SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Critical issues such as environmentally responsible water management and escalating business costs were among the major topics discussed last week by golf industry leaders during the Golf Inc. Conference at Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.
Attendees and sponsors described the Camelback event as one of the best Golf Inc. conferences in its 20-year history.
More than 500 course owners, operators and golf industry executives participated in the event, including top leaders from the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Troon Golf, PGA of America, ClubCorp, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, KemperSports, CNL Lifestyle Properties, Executive Women’s Golf Association, Nicklaus Design, National Golf Course Owners Association, OB Sports Golf Management, Century Golf Partners, EAGLE Golf, ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance, Yamaha Golf-Car Company and The Toro Company.
“We were ecstatic with the response to the conference from our attendees, exhibitors and sponsors,” said Golf Inc. Associate Publisher Chase A. Peckham. “Our first-ever Green Night awards cocktail party & benefit auction and the Most Admired Operator awards night in the exhibit hall were a huge success.”
“The entire conference provided high-quality educational sessions, including sessions on golf’s most critical issues, GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward and a keynote with golf legend Barney Adams,” he said.
“All of our sessions were very well-attended, sponsorships and exhibit booths were sold out and there seemed to be a buzz in the air all conference long,” Peckham said.
Participants in the conference said the intimate setting provided a tremendous benefit for their companies.
“For Toro, the Golf Inc. Conference was an excellent opportunity to network with old friends and establish new partnerships,” said The Toro Company’s International Marketing Manager Alfredo Romero. “What sets this conference apart is that the movers and shakers in the industry are here in a smaller setting and they are extremely accessible.”
Pam Swensen, CEO of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, spoke on an educational panel entitled “Win-Win Programs and Lessons that Make Money.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and made some new contacts as well,” Swensen said. “You do a great job with your conference.”
Heidi Voss, Principal at the Bauer Voss Consulting Firm, served as the conference event moderator. The conference for the first time featured two “Critical Issues” panels, one focusing on rising maintenance and labor costs and a second dealing with the golf industry’s water crisis and solutions for coping with it.
Before each keynote address on Tuesday and Wednesday morning Voss led discussions on critical issues as well as a recap of the prior day’s sessions with John Crowder of ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance and Paul Stringer of Nicklaus Design.
On Monday night, Golf Inc’s first-ever “Green Night at Camelback,” sponsored by FirstAgain, was an evening to remember for all who attended the conference.
Golf Inc. Managing Editor, Keith Carter, honored winners of this year’s inaugural “Green Awards” on stage. Green Night also included silent and live auctions that raised more than $10,000 for The Environmental Institute For Golf.
Auction items included autographed items from Greg Norman and course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan, an African photo safari and a Colorado golf vacation. The networking event gave attendees, exhibitors and sponsors an opportunity to network in a personal setting.
On Tuesday night, Golf Inc. editor’s Keith Carter and Jim Dunlap honored its 2008 Most Admired Operators during a cocktail party in the Arizona Ballroom.
The next Golf Inc. Conference will be held March 30-April 1 at The Renaissance World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
For sponsorship and exhibit information for the Spring Golf Inc. Conference at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. please call the sales team at 877-GOLF INC or call Chase A. Peckham at 858-300-3205, or e-mail chase@cypressmagazines.com
Contact:
Chase A. Peckham, Associate Publisher
Golf Inc.
858-300-3205
chase@cypressmagazines.com
