Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2013 - 17

(ask the expert
)
King of Club Champions
Island View pro Dan Callahan helped make the club's
championship a winning event.
Interview by Joseph Oberle
A
club championship can identify the top golfers at your
club each year, but at Island View Golf Club, it does
a bit more. Five years ago, the club's golf committee
charged club officials, including head professional Dan Callahan,
with using the annual event to increase participation and foster
club cohesiveness. During that time they have done just that.
Q How did you improve your club championship?
A We added some different events and made it a five-day event
from Wednesday to Sunday with a different event each day. We
also added a social night on Friday where the members come out
before the weekend event. We have a band, a big dinner and putting
and long-drive contests. We've added a real social element
to the event.
Q Has it been well received?
A Between juniors, women's 9-, 18- and 36-hole events and the
men's flights, we get just more than 200 players. Along with the
added social events, it creates a lot of interest for people to come
out and play in the event. We had 130 to 140 players five years
ago, and we have increased it 30 to 40 percent. So it continues
to grow.
Q What is the secret to its popularity?
A We've added something for all players at a set time during
the week. We include [all ages of members], from the youngest
of juniors to the oldest of seniors. It's a great way for the whole
membership to interact with each other. Just to get to know people
on a different level and to meet people you might not have
met before.
Dan Callahan
Q Is it a good way to grow the game at your club?
A In addition to the championships on Sunday, we have a membership
appreciation day where people can come out and get free
hot dogs and refreshments. We run the long-drive and putting
contests for the junior golfers, and that's where you attract the
kids under age 10, who are really involved-it's their first experience
with golf. Many of them, just from that day, look forward
to it every year because they're on stage in front of their parents
doing long-drive and putting contests. It's like a carnival atmosphere-they
really enjoy it-and it really leads to them getting
involved in the game.
Q Is the event difficult to run?
A It requires a lot of time and manpower. There are challenges
with it. There is certainly a lot of time by each employee that's
put into it. For that week I am sure it's pushing toward 80 to
90 hours for each employee. But it's fun because of the excitement
of the event and the excitement for our membership. It is
certainly a labor of love.
Q You are semi-private; does this event attract members?
A An event like this will not only help with membership retention
but will also create a buzz to where non-members will see
that this club is trying to promote different, fun things. It's a great
club recruitment tool.
Q What's the key to running a successful club championship?
A We are here to promote the game of golf for all levels, whether
they want to be here to play golf socially or competitively or
somewhere in between. That's the key to not only a running a
successful club championship, but to running a successful club.
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2013 MINNESOTAGOLFER
15
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISLAND VIEW GOLF CLUB
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2013

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