International members sign up for St Andrews Golfing Society

The Citizen, 14 January 2000

The new exclusive St Andrews Golfing Society, currently under construction within The Gateway development and scheduled to open in May 2000, has already attracted membership on an international level and enquiries are currently being processed on a daily basis, reported operating company, St Andrews International Limited, this week.

Over 50 per cent of the membership which has been received to date has come from the USA and the remainder from throughout Europe. Interest has been generated from the extensive marketing campaign which commenced at the end of last year, including tailored international direct mail and television advertising on the golf channel in the USA.

The £8 million Gateway development will create a complete visitor complex featuring three integral parts, the St Andrews Golfing Society which has views over the 17th green of the Old Course, the University of St Andrews Museum and Information Centre and The Gateway Conference Venue.

In return for an annual subscription, both international and local members of the St Andrews Golfing Society will be able to relax in the luxury private members club and enjoy the extensive facilities. Members gain use of the exclusive Teppanyaki restaurant, Sushi bar and cigar bar, golf clinic and valeting, golf retail merchandise and use of the business and conference facilities.

Membership of the Society will provide access to tee-off reservation times on some of the finest courses in Scotland, including the new Kingsbarns links course, opening in July 2000 and already recognised as one of the greatest links courses to be created this century.

Geoff Lang, Chief Executive of St Andrews International Limited, explained: "We have been inundated with enquiries since the beginning of the year both through our internet site and via the more formal forms of communication.

"Those members who have already joined the Society have an active interest in golf and want the opportunity to enjoy both business and pleasure in the same visit and have some sense of belonging which they have previously been unable to experience."

The St Andrews Golfing Society will be exhibiting the benefits of the membership during the world's largest golf show - the PGA 2000 Merchandise Show - in Orlando, Florida from February 4-7, and further details on membership can be obtained by visiting the website on www.thegateway-standrews.com