The PING Experience

Summing up the whole PING Experience is a tough one. I could use many superlatives to describe what it’s like to go behind the scenes of one of the game’s biggest brands.

PING are offering you a chance to have a look around their backyard and it’s something you should jump at given the chance.

PING are a family, I say that because you feel the close knit community when you arrive at the company’s European headquarters at Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire. This leafy little town is the hub of one of golf’s biggest powerhouses and yet you feel totally at home when you’re there.

So what do you get from the PING experience? Well it’s a unique look behind the scenes at everything PING have to offer, from their state-of-the art European Fitting Centre to a factory tour where you see thousands upon thousands of clubs being made and packaged, ready to go out to satisfied customers.

Throw in a bacon roll and coffee on arrival, some lunch and a round of golf on either the Karsten Lakes or Thonock Park that are both on the grounds of the PING owned Gainsborough Golf Club, then you have what I would say is a pretty great day.

PING Family and factory

When you walk around the factory, you’re taken on a trip through time from how PING began up to pictures of Tour players today using the latest technology.

You’re told of how PING began back in 1959, Karsten Solhiem, an engineer at General Electric began designing and making putters in his garage. On the walls of the factory the very first patents are on show starting the story of the famed Anser putter. But have you ever wondered why there’s no ‘w’ in the word or indeed how the PING name came about?

Well, Karsten wanted the answer to his own putting woes as his golf game was causing him sleepless nights. His first design the ‘1A’ made a high ping off the club face, and just like that the name was born.

Fast forward seven years, Karsten, still working at General Electric at the time had designed a new putter, a putter that would revolutionise golf more than he knew. Still searching for the answer for golfers much like himself that needed help on the greens, Karsten’s wife Louise suggested calling it the answer. Liking the idea Karsten worked on in-printing the name to the back of the putter but it wouldn’t fit so he simply dropped the ‘w’ and the ‘Anser’ was born.

I was taken around the factory by Rik, and It was fascinating to hear the story from PING staff, most of whom have been at the company for 25 plus years, I even met a guy that was into his 40th year with PING. As man and boy he’s been working at the same factory working his way up. Going back to the family feel I spoke about when you first pull into Gainsborough, speaking to these employee’s you get this feeling they just love what they do and who they work for which in my opinion is why PING create, design and put together the best clubs on the market.

Onto the actual factory floor you see every step of the club manufacturing, from head club delivery, shaft attachments, colour codes and angle bends, grips going on, all the way up to packaging. Anyone that’s interested in how golf clubs are made then the tour is a must as the 200 plus staff that work in the factory will take you through every step of assembling PING equipment.

Customise your full set day or night

I recently had a custom fit session* at PING of which you can read more by clicking here,  but the fitting centre itself attracts more than 4,000 golfers a year all of which received a fitting from a highly trained PING technician.

Each bay has a Trackman fitted along with PING’s own nFlight system used to track and record all the data specific to their own colour coding charts and gear available. It’s one of the most through fittings I’ve had as no stone is left unturned.

Designed for corporate and society golf days the PING Experience can be booked for eight or more starting at £49 per person.

Even if you were just going for a golf day it would still be pretty special. But along with the tour of the fitting centre and factory and the food provided, PING and Gainsborough will also host your own golf tournament throughout the afternoon along with hosting the presentation ceremony as well, which will including some PING rewards.

Want more golf?

If you’re looking for even more then you won’t be disappointed as you can book a three course evening meal, accommodation, a full English breakfast and second 18-holes on the course of your choice for an extra £75 per person.
The accommodation on-site at the golf club is for a maximum of eight people in two, self-catering styled apartments literally minutes from the first tee, or the bar depending on your preference. It’s a great option to have and one that not a lot of people will know about. The apartments themselves are perfect for you and your golfing mates to get your head down before you go again the next day.

So if you’re looking at the next venue for your golf day why not go the extra mile and let PING look after you with something a little bit extra as well as the golf. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

To book your PING Experience Day, contact Gainsborough Golf Club on 01427 613088 or fill out the contact form on their website.

*A custom fit session can be booked separetly and does not come included in the price of the PING experience.