Cambridge, Mass. – Two programs that are purpose-built to serve PGA golf professionals have been united in a new partnership with the addition of OpenRounds to the PGA of America’s much-admired Golf Retirement Plus™. Further, the PGA of America and OpenRounds have established exclusive access available for PGA Professionals to accompany their valued guests at OpenRounds’ partnered private golf courses.
Established as a member benefit in 1997, Golf Retirement Plus™ harnesses the commercial power of golf shop merchandising to help PGA Professionals build financial security in retirement. Currently, GRP has over 6,000 enrollees and a roster of 30 contributing sponsors, comprised of leading golf companies.
Highly appealing products and enduring business success are requirements for inclusion in the program, which is comprised of leading equipment, apparel, and footwear companies. OpenRounds creates a new opportunity by extending a benefit to PGA professionals beyond purchasing and reselling goods and services. It’s a golf experience facilitator that professionals can use to manage outside guest play if their club partners with OpenRounds, and thereby earn contributions to their Golf Retirement Plus accounts.
“GRP has historically provided an effective mechanism for PGA Professionals to better enhance their retirement savings. “The duality of service that OpenRounds is providing to PGA Professionals brings a new dimension to GRP. OpenRounds provides a unique benefit for PGA golf professionals, in that they can earn royalties based on utilizing the OpenRounds services to create greater value and benefit for their club members and generate additional revenue for their facility,” said Dan Baker, Senior Director of Industry Partnerships for the PGA.
Jon Wyeth, OpenRounds’ CEO, outlined the partnership: “A GRP-enrolled professional working at an OpenRounds-partner club is eligible for a 10 percent share of guest-fee revenue generated from bookings through the platform. Separately, for example, a PGA golf instructor or coach could bring three students to a prestigious private club using the OpenRounds platform, and receive 5 percent of their group’s guest fees.”
OpenRounds launched in 2014 as a solution to the myriad challenges of arranging reciprocal play among member-only golf clubs. “PGA Professionals had the insights and experience necessary to guide us through construction of OpenRounds’ architecture,” said Wyeth. “We couldn’t have done it without them, which is why it’s been so rewarding to see all the difficulties and distractions we’ve helped them avoid. The OpenRounds platform and concierge service is our original service to the PGA member—our role in funding direct incentives via GRP and in accompanying groups is a second service we’re now able to provide.”
About OpenRounds
OpenRounds is a platform launched in 2014 for private golf clubs and their members, serving the nuanced demands of private golfers while working with PGA Professionals to manage the platform according to club standards. Served by a readily-available and knowledgeable concierge team, and designed according to industry direction, the company’s platform is based on understanding the unique needs of each golf club and orchestrating enviable experiences. The company provides an end-to-end platform for a growing roster of 34,000 vetted private-club households to browse 500+ partnered clubs nationwide, streamlining learning about new courses through payment and itinerary.
Contact:
Tyler Edwards, Partnership Manager
tedwards@openrounds.com
