First Tee Chapters Receive Grant Money
In January, The PGA of America and golf legend Jack Nicklaus presented $115,000 in grants to support instruction at 17 chapters of The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.com), a program designed to create affordable learning facilities for juniors. PGA Teaching grants of $10,000 each were awarded to six chapters, and 11 chapters received $5,000 PGA/Nicklaus teaching grants. The PGA of America and Nicklaus began a partnership in 2001 to create a $2 million endowment to provide grants to certified chapters of The First Tee that use PGA members and apprentices for instruction.

ASIC Offers Online Irrigation Consultant Locator
The American Society of Irrigation Consultants, a Chicago-based not-for-profit society for irrigation design professionals, provides a list of irrigation designers by name and location at www.asic.org (click on Prof. Members on the navigation bar). Additional information and tools available at the site include industry links and design guides.

PGA Pros to Offer Free Lessons in May
PGA professionals at golf courses, academies and ranges nationwide will offer free 10-minute lessons to amateur golfers this spring. For the sixth consecutive year, The PGA of America and Golf Digest are teaming up for the annual free golf lesson campaign, Play Golf America. Held every May, the program is designed to help amateur golfers improve their skills and attract new players to the sport. In 2002, the program set five-year participation records with 74,923 free lessons given at 3,773 facilities. PGA members can register through www.pgalinks.com or by calling the PGA Member Information Center at 800-474-2776.

The Sound of Music
Marketing is more than advertising. It’s also the look, feel and sound of your facility. Yes, sound. Think about a local grocery store or clothing retailer in your area. More than likely, as soon as you walk through the doors, your ears are greeted by music that sets the tone of the environment and keeps you humming along as you stroll down the aisles. Major theme parks, such as Walt Disney World, even broadcast music over parking lot loudspeakers to trigger guests’ excitement as soon as they step out of their cars.

Theme park and other business operators recognize that stimulating our sense of hearing is just as important as providing cues for our sense of sight, touch and smell.

Are you making the most of your audio ambiance?
Whether you have just a driving range or additional fun-driven amenities, figure out a way to pipe music to your tee boxes, the miniature golf course, pro shop/service building and batting cages or wherever else your customers are.

Don’t be afraid to crank up the volume. You’ll be amazed at how loud you can make the music without it interfering with customers’ conversations or enjoyment. Of course, you should tailor the decibel level as well as music selection to your audience. You might want to play adult contemporary tunes during the day when more golfers are present, then change it to a lively pop format as families and kids arrive during the evening.

Resist the temptation to pull out your old boom box. To get a professional, high-quality sound, purchase a receiver and an amplifier; place these in the office so that you (or a designated employee) have control over the music and volume. Then, run wires out to speakers that are strategically placed around the facility.

Technically, you’re not supposed to air live radio or broadcast CDs (it’s prohibited by copyright laws). However, there are service providers, such as Direct TV, that offer commercial-free music for a monthly fee and multiple programming choices to fit your customers’ tastes.

Music can be a form of branding, something customers associate with your business. So, turn it up! You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. Your customers won’t know why they’re having a better time--and, they won’t really care, as long they’re having fun.

For more information on using music to boost sales and customer enjoyment, read “Music Can Enhance the Shopping Experience” (www.craftsreport.com/november02/cr.html) from the November 2002 issue of CraftsRetailer and the “JBL Professional Guide to Business Music” (www.jblpro.com/pub/technote/busmusic.pdf).

Mulligan’s Island Golf and Entertainment Center
Second-place honors in Golf Range Times’ 2002 Best New Range contest went to Mulligan’s Island Golf & Entertainment Center (www.mulligansisland.com), a 64-acre practice facility and family entertainment mecca in Cranston, R.I. Read about this award-winning facility in the March/April issue and how Jim Piquette, a seasoned superintendent, turned his green-grass knowledge into gold, with the help of business partners Mark and Michael Friedman.

Also in the March/April magazine:
--Looking beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act to make golf barrier-free.
--An update on the junior golf market and how investing in a structured program now can pay off in the long run.
--New products and services for range owners seen at the PGA Merchandise Show.

Plus, industry news, strategies for managing your range ball inventory and a review of artificial turf hitting surfaces, including golf mats and tee line turf.

Is Your Range Better Than Before?
Golf Range Times’ Before & After department highlights improvements and additions to golf practice facilities. Send us information on your renovation project, new amenity or equipment purchases for a chance to be featured in the magazine. No project or purchase is too small! Send a brief write-up along with photos to Golf Range Times, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 250, Richmond, VA 23235; call Kristen Caldwell at 804-272-9100 x. 112; or e-mail kristen.caldwell@douglasmurphy.com.


The Only Directory You'll Ever Need
The Golf Range Times Buyers' Guide and Directory is the only directory published exclusively for the golf range industry. It's the one resource you'll refer to all year long as you make purchasing decisions. Alphabetical company listings cross-referenced by product category make it easy to find the equipment and services you need. Copies of the 2002 directory are $35 and can be ordered online here.


Back Issues Available
Missing an issue of Golf Range Times? Or looking for reference articles on adding amenities, insuring your facility or hiring qualified and committed staff? Click through back issues of the magazine to find these topics and more here.

About the Golf Range Times e-Newsletter
The Golf Range Times e-Newsletter is a free bimonthly publication sent to range owners and developers who have provided e-mail addresses. You can subscribe online here.

Don't hesitate to forward a copy of this newsletter to friends and associates or to let them know that they can subscribe at www.golfrangetimes.com.


Have a tip or idea?
Contact Marshall Norton Jr., Golf Range Times managing editor, at 804-272-9100, ext. 112, or by e-mail at marshall.norton@douglasmurphy.com.