Having recently completed his second year as CEO of U.S. Kids Golf, John Plaziak is building upon his track record of strategic growth while fostering a culture of family and participation. Plaziak, a former national sales manager for Ping Golf, was introduced to U.S. Kids Golf when he caddied for his son, Bradley, in events run by the company. Plaziak recently took the time to talk with PGA Magazine about the crucial role PGA of America Golf Professionals play in making the game fun and accessible for junior golfers and their families.
PGA Magazine: Juniors are a big part of the golf participation surge. From what you see, is that trend continuing?
John Plaziak: It absolutely is. The youth category – players age 6 to 17 – has grown 58 precent since 2019. We track the National Golf Foundation data very closely, and year-to-year numbers are positive. That certainly bears out what we’re seeing day to day, as well. The demand for junior golf products is as strong as it’s ever been, and we’re working hard to keep up with demand and focusing on the facilities that have helped us grow our business. We feel like there’s continued opportunity to grow the number of juniors playing the game even more. There’s still a lot of latent demand and parents who want to get their kids into golf starting at a very early age.
How is U.S. Kids Golf using its ecosystem of equipment and programming to serve the demand and help PGA of America Golf Professionals?
Plaziak: We just relaunched our coaching certification program at the PGA Show in January and it’s been really well-received. We’re also updating our coaching modules to embrace the indoor player pathway after mostly focusing on outdoor coaching elements in the past. We’ve had a lot of really positive feedback from PGA of America Coaches who’ve gone through the new certification.
On the equipment side, we launched our new Tour Series 6 products at the PGA Show, and it’s a real technology leap. We’re applying a lot of the technology and features of adult clubs to our new TS6 equipment, all with our unique height fitting and relative swing weight systems. There’s a great distance story with the new driver and irons, and they’re getting rave reviews out of the gate.
How can PGA of America Golf Professionals work to make sure juniors are playing clubs that fit their size, age and ability?
Plaziak: We think of it like this: It’s best to have juniors grow out of their equipment rather than growing into their equipment. We don’t promote products based on age, we design products based on their size (height) and skill level. U.S. Kids Golf is really a player and swing development company, and that starts with having a product in every junior’s hands that meets individual needs. That goes for true beginners to juniors who are playing competitively in tournaments. And we offer a demo program that makes it easy to get clubs that juniors can try out and feel the performance for themselves.
We also have hands-on support, starting with our certification program that is very accessible online. We then work with each PGA of America Coach after the certification process on whatever they need, from equipment to running a junior curriculum. We also add them to our Find-a-Coach page on our website to help connect parents and grandparents with resources for getting equipment and instruction for their juniors. It’s a cohesive network of resources, information and services that supports our long-term mission of helping kids have fun while learning the lifelong game of golf and encouraging family interaction that builds lasting memories.
What impact does a thriving junior program have on a golf facility?
Plaziak: There’s a direct benefit to your members and customers, to your facility, and to you as a PGA of America Golf Professional. What I see is that facilities with strong junior programs tend to have strong programming for adults, as well. It sets the tone of having families come to the facility and support it, spend more time and money there, and create additional opportunities to build relationships. It’s a holistic approach to making sure kids who start in the game stay in the game. If you have kids who are happy and developing their games, you will also have parents who are happy, and you’re building the next generation of members or players supporting your facility. You’re not only making money, but you’re also seen a true leader in the game as a PGA of America Golf Professional developing golfers from the ground up.
