Nick Hovey

The Impact and Value of Golf Coaching… We contributed to #GatherGolf’s recent white paper ‘What’s the true value of golf instructors?’ Our work with RetailTribe with over 100 clubs has been all about aligning the PGA Professional to the business objectives of clubs and putting the customer front and centre. Using our software we measure the impact and value and have proven this with industry changing results. I believe the industry needs to be bold and change, difficult but very powerful. #golfcoaching #golfbusiness

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As one of the UK’s leading country club owners and operators, The Club Company acquired its 18th country club this week - The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club from local entrepreneur Alan Hardy. Richard Calvert, Chief Executive Officer of The Club Company said: “We are delighted to welcome The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club into The Club Company family.” https://lnkd.in/eDir-icz

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Episode 106: Golf Club Talk UK – with special guest Gavin Dear from Shot Scope. In this clip, Gavin I discuss how golf clubs and memberships alike are evolving in the post COVID era, but also importantly how new members are integrated into clubs. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eGSkBMuA #golfclubs #golfmembership #golfcourse #golfclubmanagement #golfleadership #golfpodcast

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This is an iconic deal in the landscape of English cricket and possibly world cricket. GMR Group and Hampshire County Cricket Club and its assets, currently owned by Rod Bransgrove, have agreed to an aquistion! Rod has been such a huge contributor to the game in the UK. I personally think this deal will be the catalyst to opening the gates to further Indian investment into English cricket (not new news) which points towards a bigger holistic future of players being centrally contracted by franchises (not countries). There will be mixed views on this deal and the the future of state of world cricket. https://lnkd.in/gFKvGPsN

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For a few years now, the landscape in men’s golf has been dominated by the ongoing tussle between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf. It’s hopefully nearing a positive resolution, or at least a stepping stone towards one, where it becomes more than players being paid large chunks of money to choose one side of the fence. While anyone with links to the sport will recognise it’s not a straightforward jigsaw to piece together, or at least for the long term good of the game, the majority of the feedback I hear from friends both in the industry and beyond, is they have or are becoming disengaged with players and events that previously generated interest. In the shadows of these big picture discussions there are events that continue to be captivating. Q-school is one of those. The final stage on the DP World Tour is a 6-round tournament, it never fails to create edge of your seat drama. If you are connected to a player who’s there, particularly one who spends the bulk of the 6-rounds walking the tightrope of safety, it provides the full spectrum of emotions, often in rapid succession. For me this year, that was Eddie Pepperell. It’s his story to tell and one which he will no doubt discuss with Andrew Cotter and Iain Carter on The Chipping Forecast. There are clearly more important events taking place in the world, some of these have also happened in Spain which is why there was a 24 hour delay, but this is real sport. Something to play for, winners and losers, genuinely caring about an outcome. You know you’re fully invested when you’re sitting in a car park pressing refresh on a leaderboard every few seconds. The number of messages I received yesterday confirmed that plenty of others were invested too. Netflix you’re missing a trick.

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NEVER SOLVED HOW TO CONVERT WORD OF MOUTH INTO POTENTIAL NEW CUSTOMERS? I HAVE THE ANSWER I was in mass participation sports events for 25 years (marathons etc) A.S.O. - Amaury Sport Organisation IMG Human Race Ltd A marketing challenge that continually frustrated me was our inability to harness word of mouth #referralmarketing I’m pretty sure you could apply this to all small and medium sized companies with a loyal customer base.  It’s logical that people who had a great experience would tell their friends about it. We just could never harness this loyalty - and capture new customer data.  I HAVE FOUND THE SOLUTION Fanweave.co.uk fanweave I’m helping the great team Simon Bazalgette Paul Fisher Martin Heath and would only recommend if I believed in the product. From my experience of going from start up to a more mature business, Fanweave will be of invaluable use for SMEs from any sector.  What is it? Fanweave’s campaign building tool harnesses word of mouth through unique tracking technology to identify potential new customers. At £49.95/month (and a free 1 month trial) you can - Create marketing campaigns - Share and track across all your social channels - Identify new customers – capture first party data and insight - Grow your database - Grow your business If you have been frustrated by an inability to harness word of mouth - please share and comment so others can benefit also. #ReferralMarketing #Wordofmouth #SaaS #marketing #SME Mat Way Chris Atkinson James Morrison Ian Lulham WeShop Aqeel Raza Bria White-Williams Sara White, MCIM

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In the wake of my post this week on the relationship between #padel and the LTA, can I ask any stakeholders in the UK padel scene who would like to contribute to as well as share their views and experience on the interplay between the sport and the LTA to get in contact with me (publicly or privately). At this stage I want to collect names and understand and coordinate views, whether positive or negative, what should continue, what should change, objectives, timelines, limitations etc. I will try to then coordinate a forum based on that intel to really fine tune the feelings of the group. Ideally we can end that phase with a decision on next steps and any meeting with the LTA. As an aside, if anyone (not necessarily from within padel) has experience of building and standing up a #nationalgoverningbody #NGB in the UK, how to work constructively with UK Sport and Sport England and the relevant #InternationalFederation #IF etc that perspective could be really useful as well. Finally, if you read this and feel someone else should be made aware of this, please feel free to repost or forward.

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Thank you HCM Magazine and Kate Cracknell it was great talking with you about Lift Brands and in particular our significant growth plans for Snap Fitness 24/7 across the globe! If you are interested take a read at the following link, PAGE 38 > https://lnkd.in/enzC5YSQ #growth #gym #franchise #business #invest #business

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We want players who use our products to develop all-around skills and techniques that can help their game in other sports as well as football. This week's Flick Football (Soccer) blog shows how our products can be adapted to those other sports. Perhaps our DSR can help your skills in basketball or tennis? Or our Tekkers Pack could help with Rugby? Our fans across the internet can discover more NOW. #blogcontent #seo #sport #footballflick

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Nothing is Unsustainable A new month and a new article from Golf Finance , where we take an alternative approach to the sustainability game and analyse why inaction is the last thing Golf Clubs should be doing.

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Fhitting Room has closed 3 clubs, citing “aggressive third-party” booking companies - with ClassPass being the main player in this category Very sad to see this as Fhitting Room was one of my favourite New York brands 😞 Their Flatiron club scored five stars in The Fit Guide's evaluation process and we had some great conversations with the team there Like us, they were enthusiastic and excited about the fitness industry learning from hospitality Their team even recommended Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara which became one of my fav business reads! Conditions have certainly been tough in New York... The city got absolutely battered during closures Landlords were notoriously tough And our friends on the ground have said that some New Yorkers' habits had permanently shifted Fhitting Room keeps its Upper West Side studio, so do check them out if you're in New York! 💪🏼 This presents an important question... As the industry evolves, what role is ClassPass playing in the industry? Is their presence, along with other third-party booking companies such as Wellhub, having a positive or negative effect on the industry and your business? I did a podcast on this a while ago. As the industry evolves and shifts, it's a crucial conversation to keep having. Source: Athletech News #thefitguide #fhittingroom #classpass #fitnessindustry #newyork

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Padel is growing and we have a realistic ambition to lead its growth in the UK. There are two strands to our model: 1 - Outdoor canopied sites enjoy lower costs. Rent is dramatically lower, and even after adjusting for the cost of adding canopies our 'all in' annual cost is low enough to give us a significant profit advantage over 'indoor' courts. 2 - Good coaching ensures that new players get the bug. Almost everyone who gets on a padel court has fun. But to get players hooked it is critical to invest in the support to turn an enthusiastic newbie into a regular player. Our investment in outstanding coaching allows us to build a stronger business. We have a model that works and a pipeline that is ready to build out. Come and join us on Crowdcube as we accelerate on our journey. Crowdcube Jacob Symes Daniel Sparkes Jessica Windsor Carson Russell

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I am always surprised by the amounts businesses pay for marketing and advertising... and sponsorship or advertising with a football club has never been a consideration! Even a club like ours, we can deliver an audience in the millions for what is on paper a very small investment! Sport is often either not thought about when choosing a method or too expensive, as it is only the the "big" clubs who can deliver the audience required! We have a video on TikTok which gained over 3million views! #devonbusiness #exeter #exeterbusiness #northdevon #business #football #entertainment #hospitality #digitalmarketing #marketing #socialmedia #branding #advertisingandmarketing

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16.4 million impressions 🥳 The May Data Jam numbers are in for Golf Club Media! As golf season really gets going, we’re seeing another increase in the number of people in clubhouses and most importantly, near our 55” #dooh screens situated in golf clubs across the UK 🏌️‍♂️ 3 key data stats: - 16.4 million impressions delivered - average dwell time of 33 minutes in vicinity of the panels - 1.9 million plays per 4 weeks per slot For our place based #d6 network, we’re delighted with the numbers and is proving real powerful media opportunity for brands out there that are seeking a typical affluent and influential audience 😀 #doohadvertising #ooh #mediabuying #mediaplanning #golf #sportsmarketing #mediacampaign #branding #brandawareness

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Back during the lockdown, while on furlough, I found myself playing golf 3 to 4 times a week. The weather was fantastic, and the courses were in pristine condition. After each round, I would meticulously clean my clubs and grips in the garden using brushes, buckets of water and a bit of Fairy washing-up liquid. This routine continued for a few weeks, but soon, the process became tedious. I noticed my game started to suffer as dirt accumulated in the grooves and my grips lost their tackiness. Curious to find an easier way to maintain my clubs and grips, I turned to the internet. The suggestions ranged from using Cilit Bang to Coca-Cola and even WD-40, but nothing was specifically designed for golfers. Recalling a quote from Ferry Porsche, “I couldn't find the golf cleaner of my dreams, so I decided to build my own,” I approached a friend who is a chemical engineer and explained my vision: a cleaner that could safely and effectively clean golf clubs, grips, and shoes while being environmentally sustainable. Over the next six months, we went through extensive formulation and testing, ultimately leading to the birth of Clean Strike—a product made from natural materials and packaged in a Prevented Ocean Plastic bottle. Clean Strike is Ph 5.5 yet powerful to clean and remove dirt while being safe enough not to damage equipment, the environment or your skin. Yet Clean Strike is more than a cleaner, it helps you get the most out of your equipment while maintaining it properly so that it ultimately lasts longer. As I delved deeper into sustainability in golf, I realised that while some golf courses were making strides, the world of golf brand manufacturers lagged behind. This motivated me to establish a company dedicated to making golf more sustainable. And so, in June 2021, Verta Golf was founded. Now, sitting here in June 2024, I am proud of what I have built. Verta Golf’s Clean Strike is not only available through our direct-to-consumer channels but is also gaining traction with retailers. I have assembled a team of advisors who have helped us craft a growth strategy, and we are now looking forward to the next 3-5 years, expanding our product line to promote sustainability and the opportunity in sports beyond just golf. The past three years have been challenging but incredibly rewarding. Thank you to all our customers, advisors, followers, family and my amazing Wife, who have supported me and Verta Golf since launch. I can’t wait to show you what we have planned next in what will be an exciting era for Verta Golf. We are gearing up to pitch to investors in July 2024. If you’re interested in seeing our pitch, please DM me or email me at [email protected] Thank you, Adam – Founder, Verta Golf #FounderStory #FlashbackFriday #HumbleBeginnings

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We at Sports Business Journal put together a list of sports venue-adjacent mixed-use development Power Players - take a look at some of the key figures in this huge trend that is enveloping sports right now: https://lnkd.in/e7Sbrc3Z

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TEAMcard and Silverstone Circuit agree new expanded venue-wide partnership Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motorsport and host venue to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix has renewed with TEAMcard in an expanded agreement that will cover access control, accreditation, visitor management and verification services for the entire 155-acre site. Silverstone partnered with TEAMcard for venue access control in 2021, setting the foundations for a successful partnership that saw two record-breaking summers for racing fans entering the circuit. Matthew Evans, Business Systems Manager at Silverstone, said: "Working with TEAMcard has been a real game-changer for us. We have a whole host of different events that take place across the year attracting all sizes of crowds, from domestic race meetings to major events like Silverstone Festival, MotoGP and Formula 1. Regardless of the event size, the TEAMcard access control solution works seamlessly every time – we know we can really trust it." Now moving towards a third year in partnership, Silverstone have expanded their relationship with TEAMcard by activating the use of additional modules in the TEAMcard product stack – Accreditation, Visitor Management and Verification. These new modules will allow Silverstone to organise, manage and record the movements of every person arriving at the circuit, 365 days a year from a single system. Mike McEachern, Head of IT at Silverstone, said: "Working closely with everyone at TEAMcard has allowed us to better understand the wider product stack, and how their other solutions could work alongside access control to benefit our whole business. Stacking other modules like accreditation, visitor management and verification is allowing us to streamline more processes, collect better data and create better customer experiences across the board." For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/ervmHCmi #accesscontrol #accreditation #eventindustry #eventsindustry #eventmanagement #formula1 #f1 #sportbiz #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #Silverstone Daniel Huson Lee Howkins James Holifield Stephane Bazire Ben Phillips Robert Byrne Victor Leitch Josh Whittaker-Vyse Jean-Francoys Brousseau #sportsvenuebusiness #sportsvenuebiz #svblive Sports Venue Business SVB LIVE Cassandra Calleja

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