Why you should support National Golf Month

    In May National Golf Month will return once again with the stated aim of getting more people golfing. The pros that partake will not only be supporting the game but will also put themselves and their clubs in front of a host of potential new customers.

    This year National Golf Month (NGM) will officially launch on April 27 and, for the month of May, a host of clubs and golf pros will be putting on special events to encourage lapsed golfers back into the game, as well as entice people to try it for the first time. Each week of May will be themed to attract a certain group into the game, be that women, juniors or families. Speaking to GOLF RETAILING magazine Doug Poole, director of NGM said: “PGA Professionals are a major part of the drive to get new and lapsed golfers playing and trying golf during May 2016 and their support is, of course, a key part. We look forward to having them working to get golf participation growing.”

    To get involved with this initiative and help the game of golf grow, PGA Pros need to visit the NGM website and upload what they can offer, such as free events, new player discounts, tailored coaching, tee times and open day events. Then all potential future customers can search for events in their area and see what is on offer near to them.

    NGM is supported by leading golfing figures such as Paul McGinley, Ian Poulter and Charley Hull. This year the event will be launched at the Houses of Parliament with a chipping/putting competition in the Palace of Westminster for MPs, Peers and schoolchildren. The launch, taking place on 27 April, will take in eight other iconic locations in London to promote golf and the importance of the sport to the UK’s health and economy.

    For more information, please visit www.fibodo.com/national-golf-month

    Matt Tucknott, PGA professional, explains how he got involved with NGM and why it can benefit all pros.

    What’s your background as a golf pro?

    I turned professional in 1996, so now have over 20 years’ experience within the golf industry as a PGA Professional. During that time I have worked at both private and public golf clubs and spent over nine years coaching at the country’s leading residential golf school. In the last three years since relocating to the South West I have become one of the region’s leading golf development specialist professionals. I’m currently a PGA Advanced Professional at West Cornwall Golf Club, Director of Junior Development Cornwall Golf and a Golf Ambassador for Ocean BMW Falmouth. I’m a Get into Golf specialist, delivering sessions at six different venues and in 2015 was awarded PGA Development Professional of the year.

    When did you first get involved with NGM?

    Mark TurnottBefore moving to Cornwall I was on average coaching for approximately 45-55 hours a week, so I personally didn’t really need to get involved with NGM as I didn’t have any capacity to do more coaching. As a result of having to start again in terms of building up a client base and following, NGM is a great free tool/promotion which highlights your skills and gives you a great opportunity to get local and national exposure. In the last three years I have done more and more. In 2015 I introduced over 100 new golfers to this great sport and I’m hoping 2016 will be the biggest year yet!

    Has it been a positive for your business?

    NGM has a great positive effect on my business in many ways; anytime you can get more people into golf is fantastic and it only costs time in terms of forward planning your events and getting everything into place before the sessions start. If I, as a golf professional, can facilitate the introduction of numerous new members to each club I run sessions at, that’s a huge influx of income to that particular venue which they might not otherwise achieve. I then become more valuable to that club as a highly prized experienced middleman who needs to be engaged in all future promotions.

    What would you say to any golf pro thinking about getting involved in NGM?

    Unless you are one of the few golf professionals in the country that doesn’t worry about the state of golf at your club or nationally, I would urge all proactive professionals to get involved. Remember that even if NGM stops at the end of May, everyone within the golf industry should continue their efforts throughout the year. If golf professionals are reluctant to get involved, the golf clubs that employ them should insist they do and maybe even look at tying participation schemes like NGM into their agreed KPI’s contracts between the professional and the club. The PGA professional is the right person, at the right time and definitely in the right place to promote and reap the benefits of this project.

    SHARE
    Previous articleGolf trade shows – an endangered species?
    Next articleLeading the revolution
    Miles is the Owner and Managing Director of Robel Media, and the award winning GOLF RETAILING Magazine. With over 25 years in the media business, Miles has a wealth of experience in magazine publishing, digital media and live events. HANDICAP - 7.2