Growing the game Cancel The title field is required!

1. Nicholas Colquitt

   

   0 posts
   
   8/12/2011 9:08 PM

   Recently I have been thinking of ways to grow the game. Though I am by no means a business man I would like to put on a golf show. I have access to an arena in Northern Arizona, which is well known for tourists and the state itself known for golf. My problem is how to get it started. I would like to keep it about 80/20 golf the game/golf the industry to show people what it is they may want and what it is we do as professionals. Have any of you seen these or done them yourselves? Or where should I start? Local vendors for the industry side and my Pro Staff for the PGA side of things? Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. Just brainstorming and looking for a plan and direction.
   
   
   Nick Colquitt
   Assistant Superintendent
   Sedona Golf Resort

   
   
   
   
2. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   8/13/2011 5:08 AM

   I'm guessing you would start with your local association, and then move forward to the state level. I know there are annual shows in Ohio and Michigan. Seems I remember the superintendents association working with the turfgrass foundation to put on educational seminars, and a smaller equipment / vendor display. I would think you could get your local PGA to join in as well and cover all topics of our industry.

   
   
   
   
3. Wahlin Scott B

   
   8/13/2011 6:08 AM

   I cannot help you Nick, but I do want to applaud your thought process. If your local or state association could have accomplished this, they would have already. As the former president of a state turf organization I can tell you that it is critical that new ideas and new people are continuously brought into the mix. When you get old like me you tend to think of all the reasons why something won't work instead of seeing how it can work. I would suggest trying to do your new idea by yourself first. If you get it done, let me know and I will be there.

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/13/2011 9:08 AM

   Nick,
   
   Why not have it at your own course first as a trial? The show will bring in new customers, provide some business for your club and still achieve your purpose.
   
   Your idea brought one to my mind as well. We do a huge demo day in November in which we bring in about 15 club manufacturers, shoe manufacturers and clothes. We see about 500-600 for the day and do about $20,000 in sales. I wonder if we could couple that with a learning experience as well - maybe free lessons from our golf staff or short mini-clinics? Seems like it would be a great idea and get people out to our facility that aren't in the market to buy new clubs, but may anyways after being able to hit some.
   
   Just a thought!

   
   
   
   
5. Ashton Alan W

   
   8/15/2011 2:08 PM

   Nick,
   
   I agree with all of the above comments...
   
   Your first call should be to Carmella at Cactus & Pine... sounds like something the association could get behind... and I say it's your baby and that you should be the one to run with it... IMHO
   
   Good luck!

   
   
   
   
6. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   2/3/2012 7:02 AM

   We had the pleasure of having Ron Garl, golf course architect, speak to us at our recent chapter meeting. Ron is a forward thinker and definitely thinks outside of the box towards growing the game, designing and constructing courses and general business ideas.
   
   One of the ideas he came up with was the Silver Tee program. Similar to the First Tee program that aims towards attracting youth to the game of golf, the Silver tee program aims towards attracting seniors and retirees to the game. As golf suffers due to a variety of reasons, many times we find out that the problem lies with the time commitment to play 18 holes. To remedy, the industry has come up with short courses, 6, 12, and 18 hole layouts and promoted the idea of somehow reducing the time it takes to play a round of golf. Time always seems to be an issue, as does available funds.
   
   Where the Silver Tee comes into play is the fact that there will be millions of baby boomers retiring in the upcoming years, and peaking in 2016. The program is intended to grasp this large group of people who now have the time and money to spend on playing the game.
   
   Where the PGA is missing the boat is working on developing and promoting this program to it's member clubs. Golf 2.0 is a great program, but should be only part of the overall growth initiative. Attracting the core group of golfers, woman and juniors - all of which have quit playing the game because of no time and no money - will only have a slight impact on our recovery, and even then, it will only be for a short period of time before their interest is lost, again. Not only do wee need to learn how to grow the game, but keep those people around and interested for years to come.
   
   The Silver Tee program, in my opinion, is where we should be concentrating some resources. it's easy for me to say that since I work in a retirement community. Even then, we have about 10% of our overall community population playing the game of golf. That leaves roughly 6,000 residents that we can go after, teach and keep playing the game. This program may not work where you are, and in that case, promote Golf 2.0 to the max. If you are in an area with a higher age demographic, possibly the Silver Tee program would be worth checking into.
   
   My Two Cents.

   
   
   
   
7. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   2/3/2012 9:02 AM

   We probably should be building many more executive courses. If the average golfer is right handed and shoots 100, the level of everyday play really calls out for a sensible alternative.

   
   
   
   
8. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   2/4/2012 5:02 AM

   "Who has the time for 18 holes" is right.
   I would bet a regulation (sort-of) 9 hole course would be an attractive and busy place and go a long way to grow the game. Half the land, less staff, lower price.
   And while we are at it...can we get rid of "club wipers" that ask how my round was???
   Like they really give a sheet!

   
   
   
   
9. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   2/8/2012 2:02 PM

   the truly downside to senior golfers is that eventually they move on to the great golf course in heaven and we have to say goodbye. I lose around 10 of these great guys a year. It saddens my heart when I know them for many years and get to see their smiling faces daily as they enjoy what time they have left on my course only to have to see them that final time.
   
   They are the life blood of my course and I really do not want to work for anyone else.
   
   And when I do get to play a round with them I get to shoot from the forward senior tees

   
   
   
   
10. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    2/9/2012 6:02 AM

    I love this coversation.Our pro's are always trying to target the "next generation" to take on the game.75% of our members are over 50 and less than 5% are under 30 so why are we targeting the young players who have no time or money?I always say when we have membership drives we should give 50% off initiation for people over 50.We live off monthly dues not initiation fees.They want to focus on the next generation or making money in the resteraunt.Many of our older golfers have nothing but time and yet can't afford to eat out everyday.