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Monday
September 14
Opening Keynote
The Golf Economy: The impact of COVID-19 on this year and what to expect next year
Monday, Sept. 14, 11am EST
Will the golf economy boom in this uncertain future? We bring together six of the leading voices in golf — leaders in private ownership, private equity, third-party management and resorts — to discuss how COVID-19 has changed operations, ownership, acquisitions, dispositions and prognostications for golf’s future.
Steve Ekovich, Director of National Golf Division, Leisure Investment Properties Group of Marcus & Millichap
Jon Last, Founder & President, Sports and Leisure Research
Peter Nanula, Chairman, Concert Golf Partners
Prem Devadas, President, Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Mike Ryan, Chief Operating Officer, Troon
Highest-rated Investor track session
Buy & Sell Panel
Monday, Sept. 14, 12:50pm EST
•Discover COVID-19’s impact on sales
•How buyers evaluate a course’s worth: income vs. revenue multipliers, membership liability, upside potential, more.
•Tips to help you get the best price for your course
•Anonymous Q&A: Ask golf’s most experienced experts anything
Jeff Woolson, Managing Director, CBRE Golf & Resort Properties
Andy Crosson, Senior Vice President, Arcis Equity Partners
Bobby Silva, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Escalante
Will Gustafson, Owner, Synergy Golf Partners
High Tech Marketing
Monday, Sept. 14, 12:50pm EST
• How to leverage technology to win in your market
• Web, email, apps, social media: What’s working now
• Cutting-edge tips to maximize exposure
Brendan McCarthy, National Director of Marketing Services, KemperSports
Trevor Coughlan, Vice President, Marketing , Jonas Club Software
Meet the Top Buyers
Monday, Sept. 14, 2pm EST
The industry’s most active buyers share their secrets to success — what they are looking for in a course; pitfalls to avoid; Negotiation techniques. A must-attend session for anyone thinking about buying or selling.
Randy Addison, President, Addison Law Firm
Tom Bennison, Chief Development Officer, ClubCorp
Randy Jones, Chief Operating Officer, C-Bons International Golf Group, Inc.
Doug Howe, Partner, Century Golf Partners
Tech to the Rescue
Monday, Sept. 14, 2pm EST
• How to build engagement in a time of social distancing
• How COVID accelerated the technology adoption in the golf industry (out of necessity)
• How consumer behavior trends will change going forward as a result, and how our industry can be prepared
Jason Wilson, CEO, Gallus Golf
Jessica Lewis, Director of Web and Product Development, Billy Casper Golf
Lynn Mangan, President, Clubessential
Mike Cole, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Members Club
Fireside Chat on Branding with David Abeles, TaylorMade Golf and David Kahan, Birkenstock
Monday, Sept. 14, 3:40pm EST
A one-of-a-kind program showcasing iconic brand champions sharing nuggets of wisdom on…
• Building a best-selling brand
• Driving success in a crowded and ever-changing competitive landscape
• Creating a brand voice that is authentic, emotionally connects, and reflects the brand’s culture
• Dominating a product category
• Choreographing a remarkable customer experience
• Creating legions of raving fans who love and respect your brand
David Abeles, CEO, TaylorMade Golf
David Kahan, CEO, Birkenstock Americas
Moderated by Larry Gulko, Brand Strategist | Executive Coach, BRAND: NEW DAY
Tuesday
September 15
CEO Keynote
Business Success in Challenging Times
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 11:00am EST
Join four of the industry’s leading CEOs for a discussion on how the pandemic has impacted daily fee courses, private clubs, resorts and entertainment facilities and the strategies that are working now to maximize revenue growth and keep costs in control.
Erik Anderson, CEO, Topgolf Entertainment Group
David Pillsbury, CEO, ClubCorp
Tim Schantz, CEO, Troon
Steve Skinner, CEO, Kemper Sports
Business Strategy Workshop
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 12:50pm EST
Time to sell or buy? Develop or sell part of your land? Renovate your clubhouse or golf course? Experienced experts walk you through how to assess the best business strategy for your property, and how to understand the potential pitfalls and upsides.
•Anonymous Q&A: Ask the experts
Dallas Addison, Shareholder, Addison Law Firm
Larry Hirsh, President, Golf Property Analysts
Mark Mattingly, VP Business Development, Landscapes Golf Management
Erik Peterson, Principal Architect, PHX Architecture
Club Operations during COVID-19
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 12:50pm EST
Whitney Reid Pennel, President, RCS Hospitality Group
David Voorhees, General Manager, Big Canyon Country Club
Jeff DeKruif, Asst General Manager & CFO, Blackhawk Country Club
Scott Craig, Director of Culinary Operations, Myers Park Country Club
The Great Rebound: How to Make the Most of this Opportunity
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2pm EST
• What we need to do now that we didn’t do in the past
• Tips on capturing, segmenting and exploiting customer data
• Pricing strategies and programs that will create loyalty and increase RevPar
• How to be Safe, Clean, Responsible, Fun, Family, Fitness, Forever
Don Rea, Ower, Augusta Ranch Golf Club
Allison George, Wizard of Fun, Toad Valley Golf Course
Rock Lucas, Owner, Charwood Golf Club
Emerging Trends in Private Clubs
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2pm EST
• How private clubs are evolving to stay vital during the pandemic and into the future
• Changes that top clubs are making in services, quality, and design to be more relevant
• Better understand the trends in member services, amenities, F&B and programming
Bob Jones, Founding Principal, Ethos Club and Leisure
Jon Davis, General Manager and COO, Northwood Club
Kirk Reese, Executive VP, Denehy Club Thinking Partners
Henry DeLozier, Principal/Partner, Global Golf Advisors
Water & Irrigation: New ideas and strategies
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 3:40pm EST
The industry’s leading experts will discuss how to change the paradigm of how we make watering/irrigating decisions. Get usable ideas, strategies, and learn about issues important to owners and operators who want greater control over water on their property.
• Tangible and practical solutions for water conservation, water control efficiencies, irrigation by the numbers, storm water runoff control, ecological sustainability, and soil health
• The PLANT-SOIL-WATER continuum. The agronomic water continuum cannot be separated. Science based Management approaches’ to enhance the continuum will be presented to increase operators water usage efficiencies!
• Benchmarking principles – water management audits
• WAT3R 3 ways: irrigation, ponds/streams, retention/drainage
Mark Jackson, The Davey Tree Expert Company
Jim Zwack, The Davey Tree Expert Company
Anna Burns, The Davey Tree Expert Company
Tyson Lamielle, The Davey Tree Expert Company
Wednesday
September 16
Wednesday Keynote
What Your Customers Want Now: Growing Revenue during COVID-19
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11am EST
The pandemic has changed what customers want — both daily fee and private club members. Get the latest research and exclusive insight on how the golfer behavior has changed since the start of the pandemic. Find out how you can use this info to increase play or membership.
Jon Last, Founder & President, Sports and Leisure Research
Mike Loustalot, Co-founder, Sagacity Golf
Jason Becker, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Life Navigators
Customer Service In Today’s World
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 12:50pm EST
• 5 star service even in challenging times
• Innovative ways to push your service to a higher level
Kris Strauss, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Troon
Daryl Crawford, General Manager, Papago Golf Club
Geoffrey Gray, General Manager, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa
Peter Smith, Vice President, Players 1st
Programming & Events post COVID-19
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 12:50pm EST
Whitney Reid Pennel, President, RCS Hospitality Group
Scott Craig, Director of Culinary Operations, Myers Park Country Club
Jeff Dekruif, Assistant General Manager & CFO, Blackhawk Country Club
Best Practices in Golf Course Operations
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2pm EST
• What’s working today for top operators
• Proven methods for measuring success
• Quick and easy strategies to match your operational needs and staff resources
John Easterbrook, Chief Membership Officer, PGA of America
Amy McClean-Ragsdale, Director of Member Development, ClubProcure
Tom Frost, VP, American Golf
Bill Rehanek, SVP, Billy Casper Golf Management
The Modern Club: Engaged, Smarter, Profitable
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2pm EST
• What the club of tomorrow will look like
• How clubs are using technology to be more relevant to members
• Delivering greater value to the member through innovation
Bob Jones, Founding Principle, Ethos Club & Leisure
Bryan Finnerty, CEO, V1 Sports
Morgan Gonzales, Regional Operating Executive, KemperSports
Closing Keynote
Wow Factor: Innovative Ideas for your course
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3:40pm EST
• Make golf a more meaningful experience
• Create other experiences at your course (that can be monetized or create the buzz)
• Position your facility to host events, weddings, dining and social events to create new revenues
Kris Strauss, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Troon
Ed Doyle, President, RealFood Hospitality Strategy and Design
Mark Rickell, VP of Sales, Club Car
Pre-recorded Sessions
Private Clubs Solutions: A Real Estate Case Study
This is a challenging time for some private clubs. In this case study, we look at The Ranch Country Club in Denver, which ran into a series of challenges — major renovations, member loss, and financial irregularities that led to the termination of the GM and Controller. Out of that chaos, the member-owned club found a solution. The leaders will talk about their assessment of all the options.
Peter Nanula, Concert Golf Partners
Eric Mott, Board Treasurer, The Ranch CC
Eric Akerson, Board member, The Ranch CC
Doug Hellman, Club Consultant
What’s your story? How to tell it the right way
Storytelling is an incredibly powerful, under-rated tool. A story told the right way transports the mind to a special place. This means when you use the right story, you will have greater connection and control over influencing members and customers.
• Five necessary parts of a story to get clarity, capture attention and change minds.
• How to incorporate the right story into all marketing and communications to persuade members, guests, boards and staff.
• The basics of Neuromarketing and science-backed brain research so you can simply understand how the body and senses respond to story.
• About your Members’ selfish gene and how to use it to your advantage.
Laura Leszcynski, VP Marketing, Strategic Club Solutions
How to Grow your Green Fee Revenue during COVID-19
•Leverage data and technology
• Three steps to grow revenue
•Get details on booking windows, rounds mix, forecasting, pricing, and tee time marketing
Mike Loustalot, Co-founder, Sagacity Golf
Phil Green, Chief Operating Officer, OB Sports
Private Club Financials
Ray Cronin, Co-founder, Club Benchmarking