I meant this light, good news for you this Friday. I have just received the schedule of the 2022 Trilby Tour. Since the acquisition of the Trilby Tour by Darwin Escapes in 2021 we can see some major changes:
- TV production for the Trilby Tour’s anticipated return to Sky Sports;
- Clothing supplied by Glenmuir for competitors.
2022 Trilby Tour – Schedule
The 2022 Trilby Tour will be played across a series of venues in the Home Counties and the north of England and Scotland, with the best players from each Championship event making it to the Grand Final in September at the recently upgraded Dundonald Links, Darwin Escapes’ flagship course, where a field of 60 will tee it up.
The three-month schedule begins on June 13 with the Trilby Tour Championship of Oxfordshire at The Springs Resort & Golf Club before heading to Carus Green on June 27 for The Trilby Tour Championship of Cumbria.
Next up comes the Trilby Tour Championship of Yorkshire at Kilnwick Percy on July 4 and the Trilby Tour Championship of Ayrshire at Dundonald Links on August 15, with the top 15 players from each event – 10 men and five women – returning to Ayrshire to compete in The Grand Final on September 19.
Gifts, benefits & the prize
Players will receive an array of attractive benefits as part of the reduced entry fee of £260 including
- Glenmuir clothing,
- a practice round, food and prizes on the day and a voucher booklet for special offers at Darwin Escapes’ golf venues,
- plus the chance to feature on Sky Sports who will be broadcasting all the events in a highlights package.
Golf participation in the UK in 2021
Thanks to the positive ‘side-effect’ of the pandemic golf participation have reached heights in the UK as well. In May 2021, the R&A published its participation report.
The report found:
- The total number of people taking to the links increased by 2.1 million to 5.2 million (+61%).
- Of these golfers, 36% identified as returning or new golfers – with 16% of players starting or trying golf for the first time because of the pandemic.
- The average age of golfers fell by five years to 41, with the majority of new golfers aged under 55.
- 25% of female golfers were new to the sport – and tried it for the first time because of the pandemic,
- Driving range use increased from 2.3 million to 4.3 million players.
- Golfers who only used Par 3 courses more than doubled, and those who only played on pitch and putt courses more than tripled.
- The data showed a whopping increase in clubs that now have a waiting list with 60% confirming one now in place, compared to just 22% in 2019.
It is wise to understand if we want to utilize the growth in golf participation, we should plan for the future. How we will keep up the excitement and engagement when we can return to normal life after the pandemic?
This new normal will not be the same as before the pandemic. We can already see major changes in consumer behavior. I saw in Hubspot and McKinsey reports that 76% of people have already tried new purchasing behavior. This is just one example.
Hence, I recommended earlier to develop a post-purchase program for golf club members to be able to retain them and increase their customer lifetime value.