Golf clubs across the UK are being offered the perfect way to launch the new season thanks to a £250,000 giveaway from National County Card.

Courses signing up to the innovative free scheme for private member clubs and its members before the end of March will receive four complimentary cards worth £100 as a joining gift.

And the hundreds of venues who have already enrolled in National County Card (NCC) will automatically be sent four cards as the popularity of the international scheme continues to grow throughout the United Kingdom.

Rob Sutton, managing director of NCC, said: "We want to reward as many golf club members as possible and bring golf clubs quality visitors throughout 2009.

"NCC is expanding at a rate of knots and it's important that clubs and golfers alike don't miss out on the opportunities available to them."

More than 1,100 courses in the UK, Europe and North America have joined NCC since it was launched last year.

New clubs joining the scheme will be given the cards - which cost £24.95 to buy each and allow private golf club members to play courses throughout the world at discounted rates - and they can be used at the club's discretion.

There are no restrictions on who receives the cards and all that a club has to do to be eligible for the offer is register with NCC before March 31.

Clubs joining the scheme can enjoy a number of other benefits including a complimentary tailored advertising campaign at a nearby driving range - aimed at increasing memberships and visitor levels.

They will also receive a free listing on NCC's website where clubs can promote their facilities, accommodation and special offers and, in addition, will also receive £5 per card sold when their members buy a card to play at any of the clubs that have joined the scheme.

Sutton added: "The NCC scheme has many benefits to golf clubs. It's free for them to come on board and the beauty of giving the cards out is that clubs are totally free to use them at their own discretion.

"It may well be that a club wants to use them as part of its competition prizes, in which case this would directly save them club £100.

"NCC was set up to aid private member clubs and its members and this is another way that we can help out in what are difficult times for everyone."

All members of private member clubs with a valid handicap certificate can buy an NCC card and take advantage of discounted green fees at top venues across the UK, Europe and North America.

NCC offers an impressive list of clubs including Ireland's Druids Glen Golf Resort, San Roque, La Manga and PGA de Catalunya in Spain, The Oceanico Group's seven courses in Portugal and two of the most famous venues in America - the Blue Monster at Doral, Florida, and the Stadium Course at Sawgrass - featuring the infamous 17th hole with its much-feared island green.

For a full list of NCC courses and details on how to join, go to www.nationalcountycard.co.uk or e-mail info@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