| The OGRO Event 2011 - Dale Hill Golf Resort | |
| The OGRO Event was held on Thursday 31st March. Sponsored by Global Ranges and Srixon-Cleveland, the day attracted an excellent attendance from all sectors of the golf industry with over 140 attending for all or part of the day's busy schedule. The event was held for the first time in association with the UK Golf Course Owners' Association, who launched in December 2010. | |
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The day commenced with some 51 players taking part in an 18-hole stableford individual and team event using the remarkable VPAR live golf scoring system. VPAR effectively allows everyone on the course to see how well everyone else is doing. Each group has its own handheld device, which relays the scores of each player at the end of each hole to the main leaderboard. The hole-by-hole update can be followed in the clubhouse and is also available on the internet for anyone connected to the website. |
| The individual winner was Craig Higgs of Net 60 Six playing off 7 with a score of 37 stableford points. The team prize went to: Ivan Norman, A1 Golf Centre; Paul Stickler, Severn Valley; Richard Payne, and Tan Danee of Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. Nearest the pin was won by Ed Haddon of World of Golf, and the longest drive by Liz Bray of European Golf Machinery. | |
| Unfortunately, the weather was not too kind to us during the morning, however, once golfers had got dried off and changed, their spirits were lifted by an excellent lunch. Following lunch, the afternoon programme got underway with a number of informal seminars. First up was Grant Wright, CEO of World of Golf, and probably the most experienced operator of major adventure golf courses in Europe. He outlined the different styles of miniature golf, adventure golf, theming, marketing and overall preparation for the season. In the right location, such a site will do very well, but it is not merely a matter of opening the doors and waiting for the customers to flood in. |  |
| The UK Golf Course Owners Association was introduced to the delegates by Chairman Colin Mayes, who is also the CEO of the Burhill Golf and Leisure Group. Colin explained how the UKGCOA was set up and also that there was now a real need for an association to cater for the needs of ever growing numbers of commercially owned golf courses. |  |
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John Bushell, from Sports Marketing Surveys explained the benchmarking and market and performance data that are a key ingredient to analysing the performance of individual golf facilities and those run as a group. |
| Phil Barnard, MD of Crossover Technologies, followed with a presentation on the benefits of the Points4Golf membership system. Points4Golf enables golf clubs to sell a membership scheme based on lower usage, which reflects the needs of most clubs where membership numbers are falling. |  |
Throughout the afternoon there was an extensive table-top exhibition, which included representatives of many of the major companies in the golf industry: |
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| Following a pause in proceedings to allow everyone to change and get ready for the dinner, the pre-dinner drinks party provided an excellent networking opportunity before attendees reconvened in the dining room. | |
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Diners took part in a charity draw for a superb break at Q Hotels Forest Pines for four golfers to enjoy two nights and three rounds of golf, generously donated by Golfbreaks.com. Diners were asked to sign a £20 note to raise funds for Help for Heroes and Gina Putnam from Ransomes Jacobsen was the lucky winner. Colin Mayes, UKGCOA Chairman talked about the superb work done by this great charity at Headley Court, where members of the armed forces who have suffered injury and loss of limbs are given the best possible support and rehabilitation.
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| The legendary John Jacobs OBE, President of The Organisation of Golf and Range Operators (OGRO) presented Adrian Yallop of European Golf Machinery and Doug McClelland of Silvermere Golf Centre with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their outstanding contribution to the golf industry. | |
Rob Maxfield, representing the PGA, introduced the award to Doug, a PGA Master Professional. Doug has had a very successful career as a player and teacher, but is best known as the largest independent retailer in Europe. His ‘Doug McClelland Superstore at Silvermere’ sets new records for turnover and standards for anyone involved in the golf industry.
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Colin Jenkins spoke on behalf of OGRO to introduce the award to Adrian Yallop, founder and owner of European Golf Machinery. Adrian is has been fully involved with the invention and development of golf range equipment for the last 30 years. He is an innovator and applies clear logic to the most complex subjects, thus bringing great service and reliability to all the products he sells under the European Golf Machinery label. |
All in all quite a lot of activity for just one day, but apart from the weather, the day was a great success. The Dale Hill Golf Resort proved to be an excellent choice of venue, with first class facilities, delicious food being served at lunchtime and for the evening dinner, ensuring the whole day ran smoothly. Colin Mayes said of the event: "The UK Golf Course Owners Association is delighted to have been involved with the event. It was well run and had a really good turnout of top golf operators and other industry figures. We have certainly found a good number of new members for the association and look forward to building on this event with OGRO in the coming years." Colin Jenkins of OGRO said: "We are really pleased to help the UKGCOA get a great start. It is high time that there was a specific association focused on forwarding the interests of golf course owners. The UKGCOA is a highly professional and well run organisation and we are sure that it will be a real force to be reckoned with in the years to come." |
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