★★★★★ 5/5
“We wanted new members — Marketing Golf delivered 600+ leads fast, with seamless automation and zero stress.”
THE FUTURE OF GOLF CLUB MARKETING.
SETTING A NEW STANDARD.
Trusted by
Author of the Strategic Marketing Guidelines for golf clubs across Australia.
Melissa Ellis
5
YEARS Inside
Golf Clubs
Across Australia, in Marketing & Events roles. I know the challenges from the inside, not just the outside.
18
YEARS Marketing Experience
From running membership campaigns on a shoestring to building global brand launches. I bring both grit and big-picture strategy.
The Real Problems
Holding Clubs Back.
- No clear marketing strategy, just ad-hoc tactics that waste time and money.
- Junior staff, being pulled in all directions and expected to deliver senior-level results.
- Boards demanding growth with no plan to achieve it.
- New member numbers slowing, retention getting harder.
- Empty function spaces and low restaurant covers.
- Digital presence outdated and ineffective.
- Marketing activity happening, but nothing measurable to show for it.
I GET IT.
Why Work With ME Instead of a Marketing Team or Agency?
Most golf clubs either hire someone junior and hope they figure it out…
or outsource to an agency and get generic results.
I’m neither.
I bring the strategy, the execution, and the commercial focus: all in one. I’m an experienced senior marketer, obsessed with golf club marketing, trained in strategy, digital advertising, website design, graphic design, campaign management, leadership.
Here’s how I’m different:
You’re not just getting advice. I do the work.
You won’t get a 40-page PowerPoint and a vague suggestion to “post more on Instagram.” I build your strategy, then actually create the campaigns, write the content, set up the systems, and help your team execute.
No account managers. No handballing. No wait times.
With agencies, you’re often paying for layers of staff who don’t know your business. With me, you’re working directly with the person who knows the golf industry, understands your revenue levers, and gets things done fast.
More cost-effective than hiring in-house.
Instead of a $80K+ salary (plus super, leave, and onboarding) for a Marketing Coordinator at your golf club who still needs external support, you get senior-level capability, backed by a full system, without the overhead.
Specialised in golf.
I don’t have to learn your business. I already know how Australian golf clubs work; what moves the needle, what GMs and boards care about, what members respond to. I’ve worked with clubs across Australia and written the Strategic Marketing Guidelines for Golf Australia. I’m not guessing. I’m applying.
Built for clubs that want clarity, momentum, and results.
You won’t be chasing me, wondering where things are at. You’ll have a plan, a structure, a schedule and a marketing engine that finally runs the way it should.
I’m raising the bar for the whole industry.
This isn’t just about one club at a time. I want golf clubs across Australia to stop scrambling and start scaling. Every club I work with raises the standard — and that lifts the industry as a whole.
Sharing what I’ve learned at the top level.
After leading global brands and campaigns and working alongside the country’s top CMOs, I bring that expertise back to golf. My goal is to make world-class marketing accessible to clubs, so you don’t just keep up — you lead.
Why clubs trust
marketing golf.
- 17+ years' marketing experience across Australia’s leading brands
- Real golf club operations experience, I’ve lived it, working in golf clubs, not just studied it
- Practical, strategic marketing, no guesswork and no jargon
- Partnership with Golf Australia backing our credibility
- Focused on measurable growth, not just "awareness"
- Because I set the benchmark. I’m here to raise the standard of golf club marketing — and your club deserves to be part of that change
CASE STUDY.
Cromer Golf Club set out to grow their women’s membership with a fresh approach. Instead of the usual “golf is serious” message, this campaign tapped into what truly attracts women to the sport — community, fun, friendship, and staying active.
We built a membership drive targeting women within a 10km radius of the club, welcoming all playing levels — from complete beginners to long-time golfers. The creative focused on connection, belonging, and the social side of golf, positioning Cromer as the place to meet new people, build friendships, and enjoy the game at your own pace.
This community-first strategy cut through, driving record visibility and an unprecedented volume of leads for the club.
★★★★★ 5/5
“Our objective was to enhance our club’s visibility and attract new membership leads. Marketing Golf has exceeded our expectations by accomplishing precisely that – we’ve experienced an influx of membership leads like never before.
In just 10 months, we’ve welcomed over 600 new leads into our network, all efficiently communicated with via our email platform. The streamlined email automation has eliminated the need for additional staff to manage inquiries.
The process is seamless and straightforward, consistently bringing in new leads. We highly recommend Marketing Golf for any golf club seeking remarkable results.”
Results.
638
leads
$15.33
cost per lead
506,000
impressions
$9783
ad spend
82,414
REACH
ABOUT.
Hi, I’m Mariela Zaharija — Founder of Marketing Golf.
I started my career inside golf clubs in Marketing and Events roles. Big KPIs. Tiny budgets. No clear strategy. Just pressure to somehow make it all work. I ran membership drives, filled dining rooms, filled tee sheets with corporate golf days, booked weddings, and learned the hard way how to stretch every dollar and still deliver results.
And while I love golf, I’ll be honest — I’m a very average golfer. I play for the enjoyment, not to win comps. What I truly fell in love with was the community — the way clubs bring people together, create belonging, and build memories both on and off the course.
But I wanted to learn more. So I stepped out of the club world and into senior marketing leadership — working under some of Australia’s best CMOs, leading global teams, and running multi-million-dollar campaigns. I learned how the world’s sharpest marketers think about growth, strategy, and execution at scale.
Fast forward 18 years, and I’ve brought all that back to golf. I wrote the Strategic Marketing Guidelines for Golf Australia, helping set a new benchmark for how clubs approach growth. And now, through Marketing Golf, I partner with General Managers to raise the standard of marketing across the industry.
Because clubs don’t just need more ideas. They need:
Strategy that works
Foundations that last
Campaigns that deliver
Mentoring that grows their people
I believe golf clubs deserve better marketing — not just for visibility, but for building stronger communities, sustainable growth, and a thriving future for the sport. That’s why I do what I do.
If you’re a GM ready to raise the bar, let’s talk.
setup services.
strategy + BRand
Brand + Marketing Strategy
Your club’s complete brand & marketing strategy, built to grow. We give you clarity, structure, and a plan that works:
- Discovery with GM + key stakeholders
- Full brand, website & campaign audit
- Member profiling, SWOT & revenue mapping
- Customer journey mapped across golf, dining & events
- Brand positioning, messaging & tone of voice
- Editable calendar, templates & tools
- 12-month strategy + campaign roadmap
- Handover workshop + post-delivery support
Annual Marketing Plan
A fresh strategy, realigned to your club’s goals. We reset your campaigns so every touchpoint drives member retention and growth:
- Goals & revenue alignment check-in
- Refreshed 12-month campaign strategy
- Customer journey audit & updates
- Key themes, offers & seasonal planning
- Channel + content calendar
- Editable templates + handover session
- Post-delivery Q&A support
Foundations Setup
Your marketing foundations — designed, built, and systemised. A complete done-for-you creative and content setup, with everything your team needs to run marketing in-house.
- Full club brochure
- Social media tile designs (carousel, promos, stories)
- Email header graphics
- Wedding, corporate & social event brochures (designed + copywritten)
- Branded food & beverage menus (editable Canva format)
- Photography guide + system to capture and organise club content
- Canva Pro workspace brand setup
- Brand guidelines
- Final content uploaded to website & Google Business Profile, print jobs coordinated
Marketing Systems Transformation
Your club’s marketing, automated and accelerated. This package sets up the enquiry bots, automations, and reporting systems that save hours every week while driving long-term growth.
- Enquiry automation → Website bots with instant replies, brochure delivery, and free round offers for membership, weddings, dining, and events — with alerts to staff for fast follow-up.
- Onboarding & retention flows → Automated journeys to welcome new members, re-engage lapsed ones, and trigger reminders when members haven’t visited.
- Reviews & referrals → Smart follow-ups that request Google reviews and prompt members, diners, and event hosts to refer friends.
- Campaign Assistant → Acts as your AI copywriter and design briefer, giving you the copy, headlines, and asset directions so your coordinator can execute faster.
- Content tools → Newsletter drafts, weekly social post suggestions, and video captions built automatically from club content.
- Performance dashboard → Looker Studio tracks every touchpoint — website, email, socials, reviews, campaigns, and ads (if running).
- AI insights & reporting → Monthly plain-English reports explain results and recommend what to do more or less of.
- Training & support → Staff trained on systems with 3 months’ post-launch support to fine-tune.
Campaign Management
Your next campaign — planned, built, and launched. A fully managed campaign across digital, print, and email — optimised for every stage of the member journey.
- Campaign strategy + messaging development
- Meta ads copy + setup
- 8-part email sequence
- Landing page + flyer design
- Letterbox drop coordination
- Communication through local business partnerships
- Looker Studio dashboard
- 8-week ad monitoring + performance report
my marketing manager.
Full marketing services
Custom retainers available, based on your requirements. Minimum 12 month commitment.
Starter Retainer
Your core golf club marketing, delivered every month. Stay active, on-brand, and visible without hiring in-house. This monthly retainer keeps campaigns, content, and comms running smoothly — so your club stays engaged and growing.
- Monthly online WIP call
- Social media management (2 branded posts per week)
- 1 eDM per month: written, designed, and tracked
- Activation of up to 4 key campaigns per year
- Campaign creative development (print + digital)
- Automated 12-month campaign planner with reminders
- Website updates for campaigns (homepage, What’s On, campaign pages)
- Monthly snapshot report (email, social, campaign performance)
- WhatsApp + email access for quick approvals & updates
- Coordination and client communication across all tasks
Pro Retainer
Your club’s full marketing department — outsourced, streamlined, done. Perfect for clubs that need senior-level marketing leadership and hands-on execution. More campaigns, deeper strategy, higher performance — without hiring in-house. Includes everything in Starter, plus:
- 4 additional campaigns activated per year
- 1 additional eDM per month (with list segmentation + targeting)
- Meta Ads creation, testing & ongoing optimisation
- Automated email flows (welcome journeys, enquiry follow-ups, more)
- Creative development for campaign ads
- Quarterly strategy + performance review sessions
- Quarterly board report — polished, clear, results-focused
my cmo.
mentoring your team
Custom retainers available, based on your requirements. Minimum 6 month commitment.
Mentor Program
1:1 senior marketing support to guide your team. Perfect for golf clubs with a marketing coordinator or team member who needs structure, confidence, and direction. I coach, review, and prioritise — so your in-house marketer grows while delivering real results.
- 1:1 monthly mentoring session
- Weekly task direction + prioritisation
- Campaign & content reviews
- Feedback on emails, flyers, social posts
- Monthly performance check-in
- Editable tools & templates
- Social calendar templates
- Campaign planning frameworks
- Email & WhatsApp access for questions
- Guidance on strategy, timing & execution
- Confidence-building & upskilling
- Light support with reporting & data interpretation
- Support tailored to your team’s skill level & club goals
not sure where to start?
Take the 3-minute Club Marketing Health Check below, to find out exactly what your club needs to grow.
Project work + custom support.
Need help with a one-off project? I’ve got you.
From campaign execution to events coordination, I offer hands-on support for busy GMs and teams who want results without the back-and-forth. If it needs to be done right, I’ll take care of it, fast, smart, and on brand.
What I can support you with:
- Brand Refresh or Repositioning - Refine your brand identity, messaging, tone, and creative direction to reflect your club's vision and attract the right audience.
- Function & Wedding Marketing Overhaul - Rework your entire events marketing, packages, design, copy, digital presence, lead follow-up, and advertising.
- Dining Revenue Growth Campaign - A strategic campaign to drive weekday and low-season dining traffic through Meta ads, local marketing, email, and flyer distribution.
- Customer Journey Mapping & Automation Setup - Map every member and guest interaction from first contact to loyal returner, and automate the follow-up with smart, segmented flows.
- New Member Welcome & Onboarding Experience - Build and implement a best-practice onboarding journey that boosts engagement and retention in the critical first 90 days.
- Annual Communications & Content Plan - A fully custom calendar that maps out what to promote, when, and how, aligned to your season, goals, and events.
- Club Website Review + Redesign - Deep-dive into your current site with practical UX, SEO, and messaging improvement and redesign.
- Google Ads or Meta Ads Setup (One-Off) - Build, launch, and optimise a performance-driven ad campaign with pixel tracking and Looker Studio reporting.
- Marketing Audit & Executive Recommendations - A strategic review of your full marketing setup: brand, comms, digital, automation, with actionable, prioritised next steps.
- Marketing Playbook Build for In-House Teams - Create a plug-and-play resource with campaign templates, brand voice, content guides, email flows, and rollout checklists.
- Event Marketing & Coordination - Plan and promote events that deliver. From corporate golf days and tournaments to open days and member events. Includes event strategy, promotion, collateral design, registration setup, and on-the-day coordination support (as needed).
- Photography & Video Shoot - Manage the whole process: including briefing, shot list, creative direction, talent coordination, and final asset usage plans.
Every project is scoped and priced individually, based on what you need.
You get sharp creative, senior marketing strategy for your golf club with fast execution.
Investing in proper marketing now, means more members,
stronger retention and less stress later.
frequently asked questions.
Most agencies don’t understand golf. I do, because I worked inside clubs, delivered marketing without a roadmap, and learned what actually works.
Marketing Golf combines real industry insight with senior-level marketing expertise to deliver clear strategy, hands-on support, and real results.
No guesswork. Just proper marketing for golf clubs, for all areas of marketing including marketing strategy, brand strategy, audience research, member research, customer journey mapping, digital transformations, website redesign, facebook ads, google ads.
I work with private, public, and semi-private golf clubs across Australia and New Zealand.
If you want to grow membership, attract more events, increase engagement, or modernise your marketing along with exploring automation and AI for your golf club — we’ll likely be a great fit.
Younger members need more than pretty photos — they want relevance. We shift the messaging away from just course quality and focus on lifestyle, flexibility, community, and perks. Think: video reels that show the vibe, not just the view. Lead ads with flexible trial offers. Emails that speak their language. And member spotlights that reflect real people. We’ve helped clubs drop their average age, fill younger categories, and build long-term retention.
That’s exactly what we do. Marketing Golf acts as your outsourced marketing department — with senior-level experience, fast execution, and full-stack capability. Whether you need strategy, monthly campaigns, advertising, or email flows, we handle it all. You get the equivalent of a Head of Marketing and a full team — without the overhead or the slow hiring process.
Growing membership starts with a strategy that’s clear, compelling, and consistent — across every channel. At Marketing Golf, we map the full member journey: from awareness campaigns to lead magnets to onboarding and retention. Whether you’re targeting younger players, families, women, or re-engaging lapsed members, we build targeted digital campaigns (Meta, Google), content, and email flows that do the heavy lifting. The goal? A pipeline of the right members, not just anyone who swings a club.
Every club is different, but we typically start with a brand and marketing strategy (your foundation), followed by campaign planning, paid ads, emails, landing pages, and social content. Depending on your retainer level, we also handle seasonal promotions, website updates, design work, automation setup, and even brief your photographers. You don’t need to juggle agencies or freelancers — we handle it all under one roof.
Perfect — I can work alongside your team as a strategic lead or campaign advisor.
Think of me as your club’s senior marketing director on-call: guiding the big picture, refining campaigns, and keeping everything aligned to growth.
Yes. Our Brand + Marketing Strategy includes a comprehensive brand strategy, a full 12-month marketing calendar, campaign frameworks, and recommendations mapped to your club’s commercial goals. We also include a board-facing summary so decision-makers can see where the value lies. It’s everything you need to move forward with clarity — whether we execute it or you use it internally. We also offer this separately as an Annual Marketing Plan.
Both.
Some clubs bring me in for one-off strategy, rebrands or campaigns. Others work with me month-to-month for implementation and ongoing guidance.
We’ll tailor the engagement to what you need — not force you into a locked-in retainer.
Yes — digital strategy is a core part of what I do.
I help clubs set up or improve their Google Ads, social media advertising, SEO, email marketing, website conversions, and lead generation campaigns.
Everything is tailored to your club’s goals and local market.
Absolutely — membership growth is one of the most common reasons clubs engage me.
I help identify the right audience, create offers that resonate, and build multi-channel campaigns that attract and retain members — without discounting or guesswork.
Yes — because it’s easier (and cheaper) to keep a member than win a new one.
I design retention strategies that focus on communication, automation, feedback loops, and the overall member experience.
This ensures your marketing supports both growth and longevity.
Absolutely — because we have actually worked inside golf clubs, we’ve delivered campaigns that flood inboxes with function enquiries and triple weekday dining bookings. Whether it’s weddings, corporate golf days, or Friday night steak specials, we craft offers, write ads, design print and digital assets, build landing pages, set up lead capture forms, and run retargeting. We know how to sell every corner of your club, not just golf.
Yes — I help clubs position their venue and offerings to attract more corporate events, sponsors, and golf days.
This includes promotional campaigns, pitch decks, landing pages, and email outreach strategies that actually drive leads.
Yes — I offer full website audits, copywriting, structure recommendations, and project management for redesigns.
If you have a developer, I’ll collaborate with them. If not, I have trusted partners I work with.
The goal: a clean, effective site that converts visitors into members, event clients, or leads.
All work is quoted upfront, with clear pricing and fixed deliverables.
Strategy packages start from $10,000, Marketing Manager retainers from $3,500/month, Mentor from $2,500/month and project work from $2,000.
To get a personalised quote, fill in the contact form below.
I’m based in Melbourne, but I work with golf clubs across Australia and New Zealand — and beyond.
Most of my work is done remotely, but I also travel to clubs when needed for workshops, content shoots, or presentations.
I’m platform-agnostic, which means I work with what you have — or help you choose better tools.
That includes:
// TalkBox, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Campaign Monitor
// Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, LinkedIn
// Canva, Adobe, and basic design tools
// MiClub, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc.
Simple.
Book a free 20-minute Strategic Assessment call — no pressure, no obligation.
We’ll look at your club’s current situation, identify quick wins, and talk about what working together could look like.
Book your 20min strategy call.
No sales pitch. No jargon. Just a focused conversation about your golf club’s marketing — and how it stacks up against where the industry is heading.
In 20 minutes, we’ll cover:
What’s working, what’s not, and what’s missing
Your goals (and the gaps holding you back)
Smart opportunities clubs often overlook
Whether we’re the right fit to take your marketing forward
You’ll walk away with clarity, expert insight, and practical next steps — whether we work together or not.
Ready to raise the standard of marketing at your club?
Simply book a time to meet.
contact.
Have a question? Fill in the form below and I’ll be in touch shortly.
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