More Blue-Ribbon Ideas

Prestwick Country Club took home the granddaddy of prizes—the "Overall Judges' Award"—at the CMAA's 2007 Idea Fair for its Prestwick Regatta. The inspiration behind the event had GM/COO Paul N. Kornfeind III falling off his couch with laughter. PLUS More innovative techniques and concepts that you can apply to all aspects of club and resort management

by C&RB Staff (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
April 2007
 

Ideas Index • Ideas for improving golf and retail revenues • Ideas for Bringing new efficiencies and quality to golf course and facilities development/maintenance • ideas for Widening the reach of recreational and fitness activities • Ideas for Taking full advantage of available technology • Ideas for Creatively marketing and expanding memberships • Ideas for Effectively addressing design and renovation • Ideas for Finding new and profitable twists for food and beverage operations

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Paul Kornfeind III, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer for Prestwick Country Club in Franklin, Ill., is always looking for new and improved—yet affordable— ideas for family-friendly events.

One winter night, while watching "America's Funniest Home Videos," Kornfeind saw a clip of a cardboard boat race. Students of a science class were attempting to race the corrugated water crafts they had built with varying degrees of success. "I almost fell off the couch from laughter," Kornfeind says.

After he collected himself, Kornfeind immediately started planning a similar event for the pool at Prestwick CC. "The first annual ‘Prestwick Regatta' was born," he says. Families showed up on the day of the race with boats in all shapes and sizes. But, as they soon found out, some were much more seaworthy than others. "Some of the kids rowed in circles," Kornfeind says. "And one of the boats exploded when [the participants] got in!"

The first-place winners took home a three-foot-high trophy and a cash prize. The regatta was a blue-ribbon event for the club itself, too. This year, Prestwick CC won the "Overall Judges' Award" at the CMAA's 2007 Idea Fair for its entry—and not just for its ability to generate member interest in club events and added revenues for the facility. Most importantly, the regatta was an unforgettable experience for everyone who participated—young and old—and gave everyone a good laugh.

"The members are still talking about how much fun this event was," says Kornfeind. "And they are already ‘trash talking' for next year's race."