Hello and welcome to the Revenue Alert newsletter series, presented by Noteefy!

Here we summarize the best ideas, strategies, and insights in the world of golf course operations and revenue management. If you are looking for fresh tactics from some of the industry’s best leaders to grow your course or portfolio’s profitability, this is for you.

Today’s topic: Should Public Golf Courses Go Online Only for Booking Tee Times?

To understand this, we talked to Todd Anderson, General Manager at the popular public course Pacific Springs Golf Course in Omaha Nebraska - who went to 100% online tee time booking only last season, despite doing 300+ rounds a day in the spring.

Here is the story and what he learned that other public course operators can replicate.

Bit of Background: Pacific Springs is a beloved, high-traffic public course with a challenging yet fun layout, a loyal local community, and tee sheets that fill fast. As part of Landscapes Golf Management, the course traditionally prided itself on being accessible and welcoming to golfers of all ages and skill levels.

But during COVID, accessibility collided with unprecedented demand.

Todd Anderson, General Manager at Pacific Springs, remembers that time vividly:

• The phone never stopped ringing.

• Tee times disappeared instantly.

• Staff worked the counter with one hand and a phone with the other.

• Walk-ins collided with call-ins.

• No-shows soared because people were booking “just in case.”

• The golfer experience became unpredictable and sometimes chaotic.

COVID forced Pacific Springs to rethink everything - from how golfers booked, to how the team managed time, to how they communicated. It was the beginning of a new philosophy: What if the course completely eliminated the booking phone call?

Why Go Online-Only? Todd’s Big Realization

Todd saw an undeniable pattern:

• The more golfers booked online during COVID distancing rules.. the fewer problems the staff had - fewer data errors, fewer no-shows, fewer angry customers.

It flipped a switch.

Backed by the data and their own experience, Pacific Springs made the bold move to go online-only for tee times.

The payoff?

• Call volume all but disappeared (over 100% drop in calls)

• Data Base and Contact Information Accuracy Increased

• Revenue increased through more reliable bookings

• No-shows dropped thanks to strong accountability policies

• Staff stress plummeted

• Golfer experience improved because online booking is faster and more accurate, and more time could be given in person

The transformation didn’t come from luck -it came from deliberate decisions. And those decisions form a repeatable playbook any golf operator can follow.

The Playbook Any Course Can Replicate: How Pacific Springs Went Online-Only

This is the exact system Todd used to change the culture, operations, and golfer behavior at his course.

1. Mandate a Credit Card for Every Reservation, ONLINE

For Pacific Springs, this was non-negotiable - and the most impactful move.

Why Todd insisted on it

• Eliminates anonymous or “just in case” bookings

• Protects tee sheet integrity

• Reduces no-shows dramatically

• Streamlines check-in

• Holds golfers accountable without the staff becoming “the bad guy”

Todd’s message was simple:

Pro Tip for Operators

Apply the rule to every golfer - yes, even members. Consistency is how you erase confusion and complaints.

2. Use a 1-Year Rain Check System for No-Shows and Short-Shows

Todd knew charging golfers without a customer-friendly solution could cause friction.
So he implemented a remarkably effective alternative:

If a golfer no-shows or shows short:

They receive a rain check valid for one full year.

Why it works

• Prevents lost revenue

• Reduces disputes

• Gives golfers flexibility

• Encourages honest booking behavior

• Creates a predictable feedback loop for cancellations

Once golfers realized the policy was fair—and always enforced—the issues practically disappeared.

3. Educate Golfers Early, Often, and Kindly

Switching a municipal course to online-only can feel like changing the wheels on a moving car. Todd handled this masterfully with clear and consistent communication.

His education strategy included:

• A voicemail message directing golfers online

• Signage at the counter, clubhouse, and on the course

• Website banners explaining the new policies

• Email blasts and SMS updates

• Staff scripts (polite but firm)

The key narrative?

Golfers didn’t resist once they understood the benefits: speed, convenience, fairness, and transparency.

4. Use Technology to Pre-Confirm Reservations (This Reduces No-Shows Even More)

A critical part of the Pacific Springs model was using Noteefy to send automated pre-confirmation alerts.

These alerts help:

• Reduce no-shows

• Encourage earlier cancellations

• Resell cancelled tee times more efficiently

• Keep customers accurately informed

• Maintain a clean, predictable tee sheet

Todd emphasized that automation wasn’t a luxury - it was a necessity.

Todd’s 5 Operator Rules for Going Online-Only

These came directly from Pacific Springs’ journey:

1. Be consistent - no exceptions.

When golfers know the rules don’t change, friction disappears.

2. Shut off the old option (the phone).

If you want to eliminate phone bookings, remove the booking line.

3. Train your staff to own the policy.

They must be confident and aligned.

4. Always frame changes as golfer benefits.

Convenience, speed, fairness—those messages resonate.

5. Pair online booking with proactive communication tech.

Online booking alone isn't enough; reminders complete the system.

Want to watch the full interview? See below.