Five Tips to Maximize Bay Utilization at Your Indoor Golf Venue
September 12, 2025 – Erik Holm
For indoor golf venues, utilization is everything. Every empty bay represents lost revenue, while every booked hour pushes you closer to profitability. With demand for simulator golf at an all-time high, the challenge isn’t convincing people to play – it’s making sure they book with you, and that your bays are filled during as many hours of the day as possible. With the right strategy, you can increase your coverage rate, reduce downtime and unlock new revenue streams. Here are five proven tips to help maximize bay utilization at your venue.
1. Optimize Pricing with Peak and Off-Peak Rates
Not every hour of the day has equal value. Prime evenings and weekends can be priced higher, while quieter mornings and weekdays can be discounted. Dynamic pricing not only increases revenue during high-demand slots, but also helps fill the slow hours that would otherwise go unused.
Pro tip: Use your booking system (like Alba) to automate pricing changes, so you don’t have to adjust manually.
2. Make Booking Frictionless
If it’s not easy to book, people won’t bother. An online booking system that works seamlessly on mobile is key. Allow customers to see real-time availability, pay instantly and even split costs between players. The smoother the process, the fewer abandoned bookings.
Pro tip: In Alba you can offer 15, 30 or 60-minute booking options to give customers flexibility and reduce “gaps” in your calendar.
3. Create Events That Fill the Calendar
Events are a great way to fill bays outside peak times. Morning leagues, ladies’ nights, junior sessions, or corporate outings all drive new traffic and encourage repeat play. Hosting skill challenges (longest drive, closest-to-the-pin) keeps things fun and can be scheduled during traditionally quiet hours.
Pro tip: Promote events through your booking platform so players can register directly, making it simple to manage and easy to scale.
4. Leverage Memberships and Packages
While casual play is great, memberships and bundles are what guarantee consistent bookings. Offer monthly passes, prepaid bay hours, or unlimited off-peak memberships. Packages lock in revenue, boost loyalty, and encourage customers to book more often than they otherwise would.
Pro tip: Consider a Netflix-style subscription that allows (almost) unlimited off-peak play – it fills unused hours while still leaving premium slots open for higher-paying bookings.
5. Keep Customers Coming Back with Community
The venues that thrive aren’t just places to hit golf balls – they’re social hubs. Build a sense of community through leagues, tournaments, or even simple digital leaderboards. When players feel connected, they come back, bring friends, and spread the word.
Pro tip: Use your data to identify frequent players and reward them with early access to events or special discounts. Loyal customers are the backbone of utilization.
Final Thoughts
Maximizing bay utilization isn’t about one big change – it’s about consistent, smart adjustments that keep your bays full throughout the week. By refining your pricing, making booking effortless, running creative events, offering memberships, and fostering community, your venue can turn every hour into a revenue opportunity.
Done right, you won’t just see higher coverage rates – you’ll create a venue that customers view as their go-to spot for golf year-round.
Interested to learn more about the only complete booking platform for indoor golf? Grab a 30-min demo with us today to discover how Alba can help you boost revenue and maximize every bay.