Golf industry experts Mathew Cropper and Geoff Pullin explain how a new partnership aims to improve the quality of services offered by golf clubs and save them money.

In 2018 data published by England Golf showed that golf club membership is now on the rise in England. Confirming that golf is the fifth largest participation sport in England, the survey painted a positive picture of how this improvement is testament to golf clubs investing in their services and facilities. 

To help maintain this upward swing, an experienced pair of golf industry experts have joined forces and are offering golf course owners and golf course managers the opportunity of taking their clubs’ services and facilities to the ‘next level’. This ranges from improving the quality of their courses along with support in managing staff, machinery maintenance, purchasing, marketing and training. 

Creative & Country is a new partnership, comprising greenkeeping expert Mathew Cropper and Geoff Pullin, an experienced publisher and business development specialist who has worked in different sectors of the golf industry for over six years.  

“We will supply your club with agronomic and greenkeeping information while supporting you with H&S, machinery maintenance, training, purchasing and quality control. We are a team that has years of experience at European & Challenge Tour level,” explains Matt, who as well as having been employed as Head Greenkeeper for Sir James Dyson, has also worked as a Consultant for grounds and gardens for HRH Prince Charles. 

Working alongside Matt is Geoff whose experience in the golfing industry includes the role of Associate Publisher of Pro-Shop Europe, a golf trade journal that was aimed at pros and golf club staff members across Europe as well as Regional Account Manager with Srixon Sports Europe.  

Both Geoff and Matt recognise that to ensure a more secure business for the future, golf course owners and club managers need expert assistance with agronomic information, course reporting, quality control, H&S, training, machinery maintenance and purchasing. 

“We’re offering support to courses who are finding themselves ‘resource challenged’,” continues Matt whose CV includes two years at Wentworth where he took part in two World Match Play events as well as two BMW Championships. “It’s all about being cost effective and offering financial savings as well as procuring a better product for our clients. We want to offer a better standard of golf course, well maintained and equipped machinery, including a higher level of education for the greenkeepers so they can perform at the highest level.” 

Both Matt and Geoff are keen to emphasise that their aim is not to replace greenkeepers. Indeed, their goal is to offer support to greenkeepers who aspire to improving the condition of their courses by giving them in-depth technical support along with access to top level scientific analyses.   

To get the ball rolling, Creative & Country plan to offer 20 club managers or golf course owners a free course report. 

“We’ll carry out a course report and give clubs an overview of the main issues and the solutions we would recommend to fix them,” states Matt. “If a club signs up, it will get the full report.” 

In the long term, Creative & Country are looking to offer three options. These comprise courses starting at a one-off consultation, perhaps ahead of a major club event or tournament. The second option will be a quarterly package to visit at key times of the year to ensure that consistency is being maintained and to offer advice and solutions in areas that may need addressing. The third option consists of a total care package which equates to 24 visits per year and complete control of all aspects of the golf course including machinery, H&S and staff rotas, etc. 

Both Geoff and Matt believe that you may not have a course that is on the Tour, but you can have a course that is Tour quality.  

www.creativeandcounytry.com