In short: the most important question is what the AI says when it doesn't know. The right AI receptionist for a golf course answers only from the course's approved answers, takes a callback instead of guessing, announces recording up front, is honest about being AI, and proves itself on bookings during a trial.
The checklist
- Does it only say what we've approved? The receptionist should answer from your approved answers and decline everything else, not generate a plausible-sounding rate.
- What does it do when it doesn't know? The right answer: says so and takes a callback with a confirmed name and number. The wrong answer: guesses.
- Does every call start with a recording notice? If calls are recorded or transcribed, the notice should come first, before anything is captured. Some states require every party's consent.
- Is it honest about being AI? It should say it's an AI assistant whenever a caller asks.
- How do transfers work, and can they loop? Transfers should go to a staff line (not the forwarded main number), and staff should be able to accept or decline before the caller is connected.
- What happens in an emergency? The caller should hear to call 911 right away, and staff should be alerted immediately, day or night.
- Can it post today's conditions? Frost delays, cart rules and closures change daily. You should be able to set them in seconds, and they should reset on their own.
- Can several golfers call at once? A Saturday morning brings simultaneous calls. Each should be answered, not queued.
- Does it book tee times, or take requests? Direct booking needs a real integration with your tee sheet; ask which systems are supported today. Booking requests your staff confirm are a solid start.
- How is pricing calculated? Flat monthly with included calls, per minute, or per call. Estimate your monthly call volume and compare the total, including overage.
- What's the trial, and how is success measured? A good trial has a clear bar set in advance, such as a number of bookings you can trace to it, and no card on file.
- Who owns the recordings, and how long are they kept? The course should own them, with automatic deletion after a set period and deletion on request.
- Can we undo it in one step? If calls are forwarded, turning forwarding off should put your phones back exactly as they were.
- Does texting follow carrier rules? Texts (like booking links) need the caller's consent and a registered texting campaign. Ask whether consent is recorded.
How Tee Line answers these
Tee Line answers only from answers the course approves and takes a callback when it doesn't know. Every call opens with "This call is recorded", and it tells callers it's AI whenever they ask. Transfers go to a staff line, where staff press 1 to take the call, and emergencies get the 911 instruction plus an immediate staff alert. Today's conditions are set in the dashboard and reset at midnight. Several callers are answered at once.
On Starter, Tee Line takes booking requests and points golfers to online booking; Pro adds direct booking for supported tee sheets (rolling out, starting with Lightspeed Golf / Chronogolf). Pricing is flat: $399 a month for 1,000 calls. The free 14-day pilot has a fixed bar of at least 3 bookings you can trace to Tee Line, with no card on file. Courses own their recordings, which delete after 90 days by default, and forwarding can be switched off in one step. Booking-link texts go out only with the caller's consent, once carrier registration is complete.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask an AI receptionist vendor first?
What it says when it doesn't have an approved answer. A trustworthy system takes a callback; an unsafe one guesses.
Is it legal to record golf course phone calls?
It depends on the state; some require every party's consent. A spoken recording notice at the start of every call, before anything is captured, is the standard safeguard. Check your state's rules.
How should an AI receptionist trial be measured?
On bookings, with the bar set before the trial starts. Tee Line's 14-day pilot passes at 3 or more bookings you can trace to it.