January 2026
As indoor golf continues to grow across North America, operators are constantly refining their booking policies to balance customer convenience with revenue protection. One of the most common questions we hear from facility owners is:
“How much should we charge customers at the time of booking?”
To help answer this, ActiveBooker analyzed booking and payment settings across 150+ indoor golf facilities using our platform. The results below offer real-world insight into how your peers are handling security deposits and upfront payments.
Important note:
The data reflects public / non-member bookings only.
What the Data Shows
Based on our research across ActiveBooker-powered facilities:
- 74% of indoor golf facilities require full payment at the time of booking
- 19% require a partial deposit (between 25% and 75%)
- 7% do not require any payment at the time of booking
This breakdown highlights a clear trend:
👉 The majority of indoor golf operators now collect money upfront.
Why Full Payment Is the Most Common Approach (74%)
Facilities that require 100% payment at booking typically do so for a few key reasons:
- Eliminate no-shows and last-minute cancellations
- Improves cash flow and revenue predictability
- Eliminates awkward payment conversations on arrival
- Protects prime-time and weekend tee times
For high-demand facilities—especially during evenings, weekends, and league hours—full payment acts as a strong commitment from the customer and ensures bays aren’t left unused.
Best suited for:
- High-traffic locations
- Peak-hour-heavy schedules
- Facilities with limited simulator bays
Partial Deposits: A Flexible Middle Ground (19%)
Nearly one-third of facilities opt for a security deposit, typically ranging from 25% to 75% of the booking value.
This approach strikes a balance between customer flexibility and operator protection:
- Customers feel less friction booking in advance
- Facilities still reduce no-shows and late cancellations
- Remaining balance can be collected on arrival
Partial deposits are often paired with clear cancellation policies, such as:
- Deposit forfeited within 24 hours
- Deposit credited if rescheduled
Best suited for:
- Newer facilities building trust
- Markets with strong walk-in culture
- Off-peak or weekday-heavy traffic
No Payment at Booking: Increasingly Rare (7%)
Only a small percentage of indoor golf facilities do not require any upfront payment.
While this may lower barriers to booking, it also comes with risk:
- Higher no-show rates
- Empty bays during peak times
- Increased operational uncertainty
Facilities using this approach often rely on:
- Strong local relationships
- Smaller communities
- Manual follow-ups and reminders
Best suited for:
- Private markets
Choosing the Right Security Deposit for Your Facility
There is no one-size-fits-all answer—but the data shows where the industry is heading.
When deciding how much to charge at booking, consider:
- Demand: Are your peak times selling out?
- Bay availability: Can you easily replace a cancelled booking?
- Customer behavior: Do no-shows impact revenue?
Operational goals: Predictability vs. flexibility
Key Takeaway
Across 150+ indoor golf facilities using the ActiveBooker platform:
- Upfront payment is now the norm
- Full payment offers the strongest protection
If you’d like help testing different deposit strategies or adjusting your booking rules, ActiveBooker makes it easy to experiment with any type of deposit percentage—without disrupting your customers.
Blog
Stay updated on trends, tips and tricks
