Local Knowledge

NEW USGA HANDICAP COMMITTEE GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE

The USGA Handicap Committee Guide is designed as a complement to the Rules of Handicapping book. The guide is meant to assist Club Handicap Committees in the practical application of the Rules of Handicapping and provide guidance on how to carry out its responsibilities to ensure all players have an opportunity to play or compete on an equal and fair basis with fellow players.

The guide, as well as an overview presentation video, is available online for easy access. The blue section headers in the guide’s Table of Contents are hyperlinks. Just click on those to go straight to the desired information within the document for quick reference.

To watch the Overview Presentation Video, click here. To view the USGA Handicap Committee Guide, click here. For more WHS Resources for Club Administrators, click here.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR BILL PENN INTERSHIP PROGRAM

After a temporary pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TGA Foundation is pleased to announce the return of the Bill Penn Internship Program (formerly known as TGA Works).

The 10-week paid summer internships helps connect TGA Member Clubs in need of extra help with qualified high school students interested in a career in the golf industry. The program, which typically runs from the first week of June to the first week of August, provides opportunities for young people to gain experience in the diverse areas of facility operations, including club, golf shop and turfgrass management.

It’s not all work and no play, though. As part of the Member Club commitment, interns are provided with golf lessons and designated tee times so they can enjoy themselves out on the course.

By working closely with golf professionals, club managers and golf course superintendents, interns will learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence and develop positive skill sets that will enable broader career options in the future.

If there is a high school golfer at your club or course who loves the game, is personable and motivated, the TGA Foundation would like to encourage you to let them know about the internship opportunity and have them submit an application before the May 1 deadline.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.

PRACTICE FACILITY UPGRADES: A TALE OF TWO CLUBS [GCSAA]

Practicing is more popular than ever, and an appealing practice facility can boost both business and golf participation.

Recent trends show that many golf courses are prioritizing improving their practice facilities. There are numerous reasons why practicing is becoming more popular: It’s the quickest way to improve one’s game, which in turn makes playing more enjoyable; it offers the benefits of golf — exercise, being outdoors, socializing — without the time and cost associated with a nine- or 18-hole round; and it provides a platform for expanded teaching opportunities.

In a recent article for GCM, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s online magazine, two superintendents discuss how their clubs tackled recent practice facility renovations.

To read the GCM’s practice facility upgrade article, click here.

F&O REPORT: A NUMBER CRUNCHER’S DELIGHT [CMAA]

The Club Management Association of America’s annual Finance and Operations Report offers a treasure trove of information on the club industry. The comprehensive report boasts a lot of numbers, from solvency ratios to annual minimum spending requirements to total unrelated business income.

Those numbers are not to be under-estimated. Understanding where their clubs stand in relation to other clubs can help club managers plan, as well as lobby their boards for key, targeted investments. It can also help managers decide where to cut back or rethink strategy moving forward. This is “Moneyball” for clubs.

The most recent report, all 122 pages of it, is the result of a confidential survey, produced in conjunction with the Ohio-based research firm Industry Insights. The survey covers every aspect of club operations, from food & beverage to golf operations to membership offerings to pickleball.

However, as the report notes: “Even relatively simple analysis of your club’s own figures using the data for comparisons can yield important insights into your business. You do not have to be a financial expert to benefit from this information.”

To read the CMAA’s Finance and Operations Report, click here.