Scottish Golf Courses vs American Golf Courses

The look and play of a golf course can relate to branding very closely. The look of a golf course is everything; just like a product. There are significant differences between golf courses in America and The Home of Golf: Scotland. Not only is the appearance of the golf course different but the goal of the establishments are different.

1) American courses are run more like a business

Many American courses have designed their courses in a way to make as much money as possible. For example, the 9th Hole finishes at the clubhouse so that it gives players the opportunity to get refreshments halfway or it gives some players the option of play only nine holes. A bag drop will be present at most golf courses in the US, forcing players to tip staff to help them with their clubs. 

2) Golf Carts

In Scotland, you walk round. In the US, a cart is normally included if it is not mandatory to have a caddie. By having golf carts, it speeds up plays, allowing golf courses in the US to add more tee times and therefore, increase revenue. 

3) The Bunkers

The bunkers in the US give players almost the same chance of hitting the same shot as they would if they were not in the bunker. Bunkers in Scotland are a real hazard from their and will normally cost the golfer.

4) When American courses are private, they mean private

In Scotland, private just means that it is not run by the government. Private in the US means that there is no way that an individual can play the course if they have not been invited to play it. 

5) A true links experience vs target golf

What does a true links experience mean you may wonder? Using your imagination in every shot: in the trajectory, the shape, having more than one shot in the bag. American golf courses are arguably target golf: it is simply using one swing and one shot around the golf course with very limited course management needed.

Tiger Woods: The Player and The Brand

Tiger Woods is the most well known golfer of all time but apart from his achievements on the golf course, there is more that has built his image into a superstar of the sporting world along with the likes of Roger Federer, Michael Jordan, and Michael Phelps. How has this excitement been developed?

The colour red.

Tiger Woods has always worn a red polo shirt on the final day of every golf tournament; making all of the photographs of Woods with the trophies in a red polo short. Not only has this been a ritual that Tiger has performed as an effort of luck but also Nike have created a huge promotion surrounding this known as Victory Red. It has been so successful that golf viewers get excited when Woods is wearing red because they have previously witnessed the greatest golf shots in history while he wears red. Not only have Nike produced more red in their line of clothing, but they have also brought out a promotional set of golf clubs that are called Nike Victory Red. Tiger Woods is not only a player, but a brand.

The Perfect Time to visit Scotland for Golf

We are currently in a time where the British Pound is at its lowest value in 31 years against the American Dollar in the wake of Brexit. There are many people arguing that there is not a silver lining in the cloud, however, tourism is that silver lining. This is a time where Britain needs to advertise tourism and persuade Americas that this really is the best time to visit.

Golf has went slightly downhill since the 80s in terms of Americans coming to visit Scotland. With air travel back then being the new big thing where it really was becoming possible for Americans to experience true links golf - that novelty is slowly wearing off.

There are enough golf tour operators in Scotland, in fact, there may be too many. The reasoning for the drought in the Scottish golf tourism is the accessibility of the the tour operators. Americans who work and have a busy life are not going to go out of their way to look at golf packages to Scotland. They are going to have just enough time to play golf at their country club at the weekends, therefore tour operators should be there at the most exclusive clubs advertising their packages. Simply go to the most exclusive country clubs in various states in America and advertise the true unique vacation and the Scottish Golf Tourism will be great again.