Name:  Mark Maroon

Club:  The Kansas City Country Club

Description:  Bring in a Big Purple Blow-up Gorilla to excite young people on their first days of junior golf.Great turnout and positive feedback from parents and their kids.  Also, by bringing in a new and different idea not necessarily associated with golf to excite their kids.

Implementation:  Rented a big purple gorilla to set out on the golf course and the children would take turns trying to hit the gorilla with golf balls.  Prizes were given out to the kids that could hit it. 

Name: David Hilliard

Club: Chevy Chase Club

Description: Golf clubs arrive from the manufacture with grips traditionally applied using double-sided tape and solvent.  It is time consuming to remove these original grips – and doubly time consuming and tedious to replacing them in the same manner.

Implementation: Every staff member has been trained in our shop’s process.  The members enjoy the convenience of being able to get their golf clubs re-gripped the same day – in a matter of minutes instead of waiting hours.  This also creates an opportunity for our professional staff to do what they do best – talk golf with our golfing membership.

Name: Terra Waldron

Club: Desert Highlands Association

Description: After many years of late nights printing scoreboards with calligraphy pens, the problem seemed to be getting worse each year as late entries and changes to pairing made printing the scoreboards early virtually impossible.  Desert Highlands found a solution with the 21st technology of calligraphy, a banner printer.  The banner printer allows the Golf Operation to print virtually an entire scoreboard quickly and accurately from a pairings list.  This could be done on the day of the event and even after it teed off.

Implementation: The banner printer has been a great addition in terms of service to the Desert Highlands Members.  The membership loves being informed and the printer allows us an additional avenue to disseminate information in an accurate, clear and easy-to-read format.  The professional appearance the banner printer provide is the level of service that our members enjoy and the staff loves to provide.

Name: Richard Cromwell

Club: The Country Club of Virginia

Description: Golf Club Trade-in – This season we revamped our golf club trade-in program. By taking in old equipment form members, we were able to give them either money or store credit in our golf shops.  Not only was this a value-added service to the members who wanted to get rid of old equipment, but it was also beneficial to our bargain-shopping members as well.  We were able to resell much of the used equipment to our membership or to a third party vendor.  All in all, we have gotten lots of positive feedback about this program throughout the year.

Name: Ted Bartlett

Club: Hermitage Country Club

Description: The demo program has really helped our shop in controlling inventory.  Inventory damage has significantly been reduced due to the fact that members trying clubs now are serious about buying.  Demo trials can produce pre-purchase dollars to be used elsewhere.

Implementation:  The demo program was outlined in our January ’06 newsletter and posted in both locker rooms.  The members have no problems with the policy as long as we keep our prices under golf galaxy.

Name:  Kirk O. Reese, CCM

Club:  The Los Angeles Country Club

Description:  The caddie program is a long and venerable tradition of golf at The Los Angeles Country Club.  In response to concerns of favoritism in giving caddie assignments the Club elected to have members rank the caddies on a scale.  The system would allow the starter to make assignments based upon a ranking established form the previous 12 months and availability of the day instead of FIFO or an informal guess.  Member’s ratings have given the caddies the incentive to improve their caddie and personal skills while reinforcing the goals of the member who hires these independent contractors.

Implementation:  After careful consideration and legal review of the independent contractor status, the following system was recommended for creating order to the system of caddy assignments that reflect a high caliber of caddy as rated by the membership and promote availability to the member-golfer.

Name:  Craig Martin

Club:  The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Spa

Description:  Creating a unique golf demo day experience; hold an evening event which is a charity benefit, vendor equipment opportunity, family friendly evening with chef’s cooking and caddie shack play.

Implementation:  Extremely well received by members and vendors.  Over $1,100 raised; sales were high because members attended solely to check out equipment.  Fun experience for the family.  Candlelight dining with caddie shack kept members full time.

Name:  Paul M.G. Astbury

Club:  Ocean Reef Club

Description:  Air conditioned golf carts have provided comfort to Ocean Reef Club members, and there fore have increased golf revenue during hot summer months when members and guests may have otherwise opted not to spend a day on the golf course.  In addition to increasing summer rounds, the carts themselves are rented at a premium.  The trend appears to be that once members experience the comfort of the air conditioned carts, they continue to request them whenever making tee times, ensuring that the carts are continually in use.

Implementation:  Ten of Ocean Reef Club’s golf carts were equipped with the latest in warm weather comfort.   The AC units are connected to the batteries and use a block of ice and fan to cool the golfers via a flexible and adjustable hose that the golfer positions to blow cool air on the back of his neck – the body’s key spot to lower its temperature.  When one sits on the seat, a switch activates the AC unit and – presto – the golfer has cool air to make his summer round more comfortable.  The carts are a new member favorite, so much so that more carts are slated to undergo the AC renovation process and contribute to warm weather comfort during the coming summer season. 

Name: Richard Cromwell

Club: The Country Club of Virginia

Description: Tracking Golf Participation – In order to accurately count the number of golf visits to our practice facilities, we developed a tracking system that is operationally feasible as well as accurate without adding labor costs or requiring members to sign in.  Cart attendants track the number of range buckets used each day at each practice range to determine the number of player visits.  We were able to track over 53,000 range visits this year using the new system.

Name:  Wayne Hall, CCM

Club:  Farmington Country Club

Description: Farmington designated an attractive portable golf tournament scoreboard with a stage.  Nicknamed “The Farmington Float” the scoreboard allows great flexibility.  It is elevated for great viewing and can be used anywhere, whether on the 18th green or at the Golf Shop.  Once placed, it is leveled and skirted.  When not in use, the scoreboard is wheeled out of view.

Implementation:  The scoreboard is made from an old hay wagon frame and is 24 feet long and 8 feet tall.  A large deck in the front becomes a stage when tournament champions receive their awards.  At a cost of under $2,000, it is an inexpensive yet very attractive way to add to the members’ tournament experience.

Name:  Richard Cromwell

Club:  The Country Club of Virginia

Description:  Online Logo Store – The Logo Store is a merchandise shop that members access through our CCV website.  This site allows members to shop online for products currently stocked in the golf shops.  Items can be purchased online using the member’s account number and shipped to the destination of their choice.  We can wrap gift purchases and attach gift cards.  We offer golf apparel, towels, glassware, golf bags, shoe bags, head covers, and Hubs peanuts.

Name:  Wayne Hall, CCM

Club:  Farmington Country Club

Description:  Farmington’s Golf Shop developed a promotional plan for its annual December holiday sale.  It began with a direct mailing to members with Golf Shop credit.  The Christmas party and December sale were announced in the monthly newsletter.  The Golf Shop was decorated beautifully with display cases featuring his and hers holiday wish lists.  Finally, a menu of discounts was prominently displayed outside of the Golf Shop.

Implementation:  Due to the promotion, December 2006 sales increased 27% from the previous year.  Many members weren’t aware of their credits and thanked the Golf Shop for sending the reminders.  The Christmas party proved very successful with over 200 members in attendance.

Name:  Michael R. Paddock

Club:  Chenequa Country Club

Description:  It has created a great camaraderie amongst the golfers allowing people that may not normally play together the opportunity to meet.  The enthusiasm for the event continues to grow along with the junior/senior rivalry.

Implementation:  The event has grown each year with regards to interest and popularity.