Organisation of Golf Range Owners (OGRO) membership is for range owners and operators. Golf centres, golf courses with ranges, indoor golf facilities and other golf courses not affiliated to their national golf unions are also welcome as members of OGRO.
The launch of OGRO is announced in the September issue of Golf Range News (GRN). Colin Jenkins, editor of GRN says, “I am confident that OGRO provides an opportunity to bring considerable benefits and services to the golf range industry. An industry sector identity can add value for all range operators. OGRO is negotiating significant discounts with major suppliers of products and services.”
Rohan Barnett, who has recently joined the GRN team to co-ordinate production, will also be contributing to the development of OGRO. Rohan sees the future of OGRO as a winning scenario for all. “OGRO is able to bring the benefits of group/bulk purchasing to all our members without any obligation to purchase anything at anytime. The golf range industry is a business sector with considerable prestige within its local community.
“Significant numbers of people use golf range and golf centre facilities. Many major companies are more than happy to be associated with the golf range industry and golf range owners and see commercial benefits to themselves in the association. So, golf range owners can take advantage of OGRO membership, or not, as they choose.”
OGRO is founded on the belief that golf ranges and centres are crucial to the development of golf in the UK. While ranges and centres cater for a wide community within the golfing world, it is the part they play as a gateway into the game for new players that is crucial to the growth of the industry as a whole. OGRO will seek to establish a clear distinction between ranges/golf centres and the more traditional golf clubs. OGRO will highlight the fact that ranges and golf centres create golfers and the golf industry will only thrive if they are encouraged.
“New technological innovations are changing the golf range industry and in themselves attracting new business”, says Colin. “We believe that there is a benefit to be gained for all range operators in sharing information about these developments. Future plans include regional meetings, seminars, research and range specific publications.”
There will be a regular OGRO column in GRN each month that will carry news of new deals and other items of interest to range owners. This month OGRO is announcing a partnership with a new telecoms group Com NT.
OGRO rohan@ogro.org