The Committee for Golf Club Salaries has provided an update regarding its guidance for staff remuneration levels across the golf industry in 2023.
Under normal circumstances, on an annual basis the Committee for Golf Club Salaries (CGCS) would agree on a recommended percentage uplift on salaries for all Golf Club employees.
Unfortunately, due to the turbulent economic climate throughout 2022 and continuing into 2023, the committee has not been able to reach agreement on a specific recommendation on salaries or annual increases.
Sufficient members of the committee believe that for this year any salary decisions must be a decision made individually by clubs considering the circumstances they find themselves in.
The committee firmly believes that golf club employees are critical to the health of the sport and of individual facilities and would urge clubs to award appropriate salary increases where they can, taking into account cost of living issues and the financial outlook for the facility.
BIGGA understands the challenges the CGCS has faced in reaching a recommendation and welcomes the message that clubs recognise the value of their staff and recompenses them appropriately within the economic means of the individual business. Throughout the recent boom in golfer participation numbers and beyond, golf greenkeepers have excelled in their commitment to sustaining the golf industry by producing outstanding playing conditions, despite the tough times society has navigated.
Key parts of the CGCS offering are the Salary Calculators, which are provided at www.golfclubsalaries.org.uk.
In order for these calculators to remain valuable and relevant, they must keep pace with general wage inflation. Therefore, the three salary calculators relating to greenkeeping roles – Course Manager/Head Greenkeeper, Deputy Course Manager/Deputy Head Greenkeeper and Assistant Greenkeeper – have had an increase to their baseline salaries of 6%. This figure is reflective of salary increases across the economy.
During 2023, BIGGA will continue to work with the CGCS to refine the calculators and to consider adding further calculators for other roles within greenkeeping teams, such as Equipment Manager, Greenkeeper/Mechanic and Senior Assistant Greenkeeper.
In order to assist golf clubs in their decision-making process for salary increases in the immediate future, it is recommended that golf club boards and committees refer to the latest Consumer Price Inflation reports, which can be found on the ONS website.
BIGGA continues to work with our colleagues at the Golf Club Managers Association, PGA and the Home Unions about salary recommendations for the collective workforce of golf clubs in the UK.
