The lack of daylight hours and inclement weather in the winter can be limiting for PGA Members, but it doesn’t necessarily have to impact on business.
Recent years have increasingly seen the golf industry looking for indoor solutions to keep trade ticking over during the colder and darker months. And that’s an area in which PGA Professional Brett Taylor is more than able to supply his expertise.
In 2018 he and business partner Gary Harvey set up Golfin Simulators, installing launch monitor systems in indoor spaces up and down the country. Five years on and, in Taylor’s words, Golfin Simulators is “a busy business”.
The Chelmsford-based 48 year-old, a fine player for many years on the PGA East Region and beyond, reckons that around 30 per cent of his clients are fellow PGA Members. And they are benefiting from the state-of-the-art possibilities that Golfin Simulators offer – as well as beating the winter chill.
He said: “For a PGA Professional, with the weather that we have at this time of year and the daylight hours changing, it just creates a nicer environment with extended working hours and bigger opportunities
“The opportunity to be inside in a welcoming environment with instant data available in front of you, to provide evidence-based teaching and fitting – it’s just a proven product now. From our experience over the years, pros generally are trebling their income from fittings and teaching with the time they have.”
“We put their studio in one of their function rooms just for the winter,” said Taylor. “We set it up in October and take it down in April. It’s got everything they need.”
Taylor is all for entertainment and new ideas within the golf industry. This year he helped set up PGA Professional Chris Moss with his innovative business initiative in south London.
“They’ve got three golf bays in Battersea with Trackman technology,” explained Taylor. “Chris can teach, fit, from there but it is a golf club for indoors. A members’ club with various levels of membership; they’re able to practise, play, book lessons with Chris. They’ve created their own golf club environment.”
Close to home, the Golfin Simulators team assisted in delivering a superb indoor space for head PGA Professionals Mark Talbott and Joe Ellis at Upminster Golf Club. A couple of members at the Essex club worked on developing an existing room ahead of Taylor coming on board to advise and provide his services. “It was about a three-work turnaround from an initial meeting to installation,” said Brett.
Of course, much of Golfin Simulators’ business is in the private sector for individuals. But he is always happy to share his knowledge with PGA professionals – even if it’s just in the shape of an initial informal chat. “We offer free advice and try and help where can.”
For much information: check out www.golfinsimulators.com or email info@golfinsimulators.com.
