Australia-based Golf Industry Central has today launched a new initiative called ‘Grow The Game Central’ that aims to create a world-wide community of like-minded people banding together to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to play the game of golf or increase their participation.
Golf Industry Central Director Mike Orloff says he created the website www.GrowTheGameCentral.com to tackle challenges such as declining participation and the ageing demographic of players and to attract a new generation of golfers.
“Many grow the game initiatives being trialled today have great merit but don’t garner enough financial support to get off the ground,” said Mr Orloff. “Our Grow The Game Central web platform has been designed to connect anyone who is serious about growing the game and making a difference.
“We are at an evolutionary stage in the game’s existence. Now is the time to foster the creativity and entrepreneurship of a strong community network. The strength, motivation and passion of many individuals working together can be very powerful and will eventually impart change.
“We can leave our dependency on growing the game to the governing bodies or we can get involved and personally make a difference,” said Mr Orloff.
Grow The Game Central is targeted at anyone who loves golf, makes a living off the game and wants to grow the popularity of the game.
“It’s time individual golfers, clubs, facilities and commercial entities all take a more active role in promoting and ensuring the ongoing health of our sport,” said Mr Orloff.“Grow The Game Central is all about taking a ‘grass roots’, ‘bottom up’ approach to supporting the numerous grow the game initiatives happening worldwide.”
“We are utilising modern approaches such as “crowdsourcing” and “crowdfunding” to help overcome some of the problems and move closer to achieving our vision. “A world with too many golfers”
The project will leverage off Golf Industry Central’s large international network of industry contacts in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the USA.
Mike Orloff is a US and Australian PGA Member with more than 22 years of industry-wide experience working for two of the biggest international golf management companies in Australia and the USA. He launched Golf Industry Central in July 2008 to provide recruitment, operations, and marketing services to golf-related business in the Australasian region. His role has also been keeping his database up to date on industry news.
Now based on the Gold Coast, Australia, Mike consults directly to clients as well as via workshops and conferences in New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia. His passion for growing the game comes from the enormous positive impact golf has had on his life.
“When I was 16, I took up the game after my cousin suggested it on a family holiday as a pastime when the surf wasn’t happening. With encouragement from my older brother Bill, I considered playing for a living but decided to make a career of golf instead, moving up the ranks within the biggest golf management company at the time in the USA.”
To get involved in Grow The Game Central, anyone can join the on-line forum to discuss what is happening locally and internationally, contribute news or best practices, and support initiatives happening around the world.