Clubs urged to fill membership gap through Get into Golf scheme

Innovative initiative now in place at almost 90 facilities the length and breadth of the country

Is your club looking for new members? Then the exciting new Get into Golf programme can help!

Building on the sterling work of the national junior programme, ClubGolf, the initiative was officially launched last September at the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

Get into Golf aims to attract more beginners, as well as those who have previously given up, to the game with almost 90 clubs in Scotland now running coaching programmes and offering introductory memberships.

The programme is brought to you by a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union (SGU), Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), working together to grow the game in Scotland.

APPEAL

The traditional model of membership is being challenged, as consumers spend their time and money in a different way, with Get into Golf designed to appeal to people who have
never played golf but like the idea of trying it, or who would like to get back into the game, via group coaching sessions run by a PGA professional, PGA assistant or volunteer coaches at golf clubs.

From our pilot studies, the programme is proven to help clubs introduce beginners to the game through coaching and introductory membership models, with Get into Golf marketing materials available to participating clubs.

The SGU and the SLGA – who will amalgamate from 1 October to provide a stronger, unified single governing body – hope Get into Golf can help find new golfers and encourage lapsed golfers back into the sport through the structured club-based programme.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty, an avid golfer, is supporting the programme and said: “I got into golf about eight years ago when I started to have lessons. I was taught by Anna Radford, who used to be on the Ladies European Tour and then I started playing. I just loved the fact you are competing against yourself and it’s your personal skill that you get better. I love team games as well, but I love that in golf it’s just me.

“If it wasn’t for golf, I wouldn’t be an outdoor person as much as I am. And the great thing about golf is that it’s a leveller, you always have something to talk about with who you are playing with, and the handicap system is brilliant.”

For more information, visit www.getintogolfscotland.org or contact your local club.
 

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