The company, based at Burhill Golf Club in Surrey, a regular venue for the EuroPro Tour, introduced Learn Golf to proactively address the growing requirement to make golf more accessible by offering free lessons to individuals who have never tried the game before.
The group, which includes seven public pay-and-play centres, also revealed 68 per cent of those taking part in the free sessions, pursued their enjoyment of the game by paying to continue their tuition.
The success of Learn Golf chimes with findings from a 2013 survey by global golf course supply company Syngenta*, which revealed more than 60 per cent of non-golfers in the UK would be interested in taking part in a free golf morning and affordable golf lessons.
Colin Mayes, BGL chief executive, said: “The fun and relaxed Learn Golf sessions ensure people, who are new to the game, get a positive first experience with others of a similar ability – something we believe to be crucial to the growth of the sport.”
Each Learn Golf session is led by one of more than 50 PGA Professionals across the BGL Golf group, introducing participants to the basics of the game, including etiquette and use of all equipment, utilising the extensive practice facilities available at each venue.
BGL Golf operates Learn Golf from nine of its sites located across the UK:
- Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Milton Keynes
- AldwickburyPark Golf Club, St Albans
- BirchwoodPark, Dartford
- Hoebridge Golf Centre, Surrey
- RamsdalePark Golf Centre, Nottinghamshire
- Redbourn Golf Club, Hertfordshire
- The Shropshire Golf Centre, Telford
- Thornbury Golf Centre, Bristol
- WycombeHeights Golf Centre, Buckinghamshire
BGL Golf’s Learn Golf programme will continue to operate throughout 2014. To take part, register at: www.bglgolf.co.uk/learngolf
*Statistics taken from ’Growing Golf in the UK’ survey, a report commissioned by Syngenta and carried out by GfK, an independent market research company