From the CEO
It’s Time to Change the Narrative About the Future of Golf
Just yesterday, I received an email from a homeowner in Clermont, Florida, who lives in a golf course community. She was pleading with me for ideas on how to compel the city to take ownership of the golf course no longer in operation. Obviously her concern is about what would happen to the land adjacent to all these homes, and the promise of having perpetual golf course views when the homes were built 14 years ago. The words “eminent domain” were thrown around. Even without local knowledge of the situation, I sternly advised against the eminent domain idea. But I will admit, it’s painful to hear about any golf course that has failed.
Cover Stories and Features
Facing the Water Hazard
A 10-15-year cycle could result in nearly $10 billion worth of renovation work within the golf industry.
California Court Stings Course Owners with Ruling
Can golf course owners be held liable if a guest gets stung by an insect?
‘I Do’ Means Big Business
Earlier this year, course operators took a break from fretting over rounds-played stats to focus on troubling data about marriages and weddings. After climbing steadily from 2010 through 2016, the number of weddings in America fell off notably last year.
Feeling the Pinch: Tools to Navigate a Dynamic Labor Market
How can employers rethink the way they recruit, retain and engage their workforce during a time of rising wages, historically low unemployment and uncertain industry growth?
Case Studies
Buying Into the Game
Bill Smith Finds Recession-Proof Niche with Green Fairways
Caller Alert: Handling Third-Party Sales
It’s no secret that the reservation process changes on a daily basis. At one point, more than half of airline tickets were sold through travel agents and in-person sales. Now, almost 90 percent of travel is booked online or through call-centers.
Auditors Targeting Contract Employee Agreements
The golf industry has long relied on using contract employees to deliver unique and special services offered to our customers. The scope of these services vary widely from one golf course to another, so standardized agreements are difficult to create. This has left the golf industry vulnerable to labor and tax audits.
Polishing a Gem
11 years, $40M later, Pound Ridge glimmers with hope
Billy Casper Golf Waddles Through Its Data
If actor Dustin Hoffman was in a modern-day remake of his classic 1960s movie, “The Graduate,” one of the everlasting lines to remember might be “data” is the future. Indeed, much like “plastics” was the surefire career tip for the recent college graduate played by Hoffman in that classic film, data seems to be the destiny for so many young graduates today.
Irrigation Certification Improves Water Management
Management of irrigation schedules is the single most difficult task that a golf course superintendent faces on a daily basis.
Promoting the Portfolio
With various facility upgrades to tout, La Cantera boosted its marketing to a new level
Industry News and Trends
Cultural Awareness
You want your family business to last? Then act like a family
Final Thoughts
What is the golf industry’s biggest hurdle right now and how should it be addressed in your opinion?