How we stack up

As we began working on this program, we wanted to make sure there was truly a need. After some market research, here’s how we stack up:

[Our goal is to help people feel confident and comfortable so they can have fun playing golf NOT to get people to buy our program, so if you're looking for suggestion on which golf resources may be right for you, reach out and we're happy to help!]

1. Free online content doesn’t have your best interest in mind.  For example, let’s take a look at Golf Digest’s “Golf Beginner’s Guide.”  This is a 54-page slideshow covering various aspects of golf. It starts by referring you to their top 100 clubfitters (even though a precise club fitting certainly isn’t the first thing I would point out to beginners looking to learn the game).  It also omits any real technical guidance, instead insisting that you take lessons right away and tips on how to find a good teacher (and it of course references and provides links to paid content via Golf Digest Schools to help with this).  Now, this particular slideshow isn’t a bad thing to skim through if you want to start familiarizing yourself with golf - it just doesn’t provide any real substance.   There are a million other examples out there like this and if you want to learn or improve your game, these sort of resources aren’t going to cut it. 
2. A lot of golf resources are limited in scope and overly mechanical.  There are a ton of great resources out there to help you with swing fixes and/or swing mechanics but very few provide a holistic approach, helping you build a solid foundation that goes beyond the swing.  Going back to our Golf Digest Schools example referenced above, this is a subscription program that you can join for $100-$120 per year.  There is a lot of great content on here from some of the most well-know golf instructors but if you take a look at their beginner’s content specifically, its all focused on the golf swing and specific golf shots – i.e. how to max out your driver, making precise strikes, short-game short cuts.  If you already feel comfortable and confident on the golf course, these can be handy.  If not, they can provide too much information, leaving you feeling overwhelmed.  This also holds true for in-person golf lessons – the focus of your lessons will be all about making solid contact, but that will be much harder to do if you lack a consistent process and don’t have the confidence that comes with having a good foundation in place. 
3. Too much information without feedback or interaction can make it tough.  There's certainly no shortage of information out there (googling "how to golf" gives 44 million page results), which can make it difficult and overwhelming to know where to start.  At first glance, you’ll see tons of information on “swing fixes,” “mistakes to avoid,” or “what not to do on the golf course.”  This fear-based approach overcomplicates the game and creates self-doubt (the exact thing we are trying to avoid).  But back to the point at hand:  If you have Internet, you have a ton of golf-related information at your fingertips.  Some free, some not, a lot is contradictory, and none is curated for your specific situation.  There is no direct access to ask questions or checkpoints to make sure you are actually focusing on your needs and applying those tips correctly.  Not only is this overwhelming, but it can also lead to bad habits, frustration, and a short golf career.
4. In-person lessons are pricey and time-consuming.  We’re fans of golf lessons and think they can be very useful.  But at $65 per lesson (the average cost per 30-60 minute lesson), the overall cost is quite high considering you will need quite a few to build a solid foundation.  Another approach is group lessons, which are a little less expensive but lack flexibility when it comes to scheduling.  Also, the overall time commitment for in-person lessons can be challenging regardless of individual/group format.  The approach of different teaching professional can also be a miss so if you go down this route, be sure to get a feel for philosophy and style.  You have to like who you’re working with!

Based on these shortcomings, we felt there was an opportunity to build something new using a different approach…but only if it helps address what people are looking for.  So, in phase two of our market research, we interviewed people.  We chatted with friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers.  Then, we pushed out a survey.  Regardless of the format, the message back was crystal clear: 

People want to improve their game but can't because of a lack of time, cost, or knowing where to start.

At the end of the day, we learned there truly is a need for better online golf assistance that can help people either learn or improve their game on their own time…. and that is what we hope to do! Here’s some more details from the survey along with some of the written responses that have inspired us on this journey. 

Survey Participant Quotes:

“I’ve always wanted to play golf but felt I was out of my league, or now being 31, that I’m too old to learn.  I think it would help me professionally…but is also something I think I’d really enjoy both to compete in and as an escape.  I’d love to be able to play…But I avoid these situations because I don’t know the rules, how to do it, etc." 

“I just want to learn the correct lingo to use on the course so I can sound legit!”

“I hope to play as much as possible, as long as possible, and continue to use it as common ground for friends now and old”

“I played a bit when I was younger [but] with young children and a job, I’ve had no time to continue playing.  As my children grow, I’d love to get better at the basics so we can enjoy time together.”