amateurgolf.com Announces Successful Launch of New Website and Membership Program
16 Feb 2005
see also: , Pete Wlodkowski Profile
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Carlsbad, CA – amateurgolf.com entered its fifth year of operation with a new look, and an interactive website that allows players to post information about their game, their bags, and their tournament achievements. After undergoing a 6-month redesign project with Media Bits, a web development firm in Los Angeles, the site was unveiled on January 1st.
”Our website has always featured the most comprehensive tournament database in the world, and our focus on providing tournament information continues,” said amateurgolf.com Founder Pete Wlodkowski.
”As the volume of tournament data in our database has grown, user-feedback about their ability to find what they are looking for has also increased,” added Wlodkowski. “So we simplified things, and now provide the ability to filter news and information by region.”
In California, amateurgolf.com’s reliability as a tournament information resource has resulted in a strong grass-roots following and credibility with amateur players. These players have become loyal supporters of The amateurgolf.com Tournament Series (15 events with a flagship tournament at Bandon Dunes Oregon in April) and they have embraced the new amateurgolf.com Premium Membership, with an annual subscription fee of $35.00 granting them full access to the website and several new services, plus a subscription to The Golfer Magazine.
”In the first 2 months, we are on track to have over 400 Premium Members, with 25% of them in Southern California,” explained Wlodkowski. “Our hard work on the website over the past four years has really paid off, and it’s going to keep getting better.”
Following is a description of the primary reasons players are choosing to become Premium Members:
TOURNAMENT DATABASE:
Each year, amateurgolf.com updates the site’s tournament database to provide current information on thousands of events around the U.S. This database is much more thorough than a basic calendar – it includes tournament contact information, links to tournament and association websites, and results during and after the event. amateurgolf.com receives thousands of visitors each month directly from the websites of the Northern and Southern California Golf Associations, The Golf Channel, and hundreds of other websites who link to us because of the site’s comprehensive information.
On the ‘new’ amateurgolf.com, users can view data in a number of different ways, all from the same interface. By selecting a region from the pulldown menu at the top, visitors can filter the articles and featured events to those within the region of interest. And by using the 'advanced search' feature of our tournament lookup, users can filter the results to display data in a number of manners. (For example ‘Show all men’s events in California)
MAJORS OF AMATEUR GOLF:
This calendar has always been one of the most-used features of the amateurgolf.com website - relied on by everyone from the college coach with the most NCAA titles to Spencer Levin's mom to view and plan the major events of the year. It's now even better, with detailed course, contact, and eligibility information plus links to the tournament websites of these important events.
Wlodkowski explained:
”One of the most satisfying things in running amateurgolf.com has been the reports of players who got accepted into a major tournament by starting with the information found on amateurgolf.com. You might be surprised at the tournaments you can get into if you have the right information!”
For tournaments, the exposure to players and coaches from outside of their immediate geography has been helpful in building the status of their event.
PLAYER PROFILES:
amateurgolf.com has always had a 'user profile' section of the site, where golfers login and get asked a few questions about their games. But the profile never provided these players with sufficient space to tell the world about themselves. Thousands of amateurgolf.com ‘regulars’ used a limited 'comments' space to input entire golf resumes. Clearly, they wanted to have space to share their achievements, the clubs that make up their perfect set, and the things they enjoy off the course. On the new amateurgolf.com, Premium Members can now build and update their profiles and even upload a personal photo. And we will soon add the ability to email the profile for use as a tournament resume, or just to share with friends and family.
THE GOLFER MAGAZINE:
Included with all paid memberships is a one year subscription to The Golfer Magazine (valued at $24.95) which is one of the best resources for the avid golf traveler. The Golfer celebrates the lifestyle of the game like no other magazine- the classic courses, the great destinations, and the finest equipment, the most intriguing personalities, and the latest trends both on and off the course. We love the stunning photography, elegant design, and evocative writing about golf and the finer things in life. The Emerald Tee Collection of golf resorts features Bandon Dunes, home of The amateurgolf.com Two Man Links Championship.