For golf instructors, managing payments can be one of the trickiest parts of the job. Navigating no-shows, cancellations, and tracking lesson credits often takes away from what matters most – teaching. With SwingMatch’s payment solutions, instructors can streamline this process, reducing awkwardness and saving time.
The Challenge of No-Shows and Last-Minute Cancellations
On average, about 5% of lessons are missed due to no-shows or last-minute cancellations. When these occur, it’s almost impossible to replace that lesson slot, especially at the last minute. Over time, these missed payments can eat into an instructor’s income, leading to an estimated 5% loss in potential earnings. Without a clear system to handle these situations, instructors might find themselves constantly juggling between understanding policies and managing the loss.
Keeping Track of Payments
Most instructors use a mix of tools to handle payments, often leading to disorganization and confusion. Many rely on:
Spreadsheets and lists: Manually tracking lessons and payments in Excel or Google Sheets.
Point of Sale (POS) systems: Physically taking payments in the pro shop, requiring the student to visit the POS.
Cash and e-transfer: Managing cash and e-transfers often lacks the streamlined record-keeping that a digital system can offer.
The Awkwardness of Asking for Payments
Asking clients for payment can feel uncomfortable, especially if an instructor has to remind clients to settle up for lessons or outstanding packages. Relying on different tools, like handwritten notes, phone reminders, and multiple apps, only adds to the complexity. Instructors often find themselves:
Using Google/Outlook calendars or phone notes for scheduling.
Manually tracking lesson credits and packages.
Sending reminders via text or email, which can feel invasive and awkward.
This fragmented approach can quickly become overwhelming. For instructors, there’s an added stress of making sure that lesson credits, packages, and individual payments are accurately tracked. It’s not just time-consuming; it can be anxiety-inducing, especially when trying to keep up with a high volume of lessons.
Streamlined Payments with SwingMatch
SwingMatch simplifies all of this with an integrated payment system that handles online transactions seamlessly. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, multiple tools, and reminders, instructors can manage all payment-related tasks in one place:
Online payments: Clients can pay directly through SwingMatch, so instructors don’t have to send reminders or manually track payments.
Offline payment tracking: For clients who prefer cash or e-transfers, SwingMatch’s offline tracking feature lets instructors record these payments easily. No more notes or spreadsheets!
Automated payment reminders: SwingMatch sends friendly reminders to clients on behalf of the instructor, making it easier for students to stay on track and reducing the awkwardness of follow-up messages.
This approach eliminates the discomfort of asking for payments and ensures that everything is organized and accessible.
Focusing on Teaching, Not Transactions
With a unified booking and payment system, instructors can reduce the time spent on admin work and focus on teaching. No more scrambling to the POS or keeping stacks of notes to track clients' lesson credits. SwingMatch makes payment handling smooth and straightforward, saving instructors from the stress and confusion of managing finances. To learn more, book a free 30 minute strategy session with us.