Club de Golf Lachute uses Lightspeed to scale revenue and future-proof business growth

The need to modernize golf management and engage next-gen golfers

When Benjamin Painchaud stepped into the role of General Manager at Club de Golf Lachute in 2017, his goal was clear: modernize operations and build a sustainable future for the club. To achieve this, he focused on upgrading the courses, improving player experience and reconnecting with the local community. He also set out to reinvest in golf management technology and diversify revenue streams.

With Benjamin’s previous experience using different software at the various golf facilities he had worked at over the years, he noticed that “95% of golf courses are running on an archaic system.” Looking for a breath of fresh air, he came across Lightspeed’s modern golf management platform.

Benjamin has also prioritized attracting younger golfers. The club’s intermediate membership, tailored for golfers aged 19 to 39, has hit its full capacity of 125 members for five straight years, with a long waiting list.

Lightspeed provides a unified tech stack that supports the club’s way of working

Managing 36 holes with heavy tee-sheet demand, retail pro shop sales, food and beverage operations, an ecommerce store, and multi-round prepaid packages required an integrated software ecosystem rather than fragmented, legacy systems.

That’s where Lightspeed stepped in, offering a connected product suite to manage every aspect of the business. Its flexibility also allows Lachute to test new ideas, refine its processes and support different customer groups.

With Lightspeed, Club de Golf Lachute is equipped to run operations smoothly, reliably and profitably

Optimizing tee sheet management and automating communications

Managing course capacity effectively when demand is high is essential. The team needs to maximize available tee times, manage a high volume of golfers and communicate changes quickly.

With Lightspeed Golf, members can easily reserve tee times, while the team can monitor the booking grid and make adjustments directly on the tee sheet. Automated emails inform golfers instantly of any schedule updates or pairing changes without requiring phone calls or manual emails. The result is a more efficient workflow for staff and a smoother booking experience for golfers.

Making digital booking feel simple and accessible

Lachute has invested in digital experiences that let golfers interact with the club when it is convenient for them. The branded app powered by Lightspeed gives members a central place to find club information, book tee times, view event results and access updates. The booking widget and the app give confidence to people who aren’t always confident making reservations or purchases online.

That accessibility supports Lachute’s broader goal of welcoming more people to golf, whether they are experienced members or newcomers.

Connecting golf management, retail and payments

For Lachute, the value of a connected ecosystem extends beyond tee-time bookings. The club uses Lightspeed across its golf shop, restaurant, payments and online sales operations. Golfers can buy packages online and have those purchases integrated into their golf accounts.

Lightspeed also helps the club stay operational when unexpected issues arise. The payment terminals can use battery power and 4G connectivity during power outages, helping the team continue serving golfers.

Staying profitable during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ecommerce has proved to be a valuable asset for Lachute, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf expos were usually a major revenue generator for the course, but due to the cancellations caused by COVID-19, customers needed another avenue to make their purchases.

Because they had ecommerce available to customers, Lachute was able to recoup 100% of sales that they would normally make at the expos. Additionally, the ecommerce store was able to generate enough revenue to pay the grounds crew for upwards of six weeks without even having a single golfer on the course.