Access all areas - Wood devises on-course programme so that beginners can mind the gap

21/07/2023

Devon-based PGA Professional Simon Wood has devised an innovative on-course coaching programme known as Golf Access to prevent beginners from disappearing down a golfing black hole after developing a liking for the game.

In addition to honing his coaching skills, the seven years Wood spent as England Golf’s development officer for Cornwall taught him that once potential golfers had completed and enjoyed a course of taster sessions, they were left with nowhere to go to follow up their interest.

“We had a lot of people who would try golf at the first stage where they might have five weeks of coaching for £25,” recalled the 43-year-old.

“They had had a great time and were ready to carry on their golfing journey but, apart from individual coaching, there was nothing for them, so they gave up and were lost to the game.”

Rather than accept the scenario, however, Wood and his business partner Kris Robertson, an experienced marketeer, came up with a solution, namely Golf Access.

“I did a lot of research, and this backed up my own experience,” he explained. “I found a lot of people would try the game on a range but there was no process to move them on to a course.

“So, I looked at other sports and found they had introductory ways to get people involved whereas golf didn’t.

“The trick was transitioning people from their first experience of hitting balls on a range and having some coaching to playing on a golf course.”

Borrowing from martial arts, Golf Access involves beginners negotiating nine stages, each one more difficult than its predecessor.

By way of an incentive, progress is rewarded all the way through the process: the successful completion of each stage results in juniors receiving a certificate and colour-coded wristband while adults get a similarly coloured ball marker.

As the new golfer’s journey gathers momentum and negotiates the nine levels, Golf Access takes them from their first experience on a golf course through to a standard whereby they can obtain a handicap and become a golf club member.

“Playing on a course for the first time can be very daunting, especially if it’s one designed for accomplished or experienced golfers,” Wood continued. “So, Golf Access prepares them by adapting the course to suit their levels of ability.

“We recommend where tees should be. For example, clearing a large pond in front of a regular tee can be a difficult task for an average golfer let alone someone learning the game, in which case we could by-pass the pond and turn the hole into a 60-yard par three.

“Alternatively, we could create a Golf Access drop zone so if someone does go into the water there is an area from which they can carry on and not be intimidated.

“The maximum length of a hole in the Golf Access programme is 250 yards. 150 yards and less is a par three; 150-200 yards is a par four; and 200 – 250 yards is a par five.

“Moreover, players can always see the green, there are no blind shots and if they have a bad hole, it’s a maximum of 10 shots. Similarly, if they’re not out of a bunker after three shots, they can pick up, place the ball to the side and play on.

“We look at all barriers that confront people starting to play golf to help them get to a level whereby they are confident to play from the standard tees and not feel they are in the way of other players.”

Wood and Robertson launched Golf Access six years ago, concentrating on clubs in Devon and Cornwall, including Yelverton where the former worked before joining England Golf.

“We started it at a number of clubs locally to see how things went before venturing further afield,” he explained. “We signed 20 clubs in the first six months and expanded from there.”

Progress was hindered by the pandemic but to date more than 100 golf clubs, including two in Australia and one in the Philippines, have adopted the concept aimed at turning new golfers into members. So far more than 6,500 new golfers have taken part in Golf Access events and been introduced to the golf course via the programme.

Each club pays an annual licence fee of £399 +VAT or the local equivalent and receives promotional material, plus a starter pack which includes wristbands, certificates, and ball markers for 15 juniors and 15 adults.

The licence also includes access to an online portal called the ‘Locker Room’ which monitors the progress of each participant. In addition to this, clubs get their own Locker Room profile where students can see their scores, improvements, and track their progress through the nine levels.

The clubs that successfully adopt Golf Access see increased membership and the new golfers create additional revenue and valuable income for both the club and PGA Professional involved.

- Simon Wood - PGA Professional

“The majority of clubs charge for the sessions which are held during quieter periods, such as Sunday afternoons,” Wood added. “Typical charges range from £5 to £15 per session. As a result, Golf Access can become a revenue stream for PGA Professionals and not just for running sessions.

“The clubs that successfully adopt Golf Access see increased membership and the new golfers create additional revenue and valuable income for both the club and PGA Professional involved.”

In Yelverton’s case, four adults and five juniors have become club members in the last 12 months and several parents have also joined in with the sessions because of their child enrolling in Golf Access.

“Golf Access has been a fantastic addition to the coaching programme here,” reflected Adam Frayne, the club’s head PGA Professional.

“It really motivates participants to keep coming back to play more golf. The on-course format is totally unique for beginners, while the bands and certificates give them a clear pathway to obtaining a handicap.”

Lance Doggart, Yelverton’s general manager, added: “Golf Access is going extremely well and we’re getting positive feedback from the people involved.

“They’ve heard about it either from friends of members and there are a lot of primary and secondary schools in our catchment area. We’ve got structure in place and a very helpful committee. The bottom line is it’s an easy, relaxed, and structured way into golf.”