EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOTES

By the time this hits your inbox, we will be into 2023. When we look back on 2022 there were so many memorable moments and excitement for the golf construction industry. We celebrated returning to networking, meetings, and public gatherings. We are enjoying the excitement of the growing golf industry, enjoying the success of profitable facilities hiring our members to complete upgrades and updates, and even some new construction. We see the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to working together in the new year!

This issue we would like to express our appreciation to the GCBAA Board of Governors and GCBAA Board of Directors as well as to all of you who have been patient while we are launching a new recertification and membership upgrade process. The office has been using a membership software platform that allows us to collect and manage membership information in a way that allows staff to collaborate, track, and maintain efficiency with the tasks and projects we manage throughout the year. A key feature of this software is the ability to create online forms to be used for registrations, surveys, and data collection. The two most important benefits of the software are the ability to collect the data directly from the person filling out the form to avoid errors in transposing the information from submitted forms or written responses. Additionally, the data is secure and managed safely and redundant in "the cloud". The staff has access, whether traveling or while in the office. Filtered reports are provided in real-time and the ability to create dashboard reports allows us to share progress with committees as well as our board.

We recently deployed recertification forms that is collecting data that in the past was uploaded into handwritten workbooks or entered into database files. The data allowed the Board of Governors to review company applications, however, the important data would have taken significant time to convert into useful trends for the office and industry to understand.

As an example, in the 2022 recertification process, staff was able to review 3257 golf hole equivalents amongst 317 submitted projects. Overwhelmingly, Renovation work was submitted; 217 projects with Irrigation Renovation at 39, New Golf Construction at 25, New Irrigation at 22, recreational new 8, and recreational renovation at 5. While there is not much surprise to those numbers, collectively our membership of nearly 100 different contractors; this information is only submitted from less than one-quarter of our membership.

Moving forward our goal is to provide a platform to collect recertification information as well as all members' projects. Rather than once a year, the process is open and we suggest companies consider uploading their project when completed, regardless of the time of year. This creates a live system that helps the office understand important trends in the golf construction industry. Please understand the importance of this information. Similar to the Cost Estimating Guide for Golf Course Construction, members' information is confidential and compiled amongst other information. When we look at the storylines and marketing opportunities with this information, answering the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How is not providing proprietary data about your company that could potentially give a competitor an edge; the data is helpful to understand.

• Who? – the types of members working; Certified, Irrigation Contractors, entry-level;

• What, Irrigation work, Renovation Work, Bunker, Tee, Greens, etc.;

• Where; we do not want to pinpoint the facility; but what states/regions are you working in;

• When – Timing, heat maps of different areas of the country and what work and for how long;

• Why, reversed the why is to have good information to help us be a leader in understanding the golf construction market;

Justin Apel EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• How – this will help us with shoring up our member benefit programs, Buy from Within, and provides the opportunity for supplier members to add data of where they are supporting the membership.

We encourage all our members to consider how you might help support this information campaign. Knowing this helps us with our branding campaign that promotes you and your membership. Knowing where our members are working, what they are doing, and those that support them can help us dispatch stories, videos, and media when appropriate. The office has never had this kind of data and suggests the industry will benefit as we create a system that collects year after year and creates important baseline data that can be evaluated through trends and changes over time.

If you have any interest in helping provide data, please contact the office and we can share the online forms.

Finally, we still need your ideas on education topics; whether for this newsletter, presenting at regional or national events, or if you have any interest in our Renovation Channel and have your product or service featured along with others on an active job site, please contact us immediately.

Justin Apel