Champions Circle

NGCOA Champions Circle

The NGCOA formed in 1976, and set out on a mission to champion the interests of golf course owners and operators nationwide. In more recent years, we’ve faced a rising tide of litigation targeting the golf industry, and NGCOA's advocacy department has remained vigilant, responsive and victorious.

Our fight has continued as more policies and laws have arisen that have negatively impacted the golf industry — many at the state and local levels. Most recently we created and submitted amicus briefs for Indian Pond Golf Club in Massachusetts and the Cazenovia Golf Club in New York.

More will come. And though NGCOA continues to assist, we’ll need the industry to help build our offense and defense to assist directly in these fights — and to continue providing our member courses with timely and effective legal and emergency response.

The NGCOA advocacy program has historically been subsidized by the general operations, but the more frequent attacks on our industry and the growing scope of our work necessitates additional funding to obtain more resources. By the time we see smoke, it’s too late to fight the fire. It’s critical we prepare today — and need support from members like you to do this important industry work.

In anticipation of this fight, we introduce our latest Advocacy initiative, the NGCOA Champions Circle.

As a member of the NGCOA Champions Circle, you will be a key player in shaping the future of golf industry advocacy. Your annual donation of $2,500 will allow NGCOA to expand its advocacy work, undertake significant future endeavors, and ensure that we’re able to provide comprehensive support for your golf business and other members who need it. NGCOA will be able to continue its proactive and reactive work including:

  1. Creating and managing the NGCOA Advocacy Fund which will support our members' emergency legal and advocacy needs;
  2. Supporting ongoing golf industry organizations and their initiatives (including the American Golf Industry Coalition and the U.S. Travel Association) to amplify our collective voices, and provide us with greater influence, exposure and guidance in navigating complex external factors;
  3. Building a robust network of legal professionals who can support our members in areas encompassing liability, human relations and property management; and
  4. Supporting future (and possibly more complex and significant) advocacy work that has yet to surface.

"Indian Pond Country Club lost the damages claim in the lower court... the judgment was large enough to potentially put the country club out of business... The amicus brief filed by NGCOA included history, policy, and legal information, and was extremely helpful to IPCC in its appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. We won on appeal and the damage judgment and permanent injunction were vacated. We then reached a modest settlement with the plaintiffs and the case was dismissed. The idea of an NGCOA advocacy legal fund is terrific; such funds can be used for amicus briefs, like this one, which usually have tight deadlines."

 

John B. Flemming
Attorney at Law representing Indian Pond Country Club
Andover, MA


Your contribution will also allow you to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of golf industry advocacy. As a member of the NGCOA Champions Circle, you’ll receive email communications regarding NGCOA’s valuable work and the impact it has on our membership and the industry, and receive an invitation to an NGCOA Champions Circle dinner in Washington, DC during National Golf Day.

Together, we can ensure a thriving and resilient future for golf course owners and operators. Thank you for being an industry champion!

 

 

 

 

To request an invoice prior to contributing, please contact Ronnie Miles, NGCOA Senior Director of Advocacy, at rmiles@ngcoa.org.

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Champions Circle Patrons

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Champions Circle Members

Vic Aliprando, PGA Tour Properties

Michael Attara, Spirit Golf Management LLC

Eric Bergstol, Empire Golf Management

Dian Berry, Golden Hills Golf & Country Club

Tom Brooks, Carson Valley Golf Club

Joel Clay, Golden State Golf Company

Tracy Connor, Myrtle Beach GCOA

Whitney Crouse, Bobby Jones Golf Links

Emily Decker, Invited

Rob DeMore, Troon

Alex Elmore, Troon

Dale  Folmar, Encore Leisure Group

Dave Frem, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club

Bernie Friedrich, Boyne Resorts

Matt Galvin, Morningstar Golf and Hospitality

Jason Gamel, American Resort Development Association

Bruce Glasco, Troon

Steve Graybill, Foxchase Golf Club

Cathy Harbin, Pine Ridge Golf Course

Jay Herman, HermanKatz Corp

Jim Hinckley, Century Golf Partners 

Jeff Hoag, Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center

BJ Jaworski, Ron Jaworski Golf

Katherine Jemsek, Jemsek Golf

Rock Lucas, Charwood Golf Club

Phillip Martin, Troon

Steve Mays, Founders Group International

Jeffrey McAndrew, Indian Valley Golf Club

Andy McCormick, Millennium Golf Properties LLC

John McNair, JC Resorts

Keith Miller, Montgomery County Revenue Authority

Matt Miller, Rain Bird

Troy Miller, Southworth Development

Peter Nanula, Concert Golf

William Nault, Marriott Golf

Dave Nicholls, Troon

Jennifer Webster O'Connor, Holly Ridge Golf Club

Kevin Osgood, Sterling Golf Management, Inc.

Andrew Reeves, Golf Pro Payments

Mike Ryan, Troon

David Sanderson, Garland Lodge & Golf Resort

Bob Seganti, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Michael Sharp, CourseCo

Scott Siddons, Arcis Golf

Bill Stine, Golf Enterprises

David Stivers, Pebble Beach Resorts

Roger Warren, Kiawah Island Resort

Brooks West, Franklin Bridge Golf Club

Marc Williams, Toptracer