The event created to honor Ned Welc, the long-time GM/COO for The Mayfield Sand Ridge Club, included a Ryder Cup-style golf competition between “North” and “South” teams of 16 attending club managers. The two-day event included best-practice discussion sessions and networking receptions and meals, and also raised donations for The First Tee of Central Ohio and a local children’s hospital.
General managers from 16 Ohio clubs competed in the inaugural E-Z-GO Ned Welc Cup, held in South Euclid, Ohio on September 11-12 at the Mayfield Campus golf course of The Mayfield Sand Ridge Club.
The Ryder Cup-style match pitted “North” and “South” teams of the Ohio GMs, with the “South” prevailing to be the first winner of the Welc Cup, named to honor Mayfield Sand Ridge’s long-time GM/COO, Ned Welc, CCM, CCE, who is now a Partner with GSI Executive Search.
In addition to golf, the two-day event also included discussion sessions where the general managers shared best practices, along with networking receptions and meals at the Mayfield campus clubhouse.
The event also raised $500 that was donated to the First Tee of Central Ohio, and $250 for Rainbow Babies Children’s Hospital of Cleveland.
The event was organized by Frank Cisterino, President of Lake Erie Golf Cars of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, an E-Z-GO, Cushman and Yamaha distributor that was named E-Z-GO’s Distributor of the Year for 2017.
Cisterino was assisted in organizing the first Welc Cup by Charlie Wood, PGA, now a consultant for Lake Erie Golf Cars after retiring after 39 years as Mayfield Sand Ridge’s Director of Golf.
“I’ve wanted to put on this event on for several years, and with the assistance of Charlie Wood, we’ve been able to make it a reality,” Cisterino says. “I’m also glad we were able to put Ned Welc’s name on the event, because he has meant so much to the Ohio group [of GMs] and the club industry.
“My goal is now to grow the event over the years, rotating between [locations] in the north and south parts of Ohio,” Cisterino adds. “For years, I’ve been fortunate to work with many club managers throughout the state, and one of my favorite events has always been the Greater Cleveland managers’ annual golf outing.
“The goal of the Welc Cup is to expand the value of those kinds of events throughout Ohio, so more GMs can network and share best practices and develop wonderful camaraderie, along with having some fun while enjoying great golf and food and beverages at a host club. And just as importantly, to raise some money for charities of choice from both the north and south regions.”
Some of the best-practice topics that were discussed as part of the inaugural Welc Cup, Cisterino reports, including working with architects on design and renovation projects, employee challenges, the changing nature of hospitality and the private club industry, new golf car technology, and vendor relationships.
“[The first Welc Cup event] was truly one of the highlights of my career of 22 years in our industry,” Cisterino says. “And we are already planning the 2019 matches.”
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