• Peter Laugher is the 84th PGA Captain!
EGM Golf has had a long working relationship with Peter Laugher in his role as the Golf Operations Manager at Woodbury Park GC, near Exeter, in Devon, supplying Woodbury Park with range balls, ball dispensers, range mats, outfield equipment, and many more products for the smooth running of the driving range.
Peter will be retiring from Woodbury Park at the end of August, however, he is not doing anything quietly as he has been invited by the PGA to take on the very prestigious role of PGA Captain. It is an exceptional honour to be selected to represent the PGA in such a way; Peter’s many years of dedication to golf, with his hard-working manner and a smile on his face, are just two of the reasons he has been invited to be the 84th Captain. He is currently holding the post of the Captain Elect and will be the PGA captain from April 2024.
EGM would like to take this opportunity to wish Peter all the very best in his exciting new role and thank him for his loyalty to EGM over the years.
• BGL achieves ‘excellent’ group NPS rating as member satisfaction soars
BGL (Burhill Group Limited) is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in member satisfaction at its golf venues around the UK, as its Net Promoter Score (NPS) has soared to an ‘excellent’ rating. The group now averages an impressive NPS score of 54, a marked increase on previous years’ scores.
With a portfolio of 10 clubs across the country, this significant rise in member satisfaction showcases the outstanding efforts of BGL in delivering exceptional member experience across each of its 10 clubs.
NPS, a metric developed by Bain & Company, is a recognised measure of customer loyalty and satisfaction that generates a score between -100 and 100 – it is widely considered that any score above 0 is good, a score above 20 is great, and scores that go above the 50 mark are outstanding. BGL’s NPS score has shown consistent growth over the past two years, with an average of 49 in 2022 and 47 in 2021, and this year’s increase of five points further solidifies the group’s commitment to surpassing member expectations.
“We are delighted to have achieved an excellent NPS rating for the entire BGL golf portfolio,” said Colin Mayes, BGL CEO. “This accomplishment is a testament to the tireless dedication and remarkable efforts of all our teams around the country. We continually strive to exceed member expectations by providing exceptional and friendly service. This outstanding rating gives me immense pride in our team members in every single venue we operate.”
BGL’s impressive NPS rating increase can be attributed to the successes achieved by its clubs. Among the group’s most outstanding performers were Ramsdale Park Golf Centre (Nottinghamshire), which currently boasts a score of 84, with The Shropshire Golf Centre (Shropshire) following closely at 76. Additionally, select clubs have enjoyed notable increases, such as Redbourn Golf Club (Hertfordshire), which increased its NPS from 28 (in 2021) to an impressive 63. Aldwickbury Park Golf Club (Hertfordshire) also experienced a significant transformation, raising its NPS from 22 (in 2017) to a commendable 58.
The sustained increase in average NPS score reflects the unwavering commitment of BGL’s wider team to enhancing member satisfaction and nurturing inclusive communities. Through meticulous attention to detail, investment in internal staff development, commitment to improving facilities, and personalised member experiences, BGL is constantly striving to exceed industry standards and provide a member experience that is second to none.
“We believe that exceptional member satisfaction is at the core of our success,” added Mayes. “By actively listening to feedback, investing in our facilities, and fostering a positive and inclusive culture within our teams, we believe we can deliver unparalleled experiences for all our valued members.”
As BGL continues to prioritise member satisfaction, it looks forward to building upon this achievement and further improving its NPS score in years to come.
For more information on BGL (Burhill Group Limited), visit www.bglcompany.co.uk, and to explore the BGL Golf venues, visit www.bglcompany.co.uk/golf/.
• Chart Hills drives ahead with second stage of major renovation works
Chart Hills Golf Club, Biddenden, Kent, has announced that the second phase of its major renovation project is now under way, as it continues with its significant multi-year investment.
The renovation work, which is already underway, will include an extensive refurbishment of tee boxes across the course, and the completion of the new Sir Nick Faldo-designed par-3 course and putting green.
“We’re extremely excited to be working on another important phase in the enhancement of facilities at Chart Hills,” said General Manager, Anthony Tarchetti.
“When we closed the course in 2020 to initiate our fairway sand-capping project, Chart Hills proceeded to undergo a complete transformation, and this project is about building on that foundation and continuing to improve the experience we can offer. This next stage is about improving the fine details of the course, which we know golfers love and appreciate, and will no doubt cement us as one of the best golf venues in the southeast.”
The renovation of the tee boxes will begin by completely re-laying three tee boxes per hole. The tee boxes renovated will be the standard playing tees – blue, yellow, and red. After completion of the first group of holes the team will move onto the remaining holes.
The process of the tee box renovation is similar to the fairway sand-capping project that the club undertook in 2021. Tee boxes will be stripped down to the soil and levelled out, before the installation of additional drainage where required. Four inches of sand will then be shaped on top of the soil, before the club’s greenkeeping team lays the new turf. This renovation will create immaculate tee boxes that can withstand foot traffic and weather year-round.
This period will also see the completion of the six-hole, Sir Nick Faldo-designed par-3 course – with holes ranging from 50 to 100 yards. Inspired by the career of the former world number one, the short game loop will offer huge variety, with specific design features drawn from iconic holes at St Andrews, Augusta National, and the main course at Chart Hills.
In addition, a 668 square metre putting green located beside the first tee, also imagined and brought to life by Faldo Design, will be officially opened for use. The green features elements of Faldo’s favourite greens from his major wins at St Andrews, Augusta National, and Muirfield – including its very own valley of sin. The new putting green was open for use on August 1st.
Unlike 2020, when the club had to close the course for renovation work to take place, Chart Hills will remain open throughout the duration of the project, allowing members and visitors to play a continually improving course with minimal disruption.
Chart Hills Golf Club is continuing its exciting developments across the property and has plans for further improvement and investment in the future.
For more information on the redevelopment project at Chart Hills, head online to https://charthills.co.uk/2020-21-project/, where you will find all episodes of the club’s informative video diary series.
For the latest updates on the renovation project, find Chart Hills on social media: Twitter - @ChartHills, Instagram - @ChartHillsGolfClub, Facebook – Chart Hills Golf Club.
• Golf Participation Continues to Surge
The R&A announced new global participation figures that show an additional ten million adult golfers are playing the sport worldwide since 2016.
According to new research undertaken by the governing body and produced by Sporting Insights, there are now 39.6 million on-course golfers (9 and 18 hole) in R&A affiliated markets.
The research figures indicate that the growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and continued during the pandemic – up 34% from 29.6 million on-course golfers in 2016. The sport has since continued to increase in popularity post-pandemic, up 15% from 34.5 million on-course players in 2020.
The data is provided in a new Global Golf Participation Report, which, for the first time, collectively measures The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
The report also highlights that 61.2 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) engage with the sport in some format, which is the first time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as par-3 golf, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.
Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Golf’s popularity has surged in recent years, which is reflected in a notable increase in the number of people playing the sport in both traditional on-course and alternative formats.
“It is significant that ten million more golfers are playing on the course since 2016, but it is also important that millions of others are engaged in golf through many other alternative formats, such as driving ranges, which are so vital to the growth of the sport.
“It also underlines why effective and impactful participation programmes are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. We are working closely with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders within golf to sustain this momentum. We thank them for their efforts as we aim to ensure that golf is thriving for years to come.”
The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall in 2023 are in Japan (8.1 million), Canada (5.6 million), Republic of Korea (5.4 million), England (3.4 million) and Germany (2.1 million).
Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement of 22.5 million. Europe is next highest with 21.1 million adult engagement.
Women make up almost a quarter of adult registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets worldwide, demonstrating the positive impact of initiatives focused on promoting greater diversity and inclusivity in golf.
The R&A is continuing its commitment to invest £200 million over ten years in developing golf, including sustained work to encourage participation by promoting the health benefits of the sport through a global campaign.
View The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report here.
The Global Golf Participation Report and European Golf Participation Report – available here – were produced for The R&A by Sporting Insights.
Photo Credit: The R&A
• Club Car fleet arrives for 2023 Ryder Cup
Club Car, a global leader in golf, consumer and utility vehicles, and a Worldwide Supplier of the Ryder Cup has delivered a fleet of 550 cars to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome for the 44th edition of one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
With the help of official Club Car distributors in the region, Germany-based Cart Care Company and Tractor Hire UK, the golf and turf utility cars arrived as the Italian venue heads into the final month of preparations for the biennial event.
Marco Natale, Vice President Europe Middle East Africa at Club Car, said: “The logistics to bring hundreds of cars to one location is complex, and I applaud the teams from Club Car, Cart Care and Tractor Hire for working with the Ryder Cup and Marco Simone Golf & Country Club teams to carry this out seamlessly.”
Club Car also manufactured seven custom golf cars for each team – enabling European Captain Luke Donald, U.S. Captain Zach Johnson and their respective vice-captains to navigate the course quickly.
This is the seventh consecutive European Ryder Cup that Club Car has supported, having become an Official Supplier in 1997 – a status that was elevated to Worldwide Supplier earlier this year.
“Having high-quality, reliable vehicles is crucial to a sporting event of this size, and we are proud to once again provide them, continuing a longstanding relationship with the Ryder Cup,” Natale added.
The iconic red and blue cars take the spotlight, and behind the scenes Club Car’s range of golf and utility cars are used by staging teams, on-course television crews broadcasting the event around the world, greenkeeping teams and match officials.
With nearly 300,000 attendees expected to be at Marco Simone during the week of 25 September – 1 October, Club Car vehicles are also used for emergency response and for assisting less-abled spectators.
For more information on Club Car visit: www.clubcar.com
For more information on the Ryder Cup visit: www.rydercup.com