This episode features The New Golf Club St Andrews where a video was created to increase their temporary, overseas and UK memberships. The strategy was based on direct marketing principles whereby viewers are encouraged to sign up for further information via email. This allows The New Golf Club to automatically communicate via email using an autoresponder system. This online system leverages the power of video marketing whereby prospects are be converted into members on autopilot.

Over the next few months I will be working closely with the golf club to leverage the power of the internet, email and video marketing to build several large mailing lists of golfers interested in their temporary, overseas and UK memberships.

Here to help promote your business as well.

If you are restaurant, retail shop, professional or service provider in St Andrews who would like to tell your own story on location I can definitely help you using online video marketing strategies. The result will be a customised 1 minute interview style video used to increase conversions on your website and send increased targeted traffic to your website from the major video sharing sites like Youtube.com, DailyMotion.com, Vimeo.com and Metacafe.com.

If you are a little further afield outside St Andrews and Fife I am still in a position to produce a video for your website. I can have a professional voice over artist record a custom script for you, that is then laid over a 30 second photo montage to create increased interaction on your website.

Please visit Facebook.com/HomeofGolfTV and Twitter.com/andybrowngolf if you would like to chat about a video for your business.

The show reel ranges from laughs with Nick Faldo and Prince William, the 18th on the Old Course in the snow, seeing John Gallagher hit the ball cack-handed, enjoying trick shot specialist David Edwards, to hearing great stories from local Old Course caddy John Boyne on the famous Road Hole.

It also includes tips on playing Kingsbarns, to helicopter footage of the courses at St Andrews. In addition Andy profiles the famous 19th hole in St Andrews, namely the Dunvegan Hotel, and takes time to understand how playable hickory clubs are made at the St AndrewsGolf Company.

The show reel also features Musselburgh Old Links, the oldest course in the world, and spends some time with Karl Morris, the mind coach to Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke. Andy also talks to Ross Biddiscombe, author of Golf On The Edge 2.

If you a restaurant, retail shop, professional or service provider who wants to describe your own story on location in a documentary interview style, I can definitely help by producing a custom crafted 1 minute video especially for your web site. For those of you far away I can a professional voice over record a custom script, that is then laid over a 30 second photo montage to produce a great video about your business.

** Special £99 FourBall Offer **

You can book a tee time for 4 players on either The Torrance or Kittocks course until 31st March 2010 for just £99 by calling +44 (0)1334 837023. Further details can be found here.

Cleveland Golf And Srixon Scottish Senior Open

Neil told me that preparing the Torrance Course for the Scottish Senior Open had been challenging for him and his team, involving long days (on course from 4.30am to 9.30pm), unpredictable Scottish weather to contend with and of course lots of hard work. From what I could see Neil and his team’s efforts had definitely paid off. Their attention to detail showed in the condition of the course – it looked fantastic.

The Torrance Course

The Torrance Course was designed by the late Gene Sarazen and winning Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance in 2001, with recent renovations by architect Gary Stephenson. It’s an excellent par 72, 7037 yard course with a beautiful backdrop of the coastal edge and beach, with breathtaking views towards the historic university town of St Andrews.

Neil told me that although the Torrance is marketed as a championship golf course it really does cater for golfers of all abilities. For instance the seniors were playing off 6846 yards, where as the front tees play to 5200 yards. Just 3 miles from St Andrews, the award winning The Fairmont Resort (18th Best Golf Resort in the World by Conde Nast Traveler), offers golfers a luxurious retreat with world class golf. The two courses and 209 room hotel are set in a 520 acre estate, with unique coastal views to the Angus coast and Carnoustie.

Torrance Course Redesign

I’ve played the Torrance Course before several times so I was eager to find out from Neil what changes I could expect to see from the newly designed course. The redesign works included extensive state of the art fairway drainage, all new tees and newly revetted bunkers. Neil also talked me through some of the green and hole modifications which had taken place. The layout has been changed on 8 of the Torrance’s holes, 2 of its’ greens have been moved. The turf from the original 12th hole was moved 50 yards to form what is now hole 14. The 18th green has moved 100 yards south, to create a more uphill and demanding hole with 6 new bunkers. Neil also told me that all of the 4 par 3 holes at the Torrance are very strong. The 11th hole has splendid views of St Andrews in the distance and the 17th features an intimidating 8 foot deep bunker!

Course Conditions

The new Torrance layout offers golfers plenty of variety and challenges with many holes playing in a variety of directions. The first 5 holes cover every direction, north south east and west, and with each one the wind changes will require players to use just about every shot in their bag!

The winds, which are fairly constant at the Torrance, set golfers a bit of a challenge, as do the devilish bunkers, and undulating fairways. As with most courses in St Andrews, when you play the Torrance you will need to master the winds as club selection can make a real difference to your score card here. Neil explained how most golfers, including Sam Torrance, had to adapt their game plan to master the course.

Hosting Golf Events

Since opening in June 2001 the Torrance Course has played host to the Vagliano Trophy, the Red Bull Masterclass, International Pairs, The Partypoker.com International Open and of course the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open. During this episode I also discussed with Neil what an honor it is for the Torrance Course to be nominated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club as a local Open qualifying course for the 2010 Open in St Andrews. He told me that a lot of thought which went into the redesign of the course was with the Open qualifying event in mind.

So if you would like to see some of the professional golfers try to earn their slot in the Open next year get yourself along to the Torrance Course!

Further contact details:

Fairmont St Andrews Golf Courses

St Andrews Bay

St Andrews

KY16 8PN

Telephone Number +44 (0)1334 837023

Fax Number +44 (0)1334 471115

Website: Fairmont.com

Email: Contact here

Finally, the Question of the Day:

When you’re booking a golf holiday what is the most important thing to you. Leave your comments below and we’ll have fun reading them!

The show reel ranges from laughs with Nick Faldo, the 18th on the Old Course in the snow, to hearing great stories from local Old Course caddy John Boyne on the famous Road Hole, to tips on playing Kingsbarns, to helicopter footage of the courses at St Andrews.

In addition I talk to Jack and Sheena at the famous 19th hole in St Andrews, namely the Dunvegan Hotel. I also take time to understand how playable hickory clubs are made at the St Andrews Golf Company.

The show reel also features Musselburgh Old Links, the oldest course in the world, as well as spending some time with Karl Morris, the mind coach to Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

On a sunshine filled February day I took time out to film the very first episode of HomeofGolf.tv.

It was fun to stroll around the 18th and 17th greens before deciding to check out the views over West Sands and the Old Course from The Seafood Restaurant.

As luck would have it Ross Frame, the restaurant manager at The Seafood Restaurant, was kind enough to chat to me about their menu of the day. I always highly recommend a meal at this award winning restaurant.

Afterwards I met Elizabeth Palompo, owner of Cameron House Guest House, who gave me a great insight into when to book accommodation for the 2010 Open Championship and also all year around. Plus I had a chat with American Robbie, a long time patron, about his twice yearly visits to the Home of Golf.

Finally a quick trip to the Castle before wrapping up by the 1st hole on the Old Course.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the first episode. Additionally what is your most memorable Open Championship moment?

Cheers

Andy

P.S. Make sure you don’t miss the next episode by signing up here

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Seafood Restaurant, St Andrews

Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, KY16 9AB
Tel: 01334 479 475

Cameron House, St Andrews

11 Murray Park, St Andrews
Tel: 01334 47 23 06

The Question of the Day:

What is your most memorable Open Championship experience? Please leave your answer in the comments section below. Thank you.