Over the years, technology has brought about notable changes in golf, with new equipment and software designed to help golfers improve their game. From simulators and smartphone apps to distance lasers and swing sensors, using the latest and greatest is essential to compete at the highest level. So it was only a matter of time before golf course managers turned to technology to improve their own operations.
The Fairways Golf membership is a great value for golfers, providing access to four premier courses in Northeast Ohio. In McGrew’s words, “This membership allows golfers of all types, from the experienced to the casual, to enjoy the game the way it was meant to be enjoyed.”
With a multi-location business and multiple POS systems spread across properties, McGrew needed an all-in-one solution that could handle transactions from the restaurant to the pro shop while also managing the tee sheet. We caught up with McGrew to learn more about his journey, how he found the right technology to handle it all, what led him to Lightspeed, and how he sees golf evolving in the future.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
The Fairways Golf Membership addresses a market need for affordable and accessible golf for all experience levels. How does the membership fit into the industry and who is it for?
When we launched this membership, we did so for a number of reasons. First, we wanted to create something unbeatable in terms of value for golfers of all types. Second, we felt it was time to do something germany whatsapp number meaningful in terms of growing the game of golf and making it as accessible as possible. Finally, it was important to us to improve the playing conditions for our customers, and the Fairways Golf Membership does just that .
By creating the Fairways Golf Membership , we have been able to improve our accountability at every level and, as a result, the golf experience you and your friends have with every round you play. In doing so, we have made golf more accessible while providing the best value for golf in Northeast Ohio.
Today, the Fairways Golf Membership has grown from a single course offering to four facilities. We are proud to have created this membership for the benefit of all golfers in the area. We believe in the growth of the game and its ability to be affordable, accessible and fun for all.
Technology has played a significant role in the golf industry, both on and off the course. How did you choose Lightspeed?
The main reason we chose Lightspeed Golf was the ability to use both tablets and computers as needed, as well as the way customer information is set up to work globally across all of our courses. This has improved our customer experience as well as our ability to do our job in the most efficient way possible. Additionally, significant cost savings have been realized, which has made decision making easier. Finally, the staff at Lightspeed Golf has been very helpful and easy to reach if any issues arise, which is always a major plus when it comes to knowing who to trust with the day-to-day operations of a business.
What were the pain points of the point of sale system you were using before Lightspeed?
Before switching to Lightspeed, we were using a golf POS system called Teesnap. I would say the negatives for us were the overall financial burden, the speed of transactions, the inability to manage data from multiple facilities at an aggregate level to market effectively, and the lack of a streamlined booking engine for online customers.
But once we moved to Lightspeed and Lightspeed Payments to process transactions, we saw a dramatic positive change.