Page 8 - GBC Spring 2021 English

Message From The CEO, NGCOA Canada • Jeff Calderwood
The First Tee
Boldly Going Where No Conference Has Gone Before
Some said it couldn’t be done. Some said it needed to be free. Some said nobody would show up. Some said the NGCOA Canada would lose money trying. Some said just cancel it for 2020...
Well, the NGCOA Canada defied those odds and delivered our 2020 edition of the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show as a virtual event, and it was a resounding success!
Attendance was strong; there were more educational sessions than ever before; the trade show platform was a big hit; the receptions provided excellent video networking; the closing keynote was very interactive; the exit surveys rated as highly as other years; and the NGCOA Canada even surpassed budget.
So, kudos to all those involved. Of particular note, one of the many reasons why NGCOA Canada COO, Nathalie Lavallée, was recently awarded SCOREGolf’s 2020 Canadian Golf Executive of the Year, was her leadership converting our conference to this virtual event so effectively. Congratulations, Nathalie, very well deserved!
This issue of Golf Business Canada Magazine features several of those speakers and sessions from the conference. The cover story, by golf journalist Rick Young, captures various highlights such as the State of the Industry Panel Discussion, the Operational Town Hall, and Closing Keynote.
Other great articles include Cust- omer Service in the Wake of COVID-19, Hiring and Employment Contracts, Retaining Your New Customers, and the winning business strategies from the Canadian Idea session. I am sure you will benefit from the content of this issue, but don’t miss next year’s Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show to capitalize on the full potential of the best education, networking, and fun with your peers!
The 2020 NGCOA Canada AGM was also conducted virtually, and I am pleased to share that the yearend reports showed a very successful year despite the COVID-19 disruptions. As I noted at the time, our approval rating among golf course owners and operators has never been higher, due in large part to how effectively we have been leading through the pandemic.
On behalf of the membership, a special thank you to outgoing President, Lesley McMahon, for two years of great leadership. It has been my pleasure to work closely with her. Congratulations to incoming President, Harry Brotchie, whose experience and dedication to the NGCOA Canada will no doubt carry on effectively from where Lesley left off.
All the best for a healthy and successful 2021 golf season!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
8 Golf Business Canada