By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited

The latest entrant into the UK’s online tee times market, LiveTeeTimes, launched last week and scored an instant success.

Over 200,000 golfers received the website’s launch email on Tuesday 17th August 2010, and by the end of the week thousands had registered to use the service.

Market pioneer Online Teetimes created the e-commerce website for the UK’s largest golf insurer JRW Group, as an extension to the company’s long-established GreenFree brand.

The partnership came to life in a new website, www.liveteetimes.co.uk, which contains real-time inventory from hundreds of UK golf clubs.

JRW, whose brands also include GolfCare, The Golfers Club, The Matchplay Championship and Strokes Handicap & Game Analysis, will be promoting LiveTeeTimes to its customer database on a regular basis.

Dave Lynchehaun, GreenFree Brand Manager, said: “For the last 10-years GreenFree has been negotiating discounts for golfers, and LiveTeeTimes now means that our customers can now, at certain times of the day, access even better discounts online. That’s what it’s all about here at GreenFree; getting golfers onto the golf course with the best deal possible!

“We are delighted to partner with Online Teetimes in this venture, as we regard them as industry leaders in this market.”

Central to LiveTeeTimes is a booking engine created by Online Teetimes to give golfers powerful search tools to find and book a green fee at almost 400 golf clubs in the United Kingdom. Online Teetimes also designed and built the website, and will maintain both the website and its customer email marketing and data capture programme, for JRW.

“We are in the middle of a stellar golf season for online bookings,” said Online Teetimes Managing Director, Paul Heeney. “Our new partnership with the JRW Group will create more revenue for golf clubs across the country.

“As all revenues from bookings on the LiveTeeTimes website go straight into the golf operator’s hands, it is no surprise that our financial model is proving very popular in the industry.”

For more information see www.liveteetimes.co.uk.

CONTACTS

Dave Lynchehaun, GreenFree david.lynchehaun@thejrwgroup.co.uk, 0161 902 2644

Paul Heeney, Online Teetimes pheeney@onlineteetimes.ie, +353 404 65450

Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited andy@hiseman.com
(MEDIA)    Tel: 01780 757461

Implementing a new retail system

Signed a new client in the North West

Coordinating Management Training on a PMS system

Helping European co find distributors in UK, plus managing their demo video production

Editing article on golf GPS tech, to appear in The PGA Professional magazine

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By Howard Swan, Swan Golf Designs Ltd

Originally laid out in 1903, the delightful course at East Berkshire Golf Club in Crowthorne has now seen two years of renovation under the direction of Swan Golf Designs.

During that time nine holes have been rebunkered in two phases as part of the overall masterplan. At its core is the restoration of the course’s heathland and pure forest character. To this end, extensive woodland management measures have been undertaken to allow more light and airflow to greens and tees, and heather vegetation has been harvested from the course, then propagated and relocated.

Work to bunkers and the natural landscape has been complemented by the reconstruction of tees, plus drainage and irrigation improvements. All has been enhanced by upgraded maintenance and presentation operations undertaken by Course Manager Matthew Nutter and his young greenkeeping team.

Colin Day, East Berkshire’s Secretary, adds:

“We commissioned Swan Golf Designs to bring our bunkering up to the required standards and needs of today’s golfers, yet still retaining the vision of the original course designer at the turn of the last century.

“I truly believe that the Swan design incorporates these wishes, both in the design and build. Too many golf clubs embark upon the cheap route of trying to undertake work themselves and projects end up in a mess. I feel it is vital to call in professionals and to use their expertise.

“Under the guidance of SGD, we employed John Greasley Limited, a well known and experienced golf course construction company, to carry out the ground works. They have worked closely and well with both my Course Manager and his staff to ensure very little disruption or damage to the course.

“My staff have benefited from the skills and knowledge passed on by Swan Golf Designs and John Greasley. In a nutshell I commend the use of professionals if you want a professional finish.”

This coming autumn the nine remaining holes will be rebunkered with further phases likely to follow in 2012 as East Berkshire’s practice and tuition facilities continue to be improved.

By Howard Swan, Swan Golf Designs Limited

June saw Golf at Goodwood host the inaugural Business Fort English PGA Championship. The Downs course, recently renovated under the direction of Swan Golf Designs, was venue to the top club professionals from up and down the country, in what is the English PGA’s premier competition. The course provided a stiff test for the pros, with the lowest score of the week being a four under par 67 of Nevill Golf Club’s James Harris. However, first round leader Harris was overhauled by Woodcote Park’s Ben St John, who posted rounds of 69, 69 and 71 to win by one shot. St John, in his rookie year, said of his successful week: “The course was fabulous. It’s a really tough driving course and I like to think I’m a good driver. That was the key, putting it in the right place on the fairways to attack the flag.