How Golf Clubs use KPIs to maintain their growth

Introduction

The US golf course market has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1% from 2017 through 2022, and despite the fact that the industry still brings in over 21 billion dollars every year, narrow margins and attracting new members are ongoing problems.

In order to grow and improve their business, Golf Clubs use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor performance. These KPIs help track areas such as revenue generation, membership growth, marketing effectiveness, and more. By monitoring these key metrics, Golf Clubs can make strategic decisions that will help them reach their goals. In this blog post, we will explore the role of KPIs in a Golf Club's growth strategy and discuss some examples of how they are used.

What are KPIs?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are metrics used to measure and track progress towards a specific goal. They help businesses identify areas of improvement and monitor performance over time. KPIs can be financial or non-financial, and they vary depending on the industry and business goals. For Golf Clubs, some common KPIs include membership growth, rounds, and green fees.

Why do Golf Clubs use KPIs?

Golf clubs use KPIs to monitor progress and make decisions that will help them reach their goals. By tracking KPIs, Golf Clubs can identify areas of improvement and take action to improve their business. For example, if a Golf Club notices that membership growth has stagnated, it may launch a marketing campaign to attract new members. Or if the number of rounds increases, the club may need to hire more staff to accommodate the demand.

How do Golf clubs generate revenue?

Golf clubs generate revenue through membership fees, green fees, pro shop sales, and food and beverage sales. Membership fees are typically paid on a monthly or annual basis, and green fees are charged per round of golf. Pro shop sales account for revenue from the sale of golf equipment, apparel and other items, and food and beverage sales come from the sale of concessions at the club.

Golf clubs may also profit from sponsorship contracts and club competitions to supplement their income.

How do Golf Clubs Track Their KPIs?

Golf clubs use software that will allow them to visualize their data on dashboards using graphs and charts. This data can be exported and shared with stakeholders. Golf clubs typically track KPIs on a monthly or quarterly basis.

The benefits of using software to track KPIs rather than other software such as Excel for example are:

• Data can be accessed from anywhere.
• Multiple users can access the data.
• Data is updated in real-time.

What's more, with a dedicated KPI software platform, there are often features such as scorecards and benchmarks that can be incredibly valuable to a Golf club.

What are some Key Performance Indicator Examples used by Golf Clubs?

Below are eight examples of Key Performance Indicators that Golf Clubs use to monitor performance and grow their business:

• Membership growth: This KPI measures the rate at which the Golf Club is acquiring new members via marketing or sales initiatives. Typically membership growth is given as a percentage change over a previous period.
• Rounds played: This KPI measures the number of rounds of golf played at the club. It is a good indicator of demand and can help the club plan staffing levels.
• Green fees: This KPI measures the revenue generated from green fees. It is a good indicator of how well the club is pricing its products and services.
• Expenses: This KPI measures the total expenses incurred by the club. It is a good indicator of the club's financial health and can help identify areas for cost savings.
• Marketing effectiveness: This KPI measures the return on investment from marketing initiatives. It helps the club assess whether its marketing efforts are working and where improvements can be made.
• Staff Turnover: This KPI measures the rate at which employees are leaving the club. It is a good indicator of employee satisfaction and can help the club identify areas for improvement.
• Guest satisfaction: This KPI measures how satisfied guests are with their experience at the club. It is a good indicator of customer service levels and can help the club identify areas for improvement.
• Membership Churn: This KPI measures the rate at which members are canceling their membership.

How do Golf Clubs choose the right KPIs for them?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The KPIs that a Golf Club chooses to track will depend on its goals and objectives. However, there are some general guidelines that Golf Clubs can follow when choosing KPIs:

• Make sure the KPI is aligned with the club's goals.
• Keeping the number of KPIs manageable, around 8-10 is a good starting point.
• Choose KPIs that can be measured and tracked.
• Make sure the KPI is relevant to the club's operations.
• Make sure the data needed to track the KPI is available.

By following these guidelines, Golf Clubs can ensure that they are tracking the right KPIs for their business.

Conclusion

Key Performance Indicators are a great way to monitor progress and make sure your Golf Club is on the right track. By tracking a few key indicators, you can be sure that you're making decisions based on data that will help your club grow.

Challenges for Golf Club growth still remain, but by utilizing KPIs, clubs can set themselves up for success.

If you're looking for more information on Key Performance Indicators, check out our blog post on The Basics of Key Performance Indicators.

If you have any questions about Key Performance Indicators or how your Golf Club can use them to grow? Get in touch we'll be happy to answer them!

Happy tracking! :)