Nick Moran, General Manager at Burhill Golf Club, explains how golf facilities can appeal to families during the summer holidays.
With the golf season in full swing, now more than ever is the best time to think about engaging and entertaining golfers. In particular, the six weeks of summer holidays means busy families are seeking ways to engage and entertain young people.
We sat down with Nick Moran, General Manager at Burhill Golf Club in Surrey, to establish some tips to bring families to your facility throughout the summer.
“At Burhill Golf Club we have a summer programme of activities scheduled to attract interest to the game of golf and deliver fun, family-focused events in a safe and welcoming environment,” he said. “The camps and other events help to create long term interest in our great game. The camps sit alongside a full and active programme of Junior Golf through our capacity level membership scheme.”
Junior Camps
Junior camps run for four weeks from 29th July. Three-hour junior camps take place for three consecutive days midweek and are aimed at 8–15-year-olds, to bring on all areas of their game and ease them into the next stage of their personal journey in golf. The club professionals manage all abilities to ensure that there is an inclusive approach for all players to enjoy.
Tots on the Tees
To encourage the very youngest players, our coaching team has developed a ‘Tots on the Tees’ programme that runs for two hours on a Thursday afternoon aimed at 4–7-year-olds. One of the best additions to these camps is handing out ice-cold lollies! We all enjoy ice cream, so one of my favourite things to do on a hot day is drive around the course or walk down to the range to surprise golfers with ice-cold lollies! It doesn’t require much effort and the cost is limited!
Putting Green Challenges
Burhill is blessed with two championship courses and excellent practice and short game facilities – both covered and open air – and our team of friendly professionals are on-hand to provide group coaching and individual lessons to local people keen to take up or develop their skills and love for the sport of golf.
Club nights, supported by our excellent Junior Organiser and other volunteers bring both elite juniors and improving players together. We are so thankful that the elite players make themselves available to ‘give a bit back’ to help younger or developing players just as they were supported a few years earlier. This symbiotic relationship ensures the future of the club and the game of golf as a whole.
On-course competitions
This August, Burhill’s club calendar includes a Junior Open on 28th August and a Robert Rock Junior Golf Tour event. Alongside, Stoneham, Frilford Heath and The Belfry, Burhill Golf Club is hosting one of the Robert Rock ‘Majors’ on 21st August and we are very excited about staging the event.
This summer we are delighted to host other mixed, fun and friendly events organised for more able and competitive players including our historic ‘Burhill Family Foursomes’ – a mixed generation, 36-hole competition that was first played in 1937. This takes place on August 15th, in addition to The Don Vincent Trophy, which allows any family pairing including in-laws and stepchildren if the pair are at last a generation apart.
Off the course!
Family golf and a visit to Burhill doesn’t always need to involve playing or practicing – we are hosting our members band – Perfect Lie – to play on the terrace on 26th July and this club event truly brings families and club members from all walks of life together for a social evening while the sun goes down. For more established players and junior club members we have a very popular ‘Junior Club Night’ that runs on Friday evenings and takes the form of group coaching, a fun few holes or practice area competition followed by a social evening, drinks and, most importantly a bowl of Cheesy Chips to finish!
Staying Hydrated: In periods of extreme heat, above 30 degrees, we often leave Eskys full of ice-cold bottled water for golfers to enjoy!
