Championship course replaces competitive GPS system and golf cars; equips new Club Car Precedent fleet with industry’s only dashview widescreen GPS display/car control system
AUSTIN, Texas (October 26, 2006) – UpLink Corporation (UpLink), the only provider of widescreen and dashview GPS golf business solutions, announces that Kemper Sports-managed Desert Willow Golf Resort (Desert Willow) in Palm Desert, California, has replaced its existing GPS system with the new INOVA GPS Golf Business Solution and equipped its new fleet of 165 Club Car Precedent vehicles with the industry’s only seamlessly integrated widescreen dashview GPS displays. A 36-hole championship course, Desert Willow was awarded a 4.5/5 rating by Golf Digest Magazine for both 2004 and 2005 and is selected as host for many golf tournaments, including the Frank Sinatra Celebrity.
Desert Willow has already significantly improved customer service and golfer safety through INOVA’s IQLink car control and diagnostic application. "We received a message on our clubhouse computer indicating that a car on course was experiencing battery problems and immediately dispatched a course marshal to the car’s exact location," explains Desert Willow general manager, Rodney Young. "We swapped out the vehicle even though the golfers were unaware of any problems. Good thing we did, because while the golfers continued on with their game, we discovered the battery was melting and burning. Just this instance alone proves that in terms of golfer safety and customer service, INOVA is worth its weight in gold."
IQLink, a completely integrated module for INOVA, enables the course to control car speed, lock down the entire fleet and prevent access to restricted areas. Additionally, IQLink monitors several key diagnostic functions and automatically relays messages to the main clubhouse computer when problems arise. This enables course staff to prevent vehicle problems before they happen and ensure their golfers’ play is not interrupted.
"Desert Willow wanted the best GPS system available, and that’s why they replaced their competitive GPS system with our new INOVA integrated dashview GPS and car control solution," comments Glenn A. Pierce, Jr., president and CEO of UpLink. "We’re thrilled that they’ve not only been able to significantly improve golfer safety and service in such a short period of time, but have already started to realize significant advertising and outing returns with $30,000 in annual sponsorships already booked. And, they expect to double that by the end of their first year of installation."
By installing INOVA’s integrated Tournament Manager and EventLink Advertising Manager applications, Desert Willow is able to significantly improve its tournament experience, secure more outings and book more hole sponsorships.
For more information on UpLink’s INOVA solution, please visit www.uplinkgolf.com or contact Corrine Perry-Rotan at cperry@uplinkgolf.com or 512-637-4884.
About Desert Willow Golf Resort
Desert Willow Golf Resort offers the public the ultimate in California golf vacation with two championship courses, a spectacular clubhouse, and, most of all, incredible views of the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains. A 36-hose championship course with a 41/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine for both 2004 and 2005, Desert Willow is host to a number of tournaments including the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Classic, Subaru Southern CA Team Championship, Pepsi Tour Events and The Prestige at Palm Desert, an official NCAA event consisting of the top sixteen universities. For more information, visit www.desertwillow.com.
About UpLink
Since 1998, Austin, Texas based UpLink Corporation has developed innovative GPS-based business solutions to help golf courses, clubs and resorts across North America engage their golfers, secure their fleets and transform their bottom lines. Considered the fastest growing GPS golf solutions provider in North America, UpLink’s solutions are installed at renowned courses including Walt Disney World Resort and Poppy Hills Golf Course. This year, UpLink introduced a completely new point of view on GPS with INOVA, a total GPS golf business solution offering a number of industry firsts including integrated widescreen dashview or roofview GPS displays, multimedia audio, integrated maintenance vehicle tracking applications and multi-event GPS advertising.
Committed to assisting courses in generating revenue while controlling costs, UpLink offers a turnkey sponsorship program to help courses transform GPS advertising into long-term profit centers. The last 20 courses to use this program averaged over $78,000 in advertising revenue. Moreover, UpLink offers the only GPS solutions with intelligent car control options, addressing key issues of golfer safety, car theft and course damage. Committed to GPS golf industry innovation, UpLink owns a number of patents and is the exclusive GPS partner to leading golf car manufacturer, Club Car, Inc. For more information, visit www.uplinkgolf.com.
Contact:
Corrine Perry-Rotan
Marketing Communications Manager
cperry@uplinkgolf.com
Tel: 512.637.4884
Fax: 512.637.4801