Fore!mula For Success - Comeback Coupons - June 2008

• Looking for a way to turn your one-time or sometime golfers into regular patrons? 
• Want an easy way to entice golfers to spend some extra cash without the hard sell?    
• Searching for an easy way to partner with local businesses that will benefit everyone?
  

Though it is one of the simplest Fore! Sell features, Comeback Coupons is also one of the most underutilized components – making it one of the best kept secrets of the software. And with a minimal investment of time, users can turn any register transaction into a revenue generating task.

Andy Spaulding, head golf professional for Broadlands Golf Club in North Prairie, WI, tried the Comeback Coupon feature for the first time this spring and experienced immediate and amazing success. “I offered a special in April and golfers who played at the regular rate received a coupon for 15 percent off the lowest marked price of a golf shirt. It was limited for use on the day of play only, and in April I sold 70 shirts – 50 shirts more than were sold in April of 2007 – and it was generally a pretty cold month.”  Andy offered a similar promotion in May on golf bags which resulted in a slight increase in the sale of golf bags over the previous May, and is offering other apparel promotions over the summer, as well as a coupon to entice weekend golfers for weekday play – weekend golfers who pay the full rate receive a free weekday cart.

“I didn’t realize Fore! Reservations had the capability to do this until my Sales Representative Dan Burquist told me about it – it’s a free way and a new way for me to market the course and merchandise. The setup process takes maybe 10 minutes and it is very easy to do,” Andy says. “I’ve also found that when staff members reference the coupon to the golfer when handing over their sales receipt and coupon, the redemption rate seems to be much higher. (i.e. “Thanks for golfing today and as a special offer, here is a coupon for $X off your next weekday round before July 30^th.).

Comeback Coupons print out at the Point-of-Sale and can be used to entice repeat customers by offering an incentive such as an amount off of a future round of golf, a discount off the cart rate, a campaign tied into the purchase of merchandise or food and beverages, or promotional opportunities to partner with other local businesses.

“We’ve been successfully using Comeback Coupons for the past year and have definitely seen a significant increase in bookings and revenue,” says Michelle Wittig, general manager of Juday Creek, located in Granger, Indiana. Serving the South Bend region, Juday Creek is one of the only privately owned public courses, vying for patrons with five municipally owned courses, an 18-hole championship course and a University of Notre Dame-owned 9-hole hole course, as well as a few country clubs.   “Having to compete against the municipals and the University has made us think outside the box, be creative and give customers the little extra that fosters loyalty.”   

This past April, Michelle included a Comeback Coupon good for a free cart rental in May which was printed and administered with each non-member cart rental agreement. Michelle reports that even with a significant number of bad weather days throughout the month, nearly 30 percent of the 699 coupons offered were redeemed – resulting in an increase in golfers and revenue. 

At the 2006 Fore! Reservations User’s Meeting, Scott Tidwell, head golf professional with High Point Golf Club in Essex, IL, reported using the Comeback Coupon with great success to partner with an area business. Instead of implementing the coupons for his golf operations, the local Dairy Queen paid High Point $100 per month to print out coupons for ice cream treats when the golfer purchased a green fee. The result was a true win-win for the golf course and the local business; as well as Scott’s idea being voted as “Best Idea of the Conference”.

The set up process is quick and easy, can be set to print for any transaction, and can also be used to help promote upcoming specials, events or outings. If you have used this feature successfully and would like to share your success with other users, please participate in the User-Helping-User Listserv at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you need assistance in setting up this particular feature, please contact our Support Team at 630-789-9784.