Tuesday, July 03, 2007

State-of-the-Art Golf Center

We issued our first press release today, and I gave my first interview related to Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo! The Record tracked me down early this morning.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2007
Play Golf All Year Long in Southern Ontario Parmasters announces the opening of state-of-the-art Golf Center

July 3, 2007, KITCHENER-WATERLOO – Parmasters is pleased to be opening the first of five golf centers in Southern Ontario at Kitchener’s Market Square, 100 King Street East, at the corner of King and Frederick Streets. This location will open this winter with other sites in London, Windsor, Chatham-Kent and Cambridge to follow soon.

Typically, a Parmasters Golf Training Center is 12,000 to 15,000 square-feet and is “the ultimate golf training and practice facility” offering a climate-controlled, indoor golfers haven and an affordable, non-intimidating alternative to the traditional, typically expensive teaching methods that guarantees a 25 per cent reduction in handicap.

This center will feature 5 state-of-the art golf simulators, 2 or more fluency bays (with an automatic tee that tees up a ball every 1.5 seconds), other driving bays such as fairway bunker, uneven lies long game areas, a pro shop, a golf fitness area, and a 4,000 sq. ft. indoor undulating green surrounded by rough and bunkers for short game practice. Parmasters Golf Training Centers have been designed to have the look and feel of a high-end clubhouse including food and beverage service in the Company’s “Links Golf Café”.

A 2006 Ipsos Reid poll indicated that Canadians spent a total of $11.23 billion in 2005 on green fees, membership, equipment and apparel and also indicated that 5.95 million Canadians participated in the sport in 2005, representing a 21.6 per cent increase from 2001.

In summarizing the poll results, Ipsos Reid senior vice president, Amanda Maltby said: "The game is in good health…I'm not in the industry but looking at it from a research perspective . . . we're seeing very robust growth.”

“I’m excited and the timing couldn’t be better for opening a Parmasters Golf Center,” says Stephen Southern, President, Parmasters Southern Ontario. “And with support from the Canadian Regional Franchisor of Parmasters Golf Training Centers we hope to pre-sell a target 750 Charter Memberships prior to opening.”

As an entrepreneur and former sales and marketing professional, Stephen’s broad business knowledge, his strong customer service orientation, his leadership and team building skills, as well as his commitment to sales and marketing fundamentals, will all serve him well as Southern Ontario Area Developer for Parmasters Golf Training Centers.

To date, eighty-three franchises and eight regional franchises have been awarded. The first location, a 25,000 sq. ft. center in Memphis Tennessee opened in June 2006, and the first international centre in Guangzhou, China in April, 2007. The opening of 12 additional golf training centers and 20 Links Golf Cafes are planned by April, 2008. In Canada, 27 franchises have been awarded to date, with further opportunities in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec.

Tom Matzen, an international speaker and best-selling author, founder and past CEO of Entrepreneur Coach Inc., together with Scott Hazledine, a Class A PGA member, Master Teacher, and Master Player, recognized the growth in golf and teamed up to form Parmasters in 1999.

Parmasters is optimistic about its future as an indoor golf training center because new golfers want to learn, they want to improve and they want to look good on the fairway. Parmasters primary focus is offering one-on-one golf skills training. This training will differentiate itself by its fun and easy format, guaranteed results and an overall goal of increasing each attendee's passion and excitement for the game of golf.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Steve. Like the article and look forward to hearing more.

Kevin