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Over the past several years Golfmax has been building internet applications to support the launch of a North
American golf rewards program. Building these applications has involved approximately 25 person years of
effort and an expenditure exceeding $2 Million.
These applications have all been implemented and are now operational. The Golfmax Rewards Program provides
the integrating link among them.
The following summarizes these applications and explains their connection to the Golfmax Rewards Program.
FOR GOLFERS
For golfers, Golfmax operates two consumer websites – Golfmax.ca and Golfmax.com. These sites provide
virtually identical services, themed differently for Canadian (.ca) or American (.com) audiences. The
Canadian site has been operational since 1996, the American site was launched in 2004. Both sites provide
golfers full featured scorekeeping services, including game analysis and ranking. Golfmax has created
and maintains a database of over 30,000 hole-by-hole course/tee records permitting North American
golfers to enter and store their scores online. A variety of other services are offered to golfers.
These include a weekly fantasy pool, an online video academy, discussion forums, and information services.
Over 50,000 golfers are registered as members of Golfmax websites.
In 2005 Golfmax converted to the use of a common currency known as Golfmax Points. Currently, Golfmax
Points can be purchased or won by Golfmax members. A Golfmax Point has an approximate value of one U.S.
cent. Golfmax Points can be used to redeem a variety of golf related products and services including golf
offers posted by golf courses. Each Golfmax member has a Golfmax Points account which functions in real
time for credits, debits and transaction reporting.
The features, services and the functionality associated the golfer websites fit perfectly with the
Golfmax Rewards Program. Participation in the program will require Golfmax registration. For new
members who possess a Golfmax Rewards card, the entry of the card number at the time of registration
is all that will be required. Current members will be able to enter their card number after logging
in. All aspects of transaction recording, reporting, and rewards redemptions can be done within the
existing sites with no significant new development.
FOR GOLF COURSES
GolfmaxOnline is a fully featured web based marketing application available to every North American golf
course. The application offers several marketing services to golf courses including website creation,
customer database creation, target emailing and e-ticketing. The application is also intended to eventually
provide the platform for online group purchasing.
A full accounting system has been built inside GolfmaxOnline. This permits real time debiting for
product/service purchases, and real time credit for the sale of golf. Golf sales are done through
Ticket2Golf, a sophisticated e-ticketing application. Ticket2Golf permits a golf course to post
virtually any type of golf offer for sale to Golfmax members. Golf courses have full discretion
as to what they wish to charge for these offers. This charges, with added administration fees for
Golfmax, are used to calculate a Golfmax Points value for the offer when posted and presented to
golfers. Using their Golfmax Points, golfers can claim these offers and print security coded tickets
which are brought to the golf course for redemption.
In order to participate in the Golfmax Rewards Program, golf courses will be required to pay for
the Golfmax Points being awarded to golfers, transaction fees, and monthly fees. They will also
need to be compensated for rewards claimed and used at their course. All of this functionality
has been built and is available through GolfmaxOnline.
FOR MARKETING
Golfmax maintains two applications which will assist enormously in the marketing of the Golfmax Rewards Program.
Golfmax Where2Play is a publicly available web based listing golf courses, with links to supplemental
information – websites, scorecards, weather, active promotions, and online booking. Each night lists
are updated for 80 Canadian and 170 American regions. Each of these lists has its own URL. The
Where2Play application was introduced in 2006 and has started to gain very significant traffic
from golfers using search engines such as Google. Golfmax Where2Play has already attained status
as the most referenced source of Canadian golf information on the web. Traffic for U.S. pages is
significant and increasing. These pages provide a fabulous mechanism for promoting the Golfmax
Rewards Program and identifying participating golf courses.
The Golfmax Online Tradeshow is a database of suppliers to the golf industry. Although currently
available only for the Canadian golf industry, this site provides an excellent good mechanism for
promoting the Golfmax Rewards Program to golf course operators.
Golfmax also has bulk email applications which, combined with an extensive database of valid email
addresses (golfers, golf course operators, and industry suppliers), will significantly support in
the marketing of the Golfmax Rewards Program.
Supplementary Links
Golfmax.ca
Golfmax.com
Golfmax Points
Ticket2Golf
GolfmaxOnline
Golfmaxwhere2play.ca
Golfmaxwhere2play.com
Golfmax Online Tradeshow
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