Fore!mula For Success - Food & Beverage Functionality - May 2009
Leicester Country Club, Leicester, MA, has come a long way in a short time. Five years ago, the course used a paper tee sheet and they were completely non-automated. When they joined the Fore! Reservations ranks in 2007, their registers in the pro shop, grill and banquet rooms were independent and didn't "talk" to each other. Yet, now as they begin their third season with Fore! Reservations, General Manager Mark Zenevitch happily proclaims "We use the system full tilt and it's been great for us."
For Leicester Country Club - an 18 hole, daily fee public course offering banquet facilities - "great" means increased rounds, increased revenue, greater efficiency and improved customer service. Just in the food and beverage area alone, Leicester has experienced a $1,000 a week increase in sales, which Mark attributes to the efficiencies of the Fore! Reservations food and beverage features like the split ticket functionality.
"When our leagues come in and sit down, we can divide the ticket up any way they want, which makes it really easy for the customers and they appreciate it," Mark says. "The touch screen drill-down menus are also a valuable, easy-to-use function."
Thanks to the integration of the system, and through the effective use of the food and beverage functions, Leicester was able to restructure and relocate their pro shop into the bar and grill area, Mark explains, enabling them to reduce labor costs. "As the day winds down, we can gradually close down parts of the operation as necessary and merchandise sales can be handled by the grill staff."
"The point of sale system is so efficient, easy to use and simple for staff to learn," Mark adds. "Utilizing all of the features has translated into increased rounds and revenue."
Steve Belton, General Manager, Osage National Golf Club, Lake Ozark, MO, has been a Fore! Reservations customer since 1998 and says the food and beverage functions - particularly the drill-down menus - have been an important addition allowing them to achieve greater efficiency. "The food and beverage system is idiot-proof because it tells you what buttons to push and it leads the user through every step so they know what to enter. The touch screen quick-key capabilities enable orders to be placed with greater speed and the kitchen staff gets all of the accurate information that they need."
"Staff can put in special modifier notes as necessary, and we can discount items," he says. "The integration of all the systems is awesome and for the price and support we get from Fore! Reservations, they can't be beat." Osage is a 27-hole, resort facility offering a range of dining including a snack bar, fine dining and banquet facilities.
As the General Manager for Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Course, Dinuba, CA, Joe Wisocki says having the golf and food and beverage operations on the same system is really important and valuable. "Having everything all together, I'm able to see where we are at throughout the day."
Though Ridge Creek has been open for just one year, Joe has used the Fore! Reservations system at other facilities since its beginning, and has grown along with all the new developments and improvements to the system. And with the tough economy, customer satisfaction and service are especially important for Ridge Creek, a premium priced, daily fee public course.
"There have been so many great improvements to the system over the years and one of them is absolutely the split ticket function. It works really well," Joe says. "The screen capacity has increased five-fold and features like the pull-down menus, tab function for beverages, ticket view, multiple screen options, and the ability to take multiple credit cards are all fantastic and really get to the point of guest satisfaction. These features provide the ultimate revenue stream."
"I don't think a lot of Fore! Users realize the power potential of the entire system and what it can do for you," Mark Zenevitch says. "Fore! keeps up with technology and the needs of golf courses, and the growth never ends - they're always adding new features and helping the golf course owner profit."
"We are a value priced, market friendly course. We haven't raised our rates or fees, yet we keep adding features and services. The customers really appreciate that," Mark adds. "Though the economy is rough, people don't want to give up their rounds, cart, beer and a sandwich and these integrated features make the decision easier."
Click here to watch an instructional video on how to implement the food and beverage functionality mentioned in this article. If you have any questions about the features covered in the video, call Customer Support at 630-789-9784. If you are currently a tee sheet only user and are interested in adding the point of sale system to your operation, contact the Sales Team at 630-789-9705.
The next issues of Fore!mula for Success will feature successful Back Office and Accounting usage and success stories of the Fore! Internet Premium product. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming issue call us at 630-789-9705 or contact us via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
