Second Annual Presidents Council held
at Philadelphia Country Club

  In addition to being the ideal networking environment, the seminar provided insight to some of the significant topics facing the member golf club industry. Welcomed by the GAP’s President Dan Burton, three key speakers discussed everything from marketing, to turf management and strategic planning. Andrew Wood, President and CEO of Legendary Marketing, spoke on his 12 Indisputable Laws of Golf Marketing, while Stan Zontek, the Director of the USGA’s Green Section for the Mid-Atlantic Region, discussed the intricacies of growing grass in this region. Jerry McCoy, CEO of Clubwise, LLC, also presented his thoughts on Effective Strategic Marketing.

  "This was a wonderful opportunity for individuals from our member clubs to not only network with one another, but also gain some knowledge from our guest speakers," Burton said. "The seminar was a great interaction between the member club participants and the speakers."

  Wood, who arrived from England at age 18 with nothing but a love of the game and a couple hundred dollars, shared how his proven methods helped him become the multi-millionaire he is today. As a pioneer in Internet based marketing, Wood’s session, The 12 Indisputable Laws of Golf Course Marketing, demonstrated how his marketing skills and concepts could help GAP member clubs with their own current and potential members.

  "Andrew’s presentation shed light on some of the most pertinent membership-related issues affecting golf clubs today and how using his techniques could help," recalled Burton.

  Zontek, who was the seminar’s second speaker, was raised on a golf course, graduated from Penn State University, and in 1971, found a job with the Green Section at the USGA. He's been with the Association ever since and is its longest tenured member. Zontek’s presentation, titled There’s More to Growing Grass than Water and Fertilizer, depicted the trials and tribulations of Turfgrass management through his agronomic experiences and accomplishments. These experiences and accomplishments have even taken his services to the White House, where he served as a volunteer on the Presidential putting green and lawn.

  Zontek put it simply, stating that every golf club wants the best grass.

  "In theory, the better the grass, the better the golf." Zontek said. "The Transition Zone [Mid-Atlantic Region] is recognized as the most difficult area to grow grass. Everybody wants good grass. That takes a lot of work and money."

  The day concluded with a speech from Jerry McCoy, a Master Club Manager and CEO of Clubwise, LLC, an industry leader in consulting services specializing in strategic planning, master planning, operating and governance issues. His discussion, titled Effective Strategic Planning, centered on the long-range planning process as it related to the elements of fact finding, problem definition, consensus building and enhancing service delivery.

  The GAP’s member club participants met with the speakers on a one-on-one basis in the individual sessions held near the conclusion of the event.

  "In this, our second year of the event, we trust the Presidents Council yielded immediate dividends for our member clubs," exclaimed Burton.