Birthday Golf is a term given to a round of golf played on or around a golfer's birthday, often a complimentary game given by the golf course as part of a marketing initiative.
In effect the deal is a loss leader as it often requires the birthday player to be accompanied by three other paying golfers and the use of buggies that are to be rented.
Nevertheless, this is an extremely popular initiative offered by many courses throughout the USA and Canada that allows a golf club to build up a database of golfers who are interested in their facilities and allows them to further approach the golfer with other special offers they think will be of interest.
With many sites offering facilities other than golf this initiative allows the club to demonstrate the full breadth of what they have to offer.
The golfer obviously benefits from the deal by getting to play a golf course they may not necessarily have played before and enjoying a memorable day out with friends on their birthday.
The idea usually requires online registration for a day pass or voucher that can be exchanged for free birthday golf on a player's birthday.
In the case of winter birthdays a more suitable time is offered when the weather improves enough to play golf.
As many golf clubs face difficult and uncertain financial futures innovative marketing campaigns such as free birthday golf are ways of further showcasing a golf club to local golfers resulting in return visits and a positive image in local golfing circles.
Memberships are the lifeblood of golf clubs but annual subscriptions are such a significant investment for a golfer that they are highly unlikely to commit to such a major outlay without first having sampled all the facilities available and satisfying themselves that they represent value for money.
A club offering free birthday golf can show off their wares to a good number of potential members when they are at their most relaxed.
Of course there is nothing to stop a golfer registering at more than one golf club's site and subject to the specific terms and conditions a golfer could have quite a birthday golf fest.