Bryan Tunstill, the 2005 and 2006 Oregon PGA Golf Professional of the Year and the current vice president of the Pacific Northwest PGA Section, is the PGA head professional at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore.

Bryan Tunstill on the importance of hosting outings at your short game area:
We are fortunate to have a beautiful and expansive short game area alongside a 9-hole par-3 course. We offer various groups the opportunity to rent out the entire area for a three-hour span where they receive a short game clinic followed by a 9-hole round. With as many as 72 people being able to be a part of one group, we always have a PGA Professional there to act as an ambassador and promote the facility while emphasizing the importance of the short game. Time is also spent giving tips on proper etiquette when out on the course. After the clinic, they get to play the 9-hole course. Although it’s a perfect course for new golfers to roll it up to the green and have a shot at their first birdie, it’s also challenging enough to make experienced golfers utilize a variety of shots around the greens. Many companies are using this opportunity to take a few hours out of the day for a positive employee bonding experience, and we have the space and facilities to make it happen. It’s a great experience.

Bryan Tunstill on the business impact of hosting outings at your short game area:
The importance of this is really twofold for us. First of all, it costs $1,100 for one group and we hosted 15 groups last year, so this is a nice source of additional revenue. Additionally, with many of these companies bringing brand new people to the game, it’s fantastic for us to provide an introduction and make them aware of who we are and what we have to offer.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email bryan.tunstill@cecc.com