Hayling Golf Club Media Day: Showcasing a Premier Links Experience
A media day held at Hayling Golf Club earlier this week served as a spotlight on this historic Hampshire venue, drawing attention from industry professionals across the golfing landscape. The event was designed to showcase the club’s rich offerings, aiming to widen its recognition as a premier links golf destination on the south coast.
Collaboration with Legacy Golf Advisors
The media day was organized in collaboration with Legacy Golf Advisors, a consultancy firm that has been instrumental in driving the club’s recent initiatives. Invitations were extended to a diverse group of professionals within the golf industry, including media representatives, golf tourism experts, and club management stakeholders. This strategic approach was intended to maximize outreach and ensure that the message about Hayling Golf Club resonated across multiple sectors.
Renewed Vision for Hayling Golf Club
Steve Slinger, who took on the role of General Manager at Hayling Golf Club at the start of last year, noted, “We recognized that Hayling had not been receiving adequate recognition as a premier links golf destination. Our goal is to address this perception and effectively communicate that Hayling offers a high-quality links golf experience.” This renewed vision aims to enhance the club’s reputation and attract more visitors eager to experience its unique golfing environment.
Embracing Multi-Channel Strategies
Stuart Gillett from Legacy Golf Advisors highlighted the necessity of adopting a multi-faceted approach to reach a broader audience. He stated, “We are very conscious that to spread the message and tell the story now requires a multi-channelled approach.” This includes engagement with emerging social media personalities, traditional golf media, and professionals in golf tourism. Gillett emphasized the evolving nature of the golfing landscape, reinforcing the importance of modernizing their outreach strategy.
A Competitive Day on the Links
The media day featured forty golfers competing in teams of four over the championship layout, measuring 6,527 yards. The winning team comprised Mike Harris, Callum Austin, Chris Lomas, and Sam Jones, celebrating their victory in style.
Celebrating Hayling’s Transformation
Post-event, Mike Harris, co-founder of the marketing and PR agency The Loop, praised Hayling’s remarkable evolution. “What a great day at Hayling – it really is a wonderful, pure links on the south coast,” he remarked. Having visited the club over the past two decades, Harris noted significant improvements under the direction of course manager Graeme Roberts and General Manager Steve Slinger. He praised the commitment to maintaining the course’s integrity while enhancing its overall playability.
Attention to Detail
Harris particularly noted the meticulous attention to detail evident in the presentation of the tees, greens, approaches, and bunkers. “The combination of sharp yet genuine links-style presentation and the stunning natural duneland that offers spectacular vistas makes for a memorable golfing experience,” he stated. Off the course, he also commended the club’s renewed hospitality, contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere that enhances visitor experiences.
Growing Popularity and Membership
The popularity of Hayling Golf Club continues to rise, with membership now fully subscribed across all categories. Slinger attributed this growth to an increased awareness of the club’s high-quality links course, especially among golfers from southwest London. "Hayling is just 52 miles from the M25 and a short drive from the M27, making it an excellent option for a day out,” he explained.
Strategic Pricing and Visitor Experience
One of Slinger’s first initiatives upon assuming his role was to reassess the pricing structure for non-member golf. Collaborating with Legacy Golf Advisors, they developed a cohesive strategy to enhance visitor revenue streams. This included opening online tee bookings and optimizing available tee times while maintaining value for existing members. “These changes have had a significant impact on the business and will help develop exciting long-term investment opportunities,” Slinger remarked.
Future Investments
Looking forward, Hayling Golf Club is set to implement a master plan with the renowned golf course design firm Mackenzie & Ebert. Focused on further enhancing the practice facilities, the club is committed to an ongoing process of improvement to ensure the Hayling experience remains at the forefront of golfing excellence.
Through these transformative initiatives and a unified vision, Hayling Golf Club is well positioned on the path towards solidifying its status as a premier golfing destination.