Ideas Exchange Index

Golf & Retail Ideas
War of the Ages The Chenequa Country Club in Hartland, Wis. (suburban Milwaukee) bridges the generation gap each year with a “Chenequa Ryder Cup” competition that pits Senior players (over 55) against Juniors (under 55). The event runs over two days, reports the club’s Michael Paddock, with designated captains for each side selecting the pairings. Every player receives a special shirt that is made up for their team. Read More
A Little Birdie Told Me Stone Ridge Golf Club, a semi-private golf club located in Bowling Green, Ohio, has started a unique promotion where the words “free golf” actually mean good things for the operator. Read More
If the Shoe Fits, Buy It What woman doesn’t love a new pair of shoes?” asks Courtney McDonough, the Merchandising Manager at Wayzata (Minn.) Country Club, who recently organized a shoe sale during the club’s women’s 9- and 18-hole opening brunch. Read More
Ideas for Bringing new efficiencies and quality to
All-in-One and One-for-All Read More
'Going Green': Is it Practical for Clubs? Read More
Want to Bring Your Staff Together? Have Them Smash Each Other in the Kisser (And Wherever Else They Can Hit)! Read More
Loews Hotels Launches "Edu-cations": Exclusive Teen Learning Vacations Read More
Ideas for Creatively marketing and expanding memberships
Drawing Out the Stay-at-Home Crowd Read More
The Little Chef Hour Read More
Who Knew Being Wait-Listed Could Be So Much Fun The wait-list at The Granite Club isn’t what it used to be. With members-to-be waiting two or sometimes even three years for the chance to become members, the club, located in Toronto, decided to reward candidates for their extended interest, and patience... Read More
Decorating Your Club “For Free” (with Extra Revenues on the Side) Sometimes the best source of talent and expertise that a club can tap into for a special event can literally be found in-house, through the abilities and interests of its membership... Read More
Serving the Membership Clubs and resorts have a longstanding history of being more concerned about serving their membership above and beyond any other interests. From focused membership marketing campaigns to special events designed specifically for a members’ preference, properties are truly dedicated to serving their members. Read More
Ideas for Creatively marketing and expanding memberships Through the Green Highland Rim Golf Course in Joelton, Tenn. (20 minutes northwest of Nashville) kicks off the start of its golf season with a March Mania contest through its Web site and an e-mail campaign. Players fax or e-mail their picks in the NCAA basketball brackets. Correctly picked games can help the player earn up to $34 in credit towards a free round of golf. Read More
Ideas for Finding new and profitable twists for food and beverage operations
Growing New (James) Beards? Read More
The Sun Never Sets on Good Ideas Read More
The Little Chef Hour Read More
Stay Ahead of Menu Trends Read More
Spirits? Lifted. Read More
Special Events Deliver Big Results Club & Resort Business will again devote its April issue to presenting in-depth looks at the whats, hows and whys behind the most successful ideas that are producing added revenues, reducing costs and generating new efficiencies at leading club and resort properties. Here’s a sneak peak at some of those winning ideas: Read More
Contests Inspire F&B Creativity Clubs and resorts looking for unique and interesting ways to generate business during slow seasons, add exciting events for members and guests, and inspire camaraderie among staff members will be interested in these unique ideas submitted by industry colleagues: Read More
Burgeoning Bodega To generate interest in Middle Bay Country Club’s start-up wine program, General Manager Frank Benzakour (and winner of the 2006 Excellence in Club Management “Rising Star” Award), had a pair of temperature-controlled mahogany and glass wine cabinets built where everyone could see them—in a hallway that had been devoted to public telephones. Read More
Wine Without a Wallop (to the Wallet) Some clubs are discovering that the success of their wine programs doesn’t have to hinge on charging prices that look like they include someone’s personal airfare to have the bottles delivered directly from Europe or other sources. Read More
Ideas for Finding new and profitable twists for food and beverage operations Club bars and good Scotch whisky have always gone well together, and the Carnegie Abbey Club in Portsmouth, R.I., has taken this natural fit many steps further, through its “50 Club.” Members of the club are entitled to sample as many as three of the Scotches in the club’s collection of 50 single-malt brands at any one sitting; once they’ve sampled all fifty, they earn an engraved glass. Read More
Ideas for improving golf and retail revenues
Building Brand Management With a 2005 decline in equipment sales due to the new presence of a local off-course retailer, Hamilton Golf and Country Club pro shop staff—led by Leigha Main and Lauren Dimen—introduced past and new strategies to gain back the market share lost in the previous year. Read More
Ideas for Improving golf and retail revenues When Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone, Colo. (30 miles north of Denver), purchased thousands of premium golf club grips at a bankruptcy auction for 30 cents apiece, the pro shop was able to offer a hard-to-refuse re-grip special to generate extra winter cashflow. A $210 weekday or $250 weekend package was offered, which included five rounds of golf, use of a golf cart, 14 premium re-grips and a regripping service. Read More
Ideas for Taking full advantage of available technology
New Gadgets from the Show Floor Read More
Big Club Manager is Watching As at many clubs, the staff at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla. is often called away from the main reception area to tend to specific needs. To help provide more consistent customer service at its Membership Services front desk for the times when its receptionist is needed elsewhere, Plantation installed a wireless monitoring system... Read More
Ideas for Taking full advantage of available technology At Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla., news travels fast—via e-mail, in fact. When there’s a new member in town, the membership department sends a “New Member Alert” to the entire staff, along with a photo and brief background. Read More
Ideas for Widening the reach of recreational and fitness activities
Kingwood Helps Members Wash their Worries Away Read More
For the Love of the Games Read More
Star-Studded Event Read More
An Idea That’s Always a Home Run The Annual Home Run Derby at the Beach Club of The Misquamicut Club in Watch Hill, R.I. has become one of the club’s signature events during the summer season. The event is as popular with adults as it is with children, because it provides a chance to bring families together for an evening full of fun, food and everyone’s favorite pastime: trying to knock one out of the park - or in this case, into the ocean... Read More
Want to Bring Your Staff Together? Have Them Smash Each Other in the Kisser (And Wherever Else They Can Hit)! Read More
Loews Hotels Launches "Edu-cations": Exclusive Teen Learning Vacations Read More
Ideas for Bringing new efficiencies and quality to golf course and facilities development/maintenance Tired of seeing good employees stand on the sidelines when outside contractors take over during course renovations—or even worse, walk off to go find somewhere else to work—Brad Minnick, Superintendent of the Lawrence (Kan.) Country Club, has learned to find ways to have his staff do as much work as possible both before and during a project. Read More
Ideas for Widening the reach of recreational and fitness activities A “Doggy Paddle Pool Party” held in October at Sand Creek Country Club, Chesterton, Ind., created a special reason to celebrate the end of the season. An $8 fee admitted “one dog and one human” to the festivities, which raised $3,500 for the county animal shelter’s spay/neuter fund. Read More

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