How to Run Public Golf Courses

1). Have an ongoing planning process. The management team of a public course should prepare an annual financial plan. Review last year's results and see where the course performed well and where revenues or profits fell short. Brainstorm marketing ideas to increase the number of golfers visiting the course, increase the amount of money they spend while at the course, and increase the average number of rounds each golfer plays at the facility.
2). Constantly upgrade service levels. Make it a staff policy to ask customers about the experience they had at the course. Invite feedback regarding what the course could do to improve customer experience. Have staff members visit other public golf facilities to observe how they run their operation.
3). Develop group business. Group business provides the course with consistent cash flow. Organize leagues that cater to different demographic groups. Try to schedule them to fill times when the course is normally not busy. These could include business groups, couples leagues, singles leagues or leagues from local colleges.
4). Create a club atmosphere. Make golfers feel like they are part of a club in order to encourage repeat business. Train your staff to remember golfers' names and greet them warmly when they arrive. Organize tournaments, allowing golfers to compete with players of similar skill levels, and award prizes.
5). Speed up the pace of play. Because public courses cater to golfers of all skill levels, including beginners, they often lose revenue from a slow pace of play, meaning it takes golfers longer to finish their round of golf than the course manager would like. Hire staff members to patrol the course on golf carts and remind slower players that they are falling behind---but train them to be courteous to the golfers. Provide information on scorecards and posted on golf carts about how long it should take to play.