The Pellucid Perspective - December 2014 - (Page 2)

GOLF COURSE OWNERSHIP The Northern Golf Alliance - A new challenge to the NGCOA? By Harvey Silverman A newly formed group of state and regional golf course owner associations has officially announced their formation, and by so doing may have fired a shot across the bow of the National Golf Course Owners Association with the message: Our members need and deserve more help. The Northern Golf Alliance (NGA) was created by the executive directors of five organizations representing nearly 900 golf course owners: Ken Guenther of the Buckeye Golf Association (formerly the Ohio GCOA), Gregg Acri of the Pennsylvania GCOA, Kate Moore of the Michigan GCOA, Curt Walker of the Midwest GCOA, and Jeff Schwister of the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin. With full support of their boards of directors, the NGA is setting out to negotiate preferred deals with premium partners from which any savings, discounts or rebates will go directly to golf course owner members - the Alliance itself receives nothing. This flies in the face of the NGCOA Purchasing Network - preferred vendors that provide benefits for members as well as monetary considerations to National. It's typical for associations to have these buying opportunities and their strength is in how many members, and dollars, National can deliver to its The Buckeye breakaway T he State of Ohio has a longstanding reputation of outstanding sports, both professional and amateur. It's also the state most noted for influencing presidential elections - every four years its electoral voice is heard. Its reputation for rebellion is far less acclaimed, however, save for maybe Pontiac's Rebellion and Kent State. And then there is Ken Guenther, the executive director of the Buckeye Golf Association, formerly the Ohio Golf Course Owners Association. Guenther took seriously his responsibility to act in the best interest of his members, and challenged the NGCOA regarding membership dues and how those funds should be channeled. The NGCOA booted the Buckeye for insubordination. Guenther, and his 160-member strong (and growing) association, are convinced they own the high ground. In the early 2000s Ohio had a unique arrangement with National - Guenther would invoice members with a choice of Ohio only, National only, or both, with dual membership receiving a discount from National. For a while NGCOA allowed this accommodation but ceased doing so in 2006, and Guenther's board grudgingly approved the conversion to the standard arrangement whereby 2 THE PELLUCID PERSPECTIVE Purchasing Network partners in return for the reward of signing the back of a check. The NGA directors feel they can do better on behalf of their members - with the members receiving 100% of the rewards. Ironically, Guenther of the Buckeye Golf Association has already felt the wrath of crossing the NGCOA, his organization having been booted from the NGCOA at the end of 2013, thus the name change to Buckeye Golf Association (See sidebar story below). Guenther had seen his membership decline steadily, with vacating owners complaining that they didn't feel the NGCOA gave them much bang for their membership buck, and preferred that more money go to the state association. The four other directors empathized with Guenther as they were experiencing similar membership issues, and so an alliance of like minds and market conditions was formed. The Northern Golf Alliance announced its presence earlier this month at the annual Michigan Golf Course Owners Association meeting. It was greeted enthusiastically by the members in the audience. The NGA fearlessly unveiled its program in front of NGCOA staff members in attendance, who they suspected would voice displeasure. There was no surprise when everyone pays National, with some portion coming back to the state group. But this helped neither member retention nor recruitment. Guenther went back to National with a new proposal - basically resurrecting the one they had before. He cited that National had put Michigan on a test program for dues that was not available to others, but would be acceptable to Ohio. (Yes, executive directors do converse and share notes). National refused and Guenther, his board and membership stood their ground. National cut the umbilical cord effective Dec. 31, 2013. Today, the 160 Buckeye members can still join National if they choose, but the change helped grow the membership by 18 in 2014, more than in the last 10 years combined. Guenther doesn't know how many Buckeye members also belong to National, or how many Ohio owners belong to National and not Buckeye. What he does know is that the dues and membership structure his group has stood firm upon has made his organization stronger. It's inclusion in the Northern Golf Alliance will add to its strength. -Harvey Silverman DECEMBER 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - December 2014

TOC
The Northern Golf Alliance – A new challenge to the NGCOA?
Troon strengthens Southeast presence with Honours Golf acquisition
2014 in review: where is the hope?
A new day indeed, or in Breed, for Independence
New payment processing technology offers challenges and opportunities for courses
November golf weather impact: A parting shot from Mother Nature
Orlando operators need some magic to be in the black
Tucson muni courses struggling despite turnover to private management
Tiger: balm, or bomb

The Pellucid Perspective - December 2014

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