People across the United States will have the opportunity to improve their golf game throughout the entire month of May by participating in Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month. The PGA of America and Golf Digest jointly launched this successful campaign in 1998. Now, on its 10th Anniversary, PGA Free Lesson Month continues to set records, with more than 147,000 free lessons given last year.
Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to reach new golfers and help existing golfers improve their game with a free, 10-minute golf lesson conducted by PGA professionals nationwide. It is a growth-of-the-game initiative between The PGA of America, Golf Digest, the GOLF CHANNEL, Golf for Women and Golf World. Nike Golf is the official program sponsor.
PGA Free Lesson Month is one of the most successful growth-of-the-game campaigns in the golf industry. In 2006, a total of 147,332 free lessons (21 percent increase from 2005) were given by 7,485 PGA professionals (8.7 percent increase) at 5,880 facilities (5.5 percent increase) across the country.
PGA professionals each gave an average of 20 lessons with each lesson lasting an average of 19 minutes. A total of 46,655 hours were dedicated to free lessons in 2006. PGA professionals indicated that 55 percent of the free lessons they conducted were with new customers; 23 percent were new or beginning golfers; 31 percent were women; and 11 percent of the PGA professionals gave lessons to individuals with disabilities.
PGA Free Lesson Month is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate participation in the game of golf under “Play Golf America,” a national marketing umbrella campaign that was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of allied associations including: the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference.
Play Golf America www.playgolfamerica.com