Play Golf America's PGA Free Lesson Month set record numbers nationwide with more than 147,000 free lessons given throughout the month of May, a 21 percent increase from last year. PGA Free Lesson Month is a growth-of-the-game initiative between The PGA of America, Golf Digest, The Golf Channel and Golf for Women. Nike Golf, the official program sponsor, provided sweepstakes prizes to help promote the campaign.
Play Golf America's PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to reach new golfers and help existing golfers improve their game with free, 10-minute golf lessons conducted by PGA Professionals nationwide throughout the month of May. This year, a total of 147,332 free lessons (21 percent increase) were given by 7,485 PGA Professionals (8.7 percent increase) at 5,880 facilities
(5.5 percent increase) across the country.
Below are 2006 survey results from participating PGA Professionals:
- PGA Professionals gave an average of almost 20 lessons each, with each lesson averaging 19 minutes. A total of 46,655 hours were dedicated to free lessons.
- 23 percent of participating golfers were new or beginners.
- 55 percent of the free lessons given were to new customers.
- 31 percent of participants were women.
- 11 percent of the PGA Professionals gave lessons to individuals with disabilities.
Golf Digest Publications, which has teamed with The PGA of America since the campaign's inception, used its three leading publications including Golf Digest, Golf World and Golf For Women to promote PGA Free Lesson month to a combined audience of more than nine million readers. Golf Digest provided editorial coverage on PGA Free Lesson Month in its May issue and featured a roster of PGA Professionals offering 10-minute free lessons. The May issue of Golf Digest also included an insert sweepstakes card, giving readers a convenient way to sign up for a free lesson and register to win a golf getaway vacation. In addition, the program was featured in Golf For Women magazine's May/June issue, Golf World magazine's April issue and was posted on www.golfdigest.com.
The Golf Channel, in its fourth year as a partner, dedicated May as PGA Free Lesson Month on its instructional golf show, "Golf Academy Live." The PGA of America President Roger Warren was a special guest May 1 to tee-off PGA Free Lesson Month. PGA Professionals, including PGA Teacher of the Year Peter Krause and PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino, were featured on three additional specialty shows spreading the message of the program to almost 70 million viewers. In addition, The Golf Channel promoted PGA Free Lesson Month on-air in their nightly news program, "Golf Central," and online at www.TheGolfChannel.com.
"A record-setting number of PGA Professionals shared their expertise with participants in helping The PGA of America's mission to increase golf participation among new and occasional golfers," Warren says. "We also appreciate the continued support from our partners, Golf Digest, Golf For Women, The Golf Channel and Nike Golf, for sharing the message of this successful growth-of-the-game campaign."
PGA Free Lesson Month is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate participation in the game of golf under "Play Golf America," a national marketing umbrella campaign that is supported by the golf industry.
All participating PGA Professionals in the Free Lesson Month campaign could be found on the industry supported Web site www.playgolfamerica.com. Play Golf America was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of Allied Associations, including the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference.
