The English Golf Union (EGU) has launched a dynamic Internet service, EGU Golf Central, that will transform the way golfers, both in England and overseas, arrange the playing of the game throughout the country.
It is the only online service that is endorsed by the Governing Body of amateur golf in England and has seen exceptional support from clubs during its development and launch. Over 600 clubs are already participating in EGU Golf central, which aims to make playing golf in England more accessible to both club members and visitors.
In only three clicks, golfers can see special offers on green fees, group and society packages, entry forms for open competitions, clubs that have membership vacancies as well as information on all 1900+ clubs in England. EGU Golf Central also provides golf clubs with facilities to help improve their own marketing and communications with their members and visitors.
The EGU has been working with its clubs over the past six months to ensure the service integrates with their day-to-day business operations, making EGU Golf Central easy for them to adopt and in turn ensuring the service delivered to golfers is straightforward and easy to use.
EGU Chief Executive Paul Baxter said: "Promoting and growing the game is a major objective of the EGU. We continue to battle against the perception that golf is inaccessible and expensive when the opposite more often is the case. EGU Golf Central allows any golfer, be they in York or New York, to book the best value golf deals at hundreds of clubs in England, it allows non-club members find membership vacancies and brings the enthusiastic golfer open competitions to play in all over the country."
Baxter continued "In an marketplace that is continually becoming more competitive, EGU Golf Central also provides a great opportunity for our clubs to promote themselves using the leverage of their governing body’s website and communications."
The new service employs unique technology using maps to search for club information rather than the usual alphabetical search. The golfer can choose to look for clubs within a 10, 25 or 50 mile radius and EGU Golf Central will automatically list those clubs within that radius. At a glance golfers can then see which clubs have special offers, open competitions or vacancies as well as general information on each club including directions and local weather.
EGU Golf Central is free for both golfers and clubs to use. The pilot site, which has been running over the past couple of months, has already seen golfers using the service to book special offers and make membership enquiries. In Scotland where SGU Golf Central was launched in March they have also had a great response and have also seen a huge amount of entries to Open Competitions.
EGU Golf Central is available via the English Golf Union website, www.englishgolfunion.org. Once registered, golfers can access special golf deals specifically for them depending on whether they are club members, non-club members or overseas visitors.
Baxter added "There are over 1900 golf courses in England, from well known Championship venues to hidden gems, links and parkland courses. EGU Golf Central is the easiest way for golfers to experience the game all over the country, be it one round with some friends, a society weekend or by entering open competitions. This is a great dynamic, on-line service for members and visitors alike, making it easy for the ordinary golfer to experience great value golf."
Contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500