Cypress Golf Solutions

Golf In Trouble?

2008-12-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

MSNBC Contributor David Sweet says the housing market’s collapse is hampering development of new golf courses. Further, as the economy worsens, the golf industry is in trouble. Sweet recently contributed an interested article talking about golf in a declining industry. While rounds, equipment sales, and TV ratings are suffering alike.

Sweet writes, behold the golf course. Graced with rolling fairways, pristine greens, ancient oaks and other natural fanfare, it presents a striking picture.

But as beautiful as a golf course may be, its looks belie the trouble besetting the industry that created it.

According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the number of new courses expected to open in the United States in 2008 is the smallest in 20 years. More courses are scheduled to close this year (nearly 100) than the 80 expected to open, though the closures have fallen since almost 150 were shut down two years ago. The golf construction boom of the 1990s – when about 2,500 new courses (mostly daily fee ones) were added to the 13,000 or so already extant in the U.S. – is not only over; it’s stuck in reverse.

The problems of the broad economy are bedeviling golf course construction. The housing market’s collapse has hampered development, since a number of golf projects these days are tied into on-site housing. Getting financing to build a new course is tougher than it has been in decades. Projects that were started this year have seen the bulldozers turned off until better times appear.

Consider Rick Jacobson, a golf course architect in Libertyville, Ill. For nearly two decades, the founder of Jacobson Golf Course Design designed and renovated courses in Chicago suburbs, such as Bloomingdale and Winnetka, as well as nationally. But in the last few years, Jacobson – who has worked with Jack Nicklaus on a number of projects – has focused on a new market: China.

Last month, Jacobson agreed to design a 27-hole course in Hong Kong. It’s his third venture in China, following the 36-hole Lion’s Lake Resort course near Guangzhou and Chaozhou, an 18-hole resort course.

”In the foreseeable future we won't see growth like the 1990s in the U.S. again,” said Jacobson, who also agreed to design a course in the Italian province of Calabria this year. “Some of the projects were ill-conceived. Some courses were just a temporary fad until they could flip it to a developer."

When it comes to those sports whose purpose is to attract public participation, it’s hard to match golf for the scope and expanse of what needs to be created. Bowling? Buy a couple of acres of land and construct 10 lanes with a bar nearby. Tennis? Two hard courts take up as much space as a suburban backyard; upkeep is minimal.

But building a golf course in the United States is a process that takes years. Finding 200 acres of suitable land near a reasonable population center is just the start. Attracting money and securing permits is another time-consuming venture.

Jacobson shakes his head at some of the public hearings he’s endured in the U.S.

"One landowner said he didn't want a golf course because golfers are known to smoke cigars. He didn't want cigar smoke in his house,” Jacobson recalled. “One said with drivers, the decibel of hitting the ball exceeded the sound range allowable.”

Of course, China is no utopia. Jacobson had to redesign an entire hole in one of his ventures because it encompassed a rock land form that was significant to a village. At the same time, the market there is exploding. Hundreds of courses have been built in China in the last quarter-century with at least 20 more expected to open in the next few years.

Originally, golf exploded in the United States. In the 1880s, there were a handful of golfers in the country; by the first term of the Eisenhower Administration, the number had reached five million. Today, close to 30 million people play the game founded in Scotland.

But in 2008, golf is in decline by many measures. Rounds are down, as is the sale of equipment. On the pro tour, television ratings fell once Tiger Woods left the scene with a damaged knee after the U.S. Open at San Diego’s Torrey Pines.

Though municipal courses are taking the brunt of the downturn (except perhaps Torrey Pines, which enjoyed $8 million in renovations before the Open), private courses are not immune to the pain. Take the case of Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood, Ill. After 107 years as a well-respected course, the 6,300-yard Donald Ross original was reported to have been put up for sale this fall with a price tag of $4.95 million. It is said only a few dozen members are left.

All in all, the golf course business was once as breathtaking as the ocean holes at Pebble Beach. These days, unfortunately, it’s looking more like Rodney Dangerfield’s wardrobe in “Caddyshack.”

To contact David Sweet, email dafsweet@aol.com

Industry Happenings

2008-12-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some more upcoming events to consider attending for some good old fashioned industry networking...

Dec. 8-10 – Texas Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Trade Show, Fort Worth (Texas) Convention Center, Texas Turfgrass Association, http://www.texasturf.com

Dec. 8-10 – 2008 Virginia Turfgrass Short Course, Virginia Tech University’s Graduate Life Center, Blacksburg, Contact Virginia Turfgrass Council, 757-464-1004, http://www.virginiaturf.org

Dec. 8-11 – Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show, Greater Columbus (Ohio) Convention Center, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, 888-683-3445, http://www.ohioturfgrass.org

Dec. 9 – 3rd Annual Ohio Golf Summit, Columbus Convention Center, contact Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, 888-683-3445, http://www.ohioturfgrass.org

Dec. 9 – GCSAA Webcast: Herbicide Resistant Poa Annua – Real or Imaginary with J. Scott McElroy, Ph.D., GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878, Registration open now

Dec. 11 – GCSAA Webcast: Managing Nutrient Budgets in the Face of Rising Prices with Jason Dettman-Kruse, Ph.D., GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878, Registration open now

Dec.16 – GCSAA Webcast: Bringing More Golf to Your Community with Dwayne Dillinger, CGCS, GCSAA Education 800-472-7878, Registration open now

Dec. 16-17 – Heartland Green Industry Expo, Overland Park (Kan.) Convention Center., Heart of America GCSA, http://www.hagcsa.org/commonground.htm

Jan. 4-6 – Western Nursery and Landscape Association Trade Show, Overland Park, Kan., Western Nursery and Landscape Association, http://www.wnla.org

Jan. 5-9 – 2009 Desert Turfgrass School, University of Arizona Karsten Turfgrass Facility, Tucson, University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, http://turf.arizona.edu

Jan. 6-9 – Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference and Trade Show, Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, http://www.paturf.org

Jan. 7-9 – Empire State Green Industry Show, Rochester, N.Y., New York State Turfgrass Association, http://www.nysta.org

Jan. 7-9 – Florida Pest & Lawn Care Expo, Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, contact Florida Pest Management Association, http://www.flpma.org

Jan. 7-9 – Minnesota Green Expo, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, http://www.mnla.biz

Jan. 11-13 – Tennessee Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Trade Show Program, Franklin (Tenn.) Marriott Cool Springs, http://www.ttaonline.org

Jan. 12-14 – Indiana Green Expo, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association, http://www.inla1.org

Jan. 12-15 – Virginia Turfgrass and Landscape Conference and Show, Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center, Virginia Turfgrass Council, http://www.virginiaturf.org

Jan. 12-15 – ProGreen Expo, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, ProGreen Expo, http://www.progreenexpo.com

Jan. 13-14 – Arkansas/Oklahoma Turfgrass Short Course, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock, http://turf.uark.edu

Jan. 13-14 – Mid-States Horticultural Expo, Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, http://www.mshe.org

Jan. 13-17 – 20th Annual Sports Turf Managers Association Conference & Exhibition, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose , Calif., http://www.stma.org

Jan. 14 – Virginia Turfgrass Council Annual Meeting, Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center, http://www.virginiaturf.org

Jan. 14-16 – Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show, McCormick Place West, Chicago, http://www.midam.org

Jan. 15 – GCSAA Webcast: Going Green for Groundwater GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878, Registration open now

Jan. 15-16 – Advanced Turfgrass Short Course, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock, http://turf.uark.edu

Jan. 19-23 – Cornell University Short Course, Cornell University campus, Ithaca, N.Y., contact Maxine Welcome, mailto:mw45@cornell.edu, 607-255-5439

Jan. 20-22 – Iowa Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, Polk County Convention Complex, Des Moines, http://www.iowaturfgrass.org

Jan. 21-22 – Arkansas Turfgrass Association Conference, Hot Springs (Ark.) Convention Center, http://turf.uark.edu

Jan. 21-23 – WinterGreen 2009, Athens, Ga., Georgia Green Industry Association, http://www.ggia.org

Feb. 2-4 – Logicon Europe 2009, Hotel Bloom, Brussels, Belgium, contact http://www.logiconeurope.com

Feb. 2-7 – GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Contact http://www.golfindustryshow.com

Send Your Customers Birthday Wishes

2008-10-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

A great time for giving is just around the corner. Holidays are a prime time for giving and to reinforce customer loyalty. But celebrations are not limited to Thanksgiving and New Years. They are happening all year long. Every one of your customer has a birthday and they are the perfect time to celebrate your customers… and to drum up sales and generate revenue at your course.

Too many courses don’t take the time to send a birthday salutation to some of their best customers. Remembering and knowing a customer’s birthday can be especially important. And more important to the customer if you are offering something tangible But, just simply doing something like sending an e-mail as a birthday acknowledgement is more than just a smart move in good marketing. Birthday greetings will get customers thinking about coming in for their free or discounted perks, and all will almost always bring someone with them. Use your product as gifts. A birthday is a personal gift-giving, gift-receiving holiday, and e-mail can be the best medium for these targeted messages.

Of course, a great perk of e-mail marketing is its ability to cost-effectively deliver information to targeted customers and prospects. If you haven’t already, consider Cypress Golf Solutions as the most effective way to collect, store and utilize your customer’s e-mail addresses. Meanwhile, here are some other ideas to make your customers’ birthdays a branding, loyalty and revenue-generating event.

Inquire.
Quite simply, make finding out the birthday of your customers and their family member a priority. And remember, it’s easy and should of course be voluntary. To do this, tell customers what is in it for them. Offer something to entice them during their special month and/or day (a discount on a tee time or a free tee time, a percentage off pro shop items or a free sleeve of balls, a complimentary or 2 for 1 birthday cocktail in the clubhouse). Your customers will more than likely be happy to tell you when their special day is.

Remind.
Not only do you offer them great perks in celebration of their big day, you remind them. Send your customers an e-mail a few weeks before the customer’s birthday.

E-mail Wishes
On or around the big day, send a second e-mail acknowledging the occasion. Create an e-mail messages that offer a greeting such as “Happy Birthday from everyone here at [course name]” in addition to any other nice sentiments. Re-offer and remind them of what great gifts and/or perks they’ve earned in celebration of their big day gift-appropriate items (a golfing package including shirt, balls and higher-end merchandise) or a free round of golf. You will generate customer loyalty and appreciation. Additionally, golfers are generally not going to play by themselves. They will bring friends and most likely will have food and drinks to celebrate the special occasion.

Be Professional
Use a professional e-mail marketing tool. Although customers should be treated friendly, do not send your greetings from your personal e-mail account. While your e-mails need not be elaborate, they do need to be engaging (like any other marketing message). Birthdays can easily influence the power of marketing and increase your return on investment from one of your most valuable assets—your existing customers.

Don’t forget that while some your customers may not want to share their age, they will always be happy to accept a celebration at their favorite course. Remember, a few birthday wishes can go a long way.

GCSAA Education Open - Register Now!

2008-10-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Registration is open for the 2009 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Education Conference from Feb. 2-7 in New Orleans. The GCSAA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show (Feb. 5-7), is the largest educational conference in the turfgrass management industry. A total of 123 seminars and 60 additional hours of educational sessions are offered, covering all ranges of golf course management, including agronomics, communication and business management.

GCSAA members can register online for the conference, or by calling 1-800-472-7878.

Non-member registration opens Oct. 30. Hotel and travel arrangements can be made through Golf Industry Travel, either online or by calling 800-442-7220. Registration is also open for the 2009 GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic presented in partnership with The Toro Co., Feb. 1-3, in Gulf Shores, Alasaka, online at GCSAA Eduational Conference Website, or by calling 1-800-472-7878.

Media and non-member registration for the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show opens Oct. 30.

"The GCSAA Education Conference and the Golf Industry Show is recognized for its high quality," GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Mark Woodward, CGCS said. "It is a must attend event in the golf industry because of the diversity of attendees and exhibitors. In addition, the education and networking opportunities are unmatched. In these challenging economic times, one cannot afford not to attend."

One of the highlights of the GCSAA Education Conference is the Opening Session Feb. 5. GCSAA's highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, will be presented at this session. The winner of the award will also headline the event as the featured speaker. Other GCSAA top awards that will be presented at this session are the Leo Feser Award, Excellence in Government Relations Award, GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards, President's Award for Environmental Stewardship, and the Col. John Morley Award, formerly the Distinguished Service Award.

GCSAA and its partnering associations of the Golf Industry Show are teaming up with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity to host a series of work days (Feb. 3-4) before the trade show opens to help build homes in some of New Orleans' most devastated areas. To support this first-ever volunteer project, register to participate in the event online at www.gcsaa.org/conference (or use registration form A-2 in the conference and show brochure) or support New Orleans Habitat's efforts through a donation on the registration form. Participation requires a $25 registration fee. The Golf Industry Show will provide transportation from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, lunch at the work sites, water, sunscreen and a t-shirt. The deadline for registration is Jan. 2.

Registger now!

Golf And The Economy

2008-09-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

Want to know what your members think about golf and the economy? Golf Digest asked them. Here is how readers responded:

How has the price of gas affected your golf?
a) I’m playing more rounds closer to home...... 27%
b) I’m playing fewer rounds ............................22 %
c) I’m carpooling to the course more often.........6 %
d) It hasn’t affected my golf habits one bit .......45 %

What’s the most you would ever spend on a golf shirt?
a) $50 ........... 33 %
b) $75 ........... 26 %
c) $30 ........... 24 %
d) $100 + ..... 13 %
e) $9.99 ........ 4 %

Which do you consider the best value in golf today?
a) $5 pullcart ................ 54 %
b) $25 riding cart .......... 29 %
c) $50 caddie ................17 %

How much on top of the green fee would you be willing to pay for a guaranteed three-hour round?
a) $10 ...........................24 %
b) $25 ...........................16 %
c) $50 ............................ 6 %
d) $100 ......................... 2 %
e) Not a penny more ...... 52 %

How much would you pay for the hot new driver everyone is talking about?
a) $300 ........................................................... 23 %
b) $150 ............................................................ 7 %
c) $500 ............................................................ 6 %
d) I’ve got to have it, whatever it costs ................ 2 %
e) I’ll wait a year and buy it at discount .............. 62 %

Your group just finished 18 holes, and a staff member takes a few minutes to wipe off your clubs. How much do you tip him?
a) $2 a bag ............................... 43 %
b) $5 a bag ............................... 41 %
c) $1 a bag ................................ 7 %
d) I’m supposed to tip him? ........ 9 %

A bucket of range balls costs $10 to hit off mats. For $5 more, you can hit off real grass. Do you pay the extra $5?
a) Yes .......... 59 %
b) No ........... 41 %

You’re invited to join three clubs in your area, but you can choose only one. Annual fees are about the same, but initiation fees vary greatly. Where do you join?
a) For $100,000 you can join one of America’s Greatest Courses ....... 7 %
b) For $40,000 you can join one of the top-10 courses in your state .. 11 %
c) For $7,000 you can join an unranked but very nice private course .. 39 %
d) I’ll stick with my local muni, thanks ............................................. 43 %

Keeping Your Greens Clean Of Ball Marks

2008-09-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Not only is repairing a ball mark one of the most important aspects of golf etiquette, it is essential to maintaining a smooth, level putting surface. Even the smallest divot or cavity on a putting surface disrupts an accurate ball roll. It is generally the seasoned golfers that know this. They are also the ones that will carry around divot repair tools in their pockets during play. But what about the rest of the golfing community?

Some golfers either were never shown proper use of a repair tool or are too new or inexperienced to the game to understand the importance of repairing divots. Did you know that using ball marker repair tools incorrectly is worse for your greens than not using them at all?

Make no mistake - It is the responsibility of golf professionals and superintendents to promote ball mark repair. So what can the golf staff do to assure continuous and daily repair of ball marks on greens? Consider these:

Offer free ball mark repair tools specifically designed for the soil and grass of your greens. Or, add a small ($0.25 a player?) surcharge to each green fee to offset costs.
Post proper ball marker repair methods in the pro shop, locker rooms and stick labels with these methods on all the golf carts and push carts.
At the beginning of each season, mail a ball mark repair tool to all members with proper methods that explains the importance of usuage in an attached brochure.
Promote repair in monthly newsletters and all club correspondence to golfers.
Place a small and appropriate notice on each table in the clubhouse requesting ball mark repair.
Promote proper ball mark repair during all teaching lessons and specifically with new or younger golfers.
Issue policy cards to all guests and new golfers that states to repair ball marks.
Place a petition on the bulletin board in the locker rooms signed by the golf professional and golf course superintendent asking golfers to sign his/her name as a personal commitment to repair ball marks.
Make sure the ranger is armed with ball mark repair tools to hand out to each player at tee time, and make sure each player knows the correct method on using them before they leave the green.
Place instructions on proper ball mark repair above urinals and on the back of stall doors in the restrooms in a small picture frame.

*Make sure to let golfers know that the best of them will that even if the ball doesn’t land on the green, they should always find at least one divot to repair on each hole.

Upcoming Industry Events

2008-09-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some events coming up the golf course management industry:

Sept. 13-15 – Canadian GSA 42nd Annual Fall Field Day, Georgian Bay Club Clarksburg, Ontario, Canada. Contact CGSA.

Sept. 16-19 – Florida Turfgrass Association’s Conference & Show, PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Contact the Florida Turfgrass Association, 800-882-6721 www.ftga.org

Sept. 17 – Turf and Landscape Field Day at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Contact Oklahoma State University’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, www.hortla.okstate.edu

Sept. 17 – GCSAA Webcast: Reel Mowing: What you don’t know might hurt with Frank Rossi, Ph.D. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Sept. 17-19 – Plantscape Industry Alliance’s Calscape Expo, Palm Springs (Calif.) Convention Center & Wyndham Hotel. Contact Plantscape Industry Alliance, www.piagrows.org

Sept. 18 –University of Tennessee Turfgrass Research Field Day, Knoxville. Contact 865-974-7201

Sept. 19 – Advanced Weed Management, Hawaii Prince Hotel-Waikiki, Honolulu, HI. www.gcsaa.org/education/education.aspx

Sept. 25 – GCSAA Webcast: Foliar Nutrition – A Splash on the Grass with Roch E. Gaussoin, Ph.D. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Sept. 25-26 – Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association’s "Green It’s Your Industry" Convention & Trade Show, Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City. Contact the Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association, www.oknla.org

Sept. 25-27 – Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association’s The Landscape Show, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Contact the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, www.fngla.org

Sept. 28-29 – Carolinas GCSA’s Fall Mountain Meeting, Etowah (N.C.) Valley Country Club. Contact the Carolinas GCSA, 800-476-4272, www.cgcsa.org

Oct. 1 – 7th Annual Irrigator Tech Educational Conference, Chino, Calif. Contact Irrigator Technical Training School, www.irrigatortech.com

Oct. 1 – GCSAA Webcast: Turfgrass Disease Identification and Treatment with Lane Tredway, Ph.D. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Oct. 2 – Winning Fields Seminar, Alliance Bank Stadium, Syracuse, N.Y. Contact New York State Turfgrass Association, www.nysta.org

Oct. 7 – Minnesota GCSA’s Greens Management Academy, Pheasant Acres Golf Course, Rogers. Contact Minnesota GCSA, www.mgcsa.org

Oct. 8 – Tree Care Issues Workshop, Oklahoma State University Botanical Gardens, Stillwater. Contact Mike Schnelle, 405-744-7361, mailto:mike.schnelle@okstate.edu

Oct. 14 – Iowa GCSA State Meeting, Briarwood Golf Course, Ankeny.
Contact Iowa GCSA, 800-605-0420, www.iowagcsa.org

Oct. 15 – GCSAA Webcast: Sending it Down the Drain - Drainage Basics with Bob Oppold. Contact GCSAA Education 800-472-7878

Oct. 21 – GCSAA Webcast: Career Marketing Tools with Carol Rau. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Oct. 23 – GCSAA Webcast: PGR Use on Golf Courses. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Oct. 29 – GCSAA Webcast: Digital Photography Instruction. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878

Oct. 30 – 2008 Turf Season in Review: Research from Field and Greenhouse, Results from On-Golf-Course Trials, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Contact UMass Extension Turf Program, 508-892-0382, www.umassturf.org

Friends of Youth Tee Off Fore Kids In 2008

2008-09-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

With some help from the popular tee time booking engine, GolfNow.com, Cypress Golf Solutions recently donated free tee times to Friends of Youth’s 2008 Tee Off Fore Kids program. Last month, these rounds were auctioned off at the nonprofit’s annual golf tournament and dinner.

Organizations like Friends of Youth rely heavily on community support to implement vital service programs such as Tee Off Fore Kids. The nonprofit trusts that by keeping the local community strong and investing in this generation, hundreds of the youth will benefit.

Friends of Youth recently reported back that the event was a great success, raising more than $100,000 to support Tee Off Fore Kids. Cypress was proud to be involved in any way to help support the next generation of golfers.

Needless to say, nonprofits such as Friends of Youth is just one of many supporting the younger population. And recent reports show that this group of youthful golfers may be more in need of support than ever before.

According to a National Golf Foundation (NGF) study of golf participation in the United States, the number of junior golfers, counting anyone age 6 and above who played at least one round of golf during the year, is estimated to be declining at a rate of 2 percent a year.

Now may be a good time to think about ways your course could join in on the goal of helping young people overcome challenges to build strong foundations for healthy futures in the game of golf. With any help, junior golfers will become future ambassadors to the game.

Click here to read more about Friends of Youth and to find ways your course can join in supporting your future customers.

Make Your Golf Course Disaster Ready

2008-08-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Not that long ago, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma decimated the majority of three major Gulf Coast cities. Not too long before that, Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne laid waste to Florida. Both areas were major venues for the golf course community. And both, were devastated.

It is safe to say that some communities are more at risk than others. Yet, did you know that no matter where you live, your golf course is at risk to some form of natural disaster (i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc.)? Did you further know that about one-third are unprepared for a disaster and will never reopen afterwards?

Storm season is already in full-swing this year. It might be time to look into some of your own areas of weakness. By becoming aware and detecting your vulnerabilities, you are better preparing your business to survive any disaster that comes your way.

Maurice Ramiez, physician and natural disaster consultant and expert, has some “simple steps” to help you in making your course operations disaster ready. Create a checklist from the suggestions below to see what you may need to work on as a prepared course manager:

Incident Command - Every community has one person in command in case of a disaster. Find out who is the incident commander and ask how you can become part of the structure. If you wait until disaster strikes, your offers of help may be too late. Do it now.

Safety - Know where your safety vulnerabilities are. If you were to lose power, how will that affect your business? Be prepared. Let local law enforcement know that if the power is off, your business will be vulnerable.

Assess your situation–either your current one or the potential one during a disaster - If keeping your business open is not safe, or if your employees have urgent personal or family needs during a crisis, you need to take responsibility for that and be realistic. Assess whether it is safe to continue to be open for you and your employees.

Support works both ways - The easiest way to get support during an emergency is to give it as part of the support team. Approach the emergency response manager and say, “I can provide you the following things. Will that be of help?” You will most likely get a yes, especially if you do this ahead of time.

Triage means to do the most good for the most people with limited resources - Even if you’ve been the best person and the most helpful to your community, if your needs are minor you will have to wait longer than someone whose needs are greater. The person with the greatest need will get help first–no matter when they ask. Adopt the same principle with your business.

Evacuate - If you are called to evacuate, go. Orders to evacuate usually come in stages. When they tell you it’s time to evacuate, heed the warning.

Recovery begins with your recovery plan–long before the event occurs - Before the forecasted event, move your computers and set your supplies aside. Continue to do business. Have a cashbox and receipt book in case your register goes down.

Ready - Now that you’ve been through the disaster plan, you need to be ready within your own business. What do you rely on? Do you have key procedures? Write them down now. Keep a copy at your business and another off-site. Back up your computer files and store them off-site.

Educate - Develop a written procedure to stay in touch with your employees and community. Make sure your staff knows exactly what they should do.

Appreciate your employees every day - Not only will you experience a more pleasant workplace, but in a time of crisis your employees will pay you back with their loyalty.

Drill for disasters - If you don’t, panic will set in. You will revert to what is familiar–the day-to-day routine you’ve always done–not what you should be doing in a disaster.

You - For businesses, it comes down to you-each individual and each employer. Take responsibility for all your actions. Plan ahead and be part of the recovery solution.

Golf Travel Facts

2008-08-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Even with rising airline costs, travel is still big business. And when golfers travel, here are some facts to consider...

Arizona has more golf courses to play than Scotland.
Thirty-nine percent of golfers took at least one overnight trip for the specific purpose of playing golf in 2001. They took an average of 2.2 trips and spent an average of $773 in total.
Twelve percent of golfers took an average of 2.5 business trips that included golf. They spent an average of $1,144 on those combined trips.
The average “away rounds” for all golfers was 2.5 or a total of 64.5 million rounds – 12 percent of total rounds played in the U.S.
Among those who went on golf trips, average rounds played was 5.8.
Thirty-seven percent of golfers took an average of 6.9 business trips that did not include golf, spending an average of $869 for the year.
Seventy-three percent of golfers took an average of 3.3 vacation trips that did not include golf, spending an average of $1,090 in 2001.
The number of “playable golf days” (defined by climate) in Miami, Florida are decreasing annually.

*Numbers according to the National Golf Foundation and Weatherbill.com

Industry Happenings

2008-08-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Why spend your time networking? Maybe because it one of the greatest ways to build professional relationships and disseminate information. Networking provides a great way to meet people in the industry and learn more about new happenings, and more importantly, perhaps ways to keep your pockets heavy and tee sheets full. Here are some upcoming events you may want to think about attending:

Aug. 5 – Clemson University Turfgrass Field Day, Madren Center, Clemson, S.C. Contact the Carolinas GCSA, 800-476-4272, www.cgcsa.org

Aug. 6 – Weed Identification Workshop – Broadleaf Weeds, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Contact the UMass Extension Landscape/Nursery/Urban Forestry Program, 413-545-2685, www.umassgreeninfo.org

Aug. 6-7 – 2008 Penn State Field Days, Valentine Research Center, Penn State, University Park, Pa. Contact the Penn State Turfgrass Management program, http://turfgrassmanagement.psu.edu

Aug. 6-10 – 2008 GCBAA Summer Meeting,
The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn, Mich. Contact www.gcbaa.org/summer_meeting.php

Aug. 7 – Kansas Turfgrass Field Day, Rocky Ford Research Field, Manhattan Kan. Contact Kansas State University Extension Horticulture 785-532-6173, mailto:cdipman@ksu.edu

Aug. 13 – Ohio State University/Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s Research Field Day, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research & Education Facility, Ohio State University, Columbus. Contact the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, 888-683-3445, www.ohioturfgrass.org

Aug. 13 – North Carolina State University Turfgrass Field Day, Sandhills Research Station, Jackson Springs. Contact the Carolinas GCSA, 800-476-4272, www.cgcsa.org

Aug. 14 – 15th Annual Maricopa County Short Course – Adjuvants in the Spray Tank to Make Pesticides Work Better, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Phoenix. Contact Cactus & Pine GCSA, www.cactusandpine.org

Aug. 14-17 – Texas Nursery and Landscape Association’s 2008 Nursery/Landscape Expo, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston. Contact the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org

Aug. 19-21 – 2008 Independent Garden Center Show, Navy Pier, Chicago. Visit the IGC Show, www.igcshow.com

Aug. 20-21 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop and certification exam, San Jose, Calif. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association, 800-733-2622, www.tcia.org

Aug. 27 – Weed Identification Workshop – Grassy Weeds, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Contact the UMass Extension Landscape/Nursery/Urban Forestry Program, 413-545-2685, www.umassgreeninfo.org

Sept. 9 – Michigan Green Industry Association’s Snow Management Conference & Expo, Rock Financial Showplace, Novi. Contact the Michigan Green Industry Association, www.landscape.org

Sept. 12 – Mississippi State University’s 2nd Annual Bulldog Turf Field Day & Equipment Expo, Mississippi State University North Farm, Starkville. Contact Wayne Philley, 662-325-2728, mailto:wphilley@pss.msstate.edu

Sept. 16-19 – Florida Turfgrass Association’s Conference & Show, PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Contact the Florida Turfgrass Association, 800-882-6721 www.ftga.org

Sept. 17 – Turf and Landscape Field Day at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Contact Oklahoma State University’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, www.hortla.okstate.edu

Sept. 17 – GCSAA Webcast: Reel Mowing: What you don’t know might hurt with Frank Rossi, Ph.D. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878,
www.gcsaa.org/education/webcast/webcast.aspx

Sept. 17-19 – Plantscape Industry Alliance’s Calscape Expo, Palm Springs (Calif.) Convention Center & Wyndham Hotel. Contact Plantscape Industry Alliance, www.piagrows.org

Sept. 25 – GCSAA Webcast: Foliar Nutrition – A Splash on the Grass with Roch E. Gaussoin, Ph.D. Contact GCSAA Education, 800-472-7878, www.gcsaa.org/education/webcast/webcast.aspx

Sept. 25-26 – Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association’s "Green It’s Your Industry" Convention & Trade Show, Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City. Contact the Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association, www.oknla.org

Sept. 25-27 – Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association’s The Landscape Show, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Contact the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, www.fngla.org

Sept. 28-29 – Carolinas GCSA’s Fall Mountain Meeting, Etowah (N.C.) Valley Country Club. Contact the Carolinas GCSA, 800-476-4272, www.cgcsa.org

Drive Revenue To Your Course By Event Hosting

2008-07-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

In the latest edition of GolfBusiness magazine, author Rob Carey wrote a piece entitled “Making a Bigger Pie.” Carey talks about the many approaches golf course managers can make to drive more revenue through their facility by hosting business-golf events – ones that have no need for tee times, or even daylight.

He points out that the interesting twist is when it comes to ways organizations used golf for their business purposes, it often doesn’t require that any of the players even know how to play the game.

Carey writes: Truth is, business-event planners are always looking for creative networking, teambuilding and entertainment opportunities. Here are just a few examples of how facilities around the country use the golf in a broader fashion to achieve such goals for these groups:

Putting contests on the practice green are perfect for promoting social interaction among participants, and they require no prior playing experience. For instance, as Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the pro shop staff uses string and tees to create a six-hole track on the practice green. To spruce things up, they also customize a scorecard for the event and award prizes to winners (often non-golfers, by the way). Meanwhile, bar and buffet stations are set between the practice green and the clubhouse, and a bagpiper or jazz quartet is often hired to provide ambiance.

At the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Golf Academy Director Brad Brewer utilizes two practice greens just outside the conference wing to conduct putting and chipping contests that serve as 30-minute meeting breaks. For facilities where the practice green isn’t near the meeting space, or if there’s rain, a large meeting room or a pre-function area can easily be transformed into a putting course. And consider bringing in mats and hitting nets so folks can have their swings analyzed, too.

Jillmann, Director of Golf Sales for the phoenician resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, notes that one teambuilding activity that’s gotten popular is the “build a putter” competition. In this activity, teams must construct, from a mixed bag of parts and materials, a putter that can effectively strike a golf ball into the hole. Judges determine the winner based on how well a putter works, plus its aesthetic qualities. “It’s just a different way a get people to collaborate and to bond,” she adds.

Even the practice range can be used for activities that entertain golfers and non-golfers alike. At Pines Needles Resort in Mid Pines, North Carolina, a “Carnival of Golf” reception is centered around the range. While they enjoy themed food and beverage offerings, non-golfers can participate in skill-buildings games and also as target hitting and long-drive competitions that are stages on the other half of the range.

Some facilities have found ways to use the golf course itself for activities non-golfers can participate in comfortably. Tom Enders, director of golf marketing for Orlando-based Marriott Golf, which manages 36 Marriott courses in North America, says that night golf makes for a memorable event.

“We’ll use the first and last holes on the course and have players hit glow-in-the-dark balls into the fairway, which is illuminated runaway-style,” he explains. “We can send out groups of eight people rather than the typical foursome, and we’ll have food and beverage situations around each green. It’s clear to everyone that this event is not serious golf, but simply a fun and unique experience, so non-golfers can relax and enjoy it, too. We always hear a lot of laughter coming from the darkness.”

The untapped potential in this area of business-golf entertainment is significant. According to a recent survey of meeting and convention planners by trade publication MeetingNews, nearly half of the 342 respondents said that golf at least once each year do nothing more than arrange a block of tee times for whichever attendees want to play.

So if you can position your product not as a golf course but as a place that hosts fun, relationship-building experiences, you’ve found a way to interest these groups in trying something new and different.

Striving For Neutrality

2008-07-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

“The secret to making any golf facility more welcoming can be conveyed in one word: impartiality.”

In the latest issue of Golf Business magazine, Editor-in-Chief Ronnie Musselwhite interviews Karen Furtado, president of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA).

This brief Up Close & Personal does a quality job at showing that woman golfers who visit a golf course should be treated as golfers, rather than just woman. Furtado, according to Musselwhite, discusses that a fundamental shift in the way many golf course facilities operate is needed, but not easy.

“It really just comes down to striving for neutrality.”

For example, Furtado advises owners to have two sets of tees rated for women, ensuring tee boxes are maintained, cleaning restrooms regularly, placing extra trash cans and ball washers near the forward teeing areas, and adding mirrors and dressing rooms inside the clubhouse.

“If operators think beyond delivering the ‘hard product’ and set the experience by establishing the culture of the course, they’ll get more business,” Furtado says.

Click here to learn more about EWGA

Network! Network! Network!

2008-07-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

The golf course management industry never stops. Here are the events coming up for July:

July 8 – Missouri Turf and Ornamental Field Day, University of Missouri South Farms Center. Contact Missouri Turfgrass and Ornamental Council, 573-529-9857, info@MoTOC.org

July 14 – Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Regional Seminar – Summer Turf Problems and Solutions for Where you Live, Work and Play, Sylvania (Ohio) Country Club. Contact the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, 888-683-3445, www.ohioturfgrass.org

July 15 – Midwest Regional Turf Field Day, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Contact the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, 765-494-8039, www.mrtf.org

July 16 – Field Day Classic, Jewell (Iowa) G&CC. Contact the Iowa GCSA, 800-605-0420, www.iowagcsa.org

July 17 – Iowa Turfgrass Field Day, Iowa State University Turfgrass Research Station, Ames. Contact the Iowa GCSA, 800-605-0420, www.iowagcsa.org

July 20-22 – Texas Turfgrass Association’s Summer Conference, Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston. Contact the Texas Turfgrass Association, 800-830-8873, www.texasturf.com

July 22 – Turfgrass Identification and Selection Workshop, University of Massachusetts, Amherst campus. Contact the UMass Extension office, 508-892-0382, www.umassturf.org

July 22 – Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Summer Field Day, O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, Verona, Wis. 53593. Contact 608-845-6536, mailto:ajander2@wisc.edu

July 23 – Advanced Turfgrass Irrigation Water Quality: Assessment and Management, Colonial Country Club, Deerfield, Canton, Miss. Contact www.gcsaa.org/education/education.aspx

July 23 – Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association’s Summer Conference and Trade Show, Crane Estates, Ipswich. Contact the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, www.mnla.com

July 23-24 – 2008 Cornell University Landscape Horticulture Short Course, Cornell University Campus, Ithaca N.Y., www.nysta.org

July 24-25 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop and certification exam, St. Louis, Missouri, advance coursework required www.tcia.org

July 29-31 – Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Atlantic City, N.J. Contact the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association, www.plna.com

July 30 – Weed Identification Workshop – Broadleaf Weeds, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Contact the UMass Extension Landscape/Nursery/Urban Forestry Program, www.umassgreeninfo.org

July 31 – UMass Turf Open House, UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center, South Deerfield. Contact the UMass Extension office, 508-892-0382, www.umassturf.org

July 31 – Miami Valley GCSA’s Bunker Boot Camp, Miami Valley GC, Dayton, Ohio. Contact the Miami Valley GCSA, 937-294-6842, www.miamivalleygolf.org

Annual Bluegrass - Twelve Years Later

2008-06-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Golf Course Management (GCM) just released an article titled, “Annual bluegrass update: 12 years later.” The 12 years is in reference to a former 1996 article from GCM titled “A historical perspective of annual bluegrass control.” Both works were authored by Nick Christians, an Iowa State University professor of horticulture, and both look at the progresses made with superintendents and their 85 years of struggle to control annual bluegrass on golf course turf.

As course managers should already know, Bluegrass (Poa annua) is the grass that is the widespread low-growing plant that is a common weed of cultivation and occurs as a constituent of lawns. It is often treated as a weed. It is also sometimes the most suitable lawn grass for many sites, and can form most of the entire grass sward in some lawns.

While there is probably no other weed that is so widely adapted to variations in mowing height, site conditions and cultural practices, the fact is that Poa is hard to control. So has 12 years of research brought superintendents any closer to eliminating it from golf course turf?

Click here to find out.

Promote Your Club Through Cross Marketing

2008-06-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Want to expand your cross-marketing opportunities? Want to find new customers?

Consider promoting your club’s products and services through new avenues. Consider some smart cross-marketing.

The possibilities are endless and the concept is quite simple. Find the products and services that compliment your golf course and work with the companies that provide them to promote their offerings while you promote theirs simultaneously.

You can easily research what areas are beneficial to target. In doing so, start thinking about the opportunities and possibilities when you know even a few facts about what golfers are up to on and off the course.

Did you know that: ??

50 % use a professional financial advisor

66 % invest in mutual funds

15 % own property on or in the same neighborhood as your course

33 % drive a Ford

9 % plan to buy a Lexus as their next automobile

50 % use a department store credit card

61 % drink bottled water regularly while golfing

23 % own a satellite TV

64 % drink domestic beer while

38 % drink imported beer

*Percentages are based on data from the National Golf Foundation (NGF).

It is never too early or too late for some smart cross-marketing. So next time you are out shopping nearby, talk to the local storeowner about ways in which you can build up eachother’s customer base or maybe leave some coupons at the nearest financial advisor’s office... and offer to reciprocate.

For more facts, visit the NGF website.

Club Managers Offer Audit Advice

2008-06-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

Tax season may be over, but unfortunately the IRS hasn’t closed their doors for the year. In fact, the fun never stops. The IRS can still audit your club at any time.

The chances of your course getting audited may not be monumental. In fact, only about 2 percent of golf courses will be subjected to an audit, but the fact remains that audits are anything but fun for you and your club. That is why many club managers are saying that it is always better to be safe, rather than sorry.

Because audit standards have changed and audit costs have increased, the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) Research Institute wanted to find ways to lessen the impact of an audit for club managers. So who better to ask advice from then club managers themselves? HFTP surveyed these superintendents on what actions they were taking to minimize audit costs at their own properties. The following list shows results from this survey:

1. Be Prepared. The number one piece of advice is to be prepared when the auditors arrive. Write reports and prepare most of the work papers before auditors are on site. The auditors can then concentrate on sampling and proving the figures; therefore, reducing the need for additional junior staff. The following list provides a few of the items which should be prepared ahead of time. Your audit firm should provide you with a complete list of all work papers, which can be completed before they arrive.
Some examples include:

Accounts payable listing at year-end
Accounts receivable aging by member
Bank reconciliations at year-end
Copies of loan closing statements and amortization schedules
Copies of new lease agreements
Copy of minutes from board meetings
Final inventory valuation reports
Fixed assets and depreciation schedules
List of current officers and directors
Schedule of insurance
Schedule of non-member and reciprocal income
Schedule of prepaid expenses
Trial balance and internal financial statements at year-end

2. Be organized. Being organized and being prepared are related topics, but one could be very organized, but not prepared for the audit. Several respondents indicated that they have binders full of information coded and prepared for auditors when they arrive on site. Also, have files from the prior year easily accessible.

3. Document, Document, Document. Make sure you keep continuous documentation on file. Make copies of all backup documentation to accompany all schedules. When auditors arrive, you are able to provide the appropriate backup. Some of the items you should have on file include board of director’s minutes, changes to club officers, bank signature cards, wire authorizations, corporate resolutions, bank notes, etc.

4. Educate. Many respondents stated that having professional accounting staff reduced audit fees. Make sure that current accounting staff are educated on audit procedures and are able to answer questions posed by auditors. One way to do this is by compiling a policies, procedures and internal control manual. Respondents also stated that it is important to inform managers and board about fiduciary responsibilities.

5. Utilize Technology. Get ahead of the game and e-mail necessary documentation to auditors before they arrive at your property. Auditors are then able to setup files prior to fieldwork.

6. Monthly Maintenance. It is important to keep on top of things on a monthly basis so you do not get overwhelmed at the end of the year. You can do this by conducting a monthly internal audit. Also, ensure that each balance sheet account is reconciled monthly.

7. Time Management. This piece of advice has two meanings. First, club managers must ensure that all documentation is provided to their auditors in the timeframe they requested. Secondly, managers must keep the auditors on a tight schedule which will reduce their billable hours and their resulting fees.

8. Bid The Audit. In order to keep rates competitive, many clubs have sent their audit out to receive bids from various firms. When looking at bids, keep in mind that the least expensive audit is not always the best. Also look at what kind of added value each firm offers. Many clubs who responded to this survey are opting for an annual review and conducting an audit every three to five years. Proceed with caution when deciding to switch to a review instead of an audit. Reviews are not as comprehensive and sometimes just as pricey.

9. Club Familiarity. Try to find auditors who are familiar with the club industry. Several respondents mentioned that they are forced to go with the auditing firm providing the cheapest fees. This firm may not be familiar with the club industry; therefore, there is no added value to the relationship.

10. Ask For Help. When treading into uncharted territory, contact your CPA firm and talk to them about unusual situations

To find the complete survey results, check out the September 2007 issue of The Bottomline, HFTP’s bimonthly journal.

IQLink May Be Just The Ticket Against Vandals

2008-06-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Golf course vandalism isn’t a novel threat to superintendents. There are copious acts of vandalism each year to course facilities and supplies. In fact, some golf course-specialized insurance firms have put the number of annual acts into the hundreds and thousands. Consequently, vandalism acts are rising and is yet another problem facing golf courses.

The costs to such incidents are skyrocketing. These financial hits include insurance premiums, especially for repeat incidents, replacements costs to carts and course supplies, and of course lost revenue if the incident forces any kind of shutdown for repairs.

In fact, last week at Torrey Pines, the location for the next month’s U.S. Open made national news by vandalism. It was the second time in a month that the San Diego championship course was hit by vandals. Course employees discovered vulgarity etched into the bunker on the 3rd-hole. Reportedly, there were several other broken sprinkler heads on this same hole, the course’s most photographed and signature green.

These acts prompted superintendents to put up fencing near the green and to install a set of portable lights. With any luck, the June 9th 2008 scheduled U.S. Open will begin without any further problems.

The most common target for vandals hitting the links after dark is golf carts. Although, stealing the cart may be way more serious than any possible damage to the cart itself. Courses have reported vandals driving the carts across the pristine and protected greens and in places that damage prime course ground which has high potential for an environmental and financial burden.

So, how do you stop these acts from happening on your own course? Well, there may not be a fail-proof way to prevent all course vandalism, but Golf Business Magazine published some good advice on how to tip the odds of ending joyriding in your favor – outsmart the vandals with technology.

In cooperation with Club Car, UpLink created a IQLink system, which integrates UpLink’s GPS-based course management system with the motor controller in Club Car’s IQ System golf cars to give the course control over where golf cars go and don’t go. The IQLink software also allows courses to shut down their entire fleet after dark night to ensure the cars don’t end up in the hands of illegal riders, even if they have a key.

Golf Business Magazine reports, in addition to thwarting vandalism, courses also can use the IQLink system to define areas where they want to restrict or control golf car use and program the cars’ performance in those areas. For example, if a golf car is entering an environmentally sensitive area, going too near a green or starting down a steep grade on a cart path, IQLink can send a message to the GPS display in the golf car to alert the driver to the situation. The technology can actually override the driver’s behavior to slow the car to a safer speed or stop the car completely if it continues on the same path.

The technology enables courses to define areas where they want to restrict or control golf car use and program the cars’ performance in those areas.

Wouldn't you consider having full control over your golf carts?

Source

Roundup vs Glyphosate?

2008-05-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Golf course superintendents are well familiar with trying to save money. However, what they might not be familiar with is the growing trend of generic brands. Course managers can still produce well-manicured golf courses by purchasing generic or post-patent pesticides.

Based on a recent Golf Course News survey of 400 readers, 59 percent say they buy generic pesticides. Because in general, generic herbicides will always be cheaper than brand ones. Some course managers tout a savings of 10 percent of more by using generic products.
But when something is cheaper, is it as effective?

Well, it is not quite as easy as it looks.

Pesticide suppliers are saying there are more than one factor that goes into buying different product versions. And, there are pros and cons to the generics available on the market.

Here on some suggestions on buying name brand vs. generic pesticides

Know what you’re buying and how to apply it correctly. Have you used the product successfully in the past?

If you need technical support, find out what support is offered or available before buying and using the product. The level of product support requires research, such as with branded products. Companies that only sell generic products might not be capable of supporting you as much as companies who produce generics and branded products or just branded products. There are various levels of support to consider: manufacturer, distributor and formulators. Ask the company selling generics if it will provide performance guarantees.

Cost is an important factor. However, if a product doesn’t perform well and there are no performance guarantees, the result is no monetary savings, and you’ll incur additional costs by having to purchase more product along with the labor costs to reapply. Cost is easy to compare once you understand and compare a product’s active ingredient. The main cost drivers are: quantity of active ingredient in the container as a total percentage and the quality of support from the manufacturer that is going to be offered.

A common myth is that generics don’t perform as well as branded products. However, to receive EPA registration, the active ingredient in generics must have the same technical merit as the current manufacturer branded product. Check the formulation. Sometimes generics are formulated slightly different than the branded product, therefore, you must read the label carefully to make a direct product comparison.

A little research and background knowledge may be the trick for savvy pesticide buyers. Because in the end, the biggest decision operators and superintendents may face is whether or not saving money is really justified.

The Number's Game

2008-05-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Rounds are down nearly 10 % from this time in 2007, according the National Golf Foundation. Let’s look at some other current numbers from the NGF:

There are 31,548 golf courses in the world
There are 119 courses where golf courses exist
North America has 59 % of the total worldwide courses
Europe has 19 % of courses worldwide
Asia has 12 % of courses worldwide
Other countries have 10 % of the total worldwide courses
There are an average of 50 golf ranges that open in the U.S. each year
There are an average of 50 golf ranges that close in the U.S. each year
In 2007, 113 new courses opened
In 2007, non-traditional courses (executive or par-3) accounted for 43 % of the total closures closures, but only 20 % of the total U.S. supply
During peak hours at Chelsea Piers Golf Club in Manhattan (the most expensive range in the nation) it costs 28 cents per ball
There were 600 million range balls hit in the U.S. in 2003
Left-handed golfers make up 7.4 % of the golfing population
More than 20 years ago, left-handed golfers made up 5.6 % of the population

You Can Lead Your Course To Water...

2008-05-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

Golf Business Magazine questioned 669 golf leaders about what they felt was the predominant environmental issue impacting the golfing industry. The survey reported that 77 percent of respondents felt water management topped the list. What I found was that these golf leaders do have reason to worry...
Did you know that a golf course can use as much water in a year as a small town? And in places where water is scarce, such as the ever popular and dry Las Vegas, golf courses make up more than 25 of the 100 biggest water users in the state.

Other findings show that courses in the United States each use 300,000 gallons of water a day on average.

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme's 2007 report, it is possible that by the year 2025, nearly 2 billion people on the planet will be living in absolute water scarcity conditions, while the majority of the world’s population will be living in under water stress.

Some have even dubbed water as "the new oil."

There may be hope. At least that is what some are saying.

More and more courses have opted for more expensive water conservation technologies, irrigation systems, and drought-resistant grass. Specifically, many experts are saying that the answer is in recycling water and growing hardier varieties of grass. Suggestions have been made to use substitutes of layers of synthetic soil. For example, there is a product on the market called Fytofoam which is a unique amino-plastic substrate material and readily absorbs water and nutrients and most importantly, retains them. In fact, it also retains at least 37 percent of air for vital good grass growth.

The following is what the USGA has to say about water conservation. They have provided best management practices for golf course irrigation below.

"Best Management Practices for water conservation could be described as the combination of proper plant selection and cultural maintenance practices that provide adequate turf quality for the game of golf while minimizing water use."

These could include:
· Selecting low-water-use turfgrasses, groundcovers, shrubs and trees for use on the course.
· Providing adequate levels of nutrients to the turf, including a balance of potassium and nitrogen, while avoiding excessive levels of nitrogen.
· Using mulches in shrub and flower beds to reduce water evaporation losses.
· Adjusting mowing heights to the ideal levels, depending on species and seasonal water use characteristics.
· Using soil cultivation techniques such as spiking, slicing and core aerification to improve water infiltration and minimize runoff during irrigation or rainfall events.
· Improving drainage where needed to produce a healthier turf with better root systems that can draw moisture from a larger volume of soil.
· Limiting cart traffic to paths to minimize turf wear and limit soil compaction.
· Cycling irrigation sessions to ensure good infiltration and minimize runoff.
· Root pruning trees near critical turf areas to prevent tree root competition with the turf for moisture and nutrients.

In short, you will see that all these studies popping up are showing that if courses continue the way they are going, there simply won't be enough water to go around in the long run. Can you imagine a world where golf courses are prohibited? But, golf is getting better at innovations and adapting to the challenge of conserving water. We'll see what happens.

Find The Right Employees For Your Course

2008-05-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

According to the About.com website, the top ten reasons that people quit their jobs are:

1. Company is experiencing a downward spiral.
2. Relationship with your manager is damaged beyond repair.
3. Life situation has changed.
4. Values are at odds with the corporate culture.
5. Stopped having fun and enjoying your job.
6. Company is ethically challenged.
7. Behaved in ways that are considered improper.
8. Burned your bridges with your coworkers.
9. Stress level is so high at work that it is affecting your physical or mental health.
10. Are challenged.

(Strangely, there isn’t anything listed about lack of compensation?)

Looking at a recent National Golf Foundation report, golf facility turnover is nearly 20 percent. Some experts have something to say about that.

Michael J. Kenney, for example, joined the PGA of America in 1997 and specializes in employment services consultation. With more than 40 years of business experience with the golf industry and Fortune 10 corporations, Kenney has much expertise on why anyone would want to work for your course.

Also, remember the PGA of America offers the expertise of nine regional PGA career consultants, who provide a structured and logical approach to assist in your search for a new golf professional. These employment experts are organized across the United States and have a good understanding of the regional nature of the industry and the national perspective. The career consultant’s objective is to guide you through the selection process and make it as easy as possible.

“Finding the right replacement for your departing golf professional can be tedious and time-consuming process,” says Kenney.

“This generation of employees tends to place importance on being treated fairly, paid appropriately, have interesting and challenging work and enjoying a positive work environment. Absent these characteristics – they quit. Unlike their parents who would “tough it out” and “try to make the best of it,” the coming workforce is very ready to move on to other opportunities. And to some extent, older employees are adopting those same basic tenets.”

In short he says, “employer loyalty is dead,” he continues.

Click here to see what Kenney has to say in “Hiring The Right Golf Professional Made Easier.”

How Do You Fill Your Club's Dining Room?

2008-04-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

Overall, 56 percent of managers say formal dining space at their club will decrease by 2010. Is it because people would rather drive 10 miles to the nearest pub and grill after 18 strenuous holes? Doubt it.

The clubhouse is the first and last impression of your course. It’s important to keep those dining chairs filled - not only for revenue, but for atmosphere. Savvy operators are also finding that a top-notch running dining room is a viable, and somewhat necessary way to attract incremental business from non-golfers as well. But how do you pack what may be a dying dining room?

Last year at Great Country Club’s of the South Symposium, Carolina Country Club General Manager, Jack Slaughter, talked about the growing trends in food and beverage and how to fill seat’s in the Club’s Dining Room.

Jack made four keys points on the subject. Here's what he had to say:

1) Hire only a quality well-trained staff with the right attitude and leadership.

2) Purchase only quality food with an innovative menu, traditional favorites and options geared towards what the members like and your team does well.

3) Branding your F&B Program – Try to brand what you have going for you, build on your strengths...could be your Chef, a venue style of cuisine or service, your location, unique culture or tradition. Build consistent marketing effort – “Branding” includes uniforms, tabletop, menus, decor, and wine list.

4) Market and promote your Chef at every opportunity. Look for ways to expose the Chef to the membership and build a personal relationship with individual members, Chef Tables personal notes from the Chef, newsletter articles, competitions, Chef in dining room talking to members etc.

Is Your Club Still Right For You?

2008-04-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

When you think of your club, you probably don’t often ask yourself how truly happy you are as a General Manager. After all, you work at a golf course. Many would dream of a job coupled with beauty, the freedom of being outside all day, not being cooped up in an office, and working with customers that are mostly happy to be where they are.

But what happens when the “club culture” and “core values” of your club conflict with your own personal core values? That is what Norm Spitzig is asking anyway. Spitzig is a senior partner with Master Club Advisors, an executive search firm for the private golf club industry, and publishes two newsletters on the subject.

In his article entitled, “When Values Collide,” Spitzig talks about something rarely discussed when working in the golf course industry. He talks about listening to one’s inner self to discover if you are fundamentally unhappy with your club.

It’s quite important, he suggests, to be truthful with yourself and to maintain your core values. Or, rather “leave that environment and strike out anew.”

With all the variables that go into finding another club; e.g. submitting resumes, supporting your family, location, skills, experience, comfort, compatibility, overall fear of the unknown, etc., it’s important to be open and direct when looking at your own values?

Spitzig presents the following core questions to “help you really be honest with yourself in coming to the right decision” and how you truly feel about your club:

* Do too many people in the club community in question act as if the good of the individual is more important than the good of the many?

* Do too many people behave as if club rules exist to be frivolously tested and/or maliciously broken rather than respected and adhered to?

* Do too many people act as if the retention of talented, loyal, and reasonably compensated employees is less important than constant turnover and the perceived opportunity to hire cheaper?

* Do too many members treat the staff in a servile, condescending manner rather than as "ladies and gentlemen, serving ladies and gentlemen?"

* Are the number of egregious behavioral problems sufficiently large and ongoing to require some sort of formal grievance committee?

* Are those in power more interested in their own personal agendas rather than addressing the operational, social, and athletic needs of the entire membership?

* Do too many people lack the basic "club sense" necessary for a successful, enjoyable, and quality club operation?

Have you answered yes to any of these questions? If so, Spitzig contends that ignoring it will cause that awareness to “only come back and haunt you...”

“As the horrific and life-changing events of Sept. 11 have reaffirmed to us all, life should be cherished and savored with those we love and respect. This applies to your home and the members of the worldwide private club community. If you are currently with the right club for you, then enjoy it and proclaim it to anyone who will listen. But if your gut tells you that the club that you are with no longer feels like home, then the choice is clear -- it's time to leave. By doing so, you'll be happier and more productive in the long run,” he explains.

Click here to learn more about Master Club Advisors their approach in placing General Managers.

Back To Basic Best Practices

2008-04-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Let’s go back to basics for a moment. The basics of good customer service, recognition, best practices, and the overall thinking that if you treat your guests properly, they will be yours forever.

Based on some reading in seasoned publications of the industry, I came across some helpful fundamentals that every course should be maintaining and/or brushing up on.

Entitled “Making the Most of the Moment,” author Carl Swanback uses his extensive background in hospitality and international resort management to provide some key tips on ‘making the most of the moment’ at your club.

The following are some tips Swanback suggests:

Welcome Guests Promptly. You and your staff should strive to acknowledge every person who enters the pro shops with a smile and friendly greeting within 10 seconds. Be sure staff members individualize their greetings because they can start sounding fake when every customers is asked the same question or welcomed the same way.

Be Sincere. Flattery without sincerity is insulting.

Create a “First Name” Culture. Names are power, so don’t just send customers to the course. Have them check in with “Jane, the starter” and let them know it’s perfectly fine to ask for you by name of their next visit.

On the course, consider these as positive customer experiences that extend well beyond the pro shop:

Spread The Love. Inform starters and marshals of upcoming events, areas of ground under repair, hidden pin locations, aeration schedules and lunch specials so they can share the information with golfers. The more helpful you or your player assistants are, the more likely it is that guests will want to come back.

Take The Blame – Even If It Isn’t Your Fault. So you called a group up to the first tee only to discover the previous group is a little slow. Apologize for not spacing them farther apart from the group ahead of them. This works equally well for the marshall. If the course is backed up, have your ranger apologize and take the blame rather than pointing the finger at other guests.

Prod Politely. When it does become necessary to speed up slow-playing patrons, be polite. Rather than starting, “You’re holding up the groups behind you,” solicit their help. Ask if they could help you out by playing “ready golf” or picking up their pace slightly. Or, offer a tip that will help speed play, such as staying left in the next fairway to avoid the hidden hazard.

Beyond these simple suggestions, Swanback clearly states that the best way to impact a guest’s experience is by empowering a staff and serving customers passionately. He says always make sure to thank each and every guest for visiting.