National issues regarding community health is weighing heavy on everyone’s minds. But so is the potential impact for local businesses that depend on, well, community.
Certain upcoming course and club events may be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, while other business or sport gatherings continue with guided health precautions. This is understandably daunting for businesses like yours.
These changes can be hard for your guests, as well. As we know, golf is a passion sport and often a social lifeline. The impact on their mental health is a concern to be conscious of as well as you decide what actions to take in the next few weeks.
What’s important is to try and focus on how to support your club’s community in general by keeping customers aware and taking precautions to keep them as healthy as possible.
Instead of worrying about the things OUT of your control (the stress is stacking, we know), hone your attention on some aspects you CAN control. We’ve outlined a few of them, here.
What You Can Do as a Club Operator
- Communicate with Customers Online
- Health Code Policy & Re-Enforcement
- Protect Your Customers and Your Team
- Use the Time Wisely
Communication is #1
Advise & Assure
Luckily, talking over the web, email or social media has become easier than tying your shoes!
Inform your customers, in a straight-forward and level-headed tone; try not to exhibit an emotional panic mode in your message. After all, you want to convey that you’re aware of the facts and have come up with the best possible solutions. You want people to be simply read how they can best take precaution and move forward as a lover of their favorite activity.
You can best communicate online through:
- Newsletter
- Social Media Platforms
- Club website or Blog
You can ALSO communicate to your staff on how to stay healthy in the work environment by:
- Organizing a digital staff meeting to review health standards (mini hand sanitizers included)
- Hosting an online health-hazard seminar as a mandatory first step to all be on the same page.
*Only click here if you want a description of what the COVID-19 is and what health officials are advising to help prevent the virus from spreading. Updating members on ALL online business platforms is important, and so easy you cannot neglect to post wherever possible. STAY communicating with customers regularly with up-to-date information, as the recent COVID-19 situation is an ongoing concern.
Check Up & Refresh Club Health Codes
Hands Need Washing
Ever worry that your staff walks out of the bathroom without washing their hands properly?
Unfortunately, this is too often an occurrence, and really should be a major part of every employee’s and facility’s rules.
According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention website, washing your hands remains as being the best thing you can do when it comes to controlling the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC also says that even without the possibility of supply shortages on things like hand sanitizer, washing hands is STILL the most preventative method to practice for germ safety. These aspects of self-cleanliness can make a monumental difference when it comes to preventing future outbreaks.
Make a deliberate effort to remind employees of the basics, and help them understand the value in taking a few extra seconds scrubbing.
Here’s a quick breakdown in 3 steps:
- As warm of water as possible
- Soap or 60% alcohol-based solution (you can make one yourself)
- 20-30 seconds (Even adults can sing the ABCs in their head to get the timing right!)
Always wash your hands with soap and warm water after using the restroom. Always. Talk about it constantly.
Update Signage for Employee Awareness
Reminders never hurt anyone. Whether it’s a picture telling your staff to cover their mouth with their elbow or hands when they cough or sneeze, followed by hand-washing of course or just printed-out papers by every sink.
Protect Your Customers and Your Team
Take Care of Equipment
Now more than ever it is critical to constantly wipe down surfaces, including equipment, work stations, product racks, rental equipment, door handles, etc.
Review with your staff the appropriate way to sanitize surfaces, and pay attention to their ability to follow the procedures.
Show Your Guests
Taking precautions is important even if no one is watching, but it can make a big difference in your guests’ feeling of safety when they can see what’s being done.
- Put up signs that tell people to wipe down things they touch, so they know it’s top of mind.
- Take photos and videos of your staff wiping down exercise equipment or work stations after every use.
- Communicate your cleaning procedures with members via all your online platforms.
Remove as Many Germs as Possible
With businesses like yours, it’s not always possible to have remote employees. Still, there are some things to keep in mind in terms of people in your facility.
- If you’re staying open, maintain a skeleton crew. Your guests will understand, and likely be grateful that you’re keeping their health in mind.
- Encourage staff to stay home if they are sick, granting time off without question if illness is at all possible.
- Allow temporary (but flexible) work options from home for anyone whose presence isn’t required. Provide communication tools that allow you to quickly communicate with staff members, like Google Hangouts, Slack, Zoom, Messenger, or just email.
Using these temporary solutions as your work location doesn’t have to be unproductive, or seen as a long term decline for business. Continue to create expectations as you normally would while interacting with staff in and out of the workplace, with regular standards to stay healthy by eating well, plenty of water and sleep.
After certain health concerns are able to be more contained and ideally with treatments underway, staff members will reconvene and be able to look forward to working in their communal spaces again.
Aside from the distressed time of health we are all dealing with, business owners know that everyday practices of healthy living and routine will only benefit the goals towards controlling the spreading of COVID-19.
Use the Time Wisely
Even if you are staying open, it’s likely that business will be slower than usual. Take the time to get things organized and prepped for the rest of the season.
- Look through our posts about getting your marketing planned.
- Set up business-critical reports that are too-often thrown together.
- Spend time on your facility and grounds.
And, at the end of the day, remember that the health of your loved ones, cherished friends, and loyal customers will be the things that matter most when we come out of this chaotic time.
