The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and to look forward to the opportunities that the future offers.
The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and to look forward to the opportunities that the future offers.
2022 was a year of change for me and there were plenty of enjoyable moments. Last spring, I joined the Club + Resort Business staff as an Associate Editor. I’ve enjoyed connecting with club leaders and learning about the challenges they face. Last fall, I took a trip to Omaha, Neb., where I met with officials at Champions Run and Field Club of Omaha, toured their facilities and learned about the programs they offered. Last month, I found a great winter practice site when I visited BigShots Golf at Firestone, a new golf and entertainment venue in Akron, Ohio.
While the new job has been rewarding, it was not my favorite part of 2022. The highlight? My three sons (ages 22, 20 and 16) and I played more golf together this past year than in any previous year. When my children were younger, we played plenty of basketball, baseball and football together. As they grew older and started hanging out with their friends, those spirited games became less common and I missed that bonding time. None of my sons were particularly drawn to golf as they grew up and I’ve always let them pursue their own interests.
I suppose it’s possible my new job put golf on their radars because all three decided they wanted to tee it up more this past year. The reason for their change of heart is irrelevant. What matters is that I enjoyed spending time with them on the fairways and greens and watching them go through the same roller coaster of emotions I’ve experienced in almost four decades of playing. I offered an occasional tip, but mostly let them figure things out through trial and error. It was certainly easy to buy Christmas presents for them. They each received golf balls, tees and a clubface cleaner. Santa brought them a cornhole-style chipping game that can be played indoors and outdoors. My oldest son gave me a new chipping mat that we are using in conjunction with the chipping game, and my aunt also “chipped in” with a putting practice mat. All of these items are now set up in my basement. If we make good use of these products in the winter, our short games should be second-to-none come spring.
I think these rounds with my sons prompted me to focus on efforts to draw young people and other newcomers to golf. Last year, as part of our Club + Resort Talks podcast, I interviewed Jarred Gomez from Kemper Sports about a program designed to attract young people to golf. I also wrote about innovative short course designs offered at Belmont Golf Course in Belmont, Va., and Mountain Top Golf Course in Hollister, Mo. An upcoming story will discuss Field Club of Omaha’s effort to boost membership by offering complimentary golf lessons to golf members. The club also offered the program in an effort to bring more women and youth to the game.
There is a wide range of golf trends that will be interesting to follow in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people either discovered golf or re-discovered the game. Can the heightened interest in golf that occurred during the pandemic continue in the ensuing years? Many clubs have a loyal group of people who have played and will continue playing golf on a regular basis. The trick is whether the interest levels of new and casual golfers can be sustained or enhanced during the next few years.
On the environmental front, efforts to reduce the amount of water and fertilizers used on golf courses are issues that many club leaders will continue to tackle. On the C+RB website, we highlighted stories on these topics and I anticipate following these issues this year.
I expect 2023 to be fun and busy. I will attend three industry conferences, visit more clubs, interview club leaders, record more Club + Resort Talks podcasts with my colleague, Rob Thomas, write more stories about club industry issues, and showcase more products through unboxing videos. Of course, my sons and I will hit the links again and share some more bonding time.
I’m interested in hearing from club leaders. Do you have any new year’s resolutions that you’d like to share? What projects and goals are you hoping to accomplish in 2023? Drop me a line at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you a happy, healthy and productive 2023.
Phil Keren,
Senior Editor
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