Wales Golf has announced for the first time an official handicap program for people who are not members of a golf club.
Both of them earlier this year Scottish Gulf and England golf similar programs launched but also in other countries around the world.
Of the 120,000 golfers in Wales, over half, 70,000, are not club members.
Wales Golf will establish its own Flexi Club for independent golfers with the aim of giving non-members the opportunity to acquire and maintain an official World Handicap System (WHS) handicap. The cost of the program to the golfer is £ 5.50 per month or £ 55 per year.
Sandy Veale, Handicap and Club Services Manager in Wales, said: “More than half of golfers in Wales are not club members.
“We see the Flexi Club as something that not only benefits these golfers and brings them closer to the Wales Golf family, but we hope that over time it will also help bring more golfers to our clubs.
“We also hope that the Flexi Club will encourage casual golfers who register with us to play more golf. There is some evidence that when people begin to record their activities or officially record results, increased participation may lead to increased participation. We also hope that this scheme will help attract some new players to the game.
“Independent golfers are already buying commercial handicaps because they want to see how they develop, Wales Golf wants to bring them into the group, make their handicap official and build a relationship.
“We also firmly believe that this program will bring long-term benefits to our clubs. The experience of New Zealand Golf, which launched a similar program a few years ago, is that 80 percent of their Flexi Club golfers have never been a member of a golf club and that a conversion rate of 20 percent of independent golfers has moved into club membership . “
“At the same time, we need to acknowledge that not all golfers want to be club members, that modern lifestyles mean that all sports are consumed in different ways, and that we want to bring the benefits of golf to people of all ages, skills and backgrounds.”
Surveys show that there are around 120,000 golfers in Wales, of which around 50,000 are members of golf clubs.
They can be regular, veteran or casual golfers, their average age is more than 10 years younger than that of the club members, but they also like to play five to 15 times a year on several courses.
An official handicap is a real benefit for these players as they can measure their performance, play against friends, and play on social or business outings.
Surveys have shown that up to 60 percent of these players would be open to flexible golf club membership, while the Flexi Club can also be a great introduction to the sport – especially for junior and women’s World Handicap System Handicapists around the world can use access to the Wales Golf App to submit general game results and track their handicap.
You will also receive a six for five voucher for lessons with a participating PGA Pro, Wales Golf Member Communications, access to information from Welsh golf clubs, including open days and membership offers.
You will also receive a small welcome gift and will be able to join an independent Wales golf golfer facebook community for like-minded people.
“The Welsh golf clubs will hopefully benefit from this as well, now having the opportunity to work with a group of non-club members who will be more involved in the game, and the club professionals can join the tuition voucher program if they so choose.” “Said a spokesman for Wales Golf.
“So that the Flexi Club is not seen as a substitute for club membership, it is not open to everyone who has been a member of an affiliated club in the last 12 months.”
“Wales Golf will also ensure that all handicaps by Flexi Club members are managed in accordance with the handicap rules and will therefore set up a handicap committee to do the annual reviews and keep track of the results submitted through the system.”
Flexi Club is due to launch in Wales in September. More information by email [email protected]