Local Knowledge

FALL GOLF AND THE WHS – 5 THINGS TO KNOW

When the calendar flipped to October, it signaled the approaching end of the golf season for many parts of the country. But not here in the Lone Star State.

In fact, golf facilities in Texas are likely to be busier than ever because there are heaps of players who think autumn is the best time of the year to tee it up. Fall usually brings great weather and excellent playing conditions. Combine that with the changing colors of the foliage making for a spectacular backdrop and it all adds up to a perfect season for relaxing days on the course.

The one big drawback is that we lose an hour of sleep and by 5 p.m. or so it’s dark outside. When Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1, so too will golfers’ hopes of going out during the week and playing 18 holes after work.

Although shorter days are a challenge in the fall, and playing 18-holes may be a luxury reserved only for the weekends, there are still be plenty of opportunities for golfers to post scores towards their Handicap Index.

To learn more about the five things your golfers should know about fall golf and the World Handicap System, click here.

TARO ALLIED ASSOCIATION VIRTUAL MEETING

The Texas Alliance of Recreational Organizations (TARO) will be hosting an online virtual Allied Association Meeting staring at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28.

This online event is open to all club industry professionals and allied association members, which includes but is not limited to the Northern and Southern Texas Sections of the PGA, Texas Chapters of the Club Managers, Golf Course Superintendents and United States Tennis Associations of America, Texas Golf Association and Texas Turfgrass Association.

The foremost purpose of TARO is to participate effectively in the state’s legislative and regulatory processes for the benefit of its supporters and their constituents. TARO also serves to educate its supporters on issues affecting them and to foster good will among its supporters by preparation and circulation of periodic publications and sponsorship of educational programs.

This year’s keynote speakers will be Brad Steele, Founder of Private Club Consultants, and Gib Lewis, TARO Lobbyist and former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Among the important topics to be covered in the virtual meeting include, Navigating the Swamp: Your 2020 Washington Update and clarifying the new laws passed to assist the club industry during the COVID-19 era, including Paid Sick Leave, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC).

Registration is complimentary; however, attendees are asked to make a voluntary donation to TARO PAC, which supports the campaigns of those committed to maintaining a healthy business environment for Texas clubs. (By law, TARO PAC can only accept personal checks from individuals.)

For more information and online registration, click here.

OPPORTUNITY FOR GOLF [NGF]

Amid uncertain times, golf has enjoyed a resurgence in play, particularly so during the summer months. The momentum is worth celebrating and presents a unique opportunity for the game.

In a recent industry message, National Golf Foundation’s CEO Joe Beditz not only discussed the surge in rounds, but addressed the importance of sustaining this interest in play and retaining both new golfers and those who have returned to the game after an extended hiatus.

As an extension of this dialogue, NGF reached out to leaders from different corners of the golf industry for feedback and varied perspective on two key questions: 1) How would they assess the opportunity that exists for golf right now? and 2) How might we best take advantage of this?

To learn what golf industry leaders had to say in the roundtable discussion, click here.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC [CMAA]

Golf carts and patio tables aren’t the only things being sanitized at America’s clubs these days.

“Everybody’s mindset has to be washed clean,” said Duncan Reno, CCM, CCE, general manager of Del Rio Country Club in Modesto, Calif. “None of us in the private club industry has ever experienced anything like this.”

Reno was referring to the pandemic, of course, and to the ensuing social and economic disruptions that clubs have been forced to address. The coronavirus wasn’t even on the agenda at CMAA’s World Conference in February, but by March it was transforming lives as states issued stay-at-home orders and clubs had to suspend many of their services.

While their members were sheltering at home, club managers were figuring out how to make the best of a profoundly bad situation. They had to envision their operations from a different perspective, finding ways to remain relevant to members and to offset lost income.

In the process, club managers have learned a lot about their facilities, their members and even themselves. But perhaps the most important lesson they have learned is that while the pandemic closed many doors, it opened others.

In a story for CMAA Magazine, author Robert J. Vasilak outlines 10 enduring lessons that have been learned during this unforgettable time.

To read the CMAA article, click here.