By Michael Williams, Contributor, Golf Business
The mood in Orlando, Florida for the NGCOA’s 2024 Golf Business Conference and PGA Show was different this year. The last few years had seen declining interest and attendance, a slide that culminated with the virtual show during the pandemic.
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But now golf is back – bigger and better than ever. The industry is flexing its muscles with new players, new markets and even new courses. GBC24 was reflective of the new popularity of the game.
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The numbers confirm the feeling. NGCOA staff reported nearly 450 total attendees including owners, operators, sponsors, industry leaders and more (oh, and of course NGCOA’s 2024 Award of Merit winner Lee Trevino!). The owners and operators in attendance represented 1,446 of our nation’s courses... nearly 10% up from last year.
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And while the themes in recent shows had trended toward survival, 2024 was about how to thrive. I didn’t get a chance to see all of the presentations but the lineup was high quality from beginning to end. NGCOA member Jeff Hoag kicked things off with his Masterminds session which is now widely considered to be one of the best peer-to-peer discussions in the industry. Harvey Silverman and Orange Lake Golf Resort General Manager Jimmy Bilsky led an on-site seminar on how range technology is changing the way the golf experience is being presented to the public. The general sessions and breakouts were as informative as ever, covering every aspect of golf course ownership from acquisition to operation.
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This year’s GBC also saw a change of leadership. Tom Brooks ended his successful stewardship of the organization during a time that was among the most turbulent and challenging ever. Taking the helm as NGCOA president is Cathy Harbin, one of the most effective ambassadors for the game of golf anywhere. Her unique combination of insight, foresight and commitment to making golf welcoming and available to all make her the ideal leader for NGCOA.
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Of course, there was a sense of camaraderie and fellowship that is always present at any NGCOA event. I always enjoy seeing members and hearing their joy and passion for their chosen life in golf. Each day on the golf course owner’s calendar is precious, a valuable commodity that can be used to handle any number of existing or emerging challenges at their properties. The fact that so many of them are willing to commit almost a week out of the calendar to GBC is perhaps the greatest testament to its value. If GolfSeason24 is anywhere near as successful as GBC24, it’s definitely going to be one to remember.
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