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FAR & WIDECrow donates $100,000 ToEnvironmental InstituteTom Crow, founder of Cobra Golfand former Australia Amateur golfchampion, contributed $100,000 toThe Environmental Institute forGolf, the philanthropic organizationof the GCSAA.Crow won club championships atKingston Heath, Royal Melbourneand Royal Sydney. He also won the1952 Victorian Close Championship,the 1956 Victorian Amateur Championshipand the 1957 Victorian Championof Champions, setting a courserecord of 63 on Royal Melbourne’sWest Course. In 1973, Crow and hisfamily moved to the United States,and with $60,000 he founded CobraGolf Inc., dedicated to bringing thebest in equipment at an affordableprice to golfers at all experience levels.Endorsed by the likes of Normanand Hale Irwin, Cobra’s selling pricemore than two decades later was$750 million, highlighting a phenomenalfinancial success story thathas had a vital impact on the game.Crow developed the legendary“Baffler," a utility wood that begana race by nearly all other golf companiesto recreate. He initiated theGovernment Seizes Counterfeit Sprayersthree-wedge system, created thefirst extra-length driver and reintroducedgraphite shafts to the marketfor lighter-weight clubs. Crow’s contributionson behalf of the gamecontinue today and include his rolein bringing the life story of famousgolfer Bobby Jones to movie screensin “Bobby Jones — Stroke of Genius.”He was awarded the 2003Ernie Sabayrac Award by the PGA ofAmerica for “life contribution tothe golf industry."Crow has also committed to anotherthree-year term on The Institute’sAdvisory Council.“Tom Crow has been a friend toThe Institute for many years,” saysGreg Norman, who heads the Institute.“His unwavering support, innovativeideas as well as his time and financialcontributions have helpedshape its strategic direction.”“I have been very fortunate tohave been around the great gameof golf my entire life," Crow says. “Iwanted to continue my commitmentto The Institute because of the importantrole environmental stewardshipplays with golf."American manufacturers scored a victoryin the war against trademark infringementwhen federal agents recentlyseized counterfeit Solo sprayers thatwere being exhibited at a show by Zhe-Jiang Shixia Sprayer Co., Ltd. of ZhejiangProvince, China.The U.S. Department of HomelandSecurity Immigration and CustomEnforcement got involved after Zhe-Jiang Shixia refused to remove theknockoff of a Solo Model 425 professionalbackpack sprayer from its exhibit.Three agents, including SupervisorySpecial Agent Michael J. Cestare,seized the sprayers being sold underthe SeeSa brand.The incident is the latest in a long listof trademark infractions involving Zhe-Jiang Shixia, according to Solo’s president,David Longfield. “We are very aggressivein the protection of our patentsand trademarks, and have had repeatedcommunications and confrontation withZheJiang Shixia over the last severalyears,” he adds.What’s on CourseOwners’ MindsThe nation’s largest golfcourse ownership groupsare in deal-making moodswith their sights set ongetting even bigger in theyear to come, according toa survey conducted at the2007 Multi-Course OwnersLeadership Retreat hosted by the NationalGolf Course Owners Association.They also see their own employees as thekey to attracting golfers to their courses,and feel it’s mostly the responsibility oflocal facilities to grow the game.The companies surveyed own or operateseven or more courses in the U.S. andworldwide.The largest number of attendees (44percent) said they planned to increasetheir golf course holdings in the next 12months through acquisition. That numberwas up from 29 percent a year ago.Seventeen percent said they planned tosell courses in the next year, and 25 percentsaid their plans included acquisitionand disposition.A highly engaging and well-trainedstaff is the most effective tool in motivatinggolfers to choose one facility over another,according to 43 percent of the respondents.A “value-added” experience,which might include a free golf carrental, range balls or a restaurant credit,was the top choice of 25 percent of theowners and operators, while only 10 percentsaid discounting green fees is thebest way to attract customers.When it comes to adding newgolfers and increasing participationrates among existing golfers, most (40percent) think that’s the shared responsibilityof golf courses at the local levelwith support from national governingbodies such as the PGA of America, theUSGA or the PGA Tour.The owners said they intend to increasemarketing to women (73 percent) morethan any other group in the next year.6 Golf Advantage Fall 2007