The Metropolitan Golf Association will regularly update this section with new information in an effort to assist area clubs and golfers during this economic crisis. The articles and information below include information from the National Club Association and National Golf Foundation as well as from local club managers, superintendents and professionals. Also included is a recent article (above) from The Met Golfer by MGA Executive Director Jay Mottola that details how the current economic crisis has affected the game of golf in the Met Area.

Comments? E-mail letters@mgagolf.org.

News and Insights

From Around the Met Area:

Turn off the TV and Look in the Mirror
By Patrick J. Gross, USGA Green Section Record, January/February 2010

Color Commentary: As Golf Gets Squeezed by the Economy, Going Brown Could Save Some Green
By Jeff Silverman, Sports Illustrated, November 23, 2009

Never Without an Opinion, Jackie Burke is Still Giving Lessons at 86
By Larry Dorman, The New York Times, June 4, 2009

Ridgeway Club in White Plains for Sale
By Keith Eddings, The Journal News, April 23, 2009

Met Area Golf Leaders Gather for Second Economic Symposium
MCMA Economic Symposium, Wheatley Hills GC, March 18, 2009

Golf Clubs Feel Pinch of Economy
by Bill Pennington, The New York Times, March 18, 2009

Friend of a Friend: Profile of GCSAA President Mark Kuhns
by Terry Ostmeyer, Golf Course Management, March 2009

Union County Shuts Down Oak Ridge Golf Course
by Alexi Friedman, The Star-Ledger, March 5, 2009

Woods’s Return Fails to Boost Golf as Recession Bites
by Michael Buteau, Bloomberg.com, February 25, 2009

Country Clubs Feel the Crunch
by Dave Sheingold, NorthJersey.com, February 17, 2009
Golfer Seeing Red over Fast Greens
by Lorne Rubenstein, The Globe and Mail, January 10, 2009

December 10 - Golf Industry Leaders Meet for Economic Forum
Pelham Country Club hosted a symposium on the economic downturn featuring industry experts from around the Met Area

A Discussion of the Current Issues Facing Golf
by Richard Spear, Superintendent at The Piping Rock Club and Charlie Robson, Executive Director of the Metropolitan PGA

Let’s Streamline: How to Rein in the High Cost of Golf Course Maintenance
by Richard Spear, Superintendent at The Piping Rock Club

Country Clubs Fight an Exodus
by John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal, November 30,2008

Playing through Hard Times
by John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 2008

From the MGA:
What’s Next?                                                                             
by Jay Mottola, The Met Golfer, Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009

Clubs at the Crossroads
by John Steinbreder, The Met Golfer, April/May 2008

Executive Desk: The Push for Speed
by Jay Mottola, The Met Golfer, October/November 2005

MGA Temporary Leave of Absence Policy Survey

From the National Club Association:

Navigating the Next Administration: The Private Club Outlook
by Brad Steel, Club Director, January/February 2009

The 111th Congress: A Test for the Private Club Industry
by Brad Steele, Club Director, January/February 2009

Is it the Economy?
by James K. Muldowney, Club Director, May/June 2008

Essentials of Marketing
Membership Retention
Temporary Inactive Status
Truth about Advertising & Private Clubs

From the National Golf Foundation:

The Future of Private Clubs in America
by Joe Beditz, Ph.D, and James R. Kass

Related Links:

National Club Association
National Golf Foundation
Club Managers Association of America
Metropolitan Club Managers Association
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association