ONTARIO, CA – The Southern California PGA has officially launched a groundbreaking member benefit program that is exclusively available to SCPGA Members and provides access to negotiated pricing across a wide range of business categories. The SCPGA Club Co-Op program is available at no charge to the Section’s 1,500-plus golf professionals as part of the Association’s benefit to the membership. According to SCPGA Executive Director & CEO, Nikki Gatch, PGA, the program has been in development for more than a year and will offer significant savings and concierge-level service to the people responsible for the day-to-day operations of golf and country clubs.“We are always exploring ways to enhance the value and benefits to our section membership,” says Gatch. “That effort has increased in response to the challenges brought on by the pandemic, particularly when it comes to saving money and time, as well as increasing efficiency and productivity. The Club Co-Op program will launch with a solid group of participating vendors, which will broaden as the year goes on.”SCPGA members, she adds, are not obligated to use any of the goods and services in the Club Co-Op. Program participants will be accessible to members through a dedicated page on the SCPGA.com/Co-Op web site. Several vendors are positioned to offer negotiated pricing on everyday costs, including food and non-food services, that can translate into six- and seven-figure annual savings.“One of the key features of the program is that our members will have the name, number and email of a contact person at the companies in the Co-Op,” says SCPGA Executive Director Emeritus, Tom Addis III, PGA . “So however you are comfortable making inquiries or shopping for ‘deals,’ you know you will be communicating with a person who can answer questions and directly address a club and facilities’ unique needs.”The Club Co-Op administrator is Neil Hirsch, who has more than three decades of experience in the Group Purchasing space. Hirsch has run successful programs in the health-club and community college markets, bringing the buying power of large corporations to small- and medium-sized companies. The concept of Group Purchasing is hardly new, he points out, but within the context of the golf business—and as part of an existing member benefit package—it offers some eye-opening possibilities.The Club Co-Op is now available to SCPGA Members in the link below with participants in categories ranging from maintenance supplies and event signage to club leasing/financing and cyber security—in addition to the aforementioned food and non-food services. Plans to expand the program in 2023 include the addition of tailored insurance products, private-label apparel, and marketing and public relations services. Additional details and periodic updates to the Club Co-Op program will be communicated through regular communication to the membership, including email, Member2Member, and webinars.
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA
The Southern California Section was established in 1924 and today is comprised of nearly 1,700 golf Professionals working at over 500 facilities within the Section. The mission of the Southern California Section (SCPGA) mirrors the purpose of the PGA of America: To promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry. For more information on the Southern California PGA, visit scpga.com, follow @scpga on Twitter, Instagram, and find us on Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Bryce Seiver, Communications & Marketing Director | Southern California PGA
951-331-4714 bseiver@pgahq.com
