GIS. The ‘national.’ The show.
Superintendents have a lot of different names for the Golf Industry Show and the associated education conferences that occur before, during and after it. And they have as many different reasons for attending.
For some, it’s all about the education. Others value networking opportunities and time on the trade show floor. Matt Taylor, CGCS, of the Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, Fla., is an education guy.
“There are some new classes available this year, so I was pretty excited to get into those,” he says.
Taylor will attend three full-day seminars and one half-day seminar about topics including water management, human resources, communication skills and Spanish.
“I mainly go for the education,” he says, adding he’ll attend the trade show for one day as well. “I also go for the fellowship and networking. I’ll attend some of the GCSAA stuff, too, like the certification lunch.
John Shaw, CGCS, at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray, Pa., has attended the show every year except for one since 1996. For him, the two days of trade show is the biggest draw.
“The education is good, too, but there are plenty of opportunities locally to do that, and I do take advantage of them,” he says, adding he always plays in the golf championship, leaving one day for seminars and two days for the trade show.
Shaw tries to walk every aisle and look for anything new.
“I’m gathering information about new products I’m trying to learn about,” he says. “I’d rather see everything myself than just see it in the magazines. I ask questions and have my badge scanned so they can send me more information.
“I’m hoping for a banner year, but with the economy, like a lot of folks, we likely won’t be purchasing as much equipment,” he adds. “But we’ll still be looking and developing plans. You never know when the economy is going to turn around.”
As an assistant superintendent, Chad Miller, who works at Franklin Hills Country Club in Franklin, Mich., has networking on his mind.
“For an assistant who’s actively looking for a job, there aren’t many better ways to help your efforts than to meet and talk to as many people as possible,” he says. “It’s not as crucial for an assistant who’s not ready to be a superintendent, but it’s still beneficial.”
Miller’s club covers his expenses, but he says the event is so important, he would pay his own way if it didn’t. Miller’s also interested in researching equipment and supplies that vendors don’t bring to the club to demonstrate.
“This year we’re building shelves from the rafters of our building for our electric cart chargers,” he says. “So I’m looking for retractable charger cords. It’s fun to look around the show floor for ways to improve our operation.”
But still, goal No. 1 for Miller is meeting other assistants and superintendents.
“In our business, that’s our greatest ally.” GCI