Hundreds sign up after Midlands Golf Week

Nearly 300 new golf club members signed up during Midlands Golf Week 2013, generating more than £265,000 worth of income for clubs across the region.

The ten-day festival of golf held across eight counties saw a record number of would-be golfers take up club membership after enjoying the wide range of activities with the region’s PGA Professionals, from taster sessions and roadshows to coaching programmes and open days.

Figures released by the England Golf Partnership show that a total of 3,231 people got involved during Midlands Golf Week.

More clubs than ever before – 136 - signed up to support the third Get into Golf project, which took place in April following the US Masters, with 281 participants going on to join clubs while 573 took up further coaching opportunities.

With a new member valued at an average of £951.80 in terms of their membership fee and spending on drinks, food, coaching and in the pro’s shop, this equates to a total of £267,455.80 worth of new revenues flowing into the clubs.

Sharon Heeley, regional development officer for England, said: “Midlands Golf Week is attracting increasing support from clubs across the region and it has become an important fixture on the golfing calendar to promote the sport at the start of the summer months.

“The increasing number of clubs playing host to events – and the higher number of people going along for further coaching and on into golf club membership – shows the value of Midlands Golf Week, both to those interested in trying the sport and to the long-term future of the clubs.

“Clubs had a lot to contend with this year due to the disappointing weather, but still managed to put on a range of events to appeal to those interested in finding out more about golf.

“The fact that they then supported the taster and coaching sessions with affordable and flexible membership offers shows that they are taking a proactive and innovative approach to protecting the long-term future of the sport.”

This year’s Midlands Golf Week saw eight counties take part for the first time, bringing together development officers, county organisations, clubs and PGA Professionals in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Rutland and newcomers Northamptonshire.

The event, which included two weekends for the first time, was publicised by a series of public roadshows, which offered the chance to swing a real golf club and hit golf balls in an inflatable net. Venues included supermarkets, garden centres and DIY stores.

Midlands Golf Week was endorsed by Olympic medal-winning athlete Steve Backley, himself an enthusiastic golfer.

Nearly 8,000 would-be golfers have seized the opportunity to give the sport a go during its first three years.

More information on the Get into Golf campaign is available at getintogolf.org.