It's less about cost, and more about quality, support, and suitability.
In the 2025 Golf Club Software Technology Report released by Golf Genius, Players 1st and several trade associations, a sobering truth was uncovered: 66% of golf clubs surveyed in the UK & Ireland would consider switching software providers. Their reasons for this are less about cost and more about the solutions themselves. In fact, only 10% of participating clubs mentioned cost.
48% of respondents identified 'Product does not meet their requirement' as a reason for their consideration to switch. In other words, whether their software fulfils their needs or not was at the core of this concern, and highlights a significant opportunity for improvement in meeting club expectations.
“The underlying problem that our industry faces, is that it is hard for one supplier to have expertise across all these fields, to do everything really well”, said Mike Zisman, Golf Genius Founder and Executive Chairman.
Product development was also a key contributing factor towards a golf club's consideration to switch, with one in four clubs expressing a desire for more innovation in their software tools. As golf clubs navigate increasing expectations from members, tighter financial constraints, and more complex operations, standing still is no longer acceptable – products must be constantly improved, updated and streamlined.
Interestingly, only 13% cited poor support as a primary issue, which suggests that while help desks may be reachable, the systems themselves aren't evolving or aligning with club needs. Whilst higher levels of support being a good thing appears counter intuitive, it is usually a strong indicator that a supplier is continuously introducing new features and capabilities to their products, which then require training and help for customers to start using.
With two-thirds of golf clubs considering a software switch, this report has unearthed a growing problem in the market that to this point, has not been highlighted: many golf clubs feel stuck but revert to ‘what they know’ because the process of change is daunting. Nevertheless, there is a strong interest in exploring better-supported, more innovative alternatives—indicating a clear demand for solutions that are forward-thinking and responsive to the unique needs of today’s golf clubs.
As the number of ‘best-in-breed’ providers in the market grows—specialising in Tee Sheets, PoS, Membership solutions and more—the opportunity to address club manager’s appetites for alternative solutions is being realised. At Golf Genius, we have built 100+ integrations with other specialist suppliers, supporting the development principle that innovation comes from working with the best providers in their respective areas of expertise.
This signals a moment of opportunity. Golf clubs that take the time to assess their systems and seek solutions that align with their specific operations will benefit from greater levels of efficiency, staff wellbeing and golfer satisfaction.
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Golf clubs are not necessarily looking for cheaper software. They want software that works for them. Fit and function are the true priorities.
Schedule a quarterly systems review with key members of your team. This can include your Head Professional, Operations Manager, Assistant Manager…even members of your board or committee who have specialist technology experience or backgrounds.
Ask: "Is our software helping or holding us back?" If you find gaps, start researching alternative vendors. Better yet, seek help from specialists—there are various levels of resources and support available from Golf Genius that can help you take the next steps.
Contact our team to find out more: international@golfgenius.com.
