Golfers say Strand grand market
Area receives impressive marks for quality, value in online survey
By Alan Blondin - ablondin@thesunnews.com
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Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday commissioned the National Golf Foundation to conduct a pair of studies over the past two years, and the results give the Grand Strand golf market reason to boast.
In a 2010 study of golf travelers in the United States, Myrtle Beach has been determined as the nation's best destination for quality of golf and value.
The online survey polled more than 5,000 people who inquired about a vacation with Golf Holiday, according to the marketing cooperative's president Bill Golden. Seventy-one percent said the Myrtle Beach area offered a better quality and selection of golf than any other destination, and 60 percent ranked the Strand market better in price and affordability.
In a 2010 study of golf travelers in the United States, Myrtle Beach has been determined as the nation's best destination for quality of golf and value.
The online survey polled more than 5,000 people who inquired about a vacation with Golf Holiday, according to the marketing cooperative's president Bill Golden. Seventy-one percent said the Myrtle Beach area offered a better quality and selection of golf than any other destination, and 60 percent ranked the Strand market better in price and affordability.
"One of the major themes of the research coming through is Myrtle Beach is very well positioned for quality and value," said NGF Senior Vice President Greg Nathan. "We found Myrtle Beach with few areas of vulnerability in terms of attitudes and perceptions among golf travelers. There's really nothing that sticks out in terms of negative attitudes and perceptions keeping people from going."
Nathan planned to present the findings to the Golf Holiday membership Thursday, but his flight was canceled because of inclement weather. The presentation has been rescheduled Tuesday morning at The Breakers hotel.
Last November, NGF President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joe Beditz presented results of a study of 2,058 golfers who traveled in the previous two years or intended to travel in 2010. It suggested Myrtle Beach is as popular as any other destination among golfers in the eastern two-thirds of the United States and manages to retain its customers better than any other location.
"A lot of the [2010] results reinforce and further verify and authenticate the things we found last year," said Nathan, whose organization is a pre-eminent national source for golf data.
The online survey of more than 5,000 golfers in 2010 got respondents through an e-mail that had a link to the survey.
"Our job is to provide unvarnished guidance," Nathan said. "Nobody gains by trying to present the information in a better or worse light than the customer feedback shows. We don't favor any destination in terms of the way the research is done, it just tries to arrive at the most reliable data."
Golden said Golf Holiday has contracted NGF for the studies to learn the market's strengths and weaknesses, and to better understand the habits, tendencies, perceptions and desires of golf travelers.
"The research has been very helpful," Golden said. "It's the second year in a row and the numbers are the same: Myrtle Beach golf is at the top of every category. ... That's all gratifying.
"We're very well branded and our marketing resonates, but we need to do a better job of converting new Myrtle Beach golf vacations."
Nathan planned to present the findings to the Golf Holiday membership Thursday, but his flight was canceled because of inclement weather. The presentation has been rescheduled Tuesday morning at The Breakers hotel.
Last November, NGF President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joe Beditz presented results of a study of 2,058 golfers who traveled in the previous two years or intended to travel in 2010. It suggested Myrtle Beach is as popular as any other destination among golfers in the eastern two-thirds of the United States and manages to retain its customers better than any other location.
"A lot of the [2010] results reinforce and further verify and authenticate the things we found last year," said Nathan, whose organization is a pre-eminent national source for golf data.
The online survey of more than 5,000 golfers in 2010 got respondents through an e-mail that had a link to the survey.
"Our job is to provide unvarnished guidance," Nathan said. "Nobody gains by trying to present the information in a better or worse light than the customer feedback shows. We don't favor any destination in terms of the way the research is done, it just tries to arrive at the most reliable data."
Golden said Golf Holiday has contracted NGF for the studies to learn the market's strengths and weaknesses, and to better understand the habits, tendencies, perceptions and desires of golf travelers.
"The research has been very helpful," Golden said. "It's the second year in a row and the numbers are the same: Myrtle Beach golf is at the top of every category. ... That's all gratifying.
"We're very well branded and our marketing resonates, but we need to do a better job of converting new Myrtle Beach golf vacations."
Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/12/17/1873866/golfers-strand-grand.html#ixzz18kwQPcbN
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