As a golf course or country club manager, you understand your golfers’ desires to a “tee.” Primarily, they want to spend as much time on the green as possible. To ensure your members stay updated about their tee times, course conditions, and other country club events, you can rely on short message service (SMS) messaging, aka texting.
Most golfers carry a mobile device, so sending texts allows you to quickly share important information with them. In fact, over 40% of players check their phones every few holes. Take advantage of text messages’ popularity by implementing these eight ideas for using SMS for golf courses and country clubs.
Why Use SMS Marketing for Golf Courses and Country Clubs?
SMS marketing has the potential to significantly enhance golfers’ experiences by sending them the right message at the right time. Although you likely already use email to communicate with members, you should still consider sending texts. Although the two platforms are very different, they can be used together for a well-rounded strategy.
Emails typically contain a lot of information and drive recipients to your website. Many golf courses and country clubs send content such as monthly updates and announcements via email. In comparison, SMS messages have a limit of 160 characters. As a result, they are ideal for sending shorter snippets of information that offer readers instant value. Additionally, while you may email your newsletter to your entire contact list, text messages should be highly targeted and personalized.
Beyond being one of the best ways to reach players, texts have an open rate of 98%. As there is a good chance they will read whatever communications you send, SMS is ideal for sharing time-sensitive information like reminders. Additionally, 71% of consumers have said they’ve signed up to receive texts from businesses. This means that golfers at your course or club will likely be willing to sign up for your subscriber list.
SMS Message Ideas for Golf Courses and Country Clubs
Here are eight ideas for text messages for golf courses and country clubs to help you get started with SMS messaging.
1. Welcome Players
One way to make your players feel like VIPs is to send them a welcome text. Including a promotion or a deal can take this a step further.
You could welcome players upon sign-up when they become members of your golf course or club. Another option is to send a welcome message 10 to 15 minutes before their round begins.
2. Send Reminders
Help golfers stay on top of their game by implementing automated messages to remind them when they have a tee time schedule. In addition to improving players’ experiences, these texts can help you maintain a healthy bottom line, as no-shows can cost you. You can also use SMS messages to send event reminders so members don’t miss out.
3. Update Golfers on Course Conditions
Golfers signed up to receive your club’s texts will appreciate hearing about the golf course’s condition ahead of their games. You can show your dedication to customer service by sending updates, such as the green being freshly mowed and ready for players or if it’s a bit wet after rain. These texts can help them prepare for their play.
4. Provide Weather Condition Updates
Use your SMS software to update golfers about the weather at the course. Some members could be traveling from 30 minutes to an hour away, so providing this information can help them decide if they’d prefer to reschedule their tee time.
Your texts could detail the temperature, wind and cloud coverage to showcase whether the day is good for golf. These texts can be accompanied by a confirmation request, so you’ll know if the tee time needs to be offered to someone on the waiting list to ensure your course is fully booked.
5. Invite Members Back to the Clubhouse
Text messages for golf courses and country clubs can also feature topics other than the game. Remind golfers of the delicious food and beverages at the clubhouse by inviting them to the 19th hole through your SMS messaging system.
With players spending hours on the green and under the sun, they likely want to relax, eat and drink after a long day. You could include a special deal in the text to entice them to visit your clubhouse—maybe a BOGO deal on drinks or a discount on an appetizer. You could schedule the text to send once members check in for their game, giving them time to consider whether they want to stop by the clubhouse.
6. Invite Golfers to Events and Tournaments
Send bulk SMS messages to members and regular golfers to advertise and invite them to the club’s events and golf tournaments. Depending on the event, you could send the invites to select members so the ones most affected or inclined to participate will receive the message. For example, if an event is happening later in the evening, you could send a blast inviting the people currently at the club or on the green to stick around.
7. Send Golf Deals and Promotions to Members
Whenever your club or golf course has a special golf deal or promotion, ensure your members are the first to find out with a personalized message via text. Your regular golfers and club members will love having first access to discounts and other offers.
8. Request Player Feedback
After players have finished a round, text them to ask for feedback. You could include a link to a survey on your website or even ask recipients to respond with a numeric rating of one to five. These insights allow you to identify any areas for improvement, helping your business be the best it can be. A better course or club will typically mean a better golfing experience.
SMS Marketing Tips for Golf Courses and Country Clubs
With SMS messaging, you have an innovative solution to keep your golfers returning for more. However, you must use text messages wisely and have a strategy to craft your messages with care. This can ensure you get the most out of this platform and that recipients and cell phone carriers do not perceive your texts as spam.
Here are some texting tips for golf courses and country clubs:
- Implement text to join: Before you can start texting players, they need to opt-in to join your subscriber list. Gaining consent is vital, and a convenient way to do so is with text-to-join methods where players send a keyword to your dedicated number. You can feature this keyword on scorecards or posters around your facility.
- Use concise language: Because SMS messages have a limit of 160 characters, you want to get to the point and use easy-to-understand language so that readers can immediately see the value of your communications.
- Send texts sparingly: While you can send texts like tee time reminders or weather updates as needed, limit promotional content to once a week.
- Stay compliant: Abiding by your country’s regulations, such as the rules implemented by the Federal Communications Commission, can help prevent carriers from blocking your messages.
- Get personal: Addressing recipients by name is a great way to make communications feel more intimate, which can encourage increased engagement. Wishing players a happy birthday can also make them feel valued.
Request a Demo With Red Oxygen
Keep your golfers happy and improve their experience by sending automated messages for reminders, event invites, and weather updates. Your golf course or country club can quickly contact members with a solution from Red Oxygen—we make sending texts simple.
Learn how our solutions can streamline the way you communicate and request a demo today!
