2017 Coachella Valley Golf Industry Summit set for Jan. 16, 2017

Presented by Toro/Turf Star, the summit serves as the kick-off event for the PGA TOUR’s CareerBuilder Challenge
The PGA TOUR’s CareerBuilder Challenge and Desert Classic Charities recently announced that the 2017 Coachella Valley Golf Industry Summit will take place Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.

The inaugural summit in 2016 generated attention and participation of the local, national and international media and highlighted the economic and charitable impacts that the game of golf has on the Coachella Valley economy as well as addressing the latest key industry issues. 

Presented by Toro/Turf Star and in partnership with the Desert Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Hi-Lo Desert Golf Course Superintendents Association, Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) and the Southern California PGA (SCPGA), the event focuses on water management and conservation, growth of the game initiatives and provides an overview of daily fee, resort and private golf club operations in the valley. 

The Coachella Valley is home to 121 golf facilities providing a total economic impact of $1.1 billion and employing over 8,000 local residents.  The 121 facilities represent nearly 14 percent of California’s total. 

Speakers for the 2017 event include Jonas Conlan, Class A superintendent at Desert Princess Country Club; Z. Gordon Davidson of Z. Gordon Davidson & Associates Inc.; Nikki Gatch, player development manager with the SCPGA; Kevin Gigax, executive director of SCGA Junior Golf; Luke Hall, Class A superintendent at Shadow Mountain Golf Club; Bill O’Brien, Vice President Operations with Troon, Tim Skogen, executive director with The First Tee of Coachella Valley; Kevin Smith, junior golf director with the SCPGA; Josh Tanner, general manager/COO with Ironwood Country Club and Bruce Zahn, general manager/COO with La Quinta Country Club. Paul Levy, president of The PGA of America and general manager at Toscana Country Club will serve as the keynote speaker.

Numerous sponsorship opportunities are available for companies looking to support the summit and increase their brand awareness while raising funds for charities. In 2016, the summit raised over $22,000 for Desert Charities to distribute to the greater Palm Springs community.
Registration for the summit will open in mid-December and cost to attend is $40 per person including lunch.  The summit is open to allied golf industry representatives, the general public and media.  For registration click here.