By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

POWERPLAY GOLF ANNOUNCES USA ROLLOUT

PowerPlay Golf, the two-flag, ‘risk and reward’ nine-hole game, today announced its intention to introduce the innovative format more widely in the United States of America. As part of its USA rollout, PowerPlay Golf will benefit from an expanded relationship with the WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION.

Having recently launched a new adult player development program, Get Golf Ready, and with established initiatives The First Tee and GOLF 20/20 already in place, the World Golf Foundation is focused on promoting golf and participation in the sport both in the U.S. and around the world.

David Hardy, CEO of PowerPlay Golf, said, “The relationships that the World Golf Foundation already enjoy with all the relevant parties both in the U.S. and worldwide make it an ideal resource as we seek to bring PowerPlay Golf to a wider audience in America. There are clear synergies in our organizations: we both seek to make golf more accessible and appealing to new audiences.

“The World Golf Foundation will help us to establish a firmer footing in the USA by introducing us to key personnel within the infrastructure of golf in the country, and by advising us as we formulate a pilot program.

“In return, PowerPlay Golf will continue to support all the Foundation’s initiatives, including Get Golf Ready and The First Tee.”

Stephen F. Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, said, “As part of our mission, the World Golf Foundation seeks to broaden awareness of new or innovative methods to grow interest and participation in golf. We are pleased to be of assistance as the PowerPlay Golf team embarks on a wider launch in the USA.”

In the last 12 months, PowerPlay Golf has established itself as the world’s leading ‘short form’ of golf.

PGA Professional championships have been held in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, while discussions about the global development of PowerPlay Golf are well advanced with a number of governing bodies and broadcasters around the world.

The South African PGA recently became the latest official Golf Development Partner for PowerPlay Golf, and over 75,000 golfers have now experienced the game in 15 countries.

PowerPlay Golf, which uses a modified Stableford points scoring system, challenges players to choose between two flags on a green – a Black ‘PowerPlay’ Flag placed in a tough location, and an easier White Flag.

Players scoring net birdie or better on a PowerPlay to the Black Flag score double points, but PowerPlays are limited and golfers must deploy them carefully during their nine-hole round.

Golfers earn PowerPlay Dollars from participation in PowerPlay Golf Official Events and also in casual play, enabling them to climb World Rankings and also to compete in user-generated Custom Leagues around the world.

Peter McEvoy, OBE, co-founder of PowerPlay Golf, said, “We are looking forward to continuing the relationship that we already have with The First Tee and GOLF 20/20, and to building it further with the World Golf Foundation.

“Because of its short, exciting format, PowerPlay Golf is ideally suited to support the Foundation’s aims of growing interest in golf.

“With time and money a major issue for many people, a game that can be played in half the time for half the cost – with added challenge and fun – is extremely appealing, particularly with new golfers.”

A number of golf courses in the USA have already become Official Venues for PowerPlay Golf. As part of The First Tee initiative, four The First Tee facilities have hosted PowerPlay Golf. Going forward, it is expected that additional The First Tee facilities will sign up to host the program in 2009.

The First Tee gives young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life enhancing values such as confidence, perseverance and judgment through golf and character education.

Visit www.powerplay-golf.com to find out more about PowerPlay Golf.
  
   
Contacts:  
   
David Hardy, PowerPlay Golf | +44 (0) 7979 605150 | hardy@powerplay-golf.com
  
   
Bob Combs, World Golf Foundation | +01 (904) 940 4203 | bcombs@worldgolffoundation.org
  
   
Andy Hiseman, PowerPlay Golf | +44 (0) 1780 757461 | andy@powerplay-golf.com
 

By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

CROWN GOLF LAUNCHES ‘CREDIT CRUNCH’ MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVE

Crown Golf, Europe’s largest golf course owner/operator, has introduced a special ‘credit crunch membership initiative’ in response to the economic downturn.

For the first time the group has added a redundancy clause to its membership packages allowing golfers to suspend their membership if they lose their job.

In addition, the group is also allowing members to transfer membership to another player if they can no longer afford it.

The initiative has been brought in by Crown Golf to respond to the needs of their members across their club network – which amounts to more than 22,000 golfers at 34 golf clubs across the country.

Announcing the initiative, Crown Golf Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Lewis, said today: “We recognise that taking an annual golf club membership can be seen as a big commitment, so we are determined to give added value to our members – both those renewing memberships and those taking new ones.

“This is the first time we have brought in a redundancy clause and allowed golfers to transfer memberships to another player if money gets tight. Crown Golf is a very forward-thinking organisation, we care about our members and we feel this is the right thing to do in the current climate.

“Members are the lifeblood of the club. We appreciate their commitment to us and it is vital that we build long-term relationships with them by offering membership products that are attractive and fit their lifestyles.

“As an industry we have to recognise the situation that many golfers may face in the coming months.”

Their ‘credit crunch’ membership initiative also allows an individual club member to play up to eight rounds of golf a year at each of the other clubs in their network.

Crown Golf has 34 properties nationwide. A full list of clubs can be found at www.crown-golf.co.uk
  
     
Company Contact: Stephen Lewis, CEO, Crown Golf
Tel: +44 1344 383975
Email: s.lewis@crown-golf.co.uk

  
     
  John Weir, COO, Crown Golf
Tel: +44 1344 383975
Email: j.weir@crown-golf.co.uk  
     
Crown Golf
Media Contact: Andy Hiseman Hiseman Partners
Tel: 01780 757537. Email: andy@hiseman.com