Smarter Pricing for Indoor Golf: Why Dynamic Bay Pricing Beats Per-Player Models

The Problem with Per-Player Pricing

It’s common to see indoor golf venues price a bay for one person (e.g., $40/hour) and then add an extra charge (e.g., $10) for each additional player. At first glance, this seems fair. More players, more revenue - right? Not necessarily.

Here’s why:

• A simulator hour is a fixed resource. Whether one person or four people are playing, the bay is occupied for the same amount of time.
• The experience changes, not the resource. A single player might complete 18 holes in an hour. Two players might only get through 9 holes each. Three to four players will likely book multiple hours anyway to enjoy their round together.
• It discourages groups. Per-player surcharges can make the experience feel like nickel-and-diming, and push groups to book fewer hours or choose another venue.

Unlike traditional green-grass golf - where tee times are sold per person - indoor golf is about time on the simulator, not headcount. This distinction is crucial for long-term revenue growth.

Why Dynamic Pricing Works Better

With Alba, you can set up dynamic pricing that reflects the true value of your resource: time on the simulator. This allows you to:

• Fill quieter times by offering lower rates during off-peak hours (e.g., Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm). These slots often appeal to single players who want to practice.
• Maximize revenue during high-demand periods with premium peak pricing on evenings and weekends.
• Customize by hour, day, and season. Alba gives you flexibility: set pricing hour-by-hour, day-by-day, or apply simple peak vs. off-peak rules. Alba partner venues use this model successfully today.

The result? Higher occupancy, smoother demand, and improved RevPAR.

Supporting Your Most Loyal Customers

Dynamic pricing alone isn’t enough. To really capture loyalty - especially from single players who grind, train, and return often - you need to pair it with the right customer programs:

• Memberships: Offer discounted simulator hours as part of an annual or seasonal membership. You can even design off-peak-only memberships to maximize bay utilization.
• Value Cards / Vouchers: For example, punch cards for $150, allowing $200 worth of play time. Prepaid packages not only lock in revenue but also encourage repeat visits.
• Targeted Discounts: Use Alba’s discount codes to reward your most loyal customers, such as a single-player discount code distributed to frequent solo players.

The Bottom Line

Per-player pricing is a legacy model that can hold indoor golf venues back. By shifting to dynamic bay pricing, supported by memberships, value cards, and discounts, you can:

• Increase occupancy by making play accessible across budgets.
• Improve customer satisfaction by aligning pricing with how simulators are actually used.
• Drive higher overall revenue and RevPAR.

At Alba, we see this approach working across venues every day. It’s time to think beyond the traditional golf mindset and unlock the full potential of your simulators.

Interested in learning how Alba can optimize pricing at your venue? Book a demo with our team.