NZ clubs told to
change approach
By David Newbery
leadership but were too afraid to ask.
New Zealand golf clubs have
been told they must change their
approach to doing business and
start to “think outside the square”
if they are to survive.
GMANZ president Steve Wallace said he was
impressed with the quality of speakers and
presenters.
That was the message delivered at the
biennial Golf Managers’ Association of New
Zealand (GMANZ) conference at Russley Golf
Club in Christchurch recently.
“The conference’s theme was Survival of
the Fittest and those clubs who are going to
survive are those that don’t keep on doing
what they have always been doing,” said
conference organiser Rod Latham, who is also
the general manager at Harewood Golf Club in
Christchurch.
“We (golf clubs) need to think outside the
square a little bit. “One of the presenters
talked about rationalisation and mergers and
I think there needs more of that happening.
“The question is; do some of the clubs make it
attractive to come to the golf club for reasons
other than golf?”
Also Mike Orloff from Golf Industry Central
spoke about the changes needed in
membership structure to fit to the differing
needs of young and old members.
Latham said keynote speaker Mike
Leemhuis, the Chief Operations Officer at the
Congressional Country Club in the US, had the
90 golf club managers and delegates sit up
and taking notice.
His spoke about the Emerging Trends Gauging
the Impact of National Trends and the ABC
of Leadership – all you need to know about
“We had speakers from the United States,
Australia and New Zealand and it certainly
was a step up from the conference two
years earlier,” he said. “Most of the speakers
addressed the topic (Survival of the Fittest)
although it was a little heavily weighted
with the presentations on leadership and
communications. At least two speakers spoke
on leadership and that would be my only
detracting comment.
“But the (GMANZ) board thought the
conference was a very well-staged event.
“The board was delighted with the product
given especially for what it cost to attend.’
Wallace said those who attended certainly
received excellent value for money.
“It cost $175 for a three-day conference for
speakers from the US, Australia and New
Zealand and included a golf tournament food
and a dinner. “All they had to pick up was a
couple of nights of accommodation. I thought
it was excellent value.” Latham said the
gabfest was the perfect opportunity for golf
club managers and delegates to get together
and discuss serious issues facing the golf
clubs.
“It was a good opportunity to catch up with
your peers and others in the golf industry,” he
said.
“We were very happy with attendance levels
and we had good numbers for the trade show
that ran for the two days rather than a couple
of hours.
“The trade exhibitors were very happy with
that format.
“We had all of our morning and after teas
and lunches in the trade marquee so it gave
our delegates the opportunity to get around
on a more informal basis and with less time
constraints.”
Wallace said plans were already under way for
the 2014 conference.
“I can’t tell you where that is, but I can tell you
it will be on the North Island,” he said.
“There are two regions, Central and Auckland,
bidding to host it.”
Whoever hosts the 2014 conference will
have the opportunity to set the theme and
decide whether to make the conference more
inclusive.
Some golf industry members believe the
conference should include the course
superintendents’ association, the PGA and the
country’s ruling amateur body, New Zealand
Golf.
“There are those who think the conference
should be a little more workshop orientated,”
Latham told Golf Industry Central.
“Our feedback is that our delegates don’t
want workshops. “Whoever is doing the
conference next time will certainly have all the
information and it will up to them to decide
what they want to do. “It will be either Central
or Auckland who set the theme for the next
conference.”
Golf Industry Central Spring 2012
15