What’s keeping golf course owners and operators awake at night? Declining participation? Water availability? Succession planning? Those are among the issues that will be addressed at the NGCOA’s 2009 Annual Conference, Feb. 3-7, which runs concurrently with the 2009 Golf Industry Show at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
“It’s a challenging time for many owners and operators so we’ve designed the conference to help them unlock their creative spirits and find innovative ways to look at the issues that are keeping them up at night,” says Anne Lyndrup, the NGCOA’s director of conference and trade show.
Keynote speakers for the conference include Chic Thompson, author of “What a Great Idea!” and “Yes, But”; and Lisa Bodell, founder and CEO of futurethink, an innovation research and training firm.
NGCOA members and non-members can register for the conference at www.ngcoa.org/conference. Early-bird registrants receive a $150 discount on on-site registration fees.
Winners of the NGCOA’s annual awards for course quality, management excellence and contributions to the association and the game of golf also will be recognized during the conference.
Other highlights of the event include the keynote speech by Stephen M.R. Covey, author of “The Speed of Trust,” on Feb. 6. Also, there are two Habitat for Humanity work days (Feb. 3-4) for volunteers who want to help in New Orleans’ ongoing rebuilding process. “This is the first time the golf industry has been back to New Orleans since Katrina, and we’re excited to join our partnering organizations to help the deserving people of this great city,” Lyndrup says.
