Le 1er salon de l - Association des Surintendants de Golf du Québec

The Quebec Golf Industry TradeshowA Roundtable That LeftParticipants Wanting MoreBy combining forces to establish a constructive dialogue on the occasion of the first ever Quebec Golf IndustryTradeshow last February 21 to 23 in Saint-Hyacinthe, the members of the Quebec Golf Superintendents Association(QGSA) and Quebec Golf Course Owners Association (ATGQ) have certainly taken a step in the right direction. Therewere many people at the round table, and some participants were generous enough to bring the ingredients neededto make the recipe a success. However, there’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip!by Daniel CazaSpecial collaborationDuring this first get-together of its kind, theingredients suggested for revitalizing the industry—whichhas great need indeed of beingstirred up a little—were, for the most part, thesame ones that you can smell as soon as youenter the house: a more user-friendly reception,more considerate service, greater courtesy insharing information and, of course, more affordablecosts for young people and familiesin order to ensure a sufficient supply of futureplayers.As for the other ingredients, the ones that makethe recipe more substantial and add lasting flavour,there weren’t many on the table.“Nevertheless, it was a very positive development,”affirmed QGSA President Jacques Lessard.“There are more and more people whograsp the problem and the urgency of takingaction, regardless of the fact that we all haveour own separate challenges to deal with.”So notwithstanding the size of the budget theyspend on keeping their courses and facilities ingood condition, those in charge of day-to-dayoperations recognize that they have to do theirpart to attract new golfers.How?By ensuring that people who take up golf TAKEDELIGHT in this activity, which is only one ofa hundred available options for healthy recreation.Easier said than done ...As we all know, there haven’t been any line-ups(or, even less so, waiting lists) at golf clubs fora number of years now. That fact has given riseto a wide range of marketing strategies to attractclients in search of the best deal. However,clubs tempted to go that route risk getting caughtup in price wars and, at the end of the day,having to deliver an inferior product becausetheir revenues are insufficient to pay the final billand provide the promised playing conditions.Promoting trainingAsked what other ingredients would be goodadditions to the recipe for bringing golfers’participation rates up to more attractive levels,Jacques Lessard first mentions the training providedto superintendents and grounds maintenancestaff.“The Association is a big promoter of trainingand the skills that superintendents must haveto do a good job,” he explains. “Many membersattend training sessions and conferencesin other countries to see how they do thingselsewhere and whether those practices andproducts are suitable for golf courses here inQuebec.”Efforts like those are what gives a dish its depthof flavour. But the average golfer doesn’t hearabout those efforts, and sees them even less.He might catch their scent, but it’s a faint aroma,a little like a dish that has just been takenout of the freezer.12 Printemps 2011