News & Events Re: Play-a-Round Golf 

 
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EXTON, PA, May 12, 2010:  Steve Graves, owner of Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern was named “Small Business Person of the Year,” by the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce yesterday at their Annual Awards Luncheon. Graves was selected by members of the Board of Directors because of his creativity and ability to make changes to his business model as market conditions changed. 
 

Robert Johnston, President of the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce stated “Steve saw that the economy was slowing down and reacted quickly. He reduced his overhead and cut costs, without cutting customer service. His new location is beautiful, provides a great golf experience and is very visible from Route 30.” Johnston added, “running a small business is never easy, but the current economic conditions make it even more challenging. Steve had the courage to make some tough decisions in order to keep his dream alive.” 
 

During his acceptance speech, Steve gave thanks to the business community, the Chamber, his customers, and most of all his wife for her support and encouragement.  “Without the loving support of my wife, Sue and my faith in God, this would not have been possible.” 

Communications Office

Eastern University, 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA 19087

610.341.5930

 

Steve Graves is among the elite group of students who not only earned a degree, but also launched a new business as a result of Eastern University’s Fast-Track MBA in Management program. The 22-month program requires students to work in small teams to complete a New Venture Project (NVP). Steve Graves and his teammates Michael Perpiglia, Katie Walker, and Aubrey Sciamanna collaborated to create Play-a-Round Golf, an indoor golf complex. This was only the beginning for Steve Graves because on November 17, 2006, Play-a-Round Golf opened its doors for business, under his ownership.

 

Graves enrolled in Eastern’s MBA program to “fill in the gaps.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he sought an MBAto prepare for owning a business. In light of the declining golf industry, Graves and his NVP teammates focused their project on building a hotel in the midst of a struggling golf course. After the first project benchmark, they decided to pursue a different option and establish a golf school with a driving range and simulators. 

 

During this stage of the project, Steve was laid off by his company. With the support of his wife, Sue, he decided to make the New Venture Project his real business opportunity and developed the business plan. Graves presented the proposal to the bank, but was turned down for a loan. His wife suggested an indoor business instead. Through much time and effort, Graves and his teammates created the plan for an indoor golf complex.

 

Graves has always loved golf and has played for 30 years. While most guests are experienced golfers, the goal of Play-a-Round Golf is to provide an opportunity for people who have never played. The facility provides training and aims to attract

more women to a male-dominated sport (one in 16 women play golf, in comparison to one in five men).

 

Located in the Lincoln Court Center in Malvern, PA, Play-a-Round Golf is a 13,000-square-foot facility featuring ten state-of-the-art 3D simulators with realistic replicationsof over 20 world-famous courses, including Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. Guests can use simulators next to one another for easy conversation and can play at their own pace without intimidation. The facility offers a more time-efficient game. One round of regular golf can last about five hours, while it only takes one hour for a guest to play 18 holes at

Play-a-Round Golf. Less costly than regular golf, with an estimated hourly rate of $40 during peak hours, Play-a-Round Golf offers a $25 per hour off-peak rate. “For the price of Honeybrook, you can play at Pebble Beach,” Steve says.

 

Graves believes the company will be successful by learning how to operate in the off-season, the spring and summer months when people typically play at outdoor courses. When reflecting on the start-up stages of the business, he says, “If you don’t put your faith and trust in the Lord, I don’t know how you could do it.”

 

When asked what advice he would give to others seeking to start their own business, Graves recommends, “Do your homework.” He stressed the importance of having a right business model and good people around you to provide support. He credited his wife for being very encouraging. “Whether you succeed or fail, just try. Take a challenge,” added Kimberly Jenkins, an Eastern University graduate who left her job on faith to become the director of marketing and events for Play-a-Round Golf, where LPGA and PGA-certified instructors are available for private and group lessons.