Tim Panzanaro is the PGA teaching professional at the Casperkill Golf Club in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Tim Panzanaro on the importance of growing progression-based youth golf programs:
At the Casperkill Country Club, our youth golf instruction has grown from basic golf lessons into a progression-based youth golf program. I introduce kids to the game of golf at an early age by conducting fun programs like youth clinics and skills challenges. As the youth golfers grow, they progress into more advanced programs such as half-day and full-week instructional clinics and camps, which are skills-based and growth-focused. Etiquette, Rules and the traditions of the game are major topics in our programs. Many of my youth golfers move on to more personal player development through one-on-one instruction programs. Most of the youth golfers who progress this far strive for competition through their local PGA Section, USGA/MGA tournaments, and U.S. Kids Golf, AJGA, high school and college golf tournaments.

Tim Panzanaro on the business impact of growing progression-based youth golf programs:
Our youth golf programs started with 3-4 kids per session. These modest numbers have grown over 400 percent in recent years. We currently teach 15-20 kids per program. Our weeklong camps cost $425 per golfer and clinics are $100. Our youth golf leagues are $250 for an eight-week session. Parent/child events are held between programs to promote family play and we hold two per season, averaging 28 teams at $75 per team. This results in revenues of up to $2,100 per event. The private instruction youth series costs $200, and many of the participants filter into individual development programs and continue competitive endeavors. Over a dozen youth memberships have joined for the 2016 season at the cost of $499, which nets the club nearly $6,000 in new revenue alone. Weekly play has increased 15 to 20 additional rounds, as families are playing together. The youth golfer plays free with a paid adult green fee of $15. Additional fees of $16 per rider are paid for golf car fees.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email tpanzanaro@optonline.net