Roll up! Roll up! Golf Express, the campaign to encourage busy people to play all the game in half the time, is underway.
Golf Express promotes 9-hole golf and also encourages players to enjoy after-work roll-ups. It’s running across Staffordshire as part of an England Golf project to increase participation and club membership and was officially launched at Uttoxeter Golf Club.
Over 40 people joined the club’s weekly roll-up – and then followed-up with a sociable get together and prize-giving in the clubhouse.
Uttoxeter member Paul Shaw commented: “Many golf clubs have run this type of 9-hole event over the years, but it is brilliant that now England Golf and Staffordshire Golf have put a national brand behind it.”
Uttoxeter is one of 20 clubs across Staffordshire which are backing Golf Express by offering 9-hole green fees and a loyalty card to encourage golfers to play more often: if they play five rounds, they get the sixth free.
Twelve of the clubs are also offering golfers the opportunity to play in weekly, after-work roll-ups, such as that at Uttoxeter. These are open to non-members, a handicap is not essential and players will be paired up with other golfers for the fun competitions.
Gareth Shaw, the Staffordshire County Development Officer, commented: “This is what golf is all about, having time to play the sport we all love and also having time to socialise with friends following the round.”
Iain Lancaster, Regional Manager for England Golf, added: “The time it takes to play the game is a barrier to the sport. We are hoping that by marketing the message that you can play shorter rounds to suit your available leisure time, we will attract new players and lapsed golfers – and encourage current golfers to play more often.”
Golf Express is part of an England Golf project which is trialling innovative ways of increasing golf club membership and participation in the sport. It recognises that most people’s leisure time is reducing and for many it can be as little as two hours a day.
The clubs involved in Golf Express are: Bloxwich, Branston, Calderfields, Darnford Moor, Dartmouth, Druids Heath, Izaak Walton, Lakeside, Lichfield, Mark Butler Golf Academy, Newcastle, Onneley, Oxley Park, Stafford Castle, Stone, The Chase, Trentham Park, 3 Hammers, Uttoxeter and Cannock Park.
To find out more visit getintogolf.org or call 0800 118 2766
Read more stories about Golf Management Topics and latest list of Most-read stories