5 Things GolfTEC is Thankful for in 2012

GolfTEC Staff

Thanksgiving—a day when families get together for turkey, stuffing, and family fun. But most importantly, Thanksgiving is a day that reminds us to reflect on our good fortunes and give thanks for all of the blessings in our life.

At GolfTEC, we’ve experienced another outstanding year of helping golfers improve their game, and it is only fitting that we take a step back and remember how thankful we are to do what we do on a daily basis.

While the list could certainly go on for quite a while, we’ve taken the time to reflect on five things that we are most thankful for this year.

Exciting 2012 PGA Tour

From Rory McIlroy’s rise to stardom to a Ryder Cup finish that will never be forgotten, it certainly was an exciting year on the PGA Tour. The recurring Sunday meltdowns brought Ernie Els and Keegan Bradley improbable victories.

GolfTEC COO and Co-Founder Mike Clinton particularly enjoyed the excitement surrounding the Majors. “The Majors were especially exciting to me. It was so fun to watch Ernie Els claim another British Open and who can forget Bubba’s amazing recovery shot in the playoffs at Augusta?” said Clinton.  “And, we capped the year with one of the most exciting comebacks in Ryder Cup history.”

Golf 2.0

For those unfamiliar with this industry initiative, Golf 2.0 is a strategic plan by the PGA of America to grow the game of golf. It focuses on retaining and strengthening the core golfers, engaging lapsed golfers, and recruiting new golfers to the sport.

GolfTEC President and CEO, Joe Assell, is one of many thousands of firm believers and supporters of the initiative in the industry. “As a PGA Member, and participant on many committees with the PGA of America, I’m especially thankful that so many people are dedicated to growing the game of golf,” said Assell. “At GolfTEC, we help players stay active for a lifetime of better golf. It’s wonderful to work in an industry that helps so many people get the most out of life.”

Expanding Demographics

This year, we witnessed a historic change at one the world’s most exclusive golf clubs, as Augusta National invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become the first female members of the club. In addition, various organizations, such as The First Tee, and the PGA Junior League Golf, continue to target the youth and junior demographic.

Mike Clinton could not be happier about the embracement of these groups. “Sometimes people consider golf to be too elitist. It’s so exciting to see our industry embrace new audiences and introduce new ways for people to enjoy the game,” Clinton said.

Advances in Equipment

2012 was yet another year with tremendous improvements and advancements in golf equipment. Among the advancements is the “slot technology” incorporated into fairway woods that increases ball speed and thinner/hotter faced irons that improve distance. In addition, manufacturers continue to make advancements in creating lightweight shafts.

“Let’s face it, golf may be simple, but it sure isn’t easy!” said Joe Assell. “We do our part to help people get more enjoyment from their time on the course, but the equipment being invented these days is amazing in helping players of all abilities have fun.”

GolfTEC Coaches/Customers

Last, but certainly not least, GolfTEC could not exist and flourish without our coaches and, most importantly, our GolfTEC Players. GolfTEC Coaches across the country continue to develop their teaching skills day in and day out. In fact, 11 of our GolfTEC coaches received industry awards this year. At the heart of it all though is a customer base that is willing to trust us and allow us to do what we love to do. Their dedication to improvement and a passion for the game of golf coupled with the best coaches in the country led to 4,722 customers reaching a GolfTEC Wall of Fame in the last 12 months.

“I’m amazed at the work done by our Coaches every day,” said Joe Assell. “I constantly receive emails from our clients telling their personal story and how much it means to them that they have improved their golf game. It truly means a lot to me that our Coaches share a passion for helping players improve.”

Mike Clinton could not agree more with Joe. “We wouldn’t be here if golfers didn’t have a burning desire to improve. For many of us, the struggle is what drives us and keeps the fire burning on the golf course,” he said. “We are proud to have helped so many thousands of golfers reach their goals and we look forward to helping many more moving forward.”

As 2012 comes to an end, we expect 2013 to be an even better year for the game of golf and we look forward to continue working with all of our clients in helping them play better golf!