Industry Guides
Golf Course Text Marketing with 10DLC: The Complete Guide
Robert Palmer
August 2025
11 min read
Golf courses and country clubs are discovering the power of text messaging to improve member engagement, increase tee time bookings, and drive pro shop and restaurant revenue. But with new 10DLC requirements, many courses are struggling to implement compliant, effective messaging programs.
The opportunity is massive: Golf courses using 10DLC see 40% higher tee time utilization, 25% increase in event attendance, and 30% boost in ancillary revenue from pro shop and dining promotions.
Why Golf Courses Need 10DLC
The Member Communication Challenge
Traditional Communication Problems
- • Email open rates declining (15-20% for golf courses)
- • Phone calls interrupt play and operations
- • Website notifications often ignored
- • Social media reaches limited audience
- • Physical bulletin boards miss remote members
Member Expectations in 2025
- • 78% of golfers prefer text for course updates
- • 85% want weather and course condition alerts
- • 92% expect quick confirmation for tee time bookings
- • 67% would like promotional offers via text
- • 74% want event and tournament notifications
The Revenue Impact
Course Operations
- • Average tee time no-show rate: 15-25%
- • Last-minute cancellations: 10-15% of bookings
- • Weather-related communication delays cost $500-2,000 per event
- • Underutilized prime tee times during shoulder seasons
Ancillary Revenue Opportunities
- • Pro shop promotions see 3x higher engagement via text
- • Restaurant reservations increase 40% with text reminders
- • Event attendance improves 25% with SMS invitations
- • Member retention increases 15% with regular communication
Golf Course 10DLC Use Cases
Tee Time Management
Booking Confirmations
"Hi John, your tee time is confirmed for Saturday 8/24 at 7:30 AM. Arrive 15 min early. Weather looks perfect! Pine Valley Golf Club"
Reminder Messages
"Reminder: Tee time tomorrow at 7:30 AM. Current conditions: Sunny, 75°F, cart path only on holes 3-7. See you then!"
Weather Updates
"Course Update: Light rain expected 10-11 AM. Your 10:30 tee time is still on. Carts available. Call (555) 123-4567 with questions."
Wait List Notifications
"Good news! A 2:15 PM tee time just opened for today. Reply YES within 10 minutes to claim it. Pine Valley Pro Shop"
Member Engagement
Course Conditions
"Course conditions today: Excellent. Greens running smooth at 10.5. Cart paths dry. Perfect day for golf!"
Tournament Updates
"Club Championship Round 2 starting in 1 hour. Leaderboard: Smith (-3), Johnson (-2), Davis (-1). Follow live updates on our app."
New Member Welcome
"Welcome to Pine Valley Golf Club! Your member portal is ready. Download our app for easy tee time booking: [link]"
Member Appreciation
"Thanks for being a Pine Valley member! Enjoy 20% off your next pro shop purchase through Sunday. Show this text at checkout."
Event Marketing
Tournament Announcements
"Annual Member-Guest Tournament: Sept 15-16. Registration opens Monday 8/26 at 8 AM. Spots fill quickly - register early!"
Social Events
"Wine & Dine Friday 8/30, 6 PM. Live music, prime rib special, wine tasting. $45/person. RSVP: [link]"
Lessons and Clinics
"Putting clinic this Saturday 9 AM with Pro Mike. Improve your short game! $25/person. Limited spots: [booking link]"
Seasonal Promotions
"Winter rates start Oct 1st! $99 includes 18 holes + cart weekdays. Book online or call (555) 123-4567."
10DLC Registration for Golf Courses
Brand Registration Specifics
Business Information:
- Legal Name: Exactly as registered with state/county
- Industry: Recreation/Sports or Hospitality
- Business Type: Private Club, Public Course, or Resort
- Website: Must be active with clear golf course information
- EIN: Required for business verification
Campaign Types for Golf Courses
Transactional/Informational Campaigns
- • Tee time confirmations and reminders
- • Course condition updates
- • Weather alerts and closures
- • Tournament leaderboards and results
- • Member account notifications
Mixed Marketing Campaigns
- • Member communications with occasional promotions
- • Event announcements with registration links
- • Seasonal rate updates and booking offers
- • Pro shop promotions for members
Marketing Campaigns
- • New member acquisition promotions
- • Guest play promotional offers
- • Event marketing and registration
- • Ancillary service promotions
Implementation Strategy
Phase 1: Essential Communications (Week 1-2)
Priority Setup:
- • Tee time confirmations and reminders
- • Course condition updates
- • Weather and maintenance alerts
- • Basic member account notifications
Expected Results: 15-25% reduction in no-shows, 50% decrease in weather-related confusion calls
Phase 2: Enhanced Engagement (Week 3-4)
Additional Features:
- • Tournament and event announcements
- • Wait list management
- • Pro shop promotions for members
- • Dining reservation reminders
Expected Results: 20-30% increase in event attendance, 25% boost in pro shop sales
Phase 3: Revenue Optimization (Month 2+)
Advanced Campaigns:
- • Dynamic pricing notifications
- • Last-minute tee time offers
- • Seasonal membership promotions
- • Guest play marketing
Expected Results: 10-15% increase in overall revenue, better tee sheet utilization
Best Practices for Golf Course Messaging
Timing and Frequency
Optimal Send Times:
- • Course conditions: 6:00-7:00 AM
- • Tee time reminders: 24 hours and 2 hours before
- • Weather alerts: As soon as conditions change
- • Promotional messages: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 AM-2 PM
Frequency Guidelines:
- • Transactional messages: As needed
- • Course updates: Daily during peak season
- • Promotional messages: No more than 2-3 per week
Message Content Best Practices
Professional Tone:
- • Match your club's brand voice
- • Use proper grammar and spelling
- • Maintain consistency across all messages
- • Include clear call-to-actions
Essential Elements:
- • Club name identification
- • Clear, specific information
- • Next steps or actions
- • Contact information when relevant
Measuring Success
Operational Metrics
- • Tee time no-show rate: Target 5-10%
- • Last-minute cancellation rate: Target under 10%
- • Member communication satisfaction: Target 90%+
- • Staff time savings: 10-20 hours/week
Revenue Metrics
- • Tee time utilization: Track percentage increase
- • Pro shop sales per message: Average $15-25
- • Event attendance rates: Target 25% improvement
- • Member retention: Annual improvement tracking
Engagement Metrics
- • Message delivery rate: Target 95%+
- • Opt-out rate: Keep under 2% annually
- • Response rate: 15-25% for action-required
- • Click-through rate: 8-15% for promotional links
ROI Calculation
Typical Golf Course (250 members, 100 daily fee players):
Costs:
- • 10DLC setup: $100
- • Monthly platform: $150
- • Messages (8,000/month): $240
- Total monthly cost: $390
Benefits:
- • Reduced no-shows: $2,000/month
- • Increased pro shop sales: $1,500/month
- • Enhanced event attendance: $800/month
- • Staff time savings: $1,200/month
- Total monthly benefit: $5,500
Monthly ROI: 1,310% | Annual ROI: $61,320 benefit on $4,680 investment
Seasonal Strategies
Spring Season (March-May)
Focus Areas:
- • Opening day announcements and conditions
- • Early season membership promotions
- • Tournament registration drives
- • Course improvement updates
"Spring is here! Pine Valley opens Saturday with perfect conditions. Book your season opener: [link]"
Summer Peak (June-August)
Focus Areas:
- • Daily condition updates
- • Heat advisory communications
- • Prime time availability alerts
- • Member guest tournament promotion
"Hot day ahead! Early morning and twilight tee times available. Beat the heat with 6 AM shotgun start options."
Fall Season (September-November)
Focus Areas:
- • Leaf season promotions
- • Winter preparation communications
- • End-of-season tournaments
- • Holiday event marketing
"Fall colors are peak! Most beautiful golf of the year. Weekend times still available. Don't miss autumn at Pine Valley."
Winter Strategy (December-February)
Focus Areas:
- • Weather-dependent communications
- • Indoor facility promotions
- • Planning for next season
- • Member retention messaging
"Simulator league starting January 15! Stay sharp all winter. 8-week league, prizes for winners. Register: [link]"
Getting Started: Implementation Checklist
1
Week 1: Planning and Setup
- • Audit current member communication methods
- • Define messaging objectives and use cases
- • Choose 10DLC provider with golf course experience
- • Begin brand and campaign registration process
- • Plan member consent collection strategy
2
Week 2: Technical Implementation
- • Complete 10DLC registration
- • Set up platform integration with golf management system
- • Create message templates for common communications
- • Test delivery across different carriers
- • Train staff on platform usage
3
Week 3: Member Onboarding
- • Launch member consent collection campaign
- • Send welcome messages to opted-in members
- • Begin basic tee time confirmations and reminders
- • Monitor delivery rates and member feedback
- • Adjust messaging based on initial response
4
Week 4+: Optimization and Growth
- • Expand to additional message types
- • Implement segmentation strategies
- • Launch promotional campaigns
- • Measure and report ROI
- • Continuously improve based on performance data
Ready to Transform Your Course Communication?
Golf courses implementing 10DLC messaging see immediate improvements in member satisfaction, operational efficiency, and revenue generation.
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