Our 21st Century Club series will examine the five key factors that now stand to separate the winners from the losers among those properties that remain.
Print remains a viable medium in the digital world for a variety of reasons, including its portability; the comfort factor of holding a magazine, book or newspaper in your hands; the attraction of not reading from a screen or monitor; and because a lot of people still just like it.
Plus, as a buddy of mine once commented, you can’t light a fire with a laptop. Interesting.
We also know that readers look forward to receiving their copy of Club & Resort Business with a certain degree of anticipation about the content in each issue. To that end, we are pleased to present you with the first installment of a five-part series of Special Reports planned for this year that we are calling “The 21st Century Club.”
The shakeout of the club industry has now pretty much run its course, and properties that were properly positioned to make it through one of the most challenging periods to ever confront the industry can now focus on their long-term strategies, rather than on short-term survival. At the same time, the new wave of ownership and management that swooped in to scoop up many distressed properties is poised to try to make its mark on the club business.
But while the worst may now be behind us, the fundamental formula for success in the club industry has changed radically, and permanently. Our 21st Century Club series will examine the five key factors that now stand to separate the winners from the losers among those properties that remain—and that aspire to remain viable throughout the 21st century, and beyond.
The plan is to share the lessons learned from notable club success stories and failures. And we’ll be drawing on expert commentary and insights from club managers, consultants and other leading industry observers.
This issue presents Part 1: Governance, to look at the new order for club structure and governance that has emerged as a result of the recent challenges facing the industry. Joe Barks and his editorial team report on how club properties are now rethinking fundamental issues relating to their public or private club status, tax structure, and the makeup and interrelationships of Boards, committees and management.
The club concept for social and athletic activities and camaraderie among like-minded members remains at the core of long-term success. Still, there is no doubt that a more focused and professional approach to strategic and day-to-day management is equally important. Some clubs are further along this path than others. We hope this special report provides insight that will either confirm the direction your club is headed, or provide some useful guidance.
As described on page 20, the remainder of this year’s 21st Century Club series will include in-depth looks at: Growing Golf; Membership; Grounds & Facilities; and Management.
The show season for our market is about to begin, and we look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando, San Diego or Denver in the coming weeks and months. And we’d like to hear more about what you are doing to make your club a success in the 21st Century.
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