Want Cheaper Golf...just ASK FOR IT!

Self-Promotion warning (rare)
Hi folks.  I have a couple of questions to ask you:

1. Have you ever been asked to come back to a golf course by someone after your round?
2. Have you had a customer service experience that blew your socks off at a golf course?
3. Has a golf course ever asked you for permission to be marketed to?  (email, SMS, etc.)

I realize there's sporadic coupons here and there...but by and large, golf courses seem to be operating on outdated marketing plans.  "We built the course, it's good, and we put coupons out every two weeks, what more can we do?"...seems common place.

Out in CA, there was a company that got you the golfer to sign up for email coupons. (purely viral /word of mouth)  These email coupons contained discounts on rounds including free hot dogs and drinks, etc.  Guess where I played?  Exactly.  You know what, I always bought more food and beverages there too. (Raising the average ticket)

I'm sure that the golf courses either paid a flat fee to the golf marketing company...or they were paid based on the number of rounds that came in as a result of the coupon.  Either way...it's LOW cost and low RISK.

Well, since I reached my breaking point on this topic and since Iowa has so many wonderful golf courses around, I thought I'd replicate that business from CA and created Heartland Golf Marketing.  Here's the deal:

1. There are no courses signed up yet.  My partner is out doing all of the face to face sales/leg work. (I'm officially the techno-nerd behind the scenes).  I'd encourage you to mention Heartland Golf Marketing to your local course to spread the love.  I spent 4 hours creating the blog/wiki/database structure on a Saturday so I'm getting the good end of this deal :)
2. We are in that lovely place where we have a couple of people signed up and cannot say, "Look, there are 1000 golfers just waiting for you to market to them".  I know, "chicken or egg".  Well I love omelets and fried chicken so we'll just have to build these things together and let results speak for themselves.  People will sign up to give it a chance and course will begin to see results when there's critical mass.  Please! If you know a golf course owner or manager, can you grease the skids for us and let them know that we're probably worth talking to!
3. The plan is to create a network that builds value for ALL courses around...not just "Course A".  Many courses will want custom plans just for them with the idea of hoarding the email addresses so only THEY can target the golfers.  While we will work with courses on plans that are specific to their needs, we believe that the greater golfing public will return to YOUR course if you WOW them with value, service, and a "feeling" that is woefully lacking at most places currently.
4. We really don't know what the revenue model will look like.  We're guessing it's $ for each golfer that shows up with the coupon.  This will likely NEVER set the world on fire...but it might pay for a few rounds of golf through the year.  We're in this for a win-win not a rich-rich.
5. Please visit the site, and if you golf, click SIGN UP NOW in the upper right corner.  If something breaks, please let me know.  I realize the site could use some work but this is alpha version.  The right hand nav has some links (thank you typepad pages) to more "why" information.

Thanks very much and I'd appreciate whatever virulent strains of promotion you can throw my way.

Have a great weekend!