Over the last two years, the golf publisher Strokesport and London consultants Design Alliance Ltd have been collaborating in the development of the Strokesaver brand – the generic name for golf course distance guides.
Now Gary Denham, managing director of Design Alliance, together with his business associates, have acquired Strokesport for an undisclosed sum, along with all UK and Irish rights to the Strokesaver brand. David Duckering, who was the originator of Strokesaver more than 25 years ago, will remain as a consultant to the new owners.
The Strokesaver, launched by Duckering in 1980, was the first definitive golf course distance guide. From the start Strokesaver was approved by the R&A and the publication of the official guide to Royal Liverpool Golf Club for next week’s Open Championship marks the 27th year of this association. Strokesaver ‘championship’ editions show each hole across two pages instead of one. The second page has a detailed map of the green with extra distances and space for caddie notes. As well as on-course sales Strokesavers are available by mail order from Strokesaver Direct www.strokesaverdirect.com
There are now Strokesavers for over 400 courses worldwide. Although in recent years there have been huge advances in photography and mapping techniques, each one is still based on a thorough topographical analysis to create high quality graphics that are exact to the nearest yard. Every slope and hazard (whether sand, water, trees, ditches or worse!), is shown and proportionately scaled to make the guides really easy to use.
As well as details of each hole, every Strokesaver also comes with a scorecard, 18-hole course map and an in-depth history of the course. Certain commemorative editions for events like the Ryder Cup also come with tournament specific information.
Fraser Moore, Strokesaver general manager, said, “For too many years the UK market for golf course distance guides has been over subscribed with poor quality, cheap to produce, imitations of the Strokesaver product. As brand leader, Strokesport has always believed there were strong opportunities for accurate, very high quality, bespoke solutions.
“With the combination of the Design Alliance marketing and design expertise, together with the unique survey and mapping techniques of Strokesport, the company now provides such solutions and is setting new standards.”
The response to these new initiatives has been extremely positive, resulting in both companies increasing their staff levels to meet the demand. Projects for Sunningdale, London Golf Club, Woburn, Prince’s and Royal Mid-Surrey have already been completed and many more are scheduled.
The company will remain at its Paisley office for the foreseeable future and can be contacted at Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley PA1 1TJ Tel 0141 848 1199.
Strokesaver www.strokesaver.co.uk
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