Cookie Policy
Last updated: July 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Golfnet ("we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit golfnet.ie. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which provides additional information about how we collect and use your personal data.
When you first visit Golfnet, you will see a cookie consent banner that lets you accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences by category. Non-essential cookies (analytics, advertising, and social media cookies) are not set on your device until you actively choose to allow them. You can change your choice at any time using the cookie preferences link available on our site.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit them. Cookies allow websites to recognize your device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferences, pages viewed, and actions taken.
Cookies serve various purposes, from essential website functionality to analytics and advertising. Most websites use cookies to improve user experience and understand how visitors interact with their content.
How Golfnet Uses Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Ensure our website functions properly
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Understand how visitors use our Irish golf tournaments coverage, World Handicap System guides, and golf betting analysis
- Analyze traffic patterns and improve content
- Measure the effectiveness of our affiliate partnerships with bookmakers
- Provide relevant content and recommendations
We do not use cookies to store sensitive personal information such as passwords, payment details, or private communications. Only strictly necessary (essential) cookies are set automatically. All other categories require your consent through our cookie banner before they are set.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are necessary for Golfnet to function properly. They enable core functionality such as page navigation, security features, and access to content.
Examples:
- Session cookies that maintain your browsing session
- Security cookies that protect against fraud
- Load balancing cookies that distribute traffic efficiently
Can You Disable Them? No. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are required for the website to work, and they do not require consent under EU law since they are strictly necessary to provide the service you requested.
Retention: Essential cookies are typically session cookies that expire when you close your browser, or short-term cookies that last up to 24 hours.
Analytics and Performance Cookies
Purpose: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with Golfnet. They collect anonymous information about which pages are visited most, how long visitors spend on pages, and where visitors navigate from.
Service: We use Google Analytics to track website performance and visitor behavior.
Information Collected:
- Pages viewed on our golf betting tips, golf betting odds, and tournament coverage
- Time spent on different content sections
- Navigation patterns and click behavior
- Device type, browser, and screen resolution
- Approximate geographic location (city/country level, not precise)
- Referring website or search terms
Data Usage: This information helps us improve content quality, understand which topics interest our readers (betting analysis, handicapping, courses, tournaments), and optimize website performance.
Can You Disable Them? Yes, and by default they are off. These cookies are only set if you actively accept them through our cookie consent banner. You can withdraw consent at any time through your cookie preferences.
Retention: Analytics cookies typically last up to 26 months, though we have configured our analytics to comply with GDPR requirements.
Advertising and Affiliate Cookies
Purpose: These cookies track your interaction with our affiliate links to bookmakers and measure the effectiveness of our golf betting content.
How They Work: When you click links to bookmakers on our golf betting pages, cookies may be set to:
- Track that you clicked from Golfnet
- Attribute any subsequent account registration or betting activity
- Enable us to earn affiliate commissions
Information Collected:
- Click-through behavior from our betting content
- Whether you registered with a bookmaker after clicking our link
- Anonymous conversion data (we do not see your betting activity details)
Third-Party Cookies: Bookmakers and affiliate networks may set their own cookies when you visit their websites. These cookies are governed by the bookmakers' privacy policies, not ours.
Can You Disable Them? Yes, and by default they are off. These cookies are only set if you actively accept them through our cookie consent banner. Declining them may affect our ability to earn commissions from bookmaker referrals, which supports our free content, but will not affect your ability to read our golf betting content.
Retention: Affiliate cookies typically last 30-90 days, depending on the bookmaker's affiliate program terms.
Social Media Cookies
Purpose: If you share our content on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), those platforms may set cookies on your device.
Examples:
- Social sharing buttons that track shares and engagement
- Embedded social media content (if present on Golfnet)
Third-Party Control: These cookies are controlled by social media platforms according to their own privacy policies. We do not control or access information collected by social media cookies.
Can You Disable Them? Yes, and by default they are off. These cookies are only set if you actively accept them through our cookie consent banner, and you can also manage them through your social media privacy settings.
Third-Party Cookies
Golfnet uses services from third parties that may set their own cookies, only after you have given consent for the relevant category:
Google Analytics: Tracks website usage and visitor behavior.
Affiliate Networks: Track clicks and conversions from our golf betting content to bookmaker websites. Each bookmaker has its own cookie policy, which you can review on its website.
Social Media Platforms: May set cookies if you interact with social sharing features.
We do not control third-party cookies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party services to understand how they use cookies.
How to Control Cookies
Our Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit Golfnet, you will see a cookie consent banner offering equally prominent options to accept all cookies, reject all non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences by category (Essential, Analytics, Advertising, Social Media). No non-essential cookies are set before you make an active choice. You can reopen this banner at any time using the cookie preferences link available on our site to change your choices.
Browser Settings
In addition to our cookie banner, most web browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You can typically:
- View cookies stored on your device
- Delete existing cookies
- Block all cookies
- Block third-party cookies only
- Set preferences for specific websites
Browser Help Pages:
- Chrome Cookie Settings
- Firefox Cookie Settings
- Safari Cookie Settings
- Edge Cookie Settings
Important: Blocking all cookies through your browser may affect website functionality. Essential cookies are required for Golfnet to work properly and are exempt from consent requirements under EU law.
Google Analytics Opt-Out
To specifically opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers support "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. However, there is no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Golfnet currently does not respond to DNT signals but respects all choices you make through our cookie consent banner and your browser settings.
Cookie Consent
Your consent to non-essential cookies is obtained through our cookie consent banner, which requires a clear, affirmative action — continuing to browse the site does not constitute consent. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time by:
- Reopening the cookie preferences link available on our site
- Deleting cookies through browser settings
- Blocking future cookies through browser controls
- Opting out of specific services like Google Analytics
We periodically ask you to reconfirm your cookie preferences to ensure your consent remains current.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie usage, technology, or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.
We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically, especially if you have concerns about cookies and privacy.
Significant changes that materially affect how we use cookies will be announced through a prominent notice on our homepage or via other appropriate communication channels.
More Information
For more information about how we collect and use your personal data, including data collected through cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
For our terms of use and affiliate relationship disclosures, see our Terms and Conditions.
For questions about our content or editorial team, visit our about page or contact us through our contact page.
If you have specific questions about cookies or privacy, email us at [email protected].
Legal Compliance
This Cookie Policy complies with:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- EU ePrivacy Directive, transposed in Ireland as the ePrivacy Regulations (SI 336/2011)
- Irish Data Protection Act 2018
We are committed to protecting your privacy and using cookies responsibly and transparently.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies:
Email: [email protected]
General Contact: Visit our contact us page
For technical questions about cookies or browser settings, please consult your browser's help documentation or contact the browser provider.