Mother Nature’s wrath hasn’t kept Innis Arden GC from providing full services to its members, thanks largely to the confidence it draws from reliable insurance protection.
In the last three years, clubs and golf courses in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. have been pummeled by a series of four significant weather events that caught many properties by surprise, both in terms of their timing and severity. An early-spring snowstorm in March 2011 brought down trees across those regions, followed by the pinballing track of Hurricane Irene, which made landfall in North Carolina, Little Egg Inlet, N.J., and New York City.
Then there was the “Halloween Nor’easter” in 2011, which piled heavy snow on trees before they had lost their leaves, bringing significant damage and especially challenging cleanup chores. Then, of course, came Superstorm Sandy in 2012, which caused an estimated $25 billion in insured losses.
One property that took blows from all of these events was Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, Conn., a 590-member club founded in 1899. In addition to an 18-hole golf course that was renovated in 2006, amenities at Innis Arden include aquatics, seven Har-tru tennis courts (four of which are covered by a bubble for winter play), a newly constructed poolhouse that includes a fitness center, bowling alley, tennis shop and café, and a clubhouse that includes four dining rooms, as well as a dining deck overlooking the first tee.
As Bonnie Bocchino, CCM, who became Innis Arden’s General Manager in 2012, steered this special property through the last of the series of challenges posed by Mother Nature, she drew confidence from the fact that she and her staff wouldn’t have to go it alone, and could draw needed support from the club’s long-term partnership with PREFERRED CLUB, the specialty insurance program for golf and country clubs from Venture Programs, as well as Rand Insurance, the local agents based in nearby Greenwich, Conn. (The carrier for most of the club’s coverage is Chubb.)
Innis Arden had damage from all of the storms, Bocchino reports, culminating in claims from Sandy that “were the most substantial since I have been here.” (Bocchino started at Innis Arden as Clubhouse Manager in 2002.) But through it all, she says, her insurance partners “have been nothing but accommodating, given the severity of damage to our surrounding area.”
Immediately after Sandy hit, Bocchino reports, an adjuster visited the club to help begin the process of assessing, and addressing, damages. The most immediate concern, she says, was that the club’s irrigation system had been flooded. A home on the property had also sustained water damage.
Rand and PREFERRED CLUB stepped up immediately in the storm’s aftermath, Bocchino reports, providing funds even before the first claim had been submitted, to help ensure minimal disruption to the club’s operations. “To this day, we are still submitting claims [from Sandy],” she notes.
Everyday Assurances
Even when it is not dealing with unexpected situations brought by Mother Nature, the Innis Arden operating team has concerns that need special attention from its insurance partners. The club owns three homes and the golf course is divided by a road that splits the property into two municipalities, Stamford and Old Greenwich. These situations can “be an issue for a lot of carriers,” Bocchino has found. But the local agents at Rand have been able to successfully market the club to prospective insurance carriers, she notes, making it “a no-brainer for us to stay with them and PREFERRED CLUB.”
Having a close working relationship with Rand as the local agent—in terms of distance, as well as experience—has also helped to facilitate efficiency and peace of mind, Bocchino says. “Any time there is an issue, they are a phone call away and can be here within the hour if needed,” she explains. “Any issue we have regarding claims, they have always been top-notch.
“Having someone local who knows the culture and the town you live in, and the expectations of the members, is very important,” she adds. “While you may sometimes be quoted lower [premiums] from companies that aren’t local, the one-on-one relationships you gain [through local representation], and from working with [providers] that understand the issues that clubs face is vital.”
Bocchino still bids out the club’s coverage each year. “If it’s a matter of nickels and dimes, it’s just not worth it,” she says. “You want the club to be covered at the amount you can afford, and with minimal exposure.
“Overall, we’re looking for the value of what [providers] offer in terms of claims [response] and a history with similar establishments, as well as what they will extend to us in terms of coverage,” Bocchino explains. “Other companies may come in with slightly lower rates, but [upon closer inspection], it’s because they’re offering coverage that’s less than what we have.”
The Board of Directors at Innis Arden has also been happy with the protections and responsiveness the club has received from its agent and carrier, Bocchino reports. “Given our history and going back year-to-year, we are thankful [Rand and PREFERRED CLUB] are insuring us,” she adds. “It has been easy—and quite frankly, we don’t have to worry about it.”
Jim Seguljic, Rand Insurance’s marketing executive, says his agency’s successful long-term relationship with Innis Arden underscores key criteria that clubs should follow when seeking agents to help them secure needed insurance coverage.
“[Clubs] must understand and communicate the expectations they have, and determine their chosen agent’s ability to deliver on those expectations,” Seguljic notes.
Paul A. Mercado, a Vice President with Rand, adds that there are several ways an agency and a club can work together to manage insurance costs. “It starts by being a superior risk to the insurance company and managing the club towards a goal of safety for its members and guests,” he notes. “The vendors the club uses should have the same mindset, and when claims occur, they should always be reviewed carefully, to determine future preventative measures or controls that could further enhance the club.”
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