The Pellucid Perspective - September 2016 - 10

GOLF COURSE MARKETING ing to other operators in the area, Golden and veteran Myrtle Beach Sun News golf writer Alan Blondin. Asked about The Founders Group's entry into the market, East Coast Golf Management's president Mike Buccerone, whose company runs 27 courses in and out of the Myrtle Beach market said, "That's all been positive. They brought a lot of capital into the marketplace, which is all positive for Myrtle Beach and has brought more awareness of Myrtle Beach. It's basically been business as usual." One reason for the smooth transition is that Founders retained many of the players from National Golf who already had strong local ties. The group's vice president, Tom Plankers, said the company is committed to the area marketing cooperative efforts led by MBGH, while also working through its own tourism and event packaging company. "We all get along, we're not trying to cut each other's throat," Plankers said. "We all realize it's a niche market and we all work together to get golfers to Myrtle Beach." Golden agreed, saying "Companies here are competing, but at the same time they're cooperating. The thinking is along the lines of the old saying that a rising tide raises all boats. We're promoting the destination. We put that above the individual pieces within it." As a destination market, Myrtle Beach was obviously hit hard by the Great Recession during the last decade. Blondin said 24 courses in the area by his count have closed since 2005, with the vast majority of those closing between 2005 and 2007 as real estate and the economy floundered. Rounds and room nights tumbled, but Buccerone, Plankers, Blondin and Golden all confirmed that during the past few years, rounds have stabilized, buoyed in part by the dramatic return of the Myrtle Beach real estate market, ranked the second fastest growing in the country. And, while the courses in the area celebrate and benefit from the uniqueness of the Myrtle Beach market, Golden said they are not unaware of the issues facing golf throughout the rest of the country. "We're certainly challenged by the decline in the golf market overall, and we work very hard to overcome that," Golden said. "We cater to every segment in the whole golfer spectrum, so what affects golf as a whole affects us too, so we're working hard to bring more people to the game, as well as to our market." The thousands of golfers who descended on The Strand earlier this month for the World Amateur are testimony to the success of Golf Holidays and its members, even if Tropical Storm Hermine did wipe out the final day's flight winners playoff. After all, it takes more than a tropical storm to dampen the spirits of the annual visitors to the World's Largest 19th Hole. n Your course is more than just a superb collection of fairways, greens and bunkers. To golfers, it's a sacred place where memories are made. You're passionate about protecting healthy, happy places where we work and play. We're with you. That's why we back our customers with the full scope of our global scientific development, technical expertise, business-building tools, education and industry advocacy. Sometimes the best moments of the job... ...are the ones you don't get to see. @BayerGolf Bayer CropScience LP, Environmental Science Division, 2 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. 1-800-331-2867. www.backedbybayer.com. Bayer (reg'd) and the Bayer Cross (reg'd) are registered trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered in all states. Always read and follow label directions. ©2016 Bayer CropScience LP. 10 The Pellucid PersPecTive September 2016 https://www.backedbybayer.com https://www.twitter.com/search?q=bayer%20golf&src=typd http://www.backedbybayer.com

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