Targeted Ads Deliver Exceptional Member Growth

Overview
Astbury Golf Club, a Top-20 Cheshire venue located in Congleton, has long benefited from a strong and loyal membership base. In mid-2025, we were tasked with driving a new stream of growth through membership, supported by a special summer promotion offering the first 50 new members a £500 saving on their joining fee. We opted for a Meta lead generation campaign, which delivered high-quality enquiries at a remarkably low cost and ensured strong uptake of the promotion. At the same time, green fee sales have also been thriving, with revenues 46% up on 2024 by the end of August versus a national average of +23%.

Objectives

• Drive new membership enquiries without diluting the club experience for existing members
• Maximise return on ad spend
• Support visitor growth alongside the strong membership base
• Ensure new leads were genuinely interested and ready to convert

Strategy
TRC deployed precision-targeted Meta ad campaigns during July and August, centred around the limited-time offer of £500 off the joining fee for the first 50 new members. This incentive created urgency while still appealing to high-quality prospects. With concise targeting, we focused on quality over volume – ensuring that every pound spent had maximum impact while creating leads that were clearly qualified.

Results

• £225 total ad spend
• 71 highly qualified leads, averaging just £3.20 per lead
• Of those, so far 21 have converted to 7-day members
• At an average membership fee of £1,190, the campaign generated approximately £25,000 in new membership revenue (not including joining fees)
• Several other enquiries remain active, with further conversions still anticipated
• Green fee sales are 46% up year-on-year by the end of August 2025, showing strength across both membership and visitor income

Lessons Learned

• A compelling incentive such as a joining fee saving can accelerate conversions when paired with precise targeting
• Small, precise ad budgets can yield substantial results when targeting is tight, and messaging is clear
• Generating fewer, more qualified leads drives stronger conversion rates – Astbury achieved a ~30% conversion from enquiry to member, far above typical benchmarks
• Growth is being driven across both membership and green fee sales, giving the club a healthy balance of income streams
• Tracking conversions directly back to spend provides clear ROI and builds confidence in marketing strategy

Dave Cockerill – Board Member at Astbury Golf Club said:

“Astbury Golf Club have partnered with TRC for several years and have consistently found Scott Woodhead to be very professional. He brings a personable and highly competent approach to his work, integrating seamlessly with our team and consistently demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness. His contribution has added genuine value to our Club.”