Golf Business Monitor

Redesigning golf club scrubs

When I am visiting new golf courses I am always looking for something unique (beside the design of the golf course). I am sure that some small tools like golf club scrub always look almost the same.

So I say let`s start to decorate our golf club scrub. James Keyser`s solution is really lovely a friendly.

Environment awareness in golf course management

Do we remember how disappointing was Kyoto and than Copenhagen climate conference? Especially when Obama posed as the world's savior....uhhhhhhhhhhhhh Now I think I found something real serious environment protecting initiative. Because I have doubt about Golf Environment Organization's fairness and it reminds me Superbrands competition.

So the organization called Groundwater Guardian. They have a Green Site program that recognizes good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly-managed green spaces (golf courses, ball fields, education campuses, parks, etc.) to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices related to chemical use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship.

Just to understand how important is to preserve groundwater: half of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for drinking purposes. It is funny that groundwater is rarely found in underground rivers or lakes in Instead, groundwater is water that fills the cracks and pores of rocks and sediments that lie beneath the surface of the earth--much the waywater saturates a sponge.

The organization is based in US and focuses as far as I know on the local golf courses. where will their first partner in Europe? Will Golf Environment Organization cooperate with them? Who will provide worldwide benchmark for golf courses?

 

We can follow up Groundwater Guardian's activities on Twitter and Facebook as well:

http://twitter.com/groundwaterfdn

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Groundwater-Foundation/45882768475?v=feed&story_fbid=296263038475#!/pages/The-Groundwater-Foundation/45882768475?v=info

Golf turfgrass types that reduce maintenance costs

On last Sunday on my way to my Mom, I was reading Geoff Shackelford's Grounds For Golf book. This would not be so interesting to share with others, IF I do not read the following: "Most warm-season grasses should cost less to maintain firm, fast greens year round." The reason behind this is: In areas where they are adapted, warm-season turfgrass (e.g. Bermudagrass, Carpetgrass, St. Augustinegrass, Bahia etc.) require less water than cool-season turfgrass. This is due to their different leaf structure and method of carbon capture.

 

However if anyone of us opens a golf business magazine, he will not find any article about the importance golf turfgrass selection. Aren't we interested in reducing maintenance costs at least by 25%? This should be a key golf course management issue. Other option of course is synthetic turfs. So far synthetic turfs were not perceived as a desired substitute.

Here are some cold turfgrass types that worth to consider:

Ryegrass - This is one of the most impact resistant grasses around, leading it to be used for athletic feilds, parks, and golf courses.

Bentgrass is most commonly used in sports fields and golf courses, especially in the southern regions (USA). However it is problematic in summer times due to salt toxicity.

Who plays golf in Russia?

During the communist era there was no golf life in Russia and in the Soviet Union. The first 18-hole golf course was built in 1994 (LeMeridien Moscow Country Club). In 2009 over a billion of USD was pumped into the local  golf industry. The top investors are Russia's richest men Oleg Deripaska, Vlamidir Potanin and Roman Abramovich. So far most of the golf courses like LeMeridien Moscow Country Club (signed with "A" in the photo) are built in the outskirts of Moscow, where industry leaders have their country residence.

According to Andrea Sartori, the Budapest-based head of KPMG International’s Golf Advisory Practice for Europe, the Middle East and Africa: “Russia is now one of the hottest spots for golf development”.

If indeed it is the case, then investors should not make the same mistakes as in Hungary and in other Eastern European countries, where golf courses are built far from the big cities and hard to access them and not to mention the skimming pricing policy.

Here are some figures about how much does it cost to play in Russia: Memberships at a Moscow club typically go for $75,000 plus annual fees of $5,000. However, in the Krasnodar area the membership is around 50,000 RUR (about $2,000) and the annual fees are only 15,000 RUR (about $ 300). A German JuCard golf cart is about 4,000 Euros. The most advanced golfers may buy a personal E-Way cart for about $ 8,000; while the Russian made “Might” cart is $ 10,800. A complete set of golfing clothes is about $ 1,000 with a new set of golf clubs costing about $5,000.

In light of these things I am skeptical about outcomes of the 7th Moscow Golf Expo (9-10 April). Furthermore I am worried how golf course investors will get back their invested money (ROI).

Golf industry's Superbrands

I was reading one of Golf Business Development's edition about a non-profit organization called Golf Environment Organisation(GEO). They claim about themselves that they are an international non-profit organization working to integrate the social, environmental and economic benefits of golf. Their 3 major aims are:

1. Strengthen the Golf Industry;
2. Enhance and enrich environment;
3. Encourage sustainable lifestyle. (e.g. facilitating informed golf tourism, providing inspiration, and utilizing golf's influence)

When I was reading their goals and objectives (I totally agree with them), they reminded me another "independent" organization with similar objectives but in different industry, Superbrands. In Superbrands' independent research process they ask a panel of experts and thousands of consumers of their opinion. In both places you have to pay for using the title.

So is this another PR tool or they real mean what they say? Will they be able to fulfill their mission and objectives? The participation in Golf Environment Organisation's programme rises many issues to think about:

• Would it make any difference to golf players if they know/aware of this certificate?
• How this will influence green fees?
• Can I expect more golf players in my golf club or not?
• Can I reduce operating costs? If yes, how much (%)?

If I am not able to monetize my investment in GEO than it better not to deal with it. My impression about Superbrands that nobody cares if a company or a brand holds such title, beside PR professionals and marketing directors.

Currently 3 golf clubs holds their certificate: Ljunghusen GC, Viborg GC and Forsgarden GC. 12 other golf clubs registered to this programme: El Plantio GC, GC Udine, La Pinetina GC, Kristianstads GC, Loch Lomond GC, Auchterader GC, Golfbann GC, Zaanse GC, RJ National GC, Celtic Manor GC, Bearwood Lakes GC and Coventry GC.

On Superbrands TOP500 list in UK, there is no golf brand or golf industry related brand.

Reducing golf course operating costs by 300%

When golf courses are closing all around the world (only in US: 71 golf courses were shot down in the first half of this year) we are always happy to find solutions how we can reduce operating costs. This is important especially when aware of the fact that 20% of world population has no access to safe water (drinkable) and 3 billion people's sanitation problems are unsolved. That is why I was happy to read that synthetic turf maintenance costs are two to three times less than natural turf, since no mowing, irrigation or chemicals are needed.

Other benefits of synthetic turfs can be utilized for about 3,000 hours of play per year, with no "rest" required. The life-span of synthetic turf can be up to 10 years, but in worse case 7-8 years. If it is still not convincing enough then we can also tell about synthetic turfgrass is good against allergic symptoms. 

Turfgrass manufacturers do not have to worry about spread of synthetic turf based golf courses. In US, only 5% of golf courses are made of synthetic turfgrass. In Europe the situation is not different. Here are some synthetic turf manufacturers:

• Europeangolf.co.uk
• FiberGlass International: www.fgi.com.au
• Waterlessgrass.com
• Fieldturfgolf.com
• Easyturf.com
• Jacksturf.com

During the Golf Expo last weekend I met with Arnoud Fiolet, the owner of Europeangolf.co.uk. we talked about their latest projects in Europe. In this year only in Europe they built 40 golf courses with synthetic turfgrass.

Golf courses are not just target golf

I think golf professionals are starting to appreciate golf courses that provide them challenge to master Mother Nature. John Daly, in the last edition of Golf Monthly (October 2009.), says that the European golf courses are more than just a target golf. Yes, if you are developing golf courses that merely about who can swing stronger and bigger, then do not be surprised that people will lose interest in them.

Public golf courses in "hybrid way"

Toyota came out recently with an interesting website to promote its Prius and the idea of environment protection. What is the connection between Toyota Prius and public golf courses? Environment consciousness is gaining momentum, not just in the automotive industry. But what is happening in our industry, in the golf industry? I am thinking about that we are talking about how we can have a better swing, what should public golf course owners do to meet the new expectations. As we are trying to meet the expectations, we forget the environmental aspects, such as how the extended golf course will increase our irrigation needs. By reading websites of the two leading irrigation expert companies Toro and RainBird, I could not find anything about how to save water or about alternative water usage as recycled water.

At the end of the day, we have to realize that our hobby/sport is in danger. An average size of a typical 18-hole golf facility is 150 acres. From this the maintained turf-grass area is 100 acres. 80% of this territory are fairways and roughs. This demands bulk quantity of water that I do not want to think about it. We cannot turn back time when there were much more waters, but we can preserve what we still have.

So next time do not obey your lust to buy a new golf ball just because it promises higher speed or something like that or do not recommend extending the territory of the golf course. Think about you can help preserve/keep up this great sport for the next generations. Enjoy the challenge that Mother Nature gives you during the game. It is really FUN!!

R&A's new website is missing the point

R&A launched recently a new website, www.bestcourseforgolf.org to help golf course developers,owners and average golfers to perform better. Great!! I would expect from such website that it enables me to ask questions from the editors, evaluate content and last but not least to share the content with my friends. To be chutzpa, also contribute to the content of the website. It would be also the interest of the owners such a two-way communication and a "socialized" website wouldn't be?? As a website that not necessarily will get media support (e.g. ad campaign), it can beneficial if the very first readers could share the link of the site with others, who will later a potential user/visitor. At the same time it is good that R&A thought about search engine optimization (SEO) as a pull method to attract visitors and easy to find.

 

I found an interesting feature "Benchmarking". I think it could be great tool in everyday work, and would be a compelling reason to return to this site. However, does not matter how hard I tried to find the starting point I could not find. If this is a beta version, then please guys put a sign somewhere.

Golf architecture is facing new challenges

To the best of my knowledge a classic 18-hole golf course is 6,000 yards that spreads over 100 acres. Today if we check the average golf course territory we find that about 150-200 acres of total land, including water bodies, hard structures, and out-of-play areas. Of course this differs depends on the location of the golf course. A typical urban golf course is only 110-120 acres, and courses in resort areas may be 170-190 acres (G. Lyman, GCSAA; personal communication 11/19/04). 

Some people will say this is due to sophisticated golf clubs, that enables us to strike further. Great. The competition between golf equipment manufacturers is already fierce. The output of this rivalry, that everyone of them will always come out with a new and better club and ball (I do not want to guess whether they fit to the  policy of USGA and Royal & Ancient Golf Club or not). At the very same time I am very pleased to see golf equipment technology developments and great swings.

But at the end of the day is us, men of the street who has go through this extremely long golf course. I have doubt. Where is the joy in this game/sport if we keep on extending the length of the course? This is what golf course owners should keep in mind as well. You do not build golf course for the Ryder Cup and Tiger Woods, you should build and develop for average people. You can still say that I do not have to play on a 18 hole golf course when there are 9-hole golf courses and 3-hole golf courses as well. But it is not the same challenge and fun. At least for me.

Well dear golf architect, next time when you receive a call for an offer please bear in mind these thoughts.