Social clubs across the country provide golf clubs with crucial green fee income by bringing golfers together. In this spirit, PGA Professional Tammy Wong founded Birdie Links to offer women a social outlet through golf.
Wong, who grew up as an enthusiastic junior golfer in Sydney, began her coaching career at Bexley Golf Club under Paul Davis. This experience led her to pursue coaching further and eventually start Birdie Links two years ago.
Birdie Links aims to give women an entry point into golf and create an ecosystem that includes beginner clinics and golf tours. Wong emphasized the importance of a streamlined pathway for participants: “I wanted to make sure that there was one streamlined pathway where they could feel like I was able to hold their hand the whole way through the process,” she said during a recent PGA ACE webinar.
The club offers various programs such as the ‘Hits and Sips’ class every three months, followed by an eight-week beginner program. After completing these, participants can join an on-course bootcamp designed for intermediate players.
A unique aspect of Birdie Links is its monthly subscription model combining connection and instruction. The social club element encourages members to coordinate games together, offering up to four opportunities each month in a nine-hole league with prizes.
Golf tours are another phase of Birdie Links’ offerings, with trips planned to destinations like Hunter Valley and Queenstown. Wong noted that this holistic approach has kept her coaching schedule busy: “Without the social club and ladies playing, I wouldn’t be anywhere near as busy as I am coaching.”
Wong also observed increased retention rates since establishing the social club: “Since the social club has become a thing, I have found so much more retention rather than somebody coming into a program for eight weeks and then saying, ‘OK, I’ll see you again next term.’”
For more information on Birdie Links or to find your nearest PGA Professional, visit birdielinks.com.au.
