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2002 GCSAA Leadership Survey

The 2002 GCSAA Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in Orlando, examined the opinions of 800 superintendents on trends in golf and golf course management. The survey is designed to position the golf course superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry.

Major interest
Major Interest

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(Downloadable JPEG images are available by using the links below or clicking on the picture.)

 
 

The GCSAA 2002 Golf Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in Orlando, examined the opinions of 800 superintendents on trends in golf and golf course management. The survey is designed to position the golf course superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry.

Which of the following is the most common complaint about golf course conditions from players? (Rank top 3)
  1st Choice  2nd Choice  3rd Choice
The greens are too fast 6.6% 7.4% 7.5%
The greens are too slow 37.2% 17.8% 14.5%
The rough is too thick/too tall 17.6% 24.7% 21.8%
Bunker sand is too soft or not raked 11.2% 22.5% 23.2%
Trees are in poor condition .5% 2% 3.7%
Un-repaired ball marks 24.6% 22.6% 22.6%
Don't Know/ No Answer 2.4% 1% 4.4%

 

What factor most limits your ability to maintain high-quality course conditions on any given day?
Heavy Traffic 30.9%
Poor player etiquette 13.5%
Limited maintenance 30.3%
Poor weather 11%
Course design and construction features 11.9%
Don't Know/Can't Answer 2.3%

 

How much time do you spend on non-agronomic activities?
Less than 10% 3.9%
10%-24% 23.3%
25%-49% 38. 6%
50%-74% 23.9%
75% or more 7.8%
Don't know/no answer 2.6%

 

What single non-agronomic activity consumes most of your time?
Budget management 14.2%
Materials procurement 6.9%
Personnel Management 55.5%
Meetings 14.6%
Correspondence 3.8%
Environmental Regulation/Compliance 2.2%
Don't Know/No Answer 2.7%

 

In your opinion, what is the single greatest challenge to the continued improvement of golf course conditions in the next five years?
Budgetary issues 25.3%
Increased environmental regulation 13.2%
Labor shortages 13.9%
Water issues (quantity, quality, availability) 19.7%
Increasing golfer expectations 22.7%
Golfer Behavior 3.8%
Don't Know/No Answer 1.4%

 

For what area do you plan most capital expenditures in 2002?
Improving irrigation and drainage system 19.4%
Reconstruction of greens, tees and bunkers 18.4%
Buying new maintenance equipment 43.8%
Building maintenance facilities/structures 9%
None 6.5%
Don't Know/No Answer 3%

 

What is the biggest factor contributing to lapses in player etiquette?
First-time golfers new to the game 8.5%
Lack of knowledge of the game 22.3%
Lack of respect for the game 44.9%
Lack of lessons/caddying experience 5%
Not enough public education from golf's governing bodies 16.3%
Don't Know/No Answer 3%
Increased regulation of pesticides 13%

 

Do you believe golfers have any increased expectations for course conditions? Please select the single answer that best represents your view.
Not to any measurable effect 2.8%
Yes, and they are manageable 22.7%
Yes, and they have created pressures leading to higher costs 66.3%
Yes, and they have created pressures leading to higher environmental risks 6.4%
Don't Know/No Answer 1.8%

 

If yes, do they create job insecurity?
Considerably 14%
Somewhat 53.5%
Not very much 21.7%
Not at all 10.4%
Don't Know/No Answer .4%

 

Which of the following contributes most to increased golfer expectations? (Rank top 3)
  1st Choice  2nd Choice  3rd Choice
Televised golf events 53.8% 25.3% 11.2%
Higher green fees 7.7% 19.9% 28.6%
Comparison of courses by golfers 33.5% 38.6% 17.8%
Articles or advertisements in newspapers and magazines 1.1% 6.1% 16.5%
Professional competition by builders, architects, superintendents and owners 2.8% 9.1% 21.4%
Don't know/ No Answer 1% .3% 3.7%

 

Have you experienced vandalism at your golf course?
No 12.5%
Yes, minor destruction by golfers 21.6%
Yes, however at little expense or downtime 52.1%
Yes, at considerable expense or downtime 12.7%
Don't know/No answer 1.1%

 

What are the most important things for a player to know about golf course conditions in order to play better? (Rank top 3)
  1st Choice  2nd Choice  3rd Choice
Contour of the greens 25.7% 31.6% 21.4%
Condition of bunkers 2.8% 9.5% 15.2%
Green speed 34.5% 27.7% 17.1%
Grass type 4.6% 7.7% 12.1%
Grain on greens 1.3% 4.1% 6.8%
Implication of course markings 27.1% 14.2% 18.5%
Don't Know/No Answer 4% 1.3% 4%

 

How many strokes does your knowledge of course conditioning/agronomics save per 18 holes?
None 18.8%
One 5.5%
Two 21.8%
Three 23.5%
Four or more 19.2%
Don't know/No answer 11.2%

 

What factors have contributed most to better scoring by touring professionals in the past ten years? (Rank top 4)
  1st Choice  2nd Choice  3rd Choice 4th Choice
Player fitness 15.5% 20% 21.3% 40.2%
High-tech clubs 30.3% 30.9% 25.9% 10.3%
Longer distance golf balls 14.2% 30.9% 27.2% 25.5%
Improved golf course conditions 38.1% 16.2% 23.1% 19.3%
Don't Know/No Answer 1.9% .3% .8% 2.2%

 

What changes in the Augusta National Golf Club will have the greatest impact on scores at The Masters? (Rank top 3)
  1st Choice  2nd Choice  3rd Choice
Moving the tees back 41.2% 20.3% 15.6%
Moving the tees laterally 12.1% 19.9% 23.1%
Planting more trees 25.2% 30.9% 18.2%
Increasing the size of bunkers 7% 15.5% 26.7%
Don't Know/No Answer 14.5% .4% 3%

 

Do you think that the PGA Tour was right or wrong when it established a minimum age of 18 for membership?  
Right 66.7%
Wrong 23.3%
Don't Know/ No Answer 10.1%

 

Do you think the Ryder Cup teams should remain set, as opposed to allowing new players the chance to qualify in 2002?
Yes 48.9%
No 41.4%
Don't Know/ No Answer 9.7%

 

Who will win the Ryder Cup in 2002?
United States 70.4%
Europe 15.3%
Don't Know/ No Answer 14.3%

 

Which of the year's major tournaments courses is most interesting to you?
August National Golf Club (The Masters) 37.7%
Bethpage State Park (U.S. Open) 36.9%
Muirfield Golf Links (British Open) 13.6%
Hazeltine National Golf Club (PGA Championship) 7.5%
Don't Know/ No Answer 4.3%

 

To combat concerns over increased distance, should the PGA Tour move to a standard ball in tournament play?
Yes 63.6%
No 30.5%
Don't know/no answer 5.8%

 

Of these celebrity golfers who has the best chance of becoming a professional golfer?
Michael Jordan 12%
Wayne Gretzky 6.2%
John Elway 14%
Ken Griffey, Jr. 3.1%
Ivan Lendl 8.2%
Gabrielle Reece 7.7%
Mario Lemieux 15.6%
Don't Know/No Answer 33.2%

 

Who would win this match in their prime: Jack Nicklaus vs. Tiger Woods?
Jack Nicklaus 41.1%
Tiger Woods 46.9%
Don't Know/ Can't Answer 12%

 

Of these "golf gurus", from whom would you most want to take a lesson?
Butch Harmon 28%
David Leadbetter 24.6%
Dave Pelz 8.2%
Jim McLean 4.7%
Jim Flick 11.5%
Don't Know/ No Answer 23%

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Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
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Tel. 800-472-7878 or 785-841-2240
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