GoTab is one of CourtReserve’s integration partners and a leading a leading Food & Beverage Hospitality POS system. Net Work is our partner spotlight series — sharing insights, tools, and ideas from the ecosystem helping racquet and paddle clubs run smarter, grow faster, and serve better.
Racquet and paddle sports clubs are rapidly transforming from simple sports venues into full-fledged lifestyle destinations. As interest in these fast-growing sports continues to surge, operators are discovering that success is about the overall club experience. And a major driver of that experience? Food and beverage.
Whether it’s a celebratory drink after a match, a quick smoothie before heading home, or a casual meal with friends between games, food and beverage has become an essential part of the guest journey. The good news: it can also be a major revenue stream. And you don’t have to add an army of staff.
Why hospitality matters in modern racquet sports facilities
Guests aren’t just coming to play. They’re coming to stay. The most successful clubs aren’t simply sports facilities; they’re vibrant social hubs. Offering thoughtfully designed, easily accessible food and beverage experiences keeps guests on-site longer, increases per-visit spend, and fosters community. It all translates into better margins and more loyalty.
But while the opportunity is huge, managing hospitality in an active sports environment comes with challenges. Traditional point-of-sale (POS) systems and service models often fall short. Operators need flexibility, efficiency, and control. And they need tools that help them run without adding a ton of overhead.
7 tech features that power profitable food & beverage
Here are seven key hospitality technology capabilities that help racquet sports clubs offer elevated food and beverage experiences while keeping their operations lean:
1. QR code ordering & payment and text-to-tab
Guests want flexibility. With QR code ordering or text-to-tab functionality, players can order food or drinks from their phones before, during, or after a match. Orders can be delivered to tables, picked up at a counter, or even brought courtside. This kind of self-service not only improves the guest experience, it also boosts average check sizes and reduces the need for additional staff to take orders.
2. Self ordering kiosks
Self-ordering kiosks are ideal for clubs looking to streamline food and beverage service without increasing staff. These kiosks allow players and guests to browse the menu, customize their orders, and pay at their own pace.
Whether placed near the café, bar, or lounge area, kiosks reduce wait times, eliminate order errors, and keep lines moving during peak periods. They also free up staff to focus on fulfillment and hospitality, making it easier to serve more guests efficiently and boost average check size while delivering a modern, convenient experience.
3. Persistent, flexible tab management
Rather than forcing guests to pay after each transaction, systems like GoTab let them open a tab that stays with them throughout their visit. Whether they move from court to café to patio, their tab follows them across your club. And when they’re ready to leave, guests close out easily on their mobile device.
It delivers the smooth, flexible experience club patrons now expect — without adding pressure to your staff. And it is especially valuable for groups, tournaments, or casual players who want to snack and socialize throughout the day.
4. Integrated Kitchen Display System (KDS)
A Kitchen Display System (KDS) with integrated printers ensures that orders placed from anywhere (online, QR code, POS terminal, or handheld) are routed instantly to the right kitchen or bar station.
This streamlines communication, improves order accuracy, and eliminates the need for handwritten tickets or manual coordination between staff. Orders come in clearly and are easy to manage, even during busy service periods.
5. Hybrid service (full-serve + self-serve)
Every club is different. Many have varying traffic flows depending on the time of day or type of event. The best platforms support both staff-led and guest-led service.
During tournaments or peak weekend hours, staff can use handheld devices or terminals to take orders and manage service. During slower periods, guests can order directly from their own devices. This hybrid approach gives you room to scale up service when needed — without locking into full-time staffing.
6. Group ordering & event tabs
Whether it’s a birthday party, corporate meetup, or league event, racquet clubs often host group gatherings. So, the ability to tie multiple orders to a single event tab or, pre-sell F&B packages, is critical for simplifying operations and reducing manual reconciliation. Guests can order individually, and the system still connects all spend to the event organizer. This streamlines the payment process and reduces confusion for both guests and staff.
7. Integrated court reservation solutions
When your court reservation and point-of-sale systems work in sync, it transforms both the guest experience and your day-to-day operations. That’s the power of the CourtReserve + GoTab integration — designed to simplify how racquet and paddle clubs manage bookings, orders, and payments.
With this integration, players can reserve courts, register for events, and start a food & beverage tab — all in one connected experience. They can pre-order snacks or drinks through GoTab and charge purchases directly to their CourtReserve account, skipping the hassle of manual payment or bouncing between systems. This not only reduces operational friction but also increases convenience for guests which encourages higher spend and longer visits.
On the backend, admins get a unified view of activity: food & bev transactions, court reservations, and player charges all flow into a single dashboard. There’s no need to reconcile data from multiple platforms or chase down receipts.
This integration also supports flexible configurations, letting you decide how and when players pay. Whether it’s requiring advance payment, applying account credit, or restricting charges for suspended members, the system adapts to your club’s policies. So, you always stay in control.
How Pickleball Zone Improved Experience and Efficiency with CourtReserve + GoTab
Since opening in December 2024, Pickleball Zone has quickly become Northeast Houston’s premier indoor pickleball venue, using CourtReserve and GoTab to enhance operations and hospitality.
Smarter tech, smoother operations
Technology built for racquet sports facilities needs to account for more than just retail sales. It needs to support the rhythm of active, social spaces. Clubs that adopt flexible, guest-centric ordering and fulfillment systems are able to:
- Increase revenue per guest
- Reduce labor needs and operational complexity
- Deliver a seamless, modern guest experience
- Adapt to growth, new offerings, and seasonal traffic
Racquet and paddle facility operators don’t need to compromise between offering great food and staying efficient. The right technology empowers your team to do more with less, while giving your guests a reason to stay longer and come back more often.
