Carolinas Green

Here's my latest column for the Carolinas Green, the Carolinas GCSA's official publication. It's a carry-over from my consulting days but I still love doing it. I write about the issues of the day with a special focus on our pals down there. This column touches on their show in Myrtle Beach last November and the state of golf/turf trade shows in general.

If you've never seen a copy of their magazine, it sometimes rivals anything being done by GCI or anyone in the industry. Trent Bouts, a very fine fellow who writes for us periodically, magically pulls a great publication out of his hat every two months. Frankly, the quality of Carolinas Green reflects the fact that this chapter does pretty much everything right. Their show, education programs, member service and staff should be the envy of any regional professional association.

That also makes them an 800-lb. gorilla politically and economically within GCSAA's sphere. Biggest chapter, biggest association revenues by far and exceedingly capable leadership and staff. It's the "Mini-Me" version of the national. If such things interest you, it's always wise to consider where the folks down South stand on any issue.

The Market Across the Pond

Pitchcare is sort of the British version of GCI...an inpendent alternative to the offical BIGGA pub. Here's their look at the recent BTME/BIGGA conference and show written by Laurence Gale of their team. Not surprisingly, the event was not immune to the same problems we have here.

Read the story here.

Meet the New Boss...

...he's the same as the old boss.

Rhett Evans is the new CEO of GCSAA.

The $20 Question: GCSAA's Proposed Dues Increase

In the midst of a GIS that will be scrutinized (as least by me and the 63 other blogging golf/turf writers) for participation, the GCSAA CEO question and as a benchmark on the overall health of the business, there's another interesting issue: bumping the national's dues by $20.

The association has made its case well (it's been a while, they already deferred the increase once and it's a small amount). If anyone cares, my humble opinion is that it's overdue, modest and if the $350,000+ it generates annually saves some member service jobs, it's a good thing.

Intentionally or not, the board sent a message to members when it let four very visible veteran employees go last year: things are serious and we need to manage expenses appropriately based on a gloomy revenue outlook. They've cut to the bone and they believe the dues increase matters to core member service. These are good men trying to do the right thing by members and the staff. It has to suck. I once again shake my head in amazement that anyone would agree to serve at that level and deal with this stuff as a second full-time job.

So, I think the increase is merited and it will pass. The men and women who come to the chapter meetings and delegates gatherings and who generally run things will say, "Sure. It's only $20."

But, the secondary question is whether this will become a hot-button issue for folks who believe it's another indication that GCSAA is out of touch with the needs of the grassroots membership. An increasing number of guys reach into their own pockets for dues and education. To them, $20 is meaningful. But, for far more folks, the $20 may simply be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

There will be grumbling and this will even seal the decision not to renew for some. It might be 5 or 50 or 500, but it certainly won't be close to the 2,000 or non-renewals it would take to nullify the revenue gained from the dues increase. Thus, the association will be ahead financially on the deal.

Yet, for every action there is a reaction. There will be some interesting hallway conversations and late-night lobby bar discussions about this in Orlando. But, the real measure of the impact of the increase won't come until next fall...when dues notices get sent out and we see just how many camels buckle under the final straw.

How to Manage Younger Employees

Try reading the rules, Shankopotomus!

Here's a great short piece from Harvard Business Review on how to overcome the challenges of managing younger employees.

Key quote:

The best managers of younger employees are people who would otherwise love teaching for a living. They prize helping others grow and tend to overexplain their reasoning for decisions. Rather than assuming that twenty-somethings possess enough experience or perspective to read between the lines of their choices, these managers take an extra few minutes to lay out pros and cons and diagram their rationale. Three short minutes of explanation usually make excellent junior employees excited, since they feel the immediate benefits of gaining insight into decision-making processes. It also makes them better at working for you and your company, because it teaches them how you think.

The fact is that you have to change your Boomer mindset in order to get the most of today's employees. Don't just think outside the box...throw the damn box away.

New Rule

I'll steal a bit from Bill Maher and institute an irregular feature here at Jonesy's World. Let's call it "New Rules."

Today's new rule is: No more pictures of superintendents with their course dog sitting next to them on a utility vehicle. It's been done. To death. Seriously. Enough.

And while we're at it, stop naming every damn course dog "Mulligan" or "Bogey."

That is all for today's installment of New Rules.

Foley to retire from GCBAA

A little birdie (well, a google search alert) told us that our friend Paul Foley will retire this year after an outstanding five-year term as executive director of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). Despite tough economic times for course construction, Foley stabilized the organization, oversaw their successful integration into the GIS alphabet soup mix and put together a helluva a format for their annual meeting. Justin Apel is in line to take the reins when Foley leaves.

I'll miss Paul. Awesome, sincere guy. Enthusiastic, detail-oriented and always follows up. Justin will have big shoes to fill but Paul will be right there with him during the transition, so the association will continue to be in very good hands.

Speaking of GCBAA, I'm proud to say that GCI partners with the association on our annual Builder Excellence Awards program. If you've been involved in a great restoration, reconstruction, new development or environmental build in the past year, check out the awards program and enter to get some well deserved recognition for your facility and your team. Look for details about the 2011 awards on our site soon.