Simmons, Carissa - Hit & Giggle On-the-Course

Property: Meridian Valley CC

Location: Kent, WA

Property Type: Private

Program Contacts: Carissa Simmons, Assisant Golf Professional

Contact Phone/Email: 253.631.3133, carissa@meridianvalleycc.com

Name of PD Program: Hit & Giggle On-the-Course

Type of PD Program: Transition-to-the-Course

Dates of Program: May-June

Results of Program

In the Hit & Giggle Clinics we reached 36 beginner women golfers but we didn’t want to lose them. We created this program to keep these women engaged. We had 16 women participate. The goal was to get the beginner women golfers "on-the-course" and create a level of comfort at the facility.

Revenue Generated: Approx. $1,500 in lesson revenue. Increased revenue in food & beverage and golf shop sales. Through the program, we even had "single" male memberships convert to "family" due to the women's newfound interest in PLAYING the game and having the guest restrictions make it difficult. (1x per month)

Details of Program

• The participants had to have attended the “Hit & Giggle Clinics” to be eligible. The clinics were 60 minutes each and ran for 5 consecutive weeks. We had sessions on Thursday afternoons. ($100 members| $125 guests)
• Each week we picked a different topic to discuss and we would pick a hole on the golf course to help the women understand.
• The fist clinic we helped them understand what a “scramble” was and the importance of pace of play. We explained to them the “It’s Okay” Rules.
• Other topics included (how/when to each club, how far YOUR 7 iron goes, uneven lies, hitting out of the trees, hitting over the bunker, etc.)
• The final clinic we went out and played 3 holes (scramble) from the 200 yard marker and put all the pieces together.
• Price included cart to incorporate pace of play and help us get to the desired location. This also allowed the women to understand how/where to drive.

Recommendations

This program was incredibly successful and I was asked… “what’s next?” but unfortunately due to the incredibly busy summer I couldn’t manage another round of clinics but the opportunity is there. The women LOVE going on the golf course. It makes them feel much more comfortable and less intimidated by the experience. Getting a clinic onto the golf course can seem difficult at times but if anyone happened to come up to the hole we were using I would simply let the players play through and use the opportunity to educate the women.