Start Rant.

One of the frustrations I have experienced over the past few years is the appalling state of golf club web sites. Most start off with the best of intentions of providing a cheap mechanism for communication between the club and its members. Over time they tend to become out-dated and boring and fall out of use. At this point they present dis-information so people do not use them. With no-one using the sites, the clubs stop maintaining. It all becomes a vicious circle.

I have complained to one of my clubs about their crappy web-site, but they did not have the decency to acknowledge receipt of the email. Looking at my other club web-site I see that it has become an advertising board for all of the non-golf activities that are happening.

My daughter was to play in a recent JNJGF event at Campbelltown GC. I went to the web site expecting to find some info on the course – bugger all. Next week the JNJGF are decending on Mollymook/Catalina on the south coast. I thought that the web would be a good place to get some intel on the courses to help in prep – no joy. I know all about the bingo and the courtesy bus but FA about the courses.

Does anyone else agree that the clubs could do better or is it just me.

How about we assemble a list of Golf Club web-site must haves and see where it goes. One suggestion per person – I’ll start

Course info in yardage book format that can be downloaded and printed

End Rant

green fees and cart hire rates. (don’t laugh, i’ve seen a sh1tload that don’t)

Yep we have tried and tried to tell clubs – Houli but they don;t listen. The problem is of course that the people in charge of them have no idea about the internet. They are given the job because they know slightly more then the next person.

There are a bucket load of websites with no pictures of the course, no green fees, no contact details plus I have seen course that don’t even tell you their address!

It’s no different overseas though – we look at course sites around the world on a daily basis and courses that are holding massive Amateur championships and even PGA Tour events barely make mention of the fact and also look like they have not been updated since 1997.

Alot of clubs are stuck with websites they can’t change – that is a big problem. You would not believe the number of courses that don’t have access to their website because the guy who built it has gone AWOL.

When working for an agency that makes websites I approached a local course about updating their site, which was a shambles!

They said they had a friend of a friend that was going to make them a new one, and in fairness that did happen and it was better, a bit! But they dont understand the concept of spending money on a good website and how that can generate income! They always have something more pressing to spend a $1-2000 on!

I don’t think clubs see it as that important. In many ways it’s brochure-ware to them. Maybe the dot com crash put them off too.

Yet many of them (mine included) go to great pains to ensure the shows etc are available on line, but it takes three days for Saturdays results to go up.

Maybe the answer is to “buy” membership to golflink for all club members so results can be checked on line.

Houli, I am 100% with you here. Most of the time I’m just looking for the cost of a green fee and some pics of the course. Shocking the number of sites that don’t even have this info.

I think theWalrus has it. They don’t want to spend the money.

I don’t think it’s money at all – we talk to clubs every day of the week for the past 7 years. In the early days it what “internet” what? And these days it’s “oh yeh I think I have heard of that”. :)

It is a total lack of understanding and when you don’t understand something you just pretend it doesn’t exist. Some embrace it and the most just shrug their shoulders and go back to doing the same thing.

The internet’s almost 16-year-old and has over 75% penetration in Australia – you have to wonder when the penny will drop.

Our favourite quote is “only kids use that”.

Totally agree ADMIN…..a lot of clubs are lethargic in implementing this technology, basically because they are concerned with the ongoing support & technical hitches & possible costs involved!

I’m reasonably lucky, as my club have eventually accepted the inevitable & have a great booking system & informative web-site for members & “googleites”.

I see it as a necessity, so whether you like it or not, its a forgone conclusion that clubs must move in this direction.

VICAR

Houli,

Try using googleearth. It will give you a good view of the course. I understand a lot of the state squads are using it before they go and play a course and the distances are accurate.

I find a lot of people under the age of 45 are still scared of computers (obviously present company excluded) and that is a big reason for the ignorance, having said that my clubs website has fallen by the wayside but to their credit they are getting it fixed and the new site will be up soon.

Vicar....can you post a link to your club for us to see please?

I agree Admin and I’m not saying its just money. What I am saying is that they dont understand how spending a couple of grand on a website will benefit them, which is basically ignorance about how it can help their business.

Anyone in business these days wants a website or at least a web presence, simply because its a form of marketing thats constantly growing. If you dont understand the concept of marketing and how important it is, your fu%$&*d! Unless you have a massive membership I guess….anyone want to start a golf course? Got a few hundred G’s spare?

Northlakes – $2200 a year membership and their website sux… you’d think theys have one of the best!!

Dear Vicar,
please give details of your Club’s web site.

Northlakes – $2200 a year membership and their website sux… you’d think theys have one of the best!!

Political Correctness is doctrine fostered by a delusional minority and by the media,which holds forth the proposition it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

The old one was alot better, alot of the info has been taken down for some reason.

Box Hill GC have just revamped their web-site.

Prominent contact details and links for function and conference bookings. Facilities to make enquiries (membership or other services) within the site itself.

Introductions to the teaching pros and the various options for junior clinics and adult lessons.

PDF Course map. Interactive course guide with pictures of every hole and suggestions on strategy. Gallery with aerial photos of every hole.

Online bookings for member tee-times, including a feature where you can book in your playing partners.

Full lists of competition results – full field + graded.

:) muntz – did we pay you to say that?

Was that your handiwork…? Noticed the gallery had the same format as the pictures on ISG…

If so, nice work guys. ;0)

Noticed a typo on the front page… “Webstite health checks”

Box Hill GC have just revamped their web-site.

Prominent contact details and links for function and conference bookings. Facilities to make enquiries (membership or other services) within the site itself.

Introductions to the teaching pros and the various options for junior clinics and adult lessons.

PDF Course map. Interactive course guide with pictures of every hole and suggestions on strategy. Gallery with aerial photos of every hole.

Online bookings for member tee-times, including a feature where you can book in your playing partners.

Full lists of competition results – full field + graded.

Reverse every natural instinct you have and do just the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing. – BEN HOGAN, POWER GOLF

Muntz
Nice site
couldn’t find fee’s muntz
are they there some where?
am keen for a look.
Kiwi

No Probs : Coolangatta-Tweed Golf Club Website

Thanks ADMIN!!!

My club won’t even support golf link. What hope have we got getting a web site in the first place?

couldn’t find fees muntz, are they there some where?

Looks like not, perhaps they want to keep their options open and only respond to genuine enquiries. I’m sure they will give you the full run-down of fees if you send them an email.

couldn’t find fees muntz, are they there some where?

Looks like not, perhaps they want to keep their options open and only respond to genuine enquiries. I’m sure they will give you the full run-down of fees if you send them an email.

Reverse every natural instinct you have and do just the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing. – BEN HOGAN, POWER GOLF

Unless it is a course that I have a real keen interest in playing, if I can’t see the fees and what’s available at the club while I’m browsing, the interest to ring becomes neglible or non existent.

Share all of the above frustrations – in the age where just about every club is feeling the economic pinch I’m amazed they don’t leverage what is now a very proven and cost effective medium.