Golf Inc - April 2008 - (Page 4)

staff From the Editors Jack Crittenden, Publisher and Editor-in-chief | 858-300-3201 The wrong way to help the handicapped For the past four years, the golf industry has been waiting for the U.S. Department of Justice to issue a ruling on how far golf courses must go to accommodate handicapped people on the golf course. The issue is whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires golf courses to provide handicapped accessible, single-rider golf carts that can go anywhere on the course, including the greens. A small group of advocates have pushed the question before the Department of Justice and a decision may finally be on its way. It’s a hot-button issue that has generated strong feeling on both sides of the debate. And unfortunately at times the controversy has generated more heat than light. We at Golf Inc. have been called to task, as have other industry organizations, associations and publications, by executives at SoloRider, a manufacturer of accessible golf carts, because we have not advocated support for the company’s position that courses should be required to provide single-rider carts for the disabled. We support debate and dialogue on issues such as ADA compliance. But we do not support approaches such as lawsuits, legal threats and guilt. The goal of SoloRider executives of providing access to the wonderful game of golf for individuals who otherwise would be physically unable to play is admirable. But their approach over the past few years has been too adversarial. It has caused people to resent them and some golf course operators to refuse to work with them. Their tactics have overshadowed their message. We should all strive to inspire golf operators to do the right thing. Golf courses should want to buy handicapped accessible golf cars out of a desire to do something that will benefit the community as a whole. When operators are forced to buy SoloRider golf carts out of fear or simply to protect themselves from legal action, those vehicles will simply sit in the cart barn and collect dust. Making golf accessible to anyone who would like to play this great sport is obviously in the industry’s best interest. We believe it would be better for golf course operators to move towards this because they see the positive implications of the move, rather than due to a governmentenforced mandate or court order. There is a lesson here for others in our industry. When we work together for the betterment of the game — no matter what the issue — we will make more progress than when we take an adversarial approach. 4 Golf Inc. April 2008 Editorial Team Keith Carter, Managing Editor Jim Dunlap, Senior Editor Shannon Harrington, Art Director Nicole Wall, Designer Melissa Stottlemyer, Photo Editor Publishing Team Chase A. Peckham, Associate Publisher Mindy Palmer, Marketing & Sales Consultant Bob Burke, Sales & Marketing Representative Elizabeth Callahan, Director of Circulation & Marketing Jennifer Posey, Circulation Coordinator Mike Burke, Accountability Manager New subscriptions: Via the Web, go to www.GolfIncMagazine.com and click on the subscribe tab. Or call subscriber services at 800-999-9718. A one-year subscription is $72, two-year is $127, and three-year is $172. Complimentary subscriptions: Golf Inc. provides a complimentary subscription to the top decision makers at private clubs, public courses, municipal courses, semi-private clubs, management companies, development firms/advisors/consultant, architect firms/engineer/planner, and investor/financiers. If you match this criteria, please call 800-999-9718. Renewals, requalifications and changes of address: Via the Web, go to www.GolfIncMagazine.com and click on the subscribe tab and then follow directions. To check on the status of your account by e-mail, please send your inquiry to Jennifer@cypressmagazines.com. Or call subscriber services at 800-999-9718. Golf Inc. Spring Conference: Doral Golf Resort and Spa, April 21-23, 2008 Miami, FL 877-Golf Inc. www.golfincmagazine.com Reprints: Please call FosteReprints at 1-866-879-9144 Editorial, awards questions or to report editorial errors: Please call Keith Carter at 858-300-3207 Golf Inc. magazine (USPS 009-747, ISSN 1074-9276) is published monthly by Cypress Magazines Inc., 5715 Kearny Villa Road, Suite 108, San Diego, CA 92123. U.S. Subscriptions — $72.00 per year. Single copy — $8.00. Periodical postage paid at San Diego, CA, and at additional mailing offices. Entire contents copyright © 2008 Cypress Magazines Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Golf Inc. grants permission only for educational purposes. Golf Inc. is a trademark of Cypress Magazines Inc. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Golf Inc., P.O. Box 18479, Anaheim, CA 92817 http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com http://www.hghb.net http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com http://www.hghb.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Golf Inc - April 2008

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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