Comments on: Ranting and Raving

By: Norm Woods

Norm Woods — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:10:34 +0000

Thanks Jim, your comments are well-stated. The golf courses and the CPGA should be listening. There certainly are others out there with similar feelings, but they won’t speak up. This industry needs to adapt.

By: Norm Woods

Norm Woods — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:08:00 +0000

Hi Bryan, thanks for your ‘correction’. Trying to do too much in too little time. My apologies
Norm

By: Jim Kenesky

Jim Kenesky — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:48:32 +0000

Great Post Norm,
I agree with many of your comments and would like to say that discounting a product, especially a golf course, is a terrible way to do business. I recently had this conversation with a colleague, and with discounting a product comes a great decrease in customer service and course conditions. I’ve seen golf courses go from premium condition where price was competitive, to unmaintained and discounted across the board. I think of golf courses in Niagara when I speak of that. You will gain a great following and keep staff members around if you supply your customers a well maintained golf course, and great service. I worked with Lowville Golf Club for the last three seasons and our focus was customer service and great playing conditions. We had great numbers in 2009 in a year where everyone was discounting and down in numbers.
Also, as for staff members leaving and moving around…. I believe that the CPGA is missing great mentors in the association. Don’t get me wrong, we have some wonderful men and women in the association, but as our focus shifts to business and meeting numbers, we forget about protecting our future and keeping the game strong. Some guys feel threatened when young guys and gals come strutting in and express some new ideas. We all need to work together and help each other out, meet goals and objectives as a team. Create a great atmosphere for both staff and customers… that’s what keeps them coming back.

Jim Kenesky
CPGA Teaching Professional
Great Lakes Tour Operations

By: Bryan Coleman

Bryan Coleman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:42:53 +0000

Hi Norm thanks for the picture of our first hole and your kind comments about Oak Bay Golf and Country Club, our new development in Port Severn which includes the golf course , a marina on Georgian Bay, and 550 residential units surrounding the golf course. For the record my first name is Bryan.

Bryan Coleman
President Oak Bay Developments Inc

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:09:06 +0000

The problem with these shows besides the cost. Is that most of the exhibitors are for golf resorts in faraway places and they cram the Ontario courses into a little space. If I want to golf in New mexico or Scotland I will do a search on the internet or through friends to see what they think and know. Sure would be nice to see more Canadian manufacturers and suppliers setting up at these shows and promoting their goods.
If I want dental whitening I’ll go see my dentist thank you very much
Frank