As Golfers Shift Online, Strong Digital Strategies Are Crucial for Course Success 60% of golfers ages 18-34 said they actively follow golf courses on social media 64% of golfers discover new courses on social media with an additional 7% who always use this channel to find new courses they want to play
MONTREAL, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD) ("Lightspeed"), the unified commerce platform powering merchants to provide the best omnichannel experiences, today released data that highlights the need for golf courses to maintain a strong online presence in order to grow their business. According to new survey data from Lightspeed, 75% of golfers believe it's important or very important for golf courses to offer a good website experience, and nearly half (49%) say a strong online presence is important or very important.
"With golfers increasingly using digital channels to engage with courses, having a well-optimized online presence can help drive bookings and customer loyalty – this is why we offer Digital Marketing Solutions (DMS) as part of Lightspeed Golf," said David Hope, General Manager, Golf at Lightspeed. "Our data shows that golf courses embracing digital marketing strategies like DMS are seeing significant results, from heightened visibility to increased rounds and sales."
The data also shows that social media engagement and website performance can contribute to a course's ability to attract new players and keep regular golfers coming back. Lightspeed Golf data reveals that the longer courses are live with DMS, generally the more success they can have in driving engagement, sales and bookings. After their initial three months, courses that were live with DMS between 90 and 180 days saw a 64.6% increase in Facebook reach and a 142% increase in website sessions.
Courses that have partnered with Lightspeed's Digital Marketing Solutions have seen significant growth in online interactions, translating into real-world benefits like increased bookings and greater customer retention. With the rise of social media and online discovery, the traditional methods of attracting golfers are evolving. Golf courses that aren't leveraging digital marketing are missing out on an opportunity to connect with both new and returning customers.
"Digital marketing isn't just about visibility; it's about creating meaningful connections with golfers and driving engagement," added JD Saint-Martin, President of Lightspeed. "As we see more players discovering courses through online channels and social media, Lightspeed's tools are designed to help operators harness these trends—whether through targeted campaigns or personalized offers—to drive bookings and grow their business."
Unlock your golf course's full potential with Lightspeed's Digital Marketing Solutions here —empowering you with the tools and insights to elevate your digital marketing strategy.
Methodology
The information in this press release is partly derived from a survey of more than 300 North Americans conducted throughout June 2024 by Lightspeed using third party survey vendor User Testing. Information herein is also derived from data from courses powered by Lightspeed's Digital Marketing Solutions for the period of July 2022 to September 2024.
About Lightspeed
Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale, and provide exceptional customer experiences. Our cloud commerce solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financial solutions and connection to supplier networks.
Lightspeed powers the world's best businesses in Golf, including Founders Group International, Landscapes Golf Management, KemperSports, TPC Myrtle Beach, The Sea Pines Resort, Cape Kidnappers and Advance Golf Partners.
Dive into the transformative features of Lightspeed Golf on our website.
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