Because of increasing concern about the cost of playing the game of golf, the Central California Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Southern California Section of the PGA hosted the Symposium on Affordable Golf at Dairy Creek Golf Course in San Luis Obispo, Calif., March 31 - April 1.
The Symposium on Affordable Golf originated at Southern
Pines, N.C., in 2010 under the creation and direction of golf course architect
Richard Mandell, ASGCA, President of Richard Mandell Golf Architecture. Mandell’s vision was to raise awareness and
understanding of golf's challenges through open discussion, the exchange of
ideas and highlighting successes that promote the health and sustainability of
the game, and business, of golf.
The 2014 symposium at Dairy Creek attracted more than 100
attendees representing several facets of the golf industry, including golf
course superintendents, golf professionals, owners and managers, vendors,
irrigation consultants, as well as representatives from water agencies and the
golfing public.
Numerous industry professionals, including GCSAA CEO Rhett
Evans and former USGA senior technical director Dick Rugge, spoke to attendees about demand, a return to affordability, equipment
and technology, customer service, promoting the game through community
buy-in, the folly of replicating
tournament conditions, and how water will be a major factor in the future
success of the game. Case studies were presented on irrigation design and water
efficiency, as well as player development courses, programs and non-traditional
forms of the game.
Host golf course superintendent Josh Heptig, provided keen
insight through an on-site zero waste golf tour at Dairy Creek Golf Club, which
is owned by San Luis Obispo County.
Additionally, the symposium featured a panel consisting of
five avid golfers from the San Luis Obispo area. The golfers represented
different ages, genders, economic backgrounds and playing abilities. Throughout
the session the golfers were asked a series of questions and provided feedback
to golf industry professionals on their view of the game and industry. The golfers cited a lack of time due to job
and family commitments as the primary reason they don’t participate more
frequently.
The 2015 Symposium on Affordable Golf will be held in
Canton, Ohio and the event will return to the west coast in 2016 at Brookside
Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif.
For more information on the event and future symposiums,
visit the website at http://www.symposiumonaffordablegolf.com.
