Close Menu
Golf Business TechnologyGolf Business Technology
  • Business News
  • Technology News
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
  • PGA Show
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
Golf Business TechnologyGolf Business Technology
  • Business
        • Appointments
        • Course Management
        • Drone Solutions
        • Event Management
        • Golf Architecture
        • Golf Club
        • Golf Machinery
        • Golf Resorts
        • Golf Sponsorship
        • Industry News
        • Investment & Mergers
        • Irrigation Systems
        • Sports News
        • Sustainability
        • Turf Management
  • Technology
        • Artificial Intelligence
        • Augmented Reality
        • Autonomous
        • Booking Software
        • Clothing & Footwear
        • Club Management Software
        • Coaching / Training
        • Data & Analytics
        • Driving Range
        • Golf Course
        • Golf Entertainment
        • Golf Equipment
        • GPS software
        • Home Simulators
        • Indoor Golf
        • Launch Monitor
        • Rangefinders
        • Shot Tracking
        • Swing Aids
        • Virtual Golf
        • Wearables
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
  • PGA Show
  • Supplier Spotlight
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
Golf Business TechnologyGolf Business Technology
Home»Business»Industry News»The R&A launches new learn to play initiative with star studded campaign and digital platform
Industry News

The R&A launches new learn to play initiative with star studded campaign and digital platform

Aboo TayubBy Aboo TayubJuly 3, 2023Updated:July 3, 2023No Comments6 Mins Read
Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
The R&A has launched an ambitious pilot initiative to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities across Scotland.
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JUNE 27: (L-R) Olivia Farquhar, Niall Horan (R&A Ambassador and Co-Founder, Modest Golf Management), Ruaridh McCallum and Phil Anderton (Chief Development Officer, the R&A) during the R&A Golf.Golf launch at St Andrews on June 27, 2023 in St Andrews, Scotland. Golf.Golf is being launched as a pilot in Scotland to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities. Prospective players Ð from beginners to those who want to pick up the sport again Ð can use the platform to find their local venue and book sessions directly. It is the intention to expand Golf.Golf worldwide. (Photo by Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Share
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The R&A has launched an ambitious pilot initiative to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities across Scotland.
 
The launch of Golf.Golf was supported by R&A ambassador and singer songwriter Niall Horan at an event held at The R&A World Golf Museum in St Andrews.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JUNE 27: Niall Horan (left) (R&A Ambassador and Co-Founder Modest! Golf) and Ruaridh McCallum during the R&A Golf.Golf launch at St Andrews on June 27, 2023 in St Andrews, Scotland. Golf.Golf is being launched as a pilot in Scotland to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities. Prospective players Ð from beginners to those who want to pick up the sport again Ð can use the platform to find their local venue and book sessions directly. It is the intention to expand Golf.Golf worldwide. (Photo by Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JUNE 27: (L-R) Olivia Farquhar, Niall Horan (R&A Ambassador and Co-Founder, Modest Golf Management), Ruaridh McCallum and Phil Anderton (Chief Development Officer, the R&A) during the R&A Golf.Golf launch at St Andrews on June 27, 2023 in St Andrews, Scotland. Golf.Golf is being launched as a pilot in Scotland to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities. Prospective players Ð from beginners to those who want to pick up the sport again Ð can use the platform to find their local venue and book sessions directly. It is the intention to expand Golf.Golf worldwide. (Photo by Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

The initiative has been developed using extensive research into how to attract new people to the sport and is targeted specifically at those who already had or have an active interest in sporting activity but not necessarily in golf.

Its aim is to change the perception of the game and drive new players to a host of venues where the sport is played, from driving ranges to simulators to municipal courses, as well as existing facilities so they can learn how to play golf.

The Golf.Golf digital platform provides an easy-to-use searchable list of all participating venues. Prospective players – from beginners to those who want to pick up the sport again – can use the platform to find their local venue and book sessions directly. Prices are set at an affordable rate so that cost barriers are reduced and venues can get involved at no cost and benefit from attracting an untapped source of first-time golfers.

Backed by a global social media strategy which includes a fun film starring Niall Horan and a host of Scottish sporting stars – including former football coach and player Gordon Strachan OBE, Olympic gold medallist and curler Vicky Wright, Scotland rugby captain Jamie Ritchie and fellow internationalists and brothers Matt and Zander Fagerson of Glasgow Warriors – Golf.Golf portrays the game as fun, inexpensive, easy to understand, a place to make new friends and a great way to stay mentally and physically fit.

Golf.Golf is also being supported by The R&A’s development ambassadors, who include tennis commentator and former player Daniela Hantuchova, footballer Gareth Bale, cricketer Kevin Pietersen and golfer Michelle Wie West.

The R&A’s ambition is to successfully pilot the programme in Scotland during 2023 through working with Scottish Golf and for its affiliated national federations to then roll it out across global venues and so increase worldwide participation in the game.

Sessions are aimed at a wide range of potential players, from children to women-only groups and one-to-one coaching delivered by professionals and volunteers that will support them in learning to play golf in a fun and welcoming environment. Administration of the platform is done centrally leaving venues to focus on delivering fun and inexpensive golf experiences in welcoming environments.

Niall Horan said, “Next to making music, golf is a huge passion of mine, which is why I want to inspire people from all walks of life to give it a try. By supporting Golf.Golf and The R&A’s work to inspire more people to get involved in the game, I want to show people that learning to play golf is great fun, good for your health and can be enjoyed by anyone whether alone or with friends and family. This way we can begin to change the perception of golf and attract new players into the game, especially young people – which is why I am so proud to be working alongside my management company Modest! Golf on this.” 

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We have seen golf’s popularity boom in recent years with more people playing golf more regularly. We must capitalise on this growth by promoting the many positive social and health benefits of golf and offer opportunities to learn to play that are fun, accessible and inclusive.

“This is why we have created a promotional campaign featuring global stars, national sporting heroes and everyday people to build awareness of how fun and easy it is to learn to play golf and which offers a simple to use digital platform so they can freely book lessons at facilities near to them.

“We look forward to seeing the results of the pilot being run in Scotland and learning from the experiences of those people who take part in the activities.”

Fraser Thornton, Interim Chief Executive of Scottish Golf, said, “This campaign is perfectly placed to encourage people who are already warmed up to the idea of sport, into our great game of golf. The Golf.Golf digital platform is beautifully simple to use and directs people to whatever form of learning golf is right for them, whether that’s at a driving range or a club. It opens new participants up to the idea that golf isn’t, and doesn’t have to be just one thing. It’s a very exciting initiative.”

Sandy Smith, Head PGA Golf Professional at Ladybank Golf Club said, “What has been proposed with the Golf.Golf program is what I believe a total game changer for the game of golf.  I’ve been involved in this industry for 30 years and this is by far the best initiative that I have seen.”

Please click here to download the golf.golf launch video

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Aboo Tayub

Aboo Tayub is the publisher of Golf Business Technology and has worked in the business & technology publishing sector for over a decade.

Related Posts

Women’s Golf Day isn’t just a celebration – it’s a Smart Business Strategy for economic growth.

April 30, 2025

PlayMoreGolf Celebrates Record-Breaking Membership Month in March

April 28, 2025

McIlroy’s Masters Grand Slam enhances Ireland’s reputation as the home of champions

April 17, 2025
Add A Comment
FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS

Get exclusive access to breaking news, opinion editorials and Golf content


Supplier Spotlight
  • Foresight
    Foresight Sports
Golf Business Technology
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 Golf Business Technology Ltd, Northern Ireland, Company No. NI677833 All rights reserved

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT ALL”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsREJECT ALLAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
AWSALBCORS7 daysThis cookie is managed by Amazon Web Services and is used for load balancing.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category .
PHPSESSIDsessionThis cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
CookieDurationDescription
AWSALB7 daysAWSALB is a cookie generated by the Application load balancer in the Amazon Web Services. It works slightly different from AWSELB.
explat_test_aa_weekly_lohp_2021_week_4517 days 8 hoursNo description
ppwp_wp_session30 minutesNo description
tk_ai14 daysGathers information for WordPress by themselves, first party analytics tool about how WP services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience.
tk_qssessionGathers information for WordPress by themselves, first party analytics tool about how WP services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
CookieDurationDescription
OAGEOsessionOpenX sets this cookie to avoid the repeated display of the same ad.
OAID1 yearThis cookie is set when an AdsWizz website visitor have opted out the collection of information by AdsWizz service or opted to disable the targeted ads by AdsWizz.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_31822138_71 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
_gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
tk_lr1 yearThe tk_lr is a referral cookie set by the JetPack plugin on sites using WooCommerce, which analyzes referrer behaviour for Jetpack.
tk_or5 yearsThe tk_or is a referral cookie set by the JetPack plugin on sites using WooCommerce, which analyzes referrer behaviour for Jetpack.
tk_r3d3 daysJetPack installs this cookie to collect internal metrics for user activity and in turn improve user experience.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo