What does GolfNow actually cost a golf course?

GolfNow requires courses to provide 2 barter tee times per day that GolfNow sells and keeps the revenue from. At a typical $80 peak rate, that transfers roughly $48,000 per year in tee time revenue from the average daily-fee course to GolfNow, and $94,500 or more for high-volume courses. Revenue that never appears on any invoice.

What is the best GolfNow alternative for golf courses?

TeeAhead is a commission-free tee sheet software for independent and semi-private golf courses. It charges a flat $349/month (with no barter tee times, no booking commissions, and no data extraction) after a free first year for Founding Partners. Courses keep 100% of every round they sell.

Who should consider leaving GolfNow?

Established courses with a returning customer base and an existing email list are the best candidates to leave GolfNow. If the majority of your GolfNow bookings are from golfers who already know your course, you are effectively paying GolfNow to take credit for demand you generated yourself. Courses that have made the switch, like Windsor Parke and Missouri Bluffs, consistently report revenue gains after leaving.

Is TeeAhead really free for golf courses?

The first year is free for Founding Partner courses (the first 10 to join). After year one, TeeAhead costs $349/month, a flat SaaS fee with no barter tee times, no per-booking commissions, and no hidden fees. Compare this to GolfNow, where the effective annual cost in barter tee times alone typically exceeds $90,000.

Coming soon to Metro Detroit

The Best GolfNow Alternative for Golf Courses and Golfers

TeeAhead is Metro Detroit's local-first golf platform — free tee sheet software for courses with zero barter tee times, and a loyalty membership for golfers that beats GolfPass+ on every single metric.

Claim a founding spot (10 left)Run your damage report →

Golfer instead? Join the loyalty waitlist →

What GolfNow costs

GolfNow doesn't charge in dollars. It charges in tee times.

Most golf course operators know GolfNow is expensive. Few have run the actual math. Here it is.

Standard GolfNow agreements require 2 prime-time tee times per day as barter, at published rack rates. At a typical $80 peak rate across 300 operating days, the average daily-fee course gives away $48,000 a year. High-volume courses at resort rates lose $94,500 or more.

It gets worse. Price-parity clauses prevent courses from offering lower rates on their own site. GolfNow keeps the customer data. The golfer belongs to GolfNow, not the course.

The damage

$48,000

Typical annual barter cost · daily-fee course

NGCOA & Golf Inc. 2024 · $94,500 resort ceiling

382%

Online revenue lift at Windsor Parke after leaving

$81K → $393K

100+

Courses left GolfNow in Q1 2025 alone

NGCOA Q1 2025

TeeAhead vs GolfNow

GolfNowTeeAhead

Course pays in2 barter tee times/day$0 (Founding Y1) / $349/mo flat

Commission on bookings~10% (varies)0%, ever

Golfer data ownershipGolfNowCourse (full CSV export)

Price-parity clausesYesNone

Time to go liveWeeks48 hours

Common questions

Why is GolfNow free for golfers but expensive for courses?

GolfNow pays for golfer acquisition with the barter tee times your course surrenders. Two tee times a day at a typical $80 peak rate adds up to ~$48,000 a year for the average daily-fee course, and $94,500 or more for high-volume courses.

How does TeeAhead make money if courses pay nothing in year 1?

TeeAhead earns from golfer memberships (Fairway/Eagle/Ace). Courses pay $0 year 1, then $349/mo flat, never barter, never commissions.

Will I lose my golfers if I leave GolfNow?

Windsor Parke grew online revenue 382% after leaving, from $81K to $393K. The golfers who actually played the course came back to book direct. The ones who only came for GolfNow's discount weren't profitable anyway.

How long does migration take?

48 hours, end to end. We handle tee sheet import, member data migration, payment setup, and golfer notifications.

Ready to drop GolfNow?

10 of 10 Founding Partner spots open. First year is free.

Claim a founding spot →Talk to Neil & Billy