With more than 1.5 million searches made every year for terms like ‘golf lessons near me’ and ‘golf coach’, the demand for coaching and lessons across the UK is evident.
PGA Play, the PGA’s consumer-facing platform, is now in its fourth year and hosts over 1,800 profiles for its Members. It connects beginner golfers directly with PGA Professionals, turning online search intent into real lesson enquiries, ongoing coaching relationships, and new participants in the game.
Free for all PGA Members as part of their Membership, the platform gives Professionals an immediate online presence and a direct line to new clients, regardless of whether they run their own website or business. Every month, thousands of golf lesson enquiries are made through PGA Play.
Platform reach at a glance
In the past 12 months, PGA Play has generated significant activity across the platform:
– 11,000 lesson enquiries generated
– 192,000 users engaged with the platform
– 263,000 profile views recorded on PGA Members’ profiles
– 36,000 clicks through to external PGA Member booking platforms and websites
Speaking about the impact of PGA Play, Deana Rushworth, Advanced PGA Professional and Head Professional at Witney Lakes, said: “It has brought some extra people to me. For anyone who hasn’t got their own website, it would be a really good tool for them. It drives traffic to your website as well.”
What the data shows
The PGA conducts a two-stage survey to assess the impact of PGA Play; how it is being used, and whether it converts interest into action. The initial survey measures booking behaviour among platform users. The findings are clear:
– 74% of respondents go on to book a golf lesson after using PGA Play
– 73% are beginners, either without a handicap or with a handicap of 20 or above
– 70% booked a one-to-one lesson; a further 25% booked a series of one-to-one sessions
A follow-up survey conducted three months later assesses outcomes after the lesson has taken place. The results reinforce the platform’s impact beyond a simple enquiry mechanism:
– 72% had undertaken golf coaching in the three months following their initial engagement
– 78% rated the impact of their coaching as excellent or good
– 66% said they were highly likely to continue coaching and to recommend lessons to others
Taken together, the two surveys tell a consistent story: PGA Play is attracting beginner golfers, converting the majority into booked lessons, and critically, sustaining that engagement over time.
This aligns with The PGA’s own 2023 Golf for All research, conducted with Ipsos, which found that golfers who receive coaching are more likely to play more frequently, enjoy the game more, and remain engaged over the long term. PGA Play puts that principle into practice at scale.
Scott Garrett, Head Professional, Gailes Golf & Leisure, Scotland, commented: “As soon as PGA Play started, I was on it and all over it. It’s just showing what’s available to the consumer. It’s easy even for a non-golfer to go on there and understand it pretty quickly. It’s a positive to any PGA Pro who wants to grow their business.”
Reaching a broad beginner audience
One of the clearest indicators of PGA Play’s strategic value is who it is bringing into the game. More than 40% of users are aged under 35 and more than a quarter are women. The wider industry data shows why this matters.
According to the PGA’s Golf for All research, the 18 to 44 age group accounts for 53% of all on-course golfers in England whilst the R&A’s 2024 Global Participation Report shows women account for half of all adults engaging through non-traditional formats – a gateway into lessons and on-course play.
PGA Play is reaching these audiences at exactly the right moment. By connecting younger and female beginners directly with PGA Professionals, the platform is uniquely positioned to turn casual interest into lasting participation.
The data also signals a potential knock-on effect on club membership. Of the non-club golfers using PGA Play, 72% indicated they were considering joining a club. If even a small portion of that intent translates into action, the platform’s contribution to wider participation growth becomes significant.
Content for beginner golfers
PGA Play’s reach extends beyond lesson enquiries. Across its website and social media, the platform publishes instructional content aimed at golfers at every stage of their journey: tips, guides, and first-hand accounts of the golf lesson experience.
This content serves a dual purpose to both educate and inspire; supporting golfers who are preparing to take their first lesson and introducing the game to audiences who may not yet have considered picking up a club.
Each month, this content is distributed to subscribers via the PGA Play newsletter, an audience that is actively seeking instructional golf content and is receptive to guidance on coaching, equipment, and getting started in the game.
A platform built for the industry’s long-term health
PGA Play is not a standalone product. It is a direct result of The PGA’s strategic commitment to broadening participation in golf. By gathering interest, distributing it to PGA Professionals, and sustaining engagement through content and coaching, the platform addresses the full participation journey: from first search to booked lesson, from lesson to ongoing play, from casual interest to potential club membership.
To find out more about PGA Play, visit pgaplay.co.uk
To download the full Golf for All report, visit www.golf-for-all.co.uk