The Winning Scores: 7 Key Metrics Every Golf Course Owner Must Track

As a serial entrepreneur who has started and grown countless businesses, I can attest to the importance of tracking key performance indicators (KPIs). And in the golf course industry, there are seven metrics that every owner and operator need to keep an eye on.

  • Green fee revenue
  • Golf lesson revenue
  • Food and beverage sales revenue

These KPIs, along with four others, provide a clear picture of how well a golf course is performing. And in today's competitive market, understanding these numbers is crucial to staying ahead of the game.

  • Merchandise sales revenue
  • Driving range usage revenue
  • Customer satisfaction rating
  • Marketing reach and effectiveness

So, if you're looking to optimize your golf course business, keep reading. We're going to dive into each of these KPIs and explain how to track and calculate them, so you can make data-driven decisions that will set you apart from the competition.



Green fee revenue

Definition: Green fee revenue is the total amount of revenue generated from golf course visitors who pay to access and play on the course.

Use Case: Tracking green fee revenue is crucial to understand the golf course's revenue streams and make informed decisions regarding pricing, marketing, and sales strategies. Analyzing green fee revenue helps golf course owners and managers identify opportunities to optimize income, such as increasing green fees' prices or offering promotions and discounts.

How To Calculate KPI:

Green fee revenue = Total number of rounds played * Green fee charge per round

Calculation Example:

Green fee revenue = 150 rounds played x $80 green fee per round = $12,000

KPI Advantages:

  • Green fee revenue helps golf course owners and managers make informed decisions regarding pricing and marketing strategies.
  • Comparing green fee revenue year-over-year allows golf course owners and managers to track revenue trends and plan for the future accordingly.

KPI Disadvantages:

  • Green fee revenue alone doesn't provide insights into how customers perceive golf course value or the quality of the overall experience.
  • Green fee revenue doesn't consider other revenue streams, such as food and beverage or pro shop sales.

KPI Industry Benchmarks: According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the average green fee revenue per round is $30-$50 for public courses and $60-$100 for private courses. However, this benchmark may vary based on the region, course, and season.

Tips & Tricks:

  • Offering promotions during off-peak seasons or non-peak days can attract a new customer base and help boost green fee revenue.
  • Reinvesting green fee revenue in course improvements or expanding your course offerings can help attract more customers and increase income in the long run.


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Golf Lesson Revenue

Golf course KPI metrics are critical in measuring business growth and success. One of the essential KPIs is golf lesson revenue, which shows the financial performance of golf courses regarding lesson sales.

Definition

Golf lesson revenue is the total revenue generated from golf lessons offered at a golf course.

Use Case

Golf lesson revenue is a critical KPI for golf courses that offer lessons to players at all levels. It helps in determining the effectiveness of the golf course's lesson programs and the revenue generated from them. It also helps in decision-making for future investments in training programs or identifying areas for improvement.

How To Calculate KPI

To calculate golf lesson revenue, add up the total revenue generated from golf lesson packages, private lessons, and clinics for the designated period.

Formula: Golf Lesson Revenue = Total Revenue from Lessons + Clinics + Packages

Calculation Example

If a golf course generated $20,000 from lessons, $5,000 from clinics, and $12,000 from lesson packages in a month, the golf lesson revenue for that month would be $37,000.

Example: Golf Lesson Revenue = $20,000 + $5,000 + $12,000 = $37,000

KPI Advantages

  • Helps in evaluating the financial success of a golf course's lesson programs
  • Provides insight on areas to improve or modify the course's training programs
  • Assists in making informed decisions on future investments in lesson programs

KPI Disadvantages

  • May not account for revenue generated from other sources, such as merchandise or food, which may also be related to lessons
  • Does not measure the quality of the lessons provided, which may affect customer satisfaction and retention
  • May not be a relevant metric for golf courses that do not offer lessons

KPI Industry Benchmarks

The industry benchmark for golf lesson revenue varies depending on the size and type of golf course. According to the PGA PerformanceTrak Report in 2020, the average revenue generated per student was $1,607, and the average revenue per lesson was $64.14.

Tips & Tricks

  • Offer a range of golf lesson packages to meet the customer's needs and budget
  • Market your lesson programs effectively to reach a wider audience, using social media and email marketing campaigns
  • Provide high-quality instruction and customer service to improve customer satisfaction and retention


Food and beverage sales revenue

One of the most important KPIs for any golf course is Food and Beverage Sales Revenue. This metric measures the amount of revenue generated from food and beverage sales on the course.

Definition:

Food and Beverage Sales Revenue is the total amount of money generated by sales of food and beverage items at the golf course.

Use Case:

This KPI is important because food and beverage sales can account for a significant portion of a golf course's revenue. By tracking this metric, golf course managers can identify trends and make changes to their food and beverage offerings to increase revenue.

How To Calculate KPI:

The formula for Food and Beverage Sales Revenue is:

Total Revenue = (Number of Items Sold) x (Price per Item)

Calculation Example:

For example, if a golf course sold 1,000 food and beverage items during a week at an average price of $5 per item, their Food and Beverage Sales Revenue would be:

Total Revenue = 1,000 x $5 = $5,000

KPI Advantages:

  • Helps golf course managers track the performance of their food and beverage offerings
  • Provides insight into the revenue generated by food and beverage sales
  • Allows managers to identify trends and make adjustments to their offerings to increase revenue

KPI Disadvantages:

  • Does not take into account profit margins on food and beverage items
  • May not be a sufficient measure of the overall profitability of a golf course

KPI Industry Benchmarks:

The industry benchmark for Food and Beverage Sales Revenue varies depending on the size and location of the golf course, but a good benchmark to aim for is 20-25% of the total golf course revenue.

Tips & Tricks:

  • Regularly update your food and beverage offerings to keep customers interested
  • Consider offering promotions or discounts to increase sales
  • Use customer feedback to identify areas for improvement in your food and beverage offerings


Merchandise Sales Revenue

As a golf course owner, tracking your revenue is essential to ensure the success of your business. One such metric that you should consider tracking is the 'Merchandise Sales Revenue.' This KPI measures the income generated by the sales of golf course merchandise, such as clubs, balls, and apparel.

Definition

The 'Merchandise Sales Revenue' metric reflects the total amount of money earned by your golf course through the sales of merchandise. This includes both the cost of goods sold and the markup you apply to these products.

Use Case

Tracking this KPI can help you determine the effectiveness of your merchandising efforts. It can also help you identify which products are selling the most and which are not. By analyzing this data, you can make informed decisions about purchasing inventory and creating incentive programs to boost sales.

How to Calculate KPI

To calculate the 'Merchandise Sales Revenue' KPI, use the following formula:

Merchandise Sales Revenue = Total Sales - Cost of Goods Sold

Calculation Example

Suppose your golf course had total merchandise sales of $100,000 over the course of a year. During the same period, you incurred $40,000 in costs related to purchasing these products. Your 'Merchandise Sales Revenue' KPI would be:

Merchandise Sales Revenue = $100,000 - $40,000 = $60,000

KPI Advantages

  • It helps identify high-performing products, allowing you to focus your marketing and merchandising efforts accordingly.
  • It can help increase profitability by ensuring that your pricing strategy is effective.

KPI Disadvantages

  • It does not take into account other factors that may impact sales, such as promotions or external economic factors.
  • It does not factor in returns and allowances, which can be significant in the golf industry.

KPI Industry Benchmarks for 'Merchandise Sales Revenue'

According to industry research, the average 'Merchandise Sales Revenue' for a golf course is around 5% of overall sales. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on factors such as the size of the golf course and the range of merchandise available.

Tips & Tricks:

  • Consider offering bundles or package deals to incentivize sales of multiple items.
  • Optimize your inventory by analyzing which products are selling the most and which are underperforming.
  • Track your performance over time to identify trends and patterns in your merchandise sales.


Driving Range Usage Revenue

A vital metric for any golf course is the revenue generated from driving range usage. It is important to understand how this metric can impact the overall profitability of the golf course.

Definition

Driving range usage revenue is the total amount of revenue generated by the driving range at a given golf course over a specific time period.

Use Case

By tracking the revenue generated by the driving range, golf course owners and management can determine the profitability of the driving range and its contribution to the overall success of the business. This metric can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and promotional efforts aimed at driving range users.

How to Calculate KPI

Driving range usage revenue = number of range balls sold x price per ball

Calculation Example

Driving range usage revenue for the month of June:

Number of range balls sold = 10,000

Price per ball = $0.25

Driving range usage revenue = 10,000 x $0.25 = $2,500

KPI Advantages

  • Provides insight into the profitability of the driving range
  • Can assist in evaluating marketing and promotional efforts
  • Helps to identify trends and patterns in driving range usage

KPI Disadvantages

  • Does not consider the cost of maintaining and operating the driving range
  • May not provide a complete picture of driving range usage, as some golfers may use the facility without purchasing balls or may purchase a membership

KPI Industry Benchmarks

According to industry research, the average driving range usage revenue per year is approximately $120,000.

Tips & Tricks

  • Monitor the usage of the driving range to ensure it is being utilized effectively
  • Consider offering promotions or discounts for driving range usage during slow times or in conjunction with other services
  • Regularly evaluate the cost of maintaining and operating the driving range to ensure profitability


Customer satisfaction rating

One of the most important KPI metrics for golf courses is the customer satisfaction rating. This KPI measures how satisfied your customers are with their overall experience at your golf course. It can give you important insights into areas that need improvement and help you make decisions about how to allocate your resources.

Definition

Customer satisfaction rating is a KPI metric that measures the satisfaction of customers with a particular product, service, or experience. In the case of golf courses, it measures how satisfied customers are with their overall experience at your course.

Use Case

The customer satisfaction rating is a useful KPI metric for golf courses because it can help you identify areas that need improvement and ways to enhance the customer experience. By tracking this KPI over time, you can see whether changes you make to your operations have a positive impact on customer satisfaction. You can also use this KPI to benchmark your performance against other golf courses in your industry.

How To Calculate KPI

To calculate the customer satisfaction rating, you need to survey your customers and ask them to rate their overall experience at your golf course. You can use a Likert scale to do this, with responses ranging from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree.'

Customer satisfaction rating = (Number of positive responses / Total number of responses) x 100

Calculation Example

Suppose you surveyed 100 customers and received 80 positive responses to the question 'Did you enjoy your experience at our golf course?'

Customer satisfaction rating = (80 / 100) x 100 = 80%

KPI Advantages

  • Provides valuable insights into how satisfied customers are with your golf course
  • Helps you identify areas that need improvement and ways to enhance the customer experience
  • Allows you to benchmark your performance against other golf courses in your industry

KPI Disadvantages

  • Surveys can be time-consuming and costly to administer
  • Responses may not be representative of your entire customer base

KPI Industry Benchmarks

The customer satisfaction rating benchmark for golf courses is around 80%. This means that if your customer satisfaction rating is below 80%, you may need to make changes to your operations to improve the customer experience.

Tips & Tricks:

  • Consider using an online survey tool to make it easier to administer surveys and collect data
  • Be sure to ask specific questions about different aspects of the customer experience, such as course conditions, staff friendliness, and pace of play
  • Use customer feedback to make data-driven decisions about how to allocate your resources and improve the customer experience


Marketing Reach and Effectiveness

As a pro serial entrepreneur, understanding the performance of your golf course marketing campaigns is vital. Tracking and calculating your golf course's KPIs (key performance indicators) can help you identify areas where improvements can be made. One such important KPI is the Marketing Reach and Effectiveness. Let's explore what it is, how to calculate it and what industry benchmarks exist for it.

Definition

The Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI measures the success of your marketing campaigns in reaching and engaging with the target audience. It helps to determine whether you are getting a return on investment (ROI) from your marketing budget and which campaigns are most successful.

Use Case

For a golf course, the Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI is particularly important because competition for memberships and green fees can be fierce. By tracking this KPI, you can determine which types of marketing campaigns are most effective in reaching potential customers, whether it be new membership drives, social media campaigns, or email marketing.

How to Calculate KPI

To calculate the Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI, you'll need to follow these simple steps:

  • Determine the total number of potential customers reached by your marketing campaign
  • Calculate the cost of the campaign
  • Calculate the actual number of leads or conversions generated from the campaign

Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI = (Total Cost of Campaign / Total Number of Potential Customers Reached) * 100

Calculation Example

Let's say you spent $5,000 on a social media campaign that reached 10,000 people. From that campaign, you received 100 leads or conversions.

Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI = ($5,000 / 10,000) * 100 = 50%

KPI Advantages

  • Helps to identify which marketing campaigns are most effective
  • Saves money by allowing you to adjust or eliminate underperforming campaigns
  • Assists in determining an appropriate marketing budget

KPI Disadvantages

  • May not accurately capture all aspects of the marketing campaign's success
  • Does not measure long-term customer loyalty
  • Can be difficult to determine accurate results for certain marketing channels

KPI Industry Benchmarks

According to industry standards, a Marketing Reach and Effectiveness KPI of 60% or higher is considered excellent, while 40-59% is satisfactory, and below 40% requires improvement.

Tips & Tricks

  • Regularly review your marketing campaigns to determine which ones are performing best and adjust your marketing budget accordingly
  • Include a call to action in your marketing campaigns to boost lead generation and improve your KPI results
  • Consider using A/B testing to determine which types of marketing campaigns are most effective for different segments of your target audience


To succeed in the golf course industry, it's essential to track key performance indicators (KPIs). As outlined in this article, there are seven metrics that every owner and operator should monitor:

  • Green fee revenue: This represents the income generated from golfers paying for rounds of golf.
  • Golf lesson revenue: This is the amount of money earned from golf lessons.
  • Food and beverage sales revenue: This refers to the income generated from the sale of food and drinks.
  • Merchandise sales revenue: This represents the income generated from the sale of products such as golf clubs, clothing, and accessories.
  • Driving range usage revenue: This is the amount of money earned from people using the driving range.
  • Customer satisfaction rating: This metric measures how satisfied customers are with the golf course's services and facilities.
  • Marketing reach and effectiveness: This indicates how effective the golf course's marketing efforts are at reaching potential customers.

By tracking these KPIs, golf course owners and operators can gain valuable insights into their business's performance. They can identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and stay ahead of the competition. Whether it's increasing revenue from food and beverage sales or improving customer satisfaction ratings, understanding these metrics is crucial.

So, if you're looking to optimize your golf course business, start tracking these KPIs today. With the right data, you can make informed decisions that will help your business thrive.

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