Online Tee Times Ltd (OTL), the UK’s leading internet green fee provider, reports that its online bookings in the first quarter of this year have already eclipsed total bookings for the whole of 2007.
The company now believes the UK online tee time market has finally woken up, after thousands of golfers registered to buy green fees online via its websites www.teetimes.co.uk and www.direct-teetimes.co.uk from January to March.
In a landmark February, tee time bookings increased by a huge 337%, the number of individual rounds booked grew by 284% and the value of green fees bought was 342% higher compared to January.
The huge growth pattern continued through March, and saw OTL’s database of registered users double in size. More than 20 new clubs also signed up to sell their tee times online with the Grantham, Lincolnshire, based company.
Pat Stanford, of Online Teetimes Ltd, said, “We are delighted. There are clear signs now that golfers are increasingly using the internet to book their rounds of golf in the UK. Even allowing for some unusually good February weather, it is a very strong indication that the online tee time market has woken up.”
More than 200 clubs are now selling tee times online with OTL – with many opting to switch their 2for1 voucher times into online offers.
Added Pat, “Clubs tell us that they see online green fee sites as a genuine alternative to 2for1 voucher schemes – which have tied golf clubs to offering 50% off. The internet allows clubs to be much more inventive and flexible with their pricing. Our most successful clubs are offering a range of times to golfers at a wide spread of prices, which presents a much better yield management opportunity.”
New clubs are signing to use OTL’s services every week and the number of rounds the company distributes online is growing every day. Teetimes.co.uk offer golfers the fastest way to book golf on the internet and the widest choice of courses with live tee time deals.
OTL embarked on an extensive email marketing campaign in February to more than 200,000 golfers, which it intends to continue throughout the summer.
“As we increase our marketing, clubs are beginning to implement a variety of green fee prices to see what works – and that’s great,” said Pat. “One club has even been able to increase its base price by 20% in March. This kind of price-testing helps to establish exactly what golfers are prepared to pay for a round – rather than allowing a voucher to dictate it. “
Online Teetimes Ltd, is the leading internet green fee company. It launched TeeTimes.co.uk early last year then launched Direct-teetimes.co.uk in partnership with Direct Golf UK.
Golfers book their golf online with no booking fee and pay at the club when they turn up to play. The golf clubs gets 100% of the revenue.
OTL has sold more than 1.2 million euros of online green fees in Ireland.
Online Teetimes Ltd www.onlineteetimes.co.uk