‘The Opportunity To Grow Golf, Youth Participation’
A new video highlighting how golf clubs can successfully engage young people in golf received its first public viewing at the 2014 European Golf Business Conference in Barcelona this week.
The video is the first in a series of short documentaries produced by Syngenta to support its ongoing market research into youth and female participation and showcases the work of Gaudet Luce Golf Club, Worcestershire, UK.
The club, which works closely with local schools and has created its own youth development program, coaches more than 150 young people each week. They have created a friendly environment, where juniors are encouraged to have fun.
“If we could offer any advice to other clubs, it would be ‘just make it fun; make it appealing’. Go out into the local market to show people golf,” advised Gaudet Luce Assistant General Manager, Rob Laing. “Get them in schools and local health clubs. Just get a golf club in kids’ hands in a fun environment.”
Nearly 60 young people have become junior members at the club, with 41 parents joining as full members and another 48 parents signing up as academy members.
Simon Elsworth, Head Turf & Landscape EAME, who presented the findings of the recently published study The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Youth Participation at the 2014 European Golf Business Conference, said: “The video brings to life what our golf market research is saying – young people need fast-track learning, affordable play, shorter courses and flexible facilities where they feel welcome and happy.”
“Gaudet Luce is a great example of a golf club that is listening carefully to what its customers and prospective customers are saying. It proves that golf clubs can successfully grasp the opportunity of youth participation and, in doing so, deliver long-term benefits for golf both as a sport and a business.”
A second report The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Female Participation will be published before Christmas 2014.
