Key Takeaways
Golf marketing is about to change forever.
The way golfers search, book, and choose courses is shifting. And if you’re still relying on outdated tactics (like throwing up a Facebook post once a week or discounting your tee times to fill the sheet), you’re going to get left behind.
The good news? If you’re a course operator or golf travel business, you can absolutely get ahead of this shift.
In this guide, I’ll show you:
- What the next big shift in golf marketing actually is.
- Why your old strategies aren’t working anymore.
- A step-by-step plan to future-proof your course’s brand.
What Is the Next Big Shift in Golf Marketing?
For decades, golf marketing was simple.
Local newspaper ads.
Direct mailers.
Word-of-mouth.
Then came the digital wave: websites, tee time booking engines, and Facebook ads.
But here’s the shift happening now… golfers are making their buying decisions BEFORE they ever visit your website.
Think about it. A golfer planning a trip to Hilton Head Island doesn’t start on the Island’s homepage. They’re scrolling Instagram Reels, reading Google Reviews, and watching YouTube flyovers. By the time they land on your website, their mind is already 70% made up. That’s the big shift, and it can change everything.
Why Traditional Marketing is Failing
If you’re relying on generic posts or deep discounts, here’s why you’re struggling:
Discounts attract the wrong golfers.
Bargain-hunters will book once and leave. Loyal players want value, not just a cheaper tee time.
Social feeds look like everyone else’s.
A blurry photo of a par-3 doesn’t stand out. Golfers scroll past unless you give them a reason to stop.
No personalization.
Sending the same email blast to members, travelers, and beginners? That’s a fast way to lose attention.
How to Prepare for the Shift (Step by Step)
Here’s the good news: most courses aren’t ready for this shift. Which means if you move now, you’ll win big.
Step 1: Own the Search Experience
Golfers wouldn’t just automatically Google your name in most cases. For example, before deciding on Hilton Head Island they might Google things like:
“Best golf courses near Myrtle Beach”
“Hilton Head Island golf packages”
“Oceanfront golf course South Carolina”
If you’re not showing up here, you’re invisible.
How to do it:
1. Optimize your Google Business Profile with updated photos, tee time links, and recent reviews.
2. Add “golf trip” and “bucket list” style content to your website blog. (Ex: “5 Reasons Our Course Is Perfect for Your Next Golf Trip.”)
3. Encourage golfers to leave reviews after a round.
Step 2: Stop Competing on Price
Discounts fill a tee sheet today but empty your brand tomorrow.
Instead, build value-driven packages:
– Stay-and-play deals.
– “Buddy trip” offers with group perks.
– Golf + dining experiences.
These attract golfers who want the experience, not just a cheap round.
P.S. You can read more about how to How to Craft a Golf Package That Actually Sells here.
Step 3: Segment Your Marketing
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work anymore. Locals don’t care about lodging packages, and travelers don’t care about Wednesday men’s league.
How to do it:
1. Segment your email list: members, locals, travelers, beginners.
2. Run targeted ads based on geography and golfer type.
3. Customize your offers for each segment.
Pro Tip: We built a free Ideal Customer Profile worksheet + custom GPT tool that lets you test your package ideas against your ICP before you launch. That way, you know you’re selling to the right golfers.
Step 4: Tell Stories, Not Sales Pitches
Golfers are emotional buyers. They don’t just want yardages… they want stories.
– The history of your course.
– The signature hole everyone talks about.
– The wildlife golfers see mid-round.
– The view from the clubhouse after 18.
How to do it:
1. Replace one sales post per week with a storytelling post.
2. Use drone footage to show the course in action.
3. Feature golfers in your content (testimonials, photos, Reels).
Step 5: Track Everything
The smartest courses are treating marketing like a scorecard. They measure:
– Which posts actually lead to bookings.
– Which ads bring the right golfers (not just clicks).
– Which email campaigns keep members engaged.
How to do it:
1. Use Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel to track conversions.
2. Set monthly marketing KPIs (ex: 20 new package leads).
3. Review what worked, cut what didn’t, and double down.
The Bottom Line
The next big shift in golf marketing is here: golfers make decisions before they ever talk to you.
That means your job isn’t just to “promote your course.” It’s to shape the perception of your brand where golfers are already looking. You need to:
- Own search (learn how to get ahead of AI Search here)
- Stop competing on price
- Personalize everything
- Tell better stories
- Track results like a pro
Do this, and you won’t just fill your tee sheet… you’ll build a brand golfers trust, talk about, and return to.
Want to Get a Head Start?
We help golf businesses of every size — from local clubs to golf travel brands — create marketing strategies that actually move the needle. And we’ve built tools to make it easier:
👉 Free ICP Worksheet + Custom GPT Tool: Test your package and campaign ideas against your ideal golfer before you launch, so you know you’re targeting the right players from the start.
👉 Done-for-you Marketing Support: From social content and email campaigns to package strategy and storytelling, we’ll help your team fill the gaps and scale faster.
If you’re ready to stop chasing golfers with discounts and start attracting the right ones with strategy… Schedule a Strategy Call Today.
