The Symposium on Affordable Golf will be held on Nov. 8, 2010 in Southern Pines, NC. It is an effort by golfers and golf businesspeople to return the game of golf to a more sustainable and affordable state. Many have surmised why the golf business has receded in recent years and many have proposed possible reasons. The one reason most of the industry refuses to acknowledge: Golf costs too much to play. This is a result of golf being too costly to develop, maintain, and operate as well. Secondary reasons for the game’s decline such as time and difficulty can be partially characterized by the fact that golf costs too much on both the front and back ends of the business also.
Attendees of The Symposium on Affordable Golf will first work to define “affordable” as it relates to golf. This group discussion will serve as the basis for presentations that intend to provide a new line of thinking for the golf business – much of which can be attributed to the roots of the game. Some of the topics include Environmental Tasks That Can Also Make the Game More Affordable, The Simplicity of Golf Course Management in the British Isles, Pace of Play: Affordable Golf is Quality Golf , and The Folly of Replicating Tournament Conditions.
The participants in this symposium will include representatives from all aspects of the golf industry. Presenters include Kevin Fletcher, Executive Director of Audubon International, Steven Richardson, Golf Course Manager of Sunningdale Golf Club (New Course), Jaime Diaz, Senior Writer for Golf Digest and Golf World magazines, Greg Lyman of The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Writer Jim Moriarty, Tim Moraghan of Aspire Consulting, and Golf Architect Ron Forse, among others.
Hosted by Richard Mandell, of Richard Mandell Golf Architecture, this seminar is presented with no registration fee. According to Richard, “What will happen on Monday, November 8th is an open forum on how to look at golf in a different light, one that is more sustainable than many business models that have failed over the past few decades. The more people who can attend with fresh ideas, the better we will all be able to transform the game we love into an affordable entity for all.” There is a modest $35 fee for a golf outing on Tuesday morning, November 9 at the Southern Pines Golf Club. For more information and online registration, please visit: www.symposiumonaffordablegolf.com.