A web site design company is helping a golf club drive down the fairways to success.
Brighton-based Pixel Beach has designed a new site for the East Brighton Golf Club. It was formed six months ago and specialises in providing consultancy, web design and hosting for small businesses in the region.
Managing director Gary Hector said: "Servicing the small businesses market is a good because there aren't as many competing companies.
"If we tried to go for bigger businesses all the time it would be more difficult as every company's after the big accounts because there's more money in them.
"We're just trying to be a one-stop-shop for small businesses"
Mr Hector, who is a member of the club, said personal contacts were important for building a business, adding: "A lot of web design business is contact driven. If you get one good customer it can lead to others."
He first worked on the golf club's site two years ago as a favour but said the club had become more interested in using its web site to benefit its members and boost business.
It was important for businesses and organisations to understand how best to use the internet.
He said: "The club saw the site more as a sales tool to encourage people to take-up golf but it's difficult to judge how many people would do this.
"So we decided to make the site more for members and club professionals. It's good they can check how they've performed in competitions.
"Members can also email the club to request tee times and they can even have their own club email address. The club can update its site whenever they want and post news and articles."
Pixel Beach also helped the club speed things using a broadband connection.
Mr Hector said: "Broadband isn't just about speed. The fact the club's ADSL connection is always on has totally changed the club culture, for example, in the way the pros communicate with the office manager.
"When they used dial-up access, they checked their email about every 45 minutes. Now they use email whenever possible to keep in contact."
He said the club had signed-up with Golf England, the new company set-up by the English Golf Union (EGU) to provide services for clubs, such as online booking of tee-times and a centralised handicap database.
Since leaving his previous job, in which he spent a lot of time of overseas, and set-up Pixel Beach near where he lives, his quality of life had improved.
He has had more time to work on his handicap, which is down to an impressive five.
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