Chuck Will, a GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professional Elite Member Status Award winner, is the PGA Director of Instruction/Owner of the Chuck Will Golf Academy at the Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park in Dulles, Virginia.Chuck Will on the importance of inquiring if coaching sessions are covered by a healthcare plan:
Most of my new golfers come via word of mouth or referrals from the technology and financial companies that surround Dulles Golf Center. One of those players recently came to me with an interesting revelation: their lessons are eligible to be paid for via their company’s healthcare plan. For several years now, numerous companies have included gym memberships and exercise classes as part of a wellness or fitness program that they will pay for on behalf of their employees. But especially during the pandemic, and the staffing shortages that have resulted from it, more companies have expanded their offerings and what constitutes fitness or physical activity, making golf sessions eligible. This is perfect timing for us, as PGA Professionals, as it coincides with golf’s surge and increased interest in taking coaching sessions. And within that is a lesson: make sure to ask if individuals are eligible for this.
Chuck Will on the business impact of inquiring if coaching sessions are covered by a healthcare plan:
I have three different individuals using their company’s health and fitness benefits plan for coaching sessions, including one who works for Deloitte and another for Microsoft. With remote work as popular as it is, we’ve had people coming out to take sessions at all times of day. I had heard about this before but didn’t think much about it until that student from Deloitte came forward. And that’s when I realized we could really be onto something here, with the pandemic serving as a nice reminder for those who hadn’t thought of this lately. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. The golfer, either by paying via a company credit card or by me giving them a receipt, is being reimbursed the cost of a session. I still give discounts to students that qualify for them – that actually gives them an opportunity to include another activity within their wellness program depending on how it’s structured – and has made the conversation about taking additional sessions via another series much easier knowing that they’ll most likely be paid for. My recommendation: bring this up with each golfer going forward. I usually ask what their occupation is so that might be a good time to bring it up. I recommend saying “By the way, depending on what your employer’s healthcare plan is, you may be able to have the cost of these sessions reimbursed.” It’s helped these three golfers get better at their games via expanded lesson packages and it could help your business in the long run, too.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email chuckwillpga@gmail.com.
