Golf clubs are being urged to sign up to a revolutionary new concept that is designed to generate more income for clubs - at no extra cost.

National County Card is free to join and has been launched with the aim of maximising a club’s revenue stream by encouraging members of other courses to take advantage of spare tee times.

The new scheme is available to all private 18-hole golf clubs and allows private golf club members to play courses all over the UK at favourable rates.

And each club that enrols in National County Card will be rewarded with a payment of £5 for every one of their club members that joins the new concept.

Rob Sutton, managing director of National County Card, said: “Our objective is to address the issue of club-discounted green fees, to drive fuller memberships and address some of the inbalances within the golf industry.

“The card is not restricted to areas or counties. All golfers will be verified with their club – if you are not a member of a golf club, you will not be sold a card - and card holders can use it nationally which encourages private golf club members to play courses all over the UK.”
National County Card will be available to all private golf club members with a valid handicap certificate for the cost of just £24 per year from early next year.

Under the terms of the ground-breaking scheme, clubs will dictate the green fee rate for National County Card holders and the times when the card can and cannot be used, ensuring maximum revenue during quiet times without interfering with members’ requirements.

And to help raise awareness of the new concept, National County Card will be backed in 2008 by a mass targeted national advertising campaign throughout 500 golf ranges and clubs as well as a national radio campaign.

Sutton added: “In time we expect tens of thousands of private club members to join the scheme, which will not only reward the golf clubs but also greatly increase course-loading profitability.”

Sutton is also joint managing director of Hi-Tech Media Limited, an innovative media company based in Sale who are reaching more than one million golfers per month via 'Get Noticed' poster sites in golf clubs, ranges, bars and offices.

For more details on National County Card and to enrol your club, please visit www.nationalcountycard.co.uk .

Information for media: Issued by Andrew Tremlett Associates. For more details, please contact Andy Tremlett on 07775 842716 or Pete Simm on 07747 012539, or e-mail ajtrem@aol.com or simm_6@msn.com