Golf Inc - April 2008 - (Page 26)

MATT MOLLOY General Manager/Director of Golf, Sandia Golf Club, Albuquerque, N.M. When it comes to golf course grand openings, Molloy is a veteran. Sandia, built by the Pueblo of Sandia Indian tribe in 2005 as a key element in its casino resort operation, is the fourth course he’s opened during his career in golf, including his second as general manager. At Sandia, Molloy sought to raise the bar for the golf industry in New Mexico, bringing resort-style service to the region. An aggressive tournament sales effort provided a big boost to the club’s bottom line. “F&B has been a home run,” Molloy said. In 2007, the club did 7,000 tournament rounds, with 90 percent of them booking food or banquet service. He’s also boosted the Champions Club loyalty program from 415 members in 2006 to 950 in 2007. He expects that number to top 1,000 this year. Molloy also is president of “Golf on the Santa Fe Trail,” an eight-course alliance that promotes golf tourism across the state, and he’s launched junior golf programs as well as numerous grow-the-game initiatives at Sandia. JIM HAJEK Head Professional, Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden, Colo. At a time when some courses have trouble filling tee sheets, Hajek has a unique challenge. During its summer season, the club has sold out every 18-hole tee time since it was opened in July 2003. Hajek, who came to the city-owned Fossil Trace from nearby Foothills Golf Club just prior to its launch, has set a high standard for his staff. “I wanted us to be better than anybody else,” he said. Hajek’s goal is to create an extraordinary experience for every golfer. “It begins when they hit the parking lot and it doesn’t end until they have left the facility,” he said. “I want it to be perfect.” City officials are more than pleased with what Hajek has done. The award-winning facility has exceeded its revenue goals, last year topping $425,000 in retail sales (for which Hajek was named Colorado PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year) and $1.3 million in F&B revenue. STEVE NORTH Director of Instruction, St. Andrews Links Golf Academy, St. Andrews, Scotland Launching a grow-the-game effort at the birthplace of golf might seem unnecessary, but North and his staff have attracted hundreds of young people and other beginners to their state-of-the-art facility, launched two years ago. North has helped make the academy one of the leading facilities of its type in Europe. Under the leadership of North, who previously worked as director of instruction for David Ledbetter in the Far East for fourand-a-half years, the academy delivered more than 3,700 hours of instruction during the 2007 season and generated £165,000 in revenue at the facility. “It’s been a fantastic experience,” he said. “Despite the tradition here, there was never the opportunity to work with this level of instruction in the town.” He’s reached out to groups such as the Scottish Golf Union on instructional programs. “One of our goals is to help promote golf in Scotland,” he said. JOHN CAVEN Director of Operations, Loch Lomond Golf Club & Dundonald Links Dunbartonshire, Scotland Communication can be a challenge for any golf club. But when your 900 members are scattered among 41 countries, it’s an even more daunting task. Still, Caven says that staying in touch with member expectations has helped make Loch Lomond one of the world’s most prestigious private clubs. “We try to get close to our customers and members,” the Glasgow native said. “We rely on their feedback for policies and procedures.” His goal: to deliver a first-class golf experience. Caven, a PGA professional since 1989, joined Loch Lomond a year ago after working as business manager for former British Open winner Paul Lawrie. His earlier roles had included a stint as club manager at Oldmeldrum Golf Club in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Under Caven’s direction, Loch Lomond was honored earlier this year by Golf World magazine as one of the 100 best golf shops in the world. Since his arrival, the club has increased revenue per round by 17 percent. 26 Golf Inc. April 2008

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Golf Inc - April 2008 Contents Editors Column Birney Takes NGCOA Helm Construction Costs on the Rise KemperSports Adds 14 Courses Americas: Fazio Designs St. Kitts Layout Europe/Africa: Seaside Resort Planned in Egypt Asia/Australis: Faldo Opens New Chinese Course High-Tech Tools: New Technologies that can Help Operators There's No Economic Slump at Still-Popular Reynolds Plantation Tim Moraghan Wants to Make Golf Fun Again Why a $1.5 Billion Resort has Made Environmental Protection a Top Priority Most Admired Operators Marketing Experts Make Their Pitch for Golf Courses From Korea, with Cash Last Word

Golf Inc - April 2008

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