An Idea Worth Considering

For those who will be attendance at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando at the end of January, it might be a good idea to check out the unveiling of the Get Golf Ready initiative that will take place at the Orange Country Convention Center.

While specific junior golf programs are indeed a noble cause, an adult player development program has been designed to lure an attractive demographic to the game at a time when paid participation is important to the game in a struggling economy, especially in the United States.

While the American economy has been struggling longer, Canada is starting to feel the effects of the worldwide recession. As the most recent Royal Canadian Golf Association’s participation survey showed, affordability is the main barrier to people playing the game and that will be magnified in a down economy.

Get Golf Ready offers affordability to potential players who have never played or have had minimal exposure to the game. It was first introduced recently to about 250 American golf industry representatives at Golf 20/20 in St. Augustine, Fla., which is focused on growing interest and participation in the game.

The program will provide skills training, rules, etiquette and the values of the game. It’s designed to bring adults into the game easily in a small group environment over five sessions.

The beauty of it is that, as we talk about affordability and the economy, the program is available for as low as $99, although pricing may vary at different facilities.

The goal is to have Get Golf Ready in hundreds of golf facilities next year and in 3,000 facilities by the end of 2011. After their five sessions, students will be offered other playing opportunities such as leagues, family programs and additional instruction.

“We feel this program and curriculum will be successful in bringing more people to the game, based on extensive work and research that has been previously accomplished through industry initiatives such as Play Golf America and Link Up 2 Golf,” said Joe Steranka, the PGA of America’s chief executive officer and chairman of the Golf 20/20 executive committee.

“Now, we’re able to take an important step forward by having the entire industry collaborate on the development, roll-out and support of this new initiative,” he added.

Each facility that uses the designated curriculum and the Get Golf Ready brand in promotional efforts is eligible to receive $1,000 from the World Golf Foundation, which runs Golf 20/20.

Whether such a program could operate on a national level in Canada is doubtful. Who would administer it?
Who would fund it? Collaboration and financing have traditionally been a challenge in this country, but perhaps the program could be test-driven in a specific region to see if it works.

Even with that in mind, it doesn’t hurt to check out the goods if you’re already in Orlando. All ideas that seek to increase participation and promote affordability should be considered in these uncertain times.

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