Charleston, S.C. — The National Golf Course Owners Association’s 29th annual Multi-Course & Resort Operators Retreat 2024 (MCOR24) was held last week, July 30-31, at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California. More than 180 were in attendance, with golf management executives representing nearly 1,700 courses and resorts nationwide.
Now in its 29th year, the Multi-Course & Resort Operators Retreat continues to be the pinnacle event among golf management company executives, owners of 6 or more golf courses, and top officers and executives at golf resorts. Facility operators and executives at this level have been gathering for learning and friendship building at MCOR (formerly known as the Multi-Course Owners Retreat) every year since 1995 — even in 2020, when the event was held virtually. Year after year, this exclusive, by-invitation-only gathering continues to assemble the best in the golf course and resort business.
As the foremost leaders in the business of golf, this group is subject to the trends, trials and opportunities happening in the world; therefore, MCOR focuses on the most pertinent issues as we chart a course for the industry and our businesses. The event co-chairs — CEO of Century Golf Partners Jim Hinckley, and CEO of Invited David Pillsbury — worked in tandem with NGCOA’s Education Department to pinpoint session topics and speakers that not only addressed attendees’ business interests, but that provide them with best practices and proven strategies on the most critical issues and challenges facing golf today.
MCOR24 kicked off Monday night with registration and a networking Happy Hour sponsored by PGA of America. On Tuesday, 90 attendees golfed in the annual Yamaha Golf Outing, this year held at The Club at Pasadera, owned by NGCOA member Concert Golf Partners. During their 18-hole round at the Monterey Peninsula’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature course, golfers competed in various sponsored contests, explored YAMATRACK (Yamaha Golf Car’s GPS System), hit at the range using Toptracer Range’s ball-tracing technology, and visited the Srixon/Cleveland Golf/Nike tents to get fitted for Srixon or Cleveland Golf clubs and the latest Nike apparel and footwear. After the outing concluded, golfers enjoyed a reception where contest winners were recognized, and the top two teams held an over-the-pond shoot-out to determine the winner of the outing. The winning team consisted of Alex Goodman of KemperSports, Spencer Cody of Omni Hotels & Resorts, Kurt Albertson of IZON Technology and Shaun Hansen of Srixon/Cleveland Golf/Nike. Tuesday evening, MCOR24 attendees and guests enjoyed drinks, dinner, live music and continued relationship building at the Toptracer Opening Reception at the Monterey Plaza Hotel’s outdoor plaza overlooking Monterey Bay.
On Wednesday, MCOR24 attendees convened in the hotel’s Cypress Ballroom for a day of thought-provoking, business-critical education — and multiple networking breaks sponsored by Pepsi. NGCOA CEO Jay Karen welcomed the group and invited attendees to contribute to the rapidly-growing NGCOA Champion Circle which supports the association’s membership with an Advocacy Legal Fund and allows expansion of the association’s advocacy work. The lead-off education session, Data Discovery, Part 1 — Does Our Industry Exceed U.S. Consumer Indicators? identified the must-know metrics impacting golf businesses and our nation as a whole. Greg Nathan (National Golf Foundation) shared exclusive findings from NGF’s renowned “State of the Industry” and Christina Adams (McKinsey & Company) provided unparalleled consumerism insights and trends. Bo Finneman (also with McKinsey & Company) continued the analysis of consumer behavior, focusing on new findings and revelations on hospitality, travel and tourism in the second session, Data Discovery, Part 2 — Hone In on Hospitality, Travel, and New Benchmarking Perspectives. Then Jim Koppenhaver (Pellucid Corp) closed the data discussion by examining some of the most compelling results and trends he’s tracking across the local, regional and national golf benchmarking sphere.
Moderated by Michael Williams, workplace and legal industry experts Emily Decker (Invited) and Loretta Raftery (Raftery Law Group and HR/Labor Solutions, Inc.) present Workforce Forecast: Tracking New Labor and Liability Strategy where they discussed the biggest legal risks facing the golf course industry and shared best practices that operators can and should implement to reign them in.
The concurrent Top Agronomic Officer (TAO) meeting explored gas-to-electric upgrade, remote sensing technology, managing inflation, and included a Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA) Government Affairs update before the TAO group joined the remaining general sessions.
Joe Guerra, Owner of Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort moderated Advancing Agronomy: Reality-Based Approaches to Embracing Next-Gen Maintenance, a panel of leading executives and experts from golf’s preeminent turf maintenance companies. Kevin Hauschel (GreenSight), Matt Miller (Rain Bird’s Golf Division) and Josh Tubbs (Toro’s Golf Division) discussed the future of turf maintenance, the next generation of agronomy, and realistic approaches to increasing productivity, improving efficiency and cutting costs.
The CEO power panel of Jim Hinckley (Century Golf Partners), David Pillsbury (Invited), Tim Schantz (Troon) and Steve Skinner (KemperSports) offered attendees unparalleled insights, analysis and predictions for near and long-term in Executive Panel: Capital Conversations. Jordan Klein (Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated) returned this year to moderate lively commentary on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and the overall state of the golf management operational landscape.
In the closing interview and Q&A, NGCOA CEO Jay Karen sat with John Kasich, the two-term Governor of Ohio, author, political analyst and commentator to discuss his career and professional highlights, his political and leadership philosophies, and the upcoming election. Gov. Kasich also took questions from the audience.
To wrap up the two-day event, attendees and guests enjoyed fabulous food and friendly competition at the Pepsi Closing Reception at Pebble Beach Golf Links® Fairway One™ — the new event space at Pebble Beach. Along with a dinner buffet, beverages, musical entertainment and hand-rolled Cuban cigars from Payne Mason master roller, attendees participated in the Pepsi Flop Shot Challenge, and a roaring round of sunset Glow Golf for prizes.
MCOR24 welcomed 25 sponsors this year, and NGCOA is grateful for the support, energy and engagement of these passionate and generous industry suppliers: Premier Sponsor Yamaha; Executive Partners aboutGOLF, Club Caddie, Pepsi, PGA of America, Rain Bird, Toptracer; Presenting Sponsors Big Digital, Entegra, Golf Pro Payments, IZON Technology, John Deere, Lightspeed, Noteefy, Priswing, Sunbelt Rentals, Syngenta, Tagmarshal and Toro; and Participating Sponsors CapillaryFlow, Obbi, Relay, Srixon/Cleveland Golf/Nike, Supreme Golf and TenFore Golf.
About Multi-Course & Resort Operators Retreat
MCOR is an exclusive, by invitation-only gathering of the best in the golf course and resort business, and is a pinnacle event among MCOs (owners of 6 or more golf courses, and top executives of golf management companies) and TROs (top resort operators and executives). Learn more about MCOR and see details of the 2024 event at MCOR-Retreat.com.
About the National Golf Course Owners Association
The NGCOA is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The association represents and promotes the interests of golf courses as the principal businesses and economic assets of the game of golf. The not-for-profit organization is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course owners and operators. Through advocacy, education and information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses. For more information or to join, visit ngcoa.org or call 800-933-4262.
Media Contact: Renée Flowers, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, NGCOA, rflowers@ngcoa.org
