Golf Industry Central Summer 2016 | Page 19

DELIVERING A CONSISTENTLY HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT…AT ANY PRICE POINT Would it surprise you to know that it’s possible to have a quality golf experience even at a low price point? It’s true. Quality doesn’t have to be expensive and it’s not exclusive to private clubs and high-end resorts. I can sometimes have a better experience for $25 at a modest but well-managed municipal course than for $200 at a beautifully conditioned resort course that doesn’t get how important a smooth pace of play is to the golf experience. What this really means is that any course management team can learn to manufacture a playing experience of the highest quality possible…and repeat that process group after group, day after day. Improving pace of play can be achieved with little additional cost to the course…generally a one-time investment in training and the alteration of a few standard practices. Remember that a consistently high quality product at any price point will always be in demand, and any money you invest will be very quickly recouped and continue to pay dividends over the long term. In my experience, a course that improves its pace of play always improves its bottom line as well. When you take the right steps to improve your product quality, the benefits to you and your playing customers will be immediate: • Shorter and more consistent round times for all starting times throughout the day • Increased daily inventory of high-value “premium” starting times • Little or no waiting or backups • Reduction or elimination of reduced green fees • Increased course utilization • Greatly reduced member or guest complaints, including complaints about slow play • Greatly improved quality and perceived value of the playing experience • More loyal members and guests playing more frequently HOW WE HELP BUILD YOUR PRODUCT QUALITY When we are asked to come work with a course, we conduct training for your management team, staff, and key members. We provide computer simulations that allow us to sample various starting intervals to optimize the smooth flow of play and course utilization. And we work directly with your golf operations team to take immediate improvement action out on your course. In addition to ensuring that you realize the benefits already listed, we also leave you with 1) an objective course Pace Rating and individual hole Time Pars so you can know and plan for what is achievable on your course, 2) trained and more effective course marshals, 3) improved use of on-course food and beverage service, 4) improved safety on the course, and 5) a strong and engaged team with better morale and more positive player interaction. For the health of the game, your factory can and should consistently manufacture only the highest quality product. It’s in your hands. Bill Yates Pace Manager Systems® Pebble Beach, California www.pacemanager.com Founder of the transformational Pace Manager Systems® suite, Bill has dedicated decades to the analysis of how managers can speed up play, improve the golf experience, and increase profits. He has helped more than 150 public, private, municipal and resort courses around the world lower their round times and improve customer value and revenue. Bill has been featured in every major golf publication, and he has been a keynote presenter at premiere golf conferences throughout the US and in Europe. He has consulted with the courses at St Andrews in Scotland and has assisted the R&A Golf Club in managing the pace of play for the British Open and Amateur Championships, and the USGA in managing the US Open and the US Women’s Open. Golf Industry Central Summer 2016 19