By Paul Vardy
Of the range of GMA services offered to its members, professional development events are the most in demand. Managers recognise that to be of greatest value to their clubs and facilities, they need to fan their desire to keep improving what they do and to stay informed of a rapidly evolving golf business landscape.
Attending GMA events is one of the best ways managers can keep improving and stay informed. Not only do these events afford access to high-quality speakers on topics relevant to management, they facilitate the sharing of news on projects underway at other venues, common issues encountered, products and services newly available to the market as well as engagement with key people from golf industry bodies.
GMA-Western Australia held a very successful state conference with Mike House speaking on thriving and adapting and Tanya Barrett speaking on safety.
In early May, GMA New South Wales held a spectacular state conference overlooking Sydney Harbour with speakers such as trend forecaster Michael McQueen and leadership mentor Ben Crowe. It was also an opportunity to hear from Golf Australia’s CEO James Sutherland as well as news from clubs and facilities on various innovative projects.
In mid-May, BMI Club Management was held online and in state hubs to avoid COVID border travel issues. The Business Management Institute program run in conjunction with Golf Australia and Club Management Association of America, is an intensive week-long course offered in 32 countries. Participants in BMI Club Management heard from 13 expert speakers covering 17 topics including: employment legalities, financial management, marketing and communications, service, delegation, golf operations and sustainability. Participants increased their self-awareness of working with others and how to cope better under pressure with the Lumina Spark Portrait development tool.
Throughout May, the golf industry ran a careers in golf series of webinars to showcase the diversity of roles for women in golf. It was great to see the passion shown by these skilled women in their golf industry roles which included: teaching and playing, sports and club administration, event management, golf development, hospitality and course maintenance. See the series here:
www.golf.org.au/webinar-library
The GMA National Conference is by far the biggest event in the GMA calendar attracting 300+ delegates. In a first for the Australian golf industry, GMA joined with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association to hold a combined conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre late last month. With the support of conference partners Schweppes and Toro, the event saw a greater depth of content, industry networking and trade exhibit than ever before. It really is a great time for a career in the golf industry.
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