Fairfax County Park Authority
THE CHALLENGE: MANAGING UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND GROWTH
The pandemic-driven golf boom created both opportunity and significant operational challenges for Fairfax County Park Authority. While the surge in popularity benefited the bottom line, it created a frustrating experience for loyal customers who suddenly found securing tee times nearly impossible.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, tee time utilization hit an all-time high, with rounds played across FCPA’s golf facilities increasing by 51% in just one year and continuing to rise since 2020. While this surge brought financial benefits, it created serious accessibility issues for loyal customers.
PRE-NOTEEFY OPERATIONS: LIMITED OPTIONS
FCPA required a replacement for its informal waitlist system to ensure that “last minute” cancellations were filled across all eight of its golf courses. “This technology has successfully fostered new booking habits among thousands of our golfers, who have now adopted Noteefy as their preferred tee time alert platform,” adds Carmen.
“Without essential technology like the Noteefy platform, our options were limited. We relied on handwritten waitlists in the pro shops, advised golfers to frequently check the online booking system for cancellations (especially 24-48 hours in advance), and encouraged single golfers to show up and hope for an opening, which sometimes led to ‘squeeze times’ which disrupted the pace of play. In response, we had to elevate our customer service efforts to help mitigate the frustration of golfers unable to secure their preferred tee time,” explains Ryan Carmen, Director of Golf, Fairfax County Park Authority.
THE SOLUTION: AUTOMATED DEMAND TECHNOLOGY
Fairfax County Park Authority implemented Noteefy to replace their informal waitlist system and ensure “last minute” cancellations were filled efficiently across all eight properties:
- Burke Lake Golf Center
- Greendale Golf Course
- Jefferson District Golf Course
- Laurel Hill Golf Club
- Oakmont Golf Center
- Pinecrest Golf Course
- Twin Lakes Golf Courses (Lakes & Oaks)
MOST VALUABLE PLATFORM FEATURES
When asked which features of the Noteefy platform were most valuable, Ryan Carmen, Director of Golf at Fairfax County Park Authority, was emphatic: “They all are valuable!”
- Real-Time Alerts: Users receive instant notifications when tee times become available
- Customizable Alerts: Users can tailor their alerts based on preferred day/time and number of golfers, ensuring they only receive relevant notifications while having the ability to pause their custom alerts
- Efficient Tee Sheet Management: By filling last-minute cancellations quickly, Noteefy helps golf courses maximize their tee time utilization and revenue
- Enhanced Customer Service: Technology has proven to aid in the improvement of customer service and satisfaction. The Noteefy platform has provided a reliable way to access available tee times, while improving the overall experience of Golf Fairfax’s most loyal customers
- Comprehensive Reporting: The analytics functionality offers detailed data on booking patterns and demand, helping golf courses optimize their operations—particularly valuable for a multi-course operator like Golf Fairfax
MEASURABLE RESULTS: SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT
The implementation of Noteefy has delivered quantifiable business impact for Fairfax County Park Authority across their eight properties:
- Substantial Revenue Generation: $215,841 in confirmed booking revenue across 4,001 rounds
- Last-Minute Booking Optimization: 60% ($129,000) of total revenue came from bookings made 2 days or less before tee time, with 14% ($31,000) from same-day bookings
- Extensive User Adoption: 2,972 active users created 78,965 searches with 68,810 notifications sent
- Operational Efficiency: Estimated 4,654 phone calls saved through automated notifications
“Implementing Noteefy’s demand technology has undoubtedly contributed to an increase in rounds, greens fees, and total revenue. Additionally, it has supported a rise in the average spend per round in the clubhouse, with food & beverage and retail revenue growing year over year,” notes Carmen.
Most importantly, the solution has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all stakeholders.
“Constituents and stakeholders of FCPA have reviewed the one-year results of Noteefy, leading to a positive outlook on how technology can significantly enhance business operations and guest service standards while addressing concerns from detractors,” shares Ryan Carmen.
Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to continuing to develop their integrated tech stack with a customer-first approach.
With a combined 350,000 rounds of golf across eight properties, this platform has transformed what was once a frustrating booking experience into a stress-free process for both operators and customers.
