The New “Muni Community” Provides Resources, Education, Networking and Communications for Thousands of Municipal Facilities Throughout the Country
Charleston, S.C. — The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is pleased to announce its expansion into another critical, yet underserved, segment of golf course ownership and operations: municipal golf.
The Municipal Golf Operators Community includes:
- Priority access to municipal golf benchmarking and financial reporting resources, giving further insight into the operational and financial performance of a facility against the industry (Top Qtr, Median or Bottom Qtr).
- Member-led discussion groups and a dedicated education track at NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference 2025 (January 20-22, 2025 in Orlando, FL) on topics including public/private partnerships, unique culture and leadership dynamics, automation, equipment maintenance programs, and more.
- A quarterly, peer-driven, “Municipal Golf Roundtable” where members will gather in real time online to discuss and collaborate on relevant issues and topics specific to municipal golf.
- Access to an active, private, online community where municipal operators are collaborating on business challenges and sharing best practices, daily.
“I am pleased with the NGCOA’s further commitment to service the municipal golf community,” said Michael Leonard, Executive Director of Channahon Park District in Illinois. “The association delivers great value to our segment of the golf industry which has some unique challenges and operating needs. I’ve personally benefited from my involvement with the association, and would recommend all municipal operators engage with the NGCOA as members.”
While originally founded to support daily fee golf course owners, the NGCOA has responded to its membership’s voice over the past 50 years to represent a larger contingent of the golf industry including multi-course owners and operators, private clubs, resorts and municipal golf.
“The recent decision to support this segment stems from the NGCOA board’s understanding that there is a need for affordable, entry-level golf to continue to grow our industry, and municipal golf often addresses this need,” said Cathy Harbin, owner of Pine Ridge Golf Course in Paris, TX and NGCOA’s board president. “We know municipalities face a unique set of structures and challenges and we feel the NGCOA has the resources and tools to support their long-term success and as a result contribute to the long-term success of golf.”
The NGCOA has developed a Municipal Operators Advisory Council comprised of leaders across the nation including Josh Heptig (County of San Luis Obispo, CA), Michael Huber (Channahon Park, IL), Adam Relan (Portsmouth, VA) Mike Leonard (Channahon Park, IL), Jessica Steinberg (Rockford Park, IL), and Daniel Wickman (Aurora, CO) who have provided great counsel on the issues operators face and how the association can best serve this segment of their membership.
Municipal facilities that are already NGCOA members will also enjoy the new benefits. Non-member municipal golf facility operators are encouraged to join NGCOA and their peers in the Municipal Golf Operators Community. Learn more about the general benefits of NGCOA membership and contact Corey McAuliffe at cmcauliffe@ngcoa.org with any questions.
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.
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