I was sent this article on the changes going on in the golf market. Great read! Enjoy!

http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2010-10/jerry-tarde-letter

Not having your golf course’s website show up on the first or second pages of the search engines when potential customers are searching for you is costly.  We don’t mean when they type your exact name.  We mean when they type in…hmmm let’s say GOLF COURSES ONTARIO (12,100 people a month do this) or GOLF NAPLES (27,100 per month).  That is a bunch of TRAFFIC that you are missing on.

So what does it cost you not to show up there.  Here is some examples.

The average #11 ranking site in Google will get a relative 0.66% click through ratio (CTR), yet the average #10 ranking will get a 2.97% CTR.

Put simply, this means a 450% increase in traffic simply by moving from position #11 to #10. The same applies for lower positions such as #20 (a 0.30% CTR), a 990% increase by moving to position #10.

WOW!!!

You better learn how to get to the top of those pages!  We don’t mean buying ads to get there either.  Because only 1% – 5% of the people that come to that page even click on it.

We can show you how!  That is us bragging!

We have been in meetings (face to face, group, online, etc.) alot over the last couple of weeks, and one thing we have noticed is every owner, head pro and general manager of their golf facility has CORE VALUES they seem to stand on.  The other thing we noticed is that each individuals core values were not the same as their colleauges.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.   Maybe that’s why they are running in twelve different directions!

Try this as an exercise.  Write down your top 5 core values.  It is a great way to get yourself, and just maybe your facility, company on the same page.

Here are mine: (not in any specific order)

1.  If its not FUN stop doing it

2.  Failing is a good thing…as long as you learn from it

3.  Give first, then give again.  You will get a return far greater than what you gave

4.  Negative in any form – people, thoughts cannot occupy your brain space ( 5 sec rule applies here)

5.  If its the right thing to do (legal, moral and ethical) just do it, even if it ruffles some feathers

Great audio from a secret guest speaker!

Too many business owners have an idea of what they offer, and they demand that customers accept that idea. That’s not the way the world works, however. You can have the best golf course conditions, food,  atmosphere, the best wait-staff possible… and still fail, if your customer base is turned off by something you can’t see because you’re only looking at your business from your own perspective

For example, your customers may love your facility, but can’t afford to take a cart. And it may be because your drinks are fifty cents higher than next door. Or because you don’t serve food early in the morning.

You need to find out what the customer’s experience is.