Mobile - Getting Started

Overview

Content

Implementing the App

To implement the App, your Club will need to define a few key visual elements: the App icon, loading screen, home page background, and icon color.  These items can be customized to match your club’s existing website/brand.

App Toolsets - Requiring Admin Maintenance

Scrolling Cross Marketing Banner

The home page features a scrolling banner where you can promote upcoming events. When a member clicks the banner, they're directed to the event details page and can conveniently register for the event.  The event detail and registration pages leverage the same content/forms as your mobile website.  

Here are the instructions on how to update the cross-marketing banner:

1. 1. Log into your website.
   2. Hover over Admin in the upper left hand corner of the page and select "Image Explorer" under the Content Management column
      
      
      
      
      
   3. Select the "App Banners" folder
      
      
      
      
      
   4. To add images, click on the plus sign, choose an image.The ideal image ratio is 16 X 9 (Widescreen TV ratio). If an image is another ratio, it will automatically be resized to fit 16 X 9 which may distort the image.
      
      
      
      
      
   5. Do not change the "Resize on Save" field, leave the default value.
      
      
      
      
      
   6. To remove images from the scrolling banner, right click on the image and select "Move" to move the image to another folder.
      
      
      

Add Name, Description, and hyperlink to an image (Optional): 

1. 1. Right click on the image and select "View Properties."
      
      
      
      
      
   2. Re-name the image if desired.
   3. The text in the Description field will appear as the title of the image which will overlay on top of the image.
   4. If you enter a link in the URL field, a "Learn More" will appear below the image title and will hyperlink to that URL
   5. Click Save when complete.  (Or, click the X in the upper-right hand corner to cancel without saving changes).
      
      
      

Examples of Cross Marketing Banners:

Push Notifications

Push notifications open a new channel of communication with your members.The push notifications work similar to the ones your members are already receiving from apps like Facebook or ESPN.

 Examples of notifications you can send to members: 

• • Send golfers a frost delay or cart path only notification.
  • Send a notification to make members aware of an upcoming event like a happy hour.

Clubs can send notifications using the Push Notifications tool found in the Admin Toolbar.

 To send a push notification, define the following: 

1. 1. Recipients
   2. Message
   3. Links (if any) to include with the notification.

Recipients may include a specific Member(s), Staff, Static or Dynamic Groups, and/or a specific Event’s attendees.

 To define the recipients, click on the desired link, select recipients (by clicking on the list on the left), and click Update to finish making selection.

To deselect a selection, click on the Selection in the Selected column to return the selection to the Available column.  To exit without saving changes, click the X in the upper right hand corner.

 Next, define Message to send using 110 characters or less.

 Lastly, if desired, define a link to include with the message.  The link may go to a specific Club Event, Article, Online Food Ordering, or another designated URL.  To include, select the desired radio button, and select desired link.  Note: Including a link is not required.

 When complete, click the Preview Message button to review message prior to it being sent.

 Once, Previewed, click Send Message Now to send.

 Confirmation message will appear, and message now appears on the Sent tab.

 Note: Other options for editing the current message, saving the current message (without sending), sending a test, and/or scheduling the message to be sent at a later time also exist on the Preview Message screen.

 Edit: Use when edits need to be made to the current message prior to sending.\

 Save Changes: Use when drafting a message, but not sending, and not scheduling for later send.  Note: Once saved, message will appear on the Drafts tab.

 To re-open a draft message for further editing, click on the Recipients link.  Or, to discard a draft, click Delete.

 Send A Test: Use when you would like to send a test message to an Admin/Member/Staff, prior to sending out the message to all designated recipients.  You will be prompted to select a recipient to receive the test.

 Schedule for Later: Use when you have a fixed date and time in the future you would like to schedule the message to be sent.  Could be set to send One Time, or Recurring to all Recipients selected.  Click Updated Schedule to save.  

 Once scheduled, message will appear on the Scheduled tab.

 All messages sent will appear on the Sent tab.

 The Reporting tab contains available data regarding the messages that were sent.

Beacons (Optional)

Beacons are inconspicuous devices placed in designated locations in a Club or on a Club’s Golf Course that transmit small amounts of data via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) up to 160 feet, that can be read by a Club’s Mobile App, and translated into an actionable message to either a Member, or a Staff Member.

For instance, a beacon placed at the 8th Tee Box, when read by the Member’s phone via their Club’s app, could automatically trigger a message to the Member, asking if they would like to place a food order for pick-up at the turn, along with a link to the Club’s online food ordering system.

Or, a Beacon placed at the entrance of the Club could send a Welcome message to all Members and alert the General Manager of the Club when certain Members (perhaps Board Members) are on-site.

When Beacons are initially set up for a Club, Clubessential encrypts the Beacons each with a unique identifier, and assigns a defined range to the beacon as to how far the beacon will transmit its bluetooth signal (based on info gathered from the Club).  This is measured in decibels, however, has been translated into approximate distances for ease of reference (i.e.  short range - (20ft or less), medium range (20 - 70ft), and long range (70 - 160ft).  Note this distance translation is an approximation and is also relative, based on factors such as the location of beacon placement, and what fixed objects are in the area.  The Beacon is then associated with a Beacon Zone. 

For more information on Beacons, please visit our   Beacon Set-Up & Management guide.

Clubessential Product Integrations

The app is integrated into the Clubessential Unified Suite of products (e.g.website, tee times, CRM, accounting/POS,other reservation modules,etc.)  Therefore, there is no separate maintenance required for any of these items with the App.  Members will be able to access these toolsets by logging into the App (one time only) with the same username and password they use to log into your Clubessential powered website.

Clubessential - Tee Times

Members will have access to a touch-friendly version of the tee sheet where they can book new tee times as well as view existing reservations.

Tee times booked using the app get pushed through to the admin tee sheet, trigger confirmation emails, and flow to the Golf Shop POS for processing.  Here is an example of a Member booking a Tee Time.

Clubessential - Other Reservation Types

Clubessential can Integrate all Clubessential reservation products(e.g. dining, courts, spa, personal training, etc.), and include on the main app menu.

Clubessential - Online Food Ordering

 For clients who have the Clubessential Online Ordering product, members can quickly and conveniently order food from the club from the App, can choose when and where to pickup the food.

Some common use cases for online ordering are:  Take-out, order food for the turn, ordering food at the pool, tennis courts, etc.

For clients who have Clubessential accounting and POS, the orders automatically show up in the POS system just as if the staff input the orders themselves,and the orders automatically fire tickets to the appropriate printers in the kitchen.

For clients without Clubessential accounting and POS, when a member places an order, it will print out in the kitchen and the staff can then re-enter the information in the non-Clubessential POS system.  The printer that is supported is the Epson C31CA85330 TM-T88V Thermal Receipt Printer.

Clubessential - Calendar

Members can view and register for events from the app Calendar.  All events entered from the Website automatically flow to the app without the need for duplicate entry or additional maintenance.

Clubessential - Directory

Members can access the member directory and view their publicly viewable information.  Restrictions on viewing are maintained in the Website, and require no additional maintenance with the App.  Members can also utilize native functionality to call, email or text members directly from the app.

 Members can also easily update their profile picture.  The profile picture automatically display in the website directory, POS, and other modules in the Unified Suite.

Clubessential - Statements/Payments

Allows members to view their online statements, current activity and drill down into individual charges.

 Clubs can also choose to enable online payments via the app using ACH or credit cards.

Clubessential - Newsfeed

The newsfeed pulls directly from your website’s news feed, enabling members to quickly scan the latest articles and click-through to read the full story.

 Third Party Product Integrations

In addition to Clubessential products, the app also integrates with some very popular third party products.  There is no separate maintenance required for any of these items with the App.

GHIN or Golf Net - Post a Score

Members can post their score to GHIN or Golf Net through Clubessential because of the two-way integration with those handicap-tracking services.  The user interface is optimized to make it the fastest and easiest way possible to post a score.

Golf Genius Integration

If your Club is using Golf Genius as your tournament management software, we have a integration with their mobile website that allows members to click a “Tournaments” menu item in the app which will take them to the golf genius mobile website and the member will be automatically be logged in.

FAQs

Q: How long does typical implementation take?

A: It typically takes 4-6 weeks which includes two weeks to get it approved by Apple or Android.

Q: Do we need a Clubessential website in order to get the App?

A: Yes, having a Clubessential website is a prerequisite. Having Clubessential Office / POS back-office system is NOT required, but does enhance the effectiveness of the app (e.g. online food orders go directly to prep printers when you have CE POS).

Q: Does the App work on tablets?

A: No, Apps are typically built for a specific device size (e.g. smartphones). Because a table is a much larger form factor, the App that is optimized for a smartphone does not work on a tablet.

Best Practices

1. Implement Beacons to encourage full usage of the App capabilities, including automatic notifications to Members for ordering food at the turn, managing pace of play, and helping your Management team know who is on-site, and where they are located at any given time.
2. Host an App Go-Live party to encourage Membership awareness and usage.
3. Utilize scrolling banners to highlight upcoming events and encourage Member registration.
4. Use care when sending Push Notifications to ensure the frequency is appropriate.  Members deeming notifications are too frequent may opt to turn off their push notifications.

Downloadable Guide

App Management

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