How Donald Trump Won the Presidency with Social Media

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Zeb Welborn

Regardless of how you feel about the election results, you witnessed a drastic shift in the way politics will be handled in the future. Golf courses and businesses should take note of the power and influence Donald Trump was able to yield through social media.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” – Oscar Wilde

Our President-Elect, Donald Trump, made controversial statement after controversial statement throughout the campaign and – every time – our political pundits said he was done. He would not recover.

But, he did recover.

Not only did he recover, but he continued to make more and more controversial statements and each time his influence grew.

His campaign is a testament to the new age of marketing – the power of social media.

Donald Trump’s strategy was to make sure eyes, ears and minds were on him and only him.

His strategy worked and it will work for your golf course.

Trump’s campaign relied on one simple premise:

“There is no such thing as bad publicity…” – Brendan Behan

If you’ve ever thought to yourself social media doesn’t work, it’s a waste of time, or it can’t help to get more golfers playing golf, Trump just proved you wrong. Trump used social media to persuade our country.

In a traditional campaign, any number of Trump’s controversial remarks would have doomed his run for the presidency, yet he thrived.

With each tweet, Trump defied conventional thinking and the reason it worked is because his statements dominated the headlines nearly every day of the campaign election cycle. Every late night talk show host, news anchor, newspaper, magazine and media outlet mentioned Trump on an almost daily basis.

The free press Trump received far surpassed the mentions of Hillary Clinton throughout the entire election. Whether good, or bad, Trump was on the minds of the American people and we have social media to thank.

As the results were being read, many pointed to the fact that this election would “rewrite the history books.” Its ramifications will reverberate throughout the future of political campaigns.

Trump was able to activate an untapped voter base. In the same way, golf courses can use social media to tap into golfers who have considered taking up the game, but haven’t yet.

In every debate, Facebook and Twitter were mentioned – they even had a selfie spot at my polling place.

Those engaging in discussions on Facebook and Twitter permeated news feeds and those who proactively supported or endorsed either candidate influenced our election.

If you’re active on social media you’re an influencer. You have the ability to persuade others to your way of thinking in today’s connected age. If your golf course is active on social media, you have the ability to persuade golfers to choose you over another golf course – OR – to choose golf over another recreational activity.

And when they choose you, you have the ability to generate a “base” of followers who will overwhelmingly support you and your brand. So much so, that they’ll take to Twitter, to Facebook and other social channels to tell everyone just how great your golf course is.

Trump demonstrated the power and appeal of reaching the masses. If you’re not using social media you have zero influence on those people using it. If you use social media, you have the potential to tap into thousands of people on a daily basis to convince them to play golf at your golf course.

Share This Article!

#GolfChat – How to Build a Genuine Community Online by Jeremy White CEO of Connect Golf

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Zeb Welborn

Jeremy White, CEO of Connect Golf

Marketing is, at its simplest, working out what people need and communicating that your product can serve them. Given the barrage of marketing messages, most people are switched off to traditional mediums, so it’s key to build the awareness first and that happens best in places where people are engaged. Mostly online communities. Only then might they switch on and start listening to what you’re saying.

You don’t need a college degree to figure it out. Common sense is all that’s needed and you’ve got that in bucketloads. Plus the courage to actually get out and give it a shot. No doubt there are plenty of history teachers and others who have a good idea to fill a niche, but they never have the guts to quit their jobs and carpe diem the heck out of their idea.

When I started building Connect Golf, I knew it needed to be attached to a community, but also knew communities were, understandably, suspicious of brands. It is also difficult to find communities without agendas. They exist, but it none represent the greater golfing demographic. The bigger social media platforms have some large communities when you look it on pure member numbers. However you can’t filter out the brands and individuals doing not-so-subtle self-promotion stuff or even the randoms posting pics of themselves on their latest golf holiday. Let me rephrase that, you can filter them, but you can’t be bothered. Most members aren’t even active and a post’s visibility is questionable to say the least.

It’s quite a coincidence, but true all the same, that I came to the view that a Twitter chat for golf was needed to solve most of the issues noted above – excepting the occasional and to be honest quite brilliant moderator stunts involving surprise female pro golfers and car brands (I’m a huge marketing cynic, but was happily tweeting with @lexus mentions). I realised that being a wannabe brand, doing it myself would probably lack credibility with participants, but the very next week I came across month 2 of #Golfchat. Problem solved!

Your role, experience, podcast, website, Twitter account etc. is based around the personal brand of Zeb Welborn, so while most people get that part of the exercise is to grow your own brand, they’re fine with that because they can see, hear and read the story behind it. Done for the right reasons and you’re building a no-nonsense community with golf at the core.

At the door to many online golf communities you have to read a heap of rules about what not to do on those platforms or forums, but with #GolfChat there’s none of that, yet people instinctively know how to behave. Yes we all want more business or more subscribers or more readers or more impressions or whatever, but the #GolfChatters generally understand that the way to build a brand via social media is to participate. Just participate and not sell. Pure and simple, we just talk golf and that’s cool from the perspective that we’re not in our usual sales mode. As John from @golfbloggercom would say, we’re just sitting at the #GolfChat bar and talking about the sport.

I’m usually your one paragraph email kinda guy who has a hard time not communicating a sense of rudeness due to brevity, but I look up here and have written a fricking novel about the things you’re doing right. I truly believe that what you’re doing is the best strategy to bring all the golf influencers together on a single platform for discussion.

Sincerely. Well done mate. Two thumbs up.

Jeremy White, CEO Connect Golf

Share This Article!

My Top 82 Golf Twitter Accounts to Follow in 2015

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Zeb Welborn

In preparing for our very first #GolfChat hosted tonight on Twitter, Tuesday, January 6 at 5pm PST. I decided to create a list of my favorite Golf Twitter accounts to follow.

I jokingly say that these are the best of the best golf Twitter accounts to follow in 2015.

My list is not meant to be comprehensive. This is just a list of people who I’ve talked golf with on Twitter over the years. Give them a follow and let them know you found them through this list if you get a chance.

#GolfChat

Check back as I will be updating this list through February, 2015 to include lists like Top 20 Golf Twitter Accounts to Follow, Top 20 PGA Tour Golfers to Follow, Top 20 LPGA Tour Golfers to Follow, Top 20 GK Twitter Accounts to Follow, and much, much more.

(I’ll include links as they become available on the world wide web)

But for now, here are my favorite Twitter accounts to follow:

Bunkers Paradise

@AdamJFonseca – Freelance golf writer. GWAA member. @BunkersParadise contributor. Owner of http://ChicagoDuffer.com .
@BunkersParadise – A Golf Community Who Live, Love & Learn Everything Golf | Golf Club Reviews, Videos, Tips, Giveaways & Lots of Fun!
@BPGolfingGirls – The Official Twitter account for the women of @BunkersPGolf (Bunkers Paradise). Follow for @lpgagolf news, women’s reviews and thoughts. Run by @hugapar
@GolfingWithLee – Community Manager, Partner & Head of Social Media for http://bunkersparadise.com @bunkersparadise | Family, Lakers, Golf & Surf | creator of @lakerfacts
@hugapar – Former LPGA Player helping golfers reach Peak Performance thru Mental Training.#golf Proud 2b on Team @BunkersPGolf as writer/reviewer http://bunkersparadise.com

Defining Success Podcast Interviewees – Over the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some amazing people on The Defining Success Podcast. Here are the golfers I’ve interviewed who have Twitter accounts.

Listen to their interviews at the Defining Success Podcast.

@Hugapar – Former LPGA Player helping golfers reach Peak Performance thru Mental Training.#golf Proud 2b on Team @BunkersPGolf as writer/reviewer http://bunkersparadise.com
@GolfingwithLee – Community Manager, Partner & Head of Social Media for http://bunkersparadise.com @bunkersparadise | Family, Lakers, Golf & Surf | creator of @lakerfacts
@JohnnyGK – Owner/Founder – Golf’s Social Network – GreensKeeper – Mobile App Launching Soon – Company Expansion Planned
@rickyleepotts – Digital Communications Manager for Troon, owner of the Google+ GOLF Community, blogger, beer snob, music fanatic, avid golfer and runner!
@SWINGPlay – Christian, Mother, Wife, LPGA Member, USKG Master & Top Kids Teacher, Founder SWINGplay® Golf Education & Interactive FUNdamental Golf Designs
@theGolfClub – The Golf Club host/producer on 4 radio stations in Hawaii. Streaming live or podcast at http://radiogolfclub.com , @iTunes, @TuneIn or @Stitcher. Member GWAA.
@USGLL1 – Growing the Game
@virgiltourspin – PGA teaching professional/tv/raidio host of Golf Talk America & Talking Golf, Callaway Elite Staff, Public Speaker, Best-Selling Author

Golf Course Industry

@AllenWronowski – Folds of Honor Director of Golf Development and Relations; PGA of America Honorary President and Hall of Fame Member
@AndrewKramer47 – Professional Golfer tryin to birdie my back nine #BeyondTheLinks
@aspittle – Senior Director of Sales & Marketing for @KemperSports Golf Course & Hospitality Management (Pinkberry, Music & Caffeine addict)
@CowanBrew – VP of Sales & Consulting for Box Ventures, GM of Greens CC, Love the Thunder, Sooners & MSM Rockets. These thoughts are mine
@crittendenconf – #Golf, #Insurance and #CRE Conference Experts #CrittREF14, #GolfCon14, #realestate, #Multifamily, #MultiCon15, #MultiWESTCon15, #MedCon15, #CRECon14 #CRECon15
@KemperSports – Golf course management company in Northbrook, Ill. Properties include @BandonDunesGolf, No. 1 Golf Resort, @ChambersBayGolf, @HarborShores and The Prairie Club.
@KevKnutsen – Director of Golf at @elpradogc.
@krisstrauss – VP of Sales & Marketing for Troon. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii. Resides in AZ. Golf fanatic & ASU Sun Devil. (Views are my own).
@NGCOAConference – Registration opens September 29th for the 2015 NGCOA Annual Conference on Feb. 23-26 in San Antonio, TX.
@ntudornelson – Business Development Associate for @KemperSports Golf Course and Hospitality Management
@pgaofamerica – Official tweets of the PGA of America – The world’s largest sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals.
@scpga – Welcome to the official home of the Southern California PGA. Stay tuned for important information, event recaps, photos, & more! Thanks for stopping by!
@TheNGCOA – The National Golf Course Owners Association is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. Get our attention — #NGCOA
@TroonGolf – @rickyleepotts & @krisstrauss tweeting for Troon Golf – The world’s largest golf management company overseeing operations in 34 states and 28 countries.
@TylerPringle – Digital marketing and 3-putt specialist.
@WBOBrien – AZ native living the dream in San Diego. Enjoys man’s best friend, surf, sand and Mexican food.

Golf Courses (Most of these are clients of mine. And if they’re not clients, then they’re good friends.) I personally manage the @ArroyoTrabuco and @sbmunigolf Twitter accounts. Be sure to follow them!

@AnaheimGolf – For a true Southern California golf experience, there’s no better choice than Anaheim with our two beautiful courses and complete range of clubhouse facilities.
@ArroyoTrabuco – High-end golf without the high-end price. Right in your backyard.
@DadMiller_Golf – Come enjoy Anaheim’s most well maintained and price friendly course! With 18 beautiful holes, you’re sure to enjoy the walk :)
@DadMillerGolf – Dad Miller Golf Course 430 N. Gilbert Street Anaheim, CA. 92801
@GolfDWGR – Official page of Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, CA. 36 Holes of Award-Winning Golf, Palm Desert Golf Academy. Scenic Dining, Wedding and Event Venue.
@LosSerranosCC – Los Serranos Country ClubOffers an Unparalleled Golfing Experience. Our Two 18 Hole Championship Golf Courses Appeal to Golfers of all Levels & Ages #LSCC
@MaderasGolf – One of San Diego’s only Golf Digest Top 100 courses for 2013-14, Maderas Golf club is just minutes from downtown San Diego.
@riverviewgolf18 – A family owned and operated 18 hole golf course located in the heart of Orange County California
@RobinsonGolf – LA County’s Upscaled Golf Course. Two Award Winning 18 Hole Courses with A 25,000 Square Foot Club House.
@SanDimasGolf – Official Twitter Site for updates, news and specials from San Dimas Canyon Golf Course in San Dimas, CA
@sbmunigolf – Santa Barbara’s beautiful, walkable, full service, 18-hole community golf course and practice facility.
@sf_golf – Strawberry Farms Golf Club offers Championship Golf in an unmatched natural setting, The OC’s best kept secret for breakfast, lunch & dinner!
@Stevinson_Ranch – Stevinson Ranch Golf Club, located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, is a reasonable driving distance from anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area
@StevinsonRanch – #1 Golf Course & Golf Experience in California!!!

Golf Fanatics

@ADePallo – Philadelphia Born & Raised. U of A Grad #BearDown. Social Media aficionado for @ClevelandGolf & @SrixonGolf. Thoughts are my own.@Petedrotar – USGTF Master Pro/.Fromer Tour Pro/,Owner of Squire Golf/, First Tee Coach /1+Putting/Retired Gunny Sargent /USMC/ VNVet/ U of M /Bama fan!
@golfblogspotUK – Golfblogspot.co.uk is spot on for all the latest golf news, golf scores, results, videos & blogs
@GOLFFOODADDICT – Host of @golfshowirishtv on @irishtv, founder #irishgolfdebate, weekly golf columnist at @thecontel and @airbnbhost. Views my own. Proud Waterfordian.
@HalleeGolfMan – Media Consultant-Maine Today Media, House Of Hallee paintings, Love everything golf, Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics…
@HOGGOLFBLOG – One of the world’s leading golf blogs since 2004
@mgtruth – Allum (nee Colville) I’m a 57yr old wife to Paul, and mother of 2 adult children. I play golf (poorly but obsessively) and I’m a volounteer counsellor.
@mikejtucker00 – Passionate about Scotland and memorable experiences that fully engage all of the senses. Personal account entirely my opinions not representative of my employer
@RuMacDonald – Golf Tourism Scotland Young Person of the Year 2013. Host of a weekly podcast that talks Scottish golf travel – @scotgolfpodcast.
@ScotGolfPodcast – A golf travel podcast & website helping you plan your golf trip to Scotland, The Home of Golf. Listen to the weekly podcast on iTunes: http://ow.ly/28pu3z
@seanogle – Currently doing the stuff most people just talk about doing…
@spin_47 – I am The Editor of @ProGolfNow a division of The @Fansided Network.and Sounds of the Mountains, an Appalachia Music Blog
@TheGolfSpace – One of the first golf bloggers! http://HookedOnGolfBlog.com and http://TheGolfSpace.com – @HOGGOLFBLOGand @thegolfspace Golf expert at http://golf.answers.com

Golf Industry

@2ndGuyGolf – Golf gear with a purpose | 100% of net profits go to charities | Founded by former MLB pitcher Russ Ortiz | #YouBuyWeGive
@3MeninaBunker – Funky, Modern Website designed and run by a group of Golf Mad Lads – Providing Deals & Offers, Course and Equipment reviews, Tips, Industry news & More
@3upgolf – We help you enjoy the game of golf. Family owned and operated.
@AceofClubsGolf – http://www.TheAceofClubs.com – Custom Built Golf Clubs since 1997 http://facebook.com/TheAceofClubsCustomGolf …
@BillConwell – VP – Special Projects @Back9Network – Business Developer with Passion & FUN!
@chandler_colin – I AM A INSPIRATIONAL BLIND GOLFER I HAVE CHOROIDEREMIA http://colinchandler.weebly. com I LIKE GREYHOUNDS HORSES MUSIC FOOTBALL ATHLETICS I INSPIRE
@golfgal – I love playing golf, watching golf, writing about golf, reading about golf, reviewing golf products & courses and helping golf companies market themselves.
@Golflife – Tune In Each Week For Updates from Golf, Golf News, Golf Tips, Equipment, Travel, PGA Tour. Like us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/golflife
@sherylgolf – Business, Marketing Consultant Author of the Pros Guide to Marketing & FUNdamentals of the Party Business
@SouthlandGolf – SoCal’s No. 1 source for golf news, events and entertainment. Tweets from Editor John Dunphy
@TheGolfChick – Obsessing & writing about golf since 2005. (The Golf Chick™) Tweeting about anything.Also @TheGunChick
@wcuebas – Reviewer for http://Golfballed.com / Black Widow Ambassador/#BlessedMan

Golf Instructors

@mentalgolfkeys – Michael Anthony is author of The Mental Keys – Lower Your Score While Driving Your Car – Results Guaranteed.
@SeanLanyiGolf – PGA Playing & Teaching PGA Professional based in Southern California. Partnered with Black Gold GC, TaylorMade Adidas Golf, Matrix Shafts, Sub70USA.

Golfers

@AdamKingsley72 – Sports, sports, sports..Niner Nation.
@EstebanEtoledo – This is Esteban Toledo’s Official twitter account. God bless and look forward to what the future holds for me and my family in 2014.#family#god#ETFF-Foundation
@gmolinarogolf – Born in Italy. Raised in Kenya. ASU Graduate 2012. 2014 @LPGA Rookie #golf #SunDevils #AnimalLover

Greenskeeper.org – I manage the Facebook presence for Greenskeeper.org

@GKCourseReviews – http://Greenskeeper.org is a FREE online golf community providing recent golf course reviews, photos, maintenance alerts – mobile launching July
@GKSoCalGolf – http://Greenskeeper.org is a FREE online golf community providing aeration alerts, golf course reviews, photos, free handicap tracker, and much more!
@GolfNomadBAA – Follow me as I pursue my ultimate goal of playing golf in all 50 states, as well as review courses throughout California.
@Greenskeeperorg – Free online community of over 65,000 golfers. Golf course reviews, aeration alerts, golf specials and more. Mobile coming in September.
@keith6pez – Just another dude.
@ringworld_ace – By day I am a mild mannered Packaging Guru for the Optical Disc (CD and DVD) packaging markets; by night I am just your basic frustrated golfer.
@ringworldGK – Chasing a little white ball, one hole at a time.
@Rob1563GK – Golf Hacker, member, http://Greenskeeper.org , fan of UNLV, Knicks, Braves, Chargers #vegasbaby

Superintendents:

@StephenTucker7 – Works in the Turf Equipment Management business.

My Golf Twitter Accounts

@19thHoleMedia – We help golf courses reach more golfers, build stronger relationships with current ones, all while promoting the game of golf.
@socialgolfcours – The Social Golf Course. 21st Century Golf Course Marketing with Social Media. By Zeb Welborn of 19th Hole Media and John Hakim of http://Greenskeeper.org .
@ZebWelborn – Owner – Welborn Media. Host – Defining Success Podcast. Owner – 19th Hole Media. Author – The Social Golf Course. Entrepreneur, Golfer and Educator. #SocialGolf

If you’ve never participated in a Twitter chat before, learn how to participate in #GolfChat here.

In golf chat we hope to share, discuss and improve the game we all love so dearly, so be ready to bring on your attitude, your insight and your passion for the greatest game every Tuesday night from 5pm to 6pm PST.

Look forward to chatting with you.

This post will be updated regularly to include more Golf Twitter accounts to follow in 2015.

If I missed anyone, please include them in the comments below.

And if I missed you, I’m sorry.

Include your Twitter name in the comments below too!

Share This Article!

Social Media Check-Up for Golf Courses: Are You Doing It Right?

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Zeb Welborn

Most golf course owners and operators know they need to be using the internet to attract new golfers. Most golf course owners and operators know they need to be using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to increase rounds. And yet, most golf course owners and operators are uncertain about how to navigate the online marketplace to reach more golfers, convince them to play more often and spend more money at their golf course.

To help golf course owners and operators, 19th Hole Media has created a Social Media Check-Up for Golf Courses. This check-up should help you understand your online presence and whether or not it can be improved. Although, this Check-Up is only half the equation. We will be giving our Social Media Checklist to subscribers on our email list for free. 19th Hole Media’s Social Media Checklist for Golf Courses– coming soon.

Check out this post to see where your golf course stands. You’ll be well prepared when we send you our Social Media Checklist, a well-organized resource that will help you move forward and develop a plan to step up your social media efforts to the next level. It will be available only to those on our email list. If you know someone that might benefit from our Check list, make sure they join our email list!

Sign up for our email newsletter. You will receive more helpful information like this, and our Social Media Checklist, a well-organized resource that will help you move forward and develop a plan to step up your social media efforts. If you need assistance contact Zeb at (909) 973 – 9089 or Zeb@WelbornMedia.com.

Social Media Check-Up for Golf Courses

Golf Course Website

A golf course’s website should be the online marketing home. You’d be surprised how many golf courses are still without a website, one of my colleagues informed me that he has a list of over 3,000 golf courses that are still without a website . . . so, if your golf course has a website, you’re actually ahead of the curve.

Poor: No website or a website that has limited information, no functionality or is one page with no external links.

Average: Many golf courses are also controlled by management companies. In some cases their online presence is controlled by these larger management companies which is not ideal for a local golf course. The way the internet and online marketing is shifting, it is giving more and more attention to local organizations rather than a large corporate presence. In addition, every golf course is unique and that should be reflected on the website.

Exceptional: The best websites are those that demonstrate the unique character of a golf course, are updated regularly with events/outings/promotions and other course news. These websites also highlight in detail the different activities/events that go on at your course, giving golfers an opportunity to book tee times, contact tournament/banquet coordinators and offer an array of images that depict the ideal experience a patron will have at your golf course. It should also be easy to navigate and look modern.

Some websites to use as an example are: Maderas Golf Club, Stevinson Ranch Golf Club and Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. They demonstrate the unique character of the golf course, are easy to navigate and are updated regularly.

Golf Course Email List

Every golf course should have an email marketing campaign in place. In my experience, the email list has been the most effective way to encourage golfers to make purchasing decisions. When done right an email campaign can have a significant impact on the bottom line. When done wrong, it can turn golfers away.

Poor: Not having an email list is setting up a golf course for failure. If you’re not collecting emails and using those emails to sell your products and services, your competitors will syphon off your golfers through their special offers and discounts. Once you lose a customer, it will become much more difficult to attract more golfers to your course . . . especially without an email list.

Golf courses should think of their email list like an insurance policy that you can call on when times are slow to get new golfers to experience your golf course. Offer exceptional service while they are there and that will increase the number of rounds golfers play at your course.

Average: Most golf courses I’ve encountered are missing two major components to creating an effective email marketing campaign. The first is that they do not have a proactive strategy to get new golfers to sign up for their email list. The second thing most golf courses are missing in their email marketing campaigns is creativity. As individuals, our email inboxes are bombarded with sales messages from all different types of businesses. In order for golfers to open your email they have to have compelling headlines and compelling copy. Emails with generic headlines like, “It’s a Beautiful Day, Come on Out!,” “Special Discount on Golf this Week Only,” or “Check Out this Sunday Golf Special” will get lost in the shuffle because they are not creative, not specific and are obviously sales driven. Most of us delete them immediately.

Exceptional: Golf courses that do their email marketing right are the golf courses who have a proactive strategy to get new golfers to sign up for their email newsletter. I recommend collecting emails:

at the point of sale
through your website
through special contests created for the golfers at the course

Every email you collect can lead to increases in sales. Getting creative in the ways you get golfers to sign up for your email newsletter is a must. Creating compelling headlines and compelling copy will increase the chances your emails are actually read. One golf course that does email marketing really well is the Champions at the Retreat who have emails with headlines like, “The easiest Father’s Day gift is a few clicks away,” “FREE greens fees at Champions Club (not a joke!),” and “THREE entries for the price of one!” The percentage of people who will open these emails is much higher than those mentioned in the average section. If more golfers are compelled to open your emails, then the more golfers will be compelled to take advantage of the call to actions you have in your emails.

Facebook

Poor: Golf courses with a poor Facebook presence are those that do not have one at all, and those who set one up but haven’t updated it in months.

Average: Currently, an average Facebook presence for golf courses is a golf course that updates their Facebook page regularly but has no plans for outreach. Their posts are strictly sales driven, too similar to one another, lack engagement and often are not relevant to the golf course itself.

Exceptional: The best golf courses on Facebook are those that promote the unique character of the golf course, build an engaged community and vary the type of posts they use. These golf courses post pictures, have a creative outreach program to attract new followers, utilize the highly targeted Facebook advertising feature, use copy designed to engage their golfers, follow up with discussions, vary the type of posts, and thank their followers regularly. For examples of golf courses that have an excellent Facebook page, please visit the Arroyo Trabuco, Maderas Golf Club and/or Stevinson Ranch Golf Club Facebook pages.

Blog

A blog is a great way to post relevant content on your website to share with golfers at your golf course.

Poor: A non-existent blog page that delivers no new content to your golfers or followers.

Average: An average golf course blog is one that posts infrequently and doesn’t offer anything of value to your followers.

Exceptional: An exceptional blog highlights all major activities that take place at your golf course. The blog focuses on your core golfers, golf-related groups, and highlights other areas where your golf course can see an increase in revenues, like banquets, weddings, the golf shop or restaurant.

Twitter

Poor: Most golf courses do not use Twitter.

Average: Many of the golf courses that do use a Twitter account only tweet out sales messages. They do not monitor mentions of their course and they make no effort to connect with their golfers on Twitter.

Exceptional: Golf courses that understand how to use Twitter and make the most of it are courses that engage Twitter users who mention their golf course in meaningful discussions. They reach out to golfers who indicate they play golf in the geographic region of the golf course. And they promote the game of golf through their followers. To see an example of a golf course that does a good job on their Twitter presence, check out the Arroyo Trabuco Twitter Account.

YouTube

YouTube is a fantastic visual resource that golf courses should use to remind every golfer how nice it is to be outdoors at the golf course.

Poor: Most golf courses do not use YouTube.

Average: Many golf courses that have set up a YouTube account have a page that contains a scattering of videos with very poor quality that don’t seem to be set up with any clear purpose or goal.

Exeptional: The golf courses that use YouTube well post videos with high-quality audio and video. Each video has a clear call to action or a specific purpose for the video. Excellent videos to include are golf tips to help your golfers, demonstrations of appropriate golf etiquette, testimonials from golfers and commercials promoting your golf course.

Instagram

Instagram is a great platform for reaching out to younger golfers because it’s easily accessed and utilized from any mobile smart phone.

Poor: Non-existent.

Average: Golf courses that use Instagram inconsistently and share boring or poor quality images.

Exceptional: An Instagram account should be posted to daily with unique pictures. If any golfers appear in the photo their Instagram accounts should be tagged. And the copy of every post should include appropriate hashtags and be designed to get users to engage.

Greenskeeper.org, Review Websites, or Other Similar Golfing Communities in Your Geographical Region

Review sites are extremely important for any business. Nowadays there is a lot that a business can do to affect the status of their golf course on the web. Despite this, most golf courses owners and operators visit review sites infrequently and many do not monitor mentions of their golf course at all.

Poor: Never find out what is being said about your golf course online.

Average: The other mistake often made is golf course owners or operators will respond too emotionally or without empathy to negative reviews. This can easily escalate the situation or demonstrate that you’re not interested in the plight of your customers.

Exceptional: An owner or operator that manages their online reputation well is someone who monitors what is said about the golf course and responds to comments, questions or concerns regularly and in a professional manner. They empathize with the customer and respond to situations uniquely.

Being proactive in managing your online reputation will help avoid major issues, can convince golfers to return and encourage more golfers to visit your golf course. These reviews can also indicate trouble areas or areas of strength for your business which can help you build a better business.

Honorable Mention: Pinterest/Vine/Google+/LinkedIn

The previously mentioned platforms are essential for any golf course competing in today’s market to attract new golfers to their golf course. However; an exceptional social media presence requires devoting some of your resources to social media sites which can be of importance for golf courses currently and in the years to come.

Pinterest is excellent to share compelling photos of the golf course, banquet facilities and golfers. An exceptional Pinterest account uses high-quality photos that link to your website and have a lengthy, keyword-rich description for each photo.

Vine is a platform that records brief 6-second videos. You can use these to attract a younger generation of golfers. Encourage your young golfers to create unique and compelling videos at your golf course and you can have a hit marketing tactic on your hands.

Google+ – Unlike Facebook and Twitter, all Google+ updates are indexed by the Google Search Engine. When people are searching for golf-related activities, the more content you have on Google+ and the more connections you have, the more likely your posts will show up in a Google Search. For example, if a golfer who is connected to you on Google+ searches for “California Golf” on Google, something you’ve posted in the past with the words California and Golf may show up at the top of that person’s Google search.

LinkedIn – LinkedIn is for professional contacts. As an Owner, General Manager, Marketing Director or Tournament Director, it’s important to connect with tournament organizers, banquet organizers or influential golfers from your personal account to establish a deeper connection designed to gain more golfers, retain tournaments and share insider information about your golf course to your LinkedIn connections.

Are You Doing It Right?

Creating a strong social media presence can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re starting from scratch, but slowly improving your internet marketing and social media habits can have a drastic impact on your bottom line. If you found our Social Media Check-Up for Golf Courses helpful, please subscribe to the 19th Hole Media Newsletter to get more advice and help on developing your social media presence.

To help you, we’ve created a Golf Course Internet Marketing and Social Media Checklist to help you enhance your golf course marketing efforts and take your golf course to the next level. Contact Zeb at (909) 973 – 9089 or Zeb@WelbornMedia.com if you’d like to get your free social media checklist to see if your online presence is poor, average or exceptional!

Share This Article!

Zeb Welborn on Danielle Tucker’s The Golf Club Radio Show

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Zeb Welborn

Danielle Tucker’s The Golf Club Radio Show ^® broadcasts state-wide talking to Hawaii’s Golf Pros and golfers across America. Danielle interviews sports shrinks, authors, mental coaches and PGA broadcasters.

Danielle Tucker

During the interview, Danielle and Zeb chat about The Social Golf Course and its implications for the golf course industry. We discussed Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and how a golf course can become a social golf course. If you’re interested in listening to the episode you can find it here – Zeb Welborn’s interview with Danielle Tucker . . . Zeb’s interview comes on around the 48 minute mark.

For more about The Social Golf Course, please visit The Social Golf Course website where you can engage in the discussion on what it would take for a golf course to become a social golf course.

In this episode, Danielle interviews Tony Dear, a golf writer from England living in the United States; Michael Patrick Shiels from Michigan’s The Big Show host, aka The Golf Club Travel Guru Extraordinaire; John Hopkins, a golf writer for Global Golf Post for 35 years at The Times and the author of Fore!; Ken Barley, the owner of PhotoBallMarker.com; Bill Fiedler, an account executive from Buffalo Communications; and of course, Zeb Welborn, owner of Welborn Media, host of the Defining Success Podcast, Author of The Social Golf Course, Entrepreneur, Golfer and Educator.

Share This Article!

Zeb Welborn & John Hakim Present at KemperSports Regional Meeting

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Zeb Welborn

Amy Spittle, Regional Sales and Marketing Director at KemperSports Golf Course & Hospitality Management invited John Hakim from Greenskeeper.org and Zeb Welborn from 19th Hole Media were invited to present at the KemperSports Regional Meeting held at Desert Willow Golf Resort.

Zeb Welborn, Amy Spittle, Nichole Tudor Nelson and John Hakim at the KemperSports Regional Golf Meeting at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Springs, California.

The Social Golf Course

In our presentation we discussed our book, The Social Golf Course and its implications for the golf course industry. We shared ideas on how employees can take part in the social media strategy at a golf course, how to use Facebook and Twitter, how to evaluate the ROI of social media, how to increase followers and a brief Q&A session.

KemperSports has an award-winning portfolio that includes nationally-ranked courses and tournament venues. They work to develop and manage a broad range of private clubs, golf resorts, public golf courses and municipal golf courses. They have expanded their management expertise to include conference centers, lodging operations and recreational facilities.

KemperSports continues to be a family-owned business with over 5,500 employees. They’re based in Northbrook, Illinois and operate regional offices in Northern California, Southern California, Dallas, South Florida and Maryland.

The KemperSports Regional Meeting presentation went extremely well and we’re so grateful that Amy gave John and Zeb the opportunity to speak to golf course owners, golf course operators, golf course general managers and golf course marketing directors on the importance of social media. If you’d like John or Zeb to speak at your event, please email Zeb Welborn at Zeb@WelbornMedia.com

Thanks again Amy!

Share This Article!

Friday Foursome with Zeb Welborn from The Social Golf Course

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Zeb Welborn

Immediately following the launch of our book, The Social Golf Course, John Hakim and I headed to Phoenix to meet with Troon Golf, a golf management company located in Phoenix, Arizona. I had been communicating with Ricky Potts through his Google+ Golf Community and randomly, John Hakim scheduled an appointment with Troon Golf and Ricky Potts was in attendance.

We hit it off immediately, sharing ideas about social media, golf and it was a great experience along with a great lunch.

We connected further in conversations on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter until a last-minute dropout on his schedule put me on his show, Friday Foursome which he co-hosts with Jason Boslow and Les Bailey.

It was so much fun talking with Ricky, Jason and Les about my book, The Social Golf Course and we had such a great time chatting that Ricky plans on having both John Hakim and I back at a later date for another Friday Foursome.

During the interview I chat about our book, the future of social media and even answered some random, rapid-fire questions about myself, golf and other random bits of information. Loved the light-hearted tone of the interview and like I said, I had a blast.

A big thanks to Ricky Potts, Troon Golf, Jason Boslow, and Les Bailey for the opportunity to share my book and introduce myself to the Google+ Golf Community.

Share This Article!

How Do We Get More Younger Golfers Playing Golf?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Zeb Welborn

How do we get more younger golfers playing golf?

One of the biggest reasons why the golf industry has been struggling in current years is because we’ve become complacent and lacked innovation. Our times have changed over the past couple of decades and the golf industry, as a whole, has been slow to adapt.

Junior golfers are an important component toward growing the game. As older golfers leave the sport, we need to be inspiring more younger golfers to take up the game to fill in the gaps. In order to do this we need to communicate with a younger generation . . . the way they prefer to communicate.

Traditional media like magazines, newspapers and television ads are not viable options in todays internet and social media age. Young people are using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, YouTube videos and a variety of other to connect and communicate with one another. They are also using those mediums to connect with their passions.

We are not giving young golfers the opportunity to connect with local golf courses and people in the golf community because, for the most part, local golf courses are not socially active online.

We’re missing out on the biggest opportunity of our time and are giving it up to other recreational sports and activities that are seizing this opportunity. If we are to grow golf, we need to connect with younger golfers and speak their language using social media.

At 19th Hole Media, we’re helping to get the word out about social media and the impact it can have on the future of the golf course industry. Please contact us to learn more about how we can get younger golfers playing at your golf course . . . Or, just to connect with us!

Share This Article!

New Marketing Methods for Golf Courses

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Zeb Welborn

The Golf Course industry as a whole is way behind the curve when it comes to promoting the game and encouraging others to play it. As a community, we need to work together to help grow the sport and encourage others to take up the game. We have developed new marketing methods designed to help grow golf by implementing social media policies at local golf courses across the country.

Social media, in particular, Facebook can have a substantial impact on the growth of the game at the local level. Local golf courses need to create a buzz and excitement around the events that are happening at their golf course.

If more golf courses can encourage more golfers in their local areas to take up golf, the golf industry will thrive for decades to come. If we continue to market and promote the game like we have in the past, we will be killing the game we all love so much.

Other recreational sports are using Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms much more effectively than other sports and the golf industry is missing out on opportunities left and right.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help your golf course reach more customers and reach more customers more effectively than other traditional forms of advertising – email me at Zeb@WelbornMedia.com.

I’d also love to hear your thoughts on the video we created for 19th Hole Media – New Marketing Methods for Golf Courses. Please visit our Facebook page to leave your comments for us to see how we can improve our presentation for future videos.

Share This Article!

Do Golfers Use Social Media???

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Lacey Welborn

Do golfers use social media? Read this excerpt from an article we wrote on Welborn Media

Originally posted at WelbornMedia.com by Zeb Welborn

I recently spoke with a General Manager at a golf course who said, “Most of our golfers are 55 and over . . . Do you expect me to believe that golfers over the age of 55 are using Facebook?”

The short answer is YES, golfers over the age of 55 are using Facebook on a regular and consistent basis. In fact, according to a Pew Internet study, more than 57% of Internet users between the ages of 50 and 64 are on social networking sites. To go further, 74% of people making more than $75,000 per year use social media sites and 74% of college graduates use social media sites.

The largest growing demographic on Facebook is the 50 and over crowd. As my 89 year-old grandmother, Lenore Welborn said, “I joined Facebook to keep in touch with my grandchildren. It’s how I keep tabs on them and know what they’re doing.” The over 55′ers began using Facebook to keep in touch with their grandchildren, but are now using Facebook to connect with their interests and are using social media to pursue their own hobbies.

Bob Pouliot and friends

One example is golfer Bob Pouliot who retired years ago and now plays golf almost every day of the week. He connected with our golf course through the Los Serranos Country Club Facebook page and became highly active. Bob contributed 12 articles to the 19th Hole Stories found on the Los Serranos Country Club blog. He encouraged his family and friends to visit each one of the stories he had written about playing golf at his home course. These stories helped to connect him more deeply with the golf course, connected new friends to the course, contributed to an active and vibrant community and increased sales as Bob and his friends began playing at Los Serranos Country Club more and more often.

The General Manager, in the before mentioned comment, is also explaining something very telling of the golf industry as a whole. Golfers are frequenting golf courses less and less often and the response seems to be to cater to the older generation as they are the ones who are playing golf the most right now, but if the golf industry is going to thrive that strategy needs to shift. We need to be thinking about new ways to expose new golfers to the game. We need to start reaching those people in the language they speak and today’s language is social media marketing.

Spend any time with someone under the age of 40 and you’ll understand why social media marketing makes so much sense. Advertise where the eyeballs are.

The younger generation will not be picking up a newspaper or flipping through a magazine, they will be looking online to find out about the things that interest them and if you’re not online you’re missing an opportunity.

As a 31-year old golfer who loves the game of golf, I know how important it is to change the way we reach new golfers . . . By being active on social media and the Internet we can increase play at golf courses all over the country . . . Getting each golf course to implement a social media strategy designed to promote, encourage and enable young golfers to take up the game should be the first and foremost responsibility of any community golf course. Teach the younger generation to love the game and you’ll have customers for life.

If you’re still not sure that social media or Facebook marketing is important for your golf course take a look at the Facebook ”Check-Ins” for your course (even if no one in your organization ever created a Facebook Page for it your golf course will still have one). The “Check-In” feature on Facebook is for Facebook users to indicate that they are currently at your golf course through their mobile phones which then is relayed to all of the family and friends who are connected with them through Facebook.

According to Marketland.com only 10% of Facebook users actively use the “Check-In” feature, so multiply the number of people you’ve had check in to your course since your Facebook page started by ten and that will give you a rough idea of how many golfers at your golf course use Facebook. The number will most certainly surprise you.

At our golf course, a nearby location with a similar name as the golf course severely limited our Facebook page “Check-Ins”, but within 18 months, our sample golf course had 3,202 people “Checking-In” at the golf course. Which, according to the 10% rule, means more than 32,020 Facebook users had physically visited this particular golf course.

Any way you slice it, golfer’s are using social media and more and more golfers will continue to use social media in the upcoming years. At golf courses, we have an amazing opportunity to use social media to develop strategies designed to build a better, more engaging, more interactive sport. Social media will help us to connect with users of all ages and help bring them into this game. While many people consider golf to be an individual sport, the most fun comes from the interactions that occur between people. As David Kramer, Senior Vice President at Los Serranos Country Club once told me, “Golf was the first form of social media,” and in a way, he’s right.

People golf because they can hang out with friends, tell stories and become part of a community. Social media can do that better than anything out there today. If you want your golf course to thrive, you need to build the game of golf, to build the game you need to increase exposure and there’s no better way to increase exposure than by using social media.

So . . . Do golfer’s use social media? According to the National Golf Foundation, 71% of golfers use Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter . . . and that percentage is only getting higher.

If your golf course could use a boost with a stronger social media presence contact Zeb Welborn at (909) 973 – 9089 or by email Zeb@WelbornMedia.com. You can also sign up for our email newsletter which will provide additional tips and advice on how to increase your online presence by filling out our Welborn Social Media Newsletter Sign Up Form.

Share This Article!

Social Media Check-Up for Golf Courses

Golf Course Website

Golf Course Email List

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

Greenskeeper.org, Review Websites, or Other Similar Golfing Communities in Your Geographical Region

Honorable Mention: Pinterest/Vine/Google+/LinkedIn

Are You Doing It Right?

Subscribe to our mailing list