News
For Coaches Who are Employees, Non-Cash Benefits Finally On the Rise
By Lorin Anderson, Founder As we reported in our 2024 Proponent Group Operations and Compensation Survey results, cash compensation over the past decade has increased for Proponent Group coaches at a slightly higher pace than inflation. Since 2013 our coaches...
On-Course Instruction: Coaches’ Attitudes, Protocols and Strategies
By David Gould, Staff Editor For both the golfer and the teacher, the driving range can be a comfort zone that gets a bit too comfortable. Logic suggests that better on-course performance by the student will almost always require coach and golfer to spend...
Current Tech Usage from our Operations and Compensation Survey
For many years we’ve been tracking our coaches’ technology usage for their businesses. In the recently released 2024 Proponent Group Operations and Compensation Survey we look at six key technology areas: Launch monitors, cameras, video analysis software, lesson...
Are Golf Coaches Part of New-Member Orientation at Clubs?: Exclusive Data Provides Answers
By David Gould, Staff Editor This report was triggered by anecdotes shared by some of our member coaches which turned into the following theory: The introduction of new club members to a golf club’s various departments and amenities has a blind spot—failing to...
New “Employee” Definitions from the Labor Department Leave the Golf Industry Scrambling
By David Gould, Staff Editor A brand-new rule from the U.S. Department of Labor has government officials examining—through a revised legal lens—what many of us would consider to be independent-contractor relationships. Federal officials are seeing employer-employee...
A Deeper Look at Coaches’ Instruction Revenue Sources and Averages
By Lorin Anderson, Founder As has been the case for many years in our annual Operations and Compensation Survey and again in the 2024 results, about half of all coaches’ revenues come from one-on-one private golf lessons. This year’s survey found that 48...
Your Dream Indoor Studio Just Opened for Business—Here Are Seven Commandments to Follow
By David Gould, Staff Editor Ribbon-cutting day marks fulfillment of the plan you came up with for creating your indoor training facility. Now you’re shifting over to execution of your operational plan. Design2Golf, in its 44-page ebook covering this subject,...
From Design2Golf, a Clip-and-Save Checklist for Indoor Golf Projects
Proponent members may recall reading our excerpts from “How to Crush the Indoor Golf Market,” a 44-page ebook produced by partner company Design2Golf. You can access the ebook under the Training Facilities tile on our homepage. But you can also take the valuable...
From Business Startup, to Breakup, to Startup 2.0—A Backyard Golf Academy
By David Gould, Staff Editor For the past five years, Joe Ingoglia has lived a fascinating and disaster-dodging adventure in business-building. In telling the tale, he’s quick to remind himself and others about his ace in the hole—an advantage that is...
Commitment to Tee-to-Green Teaching Keeps “Zach on Course”
by David Gould, Staff Editor His website URL is zachoncourse.com, so you know right away that Proponent Group member Zach Theut is heavy into teaching along the fairways and greens, not just on the practice range. Theut (pronounced “toyt”) has been coaching on his own...