The WPL Program has a dual purpose. The first purpose is to improve the putting of all the participants, thus lowering their golf scores. The second purpose is to generate additional revenues for the affiliate clubs that offer the "WPL Elite Putting Program". The second goal can better be reached if we create an exciting, challenging competition around the WPL Program. If we do that the participants will want to get involved and more importantly stay involved!! We all know that if practice is boring the interest will dwindle and eventually the practice will stop. With that being said WPL has designed a "Step By Step " procedures guide that will guarantee your facility additional revenues in year one with substantial growth year after year thereafter!!!
NOW LET'S GET STARTED:
STEP 1. DECIDE ON A MEMBERSHIP FEE.
Your facility can charge as little or as much as you would like for the membership fee to the program. Remember that after you pay your enrollment fee to The WPL you will receive a coupon code that will allow you to sign members at no charge, so whatever the fee is that you decide all 100% of those fees will go to you the teaching professional or the facility depending on the structure in place at your facility. WPL has a suggested retail membership fee of $25.00 so you can add or subtract from that as you see fit depending on the benefits you add to "The Program". A $25.00 fee to join will more than likely give you the largest membership and then you can add to the membership fee additional prize funds, lesson fees, etc. as you go along see the steps below.
STEP 2. PICK A START DATE AND PROMOTE THE WPL PROGRAM.
Initially your facility will need to put forth a strong campaign to let all members and other facility clients know about the "WPL PROGRAM" This is extremely important for session one of the program. Your facility first needs to pick a start date for the program. The WPL Program has 4 sessions, 3 months in length starting January 1 of each year however you can pick any start date and it is never too late in a session to commence. In order to give the participant their best value it is suggested that you start you session when a new WPL session begins, or you could start in the middle of a session and give the participants a partial session and a the next full session for the same amount. Once your start date is set it is imperative to promote "The Program" extensively. We suggest the following promotional ideas:
A. News blasts in your news letters and e mails which go out to your clients with wording like this example:
"PUTTING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM NOW BEING OFFERED
Improve your putting in a competitive format that assures you of lower golf scores and a better ability to make putts under pressure! The Program begins January 1 and the fee to join is only $25.00 for a 3 month session. We will be crowning a club champion at the end of each session and there will be weekly competitions to keep you focused. This program is absolutely the best training aid for putting so see the pro shop now to join, or join us December 1 in the club's ball room for a free introductory presentation. Discounted appetizers will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Your membership fee includes statistic tracking for your putting both during participation in "The Program" as well as on the golf course and entry in a world wide program where you compete against golfers for prizes and recognition!"
The introductory presentation is your first revenue increase from the program, with the sale of appetizers and beverages you could see a $500.00 revenue injection from each of the four membership meetings; $2000.00 annually!
B. Place signs around the practice green announcing that there will be a Putting Improvement program starting soon. See the pro shop for more details.
C. Create fliers similar to the news blast that can be handed out to each person who visits the pro shop to play golf, buy merchandise, or ask about the program. ( to see a sample brochure click here)
D. Place window decals or fliers around the club in key places such as the locker rooms, on the tables in the restaurant, at the bar etc.
E. Talk it up. The best promotion is for your pro shop staff to talk it up, tell everyone. REMEMBER SIGN 20 MEMBERS and you take in another $2000.00 PER YEAR
F. Appoint a Putting Program chairman or manager who you place in charge of making sure the memberships are sold. Give that person an incentive to sell sell sell!!
STEP 3. SIGN UP MEMBERS AND CREATE THEIR PLAYER STASTIC PROFILE
Collect your designated membership fee from the signing members and obtain their full name and their e mail address. Then go to the home page of the World Putting League: www.worldputtingleague.com and at the top of the page click where it says "Join the World Putting League Now". Then put in all the necessary information for each member. Note you can use your facility address for each member if you do not want to use theirs, HOWEVER you must have their name and e mail address to register them. You can use their e mail address as their user name and their last name as their password. When you get to the affiliate club section enter your facility name, or you can use any name for the program, however it cannot be changed until the end of a session. After you have entered your club name the first time it will show up on the search bar thereafter. IMPORTANT: when signing in your members any typo on the club name will create a new club so use the search bar after your first entry. Pass out to the members usernames and passwords so the can access their player statistics. Remember as we said above 20 memberships per session equals $500.00 per session or $2,000.00 in new revenue per year
STEP 4. NEW MEMBERS RECEIVE WPL GIFT PACKAGE VALUED AT $400.00
When you sign in new members they will automatically receive:
A discount vacation package to Reynolds Plantation on Beautiful Lake Oconee in Central Georgia
A discount vacation package to The Main Street in In picturesque Highlands North Carolina
A certificate for a free WPL Golf Hat
STEP 5. SET A DAY AND TIME FOR THE PROGRAM COMPETITIONS
Set a day or evening and a time for the program competitions. It may be advisable for you to set two days and times per week if your membership is large enough. You want the members to have a selection of times so they can get in their mandatory 5 competitive attested rounds each session.
STEP 6. CREATE A WEEKLY COMPETITION WITH PRIZES FOR 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE.
The competition can be optional and would require a prize pool fee to participate. An acceptable average fee would be $15.00 and all prizes would be golf shop certificates. If you pay out 100% in prizes you still make 55% +/- in profit from the merchandise they choose. 20 x15 = $300.00 per week or $15,600.00 per year x 55% =$8,580.00 in new revenue
STEP 7. SETTING UP THE PROGRAM'S PUTTING COURSE
The WPL Program has 18 predetermined lengths for the holes of the program's course located at the top of each hole on the WPL scorecard. Click here to see and print WPL scorecard. These holes are measured in paces, approximately 3 feet per pace, and it is imperative that the course have the same lengths each week for the 18 holes. NOTE: The holes do not need to be in the same order you can and should change the order on a regular bases for variety but the holes must be the same exact lengths each week. You will note that the front 9 holes are exactly the same lengths as the back nine holes. This is done so facilities with small putting greens can accommodate the course. When laying out the course you can have one, two, or three tee boxes putting to the same hole. Simply put your heal to the cup and pace of the designated distance, then mark the tee area and repeat for all of the holes. The holes must be exactly the same lengths each week in order to create the controlled environment needed so the participants can clearly see that their putting is improving. Until the WPL Program there was no true measure for putting improvement, because if a golfer had 30 putts in his last 18 holes of golf and 36 in his most recent round of golf there was no way to determine if he/she putted better or worse because the putt lengths in each round could not have been exactly the same.
STEP 8. AWARD WEEKLY WINNERS PRIZES
Award the prizes to the weekly winners at the next competition, thus assuring that most participants will return to the next competition. It has been statistically proven that when members visit their club they spend $17.00 on average to purchase items other than greens fees and cart fees so it is your goal to get the members to the club as often as possible.
20 members x $17.00 = $340.00 per week or $17,680.00 in new revenue annually
STEP 9. REPORT SCORES AND POST THE CLUB'S LEADER BOARD.
After each competition have a staff member collect the attested score cards and report all scores. This is done by accessing each players profile using the predetermined username and password, so create a list of all members, their usernames and passwords. Each week you should create a WPL Program Leader Board which can be displayed in the pro shop showing the rankings of all the players and you should copy from the WPL web site your clubs leader board and mail it to all your clients enticing them to get their names on the leader board next session if they are not now participating.
STEP 10. OFFER ONE OR MORE PUTTING CLINICS EACH SESSION
At about the midway point of each session your staff should offer a putting clinic and the members of the WPL Program should receive a discount vs. those who are not members.
A $ 10.00 clinic once per session x 20 members = $200.00 per session or $800.00 annually
STEP 11. SESSION ENDING AWARDS BANQUET
At the end of each session you should have an awards banquet to pass out the award/awards for the members with the lowest putting average. All members putting averages should be mentioned and recognition given to those members who won earned prizes on the WPL World Wide Leader Board. Your clubs overall combined putting average is displayed at the bottom of your facilities leader board and your club will be ranked among all other clubs in the WPL system so if your team is ranked number one in the world you certainly have bragging rights- if you are lower down in the rankings you have a club goal next session!! This banquet should have the same format as the introductory presentation program. Thus generating another $2000.00 in new revenue annually
STEP 12. COUNT THE MONEY!!
Running the WPL Program year round can generate a tremendous amount of revenues. The examples shown above equate to $40,080.00 based on just 20 members. Drive that membership to 60 and you top $100,000.00 annually. You can do it!
STEP 13. REPEAT STEPS 1-10
Towards the end of each session repeat your promotional efforts as outlined above and set a goal to increase membership either from within the club or outside the club, each session.
NOW LET'S GET STARTED:
STEP 1. DECIDE ON A MEMBERSHIP FEE.
Your facility can charge as little or as much as you would like for the membership fee to the program. Remember that after you pay your enrollment fee to The WPL you will receive a coupon code that will allow you to sign members at no charge, so whatever the fee is that you decide all 100% of those fees will go to you the teaching professional or the facility depending on the structure in place at your facility. WPL has a suggested retail membership fee of $25.00 so you can add or subtract from that as you see fit depending on the benefits you add to "The Program". A $25.00 fee to join will more than likely give you the largest membership and then you can add to the membership fee additional prize funds, lesson fees, etc. as you go along see the steps below.
STEP 2. PICK A START DATE AND PROMOTE THE WPL PROGRAM.
Initially your facility will need to put forth a strong campaign to let all members and other facility clients know about the "WPL PROGRAM" This is extremely important for session one of the program. Your facility first needs to pick a start date for the program. The WPL Program has 4 sessions, 3 months in length starting January 1 of each year however you can pick any start date and it is never too late in a session to commence. In order to give the participant their best value it is suggested that you start you session when a new WPL session begins, or you could start in the middle of a session and give the participants a partial session and a the next full session for the same amount. Once your start date is set it is imperative to promote "The Program" extensively. We suggest the following promotional ideas:
A. News blasts in your news letters and e mails which go out to your clients with wording like this example:
"PUTTING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM NOW BEING OFFERED
Improve your putting in a competitive format that assures you of lower golf scores and a better ability to make putts under pressure! The Program begins January 1 and the fee to join is only $25.00 for a 3 month session. We will be crowning a club champion at the end of each session and there will be weekly competitions to keep you focused. This program is absolutely the best training aid for putting so see the pro shop now to join, or join us December 1 in the club's ball room for a free introductory presentation. Discounted appetizers will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Your membership fee includes statistic tracking for your putting both during participation in "The Program" as well as on the golf course and entry in a world wide program where you compete against golfers for prizes and recognition!"
The introductory presentation is your first revenue increase from the program, with the sale of appetizers and beverages you could see a $500.00 revenue injection from each of the four membership meetings; $2000.00 annually!
B. Place signs around the practice green announcing that there will be a Putting Improvement program starting soon. See the pro shop for more details.
C. Create fliers similar to the news blast that can be handed out to each person who visits the pro shop to play golf, buy merchandise, or ask about the program. ( to see a sample brochure click here)
D. Place window decals or fliers around the club in key places such as the locker rooms, on the tables in the restaurant, at the bar etc.
E. Talk it up. The best promotion is for your pro shop staff to talk it up, tell everyone. REMEMBER SIGN 20 MEMBERS and you take in another $2000.00 PER YEAR
F. Appoint a Putting Program chairman or manager who you place in charge of making sure the memberships are sold. Give that person an incentive to sell sell sell!!
STEP 3. SIGN UP MEMBERS AND CREATE THEIR PLAYER STASTIC PROFILE
Collect your designated membership fee from the signing members and obtain their full name and their e mail address. Then go to the home page of the World Putting League: www.worldputtingleague.com and at the top of the page click where it says "Join the World Putting League Now". Then put in all the necessary information for each member. Note you can use your facility address for each member if you do not want to use theirs, HOWEVER you must have their name and e mail address to register them. You can use their e mail address as their user name and their last name as their password. When you get to the affiliate club section enter your facility name, or you can use any name for the program, however it cannot be changed until the end of a session. After you have entered your club name the first time it will show up on the search bar thereafter. IMPORTANT: when signing in your members any typo on the club name will create a new club so use the search bar after your first entry. Pass out to the members usernames and passwords so the can access their player statistics. Remember as we said above 20 memberships per session equals $500.00 per session or $2,000.00 in new revenue per year
STEP 4. NEW MEMBERS RECEIVE WPL GIFT PACKAGE VALUED AT $400.00
When you sign in new members they will automatically receive:
A discount vacation package to Reynolds Plantation on Beautiful Lake Oconee in Central Georgia
A discount vacation package to The Main Street in In picturesque Highlands North Carolina
A certificate for a free WPL Golf Hat
STEP 5. SET A DAY AND TIME FOR THE PROGRAM COMPETITIONS
Set a day or evening and a time for the program competitions. It may be advisable for you to set two days and times per week if your membership is large enough. You want the members to have a selection of times so they can get in their mandatory 5 competitive attested rounds each session.
STEP 6. CREATE A WEEKLY COMPETITION WITH PRIZES FOR 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE.
The competition can be optional and would require a prize pool fee to participate. An acceptable average fee would be $15.00 and all prizes would be golf shop certificates. If you pay out 100% in prizes you still make 55% +/- in profit from the merchandise they choose. 20 x15 = $300.00 per week or $15,600.00 per year x 55% =$8,580.00 in new revenue
STEP 7. SETTING UP THE PROGRAM'S PUTTING COURSE
The WPL Program has 18 predetermined lengths for the holes of the program's course located at the top of each hole on the WPL scorecard. Click here to see and print WPL scorecard. These holes are measured in paces, approximately 3 feet per pace, and it is imperative that the course have the same lengths each week for the 18 holes. NOTE: The holes do not need to be in the same order you can and should change the order on a regular bases for variety but the holes must be the same exact lengths each week. You will note that the front 9 holes are exactly the same lengths as the back nine holes. This is done so facilities with small putting greens can accommodate the course. When laying out the course you can have one, two, or three tee boxes putting to the same hole. Simply put your heal to the cup and pace of the designated distance, then mark the tee area and repeat for all of the holes. The holes must be exactly the same lengths each week in order to create the controlled environment needed so the participants can clearly see that their putting is improving. Until the WPL Program there was no true measure for putting improvement, because if a golfer had 30 putts in his last 18 holes of golf and 36 in his most recent round of golf there was no way to determine if he/she putted better or worse because the putt lengths in each round could not have been exactly the same.
STEP 8. AWARD WEEKLY WINNERS PRIZES
Award the prizes to the weekly winners at the next competition, thus assuring that most participants will return to the next competition. It has been statistically proven that when members visit their club they spend $17.00 on average to purchase items other than greens fees and cart fees so it is your goal to get the members to the club as often as possible.
20 members x $17.00 = $340.00 per week or $17,680.00 in new revenue annually
STEP 9. REPORT SCORES AND POST THE CLUB'S LEADER BOARD.
After each competition have a staff member collect the attested score cards and report all scores. This is done by accessing each players profile using the predetermined username and password, so create a list of all members, their usernames and passwords. Each week you should create a WPL Program Leader Board which can be displayed in the pro shop showing the rankings of all the players and you should copy from the WPL web site your clubs leader board and mail it to all your clients enticing them to get their names on the leader board next session if they are not now participating.
STEP 10. OFFER ONE OR MORE PUTTING CLINICS EACH SESSION
At about the midway point of each session your staff should offer a putting clinic and the members of the WPL Program should receive a discount vs. those who are not members.
A $ 10.00 clinic once per session x 20 members = $200.00 per session or $800.00 annually
STEP 11. SESSION ENDING AWARDS BANQUET
At the end of each session you should have an awards banquet to pass out the award/awards for the members with the lowest putting average. All members putting averages should be mentioned and recognition given to those members who won earned prizes on the WPL World Wide Leader Board. Your clubs overall combined putting average is displayed at the bottom of your facilities leader board and your club will be ranked among all other clubs in the WPL system so if your team is ranked number one in the world you certainly have bragging rights- if you are lower down in the rankings you have a club goal next session!! This banquet should have the same format as the introductory presentation program. Thus generating another $2000.00 in new revenue annually
STEP 12. COUNT THE MONEY!!
Running the WPL Program year round can generate a tremendous amount of revenues. The examples shown above equate to $40,080.00 based on just 20 members. Drive that membership to 60 and you top $100,000.00 annually. You can do it!
STEP 13. REPEAT STEPS 1-10
Towards the end of each session repeat your promotional efforts as outlined above and set a goal to increase membership either from within the club or outside the club, each session.