Please click here to download photos of Get Golf Ready, courtesy of the PGA of America. PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., April 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Get Golf Ready continues to introduce thousands of adults to the game of golf each year with a record number of 107,485 men and women participating in programs in 2015 (a nine percent increase from the 98,919 participants in 2014). In addition, Get Golf Ready had success in retaining golfers with approximately nine out of 10 students continuing to play golf in their first year. More than 465,000 students have participated in Get Golf Ready since its inception in 2009. Now in its eighth year, Get Golf Ready is an industry-supported, fun and affordable program designed to introduce golf to the millions of adults who have never played or have minimal golf experience. Get Golf Ready offers a series of lessons in a group setting that focus on basic instruction on chipping, putting and full swing techniques, as well as information on how to navigate the clubhouse and golf course, etiquette and rules of golf. "PGA Professionals nationwide are offering Get Golf Ready to their communities as a fun, affordable and accessible entryway to golf," said PGA President Derek Sprague. "Get Golf Ready has a proven track record of welcoming newcomers to the game and helping participants feel comfortable on the course." Furthermore, the program continues to diversify the game and introduce newcomers who may not ordinarily seek traditional lessons from a facility. Last year, 66 percent of participants were women; 24 percent were people of multi-cultural backgrounds; and 39 percent had never picked up a club. Golf's health, social and professional benefits help draw beginners to the game, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It's a healthy activity that provides for quality, uninterrupted time outdoors – health and fitness experts advocate taking 10,000 steps per day, which is the equivalent of 18 holes or five miles walked. Golf also provides an outlet to strengthen relationships with friends, family, or colleagues. In a recent survey from Sports & Leisure Research Group, both men and women executives ranked golf as the most effective networking activity with clients and co-workers, and nearly 60 percent of business men and women have closed deals at the golf course. Additional statistics on Get Golf Ready's impact on the industry include:
- The number of students per facility reached a record high in 2015 at an average of 40.9 students per facility, an eight percent increase from 2014 (37.9).
- In 2015, 97 percent of participants said that Get Golf Ready met or exceeded their expectations.
- Get Golf Ready continues to prove successful in retaining golfers: in 2015, 87 percent (or approximately nine out of 10 Get Golf Ready participants) continued playing in their first year, an increase from 81 percent in 2014.
Consumers can learn more and find a local participating facility at GetGolfReady.com . About the PGA of America Celebrating its Centennial, the PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org , follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook .
Jamie Carbone, PGA of America, , 561-624-8446 Hayley Wilson, Alday Communications, Inc., , 615-791-1535 x28
