Credit Crunch........And Golf Instruction

[twitch127]

Credit Crunch ...... And Golf Instruction

To all the teaching pro's/golf coaches etc.. what are your opinions on how the credit crunch will affect the "business" of golf instruction. Will people decide against a lesson every week and take 1 a month instead? Will people look for more value for money - which doesn't mean the cheapest but the contrary - go to a very reputable instructor once in a while for 3-4 hour session and work on it for a few months? Will people buy golf digest instead of getting a lesson Will people use their spare 100 bucks to play golf rather than take a lesson? or will they use it to buy groceries
The golf business is part of the leisure industry and this sector is directly related to the level of disposable income that people currently have. The industry has found trading very tough of late and 09 looks like being worse - Saying this golf will still be a multi-billion dollar industry it just makes getting a slice of the pie much more competitive.
The better your reputation the more chance you have of keeping business rolling in - (adding value and the overall 'expeirience' to your proposition - as well as being a leader or have USP's - unique selling points) BUT..........
DISNEYWORLD is a leisure based industry, a leader, has USP's and offers an unrivalled 'experience' and their profits are down 35%. So do you guys think not everyone will be affected or do you think that we can't escape the inevitable and we just have to ride it out - can't have the good times forever .....

[Brian Manzella]

Originally Posted by twitch127

can't have the good times forever .....

Michael Jacobs had a record year this year.

I had a very good year.

Neither of us would call this "the good times," though. We both feel, as does Damon Lucas, that the "Good Times" are ahead.

2009 will be a record year for me. But, also probably, just another rung on a very long, tall latter.

The "Good Times" are quite a ways away.

But, I love my job.

The point?

If you are a really good teacher, you'll do fine in any economy.

[tongzilla]

I think it depends on where your students stand on the income ladder and how much they value golf instruction at the margin.

[rbaumgolf]

Different from instruction costs, I believe you will see a decrease in equipment costs. This Christmas will be a telling stroy for the equipment business. As golf courses decrease their green fees you should also see a decrease in new equipment. In a recession you will definitely see more people "keeping" the clubs they have rather than spending a grand or 2 on new ones. Its already been said that the PGA/LPGA tour will suffer since 1/3 of the sponsors were/are financial companies.

[pieman]

well, i see a crunch in the retail end. enough so that i just got laid off from the golf retail store i've been at for almost 4 years. why me? who knows? politics for sure, as i know i had the best info and knowledge. instead of looking at myspace on the web during free time, i got my info here and equipment info.
times have been tough especially for the hard goods. i think people will still seek out lessons as they have in the past though.

[twitch127]

Sorry to hear that pieman. The retail sector (large discount golf stores) is finding it tough - but when their value is only in price and not in "real" club-fitting they will live and die by that ethos. The service led custom fitter who is not lead by sales reps from major companies but invests in quality components and "really" fits his clients individually should hold up better. Just keep learning as much as you can around here and from other reputable sources and you'll be a lot more employable than the average golf strore joe

[hjacknicklaus]

Brian

did someone on here ask you a question last week about if you could get a pga tour player , make lots of money....or stay here??

was that the question.........if so what was the answer

hjack

[Tom Bartlett]

The question was if Tiger asked him to help only him for a seven figure number (and I think he couldn't tell anyone) would he do it.

His response was, "Tiger, when do we start".

[hjacknicklaus]

tHANKS for the anwer

i thought it as something like that.....to bad......i was hoping it might be answered differently. Then again i guess its all about working to get to the top of the profession

hjack

[hcw]

Originally Posted by hjacknicklaus

tHANKS for the anwer

i thought it as something like that.....to bad......i was hoping it might be answered differently. Then again i guess its all about working to get to the top of the profession

hjack

...would you expect/want/hope for someone to turn down a legitimate job that would almost assuredly give them and their family financial security for the rest of their lives?