Page 52 - GBC spring 2015

THE GREEN CARD
Chad Thomlinson, Highwood Golf & Country Club
Team Eli Whitney
We borrowed this idea from the ski industry’s success with their snow card. The green card is a loyalty card and a discount card that’s self-controlled and fills last minute tee times. The cost of the card is $99 and includes 3 rounds of golf. They must book 48 hours in advance, and that coincides with our cancellation policy. This card adds almost $100,000 to our facility. This promotion helped grow our database to over 15,000 people and it appealed to our locals.
THE DIVORCE OPEN COUPLES SERIES
Chris McNicol, Woodside Golf Course
Team Henry Ford
The Divorce Open Couples Series is based on the idea that nothing is tougher than playing a round of golf with your spouse. This is a 9-hole event and the idea is to get the members’ spouses to play golf. They play alternate shots, and every hole has a marital related challenge. This helps grow golf and our food and beverage operation by making those people feel more comfortable and the spouses often return and take lessons from us.
DRIVING RANGE REVENUE
Corrine Allan, Fraserglen Golf Course
Team John Baird
This idea has increased our driving range revenue. In the ball dispenser we have mini golf balls and we im- print them in different colours. Blue ball = free basket of balls, red ball = free round of golf, green ball = free hamburger. People spend more money on range balls because they want to win.
COMMISSION FOR PRO SHOP STAFF
Steve Courneyea, Cardinal Golf Club
Team James Naismith
The goal was to grow our loyalty program so we enticed the staff to pitch to everyone that came to the counter. We offered staff a commis- sion on a sale of the gift card. We kept a running tally for the staff each week. At the end of the year we would pay out the commission on these rewards. We doubled our loyalty program and created cama- raderie between the staff.
WEB CAM FUN
Gavin Roth, Golf Canada
Team Jim Hensen
The idea is to engage young golf- ers. They like to take pictures and videos of themselves so we set up a webcam on our signature hole be- hind the tee box and on the green. After golfing, they return home, find their video and share it social- ly. It is very inexpensive and it cre- ates buzz.
PRO SHOP BINGO
Lesley McMahon, Balmoral Golf Course
Team George Washington Carver
Each pro shop staff had a bingo card with their name on it. There were 25 items that they needed to sell and would receive a stamp for. I wanted to motivate our young staff to come out from behind the counter and help people. It helped build fun and excitement.
52 Golf Business Canada