Using beacon technology to change the way clubs communicate

Some of you maybe familiar with iBeacon technology on golf carts and, when used correctly, know how effective it is. However, adding iBeacons to your phone takes this one step further in truly engaging your golfers – whether you are looking to provide an outstanding service or get them to part with hard-earned cash.

For those that have, or know about, beacons on the cart might be wondering why add them to their phones? The answer is simple – whilst the cart option might be ok for out on the course, your members will have their phones in other places – for example when they arrive, around the club house and other part of your venue.

By adding an iBeacon system to your club’s app you can welcome them on arrival, by name, and let them know in advance any information you wish to convey – for example current course conditions or fill spaces for a last minute event. Crucially from a customer service angle, the iBeacon can tell your team that your member has arrived, allowing them to get the cart ready for them!

This is just the start of what it can do for your venue and is so flexible that it can be tailored for private clubs to provide an even higher level of customer service right through to increasing awareness and spend per golfer at golf and country clubs and resorts who often have a number of different facilities/offerings.

Below is few key areas that our own iBeacon system is assisting clubs with:

Food and Beverage

Often placed out on the course, these beacons are used to remind golfers to place their orders in advance. this does two things: increases ordering and reduces waiting times. Feedback from halfway houses has been great from both the golfer and the venue’s perspective.

Restaurants themselves are using them to welcome guests by name, informing them of today’s special and informs the team of the members arrival.

In recent months we have also seen a number of venues utilising them to assist with the Trace and Test system – taking away all the need for bits of paper with peoples names on them or the hassle of getting guests to scan (not always successfully!) QR codes – simple tap takes the golfer directly to form to fill out.

Filling up Events

From theme nights to charity galas to last minute spaces in the Friday roll up. Because you can easily update your message and add bookable links it makes iBeacons the perfect advertising tool.

Additional Rounds

Increasing repeat rounds from visiting golfers a part of your revenue strategy? What better way to get them to return than to ask them to book another round when they’ve just finished? A simple message thanking them and inviting them to play again (adding in the booking link of course!) is all it takes.

Lead Generation

Do you have sale of villas, apartments and/or homes? iBeacons can make the perfect accompanying sales tool for your staff. Placed strategically in/or around the sales area, they can give prospective buyers the information they need and let the sale team know who’s showed an interest give your team the perfect follow up system. Click here to read more

Pro-shop

New stock in? Special offer available? New season sale just started? Place one of beacon next to the shop to bring in extra income.

Beacons also have the flexibility to do very short range selling which means if you have a particular product on an offer or you would like to give more information – perhaps see the product in action, then a beacon placed next to the stand would be able to do just this.

As with all technology, we are often only limited by our imagination to its uses. If you would like to find out more about our CourseMate Golf Club App and how its iBeacon technology can help your venue, contact your country”s representative for more details