Norwalk, Connecticut, United States: PGA Show Connects – a year-round, interactive virtual community of premium golf industry content, digital business sourcing and professional networking programmes – will present a free webinar addressing how the industry can physically accommodate the surge of new and returning golfers.

To be held on October 20 (2 pm Eastern Time), the ‘Where Do We Put All These New Golfers?’ webinar is presented by the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and features ASGCSA President Forrest Richardson and Past President Jan Bel Jan.

In the past six months, golf has attracted many new players, due in part to its outdoor environment, with physical distancing a natural part of the game. This complimentary webinar will address how PGA Professionals and golf facility operators can introduce all that golf has to offer to new players, while continuing to host experienced golfers, who are playing more rounds.

The ASGCA will share best practices to attract repeat players and increase facility revenue, by making the best use of facility grounds to accommodate clinics, lessons and camps dedicated to newcomers, and appealing to golfers of all levels.

Bel Jan is the immediate Past President of the ASGCA. A Pittsburgh native, she has grown up with the game as her father, George Bel Jan, was a long-time golf professional/superintendent and three uncles also were career PGA Professionals.

She spent 20 years in a senior position with Tom Fazio, focusing on golf course design, construction and project management. Her experience as a registered landscape architect, certified arborist and former assistant superintendent has provided her with a unique outlook on the playability, strategy, ecology, economics and aesthetics of golf courses.

Richardson, current ASGCA President, studied golf course architecture in Scotland and has designed courses across the United States and served clients in Mexico, Central America, Canada, Russia and throughout Europe. He specialises in the reconfiguration and transformation of existing courses, with the end goal of finding new sources of revenue, while significantly lowering cost.

The author of five books, Richardson is a member of the USGA Museum Committee and is actively involved around the world as a speaker, contributor and evaluator for golf courses and their owners.

The ‘Where Do We Put All These New Golfers?’ webinar is part of the PGA Show Connects series of webinars, which provides free access to live and on-demand education and insights from industry leaders.

Participants are able to connect directly to webinar speakers with question and answer sessions and real-time polling, accessible on any browser and any device.

Full details and complimentary industry registration are available at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects