Welsh golf professional Matthew Dearden believes purchasing the Foresight Sports Game Changer 2 (GC2) launch monitor has transformed his pro shop business at Llantrisant & Pontyclun Golf Club. He explained: Id been in the role about six months when I recognised the need for the extra technology and facility. I struggle with room here; we have no real room for an outside hitting area for practice or coaching but having the GC2 has enabled me to carry on teaching without that.

If somebody comes in looking to buy some new equipment, within five minutes I can have them actually hitting balls with the clubs theyre interested in. In terms of sales, I would say my club sales have increased in the region of 400 percent since weve had the Foresight Sports GC2. Just having the technology available to fit people correctly with equipment has made a massive difference. But its made an enormous difference, not just to sales figures, but across the board really.

To announce the new technology to his members, Dearden detailed its features in the club newsletter and on social media. But, ultimately, it was more traditional methods that ultimately helped create the demand for his services. As soon as a couple of people were fitted correctly, word-of-mouth among the 400 members became our biggest advert. In addition to the club-fitting, we also have 15 courses on the simulator, which is projected on to a big screen. I charge per hour for the members to play those courses and we also have nearest-the-pin days, where members come in throughout the day, pay a little bit of money and enjoy a fun competition. At weekends, in particular, if the weather is bad, we get a very good uptake of members using the simulator.

The GC2 has also enabled me to reduce my stock-holding. I just carry a range of fairway, hybrid and drivers from a few of the manufacturers, but I dont carry a single set of irons in stock because everything now is custom-fitted. In terms of my return on investment, I would definitely say Im already close to getting the money back if not already there.

Dearden believes the technology is fast becoming a prerequisite for any golf professional, whether their revenue comes from coaching or club-fitting. Eventually this technology will be something that every golf pro will require; without it, you will be left behind. People expect this as part of the service now not just the club-fitting, but the facility to play golf indoors, have a private lesson in the warm indoors … for a golf pro its essential. I never lose a lesson to the weather because its indoors its brilliant. More at: www.foresightsports.eu