Hopes for Us All

by Joe Barks (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
January 2007
 

On page one of this issue, our first of 2007, Dan Ramella does an excellent job of assessing the state of our industry as another new year begins.

However, as editor of Club & Resort Business, it’s my responsibility to set the record straight for any inaccuracies that may have appeared in this magazine. So I must point out that in his January 2006 column, Dan predicted the Cleveland Indians would win last fall’s World Series.

Of course, this clarification has nothing to do with my being a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, who did win the 2006 Series.

As we move into 2007, I hope that you, too, may have one of your favorite teams win the ultimate prize (unless you’re a Cubs fan; no true Cardinals fan could ever sanction that). And here are some other hopes I have for the new year that speak a little more directly to our business:

• I hope this is the year...when more clubs and resorts get serious about doing what it takes to retain valued employees. We haven’t been publishing this magazine two full years yet, but already, I’ve met people who’ve changed jobs in that period not only once, but twice. In all cases, they’ve told me they didn’t move on because of pay issues, but because they didn’t feel empowered to use the full extent of their talents. Yes, careers in the hospitality professions have traditionally been nomadic. But if clubs and resorts really want to be “family-friendly,” they need longer-tenured staff that feels like part of the family, too.

• I hope this is the year...when all club and resort properties—in particular, their golf course superintendents—actively promote themselves as champions of the environment, rather than threats to it. Just drive through the endless sprawl of any metropolitan area and you’ll see how our properties literally stand out as welcome sights, even for people who may never go past their walls or gates. Yes, maybe some chemicals are involved in making them look so nice, but so what. There’s nothing “green” at all about another strip mall.

• I hope this is the year...when I can find more than a handful of properties where someone has at least the responsibility—if not the title—of Information Technology Director. Yes, the industry is now making great strides technologically. But until you put someone in charge of capturing all the efficiencies to be gained through truly integrated systems, you’ll still be behind the curve.

Finally, I certainly hope this is a year when Club & Resort Business becomes an even more valuable resource for you. To that end, we’re introducing a new membership/marketing column in this issue (pg. 50), and adding an experienced industry  “practitioner,” Don Vance, as a new regular contributor (pg. 24).

But, as always, if there’s more we can do to improve how our magazine can help you do your job better, we want to hear from you—even if you’re a Cubs fan.