Vol. 18, No. 2 March, 2007 PUBLISHED BY THE MGCOA - “THE VOICE OF MICHIGAN’S GOLF BUSINESS” NEWS MGCOA BOARD OF We’re All In This Game Together DIRECTORS FROM THE The “Play Golf Michigan” initiative, launched in 2006, was PRESIDENT a combined effort between the Michigan Golf Course Owners PRESIDENT Frank Guastella Association, the Michigan Section PGA and the Golf Red Fox Run Association of Michigan to promote interest in the game of golf. Each organization has many talented individuals who VICE PRESIDENT Bill Fountain have been creative in their efforts to recruit and retain people Majestic at Lake Walden into the game of golf. Each organization is also committed to making an impact on the game and the business of golf. TREASURER Bob Koutnik In today’s golf world it is becoming increasingly important Fox Run Country Club that all of the Allied Associations work together to drive the Kathy Aznavorian golf industry. It is plain in today’s economic climate that the Fox Hills Golf & Banquet golf industry has changed. According to the National Golf Center Foundation, there were 119 course openings in 2006, Larry Bowden compared with 146 closures (all 18 – hole equivalents). That The Natural is a net loss of 27 golf facilities. For the first time since 1945, Ed Clark Sandy Ridge Golf Course Frank Guastella more courses closed than opened. The excess of golf courses Red Fox Run coupled with outside influences and time constraints have Jim Dewling created a golf consumer who can be selective. Total Golf Inc. Rodger Jabara Today, golf facilities must focus on improving the overall experience. That means a Crystal Mountain Resort consistent product and service. And it means all areas of the facility must rely upon each Jim Jeltema other to be successful, because no longer is any single aspect of the golf course a standalone Clearbrook Golf Club entity. Toni Joers The expanded Golf Industry Show, which this year included the National Golf Course Concord Hills Owners Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the Lynn Miller Club Managers Association of America, appears to be a one-stop shopping hub for learning Indian Lake Hills how to be successful. The Golf Industry Show Larry Moore reached superintendents, architects, course owners, U.S. Golf Cars managers, builders and research experts. Carolyn Olson Elmbrook Golf Course Like it or not, owners, managers, superintendents and golf professionals must cooperate with each Steve Ramey other to be successful today. If you continue to Chisholm Hills believe that you can stand alone you might find Dave Richards yourself left out in the cold. Golf Marketing Services Jim Scott NOTICE: Opening again soon, the 2007 June is Gull Lake View “Play Golf Michigan Month” website. Cooperative Tom Schwark Association’s will be posting events and happenings Sycamore Hills around the state. For more information, please Donna Wright contact the MGCOA 800-860-8575. Copper Hills Golf Course Page 2 Member Milestones Recognizing Long-standing Members By Kate Moore, Executive Director, MGCOA

The mission statement of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association is to promote and preserve the best interest of the Michigan golf industry. As an association that has been in existence for many decades, we work hard with and for our members every day and we would not be able to do that if not for the continued support and investment of our members. The investment you have made in the association has allowed us to advance the legislative agenda of our members while also putting heavy pressure on those ideas that would have a negative impact on our industry. Your membership in the MGCOA is voluntary. You don’t have to join. But if you didn’t, and the golf course down the street didn’t, and so on, then who would be there at the Capitol on your behalf, fighting the good fight? The MGCOA is the only golf association whose main mission is to promote and preserve the best interest of the Michigan golf industry. With your continued support, we will be there, at the Capitol, or where ever the road takes us. And, you can take credit for that. These golf courses have been members of the MGCOA for over ten years: (If you know you’ve been a member more than 10 years and you do not appear on this list, please let us know and we’ll publish it in the next issue.) Member Location Member Location Alpine Golf Club Comstock Park Maple Hill Golf Course Grandville Branson Bay Golf Course Mason Marlette Golf Club Marlette Bedford Valley Golf Course Battle Creek Oak Lane Golf Course Webberville Benona Shores Golf Course Shelby Old Channel Trail Golf Course Montague Boyne U S A Resorts Boyne Falls Oxford Hills Golf Course Oxford Brookshire Golf Club Williamston Pinecroft Golf Course Beulah Cedar Creek Golf Course Battle Creek Plum Brook Golf Club Sterling Heights Cedar Farms Golf Course Battle Creek Raisin Valley Golf Club Tecumseh Cheshire Hills Golf Course Allegan Rammler Golf Club Sterling Heights Chisholm Hills Golf Club Lansing Rattle Run Golf Course St. Clair Clearbrook Golf Club & Red Fox Run Golf Course Gwinn Restaurant Saugatuck Red Fox Run Golf Course St. Clair Concord Hills Golf Course Concord Sand Creek Golf Course Marne Corunna Hills Corunna Sandy Ridge Golf Course Midland Cracklewood Golf Club Macomb Saskatoon Golf Club Alto Crystal Downs Country Club Frankfort Scott Lake Country Club Comstock Park Crystal Mountain Resort - Singing Bridge Golf Tawas City Betsie Valley Thompsonville Spruce Ridge Golf Club & Eldorado Golf Course Mason Resort Dowagiac Elk Ridge Golf Course Atlanta Stonehedge at Gull Lake View Augusta Elmbrook Golf Course Traverse City Sycamore Hills Golf Club Mt. Clemens Evergreen Golf Course Hudson The Emerald at Maple Creek St Johns Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center Plymouth The Fortress Frankenmuth Glenn Shores Golf Course South Haven The Majestic Hartland Grand View Golf Course New Era The Natural Gaylord Gull Lake View Golf Club Augusta The Pines Golf Course At Hankard Hills Golf Course Pleasant Lake Lake Isabella Lake Isabella Heather Hills Golf Cl Romeo The Rogue Golf Club Sparta High Pointe Golf Club Williamsburg Thunder Bay Golf Resort Hillman Hunters Ridge Golf Course Howell Timber Ridge Golf Course East Lansing Indian Lake Hills Golf Course Eau Claire Tomac Woods Golf Course Albion Lakeland Hills Golf Club Jackson Twin Lakes Golf Club Oakland Lapeer Country Club Lapeer Washakie Recreation Area North Branch Loch Lomond Golf Course Flint Whitefish Lake Golf, Grill Lynx Golf Course Otsego & Loon’s Nest Banquet Center Pierson Willow Brook Golf Club Byron Beginner Friendly Course Certification Information NGCOA, through its player development program, has established Beginner Friendly Course Certification for the purpose of locating those courses that welcome new players and can be identified as Beginner Friendly. Currently over 500 courses nationally have been certified. Shouldn’t your course be recognized as welcoming new players? Those courses established as “Beginner Friendly” receive a decal, logo usage rights, and toolkit with instructions on how to utilize this distinction in marketing efforts. These courses and their programs are listed on www.getlinkedplaygolf.com so new players can locate the courses and programs best suited to their needs. This site receives heavy traffic through our advertising efforts and is highlighted on the popular site, www.juniorlinks.com. The applications are reviewed monthly. You must score 80% or above to receive certification, so please address each question with as much detail as possible. After your application is reviewed, you will be notified of the decision by mail. If you are awarded certification, you will receive the complete toolkit. Beginner Friendly Certification is an annual certification. *Please note, you must be an NGCOA member for consideration. For questions about Beginner Friendly Certification or information on membership, please visit www.ngcoa.org or call 1-800-933- 4262. New Corporate Member Welcome Golfing in Michigan is a totally unique company in the Michigan market. While publishing the states top annual golf guide for the past 16 years, GIM has served the golfing public by providing the most comprehensive information available on Michigan golf. It has served Michigan’s top public and resort golf courses by getting their information if front of over 125,000 golfers annually. The publication has increased it’s reach greatly by combining with the travel division, which for the last 12 years has assisted golfers in planning and booking golf trips in Michigan. With a call center and state of the art travel website and monthly e-newsletter, Golfing in Michigan makes it easy to get information and book Michigan golf trips.

Page 4 Important Information for Golf Courses Employing Minors and/or Serving Alcohol By John Seiser, Senior Vice President, Certified Insurance Counselor, Kapnick Insurance We all know another golf season is rapidly approaching. With the labor costs increasing these days, you are looking for creative ways to do the same amount of work with less people and at a lower cost. You have all saved money on your insurance this year, however, in order to keep you insurance rates down, you still need to pay special attention to legal and safety issues. At the MGCOA annual meeting in Frankenmuth this past December, Kate had Bob Hood from Willingham & Cote, P.C. Attorneys at Law discussed some important issues regarding employment. The Michigan Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has a great handout regarding young employees. I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy if you employ anyone under age 18. In addition to Bob’s information, I recently obtained some basic information from the Department of Labor answering some frequently asked questions. Please take a moment and review the information: • A minor under 16 years of age shall not be employed in any occupation involving the operation of power driven weed whackers, string trimmers, power edgers, lawn mowers or cutters. • A minor shall not operate, or assist in the operation of, including the starting, stopping, adjusting, feeding or any other activity involving physical contact with tractors exceeding 20 power take off horsepower, including connecting or disconnecting any implement or any of its parts to or from such a tractor; except that minors 16 to 17 years of age who are provided operating instructions from their employers may operate such tractors. • Minors 16 to 17 may operate golf carts on a golf course. • A minor shall not be employed in any occupation which requires the operation of a motor vehicle on any public road or highway, except when such operation is occasional and incidental to the minor’s primary work activities and all of the following requirements are complied with: 1. The gross vehicle weight does not exceed 6,000 pounds 2. The operation is restricted to daylight hours 3. The minor holds a state license valid for the type of motor vehicle operation involved in the job performed and has completed a state-approved driver education course 4. The vehicle is equipped with a seat belt or similar device for the driver and for each helper, and the employer has instructed each minor that such belts or other devices must be used 5. The operation does not involve the transporting of passengers or the towing of vehicles Motor vehicle means any automobile, truck, truck-tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, motorcycle, or similar vehicle propelled or drawn by mechanical power and designed for use as a means of transportation, but does not include any vehicle operated exclusively on rails. A minor shall not be employed as an outside helper on any motor vehicle on a public highway. Remember, you can also be fined by the state if you are in violation of the above and have an under age 18 employee injured. This could be a disaster of a different type and still cost you thousands of dollars. Want to reduce your chances of an alcohol related lawsuit? Be sure all of your servers are trained in alcohol awareness. Whether you or your manager train your servers, prevention is very necessary.. Following are sources for you to explore if interested:

TAM® - Techniques of Alcohol Management C.A.R.E.® - Controlling Alcohol Risks Effectively 1-800-292-2896 1-800-344-3320 www.mlba.org www.ei-ahia.org

TIPS® - Training for Intervention Procedures ServSafe Alcohol™ Responsible Alcohol Service 1-800-438-8477 1-800-968-9668 www.gettips.com www.michiganrestaurant.org

We will talk about our disaster planning next time, however, if you want to use your current down time to set up better loss control management, call us. In the meantime, have a safe and profitable 2007 season. Page 5 Office Depot for Office Products MGCOA members can log on to save! ~New member benefit~

Highlights of Program: √ Deep discounts (up to 70%) on most-often purchased items. √ Guaranteed discounts on all other catalog and web- catalog items. √ No business/individual size limit to get discounts. √ Discounts can be used in Office Depot stores. √ Store and online copying and printing also discounted. √ Rebating of up to 5% of gross purchases for member associations. Call the MGCOA at 800-860-8575 for more information and the link to your savings!

PagePage 66 Thank you to US Golf Cars for Michigan Night in Anaheim Many MGCOA members and colleagues enjoyed an evening of camaraderie at the “Michigan Night” reception during the NGCOA 2007 Annual Conference. The staff and Board of Directors of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association would like to thank our host Larry Moore of US Golf Cars and Club Car once again for a great networking opportunity.

Bruce aka “Herbie” Williams of Osprey Management catches Our host for the evening’s reception Larry Moore (left) of US up with golf course “neighbor” Charlie Scott of Gull Lake View Golf Cars, distributor of Club Car, enjoys a moment with the in Augusta. Dozens of Michigan owners, operators and suppliers Roberson’s of Boulder Creek Golf Course (Belmont). joined together at the NGCOA Annual Conference and Golf Industry Show last month in Anaheim.

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800-822-2216 FAX:800-232-6288 [email protected] TECHCORNER - Direct Mail vs. Direct Email Marketing By Bay Paul, Marketing Consultant, CourseLogix, www.mgcoa.course-logix.com For decades golf courses have used traditional marketing methods, the internet than ever before with increasing use for purchasing, via newspaper ads and direct mail to increase awareness and generate companies like EBay, almost everything imaginable. Technology activity at golf facilities. Years ago, other than word of mouth which is changing how we do many things and the evolution will is still very powerful, these methods were the only means of attracting undoubtedly continue for generations to come. and keeping customers. Now with many courses experiencing Golf has not been left out of the Technology boom. Tee times made shrinking revenues, those usual marketing methods seem to come on line are available at many courses around the United States. at costs which many feel just can’t be justified at the quantities Online brochures in the form of websites are standard with every many once utilized. The “shotgun approach” is not as efficient as savvy operator. These websites enable operators to communicate tapping into a targeted market... their facilities and products around the globe. Now. …..usher in the Bring on the age of computers...15 years ago, 39% of Americans email marketing.. For a fraction of the cost of a newspaper ad or a owned computers. Today almost every household owns not only direct mailer, many can communicate to new and existing customers one but several computers and are fairly familiar with regularly by this new form or marketing using the computer. Look at these emailing family and friends. More and more business is done on statistics...they speak for themselves.

Direct Mail: Per Recipient Email: Per Recipient

Direct Mail Costs Email Costs

Paper $0.09 Email Address $0.20* Color Printing $0.39 eBlast Costs $0.06** Postage $0.39 Postal Addresses $0.25* (per address)

Total Cost Per Mailer $1.12 Total Cost Per Email $0.26

* lease a mailing list/email list of people who play golf ** by populating your own database, this cost could be $0 Labor was not included, but Email takes about 5 minutes to reach 1,000 golfers, compared to about 8 hours of labor to send out 1,000 direct mail pieces.

Direct Mail Email Sell Through Rates 2% 3% Email success is higher because of several factors. Email can be tested quickly, inexpensively, and effectively. Email permits response within the same medium. With direct mail, recipients need a new medium (e.g., the telephone or even a different mail piece) to respond to an offer.

Direct Mail Email Cost of Campaign: Per 5,000 Recipients $5,600 $1,300

Direct Mail Email Number of New Customers (5,000 X Sell Through Rates) $2,500 $3,750 ($25.00 of revenue per customer) ($25.00 of revenue per customer) 45% ROI 288% ROI

In this study, Email was 400% less expensive, and generated 50% more revenue. With higher production costs, rising postal rates and declining incremental response, many courses are re-allocating their marketing dollars in favor of email marketing. Direct Mail still has its place and in some unique cases it will out perform Email. You need to consider your audience and offer when deciding which medium works best for you. Resources: DMA – Direct Marketing Association; clickz.com; emaillabs.com; CourseLogix OK, So Maybe Speed Doesn’t Kill – But It Sure Can Hurt By Raymond Hearn, ASGCA It is not difficult to understand our collective fondness for old-time, • the original architect’s design intent will be lost in the “classic” golf courses. Part of this is simply a comfort level associated remodeling with any familiar presence. Another aspect of our appreciation of • remodeled greens will look incongruous in relation to older courses is the suspicion that, due to the absence of heavy existing ones earth-moving equipment their designs are inherently more imaginative than their modern counterparts. Though these apprehensions sound logical and may have a grain of truth, my view is that they range from exaggerated to downright Today an especially bad fit is in trying to combine the more drastic false. In short, a well-conceived remodeling project is virtually contours of old-style greens with the much-faster putting speeds we certain to be the superior answer. have come to expect. For starters, the correct redesign and construction methodology I say “especially bad” because the problem is so prevalent. In fact, will complete the green remodeling process in 10 days or less, in my 20-plus years as a practicing golf course architect, I estimate while the grow-in time needed for the sod to re-root and “take” that seven out of 10 courses I have had the good fortune to play, may be as little as 7 to 10 days. True, a temporary green must be visit, or consult for have shown some symptoms of this contour- used during this interval, but it’s much shorter than most people versus-speed syndrome. Sometimes the problem is confined to a anticipate and well worth the trade-off. single putting surface; sometimes it is evident in a half-dozen cases. What’s more, a discerning design and construction strategy will in The complexity and severity of the dilemma also vary widely, but due time ensure that the remodeled green receives incoming shots its nature is fundamentally the same: The greens no longer “work” and putts like the other greens on the course — but now with because their precipitous slopes were never intended to be combined contours in synch with the desired green speed. One such successful with today’s “normal” green speeds of roughly 10, sometimes more, strategy is to use the course’s existing topdressing and Greensmix on the Stimpmeter. in the new “tested” Greensmix that will perform to USGA Green You would anticipate this problem in the case of a course built at the Continued on page 23 turn of the 20th century but – given the tendency in recent years to equate pure speed on the greens with “quality” – but it also rears its head at much younger courses, a kind of unintended consequence: In the face of exponential improvements in agronomy and mowing equipment, maintaining the integrity of the playing experience has in this respect become more difficult. Thus, many green complexes once were cut to heights and otherwise maintained to generate speeds on the Stimpmeter – invented in the early 1900s and in increasingly wide use ever since – of six to eight. Today, many superintendents find themselves in a bind between hewing to that standard and acceding to customer preferences – members in the case of private clubs, patrons at resorts and other public facilities. Striking a harmonious balance is impossible without some sort of remedial action. Instead, many owners, club managers and green committee chairmen reluctantly – and erroneously — conclude that the best solution is just to tolerate a few bad greens. In rare instances this may be true; in many more situations, however, this conclusion is based on misperceptions concerning what fixing the contour-versus-speed problem would entail, including: • the construction will cause significant disruption in play • remodeled greens will differ from unaltered ones in their receptivity to approach shots • putting speeds will be substantially different on the “new” greens compared to the old ones • greens that have been remodeled will require extensive new maintenance practices New Handicapping Flex Checks Service

In order to provide an option in your purchase of a CALL US TODAY! handicapping service, the Michigan PGA and 866-791-7900 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association (MGCOA) have partnered to develop

MIGolfHandicap.com The MGCOA’s Payroll Service can also be yours! a web based USGA handicap index® service at an affordable price ($8 per). This service will be available in 2007 to MGCOA member facilities All MGCOA Members automatically receive: and/or those facilities that employ a Michigan PGA Member or apprentice. • 10 % processing discount • Free laser signature For information on this new program contact the Michigan Section PGA office at 517-641-7421 or • Free remote entry the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association at • Free set-up 800-860-8575. • Unprecedented customer service

2007 Golf Course Partnership Program You receive a $100 commission for each referral that activates the Golf Invite event web site and management tool. Also, get FREE use of the program for your in-house events. 3DUWQHUZLWK*ROI,QYLWHDQG*ROÀQJLQ0LFKLJDQWRRIIHU \RXURXWLQJFOLHQWVWKHEHVWRUJDQL]DWLRQDOWRRODYDLODEOH 1-800-635-GOLF view demo

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*ROI,QYLWHLVDVHUYLFHRI*RO¿QJLQ0LFKLJDQ Reciprocal Play Program This member benefit program Reciprocal Play was started in 1999 and will continue this year. At the end of last season there were 85 of Reciprocal Play Michigan’s finest courses included. Under the Reciprocal Play Program participating courses extend a professional courtesy to fellow MGCOA Contact Name(s): ______course owners/managers and provide complimentary (or reduced fee) rounds of golf. Generally this includes 18 holes of golf for two with a ______cart, or 9 holes for two with a cart if the property is a 9 hole facility. To take advantage of your reciprocal status call the pro-shop of the course Course Name: ______you wish to play for advanced tee times and ask for the owner or individual listed on the MGCOA Reciprocal Play Directory. This allows each host course to participate in the program, yet controls it Address: ______both internally and based on availability of space. The MGCOA Reciprocal Play Program directory will be sent to each participating ______member the first week in May. Last years participants will automatically be included unless we are otherwise notified. If you City, State, Zip: ______have not participated in the

MICHIGAN GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION past and you wish to be Phone: ______Reciprocal Play Program 2007 Membership Card included, simply complete this form and fax it to (517) Email: ______

Signature 267-8984 or e-mail [email protected] with the A list will be compiled and distributed to those Golf Course information. Participation members wishing to participate. Expires: 12/31/2007 cards will be sent to you along with the directory.

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BAGGED MULCH PRODUCTS CYPRESS PINE HARDWOOD CEDAR NATURAL OR CHIPS CEDAR DYED RED OR DYED BLACK COCOA SHELL CALL: 800-722-1171 AMERISCAPE, INC. “your home state supplier” State of the State (Why I should have paid attention in school) By Tom Smith, Executive Director, Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

It must be overwhelming to be the I start to think about our job shortages in the green Governor or a state legislator in industry and all the golf courses and landscape companies Michigan right now. You’re that now use migrant labor. Hey, why can’t we train some facing an $800 Million deficit for of these laid off workers and prisoners for our industry the remainder of 2007 and $3 and take some of the welfare recipients off the public Billion total deficit through 2008. dole and put them to work. And then I remember my I keep wondering, how do you get high school civics class – you can’t force people to work! so far behind as a state? I’m no You can only force people who are working to pay taxes economist – I took a couple of to take care of the people who aren’t working or are in Econ classes in college and I don’t prison. remember doing that well in them. Speaking of taxes, I see the five pages of the tax plan – a But I’m older, smarter and more new Business Tax to replace the SBT, a 2% tax on services seasoned now from running a business for 25 years. So I that specifically mentions golf course greens fees, and a decide to take a quick look at the proposed state budget bunch of ‘sin’ taxes on alcohol and tobacco. One of the released on February 8, 2007. I click on the web link pages states that the service sector has increased so much and voila, the proposed state budget for 2008 – all 114 over the years, we better start taxing it. And I remember pages of it. Actually, pages, letters, tables, charts, graphs, reading an article in the Free Press about a week before projections (national & state), and statistics, another class the budget came out critical of the Governor for taxing I took in college that convinced me that majoring in turf the only segment of the economy that’s doing well. was the way to go. From college history, I think back to all the times we were I begin to scroll through the introductory letter, the history, able to tax ourselves out of a recession. Not in 2001, not the past projections, the present projections. I get to the in the late 80’s/early 90’s, not in the late 70’s. I don’t pie charts (these were always my favorite back in college). think we did in the late 50’s, but what about the New I continue to scroll through each and every department Deal? One of my Ag Economist friends at MSU tells me and state agency detail, noting what was approved in 2006, the New Deal was funded through deficit spending, not what was approved in 2007, how short we are going to be taxes. The only history I can recall related to taxes in 2007, and what a mess we will face in 2008 if something happened about 225 years ago, and it caused a revolution. isn’t done and done now. I read about the massive cuts in state spending over the This doom and gloom isn’t anything new. We’ve been years, but something doesn’t make sense. When I cut my struggling with the state budget for at least the last five business spending from the previous year, I actually spent years. Except for last year. The economy was turning less money. I look at the state budget and in 2008 we around, the program was working, but we missed the boat will spend more than in 2007. I’m scratching my head by a cool $800 Million. I’m sure the good news last year when I see the magic words – “adjusted for inflation”. that disappeared just after November had nothing to do Apparently in government you can spend more but it’s with the election. actually less because of inflation. I finally flip towards I keep searching these budget pages for a trend, having the end of the document and on page 109 I see a letter long since abandoned trying to understand all the details. that talks about the mandated raises to state employees - I read that we need to invest in education and see that the $109.9 Million in added costs to the budget. Hey, this is Education budget is going up. We need to invest in job a pretty good deal, so I search for a letter that talks about training, since Michigan has the highest unemployment the mandated increases in golf course greens fees. I can’t rate in the country with all the displaced workers from find it. Now, I’m really confused. manufacturing. Sure enough, the Department of Labor I really should have paid attention in school! Those folks & Economic Growth is getting over a 100% increase in in Lansing must have been really good students to get their budget to train for these new high tech jobs I keep this stuff figured out, but I still don’t envy them. hearing about. But about 40% of our budget goes to welfare and prisons. Page 13 POLITICAL OPINION by Jim Jeltema, Sr., Owner of Clearbrook Golf Club and Restaurant, Saugatuck Today I read the Governor’s February 8, 2007 economic Instead, they’ve made a life out of determining what’s update at the Michigan.gov website. It reveals much that best for the rest of us. They don’t truly appreciate the we already know about the Governor, and what Michigan’s importance of business because few have experienced it. voters need to know for future elections, because their And this shortcoming limits their imagination and their wellbeing depends on it! practical ability to govern. The Governor’s 2008 budget lists “Investments made in We all realize this state is broke. It is broke because of K-12, higher ed, communities and economic stimulus” at the huge impact poor decisions made by big government its masthead. But her new tax plan is misdirected, and and big business, mostly auto, have on our state economy. geared to take more from all of our pockets while giving The State is constantly caught up in power politics, and back to a few. Here are a few of the flaws. Her personal big business heads are overpaid along with their union property tax relief will be eaten up by her service tax. members. Make no mistake, it’s all about the money, Her advertising money to attract new industry will be and who’s best qualified to manage it. wasted when companies see her tax on everything their At this time, golf course owners are making less money employees would want to buy. Her luxury taxes send most now than in the past. Our industry is particularly weak, of what’s pleasurable (movies, theater, liquor, golf) further largely due to Michigan’s poor economy, market out of reach. Her tobacco tax will encourage many to saturation, interest rates, weather, and our “non-essential” buy out of state. And with all these taxes, fewer people nature (although I think a life without recreation is sheer will be able to take advantage of her new car trade-in tax drudgery). Like many in Michigan, we’re holding on by break. My observation is that our Governor clearly the skin of our teeth. We need tax relief, not burden. But believes bigger government is the solution to our economic the Governor’s new proposals will create pain for my woes. business and our industry. We employ 60 people here, However, through 35 years of supporting my family and 35 of them year-round. If sales suffer more, some of our our business, I’ve learned it is business that drives the staff WILL loose their jobs, and our business and our economy …not government. If our economy or personal retirement will be in jeopardy. I’m making 50% of what wellbeing are hurting, it’s because business is hurting I made five years ago and things are not looking up. …not government. Business makes money but On the other side of that, nowhere in the Governor’s plan government just spends it. Government cannot make is any mention of pay cuts for government employees. anything, except a positive or negative business Except of course those who work for the prisons ($92 environment. Government only makes it possible, or million to be cut. Remember that part about the State impossible, for business to do its job of churning the protecting the citizens? I can’t be the only one to see a economy. If business is making money, taxes are getting contradiction here.). With so many private sector workers paid, and government can honor its commitments. If in this state taking pay cuts, why not all government business is over taxed, it will eventually fail. And every employees, too? dime government spends is OUR money! Lastly, with two sons in college, I value better and higher Government’s role is to protect the people, not provide education. But, increasing taxes on struggling Michigan for them (except possibly our most vulnerable citizens). businesses and citizens to better educate students who That includes doing everything morally, legally and will find no jobs here is like selling your hair to buy a ethically possible to assist the competitive environment comb. The Governor’s plan for big gifts to education for business to operate profitably, so it grows money. And and teachers now is putting the cart before the horse. grows jobs, and grows incomes for workers at all levels. Instead of an increase, we need a moratorium on education Without any other equal, when business succeeds spending until job growth improves. (assuming moral management) so does the State! Make this the best state to do business in. Michigan’s executive So here’s the overriding question: Is it wrong to make branch is not on board with this. money? When someone makes a lot of money, are they just stealing it from someone else? Is one person’s gain The Governor and her minions are professional policy always at another’s loss? Or is money actually created makers. When I say professional, I’m not saying they’re anew, as a result of man’s efforts when goods are produced good at it, they’re just “long” at it. Many of them, and traded? Economists would argue the later. So if especially the Governor, have never produced a real good or a marketable commodity product in their entire career. Continued on page 29 Page 14 MGCOA Roster of Member Courses The MGCOA is proud of its member courses and is grateful for their support throughout the year!

A-GA-Ming Golf Course Kewadin Country Club of Boyne Harbor Springs Alpine Course Boyne Falls Coyote Golf Club New Hudson Alpine Golf Club Comstock Park Coyote Preserve Golf Club Fenton Angels Crossing Golf Club Vicksburg Cracklewood Golf Club Macomb Ann Arbor Country Club Ann Arbor Crooked Creek Golf Course Saginaw Apple Mountain Resort Freeland Crooked Tree Golf Club Petoskey Arcadia Hills Golf Course Attica Crystal Downs Country Club Frankfort Arrowhead Golf Course Lowell Crystal Mountain Resort - Betsie Thompsonville Arthur Hills at Boyne Highland Harbor Springs Valley Bald Mountain Golf Club Lake Orion Crystal Springs Golf Course Caledonia Battle Creek Country Club Battle Creek Detroit Golf Club Detroit Bay Harbor Golf Club Bay Harbor Devil’s Knob Harrison Beacon Hill Golf Course Commerce Twnshp Devils Lake Golf Course, Inc. Manitou Beach Bedford Hills Golf Club Temperance Diamond Springs Golf Course Hamilton Bedford Valley Golf Course Battle Creek Donald Ross Memorial Course Harbor Springs Beeches Golf Club South Haven Double “ R” Ranch Iron Horse Golf Belding Belle River Golf Course Memphis Course Belvedere Golf Club Charlevoix Downing Farms Golf Course, Inc. Northville Benona Shores Golf Course Shelby Driftwood Golf Course Pentwater Berrien Hills Country Club Benton Harbor Eagle Creek Golf Course Allegan Black Forest & Wilderness Valley Gaylord Eagle Eye Golf Club Bath Resort Eagle Glen Golf Club Farwell Black River Golf Club Port Huron Edgewood Greens Golf Course Prescott Boulder Creek Golf Club Belmont Eldorado Golf Course Mason Boulder Lakes Golf Club Chesterfield Eldorado Golf Course Cadillac Boulder Pointe Golf Club Oxford Elk Ridge Golf Course Atlanta Boyne U S A Resorts Boyne Falls Elmbrook Golf Course Traverse City Braeburn Golf Course Plymouth Evergreen Golf Course Hudson Braeside Golf Course Rockford Falcon Golf Course Bath Branson Bay Golf Course Mason Falcon Head Golf Club Big Rapids Briar Ridge Golf Course Montrose Fenton Farms Golf Club Fenton Bridgeport Golf and Grille Bridgeport Flint Golf Club Flint Brookshire Golf Club Williamston Fore Lakes Golf Club Kimball Brookside Golf Course Saline Forest Akers Golf Course Lansing Brookside Golf Course Gowen Forest Dunes Golf Club Roscommon Brookwood Golf Club Rochester Hills Forest View Golf Center Midland Brookwood Golf Course Buchanan Fountains at Garland Lewiston Bucks Run Golf Club Mt. Pleasant Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Ctr Plymouth Carleton Glen Golf Club Carleton Fox Run Country Club Grayling Carrington Golf Club Monroe Freedom Hills Golf Course, Inc. Sturgis Cedar Creek Golf Club Battle Creek Garland Lewiston Cedar Farms Golf Club Battle Creek Gateway Golf Club Oakland Cedar Glen Golf Club New Baltimore Gauss’ Green Valley Golf Club Jackson Cedar River Golf Course Bellaire George Young Recreation Complex Caspian Cedar Valley Golf Club Comins Giant Oaks Golf Course Temperance Centennial Farm Golf Club Bellaire Glenbriar Golf Course Perry Champion Hill Golf course Beulah Gleneagle Golf Club Hudsonville Chandler Park Golf Course Detroit Glenhurst Golf Course Redford Charlevoix Country Club Charlevoix Glenn Shores Golf Course South Haven Chase Hammond Golf Course Muskegon Golden Hawk Golf Club Casco Township Cherry Creek Golf Club Shelby Twp. Golf Club of Coldwater Coldwater Cheshire Hills Golf Course Allegan Goodrich Country Club Goodrich Chisholm Hills Golf Course Lansing Grand Haven Golf Club Grand Haven Clearbrook Golf Club & Restaurant Saugatuck Grand View Golf Course New Era Concord Hills Golf Course Concord Grande Golf Club Jackson Copper Hills Golf & Country club Oxford Green Meadows Golf Course, Inc Monroe Corunna Hills Corunna Greenbriar Golf Birmingham MGCOA Roster of Member Courses The MGCOA is proud of its member courses and is grateful for their support throughout the year!

Greenbush Golf Course Greenbush Mistwood Golf Course Lake Ann Greystone Golf Course Romeo Monarch at Garland Lewiston Gull Lake View Golf Club Augusta Monument at Boyne Mountain Boyne Falls Gull Lake View Golf Club (West) Augusta Moor Course at Boyne Mountain Harbor Springs Gun Ridge Golf Course Hastings Moss Ridge Golf Club Ravenna Hampshire Country Club Dowagiac Mulberry Fore Golf Course Nashville Hankard Hills Golf Course Pleasant Lake Mulberry Hills Golf Course Oxford Hartland Glen Golf Course Hartland Mullenhurst Golf Course Delton Hawk Hollow Golf Course Bath Mulligans Irish Links Cass City Hawk Meadows At Dama Farms Howell Mystic Creek Golf Club Milford HawksHead Links South Haven New Hawthorne Valley Westland Heather Golf Course Harbor Springs Northville Hills Golf Club Northville Heather Hills Golf Club Romeo Northwood Golf Course Fremont Hemlock Golf Club Ludington Oakhurst Golf and Country Club Clarkston Hessel Ridge Golf Course Traverse City Oak Lane Golf Course Webberville Hickory Hollow Golf Club Macomb Oak Pointe Country Club Brighton Hickory Knoll Golf Course Montague Oak Ridge Golf Club New Haven Hickory Ridge Golf Course Galesburg Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield Hills Hidden Oaks Golf Course St Louis Old Channel Trail Golf Course Montague Hidden Valley Golf Course Shelbyville Orchard Lake Country Club Orchard Lake High Pointe Golf Club Williamsburg Otsego Club Collection of Great Golf Gaylord Highland Hills Golf Club DeWitt Overbrook Golf Course Middleton Highland Hills Golf Course Highland Oxford Hills Golf Course Oxford Hill’s Heart of the Lakes Brooklyn Paint Creek Country Club Lake Orion Hilltop Golf Course Plymouth Palmer Park Golf Course Detroit Holland Country Club Holland Pine Hollow Golf Club Jackson Holly Meadows Golf course Capac Pine Knob Golf Course Clarkston Hunters Ridge Golf Course Howell Pine Trace Golf Club Rochester Hills Huron Shores Golf Club Port Sanilac Pine View Golf Club Three Rivers IMA Brookwood Golf Course Burton Pinecroft Golf course Beulah Indian Hills Golf Course, Inc. Stephenson Plum Brook Golf Club Sterling Heights Indian Lake Hills Golf Course Eau Claire Pohlcat Golf Club Mt. Pleasant Inn at St. John’s Plymouth Pontiac Golf Course Waterford Interlochen Golf Course Interlochen Portland Country Club Portland Irish Hills Golf Club Ann Arbor Quail Ridge Golf Club Ada Island Hills Golf Club Centreville Quest Golf Course Houghton Lake Jeptha Lake Golf Course Bloomingdale Rackham Golf Course Huntington Woods King’s Challenge Cedar Raisin Valley Golf Club Tecumseh Knollwood Golf Course West Bloomfield Rammler Golf Club Sterling Heights Lake Doster Golf Club Plainwell Rattle Run Golf Course St. Clair Lake Forest Golf Club Ann Arbor Ravines Golf Club Saugatuck Lake Monterey Golf Course, L L C Hopkins Red Fox Run Golf Course Gwinn Lakeland Hills Golf Club Jackson Red Hawk Golf Club East Tawas Lapeer Country Club Lapeer Red Run Golf Club Royal Oak Links at Lake Erie Monroe Reddeman Farms Golf Club Chelsea Loch Lomond Golf Course Flint Reflections at Garland Lewiston Lynx Golf Course Otsego Rick Smith Signature Gaylord Manistee National Golf & Resort Manistee Rick Smith Tradition Gaylord Maple Hill Golf Course Grandville Ridgeview Golf Course Kalamazoo Maple Lane Golf Club Sterling Heights Riverwood Golf Course Mt. Pleasant Maple Leaf Golf Course Linwood Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece Gaylord Marlette Golf Club Marlette Rolling Meadows Golf Course Whitmore Lake Marsh Ridge Resort Gaylord Rouge Park Golf Course Detroit Mc Guires Evergreen Golf course Cadillac Rush Lake Hills Golf Club Pinckney Meridian Sun Golf Club Haslett Salem Hills Golf Course Northville Michigan Meadows Golf Course Bloomfield Sand Creek Golf Course Marne Sandy Ridge Golf Course Midland MGCOA Roster of Member Courses The MGCOA is proud of its member courses and is grateful for their support throughout the year!

Saskatoon Golf Club Alto Timber Trace Golf Club Pinkney Schuss Mountain Golf Course Bellaire Timberstone Golf Course Iron Mountain Scott Lake Country Club Comstock Park Timberwood Golf Club Ray Selfridge Golf Club Selfridge Tom Fazio Premier Gaylord Shadow Ridge Golf Course Ionia Tomac Woods Golf Course Albion Shanty Creek Resort Bellaire Tournament Players Club of MichiganDearborn Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Course Clarkston Travis Pointe Country Club Ann Arbor Singing Bridge Golf Tawas City Treetops Resort Gaylord Snow Snake Ski & Golf Harrison Twin Lakes Golf Club Oakland South Haven Country Club South Haven Tyler Creek Golf Course & Grosse Point Farms Southmoor Country Club Grand Blanc Campground Sparta Moose #50 Sparta Tyrone Hills of Michigan Fenton Spring Meadows Country Club Linden University Park Golf Course Muskegon Springbrook Golf Course Springfield Virtual Acres Glenn Spruce Ridge Golf Club & Resort Dowagiac Wallinwood Springs Jenison St. Ives Golf Club Stanwood Washakie Recreation North Branch St. John’s Golf and Conference Center Plymouth Westwynd Golf Course Rochester Hills Stonebridge Golf Club, L L C Ann Arbor Whispering Pines golf Club Pinckney Stonegate Golf Club Muskegon Whitefish Lake Golf, Grill & Loon’s Pierson Stonehedge at Gull Lake View Augusta Nest Banquet Center Stony Creek Golf Course Shelby Township Whiteford Valley Golf Course Ottawa Lake Sundance Golf Course Kewadin Wicker Hills Golf Club Hale Swampfire at Garland Lewiston Wilderness Valley Golf Club Gaylord Swan Valley Golf Course Saginaw Willow Brook Golf Course Byron Sycamore Hills Golf Club Mt. Clemens Willow Creek Golf Club Stockbridge Tam O’Shanter Golf Course Orchard Lake Willow Ridge Golf Course Fort Gratiot Terre Verde Golf Course Nunica Winding Brook Golf Club Shepherd The Briar at Mesick Mesick Winding Creek Golf Course Holland The Classic Gaylord Wolf Creek Golf Club Adrian The Emerald at Maple Creek St Johns Woodlawn Golf Club Adrian The Fortress Frankenmuth Wuskowhan Players Club West Olive The Heathlands Onekama Wyndgate Rochester Hills The Highlands Golf Course Grand Rapids Yarrow Golf & Conference Center Augusta The Inn at Bay Harbour Golf and Boyne Falls Resort The Jackal Golf Club Brighton The Kingsley Club Kingsley The Legend Golf Course Bellaire The Board of Directors and The Links at Whitmore Lake Whitmore Lake Staff of the MGCOA would The Majestic at Lake Walden Hartland like to welcome these new The Mallard Golf Club East Jordon members who have joined The Medalist Golf Club Marshall since December. The Moors Golf Club Portage The Natural Gaylord The Pines Golf Course At Lake Lake Isabella Arrowhead Golf Course Lowell Isabella Golf Club of Coldwater Coldwater The Ridge Golf Course, Inc Saginaw The Moors Golf Club Portage The Rogue Golf Club Sparta Moss Ridge Golf Club Ravenna The Summit Golf Course Bellaire Beeches Golf Club South Haven The Tribute Gaylord Flint Golf Club Flint The Woodlands Wayne Spring Meadows Country Club Linden Thornapple Pointe Golf Club Grand Rapids The Heathlands Onekema Thoroughbred Golf Course Rothbury Michigan Meadows Golf Course Bloomfield Hills Thousand Oaks Golf Club Grand Rapids Thunder Bay Golf resort Hillman Membership in the MGCOA… Priceless! Timber Ridge Golf Club East Lansing Page 17 Granholm’s Budget Proposal & Two Penny Service Tax By Tom Schwark, Past President, MGCOA and owner of Sycamore Hills Golf Course, Mt. Clemens The bad news is green fees will be subject tax relief. I feel VERY strongly that municipal golf courses should to a new service tax in Governor also be paying this 2% service tax. I can understand municipalities Granholm’s budget proposal. The good not paying sales tax on office supplies, police cars, fire equipment, news is that it is only a 2% tax. Many or even park maintenance equipment. Those are just dollars that sources predicted that services would be would be shuttled back and forth with the state. However, when taxed at the same rate as the sales tax and those municipalities perhaps the rate would have dropped from CHOOSE to operate 6% to 5%. Having green fees taxed at any enterprise that is When those municipalities 2% is much less likely to have a significant NOT a fundamental CHOOSE to operate any impact on play than a 5-6% tax would function of enterprise that is NOT a have been. Having said that, any increase government, and in in taxes will be MUCH more bearable if the State of Michigan can fact competes with fundamental function of get it’s own house in order. Thirty years ago Michigan was a wealthy private taxpaying government, and in fact state. The Detroit Free Press reports that it’s per capita income in entrepreneurs, then competes with private 1980 ranked 14 among all states. By 2005 its per capita income those municipal ranked 25 and was falling fast. Yet in 2002 Michigan’s teachers enterprises should be taxpaying entrepreneurs, then had the second highest pay in the nation, and in 2004 had the fifth paying BOTH the those municipal enterprises highest pay. Detroit’s teachers have the highest pay in any metro service tax and the should be paying BOTH the area in the country and Grand Rapids teachers are eighth. Corrections sales tax. It creates a service tax and the sales tax. officers in Michigan ranked sixth in pay in 2003. Other public level playing field for employees for the state and municipal governments get similar all, which is a basic salaries. This is because all of their contracts were patterned after democratic doctrine, and it creates additional revenues for the state. the autoworker contracts. It’s not just the salaries, but also the benefits I doubt municipal enterprises will be paying the sales tax anytime and pensions too. Salaries and benefits have become too burdensome soon, but they better not be exempt from the 2% service tax. We all for the auto industry and they are becoming too burdensome for the know most seniors will choose the municipal course over the state taxpayers. These basic structural costs for the state must be privately owned course if they both charge $25 in order to save the brought under control before Michigan can get fiscally healthy. $0.50, even if they have to drive 5 miles further to get there. Getting back to the service tax, I can understand exempting health The latest update on Rackham Golf Course is that Premium Golf care and education, but why advertising? Health care and education LLC has dropped their $11 million bid to purchase the property. I are basic human needs and are rightly exempt, like groceries are think it was a combination of the battle with Huntington Woods and exempt from sales tax. But why is advertising exempt? Are their it’s residents, plus the bottom falling out of the housing market that lobbyists that powerful? When all is said and done, if the golf convinced them to back out of the deal. The city of Detroit still industry has to pay a service tax, I hope every other service industry wants to sell Rackham Golf Course and feels they can get more is included and than the $6 million or so Huntington Woods is offering there won’t be any for the property. Huntington Woods is still planning to other exemptions. If we can get some legislation passed run a special election among its residents to see if they That includes that will help us against municipal are willing to pass a special millage to finance a legal lawyers and battle over Rackham Golf Course. It will be interesting accountants. I competition, we can improve our to see if the residents approve a special millage to try realize that will be business. and keep Rackham Golf Course as it is. additional taxes The city of Royal Oak is considering selling Normandy that I, and my golf Oaks, which is a 9 hole municipal golf course on about course, will have to pay, but it should be spread across all service 45 acres. Royal Oak is also having budget problems and wants to industries. Including advertising. I would also like to see casinos rehire police officers that were laid off due to recent budget cuts. pay the service tax. They are the only industry that has shown The Detroit Free Press reports that in 2005 developers offered $18 consistent growth throughout this decade. million for the property. However, Royal Oak may well be Hopefully, the golf industry can get something in return for this new disappointed if they hope to get a similar offer this year. City manager, 2% sales tax on green fees. If we can get some legislation passed Tom Hoover estimates a subdivision would generate $500,000 in that will help us against municipal competition, we can improve property taxes annually. I will continue to report on future our business. Hopefully, we will also get some personal property developments. Membership MGCOA Membership Application doesn’t cost… Business Name ______Contact ______...it pays! Title ______Address ______Join the MGCOA. We want to save you government City ______regulations and fees. We need State ______Zip ______participation to fight unfair Telephone ______legislation. This is one example of the work of the MGCOA. Fax ______Toll Free ______Every group needs a leader to survive and prosper. We are Email ______taking the lead in growing the Web Site ______game. Taking the lead in education course owners and Number of Holes: ______operators. Taking the lead in motivating you for success. Annual Membership Dues: Taking the lead in saving you • Daily Fee 9 holes $235.00 • Daily Fee 45 holes $595.00 money. • Daily Fee 18 holes $415.00 • Daily Fee 54 holes $635.00 • Daily Fee 27 holes $485.00 • Daily Fee 63 holes $695.00 • Annual Conference and • Daily Fee 36 holes $535.00 • Multiple Courses $795.00 Trade Show • Corporate Chapter Member $275.00 • Educational Workshops • Bi-Monthly Publications • Insurance Savings ALL GOLF COURSE MEMBERSHIPS • Credit Card Programs Annual dues investment is based on your size of operation and includes membership • Food and Fuel Programs in both the MGCOA and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA). Membership is open to existing privately held golf courses (both public and private). • Networking Opportunities Courses owned by resorts or in conjunction with real estate development are also • Information Processing eligible, as are lessors of golf facilities who operate on a for-profit basis. • Legislative Advocacy • Office Supply Discounts PAYMENT METHOD: ˆ Check enclosed The Michigan Golf Course ˆ Charge to my credit card: ˆ Visa ˆ Mastercard ˆAmerican Express Owners Association… Card # ______Exp. Date ______The Voice of Michigan golf business. Name on Card ______Call today to enroll or fax back Signature______this form. It’s just that simple and it’s very important. Make Check Payable and Return to: Michigan Golf Course Owners Association FAX: 517-276-8984 603 S. Washintgon Suite 303, Lansing, MI 48933 800-860-8575 Phone (517)482-4312 Fax (517)267-8984

Page 19 Golf Enterprise Management At the recent 2007 NGCOA Annual Conference and Golf Industry Show in Anaheim California, the new B.S. program in Golf Enterprise Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stout was a topic of interest to many participants. The comprehensive four- year program, endorsed by NGCOA, is focused on business management skills for the golf industry. According to John Wesolek, Dean of the College of Human Development, the program is built around the needs of golf property owners and managers. The curriculum is based on business administration, customer service, food and beverage management, retail management, golf-specific content in customer development and retention, marketing, golf course design and turf management. Additionally, students have 800 hours of supervised internship experiences to prepare them for careers in the golf industry. Even though Golf Enterprise Management is less than two years old, there are currently 130 students in the program. By the fall of 2007, 200 students will be enrolled. The first twenty graduates of the B.S. in Golf Enterprise Management will graduate in May 2007. These graduates are currently looking for full-time professional employment, primarily as assistant managers at golf course properties. In addition, as many as eighty other students in the program are looking for summer 2007 internship opportunities. These students will bring developing expertise to golf courses and other golf-related businesses as seasonal employees. For golf course owners or others interested in discussing internship or full-time employment opportunities for Golf Enterprise Management students, please contact Tom Franklin at UW-Stout (715-232-2242 or [email protected]). To learn more about the program go to: www.uwstout.edu/programs/bsgem/ In addition to the on campus program, the B.S. in Golf Enterprise Management will be offered completely online beginning fall 2007 to serve interested golf business students around the world.

THE OETZEL - HARTMAN GROUP Real Estate Appraiser and Consultants

Confidential Valuation and Analysis of Golf Course and Resort Properties

Contacts: Terrell R. Oetzel - [email protected] James T. Hartman - [email protected]

321 Woodland Pass Suite 200 East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 336-0001 office (517) 336-0009 fax

One or more members of The Oetzel-HartmanGroup belongs to the following organizations:

The Appraisal Institute (MAI designation), The Society of Golf Appraisers (SGA designation), Counselors of Real Estate (CRE designation), The Real Estate Counseling Group of America

(Terrell R. Oetzel is a licensed R.E. broker, but does not list properties.) Both partners are licensed general certified appraisers with the State of Michigan.

Page 20 MGCOA Corporate Members The MGCOA encourages you to support these businesses that support the MGCOA through their membership!

Apparel Associations SPARTAN DISTRIBUTORS, GORDON FOOD SERVICE INC A century of service with over 14,000 ASH CITY GOLF ASSOCIATION OF NGCOA preferred supplier. TORO national brands and private label Attraction by design. MICHIGAN distributor for Michigan, serving the products. 989-894-2338 Responsible for administering golf industry with turf and irrigation 800-968-7500 amateur golf in the state of Michigan products. with emphasis on presenting annual 800-822-2216 Golf Cars Appraisers championship tournaments. 248-478-9242 SRIXON SPORTS USA, INC. BOYLAN SALES AMERICAN PROPERTY Full service company . . . balls, clubs, We are the golf car experts . . . ANALYSTS, INC MICHIGAN PG A gloves and accessories for Green distributor for Yamaha Golf Cars. Appraisers of golf facilities, Making golf a better game. Grass and Speciality Shops only. 800-755-2278 residental developments, and 734-522-2323 248-249-4453 recreational properties throughout CLUB CAR MICHIGAN MI CHIGAN TURFGRASS the U.S. TORO COMPANY MGCOA CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL 419-698-1500 NGCOA preferred supplier. PARTNER STEWARDS Leading provider of irrigation NGCOA premier partner for new Be a good neighbor and maximize ARES PARTNERS, LLC systems, mowing equipment and and used golf car sales. environmental protection in a cost Our vision is to be viewed as the spraying equipment. 734-425-7001 effective manner. Premier Business Partner of Asset 800-933-4262 517-355-0271 Expense Management and E-Z-GO Minimization Strategies W. F. MILLER CO. Serving Michigan, Ohio, and 248-391-9592 Chemicals/Fertilizers Turf and industrial equipment Kentucky E-Z-GO’s 2004 “Branch statewide. of the Year” Jim Rhoads, Branch OETZEL- HARTMAN GROUP CHELFA DISTRIBITION LLC 800-555-8189 Manager 800-221-7706; Metro Specializing in real estate counseling Earth friendly products for landscape, irrigation and pond. Detroit and Southeast Danny Hayes and appraising, market analysis and 614-507-1183; Southwest including Solving environmental problems WEINGARTZ - GOLF & TURF feasibility studies of all types of real Ann Arbor Fritz Middleton 616- naturally for over 20 years. Sales and service of John Deere estate. 402-3799; Central and Eastern 517-525-0629 grounds maintenance equipment. 517-336-0001 Michigan John Bissell 517-230- 888-453-8873 HELENA 2448; Northern Michigan and UP Architects NGCOA preferred supplier. Helena John McGee 231-282-0300 gives golf course owners and Financial CHIPMAN ADAMS operators a competitive edge in ELLIS SALES, INC ARCHITECTS today’s market by offering MERRILL LYNCH Your source for sales, service, parts Providing a complete range of significant savings on quality Investing with knowledge and and leasing of new and used E-Z- professional services, including chemicals and fertilizers. discipline. GO Cars and MTP Turf Vehicles. planning and programming, full 803-822-8028 John B Hurley, FA 269-375-3535 architectural services and interior Michael A. Poland, CFA design. Equipment 866-737-6419 U S GOLF CARS, INC 847-298-6900 MGCOA CORPORATE BOYLAN MGCOA CREDIT CARD PARTNER JERRY MATTHEWS NATURAL We are the golf car experts . . . PROCESSING NGCOA preferred supplier. Sells, COURSE DESIGN distributor for Yamaha Golf Cars. MGCOA CORPORATE services and leases golf cars and Golf course design and renovations. 800-755-2278 PARTNER carries all utility cars. 517-485-0480 MRS Inc., MGCOA's service 616-891-6991 FLOW-RITE CONTROLS provider for credit card processing. P H N ARCHITECTS Only ISO9001 registered 800-860-8575 Architects/Planners specializing in manufacturer of battery watering Insurance the design of clubhouses and related systems. Food & Beverage amenities. 616-243-2750 BERENDS HENDRICKS STUIT 630-665-8400 ENTEGRA PROCUREMENT INSURANCE AGENCY LOSBERGER US SERVICES/ICS Providing a sense of security in an RAYMOND HEARN GOLF Portable Floors and Clear Span Tent NGCOA preferred supplier. ICS and unpredictable, changing world. COURSE DESIGNS, INC. Structures. Worldwide Coverage, their partner, Entegra, provide 616-531-1900 Award winning golf course design Local Sales and Service. reduced costs on your food and using a uniquely comprehensive 812-490-4982 beverage operations through a $2.2 design process, ASCGA Member. billion food procurement program. 616-399-7686 877-922-0285; 734-254-0899 in Michigan Page 21 MGCOA Corporate Members The MGCOA encourages you to support these businesses that support the MGCOA through their membership!

Insurance (continued) DIGITAL TALKING SCREEN RESORT AND GOLF WEST MICHIGAN GOLF MEDIA MARKETING SHOW - SHOWSPAN INC. KAPNICK INSURANCE Advertise on the BIG SCREEN! Twenty years experience in The managers of the West Michigan MGCOA CORPORATE 616-698-7733 marketing business development, Golf Show. Exhibit your golf course PARTNER public relations, consulting, and bring in more players. Property and liability insurance, FORE HONORS photography and web friendly DVD 616-447-2860 member benefit program of the Michigan's premier golf loyalty and production in the golf industry. rewards program. 248-642-6420 MGCOA. Technology 888-263-4600 888-246-0475 R O I GOLF MANAGEMENT FLEX CHECKS GLOBAL GOLF MARKETING PINNACLE INSURANCE Professional golf course Combining payroll solutions with 1StopForGolf.Com is your best PARTNERS management and consulting personalized service. source when looking for a listing of An independent insurance agency services. 517-347-7750 specializing in programs designed Public Golf Courses throughout 810-923-6016 North America. specifically for golf courses. HANDICOMP 519-341-4579 616-301-6713 SOZO/PIVOTAL MARKETING MGCOA CORPORATE PARTNER GOLFING IN MICHIGAN Creative Marketing Solutions: Web Provider of computer golf Irrigation Michigan’s only major direct mail - Print Design - Marketing Strategies information systems and services for guide is mailed to 100,000 - Corporate ID HYDRO-LOGIC golf and country clubs. subscribers of the national golf 248-543-6696 A refreshing splash for your golf 800-833-0033 irrigation needs. magazines. 269-553-0497 TRAVEL MICHIGAN 800-422-1487 IBS - INTEGRATED BUSINESS Promotes Michigan's great golf both SYSTEMS, INC. LAST MINUTE GOLFER.COM to in- state and out-of-state markets. Powerful software, experienced Management LastMinuteGolfer offers a unique 517-373-1531 people building long term marketing tool with which the golf partnerships... one satisfied customer FRANKLIN GOLF, LLC course is in complete control. Fill UTIX GROUP, INC. at a time. Provides a solid leadership structure in the gaps to maximize your tee Utix offers one-time first class access 800-860-2559 that ensures cohesive, synergistic sheet. to a host of fun and memorable facility operation and support. 586-201-2304 activities including golf. Our single STRATEGIC GOLF 248-393-1721 use tickets are easily redeemed at SOLUTIONS MICHIGAN GOLF MAGAZINE over 10,000 locations nationwide “The Ability To Do More” QNORTH GOLF Publisher of Michigan's largest with no blackout dates. 248-705-5002 MANAGEMENT AND single-issue golf magazine with 800-627-7547 MARKETING 110,000 spring circulation, 50,000 Golf course management consulting summer & fall. Course features, and marketing experts. columns, MI golf news, course 517-669-8003 directory of over 600 courses. 616-459-4545 THE REHMANN GROUP A special thank you to Business wisdom delivered. MICHIGAN GOLFER 248-952-5000 Comprehensive monthly magazine our Corporate Partners! for the golf industry in Michigan. VALLEY CREST GOLF 734-507-0241 COURSE MAINTENANCE The premier provider of Club Car MICHIGAN LINKS maintenance outsourcing services MAGAZINE Handicomp nationwide. Michigan Links, the official member 734-231-6206 magazine of the Golf Association of Kapnick Insurance Michigan MGCOA Credit Card Processing Marketing 248-458-5500 NGCOA Preferred Suppliers Group COURSE LOGIX PREMIERE GOLF A company with many years of Image is Everything US Golf Cars experience in marketing and No Cost Internet Marketing promotions. Our company develops No Cost GPS Services marketing tools for the course No Cost Scoreboards The MGCOA is proud of its member operator to increase revenue and Let Premiere Golf enhance your operating profits. property without spending a dime! courses and is grateful for their 248-393-1721 248-752-4418 support throughout the year! OK, So Maybe Speed Doesn’t Kill or public golfers significantly complain about the difference in the new green’s playability compared to the old unaltered greens during Continued from page 10 this time frame. Section Specifications. The use of a USGA-approved soils testing An object lesson from our portfolio involving an anonymous private laboratory, as we strongly encourage our clients to do, guarantees club in the eastern U.S. helps elucidate the delicate balance for adherence to these specifications. which to strive. Designed by the legendary Willie Park, its heritage This approach contrasts with that advocated by many design and is beyond dispute. Still, with 27,000 rounds per year, the agronomic consultants today, who recommend either using a course’s superintendent was struggling to maintain healthy turf conditions, existing topdressing and Greensmix or completely replacing the particularly on a par 3 green where 70 percent of the 5,000-square- Greensmix with new materials prepared off-site. foot putting surface had grades of four to eight percent, sometimes more, while the remaining 30 percent had more comfortable Reusing the former Greensmix, which in many cases is just old contours of one to four percent. Similar proportions existed on topsoil ‘push – up’ greens, may result in a hard, compacted green four other greens and, as the superintendent was required to maintain surface in the remodeled green if the old mix or topsoil contained a putting speeds of 11 to 12, these were places where any three-putt significant amount of fine particles, typically clay, silt, or very fine was deemed a good effort. sand. The resulting question I frequently hear is: “My old ‘push- up’ greens worked before in terms of drainage and how they held a The superintendent reasoned that a putting surface with at least shot, why wouldn’t they work again?” 4,500 square feet of additional surface in the one-to-four-percent- slope range would present a much more reasonable and fair test of My response is that the older greens commonly developed small golf, not to mention maintenance. The membership’s concern was soil fractures and fissures over time, which in turn helped minimize that Park’s “false front” of five-plus percent – a trademark design compaction and allowed proper infiltration and percolation to occur. element in these particular original designs and the overall challenge This would be lost over the first several years after remodeling in of the green— would be lost in the redesign. the remodeled greens, as the replacement of the existing mix would compact to a higher degree. It will take time and some significant My company’s redesign included an increase to 5,800 square feet aeration and aggressive topdressing practices to reduce this in overall green surface — an additional 800 square feet, in other compaction and regain the deep soil fractures and fissures that were words. The new surface area maintained a gentler but still visually once present. If you can put up with the compaction for the first apparent and challenging “false front” on a four-to-seven-percent several years after the remodeling while educating members or public grade, while 4,500 square feet of the green now exhibits an play then this is a viable option. interesting variety of one- to four-percent contours with modified but still preserved challenge in the three to four percent range. The superintendent gained 3,000 square feet of new “cupping” area to more evenly distribute play and related wear and tear. For their part, the membership was happy to see the additional one to four percent cupping areas of the remodeled green while the “false front” to the green and the overall challenge was still preserved. Granted, from a purely mathematical standpoint 6,500 square feet might have made more sense given the 27,000-round volume on the course. However, Park’s greens, apropos of their era, are generally small, and 6,500 square feet would have constituted the proverbial “sore thumb.” Putting surfaces on the course’s other par 3s average 5,000 square feet – a dimension at which the superintendent was able to maintain top-quality conditioning of Another proposed solution I regularly hear — to just replace the old the bent/poa greens. Fortunately, modern design software and its Greensmix with new USGA approved Greensmix. This option three-dimensional display capabilities allows architects and clients leads to remodeled greens that receive incoming shots and putt much alike to make informed choices about putting speeds, contours, differently than the layout’s unaltered greens. This tack may also what to keep, what to tweak. require dramatically different maintenance practices relative to In closing, don’t hold on to greens that don’t “work” with your original unaltered greens. I often tell superintendents to avoid this current putting speeds. Creative and carefully conceived redesign, option unless they commit to a long term remodeling program which coupled with a prudent and timely construction methodology, will entails new USGA Greensmix being incorporated into all the yield the desired results with minimal disruption to play, as well as remaining greens over no less then a 3 year time frame. If you can lowest-possible cost and emotional travail. put up with greens that vary in how they putt and receive incoming shots for approximately 3 years after the initial remodeling begins The author, Raymond Hearn ([email protected]), is a practicing golf while educating members or public play then this is a viable option. course architect and a member of the American Society of Golf I am sad to report that many superintendents often find that members Course Architects. His office is located in Holland, Michigan. Anderson Addresses Golf Course Owners On Taxation Implications Pat Anderson, the main presenter at the MGCOA Legislative Day held February 28th in Lansing founded the Anderson Economic Group in 1996. AEG’s expertise includes economic research, finance, taxation, market research and public policy. Anderson and his group have been instrumental in breaking down the complicated tax increase issues and proposals swirling around Lansing so golf course owners better understand the implications these taxes have on the golf business. Here is a synopsis of Mr. Anderson’s presentation.

Summary of AEG Presentation for Michigan Golf Course Owners Association Presented by Patrick Anderson, written by Caroline M. Sallee, Senior Analyst, AEG

Repeal of the SBT Problems with the Granholm Administration’s Proposal On August 9, 2006 the Michigan Legislature approved the There are several problems with Governor Granholm’s tax initiated petition that repealed the Single Business Tax (SBT). restructuring proposal. First, the asset tax will be unique to This action by the Legislature was the culmination of an eight Michigan, and would tax certain businesses particularly heavy. month effort initiated by Oakland County Executive Brooks The asset tax would apply to cash, trade notes and accounts Patterson to force the repeal of the SBT earlier than its planned receivable, mortgage and real estate loans, investments, expiration on December 31, 2009. The SBT, a modified value- buildings, and intangible assets. Businesses with cash on their added-tax, had good qualities in the beginning but had lost many balance sheets, accounts receivables, and high value land, of them, becoming an unfair, and often expensive, tax for many buildings, or other physical assets will be at risk for higher tax businesses. Michigan citizens who signed the repeal affirmed liabilities. Additionally, a tax on assets sends a signal to the need for the adoption of “a tax that is less burdensome and businesses that they do not want to hold investments in less costly to employers, more equitable, and more conducive Michigan. A second problem is that both the gross receipts tax to job creation and investment.”1 and the “excise tax on services” tax business to business transactions. This feature (called pyramiding) has several Replacement Options negative economic consequences. Most relevant for golf course The replacement tax debate has focused on (1) the level of owners is that it creates economic incentives for vertical taxation, and (2) the form a replacement tax should take. Some, integration, or the integration of all tasks in a business done in- including Governor Granholm, have advocated for a house as opposed to out-sourcing tasks to other firms. This can replacement tax that will fully replace SBT revenue. Others, have the negative effect of reducing efficiency and increasing including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, have argued costs as specialization is reduced. that Michigan needs to provide a tax cut for businesses in order for the state to be competitive. Effect of Granholm’s Proposal on Golf Course Owners The Michigan Chamber of Commerce plan (Senate Bill 151) The “excise tax on services” will apply to golf course services. would: The proposed excise tax would be lower than in the other states • Tax business income at 3.05%. that tax “amusements” of this type. However, many states do • Tax gross receipts at 0.48% for most businesses and at not tax this service. Gross receipts taxes and asset taxes are not 0.24% for wholesalers and retailers on the excess gross good for golf course owners. The golf course industry has low receipts above a 350,000 threshold. profit margins and high fixed assets, meaning that an asset tax • Create a $150 minimum tax that applies to all businesses and a gross receipts tax (which taxes gross sales) will result in with employees. higher tax liabilities for golf course owners when compared to • Create a 50% personal property tax credit for all industries a business income tax. New golf courses with high amounts of that is refundable. fixed assets will especially feel these taxes. If Michigan adopts Granholm’s original MBT and the excise tax on services, • Create a $2 million cap per return on the gross receipts tax. Michigan will require businesses to pay more types of taxes The Granholm Administration’s Tax Restructuring Proposal: than other states, especially when compared to the few states • Creates a Michigan Business Tax (MBT) that taxes gross that have gross receipts taxes on businesses. On the positive receipts and assets at 0.125% and business income at side, golf course owners may see personal property tax relief 1.875%. under the Granholm plan. Her plan exempts commercial • Provides some personal property tax relief for commercial personal property from the 6 mill state education tax and the 18 property (24 mills). mill school operating tax on non-homestead property. • Creates a 2% “excise tax on services” for all services except education and health care. This applies to business-to- business transactions. Page 24

POLITICAL OPINION Continued from page 14 money is the result of effort, how can it’s production be morally incorrect? What’s morally wrong with effort? No, it’s not wrong to make money, it’s only wrong to use it poorly and most of us are guilty of that, but especially our Governor, a few of her predecessors, and some corporate CEO’s. It is a shame that public distrust of big corporations has led us to vote for government growth instead. Right now, this “Blue State” is a lousy place for a private business to invest or make money. Our governor thinks she can throw OUR money at the problems. Instead, she needs to write incentives for business to be more creative, more productive, more efficient, more profitable, more honorable, more generous, and more charitable. And then she wouldn’t have to worry about job growth or budget shortcomings anymore. But I doubt she’ll do that, and I doubt she’ll get this message …unless WE concentrate our efforts as one voice for golf course owners …and get our message heard in Lansing.

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Page 29 MGCOA Food and Fuel Discount Program • 4.5% off Gas and Store Purchases at all Speedway and SuperAmerica Stores • 4% rebate on all Kroger Food Purchases • 10% off at all Jiffy Lubes

The Michigan Golf Course Owners Association is sponsoring a Fuel and Food Discount Program through Associated Benefit Consultants that provides a discount at all Speedway, SuperAmerica, Jiffy Lube and Kroger Stores. One yearly $29.00 fee covers all of these rebates for a member business or a for a business employee household. You can visit the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association program website to sign up at any time by clicking here: http://abcsaves.awarecart.com/mgcoa1.php.

Fuel Discount Card Program Details Food Rebate Card Program Details Two Speedway cards are given to a family and one to a business, with Associated Benefit Consultants also has options to purchase additional cards at a discounted rate. Cards held by a Kroger Rebate card that you can get as employees can be turned off by a sponsoring business, and all cards part of your membership. The card rebates can be turned off by Michigan Golf Course Owners Association if a 4% of all purchases at all Kroger and member is no longer in good standing. Kroger-affiliated stores in the form of a quarterly rebate check. The Kroger card has The Speedway retail fuel discount cards would be set up through a one-time activation fee of $6.00, with Associated Benefit Consultants. Once enrolled, ABC sends the $5.00 being put back on the card that is business or the employee a special 4.5% discounted reloadable “gift mailed to the enrolled member. card” usable at any Speedway or SuperAmerica locations. This discount adds onto all other Speedway discount programs, including Speedy- One card is given out per business enrollee Rewards and Speedway Chase Visa. When you fund the card at any or one card per employee household. Speedway or SuperAmerica store, a 4.5% discount is applied on any Additional Kroger cards can be requested amount put on the card. As an example, if you ask for $100 to be for the same one-time activation fee of $6 placed on the re-loadable gift card you would be asked to pay $95.50. per card to a maximum of three cards per mailing address. $5.00 will be returned to Additional cards can be purchased for an extra $15.00 per year to a the Member in the form of value on any four card maximum per business or five for an employee household. additional Kroger Gift Card. The Jiffy Lube 10% discount card is provided to the enrollee at no additional charge.

Sign Up Now! Businesses or employees can sign up for the Fuel and Food Discount Program at the following internet address, http:// abcsaves.awarecart.com/mgcoa1.php or contact the office for an application form. By using the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association Enrollment Number, MGCOA1, on the enrollment form you receive your special association pricing. Large group (over 25 individuals) and employer-embedded activation receive discounts on the base member fee. Contact Curtis Morton at 517-896-2565 for large group or employer-embedded purchasing.

Page 30 Michigan Golf League Championship snags golfers at statewide golf shows

At the West Michigan Golf Show in mid-February, hundreds of golfers signed up to learn more about the 2007 Golf League Championship. The website is up and ready to grab those league golfers. Kate Moore, MGCOA executive director, and members of the Handicomp staff have been at the golf shows pitching this program to Michigan league golfers. Hundreds of flyers have been passed out and the reaction from the public has been great

www.migolfleague.com

Two person team leagues will qualify their champions through the GLC website and will send them to the 2007 Golf League Championship Tournament, which is to be held Saturday, September 29 at Gull Lake View Golf Course in Augusta. On that day a team of golfers will be crowned the Golf League Champions of the State of Michigan.

The MGCOA will be happy to provide you with flyers and posters to promote the product to your leagues. We may also have someone available to speak to the league secretaries about the program. This is a great tool for the golf course owner and operator for retention and growth of golfers.

Effectively, the MGCOA and Handicomp have identified a market where golfing experiences can be enhanced and we’re investing time and resources into making the GLC a powerful experience, unequaled in the industry. MGCOA members can join us in promoting and developing the GLC into something that we can hang our golf hats on for years to come. In the meantime, go to www.migolfleague.com to learn more or call Kate Moore at the MGCOA office (800- 860-8575)

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Tee-Off Times is published by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association. Editor - Kate Moore. MGCOA offices are located at 603 S. Washington, Suite 303, Lansing, MI 48933. ph (517) 482-4312, fax (517) 267-8984. Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the view or position of the MGCOA. MGCOA's position on key issues will be clearly stated. Manuscripts are accepted at the approval of the editor, who reserves the right to reject or edit. Appearance in the Tee-Off Times does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor does Tee-Off Times make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser's offer and reserves the right to reject any advertising deemed unsuitable. Advertising rates and other information available upon request.