Elizabeth Granahan, PGA,Director of Instruction and Co-Owner,G2 Golf Group,Calabash, North Carolina
Elizabeth Granahan, the 2009 Philadelphia PGA Section Teacher & Coach of the Year, is the co-owner and PGA of America Director of Instruction at G2 Golf Group, a mobile teaching academy based in Calabash, North Carolina.
Together with business partner Michele Gajderowicz, Granahan has built a boutique golf company that combines instruction, consulting and world-class travel opportunities. But at the heart of their business is something with which every PGA of America Professional can relate: creating memorable community experiences.
The two experiences that none of Granahan’s students can forget are the Annual Snowball Tournament (pictured below) and the Summer Solstice Scramble & Shag (pictured above). What makes them so memorable, you ask? For starters, winners are not determined by score, but by best-dressed votes from fellow competitors.
“The emphasis is on fun, camaraderie and a little bit of wackiness,” Granahan says. “We want to inspire some of those childlike feelings that really got most of us playing the game in the first place.”
Each event features themed challenges. Examples include teeing off after finishing a drink, using a beach ball to hit your tee shot or building sandcastles in bunkers for score adjustments. Overall, it’s a lighthearted and festive atmosphere.
“These events have really helped us broaden our community reach,” explains Granahan. “We attract players of all ages and skill levels, even bringing in folks from well outside our local area.”
The business impact has been equally significant. These events generate up to four times the revenue of a standard day for the host facilities where they are conducted. They also create exposure for local small businesses and provide annual fundraising opportunities for local nonprofits.
Word of mouth has been the biggest tool for growth. Granahan’s students invite family and friends to join, strengthening loyalty and expanding G2 Golf’s reach for instruction, league play, pro-ams and travel offerings.
“The biggest compliment we receive,” Granahan says, “is when our students bring their loved ones to be part of our G2 family.”
The takeaway is clear: Themed seasonal tournaments can deliver meaningful results beyond the scorecard.
