When I entered the golf business, a printing company would deliver a binded book of empty tee sheets each Spring. One page for each day. It sat on the counter. When the phone rang, you flipped the pages, grabbed your pencil, and scribbled a person’s name. Eraser marks everywhere, yellow highlighter for those who checked in, pink for those who screwed us over. At that point, computers were still only handling Wagon Trail, and Al Gore had just recently invented the internet, so they tell me.
Last year, RSPGL moved on from a computer system we used for 19 years. 1000 times better than a binded book, it still left plenty to be desired. We switched. It was good for our customers, and we learned some cool things about where golf is going.
If you live in Florida, Arizona, California calling the golf shop to book a tee time is becoming as prevelant as oil lanterns. The midwest lags behind, but it’s changing. Thanks to Covid, paying in the golf shop has changed too. For those who hate change, here are two raging trains that aren’t stopping for anyone.
- Calling the Golf Shop is dying. Booking online is growing. I will always have a phone, I will always pleasantly answer it. I used to anwser it 200 times a day. I got lots of practice making tee times. Each year I get less practice, some day you will call, and I won’t even know what you are talking about. Much like burning witches, taking phone tee times will be the stuff of legends.
- Pre-Pay before you arrive was really untilized last year. I’ve heard of courses that don’t even have Golf Shops anymore. Starter with an Ipad, and maybe a pocket full of cart keys is all we need. The Golf Shop is like a ticket counter, is there anything that still has a ticket counter? I know, you are afraid I’m going to steal your money if you blow out your back the night before. I’m have so much to gain by not being a psycho. I assure you, it will work out.
I”m not going to be the pioneer for a no phone / no ticket counter operation. Like I said, it’s coming. Give it a try, what’s the worst that can happen?
