AMERICAN GOLF INDUSTRY COALITION BRINGS 15TH ANNUAL “National Golf Day”

BACK TO NATION’S CAPITAL

GOLF INDUSTRY TO RELEASE NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY CONDUCT MORE THAN 200 MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

MEDIA CONTACT: CHRIS WALKER, POPLAR GROUP ON BEHALF OF AMERICAN GOLF INDUSTRY COALITION, WALKER@POPLARGROUP.COM

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (March 20, 2023) – On behalf of the golf industry, the American Golf Industry Coalition will bring the 15th annual National Golf Day back to our Nation’s Capital in May of this year. After being conducted virtually the previous two years, National Golf Day is back in Washington, D.C., taking place on Tuesday, May 9 through Wednesday, May 10. The event will include a host of representatives from across the industry who will reinforce golf’s economic, societal, environmental, and health benefits through more than 200 meetings with Members of Congress and their staffs.

To kick off the event, attendees will participate in a Community Service Project on Tuesday, May 9. The project, in partnership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and National Park Service, will allow attendees the opportunity to participate in various beautification projects across the National Mall.

The projects will range from mulching around and pruning trees at the National Sylvan Theater, a public theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument; seeding and mowing a section of the National Mall; resodding the lawn of the GermanAmerican Friendship Garden, while also refreshing plants, and mulching and landscaping four large garden beds; and repairing and repainting the metal chain fence around Jefferson Pier Stone.

More than 225 volunteers will be participating in these important service projects.

National Golf Day 2023 will also see the return of our special Keynote Briefing Session on May 9 and Welcome Coffee on May – open to all attendees (more details to come) – as well as a private breakfast for Members of Congress, hosted by the PGA TOUR, on May 10.

In addition to its advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, the industry will release an Economic

Impact Report during the event to provide an understanding of the meaningful ways in which the sport of golf is contributing to the nation’s economy and communities across the United States.

Previous economic impact reports have indicated that golf as an industry directly drives $84.1 billion in economic activity across the U.S. annually and supports nearly 2 million American jobs and $58.7 billion in compensation.

Golf as an industry has continued to grow in recent years in the United States, led by participation growth among diverse segments of the population (source – National Golf Foundation):

• Golf accounts for a new record of 41.1 million participants across the U.S., which includes both on-course and ever-growing off-course components.

• On-course golf has seen five straight years of an increase in participation, with 500,000 new golfers in 2022, for a total of 25.6 million nationally.

• A record 3.3 million people played on a golf course for the first time in 2022.

• Female and non-white golfers now represent 25 percent and 22 percent, respectively, of all on-course golfers, a record high-mark.

• The dramatic increase in off-course engagement with golf has for the first time eclipsed those who play golf on the course. A 13 percent year-over-year jump in total off-course engagement has increased the total participation to 27.9 million.

• 12.4 million people participate in both on-course and off-course golf activities annually.

• Even more exciting is golf’s growth amongst juniors. Almost one million new golfers aged 6-17 have started playing in the past year, and is at its highest level since 2006, with 3.4 million in total.

• Nationwide, 13 percent of the on-course golfer population, and more than 25 percent of off-course golf participants are under the age of 18.

Representing a partnership among golf’s leading organizations, the American Golf Industry Coalition is committed to addressing the collective interests of the industry. The coalition also works to amplify tangible examples of key initiatives at both the grassroots and industry workforce levels and advocate in favor of issues that impact the industry at the state and federal levels.

About the American Golf Industry Coalition

The American Golf Industry Coalition advocates on behalf of the golf industry including its contributions to the economy (locally and nationally), health and wellness benefits, and charitable and philanthropic giving, and further efforts at inclusion. The organization unites the golf industry in pursuit of goals designed to enhance the vitality and accessibility of both the business and recreational levels of the sport. The American Golf Industry Coalition is a division of the World Golf Foundation.

To learn more, please visit: www.golfcoalition.org.

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BY HENRY DELOZIER GLOBAL GOLF ADVISORS

Indications suggest that golf course construction and renovation is evolving to a demanding time for most golf course builders. Why? New and different needs and priorities on the part of residential developers for new projects and uncertain, unclear, and sometimes evolving requirements for existing golf courses. One word from GCBAA members will carry the day…’yes’.

So getting to ‘yes’ will be critical to golf course builders over the coming year. In the 1981 book by Roger Fisher and William Ury, “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In” provides substantial guidance for golf course builders who must navigate new and emerging market conditions for the scale and scope of many projects now coming to market. Short- and alternative-concept courses are being designed for projects that require 5-, 7- and 12-hole courses are examples of shifting market demands. Many customers – be they residential community developers and builders or enthusiastic investors – will require greater time, patience, understanding, and innovation of golf course builders.

• Time will be required to develop and implement new understanding, documentation, and contract agreements with designers and customers. Taking the time to understand and to build mutual understandings with the client / customer will improve the likelihood of favorable outcomes.

• Patience needed on the part of the builder will include the need to ‘teach’ clients how plans are being estimated showing them unit-counts and costs-per-unit will underscore the builder’s professionalism and experience.

• Understanding the needs and concerns of the client will fortify builders’ stability in pricing the job and seeing it through with proper margins protected. Builders who succeed will see the project through the eyes of their customers.

• Innovation will be necessary as many new projects are unlike work some builders have performed previously. The next round of golf course projects will demand that builders can create imaginative solutions that may have little precedent.

In the 1981 edition and in subsequent editions in 1991 and 2011 four important principles for getting to yes were introduced. The 1991 and 2011 versions added Bruce Patton as co-author. All of the authors were members of the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Getting to ‘yes’?

1. Separate the people from the problem. Make your team an ally to the client’s team. Eliminate interpersonal conflict and focus on shared / team problem-solving. Demonstrate that you are a part of the solution.

2. Focus on interests rather than positions. Be transparent in showing how the client most benefits from your experience in building golf projects. See that your client understands your commitment to building a great and costeffective facility.

3. Generate a variety of options before settling on an agreement. Provide the client your best analyses of the challenges before you and how your team recommends solutions. Show various examples and recommend alternatives that can be cost-effective.

4. Keep the agreement that solutions will be based on objective criteria. Before beginning planning and negotiating, establish an agreement with the client as to what requirements must be met to make your shared efforts a “success”. Before prices and processes are discussed, agree upon what is wanted, needed, and required.

Shifting market conditions require that golf course builders develop tools that support getting to yes. This tool box will include more robust presentation capabilities and resources which enable clients to understand the assorted options builders bring forward. Three important needs to anticipate:

• Cooperative Credibility – Clients / customers will need as much visual support as possible… drawings, financial projections, and per-unit accounting. When they see your willingness to show them details, you will have established tremendous credibility.

• Organizational Agility – Enable your clients to see how agile your team is in problem-solving. Project planning enables you to make the client a part of your team…and vice versa.

• Team Durability – When working shoulderto-shoulder with clients, you build confidence in your team’s capability to bring the project to a successful completion.

When golf course builders are getting to ‘yes’ they increase their reach and extend the term of financial growth beyond changing market conditions. The willingness to find ‘yes’ enable builders to respond successfully to new and different market demands.

Henry DeLozier is a Principal and Partner at GGA Partners, a trusted advisor to private clubs, resorts, and residential communities since 1992. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Audubon International. Contact Henry at hdelozier@ globalgolfadvisors.com.