01 – Check & update upcoming stock orders

To ensure you have an accurate gauge on when new stock orders will arrive, input, calendarize and communicate each order with your team. This will enable you to manage your staff’s expectations and those of your customer’s.

02 – Introduce a process for tracking demo clubs, rental sets and hire trollies

If you have purchased a new suite of rental trollies or hire clubs for the season, the last thing you need is to lose track of which ones are in use (and by whom). By introducing a tracking process – such as a daily recording system – for your team, they can manage rental equipment properly and track down any that have not been returned on time.

03 – Clear out old stock with a flash sale

To achieve the previous two points, having the space on the shop floor is an absolute must. Flash sales are a great tactic for replacing any gear from the previous season and if you have the means to do so, introducing an online sale via your shop website will help clear out old stock in time for the arrival of new equipment that is coming in.

04 – Update your supplier lists

By updating and correctly filing supplier information such as their contact details, your team can find each one quickly and easily at the point of placing a customer’s order, saving them time and improving the order flow.

05 – Some smaller tasks to think about…

• Finalise your existing customer orders to clean the backlog up and make way for new ones.
• If you have new staff members, make sure they have appropriate account access for systems they need to use on a daily basis, such as till systems and merchandise order platforms.
• Prepare a range of customer communication templates. Team members can use these to communicate with customers at different stages of the buying process, saving them time throughout.

By following these simple steps, your staff will be better placed to elevate customer service levels, become more efficient in the process, and maximise sales opportunities for your golf shop in 2024.

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Golf Genius provides innovative software solutions to over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, and resorts in over 60 countries. Through its Golf Shop solution, PGA Professionals can elevate service levels and streamline processes across the retail operation and various services within it, such as orders, club repairs, rental sets and demo clubs. Contact jenny.potter@golfgenius.com to find out more.

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To find out more about Golf Genius and how it can benefit your golf facility, you can book a free product demonstration here

Golfbidder Pro is now fully automated for the whole of Europe, meaning PGA Pros from across the continent can get prices for clubs and inventory, schedule free collections, and receive payment – all through Golfbidder Pro.

“The launch of Golfbidder Pro across Europe is a superb development and further step towards supporting the businesses of many PGA Professionals,” said Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] CEO, Ian Randell.

“Golfbidder have been a fantastic partner of CPG for many years and a great supporter of PGA Professionals. This expanded offering provides further business opportunities to PGA Professionals across our membership and network, perfectly aligning with the CPG’s mission and activity.”

Business Development Manager at Golfbidder, Thomas Tanner said “We’re always looking for opportunities to improve Golfbidder Pro but ensuring that this service was available for as many European partners as possible was a crucial starting point for us.”

“Now we’ve delivered this solution, focus switches to helping new and current users get the most out of the tool and to start generating a simple and sustainable revenue stream.”

Golfbidder Pro is a free tool for all golf professionals and retailers which offers guaranteed pricing for old inventory and ex-demo clubs, as well as being able to offer customers trade-in and part-exchange options without the associated risk.

“Golfbidder Pro is not just a pricing tool, it’s a sales tool, too. By knowing the value of the clubs the customer already owns, retailers can focus on the lower cost of upgrading equipment, rather than the higher price of buying something new. Our experience shows us, when a customer knows they can part-exchange and only pay the difference they’re much more likely to transact.”

Golfbidder is the biggest buyer of new and used golf clubs in Europe and is committed to helping European PGA Pros and golf retailers do business – a commitment exemplified by the opening of a new European Fulfilment Centre in late 2023.

On the new warehouse Thomas Tanner said “Our main goal was to simplify business processes by removing unnecessary paperwork as we re-establish partnerships with PGA Pros and golf retailers on the continent. With out new facility, we can ensure our European partners receive the level of service they’d expect, just as they did before The United Kingdom left the European Union.”

For any more information or to get started with Golfbidder Pro, please reach out to our dedicated team in Europe at europe@golfbidderpro.com

The new designs expand the PING Putter line to 16 models, consisting of high moment-of- inertia blades and ultra-forgiving, multi-material mid-mallets and mallets. The new Anser 2, Anser D, B60, Tyne H, Fetch and Ketsch G are available for pre-order beginning today at authorised PING golf shops around the world. Each model can be custom fit for stroke type, length, lie, loft and grip type.

“The PING Putter line combines modern design advancements with the proven technologies that helped PING set the standard in putter design 65 years ago,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO and President. “In this line, our engineers took a more individual approach with our most popular models, applying variations of our score-lowering innovations like perimeter weighting and optimised centre of gravity placement while further differentiating them through face technology and alignment features.

“It’s a very diverse offering but the one thing they all have in common is they offer precision performance on putts of every length. Golfers will have an easy time matching a model to fit their putting style, preferred alignment cues and desired feel.”

A Model To Fit Every Golfer

Golfers can choose from high-MOI blades, mid-mallets and mallets differentiated by face technology, alignment aids and finish. Traditional blades include the Anser 2, a major-winning model originally designed by PING founder Karsten Solheim, and the tour-influenced Anser D. The B60, another of Karsten’s major-winning designs that was introduced in 1979, returns to the PING lineup with a precision-milled face. The Tyne H, combining the original Tyne with an Anser hosel, and the popular Fetch (complete with its “gimme” ball-pickup feature) fit in the mallet category along with the Ketsch G, an easy-to-align, multi-material model engineered for maximum forgiveness. All three stroke types (Straight, Slight, Strong) are represented within the 16-model PING Putter selection.

Fit For Feel

From firm milled faces to soft-feeling inserts, the face technology is engineered based on feedback from our tour staff to match a variety of feel preferences and deliver control and consistency on putts of every length. In the six new additions to the line, four models (Anser 2, Anser D, B60, Tyne H) feature the firm feel of a shallowed milled face and two (Fetch, Ketsch G) provide the soft feel of a PEBAX insert.

Aligned For Success

The new putters offer different alignment solutions to fit the eye of a variety of golfers, including single alignment cues or multiple lines to improve accuracy and inspire confidence. The use of a glare-diffusing raw blast finish in four models and black PVD in the other two provides enhanced contrast to assist in alignment and create a premium appearance. For golfers who prefer the influence of the darker look with white sight lines, the Ketsch G and Tyne H will best fit their eye. The Anser 2, Anser D, B60 and Fetch feature the striking raw blast finish with contrasting black alignment lines.

Model descriptions (all models £280 RRP)

Anser 2: Like the timeless Anser, heel-toe weighting provides stability and forgiveness though in a slightly longer and narrower profile. Its shallow milled face ensures a firmer response and consistent roll. The ball-width cavity, sharper ballasts and clean geometry all offer alignment cues in this model featuring a new glare-diffusing raw blast finish.

Anser D: Tour pros were consulted in creating this model with a deeper (“D”) profile as a hybrid between the Anser blade and a mallet design, the extra mass is useful in stabilising the stroke for maximum forgiveness. The shallow milled face ensures a firmer response and consistent roll. A new glare-diffusing raw blast finish contributes to the eye-pleasing visuals.

B60: The B60, a long-time PING fan favorite, is back with a shallow milled face that ensures a firmer response and consistent roll. Golfers are familiar with the thin top rail with rounded ballasts, contoured shaping and center alignment line in this balanced, forgiving model. Also new is the glare-diffusing raw blast finish.

Tyne H: The twin-fork design is paired with an Anser hosel to provide multiple alignment cues and help square the putter at impact. The shallow milled face ensures a firmer response and consistent roll. Perimeter weighting and an optimised CG position allow for balance, stability, forgiveness and accuracy. A ball-width cavity and contrasting white alignment line promote confident aiming.

Fetch: A dual-density PEBAX face insert delivers a soft feel on shorter putts and a stable feel on longer lag putts. Made putts are easy to retrieve using the sole cutout that’s not only handy – it creates discretionary mass we use to increase MOI and forgiveness. Fetch fans laud the more compact profile as easy to aim. Ball-width alignment lines and a new glare-diffusing raw blast finish aid in the process.

Ketsch G: Its aluminium body and stainless steel sole plate pair with an optimised CG to create extreme forgiveness and stability. The dual-density PEBAX face insert delivers a soft feel on shorter putts and a stable feel on longer lag putts. The ball pickup feature on the sole is more than convenient – it allows for redistributing mass to increase MOI. A trio of contrasting sight lines frame the ball to simplify alignment.

FIND OUT MORE AT EU.PING.COM

The Grand Final of the Golf Sixes League, Abu Dhabi took place under the lights at the Yas Acres Golf Club on Saturday 20 April.

Novice juniors from golf clubs across Abu Dhabi were joined by those from the Emirates Golf Federation for a fun evening of competition. Playing across just six short holes, seven teams of six, paired up to compete in a two ball Texas Scramble stroke play format. The best two scores of the teams’ three pairs count towards their overall score.

After a fantastic evening of fun and good sportsmanship the team from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club emerged as the winners of Round four.

Following four rounds of the Golf Sixes League which commenced back in January, congratulations to Abu Dhabi City Golf Club who were crowned Overall Champions.

“Golf Sixes has been so fun! Playing golf with my friends and as a team was cool. I really want to play again next time!,” said Kristoff Davidson a ten year old golfer from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club.

“Kristoff has loved participating in Golf Sixes. The way the programme is designed, with the kids playing in teams, has really helped get them excited to play golf and made the whole experience less intimidating. Across the season you could see the kids golf improve and now my son is wanting to play more and more, ” said Kristoff’s Dad, Andrew Davidson.

Golf Sixes League is a development initiative, supported by The R&A and the Emirates Golf Federation, which introduces young people to golf in a fun and inclusive environment, along with an added competitive element. Our thanks to all the stakeholders including our host venues, Yas Links GC, Abu Dhabi City GC, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and GC and Yas Acres GC, Team Managers, Golf Genius, Confederation of Professional Golf and Pro Sports International.

Round Four Results:

• 1st Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: +5
• 2nd Yas Links Golf Club: +8 (on countback)
• 3rd Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: +8

Nearest the Pin prize winners: Kristoff Davidson and Aaradyha Sharma

Final Overall Golf Sixes League Table:

• 1st Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: 50pts
• 2nd Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: 38pts
• 3rd Yas Links Golf Club: 35pts
• 4th Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club: 30pts
• 5th Yas Acres Golf Club: 26pts
• 6th Emirates Golf Federation: 17pts
• 7th Abu Dhabi Golf Club: 16pts

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GSL’s continued expansion around the globe has been supported by The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG], the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour – the leading bodies aligning in support of a development initiative for the first time.

For more information on GolfSixes League please visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague

For decades now the PGA Professionals has played a pivotal role within clubs and facilities, and whilst the job may have evolved to a huge variety of different roles within the sport, they have remained in their positions as influencers of behaviour.

The PGA Pro frequently plays one of the most consistent roles within a facility environment – often the first and main point of contact for customers at a facility, they develop strong, trustworthy and valuable relationships with customers, and are known for being experts in all aspects of the sport. This positions them perfectly to be able to advise and support on all manner of subjects, not least in the area of golf travel.

Here are just a few reasons why the PGA Pro is a key influencer on golf travel:

1 – They know the best places to go…

The PGA Pro always has their ear to the ground – being so engrained in to the fabric of the sport itself allows them to be aware of those destinations, at home or abroad, that will make for a great trip and experience be they host venues of big events or hidden gems that might otherwise be unknown to the average golfer.

2 – The PGA Pro can be a great travel companion…

Travelling with a PGA Pro can make for a fantastic golf experience for even the most discerning travellers – time savers, tips, support throughout the whole process, local knowledge and more create enjoyable and effective trips plus have advantages that go both ways as explained by PGA of Italy Professional, Federico Elli: “It gives you the opportunity to create even stronger bonds with your students/friends and also to bring them to some of the most outstanding places around the world, with the guarantee of having a well-qualified, knowledgeable and experienced PGA Pro on their side who can help take care of them.”

3 – They know the best type of place to go depending on what type of trip someone is looking for…

Shopping around in golf travel for specific types of trip can be tricky, particularly when someone is trying to combine the enjoyment or relaxation associated with a holiday whilst optimising their golf experience at the same time. The PGA Pro has the residual knowledge and awareness of what makes for a good trip and the places that can facilitate this and help to provide tailored recommendations (or even create the trip itself) based on someone’s needs and requirements.

4 – The have relationships with other PGA Pros and people in golf who operate facilities around the world…

The PGA Pro network has to be the strongest in golf – all PGA Professionals share the similar principles at the heart of what they do and this creates strong bonds between them, regardless of whether they are Members of the same PGA or not. Their own travel experiences, friendships and professional network enable them to be able to connect golfers to travel companies and destinations in ways that might not otherwise be possible, often resulting in even more exceptional experiences, cost-effective deals or seamless booking and logistics around trips.

5 – They can take coaching groups away where people can enjoy a trip whilst also being coached…

PGA Pros are not only helpful points of reference for trips but they can also host the trips themselves either generally as a ‘golf guide’ or more specifically with coaching trips where individuals can not only have fantastic experiences with minimal fuss and organisation on the client side, but also strengthen bonds with their coaches. AW Golf Performance’s Alex Wrigley (PGA of GB&I) knows this only too well: “For me, golf coaching trips have made it possible to earn money in some fantastic destinations, but perhaps more importantly they have given my clients a special experience that will massively help their golf game. Intense, day-to-day coaching has many short and long-term advantages for both the player’s game and the ongoing player-coach relationship.”

6 – They are best positioned to deal with inbound tourism too…

Many of the aforementioned reasons also place the PGA Pro in the perfect position to be on the receiving end of golf travel, helping with the coordination of travel to their facility and the hosting of guests when they are on-site to provide one-on-one and face-to-face customer experiences and help them to maximise their trips.

Find out more about the CPG’s own Golf Pro-Specific Offers from the CPG Collection at cp.golf/collection

This exclusive assembly of world-class golf facilities and destinations is designed to support PGA Professionals in their roles as key influencers in golf travel and their activities such as coaching trips and golf holidays, creating substantial opportunities to develop their businesses and drive revenue.

The CPG Collection categorises its distinguished members into three tiers: Gold, Silver and Bronze, each providing unique benefits and opportunities for collaboration. But at the heart of the Collection’s mission is the promotion of exclusive offers, allowing PGA Professionals to provide their clients with unparalleled golfing experiences at worldwide venues that offer the highest stan dard of service and offerings for pro travel.

The Collection kicks off with an initial group of Members at multiple levels, with various others on the horizon to join as well:

• Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, UAE: A gem in the heart of the Emirates, offering a unique combination of golfing luxury and equestrian charm.
• Antognolla Golf, Italy: Where ancient history and modern luxury meet, set against the backdrop of Italy’s breath-taking landscapes.
• BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas, Bulgaria: A stunning cliff-top experience, offering panoramic views of the Black Sea and world-class golfing facilities.
• Centurion Club, UK: Renowned for its exclusivity and exquisite golfing experience, nestled in the serene Hertfordshire countryside.
• Vilnius Grand Resort, Lithuania: A premier golf and spa resort, offering a serene escape with one of the finest championship golf courses in the Baltic region.
• Yas Acres, UAE: A vibrant community with a championship golf course at its heart, located in the dynamic Yas Island area.

“Travel continues to be a hugely valuable and important part of Professionals’ businesses and the creation of the Collection continues our mission to provide great opportunities to PGAs and their Member Professionals,” said CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“Our initial line-up of Collection Members include some long-standing existing partners and some fantastic new additions and we are extremely excited to work with each of them to share their offerings to the golf community.

“In particular the Collection provides a vehicle to enhance the value we provide to Sanctioned Event / Pro-Am hosts to become a year-round partnership making those partnerships even more valuable on all sides, and provides further opportunity for PGA Professionals to add to their role as influencer and mentor to their clients.”

“Golf professionals are a vital part of our business at Antognolla and we strongly believe they contribute a great deal to golf travel,” said Antognolla Golf Director of Golf, César Burguiere.

“The CPG Collection is a great initiative that gives us another channel as part of our marketing mix, allowing us to promote our facilities that can be utilised by golf professionals and their guests, and continues to enhance our relationship with the CPG in general.”

There are a variety of benefits for Collection Members at different levels depending on how venues engage with the CPG from marketing packages to sanctioning and hosting of events and more, offering year-round opportunities.

More information on the CPG Collection and its Members can be found online at cp.golf/collection

Featuring the top professional and amateurs in the country, the event is the final tournament in the She Plays Golf series, which also serves as a qualifying circuit for this year’s CPKC Women’s Open.

As part of its commitment to support women’s golf, PING has partnered with the PGA of Canada to continue offering a separate purse for PGA of Canada Club Professionals at the prestigious event.

“Coming on board as a partner of the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship reflects PING’s dedication to fostering growth and development within the women’s game and providing greater opportunities for athletes to showcase their talent on the national stage,” said Dave Wilson, General Manager of PING Canada. “We believe in the power of golf to inspire and empower individuals and we are thrilled to extend our support of PGA Professionals in this country.”

The full field of the event will be comprised of 60 players, including PGA of Canada members and touring professionals, along with top amateurs and juniors. The field will be cut to the top 30 players plus ties following the second round.

The 54-hole event is set to be played on the links-inspired Heathlands course, which has hosted several notable events over the past few years, including the PGA TOUR America’s Osprey Valley Open.

“We are so grateful to PING for their generous support of women’s golf and the PGA of Canada,” said PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle. “We are proud to welcome both amateur and professionals into this national championship, but it is always nice to do something a little extra for our PGA members thanks to PING.”

For more information about the 2024 ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, click here.

Dr Mark Bull has a PhD in sport and exercise science as well as being a fully qualified PGA coach. Mark’s area of interest is in human movement and why/how humans move the way they do and how it influences how they move within the golf swing and how we can help learn and improve our movement performance.

Mark works with and supports over 500 PGA coaches and has worked with to date over 175 PGA/DP tour professionals, including 11 major champions.

The two day seminar includes lunch and coffee. Fees:

• CPG Member Country Preferred Pricing – €690
• Non-CPG Member Country – € 790

Register by 26.04.2024 on a first come, first serve principle. The number of participants is limited at 20.

Find Out More

2 day Seminar for Golf Coaches:

Andreas Kali’s “Whole Istic” View On Developing Golfers, is an opportunity to learn directly from him as he shares his systematic approach to improving player performance of all skill levels. The two day seminar is highly interactive and will combine theory with a hands on approach to improve the learning experience for everyone.

Attendees will leave the seminar with tools to improve: Performance and swing analysis, player communication, order of technical changes, drills, transfer, games, learning environment and more…

The two day seminar includes lunch and coffee. Fees:

• CPG Member Country Preferred Pricing – €690
• Non-CPG Member Country – € 790

Register by 05.04.2024 on a first come, first serve principle. The number of participants is limited at 20

Find Out More