Greg Nichols is the PGA General Manager and Director of Golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club, in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Greg Nichols on the importance of hosting section-wide youth golf days:
The Aloha Section recently held its sixth annual Hawaii Junior Golf Day, co-sponsored by the PGA Aloha Section and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. Twelve facilities across the state volunteered to serve as host sites, providing a day of fun, games, and a celebration of youth golf. With a goal of introducing the game to kids across the state, and attaining new golfers for each facility’s youth program, we focus on marketing, volunteers, and maximizing the resources we have throughout the section. There is true power in collaboration and when everyone comes together like they do for this event each year, the results are inspiring. The event is two hours long and is set up in a similar manner at each facility. Four stations are created with putting, chipping, and full swing activities, as well as a play station where other games and activities are enjoyed. The combination of fun and instruction promote the game and motivate the kids to want more. Many of the children in attendance are introduced to the game for the first time, while others have some experience, allowing us to promote each facility’s local youth golf camps and clinics. All of the communication and marketing helped promote the ASPGA, HSJGA, the host sites, and junior golf in general.
Greg Nichols on the business impact of hosting section-wide youth golf days:
Hawaii Junior Golf Day has been a huge success for six years, with almost 3,000 kids taking part in the annual event over that time. With a mix of boys and girls, experienced youth golfers and complete novices, there are many opportunities for participating clubs to fill their youth golf program rosters throughout the year. Of the 477 participants at the 2017 event, local club attendance ranged from 15 kids at one course, to 64 young golfers at Ko Olina Golf Club. In addition to the hundreds of kids on hand, we welcomed over 300 parents as well. The clubs and courses retain the email addresses of each family, allowing them to promote not only youth programs, but instructional opportunities for adults as well. Finally, with collaboration from so many facilities, we created the Road Map to Junior Golf in Hawaii, a compilation of information on youth programs offered throughout the state. This easy reference document contains course information, age range and dates for each program, as well as cost. With a plethora of important information at their fingertips, parents whose kids attended our junior golf day will be able to easily stay abreast of current and future golf opportunities for their young ones.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email greg.nichols@koolina.com
