Mike’s Space
Who do you consider to be a real golfer?
At a recent forum I presented at on
Growing the Game, I asked 40 Club
Captains if they thought people that
played virtual golf, Wii Golf, or putt
putt were actually “golfers”. All but one
person said NO they did not consider
them golfers. A very interesting, but not
surprising answer.
Mike Orloff
is an Operations and Marketing
Specialist for Golf Industry Central and a PGA
Member in the USA and Australia. Originally from
Southern California, Mike has permanently resided
on the Gold Coast for the past 10 years. He has
over 20 years of commercial golf experience in
various senior management roles and currently
provides operational and marketing solutions to
the golf industry in the region. Currently, Mike also
lectures part-time for the PGA International Golf
Institute and runs the industry based website
www.golfindustrycentral.com.au.
Editor / Sales:
Mike Orloff
[email protected]
+61 415 682 259
Contributors:
David Newbery
Lead Writer
Mike Sebastian
In this day and age- we should be
considering everyone that likes golfeven if only watching it on TV, a golfer,
or at least a “potential” golfer. When
you start thinking of the actual potential
number of players out there – it is huge!
The new Golf 2.0 strategy recently
launched in the US identifies 3 key areas
to growing the game of golf. Yes it is a
US based program, but the information
contained is very relevant to golf in any
region.
3-key areas
1) Retain/strengthen the core golfer
2) Engage with the “lapsed” golfer (i.e.
people that use to play but haven’t for
some reason)
3) Drive new players. (never played)
Item 1 and 2 is where most of the
discussion in this country has been
centred but Item 3 looks to have the
biggest potential in the way of bringing
an entire new group of people into
the game. We though need to start
engaging these players (i.e. Virtual golf,
Asia Pacific Golf Group
Wii, putt putt) in a big way to then come
try the “real game”.
Our mindset needs to change away from
“you must play on a real course to be
considered a golfer” mentality to “If you
like golf- you are a golfer”. Or at least
have the potential to become a golfer in
the traditional sense someday.
In this magazine issue we identify a few
green grass initiatives that are gaining
some momentum, that also if taken
seriously by the traditionalist can be the
start of many new golfers into our game.
Why don’t we use more non-traditional
avenues to introduce new people to the
game? The game itself doesn’t need
to be changed for the masses, just us
allowing different access points to a
“game” that then will be a pathway for
some to try the traditional format- then
onto membership for some as well?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and
feedback on what you are doing to Grow
the Game?
Mike Orloff
Operations and Marketing Specialist
Paul Coleman
FuseMobile
Peter Vlahandreas
Operations Manager- Eastern GC
Publisher
Morlo Pty Ltd ACN 123 872 784
ABN 1812 3872 784
PO Box 773, Main Beach,
QLD, Australia, 4230
Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed in editorial
contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication and it’s management
2
Golf Industry Central exists to help golf facilities throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East
Asia perform better. We offer easy access to golf industry news, job vacancies, recruitment services
and operational advice. We also help overseas markets