Industry News
Golf Link initiative drives increase in play
Every year there are dozens of
initiatives put forward to grow
the game but one of the most
successful of 2012 surprised even the
organisers.
The Lexus Golf Link Cup was
launched last year by Golf Link, the
company which manages Australia’s
handicapping system, to engage
golfers, but ended up encouraging
a very significant increase in
participation among those who signed
up for the event.
More than 35,000 golfers entered
the tournament, which ran over 13
weeks, and statistics confirm that
those 35,000 people played almost
10 per cent more golf during that
time than the corresponding period in
2011.
“The numbers were actually a bit
of a surprise,” says Golf Link CEO
Craig Connelly. “We hoped that
Australian golfers would appreciate
the opportunity to be a part of a new
concept such as this and to get more
than 35,000 golfers to sign up in our
first attempt was a terrific result.”
“And when you compare the number
of rounds played by those same
people in 2011 versus 2012, the
increase is about 10 per cent. There
was a general increase in rounds
played in 2012 across all golfers but
the Lexus Golf Link Cup entrants were
significantly above that curve.”
Once registered at
www.lexuscup.com.au, golfers play
their regular comp golf to qualify.
There were more than 430,000
Lexus Golf Link Cup rounds recorded
between June and the final of the
tournament in November.
Renamed for 2013, The Lexus Cup
powered by Golf Link is a national
competition which is free to enter.
The success of the 2012 event will
see two lots of qualifying Series
staged in the 2013 Lexus Cup, the
first beginning on March 1 and
the second to be held from July 1.
Competitors must play six rounds
The Board of Golf Management Australia (GMA) invites
you to attend the 2013 GMA National Conference. They
have secured an excellent venue in Sydney for this
year’s festivities.
The Conference will be held from Monday 2nd to
Thursday 5th September, 2013 and the host venue will
be the Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney.
Please mark your calendars now to ensure you don’t
miss what will be another outstanding Conference!
Should you require further information, please contact
GMA’s Executive Officer, David Allen [email protected]
8
The Golf Marketing Professionals www.golfindustrycentral.com.au
during each 15 week qualifying period
with grade and womens finalists at
the end of each meeting to play off
for the title at the Royal Melbourne
Golf Club on November 4 – the day
before the Melbourne Cup.
Every golfer who signs up for the
event and plays their 6 rounds also
goes into the draw to win one of two
luxury Lexus IS 250 sedans in each
Series valued at up to $65,000 each.
“With such a successful first year we
are really keen to be even bigger and
better in 2013,” said Connelly.
“Everybody in the industry benefits
when more people play more golf
so hopefully we can help drive even
more increases in rounds