Tee-time booking on net gives golf tourism a boost

The Courier, 7 July 2000

A marketing initiative involving the latest computer technology, which was first launched in St Andrews, is proving to be a significant boost to golf tourism in Scotland.

According to the latest figures released yesterday, more than 90 of the country’s leading golf courses are connected to Golfagent.com, giving visitors from all over the world a massive choice of where they can book a tee-time online 24 hours a day.

The courses participating in the pioneering project - range from world-famous links such as Turnberry and Carnoustie, Open Championship qualifying venues Ladybank and Scotscraig in Fife, to the championship-standard Jubilee Course in St Andrews and Cruden Bay in the north.

The latest to join the system are the 44 courses in the Highlands, including Tain and Golspie.

Thousands of golfers have already taken advantage of the project in the two years since its introduction, and, according to golf chiefs in St Andrews, visitors are using it in ever-increasing numbers - currently at around 400 a month.

Peter Mason, external relations manager with St Andrews Links Trust, said that Golfagent.com offers golf courses the easiest and most effective route to generate bookings through the internet, and at no cost to the clubs themselves.

The St Andrews trust pioneered the service with software developers, Baron Corporation, and initiated its development four years ago.

Mr Mason added, “We were convinced that golf in Scotland needed an overall marketing approach. This initiative should now be a fundamental part of any coordinated strategy for the development of golf tourism.”

Mike Young, deputy director of UK and Ireland marketing for the Scottish Tourist Board, said yesterday, “Anything that brings Scotland’s network of outstanding golf courses closer to visitors is good news for tourism.

“Already, Scottish golf tourism is worth almost £100 million annually and the introduction of websites, like Golfagent.com, will help us make it even more valuable to the Scottish economy."

Golfagent.com is being used by individuals, tourist information centres, hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and tour operators. Its benefits include avoiding the time consuming job of telephoning around several golf clubs looking for tee-times, and it has drawn warm praise from golfers for its simplicity and effectiveness.

American visitor Eric Hansen from Dallas, Texas, said, “I booked four different courses in Scotland in one transaction. It is a great system and hassle-free.”

Golfagent.com is free for golf clubs to join and those taking part receive all the necessary software and instruction. Each club entry has a photograph and features descriptive details, and each has full control over how many times to put on the internet. The availability of tee-times can be added to or removed when required.

Managing secretary at Scotscraig Golf Club, Barrie Liddle, said yesterday, “We have had over 20 bookings since we joined and valued in excess of £1000; It is easy to check bookings.

“We promote it in all our leaflets and adverts encouraging golfers to book.”