Don't be led by the lowest priced golf insurance
If someone on the street was trying to sell you their product priced
around £30, was already offering you a 25-30% discount PLUS they were
willing to give you other products worth up to £550 how would you feel?
Suspicious? We would be too. Unfortunately these are the kinds of
marketing messages you’ll be bombarded with when comparing golf
insurance providers. OUR FIRST BIT OF ADVICE: Always read the
policy small print; check there’s adequate cover; don’t be afraid to
ring the provider and ask about the policy cover. "Cheapest" has never been used as a byword for quality or value for money.
When and where you and your equipment are covered is essential.
We know of three providers that don’t (or won’t) cover your equipment
being stolen from your locked vehicle overnight or between the hours of
10pm and 8am. Does that mean car crime doesn't happen during the hours
of darkness?! Coincidence that these are the cheapest golf insurance policies available?
Why buy an insurance policy that doesn’t give you the cover you need?
We know it sounds ridiculous but so many people just look at the lowest
priced premium and don’t read the detail of the actual insurance cover
provided. At Golfplan we do things differently, our focus has always
been on providing a superior level of care and customer service along
with comprehensive policies, so you know
exactly what you’re paying for.
Here's some of the cover you should look out for when comparing golf insurance providers:
BRAND NEW replacement “like-for-like” clubs regardless of age at time of loss
BUGGY COVER for theft, loss or damage and Public Liability
PUBLIC LIABILITY to £5 million
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE to £2 million
24-HOUR EQUIPMENT COVER includes theft from an unattended car boot, or someone else’s car boot
IN-HOUSE equipment claim settlements via a network of over 2000 PGA golf
professional outlets within 5 working days of notification
NO PREMIUM INCREASE or cover restriction after claim settlement
NO POLICY EXCESS for total loss equipment claims
PREMIUM DISCOUNTS for juniors, partners, families and seniors
IMMEDIATE COVER 24/7
You can get a free golf insurance quote online in minutes
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Monday, 14 May 2012
2012 Golf "Rich List"
Rory McIlroy, the 23-year-old Northern Ireland
golfer who won the 2011 US Open, has already amassed a fortune worth
£11m, according to the third annual Sunday Times Sport Rich List
published in a special supplement free with The Sunday Times on 6 May.
McIlroy is one of 12 golfers to feature in The Sunday Times Sport Rich
List 2012, which profiles the 100 wealthiest sportsmen in Britain and
Ireland. Last year, McIlroy only featured in the list of wealthy young
sportsmen, aged 30 and under, with a £7m fortune. The 2012 Golf Rich
List is headed by Sir Nick Faldo, worth £34m, who is estimated to have
added £2m to his fortune in the last year, after tax, from television
commentary, golf course design and sponsorship deals.Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke have each seen their golf fortunes fall by £6m after they lost money by jointly buying a 10-seater Challenger 601 jet at the top of the market and selling at the bottom.
Of course, the wealth of the golfing elite far outweighs anything most of us ordinary golfers will earn (but we all hope for a Lottery win!). One thing golfers do have in common is their golf equipment. Most of us have accumulated a wealth of equipment over the years - whether we've invested in it via hard work, savings, an impulse purchase or as a result of a windfall - we do INVEST in it. It's something we should cherish, after all, we play the game for enjoyment and our golfing equipment helps elevate that enjoyment. That's part of the reason we should all add the best golf insurance we can afford to our shopping lists. Specialist golf insurance is something that many golfers don't consider - certainly not at the time of purchasing golf equipment. BUT WE ALL SHOULD.
Don't assume you're covered by other insurance policies - even if they are specifically for golf.
For example, don’t assume your home insurance covers your golfing equipment. Unless you’ve paid extra for specific cover, most home insurance policies offer restricted cover for your golf equipment and you may not be covered for sporting related injury. If you’re paying extra for specific golf insurance via your home insurance provider you may be paying significantly more in premiums than the cost of the most comprehensive golf insurance policy.
When and where you and your equipment are covered is essential.
We know of three providers that don’t (or won’t) cover your equipment being stolen from your locked vehicle overnight or between the hours of 10pm and 8am. Does that mean car crime doesn't happen during the hours of darkness?!
Don't be led by the lowest priced golf insurance
If someone on the street was trying to sell you their product priced around £30, was already offering you a 25-30% discount PLUS they were willing to give you other products worth up to £550 how would you feel? Suspicious? We would be too. Unfortunately these are the kinds of marketing messages you’ll be bombarded with when comparing golf insurance providers. OUR FIRST BIT OF ADVICE: Always read the policy small print; check there’s adequate cover; don’t be afraid to ring the provider and ask about the policy cover. "Cheapest" has never been used as a byword for quality or value for money.
Why buy an insurance policy that doesn’t give you the cover you need? We know it sounds ridiculous but so many people just look at the lowest priced premium and don’t read the detail of the actual insurance cover provided. At Golfplan we do things differently, our focus has always been on providing a superior level of care and customer service along with comprehensive policies so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Here's some of the cover you should look out for when comparing golf insurance providers:
BRAND NEW replacement “like-for-like” clubs regardless of age at time of loss
BUGGY COVER for theft, loss or damage and Public Liability
PUBLIC LIABILITY to £5 million
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE to £2 million
24-HOUR EQUIPMENT COVER includes theft from an unattended car boot, or someone else’s car boot
IN-HOUSE equipment claim settlements via a network of over 2000 PGA golf professional outlets within 5 working days of notification
NO PREMIUM INCREASE or cover restriction after claim settlement
NO POLICY EXCESS for total loss equipment claims
PREMIUM DISCOUNTS for juniors, partners, families and seniors
IMMEDIATE COVER 24/7
You can get a free golf insurance quote online in minutes
The Sunday Times Sport Rich List 2012 is compiled by Philip Beresford and Alastair McCall and is edited by Ian Coxon.
Don't assume you're covered by other insurance policies - even if they are specifically for golf.
For example, don’t assume your home insurance covers your golfing equipment. Unless you’ve paid extra for specific cover, most home insurance policies offer restricted cover for your golf equipment and you may not be covered for sporting related injury. If you’re paying extra for specific golf insurance via your home insurance provider you may be paying significantly more in premiums than the cost of the most comprehensive golf insurance policy.
When and where you and your equipment are covered is essential.
We know of three providers that don’t (or won’t) cover your equipment being stolen from your locked vehicle overnight or between the hours of 10pm and 8am. Does that mean car crime doesn't happen during the hours of darkness?!
Don't be led by the lowest priced golf insurance
If someone on the street was trying to sell you their product priced around £30, was already offering you a 25-30% discount PLUS they were willing to give you other products worth up to £550 how would you feel? Suspicious? We would be too. Unfortunately these are the kinds of marketing messages you’ll be bombarded with when comparing golf insurance providers. OUR FIRST BIT OF ADVICE: Always read the policy small print; check there’s adequate cover; don’t be afraid to ring the provider and ask about the policy cover. "Cheapest" has never been used as a byword for quality or value for money.
Why buy an insurance policy that doesn’t give you the cover you need? We know it sounds ridiculous but so many people just look at the lowest priced premium and don’t read the detail of the actual insurance cover provided. At Golfplan we do things differently, our focus has always been on providing a superior level of care and customer service along with comprehensive policies so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Here's some of the cover you should look out for when comparing golf insurance providers:
BRAND NEW replacement “like-for-like” clubs regardless of age at time of loss
BUGGY COVER for theft, loss or damage and Public Liability
PUBLIC LIABILITY to £5 million
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE to £2 million
24-HOUR EQUIPMENT COVER includes theft from an unattended car boot, or someone else’s car boot
IN-HOUSE equipment claim settlements via a network of over 2000 PGA golf professional outlets within 5 working days of notification
NO PREMIUM INCREASE or cover restriction after claim settlement
NO POLICY EXCESS for total loss equipment claims
PREMIUM DISCOUNTS for juniors, partners, families and seniors
IMMEDIATE COVER 24/7
You can get a free golf insurance quote online in minutes
The Sunday Times Sport Rich List 2012 is compiled by Philip Beresford and Alastair McCall and is edited by Ian Coxon.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Why are golfers dropping out of our sport and how do we find a way to entice them back?
There was a net loss of 46,000 registered golfers in 2011, with the UK & Ireland -42,700 (-3.1%), Sweden -21,000 (-4.1%) and Spain -9,700 (-2.9%) recording the most significant reductions in player numbers.
That's according to The Golf Participation in Europe 2011 survey – produced by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice and free to download from www.golfbusinesscommunity.com
The downturn in registered golf participation follows a 25-year period of impressive growth – the number of golfers has more than tripled since the 1980s, while the number of golf courses has doubled in the same period.
Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in EMA, said: “While the growth of golf started to slow down after 2005, last year was the first time there was an actual decrease in registered golfers. The decline can be attributed to two factors: the reduction in the number of golfers in some of Europe’s largest golf markets, especially theUK and Ireland, and the lack of dynamic growth in Europe’s emerging markets, specifically Eastern Europe and theSouth-East Mediterranean.”
While the number of officially recognized participants in the UK and Ireland fell to 1,326,700, still more than double the size of Europe’s second largest golf market, Germany (610,100), Sartori pointed out that golfers in the UK and Ireland don’t have to be registered, unlike most European countries, so the decline could be attributed in part to players giving up club memberships, while continuing to play on a daily fee basis.
The survey highlighted that golf remains a male-dominated sport in Europe, with 65% of all players being male and 25% female (10% are juniors). German-speaking countries (Germany,Austria and Switzerland) and the Netherlands, remain flagship markets for female participation, with more than 30% of golfers being women. This in line with our own figures for the UK.
Some emerging markets are leading the way with junior programs. Although small in real terms, the high proportion of children among golfers in Turkey (52%) and Serbia (34%) may help to create future growth in these countries.
“While much of the golf market stagnation in Europe may be attributed to the overall economic climate, continued support and investment in new programs will be needed to sustain demand and generate further growth in the game, especially in mature and developed golf markets,” added Andrea Sartori.
“Today, there is a need for joint efforts – arguably more so now than at any time in the past two decades. Therefore, we invite all industry stakeholders to share thoughts, best practices and creative ideas on www.golfbusinesscommunity.com”
That's according to The Golf Participation in Europe 2011 survey – produced by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice and free to download from www.golfbusinesscommunity.com
The downturn in registered golf participation follows a 25-year period of impressive growth – the number of golfers has more than tripled since the 1980s, while the number of golf courses has doubled in the same period.
Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in EMA, said: “While the growth of golf started to slow down after 2005, last year was the first time there was an actual decrease in registered golfers. The decline can be attributed to two factors: the reduction in the number of golfers in some of Europe’s largest golf markets, especially theUK and Ireland, and the lack of dynamic growth in Europe’s emerging markets, specifically Eastern Europe and theSouth-East Mediterranean.”
While the number of officially recognized participants in the UK and Ireland fell to 1,326,700, still more than double the size of Europe’s second largest golf market, Germany (610,100), Sartori pointed out that golfers in the UK and Ireland don’t have to be registered, unlike most European countries, so the decline could be attributed in part to players giving up club memberships, while continuing to play on a daily fee basis.
The survey highlighted that golf remains a male-dominated sport in Europe, with 65% of all players being male and 25% female (10% are juniors). German-speaking countries (Germany,Austria and Switzerland) and the Netherlands, remain flagship markets for female participation, with more than 30% of golfers being women. This in line with our own figures for the UK.
Some emerging markets are leading the way with junior programs. Although small in real terms, the high proportion of children among golfers in Turkey (52%) and Serbia (34%) may help to create future growth in these countries.
“While much of the golf market stagnation in Europe may be attributed to the overall economic climate, continued support and investment in new programs will be needed to sustain demand and generate further growth in the game, especially in mature and developed golf markets,” added Andrea Sartori.
“Today, there is a need for joint efforts – arguably more so now than at any time in the past two decades. Therefore, we invite all industry stakeholders to share thoughts, best practices and creative ideas on www.golfbusinesscommunity.com”
So what can we do to entice people back into our game?
We don't have the answers, but some suggestions that we've seen already are:- Cheaper green fees
- Affordable lessons and programming
- Getting families involved in the club and activities
- Developing more access to women golfers
- Getting to the youth before other sports
- Developing facilities for the younger generation
- Have winter activities to keep them involved
Monday, 12 March 2012
BBC Top Gear: Rally Cross cheaper than Golf?
On last night's edition of BBC Top Gear (Sunday 11th March 2012) , messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May proposed that it costs more to enjoy playing golf as a hobby than it does to take up motor sport. An interesting argument we thought, even though the delivery of the challenge set forward by Jeremy Clarkson lacked a little research to say the least (but let's face it, his brand of journalism isn't based on facts most of the time)! Clarkson, May and Hammond all bought relatively cheap
cars to take part, against other enthusiasts, in a rally cross motor race - resulting in funny, enjoyable and entertaining television for a Sunday night.
But does golf cost more than Rally Cross? We think not.
OK, Top Gear had their fun, but it was just one day and at one race event. They didn't factor in for most of the equipment required, insurance costs, transporting the race vehicle to and from events (on a trailer presumably?), wear and tear or replacement parts. Here's what the Motor Sports Association (MSA) recommend BEFORE going onto the track:
The MSA specify that drivers must wear full safety equipment, including a helmet and fireproof racing suit.
A car with the safety features will cost you around £1500.
So the answer is, No, it isn't cheaper to take up Rally Cross compared to enjoying golf as a pastime. Like all pastimes, you choose to do that which provides the most reward and enjoyment for you. Who cares what you choose to spend?! If you love it, go for it!
We just thought that we had to stand up for the golfing community that we've served for almost 30 years and put the record straight.
Here's an interesting point for you: The cost of a set of golf clubs hasn't really changed for the past 10 years (maybe more), and they don't run on petrol or diesel! How much has the cost of motoring increased over the same period?
Happy Golfing
But does golf cost more than Rally Cross? We think not.
OK, Top Gear had their fun, but it was just one day and at one race event. They didn't factor in for most of the equipment required, insurance costs, transporting the race vehicle to and from events (on a trailer presumably?), wear and tear or replacement parts. Here's what the Motor Sports Association (MSA) recommend BEFORE going onto the track:
The MSA specify that drivers must wear full safety equipment, including a helmet and fireproof racing suit.
- Helmets – They cost up to £300
- Fireproof racesuits – again up to £300
- Racing gloves – Cost: up to £60
- Racing boots – Cost: up to £100
- Fireproof top/long johns – £75
- Fireproof balaclava – approx. £15.
- Fireproof socks – approx. £12
A car with the safety features will cost you around £1500.
So the answer is, No, it isn't cheaper to take up Rally Cross compared to enjoying golf as a pastime. Like all pastimes, you choose to do that which provides the most reward and enjoyment for you. Who cares what you choose to spend?! If you love it, go for it!
We just thought that we had to stand up for the golfing community that we've served for almost 30 years and put the record straight.
Here's an interesting point for you: The cost of a set of golf clubs hasn't really changed for the past 10 years (maybe more), and they don't run on petrol or diesel! How much has the cost of motoring increased over the same period?
Happy Golfing
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