Today we’d like to introduce you to Hervey Lavoie.
Hi Hervey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Creation of InClubGolf
My story begins with my passion for golf as it became channeled through my profession as an architect specializing in the design of Athletic Clubs.. In the year 2005 I was challenged by a client to create an indoor golf training studio in the athletic club that I was designing for him. My solution was simple — install a mat in front of a net, with a bucket of balls and tack up some business cards from local golf pros who were willing to offer hourly lessons during the off-season — and was an utter failure! It was then that I became determined to figure out how to do it right.
At the time, I was also designing athletic clubs in Japan and discovered that indoor golf was a popular activity there and they had systems for retrieving golf balls as they fell from the net and automatically re-teeing them for the player. I immediately knew that this system had to be part of any successful indoor golf facility. in the USA No one wants to spend valuable practice time picking up golf balls!
It was also about this time that Trackman radar launch monitors were invented in Denmark. This technology would become essential to the creation of indoor golf simulation that allowed for performance feedback. to players and instructors. I immediately began building a test studio near my home course in Denver and began experimenting with ideas for how to develop these components into a sustainable, year-round indoor business. I knew that we would need to be able to attract and pay a full time professional golf instructor.
About this same time, I became a minority partner in the operation of Meridian Golf Club, based in Englewood, Colorado. The head pro there then offered me free golf lessons which I quickly took advantage of.. I then learned that these once-a-week free lessons rarely exceeded 10-15 minutes in duration but were actually far more effective learning experiences than the once a month hour long paid lessons that I had previously been given. This experience informed my decision that the operational model for our in club golf .training business must be based on a membership model with unlimited, shorter lessons rather than the industry standard pay-by-the-clock model.
By Locating our studios in large high end multi-sport Athletic Clubs we could operate efficiently in a facility that would be open for business up to 120 hours per week.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a surprisingly smooth road. InClubGolf has always been a part time “side-hustle” undertaken even as I was working fulltime as president of OLC Architects
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Architectural design business focused on sports, recreation and fitness based on building design that optimizes the User Experience
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
At the top of the list are the host clubs who had faith in our ability to deliver on promises….. Jim Worthington of the Newtown Athletic Club and Jim Ellis of the Lake Nona performance Club.
My partners in the Architectural practice as well as some initial partners in the golf vision who chose to sell in the early years, including Tom Kahn and Justin Melnick.
Current partners in the operation are PGA professional, Matt Frith, Rob Roylance and Frank Giovinazzo
And, most importantly,, my wife, Jennifer, who handles member support services and I.T. issues
Pricing:
- Typical by-the-clock golf lessons are offered for a range of $90 to $150 per hour
- Our membership model offers unlimited golf lessons for $180 to $300 per month.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inclubgolf.com
- Instagram: inclubgolf_
- Facebook: InClub Golf
