Page 26 - GBC Summer ENG flipbook 2024

subscription or extra fees. Launch monitors are your new best friend. Savvy businesses are incor-
porating virtual and hybrid golf experiences into their offerings, ushering in a new era of innovation and accessibility. These immersive experiences cater to the modern golfer’s desire for convenience and flexibility. They also open doors to new demographics and markets previously untapped.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
This is where I get really excited. How do we creatively capitalize on the technology at our disposal to differentiate, engage, and profit? What moves will enhance the existing experience or add a new revenue stream? As I see it, the goal is to add growth to our operations without adding cumbersome work. Let us explore some of my favourite ideas and best practices. Fun things are fun. Go figure!
Indoor Golf Simulator
In the Winter season, running a league could be a huge revenue stream on every front. Food and Beverage sales get a boost, and you can sell weekly sponsorship packages to community partners. Come Summer, leagues can run in conjunction with PGA Tour events. Imagine hosting a pro-am with a PGA Tour event, live and in real-
time. Pick a pro’s name from a hat and that becomes your net best ball partner as you play the same course they are.
Boost your off-hours business with long-drive competitions, KP contests, or other efficient engagement offerings. Sponsors and community partners will jump at the opportunity to partner with your business through prizing, contra or advertising.
Club fitting and instruction is essential to keeping your professional staff year round. The real opportunity here lies in those dormant, Winter months. Give your staff the opportunity to continue to earn money for themselves (and you) when the courses are whited out with snow. This is a rabbit hole of opportunity that provides early ROI to help justify the investment involved. The goal is to share what you and your team already know. Why not put that intellectual capital to work?
Consider renting out time in your simulators. This is a major opportunity, whether it is offered to your own members, advertised to the wider public, or becomes part of a subscription package. Your patrons will jump at the chance to play a round at TPC Sawgrass with their friends. Create access as you see fit and sell packages accordingly.
“Adding tech supported data means you can charge more for your lessons. High-value tech isn’t free, and it drastically enhances the customer experience.”
Launch Monitors
This is a must-have item for up-to- date facilities and there are many options to suit your budget. You do not need to break the bank anymore, because launch monitors have become an industry standard and the market is competitive. Your facility and professionals need to have access to this technology. They can even power simulated rounds of golf from their phones. So, if you do not have a launch monitor yet, go on and get set up before you keep reading.
Now that we are all on the same page, let us look at some creative ways to deploy your launch monitors.
Adding tech supported data means you can charge more for your lessons. High-value tech isn’t free, and it drastically enhances the customer experience. Consider supplementing your launch monitor’s data with additional apps and technology that integrates seamlessly and expands on basic measurements and insights.
Launch monitor rentals might just be my favourite new revenue source. With a little training and a signed waiver in hand, your members can book time with your golf shop launch monitor. They can take the unit to your range, or you can set up specific days when it will be already set up and waiting there.
26Golf Business Canada