Ontario's estimated 2 million golfers can look forward to significantly reducing their green fee costs at their favourite courses this year, thanks to SKINS an innovative golf loyalty program launched today.

Golfers signing up for the SKINS program will receive a free green fee for every five rounds of golf they purchase at the Ontario golf courses participating in the program.

"We've been taken by surprise by the overwhelming support SKINS has already received from golfers, course operators, corporate partners and the RCGA," said Ron Gardner, President of Intelligent Golf Marketing Corp. (IGM) developers of the SKINS program.

The program was conceived by IGM and has been in development for two years. After a successful market test in southwestern Ontario last summer, SKINS will be available to golfers across Ontario during the 2006 golf season. SKINS has received the full support and endorsement of the Royal Canadian Golf Association, the governing body of golf in Canada.

How SKINS works

Golfers pay $15 to sign up for their SKINS card at participating golf courses. New members are then automatically emailed a $10-off green fee voucher for their next round at any participating course and are ready to earn a Skin for every round of golf they purchase at member courses. Earn five Skins at any participating course and you'll receive a free round at that course. Free round certificates are automatically e-mailed to the golfer as soon as they are earned.

Members also earn Eagles on all additional pro shop spending at participating courses. You'll earn one Eagle for every $5 spent over and above what you pay for green fees. Those Eagles get you free gift vouchers to spend as you choose back in the pro shop at that course where earned. Some courses will also award Eagles and free gift vouchers for food and beverage spending at their club.

As an added bonus, members can earn Birdies through various program promotions and from corporate sponsors. Those Birdies can then be converted online at www. myskins.ca for free golf at any course of your choice in the program. If you still have Skins, Eagles and Birdies left unredeemed in your account at the end of the season, they will carry over to the following golf season as long as you remain an active member.

SKINS cards are valid at all participating courses and golfers can go online at any time to check their balances at the courses they have played. A major bonus for golfers is that other family members can apply for cards for the same SKINS card membership for only $2 per additional card. This is a fast way to quickly earn free games at your regular course.

'Easy to use': Myles

"The SKINS program is easy to use and provides golfers with valuable free golf rewards quickly," said Kelly Myles, general manager of the Caledon Country Club.

"The best part is that all the rewards are tracked and issued via the internet. This makes it exceptionally easy for golfers to track their reward status and for the participating golf clubs to redeem the free rounds of golf and merchandise certificates at the club level. The ease and value of the SKINS program, is truly unique," he added.

"I think a loyalty program like SKINS is exactly what golf needs and has needed for the past few years," says Terry Knox, general manager of the Deer Creek Golf Club (Ajax). "We were glad to be one of the first courses on board as part of the Beta Test that was conducted last season. The interest level is high among the golfing public because it's such an excellent value. I am committed to the program for the long run as I see a bright future for SKINS, and I see this sooner rather than later. The program is well on its way with commitment from courses all across Ontario. We'll see SKINS really take off during the upcoming golf season," Knox added.

A number of Ontario golf courses are pooling their resources to offer further incentives to golfers. Over time the program has the potential to channel a significant amount of corporate promotional spending into the golf industry. Many industry experts are predicting that with the value SKINS brings to golfers, golf courses and corporate partners, it will quickly become the dominant loyalty program within the golf industry.

For more information on SKINS you can visit www. myskins.ca