South African ProLink Distributor Set for Explosive Growth in 2006
(CHANDLER, Ariz.) – ProLink Solutions, a majority-owned subsidiary of Amalgamated Technologies, Inc. (AGMN), the world’s leading provider of Global Positioning Satellite ("GPS") systems to golf courses, announced today that its South African distributor, On Course GPS, had a record fourth quarter in 2005 and is on pace for explosive growth in 2006.
South Africa’s GPS gold standard, On Course GPS installed the state-of-the-art ProLink system at the Arabella Golf Club at the exclusive Arabella Sheraton Western Cape Spa and Resort just outside of Cape Town , the Lost City Golf Course at the world renown tourist destination of Sun City and Zimbali Lodge and Country Club in Kwazulu-Natal managed by Sun International. On Course GPS will continue to deliver the ProLink system to South Africa’s finest golf estates throughout 2006, and high-profile installations for quarters one and two will be announced in the coming months.
"It (2005) was a groundbreaking year for GPS in South Africa and 2006 will bring exponential growth in this burgeoning industry," says Andrew Nelson, President of On Course GPS. "ProLink’s emergence as the global leader in GPS solutions for golf courses and the Royal and Ancient’s decision to permit the use of distance measuring devices in competition will help the South African market to grow substantially over the next 24 months."
On Course GPS recently engaged Eagle Canyon in Johannesburg and Silver Lakes in Pretoria, two of Gauteng’s most exclusive residential golfing estates, and installations are scheduled for February 2006. In addition, On Course GPS is competing for the contract to install Leopard Creek in March and will begin the installation of the ProLink system at the Fancourt Hotel, Country Club and Golf Estate in May 2006.
South Africa’s leading distributor of GPS products, On Course GPS is building the ProLink brand across the country’s golf-rich provinces. The ProLink/On Course GPS partnership is the latest result of intensified demand for the ProLink GPS system worldwide. In addition to On Course GPS, ProLink’s trusted international partners include Elumina, the fastest-growing GPS business in Europe and the Middle East, and Pacific Golf Management, the second largest owner/operator of golf courses in the world and first in Japan.
"We are excited about the dynamic growth On Course GPS has experienced with the ProLink brand," says Lawrence Bain, President and CEO of ProLink Solutions. "Courses with ProLink GPS bolster customers’ experiences and realize incremental revenue – an awesome value proposition."
About On Course GPS
On Course GPS is uniquely positioned to expand ProLink installations at public, private and resort courses in South Africa. With a year-round golf climate, breathtaking scenery, favorable exchange rate and an abundance of complementary activities such as wine routes and safaris, the country has emerged as one of the world’s great golf destinations. Second to the U.S. in residential golf living, South Africa is rapidly increasing its golf course inventory.
Via its innovative financing programs, On Course GPS provides courses with flexible alternatives to install ProLink GPS. Golf courses can purchase ProLink outright or enter a fixed-lease agreement. They can also take advantage of a no-upfront-cost, pay-for-play opportunity whereby the golf course is invoiced on a monthly basis per actual cart round with no minimum guarantee. A small increase in cart fees of $5 per cart round is required and offset to the players.
Further increasing the accessibility of ProLink for all courses in South Africa, On Course GPS has developed an on-screen advertising program through which courses can offset the cost of the system with such revenues. Additionally, a "Corporate Day Package" provides GPS-based administration of tournaments and outings. On Course GPS is attracting advertisers of the highest quality through this exclusive medium that targets high net worth individuals and offers access to the country’s most significant spending power.
ProLink’s industry-leading GPS system boasts a high-resolution, color display unit neatly affixed to each golf cart. The easy-to-read screen displays pinpoint-accurate distances to the hole, as well as vibrant and easy-to-understand graphics of fairways, greens, hazards and other on-course geographical features. Better navigating the course and taking guesswork out of the game aids golfers’ shot selections and, in turn, speeds pace of play. Other features include ordering food and beverage at the touch of a button on the ninth and 18th tees, as well as personal scoring and tournament leaderboards.
With ProLink GPS systems, courses in On Course’s portfolio streamlines operations by optimizing tee-sheet yield and enhancing golf cart wear-and-tear monitoring. Courses are better equipped to manage large tournaments and corporate outings, thus attracting additional events and incremental profits. Through revenue generation, bottom-line savings and overall game-improvement and enjoyment features for golfers, ProLink GPS systems have become a necessary marketing and management tool for private, resort and daily-fee courses.
Course operators say the reliable and robust ProLink GPS system benefits food-and-beverage sales; green and cart fees; innovative and unobtrusive on-screen advertising for local businesses and course merchandise, tournaments and memberships; optimal tee-sheet yield; and marketing a competitive advantage to secure more golf rounds from new and repeat players.
Courses engaging with ProLink Solutions and its distributors substantially lower expenses by not having to hire additional on-course staff or develop costly, cumbersome yardage books. Courses also add up to four rounds per day from pace-of-play improvements, and can control messages from a central computer from which clubhouse staff can issue golfers "speed-up-play" and inclement-weather notices. ProLink GPS systems also allow for quicker reaction to on-course medical emergencies.
About ProLink Solutions
Based in Chandler, Arizona, ProLink Solutions industry-leading technology and marketing richness is installed at more than 700 resort, private and public courses worldwide — more than triple the installations of all its competitors combined. World-famous course partners of ProLink include Valderrama Golf Club in San Roque, Spain, Dai-Takarazuka in Osaka, Japan and Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii.
The world’s largest golf-course management companies, including Pacific Golf Management, Meadowbrook, Kemper Sports, Evergreen Alliance Group and Billy Casper Golf feature ProLink. Via its international distributors, ProLink is also being rapidly adopted throughout Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Japan.
Risks and uncertainties are described in reports filed by AGMN with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
For more information about ProLink, visit www.goprolink.com, call 480.753.2337 or email info@goprolink.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Amalgamated Technologies, Inc. (AGMN). Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of AGMN’s management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. AGMN does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
Contact:
Rich Katz / Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3319 / 803.547.2118
rkatz@billycaspergolf.com
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
