Brett Eaton, the 2014 Pacific Northwest PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Facilities, is the PGA Head Professional at Tacoma (Washington) Country & Golf Club.
Brett Eaton on the importance of promoting walking at your golf facility:
We’ve always had a lot of walkers here at Tacoma Country & Golf Club. Members walk the golf course, the perimeter walking path, community roads and along the lake. As a result, they’re looking for casual activewear, and more so now than ever. I started carrying athletic pieces and a selection of hoodies and T-shirts. We also carry sun protection shawls for walking, golfing and other outdoor activities, beach towels for the pool and lake and water bottles to always stay hydrated on the go. We began carrying Theragun around the holidays in 2021, and the Mini and Elite units sold out quickly. After all, Theragun is for all active people – they use it for their lower back, calves and so much more. I even have friends who use it on their feet, which get sore from walking the golf course. We keep a Theragun Mini behind the counter for demo use so members can feel its effect firsthand. That’s often a huge selling point – try it before you buy it.
Brett Eaton on the business impact of promoting walking at your golf facility:
As you can see, we are a very fitness-conscious facility. We have a fitness center, tennis, pickleball and swimming pool, and 80 percent of our members walk the golf course when they play. Golf ’s a great game for fitness because you’re walking five miles during the average 18-hole round. I recently coached a gentleman who is 70 years old, and we talked about stretching and other exercises that he could do to stay in shape for golf. I mentioned to him as we get older, stretching and exercise assist with flexibility, and are key elements in walking a round of golf. Golfers walking five miles with their golf clubs on their back need to maintain a satisfactory fitness level, and by paying attention to their body, our members will be able to play well into their golden years.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email brett@golftcgc.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.