Background
In common with the majority of golf clubs across Ireland, Stackstown Golf Club had been experiencing a decline in the recruitment of new lady members, coupled with an ageing membership profile in recent years. Accordingly in 2016 the Ladies Committee made a decision to apply for the Get into Golf programme for ladies under the auspices of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland.
Steps towards change....
In early 2016, Stackstown Golf Club set about the process of applying for the Get into Golf programme. From there, the club were introduced to CGI Participation Officer, Jennifer Hickey. Since then Jennifer has "become a household name" in their club. Jennifer worked with the club from the outset. Following our success in being accepted for the programme, the club established a ladies committee with specific responsibilities for the Get into Golf ladies, or GIGs as they were fondly referred to from day one. The club outlined:
"Jennifer supported the club on a constant basis with encouragement and practical advice– we were provided with various marketing documents which made the task more manageable. Jennifer was with us all the way via email, telephone or on site visits. We are indebted to her."
Key to success...
The clubs recruitment drive focused on introductions from their existing members via email, Facebook and their club website. That created a brilliant response rate of 40 participants. The club went on to deliver the eight week taster programme comprising four weeks coaching with their two PGA Professionals and four weeks on course with club members, playing four hole scrambles.
The club state:
"The success of our taster was due to the support from our two committed PGA Professionals and an amazing number of lady members (who acted as buddies for the 4 hole scrambles). Following that 33 of the original ladies signed up for the next phase of our programme which ran from July to December 2016. During this time our GiG's became fully integrated as part of our ladies section."
In order to reduce the cost for participants, the clubs asked existing members to donate old golfing equipment for the ladies. To encourage further integration the club ran competitions for participants on Sundays and Tuesdays and they were invited to all events, such as prize givings, Lady Captain’s Dinner and social events. In fact they were one of the main acts at the Lady Captain’s concert!!
Ensuring sustainability.....
In 2017, 28 of the clubs GiG's progressed to Phase two as Stay into Golf ladies (SiG's) which represented an 85% retention rate. The SiG's have ILGU handicaps, their own golf diary for the year and play in SiG competitions, opens and socials in the club. The clubs PGA Professionals have continued to offer tailored and affordable group lessons to the participants, which has helped progress the skill level of each participant.
The ladies recently celebrated their first anniversary in the club with a dinner and the photos tell the tale!!! We are very proud of all of our ladies but one of our Sigs in particular who had a hole in one in April!"
This year the club re-launched their Get into Golf programme and they were inundated with entries. The club had to limit the Taster programme to 42 ladies. The club plan to mentor each Get into Golf participant with a Stay in Golf participant going forward.
Advice from Stackstown to other clubs:
- Communicate the programme to all members in the club in advance and ensure that the Management Committee are on board.
- Recruit as many participants from your own members’ introductions.
- Ensure that the numbers you recruit are manageable as this programme requires much effort and you want to make the programme as enjoyable as possible for all.
- Appoint a sub committee within the ladies to manage same.
- Involve as many of your lady members as possible to help you with the programme as walkers.
- Ensure that the Gigs are fully incorporated as part of the ladies section from Day 1 to include invitations to events etc.
- Most important point of all – keep in touch with your CGI Participation Officer as they have a wealth of knowledge of best practices to share.
CGI's Jennifer Hickey on Stackstown Golf Club:
"I love working with Stackstown Golf Club, their enthusiasm is infectious and they have shown the results that hard work and everyone working together can bring. Mary has been a fantastic ambassador and leader of the programme and ensuring everyone is pulling together.
This year they have an 80% conversion rate from their introductory programme into membership which is one of the highest in the country. This goes to prove if you get the structures in place at the start the programme can be sustainable for years to come.
I have no doubt Stackstown will continue to thrive and look forward to contuniing the relationship with them.
