Mike Orloff is a US and Australian PGA Member with more than 25 years of industry-wide experience, including 18 years working for two of the biggest international golf management companies in Australia and the USA – American Golf Corporation and Clubcorp.
Now based on the Gold Coast, Australia, Mike consults to clients directly as well as via workshops and conferences in New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia.
Golf Industry Central was created by Mike in 2008 as a major golf industry portal for the Australasian region – offering news, jobs and operational advice all in one place.
A big part of our market base that always seems to get overlooked is the woman golfer. Our sport has generally been male dominated over the years, but times have been changing. The facilities that take a proactive approach to welcoming this market segment will not just grow their female...Read More
OPINION: As I have worked up through my career progression, I’ve put more and more importance on having a clear vision of each of the facilities I’ve managed, as well as on growing my own business. I was taught by some great leaders over the years who all strongly believed...Read More
The term “social media” is bantered around so much nowadays and most of Clubland is scared “you-know-what” about joining in on the cultural swing we have been experiencing throughout the world. Consumers are just simply tired of hearing the same ole sales pitch and why you are “so good”. Up...Read More
We continue to read and hear the endless stories of players complaining about “slow play” at our golf facilities. Just have a look at some of the online golf forums and you read the same story over and over again. “We did not see a Marshall”, “we called the pro...Read More
There used to be an old debate I’d have with some staff of mine, “who was more important, the person you are serving in front of you, or the person calling on the phone.” Some staff would always argue that it was more important to serve the person in front of you...Read More
We are now well and truly into the first half of this New Year and Golf Industry Central is off to a flying start with recently being nominated for the QLD Industry Award – Supplier of the Year. It’s a great honour to have our name in lights among some...Read More
We are all aware that golfing membership numbers have been in a steady decline at most clubs around the country – a trend that is a great worry to the entire industry. I’m concerned this small steady decline will soon become a large “thud” as approximately 60% of all current...Read More
No matter how hard we try, we are bound to receive complaints about our facility, service, products or management style. The human factor plays a major part in this occurring, since we all make mistakes and we all have staff that make mistakes. What makes a good manager is how...Read More
We are conducting several marketing reviews for golf clubs at the moment and the common question I am asked is “What social media platform should we be on?” ANSWER: It depends on what audience you are trying to speak with, but 99% of the time Facebook is the primary one....Read More
I’m constantly on the look out for various ways to improve golf operations for my clients, so I tend to look outside to other service industries to find inspiration. The hotel, airline, and car hire industries have it down to a science on how to generally market to get our...Read More
We are now only a few short weeks away from Christmas and on the very last stretch of the year 2017. Looking back on the year that has past it has been a big one for Golf Industry Central as well as for the Aussie golf industry in general. I...Read More
Sometimes referred to as selfish, the “ME” generation, or Gen Y, is now moving on to a new, more selfless, phase in life. Having now reached the formidable age of somewhere between 18 and 35, millennials are experiencing a new stage in their lives where self-absorption is secondary to the...Read More
I hate to say it, “golf operators can learn a lot from McDonalds.” McDonalds is famous for the term ‘Supersize Me’ and the great promotional product ‘Happy Meal’ which your kids insist you buy for them. You can take the same simple business strategies and implement them at your golf facility under the headings of ‘Up...Read More
I took up golf later in life at the ripe old age of 16, with a goal then to become a tour player. Well many decisions along the way, such as coming to realisation this was more a dream than a reality, I happened into golf operations. This started a...Read More
As spring is officially here and the summer months are getting closer, people tend to spend more time on various social media platforms, as they are enticed to get out in the warmer weather and share their activities. This is also a great way to keep your members up to...Read More
As we’re leaving July and one of the coldest winter months behind, social media agency SocialMediaNews.com.au reports a slight shift in the way social media is used. If you, like myself, are just back from a holiday and now spend most of your days inside an office trying to catch...Read More
If you reviewed the practice area operation at your club in Return on Investment (ROI) terms, this expansive area being used would most likely be the biggest waste of money. (Locker room space is number two on my list.) When you consider the amount of revenue actually generated versus the amount of...Read More
As we come into winter, we see a slight seasonal shift in social media use – as many of us don’t go on holidays like summer-time. Many users spend this time concentrating on work so do see more general use of business social networking sites. In some other interesting news,...Read More
Welcome to our Winter 2017 edition of Golf Industry Central’s e-magazine. This issue counts as our 31st, with the first ever published in December 2009. I can’t believe it’s been that long! Thanks for all your support. Click here to see all the back issues: http://www.golfindustrycentral.com.au/publications-from-golf-industry-central/ Now, with almost half...Read More
Marketing your product through great content is more important now than ever before. It’s an area that many don’t have any experience in – but everyone can put a few words together, or find a member or staff member who has a nice way with words. Once you have written...Read More
