Running a golf course is not an easy task. You’re always managing golfer satisfaction, busy tee sheets, pricing, staff management, and, of course, profitability. Each year you want more but how do you do it when you’ve reached the maximum tee time utilization your local trading zone can provide? The answer is revenue management coupled with operational efficiency. This may sound like an over simplification, but let’s break it down in a manager-friendly way.

At its core, revenue management is about selling the right product to the right customer at the right time, for the right price, through the right channel. It’s about creating win-win scenarios where your customer feels valued and your profits rise. This involves strategic pricing (like dynamic pricing), optimizing your sellable experiences to drive higher-margins, and managing different distribution channels efficiently.

*as always, in this blog when we mention ideas and strategies, we guarantee we can deliver you the technology that enables the execution.

First and foremost, let's look into the significance of your list of experiences. Without a doubt, your list of experiences possesses an immense potential to serve as a compelling sales tool, capable of driving remarkable results. It enables you to effectively showcase those higher-margin items that have the potential to significantly enhance your bottom line. Moreover, by masterfully crafting enticing offers that revolve around tee times, you can expertly steer your customers towards making choices that not only bolster your revenue but also heighten their overall satisfaction. To achieve this, you may employ various upselling and cross-selling techniques, such as introducing them to exciting new bounce-backs or alluring add-ons that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on their golfing journey. By skillfully utilizing these strategies, you are poised to establish a win-win situation where both your business and your customers thrive.

Revenue management goes beyond your own operations. In the digital age, your public golf course is connected to third-party tee time platforms such as GolfNow and Supreme Golf. While these platforms expand your reach, they also take a cut of your profits through fees or commissions. To succeed, your revenue management strategy must effectively handle bookings across all channels and encourage more direct orders from customers through your app or website.

More direct tee times mean more control over customer relationships, improved profitability, and a direct line to customer feedback. How can you drive this shift? Consider exclusive benefits for direct sales, like special items, discounts, or perks. Leveraging your loyalty program (or creating one) can also be a strong motivator, rewarding customers with points or exclusive deals for their direct reservations.

This brings us to operational efficiency. With multiple channels to manage, from telephone tee times and online tee times to various tee time marketplaces, the operations can become a maze. Keeping your maintenance and golf shop staff ready to handle this multifaceted demand is crucial. Technology can be a big help here, streamlining processes and improving efficiency.

More than that, efficient operations play a significant role in customer experience. Imagine a golfer waiting too long for their tee time because your starter is overwhelmed with GolfNow golfers who show up early or late. Or worse, the dreaded mix-up of threesomes, singles and twosomes. Operational efficiency directly affects customer satisfaction and, in turn, your reputation and repeat business.

Quality data is essential for successful revenue management and operational efficiency. Accurate insights about customer preferences, order habits, and peak hours help you make informed decisions. It is crucial to invest in systems that capture and analyze this data effectively.

And while third-party platforms may take a slice of your profits, remember they also bring visibility and new customers. So, use them as customer acquisition tools. Provide superior food and service to these customers, making their first interaction memorable. Over time, with consistent quality and strategic promotions, these customers can be converted into first-party orders.

The world of revenue management offers a bag of tools and methodologies, but the challenge lies in identifying the best approach to sell the right product to the right customer at the right time, for the right price, through the right channel. This blog includes articles about how to select the revenue management tools best suited to your golf course.

The combination of smart pricing, improved operations, and careful management of different channels can greatly increase profits for your golf course. It may involve investing in technology and data analysis, but the long-term financial benefits make it worth pursuing. Ultimately, every golf course manager desires satisfied customers and a thriving bottom line.