Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Golf Done Better ("GDB", "we", "us" and "our") provides a website for finding and comparing golf courses and planning golf rounds and trips. Visitors do not need to register or create an account to use the current website. GDB does not take bookings or payments for golf courses, hotels or other travel services.

GDB is currently operated by an individual and is intended to become a registered company. The identity and contact details of the legal operator responsible for GDB will be added before the website is published.

A working privacy contact address will be provided before the website is published.

This policy describes the processing associated with the current GDB website, including its course search, comparison and map-based features.

2. Information processed when you use GDB

Technical information. Visiting the website involves requests to the website's hosting service and to providers of embedded resources. These requests can include your IP address, browser and device information, requested pages or resources, and request times. The extent to which these details are logged and retained by the final hosting service will be confirmed before launch.

Search and map information. When you search for a place or golf course, use map tools, select a geographic area, or choose search filters, the website processes the terms, locations, coordinates and selections necessary to return results. Some requests are sent directly from your browser to the mapping and geographical information providers identified below. Those providers also receive technical connection information, which can include your IP address.

Device location. The website includes a "near me" feature and may also request access to approximate device location to improve the relevance of location suggestions. Your browser or device controls whether GDB receives location access. If you decline permission, you can continue to use manual location searches. When permitted, coordinates may be sent to Geoapify for reverse geocoding or location-based searches. GDB does not operate an account-based location history in the current website.

Information saved in your browser. The website uses local storage and session storage to preserve some saved golf courses, comparison lists, search results, search preferences, pagination settings and the information needed to open course details. These are kept in your browser, not in a GDB user account. They may remain on your device until cleared by the website, your browser or you. Anyone with access to the same browser profile may be able to view the stored information.

Course listing information. GDB displays information about golf courses and businesses, which may include addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and other business contact details. Where a contact detail identifies an individual, it may be personal information.

The current website does not ask visitors to register a personal profile, provide their name or address, or give payment card information. GDB does not currently provide a GDB account or server-based itinerary saving service. A browser-based print or PDF download feature is planned.

3. Why we use personal information and our lawful bases

We use technical information to deliver and protect the website, diagnose failures and keep the service secure. Where this involves personal information, we rely on our legitimate interests in running a reliable and secure website.

We use search terms, map selections and relevant location information to provide the search, map and nearby-course functions selected by visitors. Where this information is personal information, we rely on our legitimate interests in delivering the requested features. Access to device location is also subject to your browser's permission controls. Browser location permission is distinct from any consent required under data protection or device-storage law.

We use browser storage to remember selections and support navigation, saved courses and comparisons. Whether particular storage or access activities require prior consent under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) must be determined by the purpose of each activity; see Section 5.

We may also process information where necessary to comply with a legal obligation, respond to a lawful request or handle a data protection complaint.

4. Who receives information

GDB uses services supplied by third parties. Depending on the feature used, these include:

• Geoapify, for place search, autocomplete, geocoding, reverse geocoding and place boundary information.
• OpenFreeMap, for the map style and map tiles displayed in the search and planning pages.
• OpenStreetMap-related Overpass API services, for geographic boundary or map data lookups. The code contains several alternative Overpass service endpoints.
• Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, for particular geographic and boundary lookups.
• Google Maps, when a visitor chooses a Google Maps link and, on the Course Details page, when a Google map is displayed.
• External content delivery networks, including unpkg and jsDelivr, which deliver map libraries and related software in the current site.
• Unsplash, which serves the background photographs used by some pages.
• Independent golf clubs, hotel and travel booking websites, when visitors choose to follow external links or affiliate booking links. Those destinations may receive a referral identifier and information associated with the visit.

An external provider may receive the IP address and other connection information associated with the browser request, as well as the place name, search query, coordinates or other details sent to it for the requested feature. Providers' own privacy notices explain their independent processing, where applicable.

GDB does not automatically transmit the entirety of a visitor's locally saved shortlist to golf clubs or accommodation businesses merely because they appear in results. The current website has no GDB-run booking or payment checkout.

The current files do not contain an active visitor analytics package. Analytics is intended for a future launch configuration, but no provider, tracking method or consent/exemption assessment has been finalised.

We do not sell visitors' personal information.

5. Cookies and other device storage

The current website uses browser local storage and session storage. These are not necessarily HTTP cookies, but the rules governing storage of or access to information on a user's device may still apply.

Some storage supports a function the visitor actively requests, such as saving a course or remembering a comparison. Other storage, including information retained between visits, must be assessed separately to determine whether an exception to the PECR consent requirement applies.

If GDB introduces analytics that qualifies for the UK PECR statistical purposes exception, it must provide clear information and a simple free way to object. Analytics used to track identifiable individuals or for advertising cannot rely on that exception. Analytics and affiliate-tracking technologies must be assessed separately; neither should be automatically described as consent-free.

Third-party map, image, script and hosting services may also use storage or tracking technologies.

Where a storage technology requires prior consent, GDB must obtain that consent before using it. This will be checked against the live website before launch.

You can clear GDB's local and session storage through your browser's site-data settings, though doing so may remove saved courses, comparison lists and search history.

6. Affiliate links, bookings and external websites

GDB helps visitors research and plan. It does not itself process golf, hotel or travel bookings through the current website. Some course and provider links may be affiliate links. When you choose such a link, the destination or affiliate network may receive information necessary to attribute a referral, such as the link identifier and technical information about the click, and may use cookies or similar technology under its own privacy arrangements. GDB may receive a commission from eligible bookings or other qualifying activity. The applicable affiliate network, technologies and any information received by GDB must be checked once affiliate arrangements are chosen.

If you click through to another business, that website will handle the information you provide there under its own privacy terms. We recommend reading those terms before making an enquiry, payment or booking. A separate clear commercial disclosure may also be necessary wherever affiliate links are presented.

7. How long information is kept

Information stored through GDB's local or session storage remains in the relevant browser until it is removed, overwritten, cleared or discarded by the browser, according to the storage type and the user's settings.

Hosting and security log retention periods will be confirmed against the final hosting configuration before publication.

Geoapify states that it retains request data including IP addresses, headers and request content for API monitoring, generally no longer than 24 hours for successful requests. OpenFreeMap states that ordinary access logs omit IP addresses, while error logs may include them for seven days and temporary security logs for up to 30 days. These are those providers’ stated practices, not a guarantee about every request or intermediary.

GDB does not have a current registered-user database in which visitors' searches, shortlists and trip selections are stored against an account.

8. Transfers outside the UK

Some third-party services used by the website may process data outside the UK. Their final roles, processing locations and any safeguards required for restricted international transfers will be verified before publication.

9. Security

GDB aims to limit the personal information needed to run its features. Security of the live service will depend in part on its final hosting configuration and external services. Information saved locally is also protected by your own device and browser security.

10. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to request access to your personal information, correction, erasure, restriction of processing or data portability. You may also have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests.

RIGHT TO OBJECT: Where we rely on legitimate interests, you can object to the processing of your personal information. We will stop the relevant processing unless a legally permitted reason allows us to continue. You have an unconditional right to object to the use of your personal information for direct marketing, if such marketing is introduced.

If we rely on consent for a particular processing activity, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting processing carried out lawfully before withdrawal.

Not every right applies in every situation. We will assess requests under applicable law and respond within the required time limits. Because some information stays solely in your browser, we may not be able to identify or retrieve it from a GDB system; you can manage that information through your browser's controls.

You can make a request using the privacy contact details that will be provided before publication. We may need enough information to identify the relevant records and, where appropriate, verify your identity.

11. Data protection complaints

If you believe GDB has not handled your personal information properly, you can complain to us using the privacy contact details provided in Section 1. We will acknowledge data protection complaints within the statutory period and investigate and respond without undue delay, keeping you informed as required by law.

You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk or telephone 0303 123 1113. You do not have to obtain our permission to contact the ICO.

12. Children

GDB is a general golf research and planning website and does not offer children's accounts. We do not ask visitors to state their age or invite them to provide personal contact information. Whether the website is likely to be accessed by under-18s, and consequently whether the ICO's Children's code applies, must be assessed before launch.

13. Changes to this policy

We will review this notice when GDB's services, third-party providers or data-processing practices change, and update it as necessary. The last-updated date will be revised whenever a new version is published. Where the law requires additional notice or consent for a new use of personal information, we will provide it before starting that use.