The purpose of this study was to explore for ways to establish and vitalize legitimate agent system in order to provide baseline data for improving domestic agents' competitiveness and establishing marketing plan for athletes through a survey on Profe...
The purpose of this study was to explore for ways to establish and vitalize legitimate agent system in order to provide baseline data for improving domestic agents' competitiveness and establishing marketing plan for athletes through a survey on Professional Korean Female Golfers' perception of agents.
To accomplish this purpose, survey was conducted on each KLPGA tour location and survey data from 251 players were taken as final valid samples using convenient sampling method. In this study, reliability and validity of survey papers were confirmed, then corrected before finally being used. The retrieved surveys were analyzed using Windows SPSS 15.0 Version, and for the purpose of the study, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe's post hoc test were used as analytical methods. P value was set at p<.05 as a statistical significance criterion. Using abovementioned study methods and procedure, the results of the analysis were found as follows.
First, according to the demographic characteristic of professional Korean female golfers, difference in professional career activities showed that in general there are more players without an agent than players with an agent.
In terms of qualification status, number of associate members decreased as average age of a group increased, and group of regular members showed higher education and income level compared to group of associate members. Majority of regular members had career of 6 years or more, and in associate members group, career of one year of less was slightly greater in number. Tour activity status showed that in general, different age groups had similar activities in each tour and players with high school education level had most activities in dream tour, whereas players with university education level had most activities in regular tour. Tour activity according to income level showed that players with income of less than 20 million won had fewest activity in regular tour. On the other hand, among players in dream tour and jump tour, no one had income level exceeding 0.1 billion won.
Second, agent awareness level of professional Korean female golfers showed that players with higher age, education and income had higher awareness level, and players with many years of professional career had high necessity for agents. General patterns of answers when asked about the reasons for employing agents were systematic administration and management, ensuring personal life, protection of player's interests and hightened performance. Expectation level on agents showed players with higher income had higher expectation. In terms of future agent contract, player group with less than a year of career showed highest engagement rate. Also, it was found that lower the player's participating tour class, higher the player's future agent contract engagement rate. Some of the common solutions given when asked about the proper ways that policies should directed to promote the development of golf industry by introducing agent system were expansion of industries related to professional golf, establish scientific and systematic approach to golf management, endeavor to change the mindset of teams and association, develop professional golf agents training program with financial support, endeavor after the popularization of golf, strengthening qualifications to become golf agents, establishing legal foundation to facilitate the system, and finally, search for ways to incorporate amateur golfers as well in the plan.
Third, significant difference was discovered in terms of educational background of professional Korean female golfers regarding awareness of agents. Players with agents showed higher awareness level compared to players without agents.
Fourth, difference in awareness level regarding qualification status showed that regular members had higher awareness of agents compared to associate members, whereas associate members showed higher level compared to regular members in terms of necessity for agents and future contract rate.
Fifth, awareness level in regards to participating tour class showed that higher the class one participate, higher the awareness of agents. On the other hand, necessity for agents and future contract rate were comparatively low in higher class.
Based on aforementioned findings, in order to promote agents system in the world of professional Korean female golfers, professional golf agents pool and reinforcement of agents qualification is needed as well as the legal foundation for golf agents. It is vital to establish close cooperation system among players, teams and agents. Also, legal foundation for golf agents and organization to administer both golfers and agents should be established and endeavors after popularization of golf and expansion of golf related industries should be continued. Also, establishment of scientific and systematic approach to management is essential and finally, ways to incorporate amateur players in the plan should be taken in to account.