Golf-course GPS provider ProLink Solutions that it installed its system at a record number of courses throughout the world in 2007.
Last year, 180 golf courses installed, upgraded or renewed their leases on the industry-leading ProLink GPS system. This marked the largest single-year expansion in the company’s history with a 17.6-percent increase from the 153 courses installed in 2006. A total of 10,642 ProLink GPS units were sold or leased in the United States and abroad during 2007. ProLink now enjoys a presence on five continents across the globe in countries including Scotland, Germany, Dubai, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Japan and England.
Use of ProLink GPS continued growing in key golf territories such as Hawaii, California and Arizona in 2007. Among the high-profile courses and resorts choosing ProLink were the Four Seasons Hualalai (Hawaii), Black Gold Golf Club (California) and the Arizona Biltmore. ProLink also claimed key accounts in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Tidewater GC, Resort Course at Grande Dunes) and New Mexico (Towa Resort, Inn of the Mountain Gods, University of New Mexico). Highly regarded management companies including Florida’s Hampton Golf Inc. and Access Golf of Washington state selected ProLink as the exclusive GPS provider for their properties.
ProLink’ system is now featured at more than 700 golf properties around the world. More than 550 of these courses are equipped with media-ready systems to support the advertising initiatives being launched worldwide. ProLink recently entered an exclusive partnership with ABC New Media Sales to sell national advertising on The ProLink Network, which reaches more than 12 million golfers annually. Through its ProFit program, ProLink is responsible for on-screen ad sales while courses share those revenues.
“ProLink continued its rapid expansion in 2007 thanks to the efforts of our outstanding sales force, innovative screen features that make golf more enjoyable, and the numerous system functions that help course operators boost revenues,” says Lawrence D. Bain, c.e.o. of ProLink Solutions. “Our growth provides further validation of ProLink’s superior technology, service and the value proposition offered to courses.
“Through improved pace-of-play, higher food-and-beverage income, increased tournament play and ad-revenue sharing, courses recognize a significant return when investing in ProLink. As use of our system spreads, advertisers also receive greater access to a demographic they covet - affluent golfers - in a captive setting where ad recall is outstanding.”
Bain also credits ProLink’s continued investment in customer satisfaction for driving success in 2007. “The formation of our Partner Management group yielded great results as we achieved record levels of customer renewals and upgrades,” Bain says. “In a recent independent survey, more than 87 percent of ProLink’s customers said they would refer us to another course.”
ProLink’s 2007 expansion highlighted a year of key developments. The company also acquired ScoreCast, maker of the game’s most widely used tournament scoring software; introduced a real-time scrolling sports ticker to its screens; named Andy Batkin CEO and Chris Kager Executive Vice President of The ProLink Network, its advertising sales division; formed a significant partnership with ABC New Media Sales; and appeared as the Official Distance Measurement System on ESPN2’s broadcast of “People vs. the Pros.”
