May/Jun 2012 Tee-Off Times

Golf Day atthe Capitol

MIGCSA Executive Director Adam Ikamasurges attendance

NGCOA purchasing power

Golden Rules for golf tournaments

In this issue:

Michigan Golf Alliance invites you June 13

TEE-OFF TIMES MAY/JUNE 2012 2

WWW.MGCOA.ORG MAY/JUNE 20123

Board of Directors

PresidentBob KoutnikFox Run Country Club

Vice PresidentJeff HoagScott Lake Country Club

TreasurerSusan VanderburgIndian Lake Hills

Past PresidentBill FountainMajestic at Lake Walden

by Bob Koutnik, MGCOA President

People, News and Views...Just took advantage of the spe-

cial registration offer from the Michigan Golf League Champi-onship and registered 2 leagues. Jason Snow at Handicomp made the league set up easy and while I am still learning the features of this “league in a box,” I am already im-pressed at what is included in the program. Well thought out by Stu and the folks at Handicomp. You can’t talk about the Golf League Championship without recogniz-ing the contributions of MGCOA members Bill Fountain, Jeff Hoag and Jim Scott. Well done to all in-volved.

MGCOA Corporate Board mem-ber Dave Richards has resigned from the Board. Dave was and re-mains a great supporter of the golf course owners and the business of golf. His input and especially his unique emails will be missed. Here’s a single malt to you Dave, thank you for your years of sup-port and don’t be a stranger. I have appointed Fred Mawson of Corpo-rate Tax Resources to fill out the remainder of Dave’s term. Wel-come aboard Fred.

June 13 is the Michigan Golf Al-liance’s annual Legislative Affairs Day. I urge all golf course owners,

managers, superintendents, and pros, to make plans to attend and get involved. Contact and get to know your legislators. Join us on the Capitol Lawn on Wednesday June 13. Contact the MGCOA office for details and if you don’t know your elected representatives, the MGCOA can help identify them for you. Make appointments and on June 13 let them know how you feel. They really are interested to know how what they do affects what we do.

After reading the last issue of our Tee Off Times I guess Jeff Hoag is building a new trophy case. In the few years I have known Jeff I have found him to be more than will-ing to share ideas and information with me and have learned much from him. Well deserved Jeff.

Speaking of owners sharing ideas and information, if you are an MGCOA member and do not attend the Annual Golf Business Confer-ence you don’t know what you’re missing. The collection of speak-ers is amazing but the real benefit is the chance to network with own-ers like Jeff. If you are a member, watch for the information for the 2012 Conference in Frankenmuth. If you know a course owner that is

News from the President

Kathy AznavorianFox Hills Golf & Banquet Center

Larry BowdenThe Natural

Ed ClarkSandy Ridge Golf Course

Jim DewlingTotal Golf Inc.

Frank GuastellaFranklin Golf

Toni JoersConcord Hills

Fred MawsonCorporate Tax Resources

Larry MooreU.S. Golf Cars

Carolyn OlsonElmbrook Golf Course

Steve RameyChisholm Hills

Dan RooneyGrand Haven Golf Club

Tom SchwarkSycamore Hills

Jon ScottGull Lake View

Curtis WrightCopper Hills Golf Course

3

CALENDAR


not a member, take a few minutes to tell them why they should be. I know I can learn something from them.

Hate to run but Duck Dynasty just came on. See you in Lansing on the Capitol Lawn on June 13.

Bob

June 13Golf Day at the Capitol,Lansing

Aug 919th Annual golf Outing and Supplier Field Day,Bedford Valley GC,Battle Creek

Sept 238th Annual Golf League Championship,Eagle Eye GC, Bath

Nov 28-29Michigan Golf BusinessConference and Vendor Fair, Bavarian Inn Lodge,Frankenmuth


Coca-Cola sponsorsGolf League Championship

MGCOA’s Golf League Champi-onship is pleased to announce its Premier Partner. Coca-Cola is your “Total Beverage Partner” intro-ducing a customer focused, total beverage solution system. Their

goal is to grow your golf business by introducing a customer focused total beverage solution system. Coca-Cola provides exclusive of-fers to MGCOA Members.

The Golf League Championship is a consumer based program that

strengthens your core business by using technology and marketing. The Michigan Golf League Championship was the winner of the National Play-er Development Leadership Award for 2012. Since its first full year of

operation, the Michigan GLC has grown exponen-tially. 2012 will see the 8th Annual Golf League Championship, the “Championship for Ev-eryone,” open to league golfers in the state of Michigan who partici-pate in the MGCOA’s

league management system. Any golf course in the state can

utilize this feature-rich program, with MGCOA member courses receiving special benefits. The Mich-igan GLC is for any golf league, male, female or mixed, student or senior.

Coca-Cola is the most recognized logo on the planet and the Michigan GLC is excited to have it sponsor our championship tournament. We plan on working together to bring more golfers to the course more of-ten. With Coca-Cola’s partnership with Pure Michigan, we have an even greater opportunity for expo-sure. Characterizing it as “the start of a beautiful relationship,” state tourism director George Zimmer-mann announced a Pure Michigan branding partnership with Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company. “We’ve been asked to dance with one of the most iconic brands in the word,” said Zimmer-mann during the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on tourism and travel. I couldn’t agree more.

www.miGolfLeague.com


If you are reading this then you are very likely and active and in-volved member of the MGCOA so first and foremost congratula-tions on being an involved and proactive member of an associa-tion that represents Golf Course Owners all over Michigan. As a reader of this you probably al-ready know how important it is to be active in an association that represents your profession, after all without members there is no association, and without active member there is no ad-vancement of the profession. But as an active MGCOA member do you encourage the same type of involvement to your employees? Many of you have PGA Profes-sionals working for you, are they a member of the Michigan PGA? Food and Beverage managers and chefs are they members of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association? And most impor-tantly to me is your Golf Course Superintendent a member of the Michigan Golf Course Superin-tendents Association?

The MiGCSA is the local chap-ter of the Golf Course Superinten-dents Association of America. We have over 700 members mainly in the state of Michigan and repre-sent just shy of 300 golf facilities. We have multiple golf and educa-tion meetings throughout the year to help facilitate networking with other Superintendents in the area and continuing education. As you all know the #1 asset at any Golf Course is The Course, and the #1 influence on that asset is your Su-perintendent. A membership to the MiGCSA is only $75 a year and is a great investment in the indi-vidual that takes care of the most important part of your operation.

Being a memberBut again as an active and in-

volved member of the MGCOA that has read this far into this article you know that just being a member is not enough, remem-ber without member involvement there is no advancement. So after you make sure your Super is a MiGCSA member or after you sign them up a great way to help the entire Golf Business in Michigan is to bring them to Golf Day on June 13th. There is no better way to make sure they are as involved as you are than to bring them with you, if it is important to you it will become important to them by default.

The Michigan Golf Alliance is ex-actly what it sounds like; all of the

associations are aligned to help promote golf in Michigan. We all do a great job on our own to help promote our members, but with-out all of us working together we would not be able to accomplish as much as we have. This same philosophy can be transferred to your facility; everyone must be working towards the same goal regardless of their position. If all of your managers are not involved and aligned towards a common goal how can you expect to be suc-cessful. So this year make sure all of your managers are as dedicated to their trade associations as you are, and now I really know you are dedicated because you made it to the last paragraph!

by Adam Ikamas, CGCS, Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association Executive Director

Guest Columnist


by Eric Rule, MGCOA Government Affairs Coordinator

House Democrat switches partyThe most shocking political

news in quite a while came to light Tuesday afternoon just af-ter the filing deadline for state office passed. State Represen-tative Roy Schmidt, a Democrat representing Grand Rapids, had filed as a Democrat but at the last minute removed that filing and filed as a Republican. The move is not unprecedent-ed, but certainly was done in a manner that greatly angered the Democrat Party.

The switch, and how it was done, basically assured Schmidt that he will run unopposed in both the August primary and the November general election. Democrats can strike up a write-in candidacy, but Schmidt’s popu-larity should make that strategy a losing proposition.

Schmidt explained the switch in parties by indicating that the Dem-ocratic Party and its boss, Mark Brewer have been impossible to work with on public policy is-sues and were so wedded to their political philosophy as to make compromise on issues impossible. Schmidt has a history of trending more Republican on certain is-sues, and he has crossed over and voted with the GOP on several is-sues in the past.

Republicans now have one more member of their party, and this should make it that much more difficult for the Democrats to wrest control of majority status from them in November. The current split in the House now stands at 64-46 in favor of Republicans.

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS CLEAR SENATE

A package of bills seeking to

phase-out various components of the state’s personal property tax (PPT) passed the Senate and are headed to the House. The bills had to go thru a major overhaul however in order for senators to feel comfortable assuring their lo-cal municipalities that they would still receive funding. The main change to the bills seeks to as-sure local governments that they still receive revenue sharing funds by an amendment that stipulates if the funds are not appropriated to the locals, the PPT would once again be assessed.

The changes threw a major wrinkle in the business commu-nity’s support for the package. In essence, assurances of a tax cut for businesses in not assured if a future governor decides not to appropriate the money. That is not necessarily a tax cut that will spur investment by businesses in industrial and commercial property.

Business groups are still hopeful that as the bills are heard in the

Legislative Bulletin

House that it will be possible to find another way to assure local governments that funding will be forthcoming without the scenario of the PPT coming back.

TORT REFORM BILLS INTRODUCEDA package of bills was intro-

duced this month by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Twp) that would make Michigan a more appealing place for physicians to practice medicine. Kahn, a physician him-self, said the changes are neces-sary to retain and attract physi-cians to the state.

The package of bills was report-ed to the Senate Insurance Com-mittee. The bills seek to close a loophole that allows unnecessary medical malpractice suits to be filed. It also would require legal disclosures from trial lawyers to physicians notifying that them of their lawsuit.

Forward your questionsor concerns to Eric at:

[email protected]

For a candidate to receive the Associations endorsement they will need the recommen-dation of staff, approval of the President and Government Af-fairs Chair.

What is your roll? Be involved, be proactive, get to know your

Candidate Endorsement Policycandidates and back those that understand and back the business of golf. Bring state candidates and issues to your staff for consider-ation. We will not be successful without your participation. Con-tact the MGCOA with your en-dorsement recommendations.


by Tom Schwark, Owner of Sycamore Hills Golf Course in Macomb and chair of the MGCOA Government Affairs Committee

Please join us for Legislative Day 2012On Monday June 13, 2012 the golf

industry will team together for Leg-islative Day to be held on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Lansing. The MGCOA will be joined by the PGA, GAM, Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, Golf Architects, Turfgrass Foundation, and the Michigan and Detroit Club Managers Association. The pur-pose of Legislative Day is to make our elected state officials aware of the golf industry, and the positive impact our industry has on the state in terms of jobs, economic

impact, greenbelts, land values, and tourism.

Our goal is to have someone in the golf industry from every dis-trict in the state. We surely won’t have someone from every district in the U.P., but the more people we have, the better. Please come to Lansing to meet your state senator and representative.

We get a great turnout from all the legislators and their staffs. We have a golf outing type of lunch with hamburgers, hot dogs, sau-sages, potato salad, etc. We also

Legislative Bulletin

have some hitting cages attended by golf pros to give swing tips to the politicians, some of whom ac-tually admit that they don’t know everything and will actually try to listen and follow the pro’s sug-gestions. Imagine that! We hold Legislative Day in June, when golf courses are fully staffed. Try to get away from the course for at least a part of the day and come to Lansing. It will be good for you to meet your elected officials on their turf and it will be good for our golf industry. I hope to see you there.

Continued on page 8

Rick Smith, Larry Mancour and Jack Seltzer, all PGA profession-als, and Grand Rapids senior amateur Jack Van Ess, who vowed to his parents that he nev-er would play on Sunday, were inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame on May 20, 2012, at Michigan State’s University Club.

The Michigan Golf Foundation also presented a special award to Michigan State University’s Turf Team of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences for its outstanding work in improving the quality of golf course turf statewide and internationally.

The multi -talented Smith worked as an assistant profes-sional in Lakeland, Fla., and taught collegian Lee Janzen, who went on to win two U.S. Open titles, and also taught PGA Tour players Rocco Mediate and Billy Andrade. A good player himself, but more interested in teaching, Smith, 54, has worked with Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Jack’s son Gary, Matt Kuchar and John Daly.

Smith returned to his native

Michigan Golf HOF inducts new membersMichigan in 1986. As the new golf director at Sylvan (now Treetops) Resort in Gaylord and, after over-seeing the opening of its Robert Trent Jones course, Smith talked owner Harry Melling into hiring Tom Fazio to do a second course. Then Melling gave Smith the go-ahead to build a unique par-3 layout. It became Threetops, the site of the Par 3 Shootout on ESPN that featured the greatest players in the game, including Lee Trevino, who made a $1 million ace in 2007.

Flint native Mancour, 77, is also multitalented. He taught with Tony Lema at Golden Gate Fields driv-ing range in California, built the second nine holes at Lake Tahoe Country Club, won the Arizona Open and played the PGA Tour.

Mancour returned to Michigan to play in the Buick Open. He stayed, and built Grand Blanc Golf Club, then added nine holes at the Flint Elks where he was the professional for 20 years. Mancour was named Michigan Player of the Year twice as well as the Golf Professional of the Year, winner of the Michigan PGA, Se-

nior PGA, Senior Open, Northern Michigan PGA champion, winner of seven team championships, Na-tional PGA Quarter Century and Senior championships in the PGA Winter Series in Florida.

Jack Seltzer, 60, is another Flint native who started young in golf. He won the Class A high school championship in 1967 while at Flint Southwestern and was Flint Junior champion in 1969, junior college champion in 1971 and ‘72 and has won all three major state championships - the Open, the Match Play and the PGA.

The best shot of Seltzer’s ca-reer came in the final round on the ninth hole of the Bear in the 1987 Michigan Open. The ninth is all carry over water and Selt-zer aced the hole. A television camera caught it and the video went national as Seltzer rolled on to win. He currently is at the Kendall Academy and, over his years of teaching, he’s had 32 high school all-state players, 11 Michigan Dream Team players


Each year, new and clever ways of creating success in our industry pop up on the horizon. Was that your idea? The Scott Family Educational Support Foundation was estab-lished to help support the creative and innovative ways we do busi-ness in the golf industry, right here in Michigan. The ESF sponsors two distinctive awards for that purpose: The Dul Family Player Development Leadership Award and the John Dodge “Carpe Diem” Award.

The Dul Family Player Develop-ment Leadership Award recognizes an MGCOA’s members’ initiative in player development and reten-tion. We reward the best on-going programs that overcome the per-ceived barriers to playing golf such as time, cost and intimidation. This

recognition is presented to any MGCOA member, whether a 9 hole operation or more that has dem-onstrated creativity and success in growing the game.

The John Dodge “Carpe Diem” Award goes to an employee of an MGCOA member that has shown creativity and innovation in any area of the golf business, from front of the house to back of the kitchen and out to the cart barn. This individual has come up with something that has ei-ther made the business more money (a product, as an example) or saved the business more money (stream-lined a procedure, technology, etc.).

Both of these awards will be announced at the Michigan Golf Busi-ness Conference and Vendor Fair this year being held Nov 28 -29 at the Ba-

by Kate Moore, MGCOA Executive Director

MGCOA 2012 ESF awards avaiable

From the Executive Director

varian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth. Full details on how to apply are on the MGCOA website, www.mgcoa.org.

So, start putting your notes together, taking pictures and gather-ing testimonials from your success stories. You will find the outline of criteria for applying for the Dul Family Player Development Lead-ership Award and the John Dodge “Carpe Diem” Award at www.mgcoa.org/education. And remember, ev-ery golf course that offers a player development program, is a winner! And every golf course that has mo-tivated, creative staff, ditto!

and one Miss Golf Michigan. Jack Van Ess is the most unusual

of all 98 members of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame; he didn’t play on Sunday and consequently only played tournaments that ended on Saturday. He led the Western Michi-gan Amateur five times going into Sunday and then withdrew.

Nevertheless, Van Ess, 84, has had a sterling career. He’s won the State Senior Open and Senior Ama-teur, the only player to make that double. He won the Dale Morey Society of Seniors event in South Carolina and World Super Seniors 80 and over in North Carolina. He won the club championship at Green Ridge CC, which morphed into Egypt Valley, 10 times over four decades.

The special award to MSU’s Turf Team marks the second time the Michigan Golf Foundation has recognized an important contribu-tion to golf in the state. The Buick Open was honored in 2008 for its half-century of bringing the game’s best players to Michigan.

Golf HOF inducteesContinued from page 7


The Golden Rulesfor Golf Tournaments

1. Have a clear plan and purpose 2. Money Raised must go to a worthwhile cause 3. A Volunteer Committee is the secret to your success. 4. A Committee must be trained, motivated and have contacts 5. The Right format brings more golfers and raises more money 6. Golfers play because of the golf course 7. Give your sponsors return on their investment 8. Golfers play because their friend asks them 9. Promote to a targeted market

10. Your event will be judged by the gifts and prizes you give out 11. Games and Contests should generate 25% more money 12. Give yourself 6 months to plan 13. Auctions raise BIG money when done right 14. Give your golfers more and they will pay you more 15. Turn your awards ceremony into a party 16. Make everyone a winner 17. Stay in touch with golfers and sponsors throughout the year 18. Enjoy the process

For these ideas and many more feel free to contact one of our GTAA Certified GolfTournament Consultants or email us at: [email protected]/consultants/

Good luck with your next event!Phil [email protected]


The business of operatinga golf course has never been more challenging.Whatever type of golf operation you run, MGCOA can help. MGCOA is at the capitol representing the interests of golf course owners in Michigan. For decades we have partnered with our members to work through golf’s market cycles and myriad business issues. We have a unique understanding of what owners and operators like you face daily - and we offer the tools needed to succeed in the complex and competitive business of golf.

Why you should belong to the MGCOAWhy You Should Belong!The MGCOA is an organization that represents the interests of local golf course owners and operators. We offer a forum for our members to consider the issues of operation, management, development, and promotion of golf at privately held; public and private access golf courses. Through our educational opportunities we assist our members in becoming more profitable and knowledgeable business owners.

If your golf course isn’t on this list, let us put it there. Simply give us a call and become part of “The Voice of Michigan Golf Business.”

800-860-8575www.mgcoa.org


Club CarCOMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION TO THE NGCOA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND GOLF OUTING FOR MEMBERS RENEWING ORCONVERTING THEIR FLEETVisit www.clubcar.com or contact Rutledge Baker at (800) 933-4262, ext. 270 or [email protected].

NGCOA Insurance Program: Property and CasualtyInsurance • Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Allied Insurance$150 SAVINGS ON BUILDING APPRAISALS AND 80% DISCOUNT ON BACKGROUND CHECKSVisit www.ngcoa.org/insuranceprogram or contact Mike McCoy at (515) 440-8403 or [email protected].

NGCOA Insurance Program: Group Life, Short-TermDisability, Long-Term Disability • Gallagher BenefitService, Inc. and Lincoln Financial Group15% SAVINGS AND TWO-YEAR PREMIUM RATE GUARANTEE ON GROUP LIFE, SHORT-TERM DISABILITY AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE Visit www.ngcoa.org/insuranceprogram or contact Kent McLaughlin at (515) 681-9999 or [email protected].

Food & Related Services • entegra Procurement Services, brought toyou by International Club Suppliers (ICS)7% -15% COST SAVINGS AND ACCESS TO MORE THAN 400 LEADING FOOD AND BEVERAGE SUPPLIERSVisit www.intlclubsuppliers.com or contact Jim Bailey at (813) 994-4680 or [email protected].

Credit Card Processing • ETS Corporation $200 DISCOUNT ON ALL WIRELESS POS SYSTEMS, GIFT AND LOYALTY PROGRAMS, POS CHECK AND ATM SERVICES, AND FREE CREDIT CARD TERMINALS AND RECEIPT PAPERVisit www.etsms.com or contact Hadi Akkad at (703) 421-9101, ext. 205 or [email protected].

Beverage Supplier • Pepsi-Cola Company $1.10 REBATE PER GALLON ON PEPSI BRAND POST-MIX FOUNTAIN PRODUCTSVisit www.pepsico.com or contact Stephanie Cardin at (866) PEP-GOLF or [email protected].

Turf Equipment & Irrigation Systems • The Toro Company 1% REBATE ON NEW COURSE PURCHASES AND PURCHASES MADE BY COURSES CONVERTING FROM A COMPETING SUPPLIERVisit www.toro.com or contact Grant Young at (952) 887-8390 or [email protected].

Rental Cars • AVIS and BudgetDISCOUNTS UP TO 25% ON RENTALSAvis: Visit https://www.avis.com/car-rental/profile/go.ac?G979400.

Budget: Visit http://www.budgetcarrental.com/budget/assoc/index.html?R025300.

Or for Avis and Budget contact Debbie Arett at (404) 577-5450 or [email protected].

Beverage Supplier • Gatorade$.30 REBATE PER CASE PURCHASEDVisit www.pepsico.com or contact Stephanie Cardin at (866) PEP-GOLF or [email protected].

To better serve members, the NGCOA has forged relationships with the industry's leading suppliers of products and services for golf operations. These organizations have extended members-only pricing, rebates and value-added packages exclusively to NGCOA members.

Members SaveThrough the NGCOA’sPurchasing Network

PREMIER PARTNER

PREFERRED SUPPLIERS

SMART BUY SUPPLIERS

ACTIVATE THESE COST-SAVING BENEFITS TODAY!Visit www.ngcoa.org/purchasingnetworkNot a member? Join the NGCOA today and you too can take advantage of these member exclusive benefits. Learn more at www.ngcoa.org/circle or call Joe Rice at (800) 933-4262, ext. 222.

ive benefits.

Calculate your

potential savings online @ www.ngcoa.org/smartbuy


603 South Washington AvenueSuite 303Lansing, MI 48933(517) 482-4312www.mgcoa.org

Address Service Requested

Tee-Off Times is published by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, editor – Kate Moore. MGCOA offices are located at 603 S. Washington, Suite 303, Lansing, MI 48933. Phone (517) 482-4312, Fax (517) 267-8984. Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the view or position of the MGCOA. MGCOA’s position on key issues will be clearly stated. Manuscripts are accepted at the approval of the editor who reserves the right to reject or edit. Appearance in the Tee-Off Times does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, not does Tee-Off Times make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer and reserves the right to reject any advertising deemed unsuitable. Advertising rates and other information available upon request.

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May/Jun 2012 Tee-Off Times