Given how the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years, CPGA executive director Eddie Ainsworth can envision a day when the Section would meet the demand by specifically hiring assistant professionals to serve various areas of the state.
“Talk about growth of the game …,” Ainsworth ruminated about the possibilities for Golf in Schools, which is supported by all the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado, including the CGA and CWGA.
But in order for such a thing to be possible, the money has to be there. That’s where the Colorado PGA’s new tee-time alliance comes into play. If coloradopgateetimes.com, which was launched on Masters weekend, is a success in competing against the likes of GolfNow.com, Golf in Schools will be the beneficiary.
“Any money left after advertising, marketing and technology costs will go to Golf in Schools,” Ainsworth said on Friday. “We want to serve as many Golf in Schools programs as possible.”
Golf in Schools introduces the game to kids who wouldn’t otherwise get to experience it. It starts with PGA professionals providing instruction during physical education classes and it continues at golf facilities.
With that as a backdrop, Ainsworth hopes Coloradans — both individual golfers and golf facilities — will see the importance of success for coloradopgateetimes.com. If the initiative takes off, he believes it can benefit not only golf courses — including the local PGA professionals — but it can help build the base of future golfers in the state.
As of the weekend, Ainsworth said 14 courses in Colorado had signed up to participate in coloradopgateetimes.com. The idea of the site is to cut down on the practice of Colorado courses getting tee times filled through one of the many national tee-time services on the market, including GolfNow. Ainsworth hopes that instead of almost all that tee-time service money going out of state, it can stay in Colorado through coloradopgateetimes.com.
Among the Colorado courses currently participating — or just about to participate — in the Section’s tee-time alliance are Aurora Hills, Bear Dance, Fitzsimons, Fossil Trace, Fox Hollow, Homestead, Indian Peaks, King’s Deer (which recently reopened), Meadow Hills, Murphy Creek, the Riverdale courses, Saddle Rock and Springhill.
While that total may currently pale in comparison to the 70-some Colorado courses that utilize GolfNow, coloradopgateetimes.com just came online a month ago. For some golfers, the decision between local and national provider may come down to strictly a “best bang for the buck” decision; others may factor in keeping money in the state.
“My goal is to put (GolfNow and others like it) out of business,” Ainsworth said. “I think easily we could get more than 50 percent of marketshare (with coloradopgateetimes.com. GolfNow and others) don’t do anything for golf in Colorado. They take $1.9 million a year out of the state. If we can keep the money here, why would anybody not want to do it? You know how Coloradans like to support Colorado.
“It’s not that GolfNow are bad people or the enemy. They came up with a solution years ago that people needed. But we have a better solution for Colorado.”
Each coloradopgateetimes.com participating course pays a set amount and establishes its own green-free prices. Part of the set fee goes to the technology involved, another to advertising, marketing and running the system. Whatever is left over will be devoted to Colorado PGA Golf in Schools, which has reached more than 30,000 kids in three-plus years.
“I hope (the number of participating courses) continues to increase,” Ainsworth said. “We didn’t get the go-ahead for this until the end of January. … I haven’t heard anything but good things about the technology from the facilities using it. Now it’s a matter of driving consumers to the site.”
The Colorado PGA formally launched the effort on Masters weekend by running TV commercials that aired just before and after the tournament coverage. And with golf season now upon us, the Section is also planning to advertise in local print, radio and TV outlets that serve sports fans.
The Section is providing an additional incentive for golfers who use coloradopgateetimes.com by conducting periodic drawings for prizes. At the end of each month, winners of a drawing receive golf equipment. And on Aug. 1, there’s a drawing for a trip for four to the 2014 PGA Championship, including airfare and lodging. People are registered for the drawings each time they book a twosome or foursome on the web site.
