R&A to market the Open more to golf clubs

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir March 16, 2017 12:49

The R&A has said it will market the Open Championship more to golf clubs and general sports fans in an attempt to broaden the game’s appeal.

Chief executive Martin Slumbers believes getting more people to watch the Open, which moved from the BBC to Sky last year, is a similar challenge to increasing golf participation, and clubs can play a key role in aiding this.

“We are going to apply as much 
marketing analysis as we can and I think there is a big short in our relationship with clubs,” he said.

“Certainly if you compare to say tennis, where tennis clubs and Wimbledon have a very close 
connection.

“I think there are many golf clubs who don’t even have the date for the Open Championship in their diary. I’d say there are more of them that don’t have any signage in the club about the Open, and probably more of them who don’t sell tickets. One of the things that we are doing as far as 
marketing is concerned is actually trying to build that connection with clubs.”

Martin Slumbers

Slumbers added that he also wants to raise the profile of the Women’s British Open – and to more than just golfers.

“We talk about golf participation, but getting people to watch golf is also a challenge, and we’ve got to get the right product,” he said.

“The 
people that come and watch the Open, and I would say probably the same for the Women’s Open, tend to be golf clubbers.

“We need to move beyond that to sports lovers, who particularly want to see the very best women play in sport and trying to get an angle from both of those is part of our business plan.”

He also reiterated the need to get more women playing golf.

“I think the growth of the game will be driven by increases in family golf,” he said. “But, if you look at membership here in the UK for women members, they’re about 14 percent of club members. “Countries on the continent where the game is growing, 
it’s in the 30s to 40 percent, and I think that’s a good benchmark for the game to really focus in on. I think women being more active with 
younger people is good for the game.”

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir March 16, 2017 12:49
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2 Comments

  1. ruthgolfer March 28, 18:49

    Excellent. About time the R & A remembered the grass roots golfer. Maybe there could be an incentive scheme for clubs who support the Open. Or perhaps tickets could be offered at a reduced price to volunteers who support golf at grass roots level – and there are many without whom golf would not run.

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  2. Steve March 24, 20:29

    The R and A want to “broaden the appeal”and “getting people to watch golf is a challenge” andThey sold the live rights to Sky knowing there is a much reduced viewer capacity and non golfing audience- then want clubs to engage more!!
    You couldn’t make this up!!
    The growth of the game is getting it into people’s home and available to the widest audience where they can watch, be inspired and then find somewhere to ” Get into Golf”
    Clubs are listening to the County Golf Partnerships and are getting more business orientated – pity the R and A need some lessons in marketing a once universally accessible sport coverage.

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