Fore! Your Information - January 2009
UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS AND FORE! MARKETING TOUCH SCREEN INTRODUCED - The 2009 PGA Merchandise Show and Golf Industry Show are just around the corner. If you are going to be at either of these shows, be sure to visit us at Booth #3465 in Orlando at the Merchandise Show and Booth #6415 in New Orleans at the Industry Show. We will be previewing the latest features in Fore! Marketing including the brand new Customer Input Touch Interface. This could be reason enough for you to justify the cost of coming to the show. Fore! Reservations will also be hosting a small post-show cocktail party in our booth immediately following the conclusion of the PGA Show on Thursday, January 29th and Friday, January 30th. We hope to see you there!
UPGRADE NOW TO THE 2008 SOFTWARE - The latest and greatest software version is available now. If you are not running 2008 version 175 or 192 it is important to upgrade as soon as possible. Customer Support call volume is generally low at this time of year, making it the ideal time for you to call and complete the upgrade process. Don't wait until March when call volume is at its highest. Take advantage of the Customer Support Team's ample time to assist you and contact them today at 630-789-9784.
THIS MONTH'S PROOF THAT YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE FORE! MARKETING BIRTHDAY PROMOTION - Even the Disney corporation is getting in on the Birthday act, check out their latest offer by clicking here.
FORE! MARKETING & FORE! TRAVEL VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE - New videos for Fore! Marketing and Fore! Travel are available for you to view. These on-line seminars are a great way to learn about our brand new products and how to implement them at your facility. Each video will review the features and functionality of the product, illustrate how each works with the software, and answer any questions you may have. In addition, videos enable you to learn at your own pace and become an "expert" on our new products. Click here to access the Fore! Marketing Webinar and click here to access the Fore! Travel Webinar.
COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIP IS DECLINING - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPECTED INCREASE OF PUBLIC/SEMI-PRIVATE GOLFERS - Tough economic times have caused consumers across the country to cut back on expenses and budget more efficiently. For many, luxury items such as a country club membership are no longer affordable. Harry Ipema, CEO of Fore! Reservations, posed this question about reduction in private club membership to one of the golf industry's leading minds, Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corporation. Jim's findings were the subject of his most recent monthly newsletter, Outside The Ropes. Normally this is a paid-subscription newsletter but Jim has made this newsletter available to Fore! Reservations Users for free to see Harry's hypothesis and the potential ramifications to the golf business. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ISSUE...
The findings in the article suggest that a public course could expect to see an increase of public/semi-private golfers that were once private club golfers. We recommend that you turn these once private club golfers into regular paying patrons at your facility, not discount shoppers simply looking for the best deal. Consider the services and amenities your facility currently offers and determine if you can enhance your offerings so they are more consistent with private club benefits. Promote membership services through a loyalty program, an awards program, and comeback coupons to attract these golfers to play at your facility more regularly. Previous country club members may be looking for a new course to call home so take advantage of this unique opportunity!
For those that enjoyed Jim's newsletter, please click here if you would like to subscribe to Outside The Ropes.
DID YOU KNOW? - Did You Know that Fore! Reservations offers a wireless handheld scanner that makes it easy to perform an inventory in your golf shop? Have you ever been to a large department store and seen staff members scanning items with a handheld device and dreamt about having one at your golf course? Well the technology exists today. The Personal Data Terminal (PDT) device can scan UPCs or price tags, accumulate the inventory quantities, and enter the accurate numbers right into the Fore! Reservations system. The cost of the unit is $900 and can be ordered by calling our Support Team at 630-789-9784. The labor savings and inventory accuracy are well worth the investment!
MONTHLY SURVEY QUESTION - For this month's survey we would like to know your Fore! Reservations New Year's Resolution. Click here to take this month's survey.
