Golfalot.com, arguably the UK’s leading specialist golf website, scored yet another first in June by reaching the impressive milestone of successfully being online for 5 years. The Golfalot.com concept was conceived in the same year as the 2000 Millennium Open Championship at St Andrews ironically by former St Andrews University graduate, 2 handicap golfer and now the company’s Managing Director Martin Hopley. The site was launched with the specific objective of providing the wider golfing community with high quality, up to the minute, content through the rapidly expanding internet medium.
Martin Hopley explained the background, “As a golfer I was always frustrated that I could not find a single golfing resource for all matters relating to the sport, often relying on many different media channels to find the latest tournament news, new product detail and course information. I was also highly aware of the growing potential of the internet through my experience in the financial services industry and felt a great market opportunity existed.”
Since its launch Golfalot.com has come along way, content is extensive and fresh covering a broad range of subject matter. Two major highlight areas that offer visitors real value are the Unique Equipment Price Comparison Service and the extensive Discount Green Fee Database. A user wanting to purchase a new item of equipment can use the innovative online search system to find the cheapest price and stockist nationally. The database is updated daily and tracks 4500 products across 16 categories ranking price from every national UK retailer.
The Discount Green Fee Database is a big hit with users who can search a national database of UK & Ireland courses, find out what discounts apply at any course, read in depth reviews submitted by Golfalots.com’s users before purchasing a discount green fee voucher online. This facility is proving so popular that it is expected that in 2005 rounds purchased will reach 25,000.
As you would expect from the UK’s leading specialist website there is much more including the latest tournament news, equipment reviews, competitions, betting tips on major events and even the Golfalot Tour, a virtual online golf tour including an order of merit.
Commenting Martin Hopley stressed, “It is quality content that keeps our users coming back and we focus significant effort in ensuring that it remains cutting edge. We are extremely proud of the price comparison service, the most comprehensive available, if you are in the market for a new piece of equipment you would be very wise to check Golfalot.com first.”
The real measure of success for any web based channel is users and the statistics make impressive viewing. May 2005 saw the sites growth trend continue with a record 65,000 unique users, a massive 140% up year on year. Golfalot.com receives over 500,000 page impressions and distributes a weekly newsletter to 13,000 subscribers.
The world of internet media has attracted its fair share of criticism with companies coming and going in abundance. Golfalot.com has defied the trends, and is with out doubt here to stay as it looks forward to the next 5 years.
23 June 2005