How to Approach Golf Courses
Generally speaking, we recommend a “partnership” approach where ebikes will ADD golfers and revenue to golf courses. What we don’t want to do is become adversarial. So I always try to accept any objections with something like, “I understand that hesitation, and I think the answer will add revenue for you.”
Also, we don’t recommend asking for “permanent” permission. We recommend starting with a simple request to ride “today.” Anything that sounds like a request for long term approval often has to be discussed in meetings which can get bogged down, especially if it is a city-owned golf course.
This page will suggest four ways to ask permission. The first two apply if you already have an ebike, and the second two if you are wanting to get permission before purchasing a bike.
Option One – With An Ebike
This approach is based on the old axiom, “It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.” It assumes that it is OK to ride your bike at this course so you don’t ask permission any differently than if you were going to use your own push cart. Ride your bike up to the tee box with confidence. If there is no starter, away you go!
If there is a starter and he or she questions you about your ebike say, “These bikes are made for golf.” Show them how the bag carrier becomes the kick stand, point out that it has fat tires which are less than half the PSI impact on the turf than their 4-wheel golf carts, and offer to let them ride it around on the grass. (See *** below) They will often start asking questions and all you have to do is answer them. Be confident. Remember that starters are also golfers, and they will be watching and listening to you for their own interest.
If they resist letting your ride or don’t think they can make that kind of decision, you can appeal with something like, “Since I’m here today, please let me ride it this time, and I’ll communicate with the owners for next time.” Starters are usually volunteers and can be persuaded. Be respectful.
Option Two – With An Ebike
Take your ebike to the golf course without trying to set an appointment. If you try to set an appointment, you end up having to describe what you want to accomplish over the phone. That isn’t nearly as impactful as their first impression being able to see, touch, and ride an ebike.
Ride your bike up to the clubhouse. Go inside and approach the pro or manager with something like, “You probably saw the new golf ebikes at the PGA Show or in golf magazines. I have one outside for you to see and ride.”
As you and the pro walk up to the bike say, “As you can see, these bikes are made for golf.” Just as in Option One above, show them how the bag carrier becomes the kick stand, point out that it has fat tires that are less than half the PSI impact on the turf than their 4-wheel golf carts, mention that it has dual hydraulic disc brakes and is very safe, and offer to let them ride it around the parking lot or on the grass. (See *** below). They will often start asking questions and all you have to do is answer them. Be confident.
If it seems like good timing, you might add something like, “You might even be interested in getting some GolfEbikes to rent so you can attract new golfers and make some money.” You can mention that there is a golf course page on the website.
There are some helpful bullet points below, but don’t read them off…let it be natural.
At some point in the conversation and demo ride, you can ask, “Is it OK if I ride my bike here today?”
That is a simple ask. After the round, thank them and ask if it is OK to continue riding it.
***Offering to let them ride your bike is a great option. There is nothing like experiencing it for yourself. But be sure to have your bike in a middle pedal assist and gear setting so it isn’t too fast, and provide a couple of simple instructions: “Start off with your left foot on the pedal so your heel doesn’t reach the bag carrier, ” and “Use the throttle to take off, THEN start pedaling.” If there are raised cart path edges, be sure to mention to exit and enter them at a 90-degree angle.
Option Three – In Person Without An Ebike
It is not nearly as effective if you don’t have an ebike, but if the only reason you are buying an ebike is for golf, and if this is the only course where you want to ride, then it makes sense to ask for permission ahead of time. The conversation with the pro or course manager starts out with the same sentence, “You probably saw the new golf ebikes at the PGA Show or in golf magazines,” but ends with, “Check out this short video that shows how cool it is.” Then, using your phone or tablet, show them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsyYb764pik
After the video, you can say something like, “There are already over 1 million ebikes in America with that number expected to double this year alone…many of them right here in this area. I just wanted to make sure it is OK for us to use ebikes here before I buy one?” Optionally add, “I think we can get quite a few new golfers coming here generating new revenue for you.”
Option Four, By Phone or Email
If you send an email, you can include a link to www.GolfEbikes.com which has the video. If by phone, you can ask them if they can pull it up on their phone or screen and watch it. The actual wording is similar to the first two options, but the downside of asking permission by phone or email is that most courses will think of that as granting permanent permission, so be sure to include something like, “We can think of this as a trial so you can see how safe they are and how they can add revenue and new golfers…”
“Trial” Wording
With all of the above options, if you don’t get a simple yes, then you can appeal for a trial period. Human nature is to resist change, and some golf course management systems are complex and can involve several levels of decisions. I have offered to meet with owners, city managers, and others to be able to present the information and safety, and the benefits to the golf course. But sometimes it is easier to “get a foot in the door” by asking for a trial period. You can offer something like, “How about if we look at this as a trial for a couple of months so you can see how allowing ebikes will be safe and profitable?” During the trial period, it is likely that you will attract other golfers who get ebikes, and that will make it all the more likely that it will turn into a permanent permission. Ebikes will become as normal as push carts.
Helpful Bullet Points…
The following are great points to include in a discussion. They are all fantastic, But be a little careful not to “dump the whole load” all at once.
- Speeds up the game = more players = more revenue
- Ride straight to your ball and play true “ready-golf”
- Faster rounds appeals to younger golfers
- Faster rounds = more rounds per day
- Pedal-assist lets you get as much exercise as you want, or use the throttle and ride without pedaling
- Exercise is appealing to young and old golfers
- Ebikes are similar to allowing electric push carts…just faster = more golfers
- No capital cost to golf courses…golfers will purchase their own ebike.
- OR courses can join the new technology and get ebikes to rent to golfers and earn additional revenue. (show examples on Golf Course website page)
Tap Picture to Enlarge
The positive approach focuses on the fact that allowing ebikes will bring more revenue to their course by speeding up the game and attracting more golfers.
The negative approach is that if they don’t allow us to use our ebikes, we will take our money to other courses. For example, there are a large number of us in the Dayton Ohio area with ebikes. Most of the courses let us ride and we pay only a walking fee. But two courses don’t, and they have lost thousands of dollars in green fee revenue. I think it is only a matter of time before they recognize that and start accepting our money! As the pressure mounts, it will be the same for all courses.
To help add pressure, we are developing a searchable database of golf courses that have ebikes to rent and/or allow golfer-owned ebikes. It will include if they charge just a walking fee, or if they charge an additional “trail fee”. So all golf courses will know how they compare in terms of being appealing to ebike golfers.
We will also soon start a Facebook Group for “Golfers with Ebikes” that will include discussions about courses and how welcoming they are to ebikes. We will encourage similar groups for local areas where they can discuss among themselves specific courses and ebike golf events in their own area.
Liability – One of the questions that might come up is about liability. We address that in our FAQ’s and on the Golf Course page where we provide printable liability waivers. If you are going to a new golf course and are not sure if they welcome ebikes, we suggest you print and sign it so you can hand it to them if the liability question comes up. If they aren’t able to make a decision during your visit, you can leave the 1-page, “Golf Course Handout” with them.
Please let us know the name(s) of the courses where you are riding your ebike by sending an email to sales@golfebikes.com
There is a PDF version of this page available to print on https://golfebikes.com/How-to-Approach-Golf-Courses.pdf