GolfSwitch’s expansion in southern Europe continues with some of the most iconic golf courses like Valderrama and Monte Rei joining the GolfSwitch network.
In Spain, Valderrama Golf Club, has joined the GolfSwitch network as they see the potential of providing golfers worldwide improved access to available tee times on the world renowned property. Valderrama is very much a private members club but has a limited number of tee times available for golfers worldwide to step into the footsteps of the world’s best players. Known to all golfers for its European Tour pedigree, it also hosted the 1998 Ryder Cup, when the now deceased but always remembered Seve Ballesteros was the energetic captain to guide the European team to victory. The course has installed the GolfSpain management software system and now has the opportunity to provide members and guests with an online tee time booking facility.
Ricardo Pascual, Managing Director GolfSpain: “Getting a course like Valderrama to use our software gives our company the recognition that we continue to be the Nr. 1 club management system in Spain. Getting them to accept online bookings through GolfSwitch indicates that they also believe the future of tee time bookings is online. This agreement again cements the commitment GolfSpain and GolfSwitch continue to have to allow both individual golfers as trade partners to book golf online in real time in Spain.”
Valderrama joins top Spanish venues like PGA Catalunya, El Saler and Finca Cortesin who both have seen a surge in online bookings as golfers are getting to know and trust the GolfSwitch system.
In the Algarve region of Portugal, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, has joined the increasing group of iconic properties to avail of online technology provided by GolfSwitch. Monte Rei is very much a golfers paradise with tee times every 12 minutes, buggies complimentary and a level of welcome and service seldom seen in Europe. The Jack Nicklaus signature course will test golfers of every skill level and will provide an unforgettable golf experience. Tee times are now available through their site www.monte-rei.com
Also in the Algarve, Quinta do Lago Resort has upgraded their website and while doing so, integrated the GolfSwitch tee time booking engines so now golfers can book all three courses, North, South and Laranjal online through www.quintadolago.com
On Mallorca, Son Gual is now running the GolfSwitch engine for a couple of months and have seen many of their clients find their way to the course through an online booking, adding to the bottom line by allowing golfers to book 24/7 without personal assistance which also results in a significant cost savings and added customer service.
Jo Maes, Managing Director GolfSwitch International Ltd added: “Getting course like Valderrama, El Saler, Finca Cortesin, Monte Rei and Quinta Do Lago online provides golfers worldwide unrivalled access to live tee times on the Iberian Peninsula. Not only are we adding courses but agreements are in the making to expand the network to a number of partners and resellers in various countries in Europe adding exposure for the golf courses and potentially channel hundreds of thousands of golfers to these already connected courses.
“Allowing golfers to book online through the club’s own website is one thing but allowing travel partners, tour operators and other resellers to access these rounds online is probably equally as important. GolfSwitch has the network and the worldwide consensus in the market is that online bookings will only grow as it did in the airline, hotel and rental car sectors.
“The GolfSwitch network is therefore expanding worldwide with more and more courses realising that the future for their business is online, allowing golfers to book rounds, packages, golf passes, specials etc through a variety of online channels.”
“The next big thing in managing available tee time inventory is Yield Management and GolfSwitch has just finished the engine to automate all that. Golf courses start thinking the way airlines and hotels think, pushing a variety of golfers to different times of the week depending on their expectations and demands. Yield Management allows a golf course to set the limits and depending on availability and demand, weather patterns, seasons, advance bookings etc green fee rates will be adjusted automatically to achieve targets the management needs to achieve to maximise revenue.
“GolfSwitch has cemented itself as the world leader in online tee time technology and works very much with the courses allowing them to avail of engines that suit their needs. Our business integrity very much separates us from our competitors where we allow courses to dictate the green fee rate and availability shown.”
GolfSwitch www.golfswitch.com