5 Game-Changing Strategies for Golf Courses
How can golf course owners harness the power of business text messaging?
We’re not only talking about sending automated text messages – while they can be efficient for certain notifications, traditional SMS marketing usually lacks that personal touch.
You already know that the success of your business doesn’t only rely on pristine greens or a well-stocked pro shop, and really it’s all about building relationships with your members.
With conversational text messaging you can create real, genuine, and personalized interactions that will only benefit your business down the line.
It brings a blend of efficiency and convenience that will truly resonate with golfers, and enhance their overall experience and loyalty to the course.
First let’s delve into the specifics of business texting, how it can accelerate different revenue streams, and how you can start texting your members right from your tee sheet management software.
Why Should Your Golf Course Implement Text Messaging?
Business text messaging is reshaping customer service in every industry.
For golf courses, the level of service and attention members get is just as important as the game itself.
Being an industry that naturally prioritizes exceptional customer service and a luxurious ambiance, implementing business text messaging will not only enhance the golfer's experience but also position the golf course as modern, and in tune with the needs of today's players.
Unlike phone calls and emails, text messaging is a direct line of communication with golfers and its convenience is unmatched. The data speaks for itself:
About 95% of text messages are read and responded to within 3 minutes of being received
With 98% open-rate, text messages are opened 5x more than emails
90% of customers prefer text messages over direct phone calls
If you’re new to business text messaging, we have put together the ultimate business text messaging guide to answer all your questions around which phone number to use, security, consent and so much more.
Now let’s take a look at 5 strategies golf courses can use to drive revenue with business text messaging.
#1 Maximize Event Revenue With Text to Pay
As golf courses saw a surge in business as a result of the pandemic, the space of event planning did not pick up until much later once weddings and large gatherings were allowed.
Weddings, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, graduations, and corporate events are a significant income stream for golf courses and while social gatherings are now allowed, the backlog of events from 2020 and 2021 meant that 2022 and 2023 have been very busy years.
Communication is key when it comes to even planning, and not only is text messaging the best way to communicate with customers for their big plans at your golf course, but it is also the best way to make sure you seal the deal with text to pay.
You can easily send a secure payment link and capture a deposit for the upcoming plans. Using text messaging as your form of communication with the customer also means you can easily share images and videos, send a quote for approval, and keep a papertrail of all conversations that would have been lost over the phone.
#2 Engage With Potential Golfers Browsing Your Website
The golfing industry has seen steady growth in the last 9 years with 2 million golfers showing interest in the sport every year. In 2022, we saw the biggest spike in newcomers with 3.3 million new golfers.
New golfers will have lots of questions and need to have the ability to easily get those answers. Making it challenging for them to ask simple questions could push them towards the competition.
Interestingly, this surge in newcomers primarily stems from a younger demographic, with the sport drawing in young adults aged 18-34. They now represent the sport's largest customer segment, with a whopping 6.2 million hitting the greens and another 5.8 million participating off-course.
For this customer segment, having the option of webchat is not an option. They prioritize convenience, quick interactions, and a communication method that doesn't require them to drop everything to make a phone call.
By integrating a text-based web chat, you're directly catering to this group, offering them the convenience they are looking for. At the end of the day, it’s not just Gen Zers and Millennials that are fond of text messaging, check out this post for guidance on how to effectively communicate with each generation.
Text messaging is more than just a new communication channel, you’re signaling that your golf course is responsible to their needs.
#3 Ensure Full Fairways With Tee Time Reminders
As a golf course owner, ensuring that every slot is utilized is crucial for maximizing revenue and offering a seamless experience.
Sending a simple text message ensures that your course is full because even the most passionate golfers can lose track of their scheduled tee times.
This isn't just about reducing no-shows, but it's about enhancing the golfer's experience. They'll appreciate the proactive approach, feel valued and catered to.
#4 Real-time Texts for Golfers on the Green
Just imagine the convenience for a golfer to be able to send a text message and instantly get an idea of whether or not the drink and snack cart is nearby.
This is the power of real-time communication on the course.
Instead of leaving golfers guessing or waiting, text messaging offers them the luxury of timely refreshments right when they crave them.
You can even text golfers about any unpredictable weather. Sending out real-time weather updates and course conditions ensures they're never caught off guard.
Whether it's a heads-up before tee time or an urgent alert to vacate the course due to an approaching storm, texting is a direct and efficient line of communication.
⛳️ PRO TIP: KEEP THE GREEN PRISTINE
Let your golfers help you keep the greens pristine! Encourage them to send a quick text to the pro shop if they spot any hiccups during their round. From pace of play to divots on the course, a small note in the golf cart with your phone number can make a big difference. It's a win-win: you maintain course standards and golfers enjoy perfectly manicured grounds.
#5 Swing Now, Pay Later: Flexible Membership Plans
Attracting new members is one of the main sources of revenue and priority for golf courses.
But let's face it, upfront membership fees can be a hurdle for many. This is where Ikeono’s Buy Now, Pay Later feature comes into play.
By offering golfers the flexibility to spread their membership payments over time, you're not only easing their financial commitments but also opening the doors to a broader clientele.
Text to pay gives you the ability to easily send an invoice and capture payment in a quick convenient way.
By offering this payment option, you're not just optimizing revenue streams, you're positioning your golf course as a forward-thinking establishment that understands and caters to the evolving needs of its members.
How to Integrate Business Text Messaging With Your Tee Time Management Software?
Ikeono’s text messaging platform integrates with Lightspeed Golf to bring to you all the benefits of text messaging without having to leave your POS.
This seamless integration means that all contacts in your point of sale will automatically transfer to Ikeono, you can start texting without any additional setup.
And beyond all the benefits we covered in this blog post, Ikeono opens the door to more features like text receipts, managing and sending Google review requests, and even funneling all messages from your website and social media in one place.
Remember, the key to successful business texting is to keep it relevant, timely, and not too frequent.
With these strategies in place not only are you able to attract a whole new generation of golfers that respond well to texting (27% of new golfers are aged 18-34), but you are opening a whole new line of communication for every area in your business.
From the pro shop, member services, operations, to marketing and sales – everyone will benefit from being able to directly and quickly communicate with golfers.