"GolfNow" starting to run its course?

[Valleygolfer]

I have noticed that a few of the more desirable courses in the area have dropped off of GolfNow this year. Any other areas see this trend? Some of the GolfNow prices are set at a significant loss and seem to be used by the same guys all summer, here at least. I could see how this might be okay in metropolitan areas where there is more people vying for the times but here it is like a cheap membership.

 

[klineka]

I have been using teeoff.com much more this year compared to golfnow. I regularly get 10-30% off coupon codes emailed to me for teeoff.com, and they dont charge booking fees. Not all of the courses I go to are on either website though so it really depends on which course I am playing.

[gregsandiego]

1 hour ago, Valleygolfer said:

I have noticed that a few of the more desirable courses in the area have dropped off of golf now this year. Any other areas see this trend? Some of the golf now prices are set at a significant loss and seem to be used by the same guys all summer, here at least. I could see how this might be okay in metropolitan areas where there is more people vying for the times but here it is like a cheap membership.

 

I've seen a couple that use their own sites and I'll go there rather than pay the somewhat higher fee at Golf Now. Even Golf Zing is a better deal.

 

 

[drmevo]

1 hour ago, Valleygolfer said:

I have noticed that a few of the more desirable courses in the area have dropped off of golf now this year. Any other areas see this trend? Some of the golf now prices are set at a significant loss and seem to be used by the same guys all summer, here at least. I could see how this might be okay in metropolitan areas where there is more people vying for the times but here it is like a cheap membership.

 

I've never used GolfNow since only a few courses in the area (and none of the ones I usually play, they're all 30+ minutes away) use it, and the rates seem to be pretty much the same as twilight. I just checked and the 4pm GolfNow price for a course I played over the weekend (Breakfast Hill) was the same as what I paid without using GolfNow.

The Oaks in Somersworth has what they call Dynamic Rates so they are always adjusting discounts based on different factors. I can get out for around $20-$25 in the afternoon to play 18 walking; you can't beat that deal. I think something like that might make more sense for a lot of courses.

[mcanadiens]

Our area's most popular (and expensive) courses have never been on GolfNow.  There is no upside for them.

Most of the other public courses are still on GolfNow. Depending on your tee time flexibility, you can definitely cherry pick around the Dayton area.

 

[Shindig]

I tend to use online booking for cheap rates in the summer when I travel, although I compare to not using them first.  For example, anyone playing Tahquitz Creek in the summer should book through the course itself, as the same rate gets you lunch and two drinks.  

I haven't booked anything via GolfNow since last summer, but that's not a statement on GolfNow. 

[David in FL]

GolfNow never evolved.  They got complacent, almost arrogant.  Being first into a market can be an enormous advantage, but only if you recognize competition as it arrives and take proactive measures to maintain market share.  

As new online bookers entered the market, instead of working to keep loyal customers, GolfNow reduced reward programs and increased fees to maximize short term profits.  It's biting them in the butt now.  Extraordinarily poor strategic planning.   

[StefanUrkel]

The rewards now are worthless. Get 10 dollars off for a round a week away! It is golfNOW not golfLATER. 

[David in FL]

A little over 2 years ago now.  I hate to tell them "I told you so", but....

 

[Shindig]

18 minutes ago, David in FL said:

A little over 2 years ago now.  I hate to tell them "I told you so", but....

 

Wow indeed.  Was your actual title brand ambassador or is it similar to how I try to tell people about brands I'm fond of?

[longdrive23]

I used to use GN quite a bit earlier, but now with the booking fees and the courses offering the same rates as Golf Now (at least for a few twilight rounds I have booked), we check the rate and call the course directly.

I dont play as much these days, but other golf memberships like JC golf etc seems to be more promising for the $ you put in.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, Shindig said:

Wow indeed.  Was your actual title brand ambassador or is it similar to how I try to tell people about brands I'm fond of?

The latter...

[DeadMan]

Anecdotal, but I personally use GolfNow only to see what tee times are available. I'll then go to the course's website to make that tee time myself. Avoids the GolfNow fees, and courses' websites almost always have the same price as GolfNow.

Edited June 20, 2017 by DeadMan

[Kalnoky]

Useless around here, as in, not even worth the e-mail spam. 

Sometimes I get a better rate than GN without asking. They just offer it. 

 

 

[ScouseJohnny]

20 hours ago, DeadMan said:

Anecdotal, but I personally use GolfNow only to see what tee times are available. I'll then go to the course's website to make that tee time myself. Avoids the GolfNow fees, and courses' websites almost always have the same price as GolfNow.

That's how I feel about it, too. I now use GolfNow in a similar way to how I use Expedia. I remember when Expedia used to offer genuine savings on flights for a $10 surcharge or whatever it was. Now, whenever I check Expedia's prices against an airline's own website prices, they are usually identical. Why buy from a third party when I can buy direct from the service provider? When things go wrong, I feel I'm in a stronger position saying, "Well, you sold it to me..."

[roamingbard13]

There is one public course near me that I frequently use GN to book...but, it's because as you say, the rates are just ridiculously low. The last time I played there I paid $14 for a 11:50 tee time on Sunday for 18 holes with a cart. Because I'm not a resident, the course would charge me $67 for the same round if I called to book with them.

 

Most of the other courses I like in the area have decent specials on their own. I played one of my favorites yesterday for $40 with a cart, and it included lunch (pretty decent burger and fries) and $2 drafts after. 

 

 

[jamo]

On 6/20/2017 at 6:03 PM, DeadMan said:

Anecdotal, but I personally use GolfNow only to see what tee times are available. I'll then go to the course's website to make that tee time myself. Avoids the GolfNow fees, and courses' websites almost always have the same price as GolfNow.

I do this as well. Occasionally I'll find a GolfNow deal, but not frequently. 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 6/20/2017 at 8:58 AM, mcanadiens said:

Our area's most popular (and expensive) courses have never been on GolfNow.  There is no upside for them.

Most of the other public courses are still on GolfNow. Depending on your tee time flexibility, you can definitely cherry pick around the Dayton area.

 

Well, that just stands to reason. The whole idea behind golf now was to fill empty tee times. If you don't have many, why use the service?

1 hour ago, roamingbard13 said:

There is one public course near me that I frequently use GN to book...but, it's because as you say, the rates are just ridiculously low. The last time I played there I paid $14 for a 11:50 tee time on Sunday for 18 holes with a cart. Because I'm not a resident, the course would charge me $67 for the same round if I called to book with them.

 

Most of the other courses I like in the area have decent specials on their own. I played one of my favorites yesterday for $40 with a cart, and it included lunch (pretty decent burger and fries) and $2 drafts after. 

 

 

We used GN to play a Pete Dye gem in NE Ohio for $26 per for 18 and a cart! Would have cost us $55 per booking through the course. But, NE Ohio is overbuilt for golf, and GN is still very much in evidence around here. 

I have noticed some local courses that are present on TeeOff that aren't on GN. And no booking fees is an attraction. I'm going to be checking them out more.