For the game of golf, the statistics are pretty bleak:
- 400,000 players left the game in 2013 (National Golf Foundation)
- 200,000 of those players were under 35 (National Golf Foundation)
- 2013 marked the 8th straight year that more courses closed than opened (National Golf Foundation)
- US golfers played 462 million rounds of golf in 2013, the fewest since 1995 (Golf Datatech)
- 61% of golfers are over 50 years old (National Golf Foundation)
What does this mean for golf pros?
- You have fewer new clients
- You have fewer younger clients
- Your current clients are older and are facing declining physical health
So what can you do? Grab ahold of that 61% of older golfers and keep them in the game for as long as possible. How can you do that? Develop a relationship with a skilled massage therapist and you will have an invaluable resource for your clients. But not all massage therapists are alike, so take the time to find one that has specialized training in treating sports specific issues and prescribing corrective exercises. In fact, there are many massage therapists who have golf specific training and certification. If you express an interest in developing a referral relationship, most therapists will provide you with a complementary sample session, so you can see what kind of service your clients can expect. Do your homework and due diligence and your clients will reap the rewards.
Refer your clients early and often, before the inevitable loss of mobility or injury occurs. With consistent massage therapy and corrective exercises your clients will gain and retain mobility, stability and flexibility. They will function better, be easier to teach and see more results, allowing you to focus on teaching the skills you love to teach without worrying about physical restrictions.
It’s a win-win for you AND your clients.