Karl Worby made it his mission to rejuvenate the junior section at Grimsby Golf Club when he started as Head PGA Professional in March.
Worby discovered that there hadn’t been a junior competition for seven years at Grimsby and there was less than a handful of junior members.
Now, the club can boast nearly 70 juniors, plus a star who shot level-par off a handicap in the low single figures at the age of 12.
Beginning in the summer, Worby worked on family-oriented initiatives, as well as leading lessons both on the range and the golf course to keep the youngsters engaged.
Here, Worby explains how the junior section at Grimsby was rebuilt using support from the club, which age groups coaches should aim at, how much to charge and many other facets of junior coaching.
Harness the support of your club
I have a bit of a measured approach being an older golf pro. I thought, we’ve got to get these juniors off the ground. Let’s form a committee first, because I can't do it all on my own. There's no way one person could do it.
You can't do it and be a club pro and a retailer, a councillor, and everything you need to do as a PGA Pro.
We had some meetings first and set up a WhatsApp group. The members have been fantastic. We've had over £2,000 in sponsorship, which is great. People do really care about junior golf, and 99 per cent of people would actively like to see it. We started like that first.
I said, we'll start on Father's Day. I know that sounds funny, but that was probably the best thing we did because the kids going on Father's Day was brilliant. It tied in with people having meals in the clubhouse.
Pictured: A group of juniors practise at Grimsby Golf Club
Decide on the specific age group
I have had some as young as 3 come into the sessions, and I think that's probably a little bit early.
I think 5 years old and upwards. I've got ones that are 5, and they go around the course with their dad.
We do a chaperone membership here as well. We have limited availability where you can play nine holes with your child, and that's £200 a year. That's innovative as well, that does help.
Working out what to charge juniors
We do free membership if they're under 12, if they're 12 and over, they pay.
With a group class, £5 is nice. It's not too cheap, it's not too much. I know some pros that do charge £10. I'm not doing it to make big financial gains.
Ultimately, £5 for an hour session is what I charge, and I don't have any commitment where you've got to turn up for 10 sessions. Personally, I want children to come because they enjoy it. I don't want children feeling like dad's forcing them to come.
"We do need to move with the times and certainly, the junior section is the way forward"
- Karl Worby
Ways to recruit juniors
Facebook reels are very good for advertising. We've had a strong focus on looking after the children and making sure nobody feels left out.
I always check with the parents that they're all right with me posting something on Facebook with the children.
Word of mouth is your best form of advert, because the parents are ringing up to say, my lad wants to play. I've got some that haven't joined at the minute but are having lessons.
Tracking success – and setting goals
There are the passports that you can do to check (success), but we set them challenges. Can they drive it 30 yards? Can they drive it 50 yards? Can they drive it 100 yards? But the main thing is as a golf pro, I’ve got to encourage them.
If they can't hit the ball in the first week and they make contact the second week, that's a big improvement. Then the following week, they can get one 10 yards.
I think some people try to over-coach. I had a pro comment and say, that's nice that they've got a pre-shot routine, but they've not had the individual talent coached out of them. They’re not machine-like.
Pictured: A group of juniors practise putting at Grimsby Golf Club
The importance of a junior section
You need younger people coming through, because they bring their families. There are so many people here that have got traditions, where the whole family have played at this golf club for years. You need the younger element.
We didn’t have any here. It used to have a thriving junior section some time ago. Whether it's the ladies section, the senior section, or the general club, although we've got over 600 members, we do need to move with the times and certainly, the junior section is the way forward.
I think golf has had a big boost since Covid, and there's more children playing now than what there used to be.
The role that parents play
I have a detailed discussion with each parent about what we do at the golf club, how we do it, how much it is, how much it is likely to be next year. The parents do like to be involved, and some of them don't.
I’m here all of the time, six or seven days a week, and I do like involving the parents and the parents have been fantastic. Some of them will drop the kids off and watch for 10 minutes and then clear off.
Some of them will go and have a beer. Some of the parents like to be with the kids. Some of the kids don't want the parents to be there. The practice ground is 100 yards away, (they can) keep an eye on them from where they are.
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