A Leeds-based golf mental performance coaching company is ending the year on a high after having more than doubled revenue, rapidly expanded its corporate network membership, trebled its player portfolio and recently launched in Scotland.
Underpin Sports, which is dedicated to unlocking higher performance by helping elite amateur and professional golfers cope psychologically with the pressures of competing across the globe, aims to further increase revenue by 50% in the next 12 months.
Its 72 Club corporate network is a major source of revenue for the business, with its membership increasing by 132% year-on-year. It provides a programme of events and strategic partnership opportunities to sectors ranging from finance to construction. The bulk of its membership is currently Yorkshire-based and includes firms such as Blacks Solicitors, Sagars and ProAktive Insurance.
In a further boost to its growth ambitions, the company has also recently expanded into Scotland and is headed up north of the border by Edinburgh-based Scott Dickson who is a well-known figure across the drinks, golf and whisky industry.
Other major milestones for the business include key senior appointments such as Sean Jarvis, who came on board as non-executive director earlier in the year. Sean’s leadership, sporting experience and expertise will help Underpin Sports drive its long-term strategic growth aims as he balances it with his full-time commitment as CEO of Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC).
From a player perspective, Underpin Sports has launched its academy to provide closer support to the grass roots of the game and also increased its elite-level player portfolio from six to 20 in just 12 months, comprising 15 professionals and five amateurs. It has supported some of the game’s rising stars, including Charlotte Heath who was crowned leading amateur and winner of the Smyth Salver at this year’s AIG Women’s Open.
Growing the player portfolio has been enhanced by various commercial deals. Securing a key partnership with the Clutch Pro Tour - a feeder to both the Challenge and DP World Tours – has proved pivotal in helping the business forge greater relationships with up-and-coming talent competing on the tour.
Stewart Clough, managing director for Underpin Sports, said:
“The business is still largely in its infancy however it’s hugely satisfying to achieve record growth and play such a key role in the mental performance and career development of some of the UK’s rising golf stars."
“There’s a natural synergy between golf and business and so we’ve worked hard over the last year to develop a company which harnesses the widespread passion for the game but also provides an attractive proposition to corporate organisations. Our 72 Club network has made giant strides and it’s exciting to see it drive new commercial opportunities for those firms involved and enable them to get more involved in supporting the future of the amateur and professional game.”
“The exceptional performance, key senior-level appointments we’ve made and our recent expansion into Scotland hopefully signals our growth ambitions. We don’t want to stand still though and see massive potential to scale the business even further as we move into 2024.”