Tee-booking systems provoke much discussion between club managers and professionals. There are diverse requirements for booking of individual times for different classes of members and visitors and for arranging society and competition events. The requirements are wide ranging to meet the needs of various types of club.

Where clubs have embraced Internet bookings systems, they have been generally based on the club posting availability to an Internet system while continuing with a separate phone, paper and/or local computer based system. This has nullified the most significant potential advantages, and even cost extra effort in maintaining the availability of tee times to the Internet system and ensuring no duplication with bookings taken at the club.

The full benefits of tee-booking can only be achieved if all bookings are made to a single system for all users at any time. This means that the clubs must be able to take phoned in bookings from members and visitors and input them directly, at the same time that online users make their own bookings (from the club, home or office), ensuring that there is no duplication or missed bookings.

Each club has its own way of allocating tee times, number of players permitted, requirements for visitors and charge structures. There is also the requirement to restrict how far ahead bookings may be taken and how to deal with block bookings for special events. It is uneconomic for computer systems houses to create bespoke software for every club so the only practical solution is to make a highly configurable product which can meet the real needs of clubs.

Although the requirements for a successful system are onerous, they can be met. Web Developments Ltd piloted TeeTimePlease with Minchinhampton Golf club. This club had complex booking rules over two courses. Key requirements were for the system to be very user friendly, to keep the member’s data private and to not disadvantage the non computer literate members. By developing the system in close conjunction with the club, Web Developments produced a very practical and configurable system. Since then the system has been further developed and used by ‘Select Members’ clubs, ‘Pay and Play’ clubs, and ‘Proprietary’ clubs. Anglesey County Council in North Wales have realised the benefits of Golf to tourism on the Island and have sponsored a system for the five major clubs there to have TeeTimePlease and a ‘Pass’ system to play at all five clubs.

Some clubs would like to have a ’week of Saturdays’. Golf participation in the UK has been static for many years yet the numbers of golf clubs has expanded.  Golf club tee slots are like aeroplane seats, once the time has past they are worthless. A properly managed tool can mould behaviour to use the less popular times. This can be achieved by dynamically managing guest and visitor charges at different times of the day and on different days. The flexibility of TeeTimePlease allows for course management to suit the club’s objectives, whether it be to increase use and revenue, or to please your select band of members.

There is no doubt that the penetration of Internet tee-booking will grow in future.

A Government survey in May 2005  showed

·        Internet Access 13.1 million households online

·        Almost two thirds (60 per cent) of adults in Great Britain had used the Internet in the three months  prior to interview in May 2005.

·        58 per cent had bought or ordered goods, tickets or services.

With the general population increasingly booking holidays, getting insurance, and buying goods on the Internet they will expect to be able to book leisure pursuits as well. 

Clubs on TeeTimPlease typically experience over 60% of bookings made on-line after an introductory period. This gives great advantages to the club, in time saved from taking bookings, to the provision of full data on course use and revenue generated, and for management control over use of the course. The club also has excellent communications with its users. Club members may not look at the club general website very often but those making tee-bookings automatically see club Communications.  

As members and visitors are attracted to clubs with effective Internet Tee-Booking systems, other clubs will need to compete. Just think of the convenience to users in selecting their tee-time at any time of day or night, seeing when their competition time has been allocated, or getting an email from the system confirming the time that a friend has booked for your game.

Those who have experienced such a system will come to demand it and the coming generation of golfers will expect it.

They will also value the up to date information on course and club matters. How handy to get that reminder that tonight is the captain’s social, or to see that trolleys are not allowed this morning due to frost, or a personal message from the pro-shop that your clubs have been re-gripped.

To find out more you may log on to

www.demo.clubteesheet.co.uk.

Here you can actually make a booking as a member or visitor on the system and see the list of features. 

The system is provided as a service with a basic monthly cost of £75. The only equipment you need is a computer with Internet Explorer and an Internet connection.

For further information please contact

David Knott  sales@knottronix.com Tel 01242 518906, Fax 0870 7051014