PGA VP Bishop to highlight benefits of 'Get Golf Ready' on 'The Golf Fix'

PGA of America Vice President Ted Bishop, the PGA general manager and director of golf at Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., is a proud disciple of the “Get Golf Ready” player development movement. Bishop will discuss the program’s value on Monday, May 2, as a guest on Golf Channel’s “The Golf Fix” from 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET. The program is hosted by PGA Professional Michael Breed.

“I think that Get Golf Ready is the most exciting player initiative in my 35 years in the golf industry,” said Bishop, 57, a 1976 graduate of Purdue University, a former Indiana PGA Section president and the 1998 Indiana PGA Golf Professional of the Year. “I’m excited as a facility owner that 84 percent of people who have tried the program are staying in the game.”

Get Golf Ready, begun in 2009 as Play Golf America’s featured introduction to the game, is a five-day program aimed at bringing adults into the game at a fast, fun and affordable way. Over the past two years, more than 34,000 have participated at more than 1,450 host facilities -- including 67 percent public. Most facilities have offered the program for $99, which includes a series of five 1½-hour lessons featuring significant on-course learning opportunities along with background on the Rules of Golf, etiquette, history and values. Following the five-session program, students are offered the opportunity to transition into Get Golf Ready outings and other playing opportunities. Over the past two years, Get Golf Ready has resulted in a $19.9 million impact upon the industry.

“The key thing is that we are promoting fun for the consumer and at a value,” said Bishop. “It is a win-win program for facilities and for golfers.”

Bishop’s enthusiastic support extends into serving as chairman within the Indiana PGA Section, coordinating participating facilities into North, Central and Southern areas of the state.

“Get Golf Ready is adaptable to all kinds of students and facilities also can be flexible in how they want to present the program to meet the needs of their customers,” said Bishop. “In today’s economy, I can think of no better way to get involved in the game.”

Viewers of “The Golf Fix” will be provided with a sampling of Get Golf Ready instruction. The program will be replayed Monday, May 2 from 10:00-11:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 3, from 1:00-2:00 a.m.; and 1:00-1:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 7, from 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; and Sunday, May 8, from 2:00-2:30 p.m. All artimes are ET.

Get Golf Ready (www.PlayGolfAmerica.com/GGR) benefits from unprecedented support and collaboration from the entire industry, including the World Golf Foundation, The PGA of America and other leading national and state golf associations, organizations, manufacturers, media and companies. The industry has committed financial support to help administer the program.