“Winter is on its way, can‘t play golf because it’s dark at 4.00pm and the club house closes at 5.30pm, so there’s no point in making the effort to go to the club. Can only play golf on Sunday because I have to take the children out on Saturday, roll on next spring” Typical comments from the average golfer at this time of the year.
Now golf clubs have the opportunity at relatively very little cost to develop a golf academy using a small area within the confines of the clubhouse to offer members a facility to improve their golf twelve months of the year, and generate revenue for the club via the bar and restaurant throughout the winter months.
The installation of a golf simulator has always been considered to be an expensive luxury with systems costing as much as £40,000 and with very little opportunity to obtain a good return on this investment. However Sports Coach Systems based in Dorking Surrey now provide a range of systems with simulators starting for under £10,000 and the Links LS system featuring some of the best courses in the world starting for as little as £12,500.
Sports Coach manufacture a range of systems producing software in house to enable any golf club to offer golf simulation, club and ball fitting analysis and digital video swing analysis. Simulators enable golfers to play some of the best courses in the world whatever the weather or time of the day while club fitting software gives factual information on club performance and the digital video software provides that missing link to the golfers swing technique.
Throughout the day the academy can be used by the members for practice, competition or with the help of the professional swing tuition and analysis of their equipment. Some clubs not having the luxury of a practice ground or one that is close to the clubhouse would also benefit from its use while visiting societies could be sold an extra event with a closest the pin competition on the day of their visit to the club. Many clubs are now offering companies a corporate day in the winter whereby a small group of people can be coached, analysed and play a competition at a course such as Pebble Beach while discussing their efforts over a three course lunch in the club house.
If you feel you have the room then it may be worth discussing the potential with Sports Coach Systems. You can visit their web site at www.sports-coach.com or phone them on 01306 741888 for further information. Systems do start from as little as £4,000 installed while lease hire arrangements subject to approval can cost as little as £450 per month, for a £12,500 system over a three year period.
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