Advancing Associations

PING Europe Takes Next Steps Towards Sustainable Future

13th Oct 2023

European Tour group partners with the NEXT Golf Tour Powered by Trackman

30th Aug 2023

Golf Participation Continues to Surge Worldwide

2nd Aug 2023

Unlocking Peak Performance: The Crucial Role of Mental Toughness in Golf Coaching

14th Jun 2023

Wil Besseling and Lars van Meijel join GolfSixes event at KLM Open

25th May 2023

PGA of Italy Elections – Ascanio Pacelli Elected New President

23rd May 2023

Popular GolfSixes Introducing More Young People to Shorter Form of Team Golf

16th May 2023

EDUGOLF Begins Developing New Education and Training Products for the Golf Industry

19th Apr 2023

Spanish Trailblazer, Marta Figueras-Dotti, Recognised With CPG’s Christer Lindberg Bowl

11th Apr 2023

Renowned Spanish Golf Coach Eduardo Celles Wins Prestigious John Jacobs Award

6th Apr 2023

New Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf Released

29th Mar 2023

Pioneering Ólafsson Receives Iceland’s First 5-Star Pro Award

13th Mar 2023

Golf Genius Hits Milestone With Golf Hub

7th Mar 2023

New EDGA Research to Collect Quality Data On How Golfers With Different Impairments Are Affected in Their Ability to Play Golf

6th Mar 2023

PING Signs EDGA Golfer Juan Postigo Arce

6th Mar 2023

Guenther Enters the Winner’s Circle With AESGC International Victory

4th Feb 2023

Research Request: How Coaches Can Provide More Meaningful Learning Experiences for Players

11th Jan 2023

New PING G430 Family Delivers Speed and Distance (and Forgiveness, of Course)

10th Jan 2023

IGPN 68 Goes Live – Spheres of Influence: The Value of the PGA & the Pro

22nd Nov 2022

EDUGOLF Partners Make Progress in Poland

9th Nov 2022
load more

Golf Clubs Shouldn’t Ignore Social Technology Online2 min read

Golf Business MonitorAuthor: Golf Business Monitor


Posted on: 4th Jul 2016

Golf Business Monitor’s, Miklós Breitner, looks at how golf clubs can leverage social technology to their, and their members’, benefit…


I was really happy to read Frank Vain’s (president of McMahon Group) article about increasing usage of technology (in many instances social technology) in private golf clubs to improve connectivity, reduce operating costs and increase revenue (not to forget new member sales as well) [things that could apply to other types of clubs too].

Every day, an increasing number of connected consumers (yes, private golf club members as well!!) are taking to social networks to ask for help or express sentiment (social posts, blogs & reviews) related to business- or product-related experiences. The reality is that social media is the new normal and will only continue to grow.

In addition to this smart phone and mobile application usage does not belong solely to the under 45 age group and will also only continue to grow over the coming years.

Online banking, online booking and online shopping are now part of our daily life. So those who think ‘if we use social and other new technologies in our sales and CRM activities it will alienate golf club members’, then I must say: they are wrong.

Thomas Bjorn Smartphone Ryder Cup

In a recent survey of The Economist Intelligence Unit, 60% of the surveyed North American executives (not from the golf industry) said they will invest in 2013 and in the following years in socila media and technology.

Companies should view social technologies not as another tool to utilise, but as an enabler of organisational transformation as well. Those who don’t recognise this will fail to identify the specific organisational problems social technologies can solve. I think it is important to facilitate collaboration among employees.

Needless to say companies/golf clubs must define their objectives, select technology and then consider what kind of organisational change supports the new objectives.

Therefore private golf club managers (and other golf club managers as well) should think about the following 3 major challenges: Customer experienceConversation management and Collaboration with clients (suppliers as well),golf club members, and golf club workers.

Since July 2012 I have looked at several solutions and ideas that can help golf club managers and owners to reach their business goals and objectives. Here are some of them:

These ideas and concepts could be used within a company/golf club as well. We should inspire our workforce to innovate and collaborate more productively. This way we can create tangible business value.

Probably the biggest challenge of social technology implementations is how we can build them into the corporate culture.


How have you incorporated social technology into your golf club/business? Leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments box below.

Golf Business MonitorAuthor: Golf Business Monitor
Read more by

Miklós Breitner is the author of Golf Business Monitor, a golf business blog since 2009 which covers the latest business challenges and initiatives of the golf industry focusing on golf club management and marketing, golf tourism and golf equipment.

For more information visit www.golfbusinessmonitor.com