Biloxi, MS: August 1st, 2013- The Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association (MGCGA) announced today that, after more than 12 years pioneering the development of the area’s first Golf Destination Marketing Organization, Kevin Drum resigned as acting Executive Director but will continue as a consultant. “I have worked for 12 years to get all three coastal counties working together to promote golf and to get golf a seat on the tourism board; both of those goals were accomplished this last month with the formation of the Coast Regional Partnership,” says Kevin Drum, “I felt the timing was good for area courses and myself since we accomplished these major goals, I am engaged and my fiancée lives back home in North Carolina” says Drum.
Since being hired by MGCGA in 2001 to develop a golf tourism marketing program, Drum was responsible for developing the organization’s first bylaws, funding model and a long term strategic plan with input from all stakeholders. He developed a partnership of golf courses, hotels and tourism entities into the area’s first Golf Destination Marketing Organization modeled after Myrtle Beach. In doing so, he created the trademarked “Golf Coast” brand and is responsible for the area now being known by that brand. He also developed the Official Golf Guide of the Gulf Coast, the area’s first golf web-site in www.GolfCoast.com and the area’s largest computer tee-time network at a time when very few golf courses had computers or internet access. The Gulf Coast Tee-Time Network now connects area courses & hotels, is a model for golf tourism destinations and also allows consumers to book tee-times on line. He served on the Governor’s Tourism Committee on Katrina Recovery and he also served on the Governor’s Oil Spill Tourism Recovery Committee. Kevin received over 30 awards for his work at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association from the American Advertising Federation, Public Relations Society and 2005 Tourism Promotion of the Year from Governor Haley Barbour.
In making the announcement, Drum added, “I am excited about the future of Mississippi Gulf Coast golf tourism since the signing of the new tourism bill where the golf association has a seat; this is the right time for the golf association and member courses to take the reins and work toward starting new and integrating our golf marketing organization assets closer to the new tourism organization to insure there is no duplication of efforts.” Kevin will continue on as a consultant to help the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association from his office in Pinehurst, NC – a short walk from where he grew up and steps from the site of the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst.
Following Drum’s departure, Pat Meck, who has served the MGCGA over 7 years as office manager, will be promoted to Operations Manager and will take over duties and report directly to the board of directors which consists of area courses. “I have left the association in the excellent hands of Pat Meck and a board of directors of area golf courses that are committed to building on our success of increasing golf tourism,” says Drum.
Mike Buckley of Grand Bear Golf Club & outgoing MGCGA President said, “Kevin was instrumental in creating the ‘Golf Coast’ brand and led golf through the last three crises, Hurricane Katrina, the economic crisis and the BP oil spill. These events have done nothing but increase Kevin’s strong feelings toward the coast and his commitment to making golf grow. Where other parts of the country are seeing a continuous decline in golf rounds, golf on the coast has remained steady over the last few years. We will continue to enjoy the benefits of Kevin’s work for many years to come.”
Russ Bloom of The Oaks Golf Club and MGCGA incoming President said, “Kevin has worked tirelessly for our association for 12 years, his work has put us in a strong position going forward and we will continue to be a big part of the tourism industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
Jack Norris, President of the Gulf Coast Business Council said, “Kevin and the Golf Association have played a key role in efforts to regionalize tourism leadership and development on the Coast and identifying clear strategic objectives. Early on, Kevin and board leadership embraced the effort and advocated bringing all tourism stakeholders to the table for the advancement of the entire industry.”
For more information on golf on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast go to www.GolfCoast.com to request an Official Golf Guide, Request a FREE Golf Package Quote or to book a Tee-Time.
Contact:
Pat Meck, Operations Manager, Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association
Knight Nonprofit Center, 11975 Seaway Rd/Suite B151, Gulfport, MS 39503 or PO Box 1914, Biloxi, MS 39533
EMAIL: Info@GolfCoast.com, PHONE: 228-374-4653 Ext 2, FAX: 228-374-4655
