The PGA of America Player Development Regional Managers (PDRMs) have successfully spurred growth in participation numbers in programs at facilities they are engaged within their markets, most notably in Get Golf Ready and PGA Junior League Golf.
Get Golf Ready had a 15 percent increase in student participation nationwide with a total of 98,900 students in 2014. Through PDRM efforts, Get Golf Ready experienced a 23 percent increase in combined student participation in facilities the PDRMs engaged with, growing from 19,035 in 2013 to 23,372 in 2014 in these focus markets.
PGA Junior League Golf continues to skyrocket in popularity with participation numbers doubling nationwide in 2014, growing from nearly 9,000 participants on 740 teams in 2013 to 17,500 participants on 1,425 teams in 2014. Within facilities and PGA Professionals PDRMs communicated and engaged with, there was a 243 percent increase in the cumulative number of PGA Junior League Golf teams within these markets, growing from 139 teams in 2013 to 477 teams in 2014.
“The PDRMs are indispensable in making the game of golf accessible for anyone at the local level,” said Rich Richeson, PGA, Player Development National Manager. “These nine men and women are experts in working collaboratively with fellow PGA Professionals, demonstrating the value in hosting player development programs and events while cultivating new golfers and ultimately driving revenue for facilities.”
Each PDRM, all of whom are PGA Professionals, is tasked with implementing strategies, initiatives and programs to expand the reach of golf among current and potential players in their markets. They also provide support to allied associations throughout the golf industry, as well as deliver education to facilities and businesses in support of initiatives and events to promote the game to new audiences. The PDRMs represent nine focus markets: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, Southern California and Washington, D.C. These were selected on internal research that indicated each region was among the highest in the country for consumer demand to play with latent golfers interested in returning to the game.
