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President’s Message Summer 2019 I am very fortunate in that I frequently get to speak with a lot of golf course owners and operators across the country. This allows me to sort of keep my thumb on the pulse of the golf industry, hearing from the folks really in the trenches about how their year is going, what the “vibe” is and I feel it gives me a real front-seat perspective on our industry as a whole. I am happy to report that, while most areas of the entire country (and even Canada) have experienced unusual weather that has proven to be detrimental versus “normal” weather patterns, the overall consensus is that support and demand for golf is strong – perhaps stronger than it has been in the last decade. When the weather is good – and it has now been so for a couple of months, reaching more normal patterns – golfers are showing up, do not seem quite as price-conscious as in the past, and I can sense a definite upward trend in the outlook and overall confidence when talking to golf business operators. Call me the eternal optimist, but I think this is a good time to be a golf course owner/operator in the great state of North Carolina! There are a lot of reasons for this, not the least of which is the fact that this year North Carolina is hosting three important national championships, drawing attention from all over the map. Golf Golf Already the USGA staged the 2nd US Senior Women’s Open at Pine Needles, showcased to a national television audience. Coming up in August is the US Amateur at Pinehurst, also nationally televised. Later that month, Old Chatham GC in the Durham area hosts the US Senior Amateur. Your industry organizations, including the National Golf Course Owners Association and the North Carolina Golf Course Owners Association, have worked hard to represent our industry in legislative matters. That hard work and effort is paying off. National Golf Day took place in Washington, DC on May 1, and a record number of Congressional meetings were staged to showcase the many positives or our industry, while dispelling common myths that can be a hindrance. I attended with our Executive Director David Norman, and it was a great event! Key elected officials that are tasked with passing laws and rules that govern our everyday operations are better informed about the issues that affect our business, and your association has been your direct voice in advancing a positive message while working together with these leaders to craft sensible laws that do not needlessly hamper our business. Business In the North Carolina state legislature, we are endorsing a proposal to create a North Carolina Golf Council. The bill’s steward is Jon Hardister (R – Guilford County), the Majority Whip. And our friend Senator Rick Gunn (R - Alamance,Guilford) will be supporting it. The Council would be charged with the promotion and cultivation of the game of golf in North Carolina. It will focus on fostering the economic development, tourism, recreation and community involvement that the sport can bring. On June 4th, Women’s Golf Day was celebrated globally. It is designed to engage current women golfers and to recruit more. Our good friend Suzy Whaley, the first woman President of the PGA of America, is a great example of the amazing contributions women are making in golf, even though we still occasionally (unfortunately) struggle with the image that golf is a “men’s only” sport. Nothing could be further from the truth, and there is a growing awareness among the general public that golf is a sport and business that embraces diversity. Positive things are happening within the National Golf Course Owners Association as well – David Pillsbury of ClubCorp and Cathy Harbin (another great friend and golf course owner) of Pine Ridge GC have joined the national NGCOA board. If you ever visit Paris, be sure to stop by Cathy’s golf course – she will be happy to show you around. (Just make sure you are in the right Paris – the one in Texas, NOT France!) Looking ahead, in August the NGCOA will present a Technology Forum as part of the PGA Fashion & Demo Show in Las Vegas. This further leverages the new relationship with the PGA of America, which includes an alliance between our conference and the PGA Merchandise Show next January. Finally, please save the date for our Annual Meeting at Pine Needles Lodge in Southern Pines on October 8-9. It promises to be a splendid event you won’t want to miss! Inside our newsletter, you will find some information on some of the NGCOA member services, including Smart Buy and Women’s Golf Day. If you have read this far by now you should understand the incredible value having an industry association working on your behalf truly is – and we need you to be a part of the effort. If you aren’t a member yet, click here for our membership brochure. And join TODAY!! Now a word about our Corporate Partners. We now have 20 companies supporting our organization, and their support allows us to serve you better. John Deere distributors Revels Tractor and Greenville Turf & Tractor combined north carolina north to be our first Diamond Partners. I was pleased to support the association with my family company Seven Jars Distillery also at the Diamond Level. Please visit our Partner listing in this newsletter and support the companies that support you! I am honored to serve as your President, and I am pleased to serve on a board with some of the sharpest minds in the region (check them out on our board page). They are here to grow the game and serve our member clubs, and they do it pro bono! So please join us as a member, and help us grow the game and share operating successes for the betterment of our industry in the region! A publication of the North Carolina Golf Course Owners Del Ratcliffe Association Chapter North Carolina GCOA President 2019 North Carolina GCOA Board of Directors President Vice President Secretary/Treasurer Del Ratcliffe, PGA Open Open Ratcliffe Golf Services, Inc. 800 Radio Road Charlotte, NC 28216 Mobile: (704) 236-3921 [email protected] Directors Scott Knox Kelly Miller Mark Stewart Tim Tilma Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club Pine Needles/Mid-Pines Tobacco Road Sandpiper Bay Golf & CC 7332 Kidville Rd 1005 Midland Road 442 Tobacco Road 800 N. Sandpiper Bay Drive S.W. Denver, NC 28037 Southern Pines, NC 28387 Sanford, NC 27332 Sunset Beach, NC 28468 Bus: (704) 257-0116 Bus: (910) 692-7111 Bus: (919) 775-1940 Bus: (910) 579-9120 x7 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Staff & Counsel Executive Director Chapter Executive General Counsel NGCOA CEO David Norman Tyler Eastham Open Jay Karen North Carolina GCOA North Carolina GCOA NGCOA 1900 Manakin Road, Suite C 1900 Manakin Road, Suite C 291 Seven Farms Drive, 2nd Floor Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 Charleston, SC 29492 Bus: (804) 708-9760 Bus: (804) 708-9760 Bus: (800) 933-4262 Mobile: (804) 399-7802 Mobile: (757) 329-3577 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Tobacco Road Golf Course • Hole #13 • Sanford, NC Visit us at www.ncgolf.org North Carolina GCOA Industry Partners Please patronize these vendors who support our association. Diamond Partners • Greenville Turf & Tractor (John Deere distributor) Bob Maraugas • 843-742-9583 • [email protected] • www.greenvilleturf.com • Revels Turf & Tractor (John Deere distributor) Larry Adcock • 919-795-0300 • [email protected] • www.revelstractor.com • Seven Jars Distillery (distilled spirits & wine) Del Ratcliffe • 704-919-0278 • [email protected] • www.sevenjars.com Gold Partners • Trinet (HR services) Marco Fuster • 434-242-0759 • [email protected] • www.trinet.com Troy Vermillion • 720-261-7760 • [email protected] • www.trinet.com Silver Partners • Club Car (golf cars and utility vehicles) Russ Lord • 704-264-9450 • [email protected] • www.clubcar.com • Chronogolf (golf course management software) Kurt Albertson • 602-770-8763 • [email protected] • www.chronogolf.com • Cybergolf (websites & electronic marketing services) Dan Murnan • 877-640-7170 • [email protected] • www.cybergolf.com • Entegra Procurement Services (purchasing program) Jim Bailey • 813-335-9095 • [email protected] • www.intlclubsuppliers.com • Ron Garl Design (golf course architect) Ron Garl • 863-688-8383 • [email protected] • www.rongarl.com • Textron Golf (turf equipment, golf carts & utility vehicles) Mike Lehman • 706-792-5773 • [email protected] • www.textrongolf.com • VGM Club (purchasing program) James Hockman • 843-267-3520 • [email protected] • www.vgmclub.com Bronze Partners • Allegra Marketing Print Mail (printing & marketing services) John Fergusson • 804-355-8621 • [email protected] • www.allegrarichmond.com • Club Prophet Systems (golf management software) Torrey Schultz • 800-793-1872 x7018 • [email protected] • www.clubprophetsystems.com • Hilda W. Allen Real Estate (golf course realtor) Hilda Allen • 229-896-1493 • [email protected] • http://www.hildawallen.com/ • Modern Turf (sod and turf supplies/services) Hank Kerfoot • 803-713-8873 • [email protected] • www.modernturf.com • ORCA Report (benchmarking technology) Mike Loustalot • 480-236-4497 • [email protected] • orcareport.com • Richard Mandell Golf Architecture (golf course architect) Rich Mandell • 910-255-3111 • [email protected] • www.golf-architecture.com Annual Meeting Partners • 1-2-1 Marketing (golf marketing solutions) Mike Riggs • 407-883-8066 • [email protected] • www.1-2-1marketing.com • Priswing (dynamic pricing solutions) Arnaud Zunz • 929-289 9870 • [email protected] • www.priswing.com • Teesnap (golf course management software) Kevin Naylor • 248-935-6971 • [email protected] • www.teesnap.com Golf Industry Comes Together for 12th Annual National Golf Day Event Brings Stories of Positive Economic and Community Impact to Washington D.C (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Golf industry leaders participated in a record-high 244 meetings with members of Congress representing 41 states to discuss the game’s economic, social and environmental contributions to the United States during today’s 12th annual National Golf Day on Capitol Hill.