Golf 2.0 Cancel The title field is required!

1. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   2/18/2012 2:02 PM

   Hi all, not sure where would have been the best place for this post so I put it here. I just read a small article in my Golf World or Weekly, one of the two and it talked about "Golf 2.0". It seems so important to the industry that the PGA is hiring staff to actually go out and help facilities implement the program. I know it has the backing of all major golf organizations, including ours. Just wondering when we will start hearing about the program and what we as superintendents can do to help.
   
   Also it would be helpful to pass on to the chapters what has been discussed at the national level so the chapters and PGA sections can be on the same page as well.
   
   Thanks, Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
2. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   2/18/2012 7:02 PM

   I'm vaguely familiar with Golf 2.0 having read an article or two about the topic. As I understand it, the project is aimed at specific golfing demographics, changing the perception of golf, making golf more user friendly, and increasing rounds and revenue. IMO, golf's greatest challenges are cost and time. If they can defeat those two issues the rounds and revenue will follow. Jack Nicholas made headlines this past year by trying to address both these problems. You may recall he had a club tournament at Muirfield with 8" cups and endorsed 12-hole rounds.
   
   1) Architects must design more player friendly courses that do not include the over-the-top hazards and frills. Bunkers stretching from tee to green are a waist and only serve to increase costs. Architects must also be creative with designs such as multi-function golf layouts allowing holes to be played from various lengths and angles. For example a 6 hole course that can be played 1.5 times to allow for a 9-hole round or played 3 times to allow for an 18-hole round. This will decrease overhead for the course thus drive down the price of a round of golf. It will also allow the golfer the ability to play a shorted round, if he/she so choses, thus saving time. Architects must also keep labor efficiency in mind when drawing up a plan. Allow for riding mowers around bunkers to name one.
   2) We need to better manage expectations regarding conditions. Not just us,superintendents, but golf as a whole. 11 and above on the stimpmeter and using wetting agents and rollers in bunkers are but a few of the maintenance procedures to become a thing of the past. Brown and less than 100% turf density must be ok.
   3) Equipment manufacturers must re-adapt the equipment to allow for more efficient use of time and fuel. Gang mowers on fairways anyone? How about in the rough? Stop with the striping of rough already.

   
   
   
   
3. Linseisen-Kerley Sharmion K

   
   2/20/2012 11:02 AM

   Hello Mel,
   
   A Golf 2.0 session was just added to the Golf Industry Show lineup to talk about the program and how superintendents can become involved. It's scheduled for Thursday, March 1, from 2-3 in room N115 in the convention center. (The session description is currently being added to the websites.)
   
   Also, we post all the PowerPoint presentation materials we receive after the show, so we'll include the slides for this session if they're available.
   
   Thanks,
   Sharmion

   
   
   
   
4. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   2/20/2012 5:02 PM

   Golf 2.0 has been introduced with much fan fare from the PGA of America as a way to grow the game by reaching out to former players and non-players who have not played but indicated on surveys they would like to try. They say they think they can attract and keep 13.9 million golfers by 2020. (26.1 million now to 40 million.)
   I am not an expert and look forward to the session at GIS. Our professional has sat in on one session and wants to try some new things at our course I think are worth a try. One key is to increase the number of "touches" a new customer has with the game. Rather than one clinic and see you later, a session of clinics over a few weeks to get the new player in the habit of coming to the golf course.
   With the increased touches and a effort to be friendly and offer a product that is friendly and fun for individuals and families.
   To date the effort is being crushed by naysayers who doom it to failure. The industry has to do something so I am willing to give it effort and time. We have been do more with less to death. We have three options. 1. Get more players. 2. Close more courses or 3. Go back to pre 1980 designs and turf conditions. Out of the options I prefer number 1.
   Links to two articles are: http://golfweek.com/news/2012/feb/20/pga-america-touts-golf-20-means-grow-golf/ and http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/gci1211-golfer-boost-initiative.aspx

   
   
   
   
5. Boyle Darcy

   
   2/22/2012 9:02 AM

   Here's the link to the session description if you want more info: http://www.golfindustryshow.com/showinf ... ession.asp
   
   Thanks!

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   2/22/2012 11:02 AM

   Thanks Darcy,
   
   I won't be in Vegas this year, hoping they take the same message out to the PGA sections and then they work with GCSAA chapters.
   
   Thanks, Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   3/4/2012 4:03 PM

   This session held during the trade show was not well attended despite an announcement during the packed house at the General Session.
   
   First I need to put aside my negative feelings for the program based on the fact the PGA announced they can grow the game to 40 million golfers. It isn't going to happen, no way no how and if they did we would need to add golf courses to accommodate those players. I am not sure why they even came up with the number but this is the same group that almost inked a deal with Golf Now to pad their members pockets while adding more hardship to the industry.
   
   Having said my negative comments I do believe we can grow the number of players and superintendents can help in some ways by making the course easier for poor players without effecting good players egos. Trim up trees, clear brush to allow shots from the woods, trim scruff to allow better/wider visibility from tees, perhaps mow the rough a little shorter, reduce natural areas if a lot of balls are hit into certain areas and offer a shorter sets of tees even if they are just markers in the fairway.
   
   Most of the changes start with the golf shop and providing fun beginner programs for kids, women and men. Beginning golfers should bend the rules a bit just like many casual golf leagues do. Take your distance on out of bounds, take a drop over the hazard after you go in, tee it up and use the long ball grease anywhere while starting out. (I was joking about the long ball grease). For most beginner programs I think GCSAA members can help as the lessons are basic and all the attendees want is a friendly face giving them a fun experience. Be sure you offer clubs for the attendees to use during the clinic.
   
   The "Tee it Forward" idea by Barny Adams could help when used sensibly but don't forget to advertise forward tees to your members or the public. The one session at GIS "Answers on The Hour" that covered Tee it Forward was really just a course that shortened their red tees to 4800 yards not really adding a new option of tees.
   
   In the Golf 2.0 session they discussed how great 8" cups and the NGCOA members were all excited to go to the Standard Golf booth and order a set until I added that one the things are a challenge to put in and out and difficult to mow over with a triplex without the wheel falling in the hole. (Our course has 4 or 5 days a year and we happily do it for charity events but I do not see every day being a option or necessary to save golf.)
   
   One attendee said her golf professional was not willing to go out into the schools to teach a golf class and get kids interested. I do not know what kind of club they are at but at ours both myself and our golf professional are busy with our jobs and spending time away from the property would be hard and add more time to our already 50 to 55 hour weeks. In these days of doing more with less finding those extra hours can be a challenge.
   
   The key seems to be each club needs to make golf a little more fun (easier) for beginners and we will keep these people in the game. Attracting these players will needs to be a local effort.

   
   
   
   
8. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   3/4/2012 11:03 PM

   Flogton.