Hospitality and leisure businesses strive to improve their bottom line month after month. There are numerous ways to do this, from offering extra value to customers to ensure repeat business to creating not-to-be-missed promotions. Enhanced operational efficiency will also be high on the manager’s agenda because less loss means more profit. That could mean less damage or loss of hire equipment for golf courses’ pro shops. Streamlining processes will also reduce waste, improve productivity, and minimise spoilage and waste in the food and beverage areas.
Embracing Technology
One significant area to examine to improve the bottom line is technology. The systems in place could determine how bestto improve efficiency and minimise waste. These systems could range from property management systems (PMS), which streamline operations, manage reservations, and track guest data, to customer relationship management (CRM), which manages customer interactions, personalises communication, and tracks customer preferences.
CardsSafe and UK Golf Clubs
CardsSafe has been used by golf centres across the UK for over twenty years. The system retains customers’ banking or ID cards, enabling secure bar tabs and golf equipment hires. CardsSafe’s tab-keeping system works alongside existing POS to securely keep customer credit and debit cards. As a result, CardsSafe virtually eliminates chargebacks and is an active deterrent to dine and dash because customer bank cards are securely retained on arrival. It’s cost-effective, too, and practically pays for itself. Just one £120 dine and dash incident or a chargeback is the same cost of one unit with ten draws per year. In addition, each hire comes with customer service troubleshooting, free replacement keys, and additional units that can be added at any time.
CardsSafe is a tool that improves customer service and helps staff upsell. Safely securing customers’ bank cards while running a tab increases trust between the venue and customers, allows the team to build loyalty and confidence, and enables them to increase sales. Customers who set up a tab inevitably spend more time eating and drinking.
CardsSafe and Leisure Venues
The system is used by nationwide venues, including Young’s Pubs, Hilton Hotels, Lord’s Cricket Ground, and many independent restaurants and bars. Golf courses include Silvermere, Redlibbets, The London Golf Club, and, more recently, Golf World Stansted, Pine Ridge Golf Club, and Royal Ascot Golf Club.
At The London Golf Club, the units were first installed in 2008, and additional units were added in 2014 and 2020 to assist with customer golf equipment hires on the site. CardsSafe is also used by the catering staff at the club to serve golfers food and drinks on the course to their hundreds of weekly visitors, both club members and the wider public.
Food and Beverage Operations Manager Grant Rumbelow says, “CardsSafe has been a welcome addition to the London Golf Club. We utilise the system in our Golf Shop and Spike Bar and on-course with our Drinks Buggy. With CardsSafe, we can safely store customers’ cards while they enjoy their round of golf.”
