Consumers buy everything online these days: Jewelry, electronics, books, even cars. What makes golf any different? E-commerce is huge whatever the product is.
Aside from the fact the online tee time bookings have long since become a necessary trend in golf, allowing players the freedom to book when and where they want to play from the convenience of their home or office, pro shops are more and more following suit by going online.
As golf course pro shops are facing new challenges against massive retailers, it is time to try to take some money out of the pocket of the big retailers and put it back into your pro shop.
It’s true that small green grass pro shops generally don’t carry the amount of product that big-box retailers do. But it’s been said that pro shops are at an advantage because golfers are forced to walk through them when they check in for their tee time, although nothing is a guaranteed sale.
Putting merchandise online opens up the possibilities for your course to be marketed online through search engines and gives members the ability to shop and order merchandise at any time of the day. Just like booking tee times online, an online pro shop is an excellent benefit and near necessity for national visitors that do not visit regularly.
When taking that step into promoting e-commerce, it’s important to remember that your website design and its product showcase in many cases determine whether or not a golfer will buy. (This is another reason Cypress Golf Solutions only hires seasoned professionals with knowledge specific to golf courses meant to aid you in web creation services.)
Also, remember that it’s not feasible to hit all areas of the pro shop possibilities through online sales, For example, club fitting can be difficult online (but discounts for club fitting can be given). In fairness, remember a major retailer cannot hand a visitor a club to demo on the driving range out back either.
The most recent October 2007 National Golf Foundation Industry Report lists the following trends in golf and E-commerce:
“E-Commerce, or purchasing goods and services via the Internet, is growing at a faster rate then the total U.S. economy. A report released in May 2007 by the U.S. Department of Commerce indicated that the total U.S. revenues increased 8.1 percent from 2004 to 2005 while e-commerce revenues grew 17 percent over the same period.”
And further,
“Forty percent of Core golfers with Internet access indicated that they visit golf-related websites at least monthly.”
The latter makes a huge point that if you own or operate a golf course, it’s time to get online.
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