Divot Mix

"Maybe we're all supposed to stink at this. It's our punishment for playing this insane game." -- David Feherty, on why the average golf score has not changed

New York Times says technology hasn't helped golfers

It probably won't come as a surprise to anyone who works on a golf course, but despite the development of bigger clubheads, longer shafts, hotter golf balls, and more forgiving irons, golf scores haven't improved. At least that's what the New York Times had to say this week.

Author Bill Pennington noted that golfers have taken advantage of all sorts of technology from golf balls fly farther, to drivers hit the ball straighter and irons that are easier to swing. He noted that golf courses are more plentiful and maintained better and that instruction is more accessible at the course, and cable television.

"There is even a better golf tee, revamped to let the ball soar longer and more accurately," Pennington wrote.

Then He added, "The only thing in golf that has not changed is the average score for 18 holes. Neither the average weekend player nor the world's best golfers have managed to get the ball in the hole any sooner."

His article lists lots of possible "reasons" why scores haven't improved, but no one really knows for certain.

Maybe the greens are just too fast.

To see the entire article, visit, http://www.nytimes.com. (Free registration required.)

Golf survey shows concerns over participation and water

According to The 2005 Golf Industry Outlook Survey, conducted by Foley & Lardner LLP, despite a positive growth forecast in course development, industry leaders are concerned about declines in number of golfers and rounds played they are concerned about water.

Ninety-five percent of industry leaders listed the declining number of golfers as a concern when asked to rank the top issues most likely to impact their business in 2005. In addition, 71 percent cited the declining number of rounds, while 68 percent mentioned player retention.

“Our survey clearly indicates the golf industry is undergoing a transition period as it grapples with various growth and business issues,” said Van Tengberg, co-chair of Foley & Lardner's golf & resort industry team. “While the survey findings were in line with what we have been seeing in the industry as a whole, they also revealed a number of opportunities for maximizing profits, player development and retention.”

On the environmental front, 77 percent of respondents selected water management as the predominant environmental issue impacting the industry, explaining why courses are increasingly turning to water conservation technologies. More than half of respondents have been forced to make sizable investments in their irrigation systems, install drought-resistant grass and/or investigate reclaimed water options.

Behind water resources, the top environmental issues identified by the respondents were storm water runoff (50 percent), pesticide contamination (46 percent) and endangered and threatened species (12 percent).

 The survey also found that a majority was missing profit opportunities by failing to maximize tax incentives. This year, only about one in five plan to utilize conservation easements, and just half plan to take advantage of the depreciation of their greens and tees.

Despite concerns, respondents foresee a 13 percent increase in the development of golf courses during the next five-year period and they are optimistic that course development will continue to expand over the next ten-year period.

Course owners are also turning to marketing activities that will help retain their existing players and attract new golfers. They have increased their advertising and promotional budgets, created player development and customer loyalty programs, enhanced the customer service experience and lowered fees. More than 70 percent indicated they plan to target women, and 33 percent are directing their efforts at minorities in 2005.

Additional survey findings are available at http://www.foley.com/.

Nicklaus GCSAA appearance to air on The Golf Channel

During the Opening Session at the 2005 GCSAA Education Conference in Orlando, Old Tom Morris Award winner Jack Nicklaus sat down with The Golf Channel's Adam Barr for a taped one-on-one interview.

The Golf Channel has announced changes in when the replays will air. The interview will premier during the feature “Jack Nicklaus: Artistry on the Links,” May 31 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The updated replay schedule is: June 1 (1 a.m. and 2 p.m.), June 2 (5 a.m.), June 3 (4:00 a.m.) and June 6 (12:30 p.m.). All times Eastern.

To see a 30-second excerpt from the program, click here.

H-2B legislation passed and signed

Relief for golf facilities that need H-2B labor is a step closer with President Bush's signing of the “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act,” which provides cap exemptions for seasonal guest workers who participated in the H-2B visa program in any of the last three years.

Employers will be allowed to file new H-2B visa petitions with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) starting May 25. Any worker who has had an H-2B visa in any one of the last three years will be exempt from the H-2B cap this fiscal year and next. The action comes in time to provide needed workers for some golf courses.

In addition to exempting prior visa holders from the cap, the new law allows approximately 35,000 new H-2B workers to enter the U.S. Golf courses who requested H-2B workers but were shut out by the cap should contact their H-2B employment firm immediately to get the process started again.

When the mandated cap of 66,000 total workers in all industries under H-2B was unexpectedly met January 3 -- just three months into the current fiscal year -- GCSAA partnered with organizations across the U.S. including the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and the National Restaurant Association to form the H-2B Workforce Coalition to address the problem and seek legislative relief.

According to John Meredith, ANLA's director of Legislative Relations, “This legislation rewards those businesses relying on the only legal channel to obtain seasonal help. Employers depend on these seasonal workers to make up shortfalls in the domestic workforce.”

“We want to thank the GCSAA members who took time this Spring to respond to our grassroots call for action and let their members of Congress know how important this legislation is to the golf industry. This has been a true grassroots victory for our members who rely on legal seasonal labor to help operate their facilities,” said Carrie Riordan, GCSAA director of Information and Public Policy.

Information on the Act and how to file a petition for FY2005 and FY2006 is available online at http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/H-2B_050523.pdf.

GCSAA offers new "golfer" articles

GCSAA has added five new golfer-oriented articles to its Web site for use in publications, Web sites or for broadcast.

The articles are intended to provide useful and interesting information for golfers that will enhance their experience on the golf course and help educate them on maintenance activities and the superintendent profession.

They can be used in golf course or golf association newsletters, GCSAA chapter publications, or even printed for posting on golf course bulletin boards. Please credit the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in the publication, Web site or broadcast.

To localize the articles by quoting and/or interviewing an area golf course superintendent, please contact Jeff Bollig, GCSAA director of communications, at (800) 472-7878, ext. 4430, jbollig@gcsaa.org , or Brett Goering, GCSAA communications specialist, at (800) 472-7878, ext. 4408, bgoering@gcsaa.org .

The new articles include:

The Over and Under discusses the delicate practice of overseeding that superintendents use to produce greener playing surfaces.

Don't Tread Lightning discusses the importance of following the rules when inclement weather strikes while you're on the golf course.

No Rest for the Weary discusses how superintendents keep busy during the "off" season.

A Day at the Beach shows how the type of sand in a bunker can make a noticeable difference in play - especially on your scorecard.

To Tree, or not to Tree shows how a well-planned tree maintenance program can produce healthier turf and enhance safety on the golf course.

For additional articles, visit GCSAA's online newsroom at www.gcsaa.org/news.