Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa’s decision to offer an improved five-star golf club rental service has paid immediate dividends with total hire revenues to date in 2014 up by more than 15.5 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Shortly after announcing that bookings from UK golfers are up by a record 52 per cent this year, the deluxe Sicilian venue has revealed that it has experienced an overall rise of 85 per cent in the number of rounds played with rental clubs since nearly trebling its number of hire sets.
Donnafugata invested in its new range of TaylorMade men’s and ladies’ clubs in February and has reaped the rewards ever since with golfers eager to take advantage of rental prices from as little as €75 for five rounds of golf (sets must be reserved in advance).
Featuring 50 new sets of Rocketballz Stage Two woods and Rocketbladez irons, taking the total number of hire sets to 70, the award-winning venue has seen such an increase that 43 per cent of the total club rentals and 67 per cent of the total rounds played with rental clubs now relate to people booking pre-reserved rental packages.
And with the cost of transporting golf bags increasing each year, the fortunes of Donnafugata are set to flourish even further as travelling golfers seek a cost-effective alternative to paying for rising airline golf bag carriage charges.
Guy Roberts, director of golf at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, said: “With a record number of golfers visiting the resort, it was vital that we upgraded our rental club service to meet the growing needs and demands of our visitors, whilst at the same time increasing the number of rental sets available. This was made possible thanks to the tremendous support received from our supplier ‘Golf Us’.
“We’re delighted with how popular the new service has proved since we launched it at the start of the year. The latest numbers are very encouraging and fully vindicate our decision to invest in the new technology.”
The major increase in golf club rental sets follows in the wake of Donnafugata’s latest booking numbers from the UK golf sector which revealed the resort has taken more bookings than ever before in a calendar year.
And with a number of new services available at the resort, including the opening of new flight routes into Comiso and Catania, new rental club packages and the opening of a new Darren Clarke Centre of Excellence – the first facility of its kind in continental Europe – UK golfers are set to continue flocking to discover Donnafugata in their droves.
Roberts added: “The new figures are a clear illustration that the needs of the modern-day golfer are constantly changing. People still want to experience the joys of playing golf abroad but taking their own clubs is no longer a priority with golf bag charges increasing each year.”
Featuring two 18-hole championship courses – the Parkland and the Links – and extensive practice facilities, Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa has won widespread acclaim across the golf industry since opening in 2010 and was the venue for the 2011 Sicilian Open, won by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.
Located just 20 minutes from Comiso airport and set in the beautiful area of Donnafugata, a natural reserve and famous tourist destination known for the imposing castle which bears the same name, the resort also boasts a number of fantastic historical cities nearby. These include Val di Noto, the heart of Sicilian baroque; Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto and Scicli. All are deemed fitting of UNESCO World Heritage status.
As well as its outstanding golf facilities, Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa has 202 rooms, an award-winning spa and health club, swimming pools and three restaurants offering a broad selection of gastronomic delights, well accompanied by perfect Sicilian wines to enhance flavour.
Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa www.donnafugatagolfresort.com