2020 Year In Review

What a long, strange year it was.

2020 is a year that none of us will ever forget. It likely will be the topic of many conversations for decades to come.  Despite all of the uncertainty and new challenges small businesses were presented with, we are humbled and happy to report that SMART Golf & Fitness Instruction has repeatedly weathered the storm and is well positioned to continue offering the best golf and fitness instruction services to our growing membership. 

The first step in the process to becoming a member at SMART Golf & Fitness is to go through our SMART Assessment.  One of the main goals of the assessment process is to find out where you have been with golf, where your game is currently, and what do you want your game to look like in the season ahead. Let’s use those same questions to recap 2020 at SMART Golf and let you in on some exciting news for the year ahead.

A Fast Start

2020 was kind of like starting your round off birdy, birdy, birdy.  We came off of a very strong fourth quarter in 2019, that was highlighted by the opening of our 11,000 sq ft location in Lincoln Park. SMART Golf fired on all cylinders to start the year.  2019 was not an easy year for the SMARTGolf Team, as evidenced by the “Early 2019” estimated opening that ended up being in September.  However, with more hitting bays and staff, we were able to grow our membership exponentially. This allowed us to help more golfers achieve their goals than ever before. 

The three main elements of our membership are individualized golf instruction, fitness training sessions, and the ability to utilize our facility for deliberate practice purposes.  A limited number of practice memberships were offered initially but due to their popularity and our increasing membership numbers, we are unable to offer them for 2021. Private events were another exciting new service offering that the new facility afforded us.  Prior to the spring shutdown, we hosted a number of different groups in our players lounge and the short-game area of our facility.  We are excited to resume hosting events at some point in 2021. Contact us to learn more about our event options and to get yours on the books!

The Lion and Lamb Spring

As the entire nation shut down for extended periods of time, SMART Golf was forced to close its doors from March 22nd until May 28th.  Our inability to see clients in-person provided ample time to reflect on the organization as a whole and also brainstorm new service offerings and different ways to continue building community amongst our membership. Our SMARTBunch Happy Hours over Zoom featured the SMART Golf staff offering up their expertise on different topics such as course management, harnessing a Growth vs Fixed Mindset, the three tiers of development, just to name a few.  Each forum ended with Q&A from our member audience that extended well beyond the allotted time frame.  This is just another example of how invested our clients are to improving their game.  

With our facility and the golf courses closed initially, the golf instruction component of our program was basically out of commission.  The fitness side of things quickly pivoted, however and started seeing clients virtually.  That was one of the silver linings of the shutdown, and a service we still offer. This helps our clients stay consistent with their golf fitness program as they resume business travel, personal travel, and we continue to navigate the ever-changing operational regulations. 

The floodgates opened like never before when the golf courses reopened, however.  People were coming out of the woodwork to participate in one of the few outdoor & socially distant activities.  Just as the courses saw a significant uptick in rounds being played, the SMART Golf Instructors didn’t waste any time to make up lost ground. Our team was out and about offering on-course instruction and playing lessons for our members.  The golf industry as a whole is up 20% on average in several areas. This includes number of rounds played, junior golf participation, and even the popularity of certain golf related Google searches.

The Summer of Golf.  Lots of Golf!

With many early outings cancelled or postponed, the summer months were a time for people trying to squeeze in as much golf as their budget and schedule would allow.  The SMARTGolf staff continued their support of the Maryville Academy, Clearbrook, and the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund by donating and participating in their fundraising golf events.  The staff also organized some member outings to Sand Valley, Point O Woods, and other area courses.  The real magic was in the large number of personal bests, handicap improvements, and club championships the SMART Golf Members were reporting.  

2021.  We’ll see what it has to offer…

We are pretty sure there aren’t many people who are too sad to see the year 2020 in the rearview mirror.  The SMART Golf & Fitness Team is right there with the majority. But we are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming year, and are grateful for the learning experiences and support it has elicited for our company.  Despite the fact that 2020 has set the bar fairly low for 2021 to be “better,” the SMART Golf Team will continue its commitment to making sure that each day you are with us in the coming year, your game will be the best it’s ever been!  Just like in golf, we will control what we can control, make sound decisions based upon the circumstances presented to us, and continue doing what we love, and that’s helping develop better golfers for life. 

SMART Golf & Fitness Announcements for 2021

There are a couple of exciting developments that are on the horizon for the early part of the New Year.  First, with only two locations in the Chicagoland area (so far…), we realize we cannot reach a large number of golfers who need our help.  That being said, we are in the process of bringing our training, teaching, and methodology to you, wherever you are!  In addition to our continuation of virtual fitness training, we are building a comprehensive online training program. This will allow us to show what makes the SMART Golf philosophy so effective. 

Second, in reference to our existing west suburb location, currently in Oakbrook Terrace, we are excited to announce it will be moving to a bigger and better space in Lombard.  SMART Golf & Fitness, the premier venue for improving total golf performance in the Chicagoland area, has officially broken ground on its new Lombard location. It will be located at 350 East 22nd Street, adjacent to the Greek Islands restaurant. The new 8,000-square-foot indoor golf and fitness club is expected to open in May 2021.  The new facility will feature four Trackman simulator bays, a 1,000 square foot indoor putting and chipping green, and a state-of-the-art gym. Locker rooms for both men & women will also be available. There will also be a member’s lounge that is perfect for relaxing after a workout. This space is also great for entertaining clients or hosting private events. So get the new year started off right and grab a SMART Golf Membership. That way you can ensure that at least one thing will be better in 2021- your golf game!