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 From the News Desk...Fitzroy ready to tackle challenges as presidentby John ReitmanPreparing to embark on his tenure as president of the GCSAA, Jim Fitzroy, CGCS, knows the challenges ahead facing the golf industry in general and his association specifically are many – and varied. A struggling economy and increased competition from other entities for revenue-generating services have proven to be formidable challenges during recent years. And the association will have to continue to search for other ways to supplement its income to remain a viable entity heading into the future, said Fitzroy of Presidents Golf Course in Quincy, Mass. “In terms of facility challenges, it’s hard for me to believe that there are many courses that have not experienced some sort of reduction in capital and budget,” Fitzroy said. “We need to be very creative in producing the product that our end users want in a golf course, realizing reduced assets. Ultimately, everything comes down to money.”  Cuts in staff and services prompted by a weak national economy marked 2009, including slashing programs that embrace the history of turf management in an effort to curtail spending. Still, association revenue dropped from about $20 million in 2008 to nearly $16 million in 2009, according to Fitzroy, who officially will become president of the association at the conclusion of next month’s Golf Industry Show.
“It’s hard to scale back on any more functions the GCSAA performs in,” Fitzroy said. “We would like to restore some things that we’ve had to scale back on. On thing is historic preservation. It’s important for future generations to come to see where we’ve come from.” But economic challenges in Lawrence cut deeper than simply a downturn in the overall economy. The association now faces stiff competition from others for services once strictly in the GCSAA’s domain. “Since we implemented the professional development initiative, the idea was for superintendents to get affordable education,” Fitzroy said. “There are now a lot of other non-GCSAA areas where they can get that. Ultimately that’s a good thing, but it’s going to have to change the way the GCSAA operates its education department. We know that.” Corporate industry partners make up a significant portion of the GCSAA’s revenue stream, but it can go to the well only so often, Fitzroy noted. The association must get creative when identifying new sources of revenue in the future, he added. “It is a finite pool of revenue we are dealing with from our industry partners,” Fitzroy said. “We need to look long and hard at non-endemic sources of revenue.” He points to the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open as an example of outside-the-box thinking that will define business in the future. The Houston-based trash collection company started by H. Wayne Huizenga sponsors the tournament. “We need to form relationships with companies outside our realm,” he said. “It is critical for the health of the GCSAA.” While the GCSAA joins the rest of the world in searching for ways to attract new funding, it also must play a role in promoting the game, the work of superintendents and sustainable management to government and the public. For the past two years, GCSAA representatives have joined those from other affiliated golf groups, including the PGA Tour, PGA of America, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, The First Tee, USGA and World Golf Foundation in meeting with lawmakers in Washington to discuss golf-relevant issues and educate members of Congress on the works of those in the industry. “When those courses close, you often hear that it’s good business for the owner. That might be so, but it does not help us grow the game. We need to funnel players into the game.”Fitzroy said an announcement on further attempts to make inroads in that area could be forthcoming at this year’s Golf Industry Show, scheduled for Feb. 8-12 in San Diego. “One of the goals and objectives when I first ran for the (GCSAA) board (of directors) in 2004 was to develop a set of initiatives. We do a lot of things well, but how much better would it be if we spoke with one voice?” he said. “We’ve seen some significant movement since then. I’d like to say I had a lot to do with that, but I think the economy has had more to do with it than anything. “We need to work together as an industry to get the good news out. The majority of golf, 70 percent, of rounds played is played on public-access courses. The perception that golf is an elitist, white, rich man’s sport simply is not true. We need a voice in Congress, and I think this is the avenue to do that.” And it couldn’t come at a better time. As the industry awaits the year-ending report that provides details on course closings and openings in 2009, Fitzroy said he is not concerned that data will show a fourth consecutive year of negative course growth. He is, however, worried when he considers the types of courses that are closing. Nearly 400 courses (18-hole equivalents) have closed from 2006 to 2008 for a net loss of 75.5 18-hole equivalents, a disproportionate percentage of which have been par-3 and executive courses. With rounds played relatively flat for the past few years, the industry is losing – at an alarming rate – the type of golf courses it needs to attract new players into the game. “When those courses close, you often hear that it’s good business for the owner. That might be so, but it does not help us grow the game,” he said. “We need to funnel players into the game.” |
In other news... Bayer consolidates professional, consumer divisions Jacqueline Applegate to oversee both segments; Josh Weeks to retire in November. Posted: 09/09/2010 Read more » July heat keeps many golfers at home Rounds played at private clubs, daily fee facilities drops 5 percent. Posted: 09/08/2010 Read more » Study examines spring pre-stress fertility programs Research finds no correlation between biostimulant applications before spring core cultivation and recovery. Posted: 09/02/2010 Read more » Aquatrols, TurfNet present Water Week The series of five Webinars is aimed at helping superintendents manage water and soils more efficiently. Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » News and people briefs Registration opens soon for Irrigation Show, Briggs & Stratton elects new chairman, FMC taps new director for professional solutions division Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » Complete news index » |
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