Award-winning golf operator Crown Golf has launched ‘Discover Golf’ – a new golf coaching programme, intended to revolutionise the way beginners take golf lessons at its network of Academies across the south of England.
And the new scheme – which starts with a seven day free trial – marks the group’s largest-ever initiative to boost the number of golfers in the UK, with the resulting influx set to bring an additional £1 million new revenue to the sport by the end of this year.
In the new scheme, called “Discover Golf”, golfers pay a monthly subscription rather than buying a set package of lessons. They then qualify for unlimited access to group coaching sessions during their subscription, with a minimum of 20 hours of coaching available every month.
The programme, which costs £49.99 per month, also gives golfers a 10% discount on all food and beverages within the clubhouse, plus free range balls and free play on the golf course during the programme’s sessions.
Discover Golf is now on offer at the company’s twelve-strong Crown Golf Academies network, at venues ranging from St Mellion International in the west, to South Essex in the east of England.
Designed to attract complete beginners to the sport, the scheme is intended to create the simplest possible route towards becoming a golfer, giving advice on etiquette, rules, and general golf club culture, as well as instruction.
“Many people have no idea how to become ‘a golfer’,” said Rob Spurrier, Crown Golf’s Group Academy Manager. “They know that you can go to a PGA pro for lessons, but learning to hit the ball is only part of it, as we all know.
“Discover Golf helps you to become a true golfer, rather than simply someone who can hit a golf ball. A true golfer knows not only the rules of the sport, but he or she also knows golf’s potentially daunting traditions and rules of etiquette, and also knows how to get the most out of the social aspects of a golf club.
“It’s a fun and very easy way to truly discover golf. We take a person from raw beginner to someone who can play on a full size golf course with complete confidence – and it gives you the flexibility to choose when and what to learn.”
The scheme is open to all ages, and gives subscribers two clear milestones: Learning To Swing, containing the programme’s tuition content; and Learning To Play, where subscribers learn about putting their skills into practice on the golf course, and also learn about the other aspects of being a golfer.
“At a conservative estimate,” said Spurrier, “Discover Golf subscribers will inject an additional £1 million into the UK’s golf economy in 2010, with that number rising far higher in 2011 and beyond. The lifetime financial value of introducing a complete beginner to golf – and ensuring that they stay in the sport – is immeasurable, and critical for the long term future of the game in this country.
“When you consider that in 2009 alone, we coached over 30,000 children at our Crown Golf Academies, you can begin to see the enormous potential of a programme which truly turns people into life-long golfers – rather than leaving them with a few skills which they may, or may not, use over a long period.
“Discover Golf de-mystifies not just the how-to part of golf, but also helps people see why those of us who are already golfers think that it is the greatest sport in the world.”
For all information, including the terms and conditions which apply to Discover Golf, see www.crowngolfacademies.com.