As Golf Professionals, we have heard the traditional myths for years...
Myth 1
I just need to offer games in classes. My beginners will have fun & become golfers.
REALITY
Playing Games in classes is important, but beginners need a fun long-term plan
The founders of Operation 36 learned the hard way that just offering game based-classes to beginners doesn't work if our goal is to turn the participant into a golfer. They lost over 40 juniors from their program before they started developing a long-term structure with clear on-course and off-course goals.
You would never put a kid in a school system with no curriculum or plan. Just playing games in clinics is similar to allowing a 7 year old show up to elementary school everyday and paint. Op 36 will give you the development program structure that supports your classes. Having a long-term plan increases retention, and gives purpose to all your classes and coaching.
Myth 2
I need a Trackman and have had taught over 1000's of lessons to make $100+/hour
Trackmans are cool, but starting Op 36 could help you buy 10 Trackman's
There are entry level coaches who have never taught a private lesson that are making $180-$360 an hour by focusing on beginner golf group programming with Op 36. Don't get us wrong, Trackman's are awesome, but investing $22,000 and paying $2,000/year for a Trackman is not silver bullet for making a high coaching $/hr. It also locks you into a limited private lesson model, taking years to recoup the cost. Teaching 240 private lessons at $100/hour would be required to break even, not to mention the annual recurring license cost.
Instead, offer an Operation 36 program for beginners. Make $180/hr-$360 per hour and guarantee a sustainable and consistent revenue stream with a full-time support team here to help you grow every year.
Myth 3
My golfers won't commit to coming to a weekly program, they want drop-ins.
Other sports don't offer drop-ins because it doesn't create athletes & is bad for business.
Every other sport requires commitment. Golf Pros all know that to create a golfer they need to come consistently. Drop-in clinics with no structure or long-term plan don't work for beginners. If you have built a drop-in culture, it is not only hurting the chances the beginner becomes a golfer, but is a poor business model for you as a coach.
Golfers will commit if you have a proven program and plan. Offer Operation 36 which gives golfers a long-term plan and technology to measurably see improvement overtime. This is your "Committed Development Program" that golfers will sign up for because they see the plan you are going to use to take them from their first round to becoming a skilled golfer.
Myth 4
Our course is too busy. Our management would not support a program that encourages beginners to play on the course.
We have yet to find a completely full tee-sheet or an Owner/GM who will turn down rounds.
If beginners don't have the opportunity to play golf, they won't become a golfer. So it is up to Golf Pros to put it on the schedule for students and give them the opportunity. The #1 reason we start golfers so close to the hole is so they can experience success while knowing they will play in under 2 hours.
We have found that most busy courses offer just one Op 36 Play Day a month. If your GM is worried about giving up space, you should be okay with your players paying full tee-time rate, and we will help you package it into the price of your program . It is a win for you, win for facility, and a big win for the beginner who would HAVE NEVER SCHEDULED A TEE-TIME ON THEIR OWN.
