Page 10 - GBC Summer ENG flipbook 2024

Message From The CEO, NGCOA Canada • Jeff Calderwood
The First Tee
The Insider’s Guide to Payment Processing
Canadians have always had a love- hate relationship with credit cards. They represent the most widely transacted payment option, including for golf. But, they can also amount to very costly financial instruments for consumers, if not carefully managed.
Similarly, golf course operators have mixed feelings. However, understanding all of the implications of credit and debit card processing is far more challenging for businesses than what the typical golfer needs to know about their greens fee payments, for example.
So, our feature story in this issue of Golf Business Canada dives deep into the latest developments in the credit and debit card processing industry and a framework for the cost-benefit analysis of various options available to you.
There is a lot to digest, and often more than is fully disclosed without some due diligence on the part of the golf operator. The financial and strategic implications may be much more significant than you think.
Enter Harvey Silverman, golf industry consultant and author of this cover story. Throughout North America, he is the most researched writer in the complex field of payment processing for golf course operators.
In the article, Silverman flushes out everything from negotiable rates to PCI compliance, to coupling with golf management systems, to passing through surcharge fees to golfers, to the cost of barter, to warnings about certain sales tactics.
He does not work for or against any parties within the payment processing industry, unlike many of the sources who may be providing you with advice on your payment processing. He does work for the best interests of golf course operators.
Your management decisions are obviously, entirely your own. Golf Business Canada’s role is to provide you with as much credible information as we can to help enable well- informed strategic moves. Silverman’s consultation here is a valuable asset in that regard.
His article also covers your ability to ask all the right questions to any potential payment processor, similar to the due diligence that the NGCOA Canada went through before negotiating and endorsing any payment processor. Silverman includes some of these critical questions in the article, and I would recommend getting all of the answers, in writing, from any potential service provider.
In addition, this issue of Golf Business Canada also features articles with valuable insights into: “Indoor Golf: Beyond the Greens” by Derek Orr, Owner of Victoria’s Iron & Wood Golf Simulators; “Golf Facility Workplace Safety” by Golf Industry Guru’s, James Cronk; and “Sun Safety for your Staff and Golfers” by skin cancer survivor and PGA of Canada professional Todd Keirstead. Take advantage of every article!
On behalf of your Golf Business Canada team, and the NGCOA Canada, here’s wishing you and your team all the best for another successful golf season this year.
Cheers!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
10Golf Business Canada