OK. I'm back
First, I do understand some of the frustrations course owners have with state and regional golf associations in general and the GSGA in particular. I realize that for some owners membership may not be the right decision though I think many people do not understand or appreciate all the state golf association does--certainly some of the blame for not getting the message out regarding all the benefits falls on the GSGA.
I also understand that private courses and daily fee courses have different constituants, wants and needs from the GSGA but again, I think some of the benefits are not being mentioned.
The GSGA charges $25 per member per club. I pay the same per member that you do. There used to be a minimum of 100 members required to be a GSGA member club and as you know, that minimum number was lowered from 100 members to 50 members a couple of years ago in order to help smaller, primarily daily fee courses, like yours. The $1250 you mention is not a flat fee;it represents the minimum number of 50 members multiplied by $25 for a total of $1250.00 If you had 51 members sign up for the service the charge would be $1275. My bill this year because I have a lot of members (men, wives and juniors) was right around $16,000
As a GSGA Member Club the owner gets a number of things:
1. The computers for clubs program puts a Dell computer and printer in every member club. The computer is supposed to be used for the GHIN handicap system though many smaller clubs use those computers as an "extra" or "golf shop" computer/printer.
2. $1 (I think) of the $25 goes to support lobbying for the industry in the state capitol. The GSGA contributes the lion's share among the industry reps (GGCSA, CMAA and PGA) to pay for a lobbyist to represent our interests. Anyone who has followed the water wars in GA and water issues in general should be thankful for the incredible work that has been done on behalf of our industry at the capitol. Frankly, GSGA money plus the efforts of the GGCSA has allowed GA golf courses to retain access at a level exceeded only by the agricultural lobby. GA golf courses have water access that is the envy of many in neighboring states and all owners should thank the GSGA and the GGCSA for their combined efforts.
3. A portion of the dues also support the Yates and Moncreif Scholarship programs. This program is a benefict directly to course owners and member clubs. Under this program any employee or dependent of an employee at a GSGA club is eligible for around $3-4,000 per year in college scholarship money. Employees and dependents of employees at your club Mike could get a four year scholarship worth over $10,000 just because you are part of the GSGA. The program divides scholarship into rising college freshmen, in college students and non traditioinal students (a chef e.g. who goes back to school). This is a HUGE benefit for an employee and a great perk to offer them as a GSGA member club. We also support the Moncreif Turfgrass Program at ABAC and UGA. I think the endowment is now over $3M and I am guessing 75-100 employees at GSGA member clubs are currently receiving aid totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
4. By 2008-09, the Ga Golf Hall of Fame had lost all of its state funding and frankly, no one knew what may happen to it. Private interests expressed desires to "buy" it from the state and some feared that even holding the annual banquet to induct new Members could be lost. No other group in GA had the resources or frankly, the standing or reputation to take ownership of this state asset. It was the GSGA that steppe up, worked the incredible details out with the state and preserved the independance of the GA Golf Hall of Fame. Again, this was a thankless job and the first two years saw the GSGA absord considerable costs to host the induction ceremonies. This year, I think for the first time ever, the event broke even and the future of the Hall of Fame, as an important asset for GA golf, is in good hands.
(A private club was seriously trying to "buy" the Hall of Fame and use it as a marketing tool frankly--had the GSGA not stepped up, who knows who or what entity would own it today).
5. In addition to providing handicapping services, the GSGA does course ratings and periodic distance measurements for all the clubs. Without a rated course, no handicap system is considered valid by the USGA.
6. The GSGA holds numerous free handicap and TPP seminars for your employees as well as very affordable rules seminars co-hosted with the GA PGA.
7. GA does run many championships and of course numerous qualifiers for the USGA. I have played all the world and I can tell you the level of professionalism at GSGA events is second to none.
For your Members these are their direct benefits:
1. A handicap
Now, only 2-3% of GSGA members play in competitive scratch events that do require a handicap BUT if you are like many clubs, my members must have a valid handicap of some type to participate in my MGA club events. Handicaps, while not the silver bullet they once were for state golf assoc., are still vital for many more than 3% of "regular" golfers on a daily basis!
2. All GSGA members receive the bi-monthly (and award winning
) GolfGeorgia Magazine.
3. All GSGA members receive their choice of an annual subscription of either Golf Week or Golf Digest Magazine.
4. All GSGA members are eligible for the GSGA tournaments as well as the nearly twenty (?) or so One Day Member Playdays at courses all over the state.
5. The GSGA runs a Jr. Sectional Program that allows kids to play for just $15 per event--pricing obviously subsidized by overall dues--and it should be. All Junior sectional events have GSGA volunteers just like the "regular" events.
6. There are some other travel and reward programs that I am not as familiar with as I should be too.
All of this is for $25 bucks a year. Yes, a player can get a handicap for free or cheaper somewhere else but GSGA membership is not just about a handicap.
Also, as a club owner you know I mentioned an initiative the GSGA is working on to help member clubs/owners with the whole issue of insurance and those rising costs. The Owners group has never been able to help much and frankly, for the GSGA to take on an issue like this and bring possible relief to smaller member clubs is incredible. I understand they are simply waiting n state approval to proceed.
The GSGA also has spent considerable time trying to understand the needs of all owners and offer solutions to the Golf Now "issue". Honestly, the owners of daily fee courses have no one but themselves to blame for the Faustian bargain they struck with third party tee time aggregators! Golf Now has completely and totally commoditized tee time inventory but only thanks to the willing particiaption of the owners! That is a whole different debate for another time but I promise the GSGA has been talking with many owners about possible alternatives to the Golf Now business model. The issue is that many owners simply can't afford to cut the cord so to speak and may never be able to free themselves from Golf Now's shackles--but that was self imposed.
Going back to the pricing, every club I know charges their members slightly more than the $25 charged to them by the GSGA. For example I charge my members an annual GSGA Membership fee of $8 on top of the GSGA charge for a total of $33. Some larger clubs charge as much as $50-$75 per year and obviously make some money off the "handicap" charge.
Again, the $1250 is NOT a fee and small clubs certainly do NOT pay the same as big clubs--it is a per member charge with a minimum of 50. If you charge a little extra as most clubs do, your "break even" is slightly less than 50 members. What do you charge your guy to join?
Lastly, I kind of understand your gripe about the advertising but what should the GSGA do--turn down advertising dollars? Part of the mission is to bring good value and golf opportunities to all our GSGA members--shouldn't that include possible deals to play golf wherever that may be? I can see the other side but should they not accept PGA Superstore advertising as it competes with PGA pros and the growing number of member clubs that own the golf shop now? No advertising from Titleist, Callaway or other manufacturers since Mizuno is a GA (Norcross) company. OK, kind of a GA company
I think it is hard to draw the line but you are welcome to advertise in the magazine too! I have in the past.
Lots of legitimate and important issues to be discussed--I just want the discussion to be balanced
PS FWIW while i have served on the board and am a Past President, I am no longer on the board and am simply a regular volunteer now--I am not speaking officially for the GSGA