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Promote your Club free of charge in 2009!

Keeping a tight reign on finances has never been more important during these testing economic times and National County Card is offering golf clubs a helping hand in 2009 - by promoting them for free.

The innovative concept, which features more than 1,100 clubs across the world, is giving all private member clubs in the UK the chance to increase visitor numbers and revenue levels at no cost.

By joining National County Card (NCC) for free, clubs will receive a listing on the international scheme’s website (and also on Golf Today - Ed.) giving them access to a series of eye-catching benefits including:

• an advert for your club enticing NCC’s UK and international card holders to play your course when they are in your country/area;
• a section where clubs can promote your facilities, accommodation and offers;
• photographs of your club with your listing.

Rob Sutton, joint managing director of NCC, said: “National County Card was set up to benefit private member clubs and its members and we want to do as much as possible to help during these difficult times.

“Winter is a time when clubs’ membership levels tend to drop off and this, coupled with the credit crunch, could mean that the next few months are more difficult than most.

“This where NCC can help and the beauty about the concept is that it is absolutely free for clubs to join.”

All members of private members clubs with a valid handicap certificate can buy an NCC card and take advantage of discounted green fees at leading venues across the UK, Europe and North America by buying one of the cards for just £24.95. (Click here for more details)

Card holders can achieve major discounts on green fees whether they are travelling on business, weekend breaks or holiday and there is no administration for clubs.

In addition, clubs will also receive £5 per card sold when their members buy a card to play at any of the worldwide clubs that have joined the scheme.

And each club that enrols in NCC will also receive a complimentary tailored advertising campaign at a nearby driving range with the aim of increasing memberships and visitor levels.

Sutton added: “Our advertising network means we can reach around 1.8 million golfers. There are no costs to your club and the free advertising will enable clubs to reach thousands of potential new members and visitors. Nearly every new golfer goes to a driving range before deciding to play a course for the first time. Driving ranges are also a great place to encourage casual, lapsed or ‘new to the area’ golfers back into the game.

“Our campaign has proved very successful in bringing many enquiries and new members to UK clubs and we are keen for as many clubs as possible to reap the rewards that we can offer.”

NCC, which was launched to private member golfers last August, already features an impressive list of clubs in the UK and Ireland including The Oxfordshire, Goodwood, Ashburnham, Castle Knock, The Ring of Kerry and Nefyn & District.

And the exciting course list at home is matched abroad with clubs including San Roque, La Manga and PGA de Catalunya in Spain, all the courses in Mallorca and Tenerife, 18 venues in Turkey’s Belek region and two of the most famous courses in America - the Blue Monster at Doral, Florida and the Stadium Course at Sawgrass - featuring Pete Dye's infamous 17th hole with its much-feared island green.

For more information on how to enrol in NCC and take advantage of the offer, click here.

January 17, 2009