Mon Jul 11 2011It’s time to start a Vegemite Sandwich revolution
By Grant Garrison
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On Monday, the new green-keeper went to work with his lunch box in his hand, during his lunch break he complained to his new staff about his vegemite sandwich. His staff ignored his complaints but on Tuesday he complained even louder about his dislike for his vegemite sandwich. By Friday, his staff had enough of him complaining and one of them yelled out. “Why don’t you just have your wife make you a different kind of sandwich like tuna or roast beef?” The new green-keeper looked up with a puzzled look on his face and said, “My wife? I don’t have a wife. I made this myself.”
What if our golf business was our sandwich? Have we been doing the same thing day after day but expecting a different result?
Could it be that we have created the current state of our business?
Most of us are a little guilty of blaming the current state of our business on the economy, the weather, and things we don’t actually control. Sure, all these things influence our bottom line but what about the things you do control? We must remembers that the things out of our control are simple our current playing conditions and we are all playing the same course. This article is a reminder that we must never fall into a “victim mentality” which can create inactivity, we must take responsibility for the state of the game and what is needed is massive action.
We often view our competitors as an adversary, cutting our prices to win over customers, but at the end of the day, we will all lose the price game war. The only way to truly win is if we all win together. The truth is the golf course down the road is not the problem; the issue we all face is in fact much bigger. We simply lack golfers; we are not bringing new players into the game at a rate that will sustain the current golf market. To make the game of golf the fastest growing sport in the region, we must come together and make a new kind of sandwich and see our roll from a new perspective.
How can we make the game of golf relevant and meaningful to every one?
We must start thinking bigger and begin asking ourselves some important questions.
How can we attract, retain, and assure new golfers get involved at our course. How do we again make our golf clubs an integral part of our community? It’s time we all came together and got on the same side of the field; it’s time we play together and play to win.
Yes, I admit that I am an idealist. However, I believe in the magic of the game. The game has meant the world to me and I know that I’m not alone. My father used the game to teach me character traits that shaped who I am today. The game has given and continues to give and for me, it’s the greatest game ever played.
Remembering why we love the game and sharing our ‘magic of the game’ is the key to drawing others into our world.
As the caretakers of the game, its time for action and we must be the first to give. No longer can we afford to wait for someone to grow the game for us, we must open the gates of our individual golf courses and break down the elitist game of yesteryear. We must go out into our communities and get involved. It’s time to draw others into the game through inspiration, meaning, and relevancy. The truth is, every golf course has thousands of non golfing neighbors. It’s time we go into their worlds so that we can invite them into ours.
It’s time to start a golf revolution in Australasia, contact me at grant@golfindustrycentral and let’s get started together.
This story was featured in the Winter 2011 edition of Golf Industry Central. Click here to see further stories.
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In 2000, Grant accepted a position with Nike Inc. and created over 100 Nike Golf Learning Centers throughout the United States. His responsibility was to create and implement new programs and provide on-going training to over 400 golf teachers. This program became the largest and most effective player development program in America. In 2006, He started his own business in Los Angeles, California. The company specialized in high tech golf instruction using the latest bio-feedback learning systems. The company also provided custom equipment and repair. The company was sold in 2009. In 2010, Grant became the National Golf Team Coach in the countries of Bhutan and Nepal and is the designer of the highest golf course in the world located between Bhutan and Tibet. He now resides permanently in Australia. Fun facts:
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Grant Garrison began his career as a PGA Golf Professional in 1984 and won a dozen professional events throughout the following 6 years. He left his playing days behind to became a Golf Club Director and managed 2 exclusive country clubs in Southern California from 1990-2000. During this period, Grant was elected as a board member of the Professional Golf Association of America and managed several "Grow the game" projects.To read the new Golf Industry Central online magazine look below and click on it to enjoy it in full size.
