Page 18 - GBC Eng.summer2020

FUTURE THINKING FOR GOLF COURSE OWNERS AND OPERATORS
While looking into his own crystal ball, Johnston, whose company now serves more than 3,000 clients worldwide, opines, “Everything will change for the near term, to be sure. The lasting effects of the epidemic are subject to speculation for now.”
On April 7th, Johnston’s firm, GGA Partners, gathered its team of trusted advisors and thought lead- ers for the express purpose of developing strategic tenets to guide GGA clients across the globe. The following are glimpses of impacts for golf course owners and operators:
1. Expect Longevity
Murray Blair and Fred Laughlin, directors at GGA Partners, observe that the effects of the epidemic will be lasting and may be sortable now into certain phases:
a.Pre-Vaccine. Until a reliable vaccine is developed, tested, and made available for widespread usage, conditions for most clubs will change only slightly from our current COVID-19 reality. Baseline operational methods will change significantly as partial and full closures are showing operators and members new, and more attractive in some
cases, methods that satisfy members’ concerns for caution and dining at their clubs. Many clubs will find that demand for dining options at the club is grow- ing as so many previously compet- itive restaurants are closed.
Michael Gregory, a partner at GGA, expects that operating costs will vary widely. Cleaning/main- tenance budgets will increase substantially as golfers/members want to experience highly obvious signs of the club owner’s emphasis on sanitary conditions, cleanliness, and personal safety for members and staff. Labour costs will vary widely based upon local supply/
demand balance as many workers will be less mobile than before.
McCorriston has challenged his managers with a simple state- ment, “Stop complaining about the lack of resources. Let’s focus on being resourceful.”
b.Post-Vaccine. After a vaccine has been found and put into use, golfers/members will renew their active usage of golf courses differently. Bennett DeLozier, a GGA manager, observed that golfers who previously were nonchalant on matters of strate- gic planning at your course will
18
Golf Business Canada
COVID-19 Best Practices for Golf Operations
Please take time to review this with your management team online at www.ngcoa.ca/resources/4679/best-practices
Education and effective communication with your staff and your golfers is critical right now for the success of your business. The NGCOA Canada has assembled a comprehensive list of Best Practices from operators across the country for all your facility’s departments: including Food & Beverage, Clubhouse, Golf Operations, Turf & Maintenance, and overall Workplace Safety.