Driving growth with a pro payments partner

Golf is in the blood in Ireland. It’s estimated that one in 10 adults in the country plays the game. And it’s no wonder. We’re home to some of the best courses in the world and about a third of the world’s true links courses.

The lure to play is a huge driver of growth in the country. A recent study estimated that the sport contributed €717 million a year to the economy, supporting 15,600 jobs.

Like any business in the modern, electronic world, having trustworthy and reliable payments processing is crucial to the survival of any golf club. And golf clubs have a huge range of payment touch points, from green fees, membership subscriptions, bar takings and pro shop sales, they need a provider who can do it all. Safely, and securely.

At Elavon, we call this omnicommerce – being able to take payments where and when you need to, and in a way you’re customers are comfortable with.

In-person payments

When your members come to tee off or after a rewarding quick nine holes, there’s a strong chance they want to buy a drink, a new shirt, or pay for the next round.

You need to be able to take that payment quickly and painlessly, reducing friction and keeping your golfers happy. Modern payment terminals now do far more than accept cards. They integrate with point-of-sale systems (POS), support contactless and mobile wallets, and enable real-time reporting. This means fewer errors, faster transactions and better visibility into what’s happening in your club. 

A tap-and-go transaction is not only faster – it’s also more more secure and less prone to delays caused by chip and PIN or handling cash. For your business, that translates into shorter queues, happier customers and more efficient staff deployment.

One of the biggest pain points when you take payments is reconciling what was sold with what was paid. Legacy systems often require manual intervention, which can lead to errors, delays and frustration. That’s even more complicated when you have different areas around your estate taking payments. 

But with integrated payment solutions, reconciliation becomes automatic. Transactions are logged in real time, matched to receipts and reported back to the office without the need for spreadsheets or late-night number crunching. 

Not only does this kind of automation save time; it also reduces risk. When payments are processed and settled quickly, cashflow improves.  

Online and recurring payments

It’s estimated that more than a fifth of the €717 million spent every year in Ireland on golf, is in membership fees. And on top of that, a sizeable portion goes on green fees. 

Clubs need a reliable online payment platform – known as a payment gateway – that can handle those payments, both one off and recurring, in a trusted and secure way. 

And if your online payments are handled by the same provider as your in-person card machines, you’re saving in security, compliance and other fees. Not only that, but you’re opening up a world of rich data that can help inform how you do business. 

Benefits of bringing all your payments under one roof:

• One contract, one point of contact
• Streamlined, real-time reporting systems for better data insights and planning
• Secure, PCI DSS-compliant platforms as standard
• Customer service and 24/7 technical support
• No need to pay for extra services you don’t use, or manage fees across multiple providers
• Next-day funding across all your sales channels

Currency solutions to suit your customers

With the Ryder Cup returning to Ireland in 2027, hundreds of thousands of golf fans are expected to descend on Limerick. 

You’ll need to be prepared. Oversees visitors might be carrying a card issued by a brand you’re less familiar with. Make sure your provider can settle those transactions, especially schemes we don’t see as much here such as Amex, Discover, JCB and UnionPay International.

And you might want to consider currency solutions, giving vistors the option of paying in their own currency. 

Elavon research suggests almost one in five people are likely to abandon a purchase, if they can’t pay in their own currency. That goes for online as well as in-person payments.

We also see a reduction in chargebacks for merchants who settle in a customers’ own currency. 

As a golf club, you know which experts to put in place – your greenkeeper takes care of the greens, the pro on your members backswing. Trust Elavon to handle the payments.