Having just returned home from the trip to Pinehurst, for the Symposium on Affordable Golf, I felt compelled to offer thanks and some reflections on what transpired.
First, a profound thank you to Richard Mandell, Gary and the rest of the firm's fine staff, for really running an outstanding event. The speakers were a diverse, stimulating group, and some very enlightening exchanges were made with the attendees throughout the day. In the main, the conversation was frank, engaging and thought-provoking.
The golf day at Southern Pines was superb. I played with two attendees from Canada, Trevor and TJ, who couldn't have been better company, and a local, Dan ,who lived there, knew the track, and worked at Pinehurst. The operation there was a wonderful example of affordable golf's potential. It wasn't perfect, but it darn good AND memorable. Henry greeted me, as my foot hit the ground out of my truck, with a warm smile on his face to help me out. The pro and starter were friendly and efficient. The course was, mostly, a Donald Ross gem. A real highlight was "Granny Gracey." A seventy-something sweetheart of a gal at the snack-shack that can only be described as special. The refreshments were ice-cold and the hot dogs...perfect. But the scary part is when we returned three holes later for a second round of dogs, I turned the corner and after only ever having met me once she said, "Hi Kris, guess you'll be want'n another one of them dogs, with onions, ketup and mustard right?!" She was dead on!!!! It wasn't slow out there that day and a number of other groups had gone through after us. Where can you get that kind of experience...it was awesome.
Rich intends to make this an annual conference and the GCA tribe was solidly represented at this initial gathering. Ran weighed in, with his usual erudite manner and other GCA members had solid contributions as well. All understood that while this was a noble first step,
subsequent efforts are what will be needed to move the meter!
Some topics surfaced that seemed worth examining. It is ironic, some of this was touched on, in threads within this DG, the last couple of days.
1) The "brown is good" and "firm and fast" mantras are being heavily hyped. Is this actually the way forward for affordable, less-wasteful golf practices? Probably not, in many cases. Only certain soil profiles and climate conditions are conducive to this approach without significantly MORE time and resource commitment. A "one approach fits all " regarding conditioning methods seems misguided and down-right irresponsible in some instances. Yet this new gospel is certainly being put out there, often without qualifiers.
2) Maintanance costs are often seen as a major culprit and target for budget issues at facilities. Often, these bugets get cut and the core asset, the golf course presentation... suffers. Then the slide begins, as folks see what they really joined for deteriorate. This is the last area that should be cut, provided quality leadership and cost oversight is in place.
Several attendees, with extensive professional experiences running clubs, pointed to bloated management teams and excessive salaries, for marginal performance results, as a major area that can torpedo finances. They felt that proven ability, of understanding profit and loss, needed to be more of the criteria for selecting those running a facility. The ability to manage several responsibilites in a competent manner, forging a team approach, were highlighted, as a real way forward in the econmic reality of controlling costs in the future.
3) The declining participation, numbers-wise, by those in and entering the game, was also a focalpoint. Significantly, the lack of true passion for the game and adjusting the teaching approach depending on the golfer, were cited by men AND women attendees, as a major obstacle to retaining and encouraging golfers. If the PGA professionals aren't warm, personable "people folks," and especially were the gals and children are concerned, the game's not going to get them. It was clear that the current "Iniative du jour" to grow the game, being put out by the major administrative bodies of the game, is not getting it done.
4) Poor support of promoting caddie programs, where possible, by the major administrative bodies of golf, was also noted. It's also worth observing, that about a third of the attendees at the Symposium had caddied and found the game that way at some point in their lives. I don't believe it was a coincidence, that percentage number with caddie roots, were there to support the game.
This gathering, for me, was very rewarding on multiple levels. I spoke with fellow men and women golf industry professionals and ardent golfers. They came from as far away as British Columbia, Canada to North Berwick, Scotland. To a person, they were there because they cared enough, and were able to afford, or make the time, to come.
The game is in trouble. The reasons are varied. But clearly, the change will have to start from within the game's ranks, as much as from those in some of golf's leadership ranks. Unfortunately, many of those leaders are currently, intently focused on securing their own position and financial status. That mentality has sadly created much of the unsustainable structure currently in place. It must change. It won't be easy. There is much work to be done. This game has survived centuries of cultural change, World Wars and countless other challenges.
If you truly love the game, you know greed must not be allowed to destroy it. We can all have a say. To which degree we commit to doing something about it...well, that is up to each individual.
Cheers
