When considering revenue management for the golf course business, it's important to focus on what we offer. We provide an experience, typically involving golf and a tee time reservation. We shouldn't mistake this for merely selling a tee time. Instead, we're selling an experience that includes a tee time.

What can we include with a tee time that makes for an experience people want?

• Less than 9 holes

  Companies like Top Golf and Pop Stroke have proven that people inclined to golf are interested in options beyond 9-holes and 18-holes. Most golf courses in North America have 18 holes to maximize. Find options on your property to create one hour and 30-minute experiences.

• Sack lunch

  Pre-paid food provides plenty of time for the F&B team to prepare the meal and helps reduce waste by eliminating prepping too much food.

• Player’s pack

  We’re thinking tees, towel, divot tool and ball mark but whatever combination you come up with, consider making at least one of the items exclusive. This means the only opportunity to get the towel is if you add a players pack to your tee time. Display the towel in the proshop, app and website.

• Clean-up with snacks

  When the round finishes the staff cleans the golfer’s shoes and clubs and provides the golfer some salty snacks.

• Car wash

  We found this one at Cog Hill in Chicago years ago. If you’re in a non-restrictive water location, find someone who wants to be an independent contractor with golf privileges. Offer golfers the option to add a cash wash during the booking experience.

• Range balls

  The original tee time add-on! Have you sold a sponsorship on your range balls? Do you offer free range balls for non-refundable prepaid tee times? There is opportunity in everything.

• First group of the day

  For those that love to play fast, this experience is a perfect fit. Charge more for this tee time and be sure to remove any barriers to finishing fast.

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

When you offer more experiences you widen your opportunity for collecting more revenue. There are possible pitfalls with this strategy. Make sure you’re using tee sheet, point of sale and booking engine technology that supports add-ons for tee times. Make sure your staff knows this is an important part of your revenue strategy. Make sure the add-ons you offer are presented in a professional way and add in some exclusivity. Maybe the towel in the players pack is only available in the players pack.