Alternative Facilities

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Alternative Facilities Communication and
Relationships Moderator Steven J. di
Costanzo, President Golf Range Association of
America (GRAA) Presenters Mark Silverman,
Editor-in-Chief, GOLF RANGE MAGAZINE Executive
VP, Golf Range Association of America Best
Practices in the Alternative Facilities
Industry Sue Puetz, Owner Sundance Golf
Course and Learning Center Profile The
Sundance Golf Story
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• The Golf Industry Needs to Place More Focus on
  Alternative Facilities
• Stand-alone Golf Ranges
• On-Course Ranges
• Par 3 Courses
• Executive Courses
• Pitch and Putt
• Golf Dome/Indoor

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• Importance of Alternative Facilities to the Golf
  Industry
• New Player Development
• Junior Golf Programs
• Pro Shop Retailing
• Women-Specific Programs

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Northern Palms Golf Center
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Closter Golf Range Closter, New Jersey
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Womens Golf Clinic at Fore Seasons Golf in
Massachusetts
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Sundance Golf Course Practice Facility New
Braunfels, Texas Drive, Chip and Putt
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Miles of Golf - Demo Club Area
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Alternative Golf Facilities in the U.S. Breakdown
by Type
2,805
1,653
865
160
59
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How Many People Use Alternative Facilities in
the U.S.? 27.8 million golfers visit a golf
range 4.9 million golfers are range only
players 1.7 million are Alternative Facility
only players
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Alternative Facilities Task Force Why The
mainstream golf industry has done a poor job of
embracing alternative facilities as a
significant component of the golf industry. We
believe strongly that alternative facilities can
play a very significant role in the future of
the game. When April 2002. The inaugural
Alternative Facilities Task Force meeting in New
Jersey organized by GOLF 20/20 and the Golf Range
Association of America (GRAA). Who 12 members
attended. Stand-alone golf range owners, range
owners with short courses and members from
the PGA, NGF, The First Tee, GRAA and NGCOA.
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Initial Goals of the Alternative Facilities Task
Force 1) The need to bring alternative
facilities into the mainstream of the golf
industry. Better communication. 2) The need
to identify BEST PRACTICES from this industry
Player development, Youth Programs, Relationships
with Traditional Facilities. 3)
Disseminate these BEST PRACTICES through
GOLF20/20.org and other web sites.
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• Workshop Objectives
• Alternative Facilities
• 1) Look at the results from the Best Practices
  research project. Determine direction.
• 2) Examine a Success Story Lessons to be
  learned from Sundance Golf Course and Learning
  Center.
• Generate Ideas for Symbiotic Relationships
  between Traditional and Alternative Facilities.
  Co-Marketing programs Focus on the family
  market

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Best Practices at Alternative
Facilities Presented by Mark Silverman Editor-in
-Chief, GOLF RANGE MAGAZINE
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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities
JUNIOR PROGRAMS ADULT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT GOLF
LEAGUES FREQUENCY PROGRAMS
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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities
JUNIOR PROGRAMS I. Recruitment of
Juniors II. Content of Clinics, Camps and
Lessons III. Costs and Student/Teacher Ratios
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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS
• How are Juniors Recruited? What Alliances are
  Helpful?
• Local high school and college golf teams school
  Intramural competitions.
• YMCA Smart Start program.
• Park Recreation Departments Programs are
  highlighted in Park Rec brochures.
• Youth Programs ie. The Rainbow Program that
  offers free clubs and instruction for juniors who
  otherwise would not be exposed to golf. Typical
  clinics have between 80 and 120 juniors.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS - continued
• Boy Scout troops looking for troop events, or to
  earn merit badges
• Hook-a-Kid on Golf programs
• Boys Girls Clubs Partnerships between
  Alternative Facilities with USGA grants
• Special Olympics involvement
• LPGA / USGA Girls Golf, a program in cooperation
  with the Girl Scouts.40 young women ages 7-17
  that meet for 12 weeks on Saturdays for 1 1/2
  hours. Tournaments between different Girl Scout
  chapters.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes special summer
  clinics
• After-School Programs at Elementary, Middle
  School and High School levels

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS - continued
• Golf professional programs introducing golf at
  Middle School PE programs (Georgia Junior Golf
  Association funded by a USGA grant)
• JUNIORFEST Benefit held every summer for
  children with cancer (Candlelighters-Childhood
  Cancer Foundation). Skill events and fun
  competitions held on the par 3 course, miniature
  golf course, golf range and baseball batting
  cages. Junior 2-person scramble on the miniature
  golf course.
• Free One-Day Junior Lessons offered twice in
  the summer

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS
• II. Content of Clinics, Camps and Lessons
• Set up Golf Games such as chipping and putting
  games. Junior golfer who lags the most putts
  wins golf prize or soft drink.
• Junior Golf Clinics Holiday camps during the
  summer, Christmas week, Presidents week, Spring
  vacation.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS
• Junior demo clubs for your junior golfers
• Strong use of Rules and Etiquette videos
• Stress Fun Fundamentals
• Team play concept with an Alternate Shot league
  (ages 10 and older)
• Free tee line tips from the pro to beginning
  golfers who are practicing with their family
• SNAG GOLF
• Combine fundamentals with games and activities.
  Take frequent breaks and move from station to
  station to keep interest level high and boredom
  low.
• Set up obstacle course where kids go from station
  to station and test their skills as well as their
  pace of play

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS
• III. Costs and Student/Teacher Ratios
• Year-long Saturday morning, one-hour clinics
  (6-17 years of age) that repeat every five
  weeks. Each week covers a different
  topic(irons, woods, putting, chipping) 15 per
  session/ 5 sessions for 60
• Monday-Thursday Camps in summer 2 hours each
  day. Playing lesson on the last day.
• Hook-a-Kid on Golf Tee Level (ages 8-15). Week
  long program with 15 hours of instruction
• The First Tee Program

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS - continued
• Linkster class for kids ages 4-5
• Little Foxes (Blue Fox Run Golf Course) Kids
  6 and under,once a week 9 am-11 am.
• Junior league in the summer 120 kids playing on
  a weekly basis
• Parks Rec Camp at a 101 student teacher ratio
• 30 minute private lessons for 30 (ages 17 and
  under)
• Lesson Play Aimed at small groups of 5-8
  juniors. After each of the four weekly one-hour
  lessons, juniors play 9 hole par-3. 65 per
  golfer
• 75 minute group lesson for 5-8 junior golfers
  looking for affordable instruction with some
  individual attention. 15 per golfer

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• JUNIOR PROGRAMS - continued
• Junior Golf Camp Run over Spring Break and every
  week in summer (Monday-Friday, 9 am-11 am). Pros
  hold putting and chipping contestsplus a quick
  round on the 3 practice holes at the
  facility.Cost 125 per week.
• Nike Golf Camp
• Junior Camp for kids age 11-17. 61
  studentteacher ratio

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT
• Adult Beginners
• Women-Specific Programs

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT
• I. Adult Beginners
• Beginner Group Classes 6-week program covering
  chipping, putting, short-irons, long-irons, woods
  and rules and etiquette. Students receive range
  card discounts and 50 discount on a round of
  golf
• Saturday/Sunday one-hour clinic at 2 pm offered
  year-round for 15

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT - continued
• Introduction to Golf 1 and Golf 2 clinics. After
  both sets of clinics teachers feel the student is
  ready for the course
• Weekly Seniors, Mens and Womens clinics for
  15. A series of 5 lessons runs 149.
• Hour-long clinics held two evenings a week.
  Rookie series of lessons geared to beginners
  who would like private lessons.
• Fundamentals Golf School six hours of
  instruction. Offered over four consecutive
  Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Small groups
  with 51 student/teacher ratio. 3 week range pass
  included and use of demo clubs.
• Weekly clinics at mid-day and in the evenings. On
  Monday and Tuesday evenings separate clinics for
  adults through the Town Parks Rec. On Saturdays
  offer 1/2 day golf schools with a 51 teacher
  ratio.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT - continued
• For a great introduction to the game, put
  together groups ranging from 6 - 12 adults.
  Instruction, greens fees, golf equipment and
  range balls are included for a 60 fee. Phase
  into adult intermediates by offering group
  lessons for groups of 4 - 8 adults. During the
  first and third week, record swings on video.
• As with junior programs we offer our classes
  through two local Park Rec.s. Class is 4 x
  1-hour classes offered weekday evenings, or
  Saturday/Sunday. Lessons include balls, clubs if
  needed, and a Group Lesson Discount Card that
  gives students 2 off a large mat bucket for 25
  sessions (50 value) when they come back to
  practice. A minimum of 4 students per class
  needed, but will take up to 10. Most of the
  people in these classes are beginners. The cost
  is 99 per session.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT
• Female LPGA instructors but no specific programs.
  
• Womens programs in association with the
  Executive WomensGolf Association, and American
  Singles Golfer Association
• Tuesday evening clinics by an LPGA instructor
  followed by a glass of wine

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• ADULT PLAYER
• DEVELOPMENT - continued
• Offer multiple women-only clinics throughout the
  year. Make available numerous ladies demos for
  use and concentrate on building a
  non-intimidating environment in preparation for
  play on the golf course.
• Have a female member of the PGA on your staff.
  She will be successful in recruiting and
  developing more female business.
• Transition to play program LEN or Little
  Experience Needed. Its a 3-hole league. 5
  OClockers which is an after work ladies league
  that runs for 7 weeks during the Spring, Summer
  and Fall. LPGA certification site for teaching
  professionals.
• Each summer two women-only golf schools. The
  program runs for 3 days and includes 9.5 hours of
  instruction, 3 hours of on-course instruction,
  video-taping, food and gift bags. Child care
  available for all of our programs.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues Frequency Programs
• Memberships and a 10-round pass at the course.
  VIP Pass gives patrons 50 buckets of balls at 25
  off. We also have a coupon book where people can
  buy 4 buckets and get 1 free.
• Our discount range program is very popular
• a) pay once
• b) receive 20-30 discount off all buckets of
  range balls
• c) no time limits for use
• d) three entry levels 100-200-300
• e) free 30-minute lesson with the 300 level and
  f) 10 off non-sale items in the pro shop at the
  300 membership level

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues and FrequencyPrograms - continued
• Short Course Spring and Fall Middle School
  Intramurals LEN (Little Experience Needed)
  League- ladies 3-hole league LINKSTERS- age 4
  5 alternate shot on 3 holes Hook-A-Kid Challenge
  League Hook-A-Kid Tee Level Play. On the range
  Junior Mayors Cup Challenges and Adult
  Mayors Cup Challenges. 30-day unlimited range
  pass.
• KING OF THE RANGE competition each Thursday from
  7 - 10 pm. One of the bent green target greens is
  chosen and a sand circle is drawn around the pin.
  The contestants pay 5 for 10 balls and score
  points in the following manner 1 point for
  hitting the green 2 points for touching the sand
  circle 4 points for those golfers inside the
  circle 10 points for a hole-in- one. Golfer who
  accumulates the highest point total is declared
  King and receives 3 x the number of entries.
  The King comes back the next week to play
  against the winner from the current week. If the
  King wins he is paid 4 x the number of
  entries. At the end of the season is a King of
  Kings tournament using a double elimination
  format. The winner wins 700 (jackpots can grow
  based on the number of Kings during the season.
  Results so positive that similar contest has
  been put together for putting on Saturdays and
  mini-golf on Thursdays.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues and FrequencyPrograms - continued
• Womens Leagues, Junior Leagues, Church Leagues
  and Company Leagues
• Senior Skins Game held every Wednesday morning on
  our par-3 course. This is a good way to build
  business during the slow weekday morning hours.
• Junior Par 3 League allows juniors 6 - 17 to have
  a fun format for game development. Before each
  round there is a 20-30 minute group lesson. The
  league runs for 8 weeks on Tuesdays and is
  grouped by ages. Cost 70. A Beginner Adult Par
  3 League is also held. Beginner leagues are held
  for a 9-week session starting at 6 pm. There are
  3 clinics taught by PGA pros as part of the
  league. Cost 75. Our Intermediate Clinic is
  held at the same time and price on consecutive
  Wednesdays.
• Several of our senior golfers have stepped up to
  form their own league. Called Bogey Busters
  Senior Par 3 League. The league requires a 5
  membership fee, then seniors over 55 pay
  discounted greens fees.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues and FrequencyPrograms - continued
• Affiliate club with the Southern California Golf
  Association called Northwood Golf Club (golf
  club without real estate). Through annual
  membership of 50 scores from other courses can
  be posted, and on a monthly basis their handicap
  is updated. With their membership through
  Northwood Golf Club they can purchase our 50
  Discount Range Card at a better savings than
  nonmembers. They can receive 20 off their first
  3 or 6 lesson series, and they are entitled to
  play in our member-guest tournaments we have set
  up on a bimonthly basis at courses in our area.
  Membership stands at 116 at present.
• LPGA pro started a Northwood Junior Golf League.
  Annual membership is 20. Every other week she
  takes juniors 9-16 years old to a 9-hole, par-3
  course in the area for a play day. This is the
  first time out on a course for most of these kids
  so competition is not emphasized. Pro charges 10
  more than the green fees, and the juniors pay for
  the play days they choose to participate in. Most
  of the members have taken the Junior Golf School
  repeatedly.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues and FrequencyPrograms - continued
• Best value in frequency discount programs are
  50 and 100 Discount Range Cards. The 50 card
  sells for 40 (20 savings) and the 100 sells
  for 75 (25 savings). They may be used for any
  size bucket, mat or grass tees as well as our
  short game area. Also offered is a Junior
  Discount Range Card that has a 50 value and
  sells for 35. This card may be used only by
  those under 18 years old and the players must use
  the synthetic mats rather than the grass tee
  line.
• Two Frequency or rewards programs Player
  Club Membership offered to individuals,
  families and corporate members. Cap it at 300
  members each year...and they do fill up. Season
  for marketing the membership is the
  November/December holiday season for the
  following year. Membership is as follows
  Individual 150. A Family membership is 185
  for two people with an additional 15 per child.
  Corporate memberships are based on a minimum of 3
  people from the same company 130 for the first
  corporate member then 50 for each additional
  person. All membership levels include one 60
  range card and access to the members only short
  game area which consists of two chipping greens,
  private putting area, sand bunker area and grass
  tees.

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Best Practices at Alternative Facilities

• Golf Leagues and FrequencyPrograms - continued
• Player Club Members also have a private sale in
  the pro shop during the December holidays. Its a
  one-night 20 off sale. The Cluboratory is a
• private demo area where we allow our clients
  who purchase a 15 Cluboratory card to come and
  use this area. The area consists of demo carts
  from all the major club manufacturers. Golfers
  receive a bucket of balls and have a qualified
  club-fitter who can go out and consult or do a
  fitting. Members hold onto their 15 receipts and
  can apply the value of the card to the purchase
  of equipment or pro shop items. Multiple receipts
  may be combined.
• Short course runs junior leagues Monday, Tuesday,
  Wednesday from 9-12 noon all summer long.
• Golf leagues are offered 2-4 times a week.
  10-week leagues include playoffs at the end.
  After work and on weekends, discounts given on
  range balls theday of golf leagues.
  Mens/Ladies/Junior golf leagues available.