We talk padel with Andreas Ljunggren, CEO of Österåker Golf Club.

In 2018, World Wide Padel had to deliver courses to Österåkers GK. The facility at Österåkers GK was completed in the summer of 2018 and was one of the first outdoor courses to have panoramic glass and a premium course surface.

We have recently met Andreas Ljunggren, club manager and CEO of ÖGK, he summarizes the last three years for us:

– Since we built the paddle courses, we have had significantly more non-golfers who discovered our fine facility, where they not only play paddle but eat in the restaurant, hit the range or shop in our shop.

Österåkers GK also discovered that padel attracted a lot of women and an example of this was that those who signed up for their beginner courses were 100% women.

– We knew from the beginning that paddle would not only be an activity in the shadow of our large golf facility but that it would have a life of its own. That we would have more than one course was part of that idea, with three courses we get completely different profitability and opportunities for larger groups to play at the same time. We also wanted to give the courts an outward face with their logo and that we joined our extremely talented coach Roger Hofflander.

Andreas continues: – When it comes to choosing a supplier, we conducted thorough research where we took in 5-6 quotes and then we met them on the spot to get a picture of what they could do with us.

After our evaluation, World Wide Padel stood out as an obvious supplier and partner

Financially, the padel investment has been completely right and significantly more profitable than the club predicted, which means that investment is back after only 2.5 years.

– We are incredibly satisfied with World Wide Padel, from the first contact and choice of course and design of our paddle system to maintenance and service when the courses are in operation.

Andreas also comments on our recruitment of Morten Steen Hansen with his thumbs up.

With his experience from golf courses around the world, Morten will be able to add valuable knowledge on how to integrate padel in golf facilities in a profitable and carefully thought-out way.

To give the club operations all year round, ÖGK is now planning for an indoor facility with e.g. 6 padel courts.

– We always want to do good things, such as. when we work with Henrik Stenson and his Team to develop our golf courses, so then it feels completely right to work with WWP with the development of our paddle facility, Andreas concludes.

Resources

Österåkers Golf club, Photo: Jacob Sjoman

Padel course #2 at Österåkers Golf club.

Andreas Ljunggren, CEO Österåkers Golf club.