Women in Coaching 2026 is a new development programme created to support and advance women golf coaches through leadership growth, mentorship, and practical application.

The programme is delivered by COACH+, in collaboration with the PGA of Holland, and supported by the CPG as part of its wider commitment to inclusive development and leadership within the global golf workforce.

Designed for women working across coaching, development, and performance environments, the programme brings together an international cohort of coaches for a structured learning journey that builds confidence, strengthens impact, and supports long-term career progression.

Click here to Download the Information Sheet

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WHY TAKE PART??

Women in Coaching 2026 is designed for women coaches who want to:

• Develop greater confidence and clarity in their leadership approach
• Strengthen their coaching impact on and off the course
• Learn through mentorship, collaboration, and real-world application
• Build an international peer network supported by leading golf organisations

By investing in their own development, participants also contribute to strengthening coaching capacity and leadership pathways within the wider golf ecosystem.

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📍 HOW THE PROGRAMME WORKS

The Women in Coaching programme runs from March to January, with a blend of virtual and in-person sessions designed to provide meaningful support without adding strain to coaches’ existing work and coaching commitments.

• Virtual sessions
• In-person 3-day gathering in the Netherlands
• Mentorship
• Live learning at the Solheim Cup
• Ongoing communication and support

Expect an average of 4–6 hours/month, with additional time during in-person events. Coaches are encouraged to apply what they’re learning in real contexts between sessions

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👩‍🏫 EXPERT MENTORSHIP TEAM

• Megan Cundari – COACH+ Educator and Women in Coaching leader
• Glenn Cundari – Founder of COACH+, with international experience in 27 countries across 19 sports
• Beth Barz – Award-winning global leader in Women’s Coach Development
• Jim van Heuven van Staereling – Head of Education for the PGA of Holland & CPG Lead Tutor

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SECURE YOUR PLACE

What’s Included:

• Participation in all virtual and in-person sessions
• 1-on-1 mentorship
• Ongoing support and resources from COACH+ and partner organizations
• Access to a pan-European network of women coaches and leaders
• Programme materials, facilitation, and group coaching
• Meals
• Note: Accommodation during in-person sessions is not included. Travel subsidies may be available based on funding

Total Cost: € 3500.

📩 For more information, please contact glenn@improveyourcoaching.ca

Click here to Download the Information Sheet

Click Here to Express Your Interest and Find Out more

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For more information the CPG Learning Institute, visit cpg.golf/cpg-learning-institute or get in touch via info@cpg.golf.

The PGA of Holland, in collaboration with the Dutch Golf Federation and delivered by Coach+, is proud to launch a groundbreaking Women in Coaching | Strategic Coach Education Program — a unique, multi-phase initiative designed to accelerate the growth, leadership, and impact of women coaches in golf.

Inspired by the success of the Canadian Women in Coaching program, this is a rare opportunity to engage in a structured development journey that combines leadership training, mentorship, and strategic dialogue with national and international experts.

WHY JOIN?

This program is designed for ambitious women coaches who want to:

• Strengthen their leadership skills and coaching identity
• Gain access to world-class mentorship and learning resources
• Build a supportive international network of peers and role models
• Be part of a programme aligned with the prestige of the 2025 & 2026 Solheim Cup

By investing in yourself through this program, you will not only elevate your own career but also help strengthen national coaching capacity and support the long-term growth of women in golf.

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📍 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Phase 1: In-Person Education (Papendal, Netherlands | Dec 5-7, 2025)

• Establish trust and shared vision
• Define personal coaching philosophies
• Explore leadership aspirations
• Strategic dialogue with PGA & Federation leaders

Phase 2: Virtual Learning (Dec 2025 – Summer 2026)

• Monthly mentorship and targeted learning sessions
• Peer reflection and practical tools
• Topics: Coaching culture, feedback strategies, leadership identity

Phase 3: Solheim Cup Activation (Spain | Sept 4 – 6, 2026)

• On-site leadership workshop at the Solheim Cup
• Showcase of participant impact
• Strategic discussions on equity and retention in coaching

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👩‍🏫 EXPERT MENTORSHIP TEAM

• Megan Cundari – COACH+ Educator and Women in Coaching leader
• Glenn Cundari – Founder of COACH+, with international experience in 27 countries across 19 sports
• Beth Barz – Award-winning global leader in Women’s Coach Development

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💰 INVESTMENT

• €3500 (excluding accommodation), including:
  • 6 in-person training days
  • Course materials, lunches & dinners during sessions
  • 10 months of structured virtual mentorship and support

Accommodation: €130/night at Papendal (optional)

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SECURE YOUR PLACE

To run the program, a minimum of 11 participants is required. A final decision will be made on October 13th.

📩 For more information, please contact PGA Holland at jh@pgaholland.nl

Click Here to Register Now

Image used courtesy of Yas Links Abu Dhabi

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For more information the CPG Learning Institute, visit cpg.golf/cpg-learning-institute or get in touch via info@cpg.golf.

From the unique demands of Royal Portrush to the mental routines that keep a two-time major champion sharp, Ivar shares the behind-the-scenes lessons and practical insights that coaches can take straight to their own players.

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When you think of the absolute pinnacle of professional golf, the name Collin Morikawa is impossible to ignore. Winner of both the PGA Championship and The Open, Morikawa is the epitome of modern professional golf: technically refined, mentally strong, and leaving nothing to chance.

But how does such a top player actually prepare for a major like The Open, with all the unique conditions that a links course like Royal Portrush entails?

Thanks to the special collaboration between Ivar van der Moolen and Rick Sessinghaus, he was given an exclusive glimpse into Morikawa’s preparation.

Sessinghaus, Morikawa’s PGA coach for over twenty years and director of FlowCode Golf, and Van der Moolen, PGA of Holland Member and mental performance coach since 1993 and developer of MTP, have been joining forces for the past year and a half. Together, they share a deep passion: helping golfers of all levels perform better and with more enjoyment on the golf course by strengthening the mental aspect of the game.

The Collaboration: A Mental Masterclass

When Ivar van der Moolen joined Rick Sessinghaus’ coaching team 1,5 year ago, a fruitful collaboration emerged, focused on knowledge exchange and development. This resulted in a unique opportunity: experiencing Morikawa’s preparation for The Open at Royal Portrush up close.

“A fantastic experience,” said Van der Moolen. “It’s impressive to see how a player of Morikawa’s caliber prepares for a tournament of this magnitude down to the smallest details.”

For Coaches: the key takeaway is that mental readiness is not an add-on to technical training — it’s embedded into every decision, drill, and discussion.

Adapting the Game to Royal Portrush

Royal Portrush is not just any golf course. The wind, the rugged terrain, the thick rough, and the changeable weather make it a world-class challenge. For a player who has mainly experience on the American tour, that means serious adjustments.

• Morikawa paid close attention to studying the grass types around the greens — which are significantly different in Northern Ireland than on American courses.
• Putting on slower greens compared to the PGA tour also required adjustment, as did the choice of landing spots from the tee in relation to the bunkers.
• During the practice rounds, Sessinghaus and Morikawa closely examined the influence of the weather and the layout of the course. Nothing was left to chance. Every shot, every lie was evaluated with a view to the most likely conditions during the tournament.

For Coaches: Build adaptability into practice. Create sessions that expose players to variable conditions and require decision-making, not just repetition.

Mental Focus in a Busy Week

In addition to the technical adjustments, there is the mental aspect – perhaps the most important part of preparing for a major. “What struck me,” says Van der Moolen, “is how well Collin sets his mental goals, even during practice rounds. He’s not just hitting balls; everything is done with a clear plan.”

The public wanting autographs, journalists requesting interviews between training sessions, and the constant pressure of being a multiple major winner – these are all elements that can disrupt mental balance. Sessinghaus acts as an anchor in all of this. He ensures that Morikawa stays in his own “bubble” and maintains his focus.

For Coaches: Encourage players to set clear mental and technical goals for every round and training session. This instils intent and keeps practice purposeful.

Details Make the Difference

Nothing in Morikawa’s preparation is left to chance:

• During short game training, specific club choices were discussed and adapted to the circumstances.
• Putting was where the finishing touches were made: how hard should a ball be rolled on greens that are slightly slower than normal? How does the break change in combination with the wind?
• “Even the lesser shots during the practice rounds are analysed and evaluated,” says Van der Moolen. “Not with frustration, but with curiosity. What can we learn from this? How do we ensure that this does not happen during the tournament, and when it does happen, how do we deal with it?

For Coaches: Model this mindset with your students. Review both good and bad shots in training, focusing on “what can we learn?” rather than blame.

Dealing with Expectations

An important part of preparation is dealing with the expectations of others – the public, the media, and even your own team. For a player like Morikawa, with two majors already under his belt, expectations are high.

Rick Sessinghaus helps Morikawa turn that pressure into focus.

• Instead of thinking about winning, the emphasis is on the process and what you as a player and team have 100% control over: preparing optimally, making the right choices, maintaining mental calm, and remaining flexible under changing circumstances. The result is what ultimately matters.
• The process is a prerequisite for achieving the optimal result. And is therefore sacred.

For Coaches: Teach athletes to separate controllables from uncontrollables. Build routines that anchor them in the present task, especially under pressure.

How Coaches Can Apply These Insights

While your players might not be walking the fairways of Royal Portrush under TV cameras, the principles are universal:

• Plan with purpose — give every session a clear focus.
• Train for adaptability — change variables, conditions, and challenges.
• Build mental routines — protect focus in high-distraction environments.
• Normalise reflection — treat every shot as a learning opportunity.
• Focus on process — results follow from great preparation.

These approaches not only improve performance but also deepen player engagement and trust in your coaching.

From Tour Insights to Your Coaching Business

The methods used with Morikawa are scalable for all levels — from juniors to elite amateurs — and can be integrated into your own coaching with the right tools and frameworks.

The Mental Toughness Programme was built for exactly this purpose: giving coaches practical, ready-to-use mental skills resources that help players focus better, stay resilient, and perform with more confidence — while also creating new business opportunities through structured delivery.

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Utilise the Mental Toughness Programme With Your Students and Become an Affiliate Partner

Pay a one time €49,00 for your own lifetime membership, and when one of your students buys the program with your unique code, they will receive a one time €10,00 discount for their year licence and the Affiliate receives a one time €20,00 for every sale!

To learn more and become an MTP Affiliate, visit cp.golf/mtp.

A key feature of the partnership is access to MTP’s Affiliate Programme, which allows coaches to introduce their students to the platform while earning incentives and embedding structured mental skills training into their coaching programmes.

While MTP is built with golf performance in mind, its impact often extends far beyond the course. By helping individuals build focus, emotional control, and resilience under pressure, the programme not only supports better play – but also promotes stronger mental health in day-to-day life. As conversations around wellbeing grow across sport and society, this partnership reinforces the CPG’s commitment to supporting PGA Members and their communities in all aspects of personal and professional development.

As part of the collaboration, the Affiliate Programme will be made available through the CPG Learning Institute Hub, providing PGA Members and their students across the CPG’s global network with opportunities to access proven tools for developing focus, confidence, and resilience.

“We created the Mental Toughness Programme to make high-quality mental training accessible to every golfer and every coach,” said van der Moolen.

“By partnering with the CPG, we can now support PGA Members across borders – helping more professionals embed mental skills development into their everyday coaching and supporting their business and revenue generation capabilities at the same time.”

The partnership will also see future collaboration on learning content and activities, supporting CPG Member Countries and their professionals with resources and insights tailored to both coaches and players.

To learn more and become an MTP Affiliate, visit cp.golf/mtp.

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For more information on the CPG Learning Institute, visit cpg.golf/cpg-learning-institute or get in touch via info@cpg.golf.

Held from 21–25 April at Ada Golf Club in Belgrade, the five-day programme marked the start of structured, professional coach education for five Serbian candidates: Aleksandar Flanđunis, Mihailo Dimitrijević, Branimir Gudelj, Lazar Pantelić and Puniša Plazina.

The camp was the in-person delivery activity for the CPG Apprentice Professional Course formerly Initial Professional Education – IPE], a comprehensive coaching-focused programme delivered in partnership with PGA Member Countries to prepare aspiring coaches with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours  to get them on the pathway needed for a successful career in golf.

The delivery was organised in collaboration with the PGA of Serbia, the Golf Association of Serbia, and Ada Golf Club, and led by CPG Tutor and Head of Education for the PGA of Holland, Jim van Heuven van Staereling.

“The candidates in Serbia have shown a strong foundation and motivation, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as they develop professionally,” said van Heuven van Staereling.

PGA of Serbia General Secretary, Nebojša Lazic, added: “The week was a big success for the students, but also provided a chance to have constructive conversations with Jim with a shared vision of supporting each other to bringing value to the sport.

“We talked about further development of current market trends in Serbia and how this could help focus coaches’ education on certain parts of the game, audience or groups, along with organising tournaments where we pair young players with the best amateurs and other ways to mix players to increase the quality and balance of knowledge and experience.”

Over the course of the week, participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions, including topics such as ball flight analysis, junior coaching, and group lesson delivery.

The live camp also marked the beginning of an extended, blended-learning journey, with participants now set to complete webinars, elearning, coursework, and practical assignments before final assessments later in the year – all delivered and administered via the CPG Learning Institute Hub Learning Management System [LMS].

The CPG extends its thanks to the PGA of Serbia, Golf Association of Serbia, and Ada Golf Club for their support in hosting and promoting the camp. The success of this delivery highlights the power of partnership in building sustainable, local pathways for professional golf development.

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For more information the CPG Apprentice Professional Course and the CPG Learning Institute, visit cpg.golf/cpg-learning-institute or get in touch via info@cpg.golf.

Central to this collaboration is Sweetspot’s innovative Academy product, designed to put golf professionals at the heart of the business, supplanting their existing driving range, golf club and simulator offerings.

Through online booking and purchasing functions, data-driven insights, and next-level course management tools, Sweetspot’s Academy suite makes it easier than ever to grow academies and support their students.

Under the new partnership, CPG’s network of golf professionals can access Sweetspot’s Academy product at an exclusive discount – helping them streamline operations, reduce administrative tasks, save money and foster sustained growth.

“We are very pleased to be bringing Sweetspot into our partner family at this exciting time for the organisation,” said Ian Randell, CPG Chief Executive. “Their fresh approach to golf commerce and academy management aligns perfectly with our mission to support professionals and facilities in achieving sustainable business success.

“The collaboration not only brings direct benefit to our Member Countries and their individual Members, but by also harnessing the power of the data generated by the Sweetspot user base, helping to facilitate a more data-driven approach to help develop our activities and products moving forward, whilst also raising standards throughout the golf community. This partnership again supports our goal to provide valuable opportunities across the CPG network.”

Sweetspot’s CEO and Founder, Henrik Ahlin, shares in the excitement, stating, “We are proud to partner with CPG to help golf professionals and facilities take their businesses to the next level.

“With our Academy product, we are providing a seamless way for professionals to manage lessons, bookings, and customer engagement, while also opening new doors for data-driven growth. Together with CPG, its Member Countries and the individual Members in the network, we aim to redefine how golf academies operate and help the industry thrive.”

In addition to exclusive offers, this partnership will also see Sweetspot and CPG working together to further refine solutions for golf professionals and their business needs. The business data and analytics at the core of Sweetspot’s platform will be shared with CPG Member Countries, equipping golf facilities with the insights required to optimise their services and create stronger player experiences across the board.

This partnership is another in a recent run of new additions to the partner family, but in particular marks another milestone in CPG’s ongoing commitment to promoting innovation, providing tangible value to its Member Countries, and enhancing opportunities for golf professionals worldwide.

By combining Sweetspot’s technological expertise with CPG’s extensive network and dedication to professional development, the partnership paves the way for a more streamlined, insightful, and profitable future for golf academies and facilities.

For more information about the partnership and to take advantage of the benefits offered, visit cp.golf/sweetspot.

According to new research undertaken by the governing body, there are now 39.6 million on-course golfers (9 and 18 hole) in R&A affiliated markets.

The research figures indicate that the growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and continued during the pandemic – up 34% from 29.6 million on-course golfers in 2016. The sport has since continued to increase in popularity post-pandemic, up 15% from 34.5 million on-course players in 2020.

The data is provided in a new Global Golf Participation Report, which, for the first time, collectively measures The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The report also highlights that 61.2 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) engage with the sport in some format, which is the first time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as par-3 golf, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Golf’s popularity has surged in recent years, which is reflected in a notable increase in the number of people playing the sport in both traditional on-course and alternative formats.

“It is significant that ten million more golfers are playing on the course since 2016, but it is also important that millions of others are engaged in golf through many other alternative formats, such as driving ranges, which are so vital to the growth of the sport.

“It also underlines why effective and impactful participation programmes are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. We are working closely with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders within golf to sustain this momentum. We thank them for their efforts as we aim to ensure that golf is thriving for years to come.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall in 2023 are in Japan (8.1 million), Canada (5.6 million), Republic of Korea (5.4 million), England (3.4 million) and Germany (2.1 million).

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement of 22.5 million. Europe is next highest with 21.1 million adult engagement.

Women make up almost a quarter of adult registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets worldwide, demonstrating the positive impact of initiatives focused on promoting greater diversity and inclusivity in golf.

The R&A is continuing its commitment to invest £200 million over ten years in developing golf, including sustained work to encourage participation by promoting the health benefits of the sport through a global campaign.

View The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report here

The event is a great way for any PGA representative or PGA Member that is interested in the area of golf and health and the wide array of benefits that it can bring, along with medical/scientific/research professionals, surgeons, doctors, sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists, sports scientists, researchers and students interested in golf, health and performance.

The 2022 edition will take place in Scotland, the Home of Golf, with the kind support of our platinum sponsor, Stryker, at a time where golf has been highlighted to have a wide range of health benefits. Major golf events will be held in Scotland in 2022 including The 150th Open, The AIG Women’s Open and many others. International consensus has recently been published on illness and injury in golf and there will be satellite events at each of the major Scottish tournaments this year highlighting the health benefits of golf.

ATTENDANCE

A range of fees are available to attend the event in person depending on which events individuals wish to join. A Virtual Conference Pass is also available for remote access.

Full information and booking process can be found at https://cp.golf/3QAAPmc.

PROGRAMME

A full programme of events for the two days can be downloaded from https://cp.golf/39DxoKO. Sessions will explore:

• Golf’s contribution to global health, and what is new in golf research
• Illness and injury in sport
• Analysing injuries in golf
• Rapid fire research updates in golf & health
• Mental health and well-being in sport
• Performance nutrition & sports science in golf
• Connecting primary care patients to golf for health
• Why the world should play golf

Please direct any questions you have to outreach@rcsed.ac.uk.

CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE & BOOK YOUR TICKET

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FULL PROGRAMME [PDF – 0.6MB]

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER [PDF – 0.1MB]

1. Why? Why are we doing this?
2. What? What is golf’s promise?
3. Who? Who are we?

EDGA, the body that supports golfers with physical, intellectual and sensorial disabilities, is keen to use the opportunity provided by the European Tour to raise awareness and grow participation in inclusive golf this week during the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.

A number of leading EDGA players will also be present to encourage the spectators at the Inclusive Golf Stand in the championship village. EDGA is happy to work closely with Leuchie House, one of the tournament’s Official Charity Partners and Scotland’s only dedicated respite centre, which offers caring respite breaks to people with long term neurological conditions.

Scottish Golf has also got behind EDGA by ensuring the members from 11 golf clubs in the area have helped to promote the free golf lessons available during the tournament in the build-up to the event.

The European Tour and EDGA will also be conducting outreach programmes in the wider community. This will include a visit to Leuchie House in North Berwick on Friday to provide a modified golf session to patients and carers.

By encouraging people with a disability to try the game at The Renaissance Club and Leuchie House, EDGA is continuing to work towards its stated objective of introducing 500,000 people to golf.

Mark Taylor, Head of Development for EDGA and a qualified PGA Professional, said: “Thanks to all at the European Tour and EDGA’s partners, we have an excellent opportunity here to introduce many new people to golf, alongside our friends at Leuchie House, with Support from Scottish Golf.

“Golf is a wonderful sport for those of all abilities and we have seen so many people who have experienced disability, illness or injury, feeling better physically and mentally by playing golf, including finding new social and confidence-building opportunities, making new friends. We therefore look forward to saying hello to many new and established players with a disability this week, while family members or friends will also receive the warmest of welcomes.”

Find Out More @ www.edgagolf.com

You can find out more and meet the EDGA community across our social media platforms: Facebook: @EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation, Twitter: @edgagolf, Instagram: @edga_golf

The Confederation of Professional Golf is drawing the attention of its Member Country PGAs and their PGA Professionals to a fun and exciting campaign which is helping to raise awareness for golf as a sporting option for people with a disability.

As the first ever Golf and Health Week takes place from 15-19 April, EDGA is to show its support of golfers with disability through a unique and fun ‘pledge and PLAY’ day, completing some 2019 golf holes in 24 hours.

Golf and Health Week is a collaborative campaign, coordinated by The R&A, which will run across digital and social media channels using the hashtag #GolfHealthWeek and include content focused on highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of playing golf and projects being delivered by golf bodies and clubs.

EDGA is an international not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to help people with impairment to play, succeed and enjoy golf. The 17th of April is dedicated to golf for those with disability and EDGA is backing the campaign to raise awareness of golf being a viable sporting option for all.

A new EDGA driven ‘pledge and PLAY’ initiative is aiming for players, staff, officials, coaches, volunteers, and friends of EDGA, anywhere in the world, to play a grand total of ‘2019 holes’ on the 17th of April. Look out for #EDGAPledgePlay, before, during and after the 17th April, on social media.

There is no cost to get involved in ‘pledge and PLAY’, simply visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay, pledge the number of holes that you intend to play, log your details, your name, the course you are going to play, the people you intend to play with, and if possible the starting time.

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA and former Director of Education for the Confederation of Professional Golf, said: “A huge thanks to the Confederation of Professional Golf for helping us to promote pledge and PLAY. Their team and members, like all at EDGA, want to see the sport becoming more inclusive. We hope all friends of EDGA will support our pledge and PLAY efforts to play 2019 holes together on the 17th of April, the day when we are marking the importance of the sport for existing and brand new golfers with a disability. Please help us to achieve our goal of 2019 holes – your support is crucial!”

EDGA will have a live ‘Hole Counter’ on the day and as holes are confirmed they will be added to the running total.

Focusing primarily on Great Britain and Ireland, Golf and Health Week will be co-ordinated by The R&A with the support of – along with EDGA – the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, The Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation, as well as national associations including England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union. A number of other organisations have also expressed interest in supporting the week.

For those who wish to support pledge and PLAY (which is totally free) please visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay now!

You can find #EDGAPledgePlay and meet the EDGA community across our social media platforms: Facebook: @EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation, Twitter: @edgagolf, Instagram: @edga_golf

According to a recent survey, ALIGN Technology is now used by 74 TOUR players. This technology was first introduced in Golf Pride brand’s MCC® and MCC Plus4® hybrid grips and is also available in an all-rubber Tour Velvet® grip option. With the addition of a full cord grip to complement the existing options, Golf Pride now offers ALIGN Technology in a full range of feel preferences.

The innovative ALIGN Technology activates upon installation with a dedicated raised ridge on the back of the grip allowing for consistent hand placement and enhanced clubface awareness. ALIGN Technology also features a unique micro-diamond texture and firmer material compared to the surrounding grip area, amplifying its pronounced feel. A flex channel separates the ALIGN Technology ridge from the grip body to maximise elevation lift and lock the grip into the fingers, while conforming to the Rules of Golf.

The Z-Grip is designed to deliver the highest level of shot feedback and all-weather control in the market today. Constructed with Golf Pride’s firmest material and deep ‘Z’ grip texture, the grip has quickly grown into the fastest growing full cord model on TOUR and in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The grip is typically preferred by serious players with mid-to low-level handicaps, who appreciate the superior feedback of a firmer durometer cord grip.

For more information on Z-Grip ALIGN Technology and the entire 2019 Golf Pride product offering, visit www.golfpride.com

The first ever Golf and Health Week will take place from 15-19 April and will aim to encourage golfers, non-golfers and lapsed golfers into taking part in the sport.

A number of health-related themes will be promoted during the week of the campaign, including:

• Monday 15 April: Fitness – professionals and amateurs
• Tuesday 16 April: Mental health (including dementia)
• Wednesday 17 April: Disability golf
• Thursday 18 April: Golf for everyone – featuring various health projects (e.g. Parkinson’s, loneliness, stroke and other programmes that can benefit health)
• Friday 19 April: Club level – focus at golf clubs (e.g. fitness, food, drink, gym classes)

The collaborative campaign will run across digital and social media channels using the hashtag #GolfHealthWeek and include content focused on highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of playing golf and projects being delivered by golf bodies and clubs.

Focusing primarily on Great Britain and Ireland, it will be co-ordinated by The R&A with the support of the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, The Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation, as well as national associations including England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union.

A number of other organisations have expressed interest in supporting the week, including EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), the Confederation of Professional Golf and Golf Australia.

The campaign is also to be backed by professional golfers including Annika Sorenstam, Brooke Henderson, Padraig Harrington and Zach Johnson, who are ambassadors for the Golf and Health Project.

The dedicated week builds on the work of the Golf and Health Project, which since 2016 has studied the many and varied health and wellbeing benefits of golf, considered any risks and had research published regularly in international, peer-reviewed journals.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “It is important that we continue to promote golf as an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities and demonstrate that playing golf can provide significant benefits for the health and wellbeing of those who participate in the sport.

“We are working closely with our affiliated national associations and partners to produce an engaging and inspiring campaign which will drive interest in playing the sport and encourage people to take advantage of the health benefits that golf can bring.”

To drive interest and encourage activity in the days before the dedicated week, golfers will be asked to tweet their steps achieved and calories burned from any golf they play, again using #GolfHealthWeek. The week then finishes on Good Friday at club level, with golfers to be encouraged to head for the fairways over the Easter holiday weekend.

Last year, a global consensus amongst leaders in public health, public policy and sport backed golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer of the breast and colon.

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented at Westminster following research led by the University of Edinburgh and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Previous research has also highlighted that those that play golf live five years longer than those that don’t play, while the sport has been shown to have self-esteem and self-worth benefits.

Find out More @ RandA.org

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Maybe you’ll be surprised, but based on the numbers from a Player’s First survey, the primary reason why people would take more lessons is that their PGA professional is pedagogical and contributes to a positive environment in the club.

Mats Bjørkman, responsible for PGA education in Denmark:

“Carol Dweck describes the fixed and growth mindset, she proves that if you have a fixed mindset, you will tend to be afraid of failing, avoid challenges where you are not guaranteed success, and in particular, you obsess over not looking stupid. A person with that mindset does not book a lot of lessons, and if he/she does, the experience could easily be a fiasco.

“As a PGA Professional, it is a good idea to focus on using a growth mindset. Of course, you’re already doing it on behalf of your students. But it is a good idea to educate, describe and explain to your customers the difference between the two mindsets. If you are a good role model for your customers and colleagues, you are becoming a person that people would like to spend time with. A person’s mindset can be quite stable, but they are only built on beliefs, and they can be transformed through awareness and focusing on the right things.

“Like the research, my experience has repeatedly shown that a growth mindset promotes a healthier attitude towards training and learning. If you preach a growth mindset, your clients will become more open towards feedback and develop a better ability to handle difficult challenges. Last but not least – they will achieve significantly better results over time! And as we know from Players First the third most important reason for the player taking lessons is that they experience improvements in their game!”

Source: Players first; Carol Dweck: Development Psychologist and author of the book, “Mindset.”

As the first ever Golf and Health Week takes place from 15-19 April, EDGA is to show its support of golfers with disability through a unique and fun ‘pledge and PLAY’ day, completing some 2019 golf holes in 24 hours. 

Golf and Health Week is a collaborative campaign, coordinated by The R&A, which will run across digital and social media channels using the hashtag #GolfHealthWeek and include content focused on highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of playing golf and projects being delivered by golf bodies and clubs.

EDGA, a supporter of #GolfHealthWeek, is an international not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to help people with impairment to play, succeed and enjoy golf. The 17th of April is dedicated to golf for those withdisability and EDGA is backing the campaign to raise awareness of golf being a viable sporting option for all.

A new EDGA driven ‘pledge and PLAY’ initiative is aiming for players, staff, officials, coaches, volunteers, and friends of EDGA, anywhere in the world, to play a grand total of ‘2019 holes’ on the 17th of April. Look out for #EDGAPledgePlay, before, during and after the 17th April, on social media.

There is no cost to get involved in ‘pledge and PLAY’, simply visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay, pledge the number of holes that you intend to play, log your details, your name, the course you are going to play, the people you intend to play with, and if possible the starting time.

On the 17th, all EDGA asks is that you enjoy your game, confirm the number of holes you played and send a photo/video of you and your partners as you play the course. If you like you can send a few words about your day (you will have the option to upload a photo, video or short story to the EDGA website). EDGA will have a live ‘Hole Counter’ on the day and as holes are confirmed they will be added to the running total.

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “We at EDGA are delighted to be supporting Golf and Health Week. This dedicated campaign to raise awareness of the health benefits of golf is a wonderful opportunity for golf to send a strong message that golf is good for you. We hope all friends of EDGA will support our pledge and PLAY efforts to play 2019 holes together on the 17th of April, the day when we are marking the importance of the sport for existing and brand new golfers with a disability. Please help us to achieve our goal of 2019 holes – your support is crucial!”

Focusing primarily on Great Britain and Ireland, Golf and Health Week will be co-ordinated by The R&A with the support of – along with EDGA – the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, The Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation, as well as national associations including England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union. A number of other organisations have also expressed interest in supporting the week.

For those who wish to support pledge and PLAY (which is totally free) please visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay now!

You can find #EDGAPledgePlay and meet the EDGA community across our social media platforms: Facebook: @EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation, Twitter: @edgagolf, Instagram: @edga_golf

Launched last May in London, the Charter set out to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf globally. It is designed to encourage actions that enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential within the golf industry at all levels.

Over 100 organisations have committed to the #WomenInGolfCharter since its launch last May🏌️‍♀️

Find out how you can help The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in our sport👉 https://t.co/v8fRCFZv4R ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/2l7E78yNhB

— The R&A (@RandA) February 13, 2019

To date, 107 organisations have given their commitment to the Charter, pledging to build on current initiatives and develop new projects to increase the number of women, girls and families playing golf and becoming members of clubs, as well as giving women wider opportunities to enjoy careers and volunteering in the sport.

These include national federations such as Golf Canada – which held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit last year linked to the staging of the CP Women’s Open – Golf Australia; New Zealand Golf; the Italian Golf Federation; England Golf; Scottish Golf; and Wales Golf.

Other organisations who have adopted the Charter include the PGA TOUR; the European Tour; the Ladies’ European Tour; the Professional Golfers’ Association; the Golf Foundation; the Confederation of Professional Golf; the European Disabled Golf Association; the ANNIKA Foundation; IMG; VisitScotland and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Mastercard, the official card of The Open, is also the first R&A Patron to sign up. Various other organisations offering their support include the Association of Golf Writers and GOLFNOW.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are encouraged by the number of organisations who have recognised the importance of the Charter for the sport and pledged their support.

“It is a positive start but we need an industry-wide commitment to the Charter and support for measures that will foster a more inclusive culture within the sport and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”

While achieving the commitment of national federations and organisations was one of the first aims of the Charter, the process for clubs and regional bodies to sign up is also now gathering pace.

Conwy, which will stage the 2020 Curtis Cup in Wales, is the first golf club to sign up to the Charter.

Boldon, based in Tyne & Wear, is the first English club to sign, followed by commitments from Open venues Royal Portrush, St Andrews Links Trust and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Fulford, venue for the Girls Under 16 Amateur Championship, has also committed, along with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Blairgowrie, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch.

“Gaining the support of national associations and organisations was the first phase of our plan,” added Slumbers. “We have also worked closely with them to collectively agree a process to support individual clubs in adopting the Charter and gain real momentum.

“The national body is the point of contact and will directly liaise with clubs in determining commitments to the Charter should a club wish to become a signatory.

“We would like national associations, with the involvement of clubs, to set targets for participation and membership as we look to increase the number of women, girls and families playing the sport.”

Overview of Women and Girls developments in 2018

• In 2018, The R&A provided an initial three-year funding package of £375,000 to its affiliates in Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support the appointment of new development managers to work on increasing participation by women and girls
• The funding is part of The R&A’s plans to increase its overall investment in women’s, girls’ and mixed golf to £80 million over the next ten years, with the Charter underpinning this work
• In Ireland, junior girls’ membership was up nearly 1%, as was overall female membership – the first time the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union (ILGU) has seen an overall growth in membership since 2008. The Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and the ILGU recently agreed to form a new body, known as Golf Ireland
• Within England Golf, participation among women and girls increased from 15% to 17%, while the Girls Golf Rocks programme grew from 15 counties and 72 clubs in 2017 to 21 counties and 98 clubs for 2018
• Across Great Britain and Ireland, over 25,000 women and girls from over 1,100 clubs played in The R&A’s 2018 Coronation Foursomes
• In February 2018, Golf Australia’s plan to challenge female participation was launched – ‘Vision 2025: The future of women and girls in golf’
• New Zealand Golf has expanded investment into She Loves Golf – an initiative aimed at changing the perception of golf for women and inspiring participation
• Oman Golf launched a ‘Go Ladies’ beginner programme to illustrate the global appeal of the Charter in developing countries
• The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association has launched a ‘Women in Turf Care’ programme to encourage more female greenkeepers
• The Professional Golfers’ Associations’ #WeLoveGolf campaign and TopGolf teamed up to drive women’s interest in trying out golf, with almost 100 women having the chance to hit their first golf ball in a fun and friendly environment
• Mastercard will partner with The R&A across various areas, including STEM Education to develop an evergreen golf version of their Girls4Tech proprietary curriculum that inspires girls to pursue careers in STEM
• Syngenta, one of the first organisations to sign up to the Charter, is taking actions centred around research, diversity and growing the game, particularly around boosting psychological well-being through golf
• A new and engaging golf campaign, aimed specifically at encouraging more women to travel to Scotland to play golf, was recently announced by VisitScotland. The #HerScotland campaign will be used to help raise awareness of The 2019 Solheim Cup
• On the European Tour, men and women competed side-by-side in 2018. The Trophée Hassan II and Lalla Meryem Cup were held simultaneously at the same venue in Morocco, while Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Mel Reid, Carlota Ciganda and Catriona Matthew competed in the second edition of GolfSixes, the latter alongside Thomas Bjørn in a ‘Captains’ Team.’
• In addition, the men’s and women’s competitions ran side-by-side in the Vic Open in Australia last week. Furthermore, the European Tour is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance and promote diversity in their workforce.

Find out More @ RandA.org

Over 2017, ProPlanner captured data from 20,000 golfers who had booked one or more lessons through the platform. The captured data established a positive trend between number of lessons booked and the chance of lowering handicap percentage (HCP). GolfBox identified the correlation when they analysed the captured data against a control group sourced from the same geographical region.

The data uncovered golfers who undertook lessons from a professional had an improved chance of lowering HCP. The below table illustrates the chance of lowering HCP vs lessons booked.

Golfers who had 3 plus lessons from January to December 2017 were 48.8% more likely to lower their handicap, whereas golfers who had no lessons had a chance of lowering HCP by 25.6%. The above table notes that golfers who partook in 1 lesson per year had a 38.6% chance and golfers who participated in 2 lessons had a 41.7% of lowering their handicap.

When reviewing the dataset by Handicap Group it also showed a strong correlation between lessons booked and handicap performance. The below table shows golfers who booked 3 plus lesson increased the chance of lowering their handicap across all HCP groups, ranging from 38.5% to 48.8%.

Nick Thornton GM of MPower Golf from GolfBox’s parent company MPower MSL said “ProPlanner has been specifically designed for PGA Professionals to grow and manage their lessons and in turn generate additional revenue from lessons. We are very pleased that ProPlanner has generated 9 million dollars worth of lesson revenue for PGA Professionals since its inception. We will continue to work with our PGA partners in ensuring this is the lesson booking software of choice for the golf industry”.

GolfBox ProPlanner, the official lesson booking software for the Confederation of Professional Golf’ assists with the daily scheduling and management of a Golf Professionals’ business. Established in EMEA and APAC regions, ProPlanner has assisted in the booking of 155,000 lessons in over 24-month period globally.

More than 90 per cent of TOUR players build up their grip to promote lighter grip pressure and generate more power. The Tour Velvet Plus4 grips simulate the feel of four-layers of extra tape build-up, creating a larger lower-hand profile that is preferred by TOUR players. In addition to the larger lower-hand profile, the re-engineered grip optimises high-performance materials while maintaining the iconic Tour Velvet feel. The grip maintains the recognised plus-sign texture with an increased dimple-to-surface ratio creating additional traction and enhanced durability.

🤔🤭🤫 pic.twitter.com/njG4np1VWS

— Golf Pride Grips (@golfpridegrips) January 19, 2019

“More than 80 per cent of TOUR players trust their games to Golf Pride, so we understand the preferences of the best players in the world better than anyone,” commented Golf Pride Product Manager, Bruce Miller. “Hands down, the preferred grip that TOUR players choose to play is the Tour Velvet. We have taken the most popular grip on TOUR over the last two decades and tweaked it slightly based off insights from professionals on how they are customising their performance equipment. Now all players can benefit from this design, while maintaining the trusted feel and performance they’re accustomed to in the Tour Velvet grip.”

For more information on the Tour Velvet Plus4 grip and the entire 2019 Golf Pride product offering, visit www.golfpride.com.

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented this week in London at the 7th Congress of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH). The biennial scientific meeting is widely regarded as the world’s flagship physical activity and public health event attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 60 countries.

Recognition that playing golf has significant physical health and wellness benefits and can provide moderate intensity physical activity to persons of all ages, comes just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) published its Global Action Plan for Physical Activity. The Global Action Plan targets one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents (11-17 years) who are insufficiently active and charts how countries can reduce physical inactivity in adults and adolescents by 15% through 2030.

The scientific consensus for golf is evidenced in research led by the University of Edinburgh and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Findings reveal that playing golf is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits, and further collaborative efforts to improve access for the sport are needed.

New studies are underway to discover if playing golf improves strength and balance, contributing to a key public health goal of fall prevention in healthy aging and into conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Marking the close of the ISPAH Congress, public health practitioners, policymakers and golf industry leaders were hosted at a satellite event in the Palace of Westminster by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Steve Brine MP, UK Minister for Public Health and Primary Care said, “Governments need active partners in sport to help reduce the levels of physical inactivity that are evident in society today and it gratifying to see that golf is using its global presence to make a difference.

“Golf has various health benefits for people of all ages and I look forward to working with golf, other sports and stakeholders to help get more people, more active, more often.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Golf is working hard to encourage more people into the sport who will realise its many health benefits. With 60 million golfers spanning six continents, golf has found common purpose in working with public health practitioners and policymakers to optimise the health benefits of playing the sport.

“We recognise the importance of the WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity and we will work with our affiliates and partners around the world to help improve health and well-being through golf”.

Professor Fiona Bull, WHO Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention said, “NCD is responsible for nearly three quarters of all premature deaths globally, including 15 million deaths per year in people aged 30 to 70 years.

“The new WHO global action plan and the implementation toolkit ‘ACTIVE’ aims to help all countries improve the environments and the opportunities for all people to be more active. Golf is a popular sport for men and women and it is great to see golf’s global leadership recognising health priorities and identifying ways golf can be more accessible to more people. I took up golf in my 30’s but thought it was a very technical, expensive and elitist sport.

“Thankfully a 6 week ‘come and try course’ showed me how easy it was to enjoy golf as a beginner and how active playing 9 holes can be!” I am looking forward to seeing how golf can attract many more girls and women to enjoy the sport and be more active and healthy”.

Annika Sorenstam, Major Champion and a global ambassador for golf and health said, “As the recent international consensus statement highlighted, golf is great for your health for people of all ages – playing the sport and even spectating. Given the health benefits, we must work together to make golf more accessible if we are to achieve our sport’s full potential.”

The 2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Healthto guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry was published last month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A further Golf and Health Scientific Meeting will be held at Mytime Active, High Elms Golf Course, Bromley on Thursday 18 October 2018, a club promoting healthy lifestyles. Researchers from Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA will discuss their respective projects and the future direction of research on golf and health.

Find out More @ www.golfandhealth.org

The survey, which is available for any PGA Professional to complete at  http://eur.pe/GolfPrideSurvey regardless of whether they offer regripping services or not, will gather opinions and a variety of data to form a picture of how PGA Professionals utilise regripping services as part of their business offerings.

Running until the 20th September, the survey will provide valuable input from PGA Professionals that is critical to continually improving services, resources and future offerings for such a vital part of Golf Pride’s business.

It will also increase their understanding of the attitudes towards regripping from the side of those selling the products and working with clients from a coaching and playing perspective – and with all the data from the survey being made available to entrants, will provide useful insights and resources for PGA Professionals’ own businesses.

Those who complete the survey will also be entered into a draw to win an exclusive Golf Pride Regripping Package that includes a grip wall for your facility, a set of ALIGN technology grips, and a Golf Pride apron, giving you all the relevant tools to promote your services .

“This survey is a great way for us to gather data both from inside and outside of our client base to help better understand the attitudes towards regripping,” said Eaton Golf Pride Regional Manager (EMEA), Conor Dillon.

“What will be hugely interesting are the potential differences we see across different countries and if we can better understand this then we will be able to offer more relevant and useful services to PGA Professionals around the world.”

The survey is also an opportunity to highlight the services that Golf Pride offer to their customers such as the ‘Golf Pride Core’ platform designed to help customers and increase grip sales, and the ‘Golf Pride Certified Center’ programme that certifies businesses and allows access to additional tools and resources.

“We have enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with Golf Pride, and this survey is a great way for PGA Professionals to consider how they are utilising regripping with their clients and how it can be an important part of their businesses,” said Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“The feedback gained from the survey will be invaluable to Golf Pride in ensuring the resources they provide to PGA Professionals are as effective as possible.”

Complete the Survey Now at http://eur.pe/GolfPrideSurvey

The activity aims to shine a light on the journey that female golfers can take to get into golf, looking at the various challenges, questions and benefits that can be experienced by women and girls.

Jenni’s experiences will act as a live case study detailing her progress as she learns more about playing golf and becoming a golfer, and as she builds up to her first big challenge – competing in the Pro-Am for the European Tour’s GolfSixes event at Centurion Club, less than 3 months after picking up a golf club for the first time.

“I’ve always wanted to play golf, and I decided that 2018 was the year I was going to learn…I’ve never played before so I want to know if it’s possible and if I can do it,” says Jenni.  “Luckily I’ve recruited some friends to help me try and achieve it, and the Confederation of Professional Golf have added the extra challenge of giving me just a few months to go from a complete novice to competitor in front of spectators!

“It baffles me as to why women in general aren’t playing as much golf – they’ll go and join a gym, they’ll go to a spin class but they wouldn’t think ‘I want to go and play golf in my free time’.  So my aim is to show that we should be going to play golf, it is possible and it is something that is just as enjoyable as all the other activities women do in their spare time. Golf can appear to be one of the least-accessible activities at the moment and it does seem to be a such a male-dominated sport so let’s change that!”

Backed by ground-breaking research, love.golf is a proven approach to women’s coaching, delivered by a community of coaches who engage, inspire and progress women in the sport. Joanne Taylor (PGA of GB&I), one of these coaches based at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club just outside of London, is leading Jenni on her journey alongside love.golf creator and Head Coach Alastair Spink (PGA of GB&I), who is also a member of the Confederation of Professional Golf Golf Development Team.

Jenni is developing her golf ability through the programme, which is distinct in the way it develops women through experiences and by playing on the golf course rather than a more traditional practice range-based approach. This is supported by academic studies conducted by Alastair Spink and ground-breaking female participation market research by Syngenta, which has received international acclaim.

Starting her golf journey as a complete beginner, Jenni will act as a great example to many female golfers coming to the sport for the first time, as well as becoming an ambassador for women’s golf in general with a wide-reaching and specifically non-golf social media and listener audience that will help communicate the great health, social, wellbeing and enjoyment benefits that golf has to offer.

“The Confederation of Professional Golf are totally committed to advancing golf, and there has been a great deal of recent publicity around the opportunity to make golf more appealing to women, girls and families, which we support wholeheartedly,” said Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“Jenni will no doubt inspire women and girls to try golf, and we hope to replicate this golf development activity model in multiple countries where local female ambassadors can be utilised to share these messages.

“She is a joy to work with – her motivation to continually better herself and learn more has meant that she has made huge progress in a short period of time. We are delighted that she has chosen to get into golf, and I am sure she will prove to be a fantastic ambassador for our sport.”

For more Information Visit http://eur.pe/FalconerForeGolf
Follow Jenni’s Progress on Social Media – #FalconerForeGolf

Golf is played by around 55 million people on 32,000 courses in over 100 countries.¹ With over half a billion homes worldwide tuning in for each day of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, a series pitting Europe’s best against the cream of the American crop. We look at the health benefits of playing golf available not only to Rory McIlroy and the game’s elite, but also to those inspired to visit their local course.

Indeed former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George viewed less talented golfers as reaping more benefits than those bestowed upon the likes of McIlroy:

“Golf is the only game where the worst player gets the best of it. He obtains more out of it as regards both exercise and enjoyment, for the good player gets worried over the slightest mistake, whereas the poor player makes too many mistakes to worry about them.”

But what of the available evidence? Do golfers really live longer happier lives?

A landmark Scandinavian study² of over 300,000 golfers estimated they lived a remarkable 5 years longer than those who do not play golf, regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status. Evidence also suggests that golf has a role in preventing and treating many chronic diseases, and has positive mental health effects.

Golf & Walking

A 2006 study³ found a mean of 11,948 steps are taken per 18-hole round, exceeding the commonly recommended daily amount of steps for health.  With technological advances coming into the game, calls have been made to reduce the use and availability of motorised carts to transport players around the course. Cart use reduces walking distance from an average 8+km to 3.86km per round.⁴

Another study⁵ found that walking 18-holes was the equivalent of moderate-high intensity exercise for the elderly, moderate for the middle-aged, and low for the young. A 1998 study⁶ determined that golf should be classified as a form of aerobic training for middle-aged people.

An Inclusive Sport

Golf suits participants of all ages, with people of mixed ability, sex, and age able to play together.  The Walker Research Group concludes: “golf is well suited for the development of social capital” with designated social spaces and natural breaks providing unparalleled socialisation opportunities and thus potential psychosocial benefit to participants of all ages⁷.

A 2006 study⁸ engaged children in non-traditional sports such as golf during extra-curricular time and found that such an intervention coupled with lifestyle activities such as walking, significantly increased physical activity in primary school aged children. This also slowed unhealthy weight gain.

In regards to gender inclusion, the recent news of women winning the right to R&A membership at St. Andrews after a 260-year wait, exhibits a positive step by the game’s administrators to quash these barriers and see more women playing and staying in the game⁹.

Was David Lloyd George right?

There is clear evidence that regular physical activity, in the form of golf, increases life expectancy.  And although Lloyd George was correct that the benefits can be accrued by players of all abilities, research suggests that low handicap players tend to play more often and have the lowest mortality rates.  Encouraging friends, family, and patients to take part in regular physical activity is time well invested, and golf can offer significant benefit to Joe and Jane Public and Rory McIlroy alike.  Just don’t hire a buggy!

References

1. Wilson B. Golf industry facing challenges: BBC News Online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12731099, 2011:Online News Article.
2. Farahmand B, Broman G, de Faire U, Vagero D, Ahlbom A. Golf: a game of life and death–reduced mortality in Swedish golf players. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2009;19(3):419-24.
3. Kobriger, S. L., Smith, J., Hollman, J. H., & Smith, A. M. (2006). The contribution of golf to daily physical activity recommendations: How many steps does it take to complete a round of golf? May Clinic Proceedings, 81(8), 1041-1043
4. Sell, T. C, Abt, J. P., Lephart, S, M. (2008) Physical activity-related benefits of walking during golf. Science and Gold V: Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. 128-132
5. Broman, G., Johnsson, L., & kaijser, L. (2004) Golf: a high intensity interval activity for elderly men. Aging – Clinical and Experimental Research, 16(5), 375-381
6. Magnussen, G. (1998). Science and golf III: Proceedings of the 1998 World Scientific Congress of Golf. (eds.) Martin R. Farrally, Alastair J. Cochran. Human Kinetics
7. Walker Research Group. The Health & Wellness Benefits of Golf Participation & Involvement. Review of Academic Literature. Golf 20/20 & World Golf Foundation. (2011)
8. Taylor, R., Mculey, K., Williams, S., Barbezat, W., Nielsen, G., & Mann, J. (2006). Reducing weight gain in children through enhancing physical activity and nutrition: The APPLE project. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1(3), 146-152
9. Women win right to R&A membership after 260-year wait as other clubs are told to remove barriers. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/11107633/Women-win-right-to-RandA-membership-after-260-year-wait-as-other-clubs-are-told-to-remove-barriers.html Online news article.

According to the survey, which is based upon statistics compiled from local golf associations in 43 European countries, the continent’s golf markets are displaying positive signs of growth in 2016.

In fact, when taking a closer look at Europe’s golf markets, 81% of local golf associations indicated in 2016 that their level of participation had either stabilized or increased. The remaining 19% of European markets still experienced some decline, including key markets such as Scotland and Austria.

The research demonstrates that the number of registered golfers showed a slight increase, by 2% (+82,584 players), while the supply of golf courses declined by 28 courses (24 openings and 52 closures). Forty-six per cent of European countries surveyed experienced a growth in participation rates, 35% showed stability and in 19% of the countries surveyed demand declined. The research further shows that men make up 67% of the total registered golfers across Europe in 2016, and the proportion of European population who actively played golf (0.9%) has not changed since 2015.

“As we have identified a moderate level of growth in 2016,” says Andrea Sartori, Partner and KPMG Global Head of Sports, “it is important to reflect upon various creditable golf development initiatives, which have been launched in previous years with the aim of reaching new audiences and retaining existing golfers across Europe. These initiatives and the hard work of many other golf industry stakeholders, provide evidence for a consciously optimistic outlook for the game’s development. Certain markets have demonstrated exemplary performance and highlighted the opportunities a proactive and coordinated approach can achieve.”

Click Here to Download the KPMG 2017 Golf Participation Report for Europe at www.golfbenchmark.com

Through our numerous assignments and research initiatives at Global Golf Advisors over the last twelve months, we have encountered both unique challenges and consistent trends at golf facilities throughout the EMEA territory. Here, I have identified five that are particularly noteworthy for their influence on current golf facility performance at European Clubs.

1. Capital Maintenance Trends

Capital maintenance, capital improvements and the funding of both are amongst the greatest challenge facing golf facilities now and are expected to continue to be so into the immediate future. 40% of clubs are reporting that they have more than three year’s worth of deferred capital maintenance and expenditure, largely a consequence of economic recession/stagnancy between 2009 and 2015.

Long-term capital planning is rare, with most clubs lacking a formal plan to fund capital requirements, using whatever cash is available each year to fund their reserves. Less than 50% have a capital reserve study in place informing long-term capital requirements. Of those that are investing in capital, almost 6 in 10 are using a combination of debt and membership levy to fund their programs.

Clubs spend on average 7.6% of gross annual revenue on capital maintenance but estimate they need to spend 9.6% to keep pace with capital maintenance.

2. Women make the ‘buy’ decision

Historically golf clubs have been institutions that served male viewpoints, wants and needs. New programs and services are changing membership structures, methods of club governance and the feasibility of many clubs.

In her book, “Marketing to women” Martha Barletta indicates that 91% of home purchase decisions are made by a woman. Typically, the club membership decision is a part of the home choice decision due to location, psychographic and demographic profile.

As such, clubs must reset membership programs to address the primary push/pull factors that influence the buy decision. Women prize their clubs as a platform for socialization. Clubs must demonstrate in clear and appealing ways that the lifestyle of the club is diverse, active and accessible for busy women and their families.

Sales and marketing tactics in forward- thinking clubs are seeking to address schedule flexibility, interesting and current programs and the opportunities for meeting and keeping friends.

3. Business Intelligence

There is increasing adoption amongst clubs of more sophisticated business intelligence for decision-making. This includes the tracking and analysis of financial and operational performance trends, market pricing trends and positioning, member satisfaction and net promoter score (NPS), comparable club benchmarking and targeted market segmentation.

Club Boards/Management have an increasing need for quantitative, interfaced data to afford informed decision-making about the club.

Club Managers continue to report feeling pressure due to performance comparisons to benchmarks and competitors in all areas, especially as they relate to dues, fees, compensation, benefits, pricing, and staff levels. Other leaders struggle to meet their Board’s demand for data which has led to an increase in staff hours to track, monitor, analyze, and produce data. Some GMs have found traditional sources of data to be insufficient in providing the data their Board/Owner wants.

Top performers are tracking specific internal and external market KPIs and act upon them to sustain the market position. Many clubs – which lack the comfort of capital or staff resources to execute their own intelligence program – rely on frequent, concise surveys that monitor customer satisfaction, such as the secret shopper program provided so effectively by 59Cub. Some have even tied staff bonus incentives to member/customer satisfaction ratings.

More recently many clubs have turned to subscription-based services such Global Golf Advisors’ Strategic Intelligence Platform to track operating performance, customer satisfaction, and competitive market data all in one central portal.

4. Sustainability

Last July, London’s new Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a ‘crackdown’ on pollutants. His goal is to “Make London one of the World’s most environmentally friendly cities”. His plan to achieve this goal includes amongst other things creating an ‘Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London by 2019 and beyond central London by 2020.

The fact that Mr. Khan has placed this issue near the very top of his agenda, is a great indicator of just how much influence sustainability and environmentalism has on the public mindset – politicians don’t tend to tackle issues unless they are going to improve their popularity.

Many clubs are now rightly keen to present their sustainability credentials, but to have resonance, consumers want to know the details/specifics and the outcomes. For clubs, this means their efforts in this space should be measured and proactively reported, with the support of a trusted third party.

The Golf Environment Organization is doing extraordinary work in supporting clubs achieve exactly this. Their club tools are not just providing vital guidance on best practice for sustainable performance, but are now also providing measurement and reporting tools to aid in effective communication of the results of such performance.

5. Membership

Gone are the days when most clubs were operating with waitlists and a pipeline full of members lined up to join the club. The reality is that most clubs must now aggressively seek and find new members. Successful clubs are adopting a more data-driven approach to membership recruitment/retention and are adjusting membership and amenity offerings to be more competitive in their business space.

61% of clubs map the location of their members to identify trends and areas for new member growth. Global Golf Advisors recommends that clubs do this annually to maximize membership sales effectiveness.

Six in ten clubs have encountered challenges with an aging membership or growing senior member category. Two-thirds of this group has adopted a set of tactics to address these challenges, among which adjustments to age bands and entry fees are most common solutions.

More than one in four (28%) clubs have experienced a decline in their total number of members in the last 5 years. The annual attrition rate of clubs in the UK is 3.5% while in the rest of Europe that rate is 4.7%.

The top three factors for creating a sustainable membership strategy include

1. improve overall amenity quality,
2. embracing modern technologies to complement modern lifestyles, and
3. further enhancing the club’s platform for connecting its membership.

Trends such as these, although not universally applicable, are highly valuable indicators of change. The capacity to be prepared for change and take advantage of the opportunities that come with it, is what marks a successful club. Best put by Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change”.

Rob Hill is a Partner at GGA with responsibility for their EMEA Office. A former recipient of Boardroom Magazine’s “Strategic Planning Firm of the Year” award, GGA brings an unmatched financial, marketing and operational focus to each of its strategic assignments. The firm serves over 2,700 clients around the world from offices in USA, Canada, Sydney (Asia-Pacific) and Dublin (EMEA). Rob can be reached at rhill@globalgolfadvisors.com.

@salubriousdish

You’re not going to succeed at business without doing market research. How else are you going to find out if there will be any kind of demand for your idea, who will want to buy it, the size of the market not to mention how you’re positioned relative to competitors?

The good news is that gauging customer sentiment doesn’t need to be expensive. That’s according to Adam Rossow, partner with iModerate, a Denver-based qualitative research firm which has conducted more than 250,000 one-on-one conversations with client customers in the 11 years the company has been around.

1. Turn industry events into a research venue.

The trade shows and conferences your company attends every year are an opportunity to talk with your target audience. Find out who will be attending and schedule times to get face-to-face with these people, if even for a few minutes.

2. Use a text analytics tool to study the wealth of information you’re already getting from customers.

This software can be rudimentary or complex–anything from a word cloud generator to an enterprise solution. It works by uploading customer feedback from various sources–social media mentions, call center feedback or survey data, for example–and looking for themes. “A lot of companies are drowning in consumer commentary, but are not taking advantage of it,” he says. “So if you don’t have anyone looking at all the commentary already in your feeds, put someone on it and give them a text analytics tool.”

3. Collaborate with other companies to glean insights about consumer sentiment.

It can even be competitors, as long as you’re comfortable with the fact that everyone involved will be getting the same insights. For example, a company in the media entertainment industry that wants to know how audiences are consuming TV could team with one or more of the television networks. “If you really need that research and can’t afford it you can team up with other like-minded companies in the field to try and get at it,” he says.

4. Use social media to crowdsource your research.

Use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn to ask simple questions of your fan base. “NPR puts questions on its Facebook page or tweets them out and gets answers that way,” he says. “It’s not going to be the most robust research, but depending on your objectives, the level of bias that you’re OK with, and if it’s the right audience, it’s a good way to get simple questions answered.”

5. A/B test your messages.

Whether it’s an email, digital ad or tagline, test the waters with a couple of versions to see which ones are getting the most engagement and click-throughs. “The downside is you might not really know the motivations and the reasoning behind why one message is doing better than the others, but at least you can [understand] which is the best performing,” he says.

6. Become involved in an industry association.

These kinds of memberships often offer access to copious amounts of research. “There is often a ton of stuff there you can get your hands on that can answer some pretty general questions about the marketplace and where the industry is going,” he says.

7. Use DIY tools.

SurveyMonkey and GutCheck are a couple to check out. “The one thing that I’d caution against is launching those things without having any idea how to ask the proper question and what kind of methodology that’s called for,” he says.

8. Log all your customer input.

Any kind of feedback you’re getting from customers–whether in person, through your call center or via social networks–should be captured. You can’t study customer problems, habits and lifestyles if you don’t harvest and store that information.

9. Start small.

You don’t need to talk to thousands of people if 20 or 30 will give you a good idea what direction to head.

10. Find what’s already out there.

You may be surprised what you can learn by searching the internet for studies that have already been conducted. For example, a wealth of data exists on Millennials regarding how they like to be engaged, what social networks they use and more. While the research you find may not be specific to your industry, you’re wasting money if you’re asking questions that have already been answered.

“You want to use research to either confirm a hypothesis or to get to a new place, where it’s true insight and your company takes away something new that you didn’t know before,” he says.

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This article originally appeared on Inc.com – to view the original article visit http://eur.pe/21keCca.

Golf Business Monitor’s Miklós Breitner assesses the ways in which these new devices could be leveraged by your marketing team.

The usage of wearables is not totally new to the golf industry. Those who were lucky enough to attend the Ryder Cup were able to experience the advantages of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This got me thinking about how pro-shops and other golf retail outlets could utilise wearables.

For many of us, if I ask them about wearables, the following things come to their mind: Google Glass, smartwatches (e.g. Motoactv of Motorola), and activity trackers (e.g. Fitbit). In 2014 there were more searches on Google for wearable devices than for fitness apps.

As usage increases we need to think how could we maximise these technologies to enhance customer experience in pro-shops and golf retail outlets.

At the moment I can see 3 major areas where wearable technologies could be utilised – in this first part of the article we’ll look at the first:

Providing more product information

Bricks-and-mortar companies have to compete with online retailers. Needless to say that online it is easier to obtain relevant information (and reviews) about products and services and compare them. Some retailers are already using QR codes to provide extra product information, such as Best Buy in the US adding QR codes to the fact tags.

Our challenge is to find out how to utilise wearable technologies to provide personalised offers and solutions in real-time. Customers today are expecting more and more relevant offers, greater access to deals and promotions and fast checkout (I will talk about payment solutions in the next part of the article). More importantly, once the customer walks in, the store can immediately engage him or her with services.

If the customer opts to provide personal information via wearable, this can give retailers further opportunities for marketing.

I would not neglect the demand generation capability of wearables. Burberry’s solution, launched in 2013 (see video on this page), is a good example where the company embedded a textile RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) label into its products. Burberry were then able to provide bespoke multimedia content specific for certain products.

Another interesting aspect is how your sales team communicates with customers in the pro-shop. We should think how we could support their work with extra information via wearable devices – for example, ongoing communication; remind the shop assistant that he is dealing with a loyal customer and what the customer’s brand preferences are, their shoe size, preferred payment solution etc.

We could also avoid the embarrassing situations when colleagues called to a certain place within the golf club via loudspeaker. In addition to this the wearable can improve employee efficiency, enhance training and reduce nonproductive time.

The Container Store (TCS) for instance in 2014 replaced its walkie-talkie system with Theatro Wearable (a wearable in-store communications device clipped to employees’ shirts) to improve the communication among its workers.

To succeed we must integrate the implemented wearable solutions with our point of sale, CRM, order management, campaign management and web content management systems. For integration to be effective then we are reliant on developers creating programming interfaces/APIs but this will no doubt take place as time goes on. I am less worried about security and privacy since our employees are used to being monitored.

In the upcoming second part of the article Miklós will look at 2 more areas where wearable technology could be utilised.

This article originally featured in International Golf Pro News. Visit the IGPN Page to find out more and subscribe for free.

It’s more than 30 years since Time magazine famously named the computer as its ‘Man of the Year’. Our square-faced companions have been encroaching further into our working lives ever since.

Technological unemployment, as it’s known, has long been key issue in the word’s industrialised nations. Between 1900 and 2000 the percentage of Americans employed in agriculture decreased from 41% to just 2%, while the number of US manufacturing workers has fallen by two thirds since World War II.

American employees are by no means alone in their predicament: according to a joint study by Oxford University and Deloitte, about 35% of UK jobs are at high risk of being taken over by computers during the next 20 years. The study ranked around 400 professions against a series of key skills, including social perceptiveness, negotiation and persuasion, to see which were most under threat.

The roles of financial officer, bookkeeper and legal secretary came top, with a 97-99% risk of being automated over the next two decades. Meanwhile, social workers, teachers and therapists can rest easy, with the chance of these roles being ceded to a machine calculated at around 1% or less.

Most roles fall between these two extremes, but the good news here is that there are plenty of ways you can future-proof your career against the inexorable march of the machines.

To start with, you can position yourself in an industry where there is expansion and therefore less need for cost-cutting and automation. Areas such as health and nutrition, sustainability and clean energy are likely to be important sources of job creation going forward.

You should also think about the kind of soft skills you need to be developing alongside your core professional competencies. Think problem-solving, adaptability, and communication, in particular, listening and negotiation skills.

Then of course there is the ‘can’t beat ’em, join ’em’ argument: as long as there’s technology, there will be a need for people who can harness and interpret that technology. It’s never too late to start picking up basic skills in areas such as coding and website design. Codeacademy.com is just one of a number of free, online platforms that can help get you started.

As history has shown us, professions and entire industries will come and go over time. However, by embracing this technological shift and maintaining a broad skill set, you can stay one step ahead of the curve.

This content appears courtesy of Abintegro, experts in career management, transition technology & e-learning for today’s modern, mobile and technology-savvy workforce – Find out more at www.abintegro.com

Credit: Bcdwire; NPR; BBC; HuffingtonPost

Brain vector designed by Freepik

Approximately 7.9 million European citizens play golf in an industry that contributes over €15.1 billion to the European economy. Golf Europe, a group of European golf’s major stakeholders, will aim to progress golf’s contribution to European society and the focus it receives within the community. The Europe 2020 strategy, which outlines the European Union’s vision for the 21st century, included sustainability as a key driver for economic growth and resource efficiency. In this context, Golf Europe’s activities of growing the sport of golf in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable way are in line and contribute to realising Europe’s 2020 vision.

Under Erasmus+, the EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020, the European Commission has awarded funding to the GoGolf! project, which be focused on sport, health and participation with transnational collaboration and two high-level aims:

• Increasing the evidence base for the health benefits of golf for the European citizen
• Driving increased participation in the sport at a pan- European level

Download PDF Press Release (1.1MB)

The European Golf Association (EGA) General Secretary, Richard Heath, commented that:

“…The EGA is excited to be in a position to collate and develop the evidence-base of golf in an EU-sponsored project. We feel that a more formal realisation of the benefits will create a cascading effect to benefit the European population through increasing participation at a grass-roots level.”

In the context of EU policy, the project aims to target the recently published Eurobarometer report on Sport and Physical Activity, which found that:

• 59% of EU citizens never or seldom exercise or play sport at least once a week
• Almost three-quarters of EU citizens (74%) say that they are not members of any sports club, a 67% increase since 2009.

With golf functioning as a major participation sport across Europe, the GoGolf! project will seek to identify how the European golf community can come together to address some of these impending health challenges for the European Community.

On behalf of The R&A, Steve Isaac, Director of Golf Course Management stated that:

“The Erasmus+ funding for GoGolf! provides a great opportunity for golf to demonstrate its value in providing health benefits to European citizens. Golf is an excellent way to address Europe’s potential health crisis, being a sport providing gentle exercise and one that can be played by all ages.”

A key aim of GoGolf! is to compose a multi-national, multi- stakeholder planning and delivery team which can bring a diverse set of skills, perspectives and resources to the work being undertaken. Partners include: The Confederation of Professional Golf, Portuguese Golf Federation, Estonian Golf Association, Royal Dutch Golf Federation, Czech Golf Federation, French Golf Federation, and the University of St Andrews as a research partner. Coordinating the partners will be the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Financial partners include the EGA and the PGA European Tour (CPGT).

Fredrik Lindgren, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at the CPGT said:

“It is great news that European golf has been recognised as a positive contributor to the health enhancing physical activity aims of the European Commission. We look forward to working with our European partners to engage young people in golf across the five countries involved in this Erasmus+ project and to showcase the work at European Tour events and during the European Week of Sport.“

Czech Golf Federation (CGF) Vice-president, Miroslav Holub has stated:

“We believe that this research/project will have a huge impact on CGF’s future projects as well as on future projects implemented by other federations.”

An Expert Advisory Board comprising seven members will contribute strategic value to the initiative, namely:

• The dynamics, structure and organisation of the European golf sector
• Golf coaching and specific outreach to minority groups
• Gender equality
• Sports management and research
• The health and social benefits to be gained by all members of society through regular physical activity
• Youth engagement
• EU sport policy

In alignment with the EU Physical Activity Guidelines, it is envisioned that the GoGolf! project will offer a valuable contribution towards the wider objective of increasing the physical activity levels of European citizens. Golf can function as an important vehicle for introducing children to sport, providing continuity into later life.

The planned deliverables for the project will include:

• A core participation-driving framework, which is flexible for integration according to the specific variables of each national environment
• A platform for pan-European knowledge sharing
• A published comprehensive overview of the health benefits of playing golf
• A validated European blueprint for increasing golf participation through targeted junior programmes in EU Member States
• An information booklet for children on healthy living and the sport of golf
• An awareness-raising website and promotional film.

The GoGolf! project aligns well with Golf Europe’s strategy to promote golf as a growing sport, valued as a force for good in European society. It is foreseen to be implemented over three years.

For more information, please contact the Golf Europe office: info@ega-golf.ch.

The survey received more than 56,000 responses from golfers in 122 countries between September 2014 and March 2015. It was carried out by The R&A as part of its efforts to investigate the issues affecting golf and the extent to which they impact on participation in the sport.

The survey revealed that while 70% of golfers are largely happy with the duration of their rounds, 60% of golfers expressed the view that they would enjoy golf more if they played in less time.

Importantly, of the 25-44 year-olds who said that they were never happy with pace of play, 21% said that golf would need to take as much as one-and-a-half hours less for them to play more often. Of the 8,468 golfers in this age range who responded, 19% said they would welcome the opportunity to play nine holes more often as an alternative format.

The survey found that the two biggest factors preventing people from playing golf are work commitments (34%) and family commitments (29%) with the time taken to play (16%) ranked third. Other factors mentioned were alternative hobbies (12%), cost of play (7%), difficulty of play (1%) and cost of equipment (1%); although there were some regional variations on these percentages.

The R&A is organising a forum later this year where it will invite contributions from a range of organisations in golf on addressing pace of play and explore the key areas of player behaviour, management approaches and golf course issues.

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Working for Golf at The R&A, said, “This survey is the first step for us in examining, in detail, the wide range of issues currently affecting participation in golf. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence available but we conducted the survey to obtain accurate data on how much of an issue pace of play is for golfers and to give us an insight into what they see as the main factors contributing to slow rounds.

“We feel that the next step in this process is to engage with our partners throughout the golf industry to look at these findings and invite them to contribute their views to these important discussions. Our forum later this year will provide the opportunity for these discussions to take place.”

The R&A distributed the survey through its affiliated bodies around the world and it was offered in six languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

Click here to download the report

Confederation of Professional Golf Media Partner, GolfBusinessNews.com, spoke to Andrea Sartori, Partner KPMG Advisory, Head of Golf Advisory Services in EMA, about the new study.

Click Here to View the Interview in Full at GBN.com

Andrea, KPMG Golf Advisory Practice continues to publish meaningful thought leadership on the golf sector. You have recently produced a new study on golf resorts. Why have you chosen this time for the study?

Yes, you are right; the KPMG Golf Advisory Practice leads the way in thought leadership in the golf industry. Last year we published the Golf Cost Development Survey for Europe, Middle East and Africa and in a couple of weeks we will publish the annual European Golf Participation Survey.

The report on integrated golf resorts comes at a time when the property sector is slowly coming out of the global economic crisis and with this in mind, we believe it is a good time to investigate the development of and future outlook for integrated golf resorts in greater detail. Our analysis has shown that whilst some integrated golf resorts did open during the crisis years, the rate of growth slowed significantly. Today we are seeing a returning level of interest in the sector.

At the same time the golf holiday market has shown signs of continued growth in the past few years, with global golf holiday sales growing by more than 20% between 2011 and 2013.

Click here to download the report

Explain the general concept behind integrated golf resorts?

First of all is important to observe that there is not a commonly accepted definition of what constitutes a resort. In our study, we have considered a resort as a planned development comprising one or more golf courses, hospitality facilities and/or residential real estate for sale. The subject of our study is golf resorts located within 20 km of the coast of European Mediterranean countries, as well as the coast of Portugal. We also define an integrated golf resort as being planned and developed as one mixed-use project.

The key element of the market that we have analysed is the inclusion of golf as a main feature of the resort. Increasingly the concept of a golf resort has been backed up with a range of other sports and leisure facilities, but it is the combination of all of these components that can contribute to the success of an integrated golf resort.

How has the concept changed over the years?

Costa Navarino Bay Course – operated by Troon Golf. (photograph courtesy of Kevin Murray)
Golf resorts have existed since the early 20th century. In the early days the concept comprised more simply a hotel and a golf course or courses.

As holiday patterns changed, and with a greater availability of means of travel, the resort market boomed and a holiday residential market started to grow. From the 1980s the proportion of integrated golf resorts featuring residential real estate for sale increased and between 2000 and 2009 as many resorts opened including holiday real estate as those including only a hotel.

Interestingly in many cases developers focussed on real estate sales have chosen to include a hotel as well. This often make sense as the hotel can provide a range of facilities which add to the attractiveness of the resort as a whole, a brand that can help to position the resort and establish credibility in the eyes of real estate buyers.

Why has the residential real estate-golf combination grown in importance?

The key answer to this question lies in the potential returns on investment from residential sales. In terms of positioning the resort in the eyes of potential consumers; golf remains a key driver to higher premiums in real estate or tourist developments. Golf courses come second only to waterfront sites as the most desirable location for a housing community.

In a recent survey of resort developers carried out by KPMG, nearly half of the respondents indicated that the real estate sales price premium generated by a golf course was in excess of 20%. Almost all survey respondents indicated that a premium was achieved on residential real estate as a result of a golf course.

It is important to realise that many people who purchase real estate in an integrated golf resort may not actually play golf. Rather they are attracted by the thought of living on a golf course – the green areas of the fairways, the lifestyle and the sense of “prestige” associated with living beside a golf course. In addition there is a greater potential of increased investment value of a golf course home.

In today’s market, how important is the use of a “branded” golf architect and internationally branded hotels?

Monte Rei Golf & Country Club – Nicklaus Design (photograph courtesy of Aidan Bradley)
This is an area on which we are frequently asked to give advice. Increasingly in today’s golf and hospitality markets, the issue of brand is of key importance. It can be key to raising the profile of a resort.

Our research showed that in the last fifteen years around a third of all new golf courses have been designed by firms of architects associated with a well-known golfer. Interestingly in the last five years, this proportion has grown to 60%. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that residential real estate on a resort with a “branded” golf course achieves a greater premium. 35% of the resorts studied estimated a premium above 10%, and 25% estimated a premium of between 6%-10%.

The same is perhaps true in terms of the use of international hotel brands. Certainly a well-known hotel brand can assist in raising the profile of a resort and nearly 40% of all hotels in resorts covered by our study are operated under an international brand. It is however interesting to note that there is no brand that currently has leadership in this market.

Is now a good time to be developing a golf resort?

It appears that we are into a phase of modest recovery following the economic crisis – our experience shows that this can be seen to an early extent in the second home property market. It appears that it is more in the market for higher quality properties and unique concept that are attracting more attention in the early stages of the recovery.

At the moment we are noticing that second home buyers from key feeder markets – such as UK, Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia – are beginning to explore once again the idea of buying second or third homes in golf resorts in Southern Europe. The CIS regions and Russia, prior to the Ukrainian crisis, were also emerging as potential buyers.

We are seeing a revival in developer confidence in some areas. This despite the fact that there is still limited debt financing available for green field golf related projects. In facts, banks have not shown the same kind of openness to green field development at this time and they are rather interested in investing in the extension of existing successful properties. Existing resorts are now investing in repositioning themselves and in some cases projects which were halted and are currently under development are revising their original concept in order to become more attractive in the changing market. It is perhaps in some emerging countries that greater future potential exist.

Where in the European Mediterranean do you see the potential for golf resort development?

More established markets such as Spain, Portugal and to a lesser extent France and Italy, have a mature integrated golf resort supply. Especially in Spain, at least for a few years, there will be a limited number of new projects, whereas emerging markets currently have the least supply and potentially offer the most opportunity. Our study has demonstrated that there are improved prospects for new developments in emerging golf resort markets, such as Croatia, Montenegro, Cyprus and Turkey. Despite the uncertain economic and political situation, Greece could also be an interesting market in the mid-term.

In the next five years we expect to see growth in the number of resorts in the above mentioned emerging markets and the South of Italy, which has phenomenal golf tourism potential. One problem that has surfaced in general is the lack of suitable available land and a low prioritization of golf in national tourism program. What we have observed is that if emerging destinations wish to compete against mature destinations, the concepts of resorts need to be based on mix of components focused on niches which differentiate them from competitors.

KPMG Golf Advisory Practice: www.golfbenchmark.com.

This article originally appeared on GolfBusinessNews.com – to view the original article visit http://eur.pe/1FRIPSV