When Chris Ingham and Elliot Godfrey first met as juniors at South Beds Golf Membership in 1999, they’d no means of figuring out that they might go on to run one of many UK’s most talked-about golf companies collectively.
However quick ahead 26 years and that’s the place that the 2 lifelong mates discover themselves in as co-founders of Pitch Golf.
The trendy indoor golf membership has simply opened its fourth venue within the coronary heart of Canary Wharf and – with two extra places coming this Spring – there’s lots extra to come back.
“Although we performed collectively as juniors, for the following fifteen years or so our careers adopted fairly totally different PGA paths – our first main collaboration collectively was The CityPoint Golf Studio in Moorgate,” recounts Ingham.
“We had a few bays for instructing and membership becoming, however we noticed that conventional simulator experiences have been being left behind by the best way actual golf was progressing.
We felt that trendy simulator tech lent itself completely to one thing extra social and inclusive.”
The pair’s response was Pitch Golf, which debuted in Bishopsgate in 2016. Six years later – albeit barely delayed for apparent causes – Pitch turned a multi-venue membership with the opening of Pitch Soho.
PITCHING OVERSEAS
The model first expanded abroad final 12 months with a brand new enterprise in Dublin and shortly can be opening in Melbourne, Australia, and the US later this 12 months alongside different European venues.
As Godfrey places it: “It’s no coincidence that we search for places in busy, fast-paced elements of main cities.
For individuals who reside and work in these locations, discovering the time to journey to a golf course and play eighteen holes might be so tough. Indoor golf is way simpler to suit right into a busy schedule.”
However no matter which venue you step into, the essence of Pitch’s signature fashion is identical.
“All of our venues use the absolute best know-how, however that’s solely half the story. We at all times serve cocktails and our Asian-inspired menu, each venue has an unique members’ space and lots of of them have built-in areas for reside DJ units.
These are locations to socialize, loosen up and revel in yourselves whether or not hitting golf balls or difficult mates to a sport of shuffleboard.”
New concepts are nonetheless being developed and carried out as Pitch continues to develop (in a matter of months, Birmingham and Manchester will change into the following cities to hitch the Pitch revolution).
CONCEPT STORE
One such instance is the UK’s first TRENDYGOLF Idea Retailer, which opened alongside Pitch Wharf in February.
“TRENDYGOLF and Pitch felt like a pure match,” says Ingham concerning the partnership with the web retailer, “they worth fashion, inclusivity and so they prefer to attempt one thing totally different, which aligns intently with our personal ethos.”
Inclusivity is among the key phrases at each Pitch location. “We wish guests to really feel welcome at any time. Pretty or unfairly, there are such a lot of boundaries related to golf. While you break down these boundaries and introduce new individuals to the sport, everyone wins.”
