[Carl Nichols]

I had been thinking of starting this thread a while ago, but got busy with other things and forgot about it, and a few recent posts have me thinking about it again.  Here's the question:  How much does what gets said on GCA matter to a course's/resort's/club's success?  (Put differently, if you were the owner of a course that's being built, does the discussion on GCA about that course have any real impact to its success?)  If so, is there anything you can or would do to influence how your course is discussed on GCA?  Hoping this doesn't devolve into Ballyneal and Dismal sniping, just curious about whether what's said on GCA [good, bad, indifferent] matters in the real world in a tangible way.

[Jud_T]

Carl,

I think it matters more in terms of getting the word out about hidden gems, restorations, the virtues of classic design priorities, firm and fast conditions etc.  I first heard about a number of courses in these pages that have since become favorites.  As far as debating whether Whistling Straights or Arcadia Bluffs, for example, are worth a visit or are properly rated in Digest, I don't think it makes a dent.

[Anthony Gray]

  There are less pizza delivery guys out there than we think.

 Anthony

[Carl Nichols]

Carl,

I think it matters more in terms of getting the word out about hidden gems, restorations, the virtues of classic design priorities, firm and fast conditions etc.  I first heard about a number of courses in these pages that have since become favorites.  As far as debating whether Whistling Straights or Arcadia Bluffs, for example, are worth a visit or are properly rated in Digest, I don't think it makes a dent.

Jud-
Thanks for the response.  I was thinking more about whether what's said on GCA matters to people in the course architect/owner/operator business from a financial perspective.  I get that it might be indirect and hard to measure (e.g., positive buzz on GCA might lead to more rater visits which might lead to higher rankings which might lead to more members or rounds), but perhaps it's worth something.  

[Jud_T]

Well,

I don't know that it has much impact on ratings, otherwise Ballyneal, Kingsley and Dismal would be 1,2 & 3 in the rankings.    There are guys here, however, who have become aware of various clubs in these pages and since joined so that helps the bottom line on the margin.

[PCCraig]

Carl,

I think that depends on who you ask. A thread on GCA? Most might think it matters a lot.

[Bill Brightly]

It matters a lot, IMHO. Let's say a guy like Pat Mucci trashes a new resort course when he is chatting with his buddies at the club. His friends may know little about gca, but they know Pat does. And they spread the message that Resort Course X is not very good.

The converse is true: if a bunch of GCA nuts start raving about a place like Bandon Dunes, the word gets out, and THAT really helps.

I'm not saying that gca is the driving factor to a resort course's success or failure, but it is very important, and on the margin, could be critical. I also think gca will be a growing factor in the next ten years as the over supply of golf courses has more of an influence.

[John Kavanaugh]

I would have never joined Dismal if not for reading about the course on GCA.  Funny isn't it.  GCA is the best thing that ever happened to Dismal River.  I love it.

[Tim Nugent]

I would have never joined Dismal if not for reading about the course on GCA.  Funny isn't it.  GCA is the best thing that ever happened to Dismal River.  I love it.

and here I thought it was because John C. joined

[Mac Plumart]

It is just another venue like tv and magazines.

[Bill Brightly]

It is just another venue like tv and magazines.

OK, Mac,  rank the three in terms of importance to the newly built resort course:

Magazines
CGA.COM
Television

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()