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.