With having a base irrigation system to go off of, minor upgrades and some component changes have allowed the club not to replace the system in its entirety.
Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club has been using its current systems integration model for nearly five years, but it’s by no means the same as when it was installed in 2005. Rather, it has grown and evolved with the needs of the facility.
The primary vendor has upgraded the system with patches and enhancements as needed. As with any equipment maintenance, says General Manager Tom Wallace, it’s best to schedule the process so as to disrupt as few operations as possible.
“Unless it is critical, we typically limit these updates to Mondays, when the club is closed, and then generally mid-month so we don’t have any conflicts with our month-end closing process,” he explains, noting that the slow period in January is often the ideal time for a major maintenance effort.
Most of the Oakmont system’s recent upgrades have focused on hardware, server and operating- system needs. Wallace likes the fact that the system allows the property to add or move point-of-sale (POS) units whenever they want, at no additional cost.
“This has proved to be very beneficial as we have expanded [food and beverage service] into our new pool facility and the porch area,” he notes.
Smart Strategies
Whenever an upgrade is planned, Oakmont’s vendor first upgrades the club’s training system—which uses real data, but does not affect the books. “In this manner, we can have our line managers and/or our accounting staff work through the planned updates to see how these changes will take effect, and what, if any, operating changes we would have to make,” says Wallace.
Another prudent measure Oakmont has taken is to remain one level behind the vendor’s general releases: “We let someone else be the first-responders with their latest offerings,” Wallace says.
With Oakmont’s hosting duties for the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open now just a few months away, it’s a good tactic to take.
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