end of a completed questionnaire
• Each person was asked to make only one entry
– The recording of names served as a check that prevented anyone
from over-representing his or her opinion by submitting multiple
surveys
– All participants had to play at least occasionally at JPGC
4
Methodology (Cont’d)
• Information is presented on the basis of a number of perspectives
– The simple total group of 174 JPGC golfers – each person’s survey counts as
“one vote”
– A “weighted” total group, where each completed survey represents the number
of rounds of play at JPGC – each person’s survey is counted more or less
depending on the amount of play at JPGC
• Other things being equal, responses from people playing “daily” were given 7 times
more weight than responses from people who play “weekly”
• Other things being equal, responses from people who only play at JPGC (10 out of
every 10 rounds) are weighted 10 times more than those who play just 1 round at
JPGC out of every 10 they play
– Actual Frequent JPGC Players
• These 10 golfers are more frequent players at JPGC than the 164 others
• Among those completing the survey, they account for 40% of the JPCG rounds played
– Potential Frequent JPGC Players
• There are 75 such players who play daily or weekly but fewer than 5 out of 10 rounds
at JPGC
• Among those completing the survey, they account for 25% of the JPCG rounds played
• If they played just one more round at JPGC out of the 10 they play, JPGC would have
almost a 10% increase in rounds played
5
Methodology (Cont’d)
• Except for the pricing section and a few other places, information is
conveyed as percentages
– Example: Consider the method by which surveys were returned
• 69.3% of 174 people completed the survey via email
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
Questionnaire completion medium
In person
Email/online
30.7
69.3
51.2
48.8
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
57.1
42.9
18.2
81.8
• However, when these people are “weighted” according to rounds played at
JPGC, we observe that the majority (51.2%) returned the survey in person
at the golf course
– This and the fact that the majority (57.1%) of the “Actual Frequent Players”
returned their surveys at JPGC makes sense because these people are there a lot
• In some places median (middle value) and mean (simple average)
values are presented
6
Results – Who Are JPGC Golfers?
• Those completing the survey are almost all men
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
93.7
6.3
95.7
4.3
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
1. Gender
Male
Female
100.0
0.0
93.3
6.7
• They tend to be moderately older, age 51 to 65
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
13.6
29.0
42.6
14.8
12.0
29.8
33.1
25.0
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
2. Age
20-35
36-50
51-65
65+
7
0.0
33.3
33.3
33.3
8.1
21.6
60.8
9.5
Results – How Skilled Are They?
• Survey participants are fairly skilled at golf
– The majority have a handicap of between 10 and 19
– Frequent JPGC golfers are even more skilled, with the majority
(50%) of them having a handicap of between 0 and 9
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
19.4
51.8
22.4
6.5
38.4
47.5
10.2
3.9
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
3. Handicap
0-9
10-19
20-30
31+
8
50.0
40.0
10.0
0.0
17.8
63.0
15.1
4.1
Results – How often do they play?
• The majority of JPGC golfers play weekly
– Actual “Frequent” players play daily
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
4. Frequency of play
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
A few times a year
6.3
63.8
24.1
5.7
43.8
51.1
4.8
0.3
9
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
80.0
20.0
0.0
0.0
4.0
96.0
0.0
0.0
Results – How often do they play? (Cont’d)
• The majority of golfers play more than half of their rounds at other
courses
– Among “Total” respondents only about 4 out of 10, or 40%, of their play is at JPGC
– Among frequent players we find the following:
•
•
About 30%, or 3 out of 10 rounds, of “Potential Frequent Players” play is at JPGC
About 70% of “Actual Frequent Players” play is at JPGC
– Figures for the “Weighted Total” are higher because weights were constructed in part
based on responses to this question in order to highlight play done at JPGC
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
12.6
17.2
13.2
16.7
13.2
6.9
5.7
6.9
4.0
3.4
4.0
4.3
3.3
4.6
7.0
12.1
18.7
13.2
11.1
12.4
6.9
10.7
6.0
6.0
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
5. Times played at JPGC out of 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Median
Mean
10
0.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
20.0
20.0
10.0
10.0
0.0
30.0
6.5
7.0
22.7
24.0
17.3
36.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.0
2.7
Results – Most And Least Favorite Holes
• The favorite holes of most are #11 and #15
– More Actual Frequent Players like #7 most
• #3 seems to be the least favorite hole
6. Favorite Hole
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
3.8
8.8
3.1
4.4
5.0
0.0
6.9
5.6
3.8
3.8
16.9
5.6
4.4
8.8
13.1
3.1
1.9
0.6
0.6
1.2
16.4
5.8
3.5
2.5
0.0
12.7
5.7
1.2
2.0
15.5
4.0
1.9
6.8
17.3
1.6
1.5
0.0
0.4
7. Least Favorite Hole
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
0.0
20.0
20.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
30.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.9
11.1
4.2
2.8
5.6
0.0
4.2
9.7
2.8
5.6
13.9
5.6
6.9
1.4
13.9
1.4
2.8
0.0
1.4
11
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
3.8
6.3
34.2
3.8
1.9
3.2
3.8
1.3
3.2
9.5
7.0
3.8
3.8
4.4
1.3
1.3
3.2
4.4
0.0
2.1
3.6
42.6
1.6
1.3
6.5
6.2
0.8
1.3
4.5
5.1
1.1
12.2
5.2
0.7
0.7
0.8
3.6
0.0
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
0.0
0.0
50.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
4.2
2.8
35.2
2.8
1.4
1.4
7.0
2.8
4.2
12.7
4.2
4.2
1.4
5.6
2.8
2.8
2.8
1.4
0.0
Results – Green Speed Preference
• Most like a “medium fast” green speed
– However, more Actual Frequent Players tend to like a “fast”
green speed
– Nevertheless, “medium fast” seems to be the ideal choice
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
8. Preferred green speed
Slow
Medium
Medium fast
Fast
0.6
30.7
52.8
16.0
0.0
28.9
42.7
28.3
12
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
0.0
30.0
20.0
50.0
0.0
29.4
54.4
16.2
Results – Preferred Design Of Greens
• The vast majority of JPGC players like to have a variety
of different green shapes on which to play
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
9. Preferred green design
Flat & round
Multiple levels
Mounds & slopes
One directional slopes
Different shapes
6.5
20.0
8.2
1.2
64.1
3.0
15.5
10.7
1.2
69.7
13
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
0.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
70.0
4.1
19.2
8.2
0.0
68.5
Results – Preferred Type Of Bunkers
• Splash bunkers with powder sand are preferred by most
• Least preferred are deep bunkers with coarse sand
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
10. Preferred bunker type
Splash w powder sand
Splash w coarse sand
Deep w powder sand
Deep w coarse sand
All of the above
42.4
21.2
14.7
2.4
19.4
43.9
22.6
12.0
6.5
15.0
14
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
50.0
20.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
40.5
27.0
13.5
2.7
16.2
Results – Preferred Grass Height
• A slight majority tend to like the fairways mowed tight
– Potential Frequent Players seem to like them mowed higher
• Considerable majorities prefer to have the rough mowed
1 ½ inches high
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
11. Preferred fairway grass height
Mowed tight
Mowed higher
53.0
47.0
51.7
48.3
60.0
40.0
47.9
52.1
12. Preferred rough grass height
1.5 in high
2.5 in high
66.5
33.5
65.5
34.5
60.0
40.0
66.2
33.8
15
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
Results – Pin Placement
• Almost all want to have variety in pin placements, with
the choice of “6 easy, 6 medium, 6 hard” overwhelmingly
being selected most often
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
13. Preferred pin placement
6 easy, 6 med, 6 hard
All easy
All hard
92.3
4.2
3.6
94.7
3.1
2.2
16
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
100.0
0.0
0.0
94.5
2.7
2.7
Results – Weekend Start Preferences
• Strong majorities favor weekend starts from both #1 and
#10
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
14. Weekend tee start preference
From both #1 & #10
Just one
68.1
31.9
78.4
21.6
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
80.0
20.0
69.4
30.6
• When seasonally feasible, most favor a 7:00 AM weekend
start
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
15. Weekend tee time start preference
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
64.8
35.2
63.0
37.0
17
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
60.0
40.0
58.8
41.2
Results – Value For The Money At JPGC
• The majority of players consider a round of golf at JPGC
to be a “Good” value
– Except among Potential Frequent Players, more claim that
JPGC’s prices are “Excellent” than who say they are “Average”
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
16. Value for the price of a round
Excellent
Good
Average
27.3
47.1
25.6
34.1
51.6
14.4
18
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
50.0
50.0
0.0
20.0
53.3
26.7
Results – JPGC Pricing
• Current weekend prices for cart and play are about right
– The median (middle value) price considered fair to both the
player and JPGC employees is $35, same as is currently charged
Total
Price so low would question quality
Price fair for you and JPGC employees
Price so high would consider not playing
Weighted Total
Frequent Players
Potential Frequent Players
N
Median
Mean
N
Median
Mean
N
Median
Mean
N
Median
Mean
144
158
152
$25
$35
$42
$23
$33
$43
144
158
152
$25
$35
$45
$22
$33
$43
8
9
8
$20
$35
$45
$19
$32
$44
67
71
68
$25
$35
$40
$24
$33
$43
19
Results – Driving Range Evaluation
• The majority of players feel the driving range is at least “somewhat”
important
– The majority of Actual Frequent Players think it is “very” important
• Most people in all groups rate JPGC’s driving range as “good”
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
18. Importance of driving range
Very
Somewhat
Not at all
38.8
45.9
15.3
55.8
35.8
8.4
77.8
22.2
0.0
39.2
47.3
13.5
19. JPGC driving range vs. others
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
6.1
54.0
30.7
9.2
11.8
52.3
29.7
6.2
11.1
44.4
33.3
11.1
4.3
53.6
31.9
10.1
20
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
Results – Food And Beverage Cart Services
• Food service ratings range from “good” to “excellent” as
do beverage cart ratings
– Actual Frequent Players rate both services higher than do others
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
20. Food service rating
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
32.3
54.8
10.3
2.6
59.5
34.8
4.9
0.7
75.0
25.0
0.0
0.0
20.3
68.8
9.4
1.6
21. Beverage cart service rating
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
16.3
49.6
17.7
16.3
36.3
38.0
9.4
16.3
50.0
25.0
0.0
25.0
15.5
53.4
20.7
10.3
21
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75
Results – Involvement With JPGC
• Few are members of the Jamestown Golf Association
• The majority of Actual Frequent Players have a Loyalty
Card, but fewer Potential Frequent Players do
– Encouragement of all to present their Loyalty Card prior to
playing might increase numbers who have them
– This in turn might increase play
Sample Size
Total
174
Weighted
Total
174
22. Jamestown Golf Association member
Yes
No
23.0
77.0
30.8
69.2
22.2
77.8
17.6
82.4
23. Loyalty Card membership
Yes
No
54.0
46.0
65.5
34.5
66.7
33.3
52.9
47.1
22
Frequent Players
Actual Potential
10
75