Page 46 - GBC Winter 2020 ENG

As my time as president of this great association draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the past couple of years. It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride, but one that I am extremely proud of. After a challenging 2019 season in my region, I was heading into 2020 with a new vision that I felt would ensure my success for 2020 and beyond. And then COVID-19 hit!
We had no way of knowing the impact COVID would have on our world and our industry. Tireless work by the NGCOA Canada family and our partner associations helped us carve out our place in the pandemic. We insisted that we could make golf safe for our customers, and governments and health authorities across the country agreed. Despite what seemed like a daunting list of protocols, we found a way to make it work and even managed to have a pretty great year.
Across the country, we experienced a marked increase in ‘new to golf’ customers running the full range of demographics. With this onslaught of fresh faces, our minds turned to the future. Our job became, more than ever, to ensure that their experience was at the level that they would fall in
The Parting Shot
Staying connected is more important than ever
46 Golf Business Canada
love, not only with the great game of golf, but with the product that we offer at all the unique golf facilities across the country.
If you are anything like me, you are asking yourself ‘now what’? There are so many uncertainties heading into next season. Will it be a repeat of 2020? The buying shows would have been in full swing right now, so what are you doing about your pro shop inventory? Are you making capital asset purchases that you had been putting off or are you extra cautious and saving for the unknown? What about your food & beverage operation – how are the current restrictions affecting your strategic decisions for 2021?
I am asking myself those same questions, as are many of your peers across the country. It’s for these reasons that I am encouraging you to get involved and stay connected to your association, the NGCOA Canada. Now is not the time for isolation within the industry. We are advocating on your behalf every day and are working hard at creating spaces and events that help you stay connected to each other and to your golfers.
It is a different world right now so we pivoted our annual conference, the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show and our GOLFEXPOs across the country to virtual events. They are still face-to-face, just not in person. As owners and operators, we really need to support these initiatives and each other. ‘We will get through this together’ is a common phrase these days so let’s make that a reality in the golf industry.
I hope you have all registered for the 2020 Virtual Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, which will feel different, but as always, will inspire and educate us. I also encourage you explore the tremendous marketing opport- unities the virtual GOLFEXPOs can provide you.
As the season winds down, I wish you all some well-deserved down time and look forward to connecting with you on November 23-25 during our virtual conference.
Sincerely,
Lesley McMahon
Owner, Balmoral Golf Course, AB President, NGCOA Canada lesley@balmoralgolf.ca
Message From The NGCOA Canada President – Lesley McMahon