National Golf Course Owners Association announces Golf Business Conference 2023 Program

Golf Business Conference, hosted by the National Golf Course Owners Association, is the industry’s largest annual gathering of golf course owners, operators, general managers and others who run golf course businesses. Golf Business Conference 2023 (GBC23) will be held from January 23-25 in Orlando, Florida, co-located with the 2023 PGA Show. Learn more about the sessions and the conference at golfbusinessconference.com.

The GBC23 education program includes:

• Special Guest Q&A 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain and 12-time PGA TOUR winner Zach Johnson
• Pre-conference workshop: Masterminds 2023, Jeff Hoag, Owner, Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center
• Pre-conference roundtable: BRAND: NEW DAY — Take Your Brand to the Next Level, Larry Gulko, Brand Strategist and Strategic Growth Advisor and Founder, BRAND: NEW DAY
• Keynotes:
  • Shtick to Business: Serious Business Lessons in Creativity and Execution from Comedy’s Rebels, Peter McGraw, Behavioral Economist, Business School Professor and Expert in the Scientific Study of Humor
  • Economic Roadmap — Direction, Insights, and Analysis at the Intersection of Golf and Our Nation’s Economy, Dr. John Silvia, Founder and CEO, Dynamic Economic Strategy, Former Chief Economist, Wells Fargo
• Panels:
  • Culture Conversations — Leadership, Labor, and the Discussions Owners Should be Having
    • Cathy Harbin, Owner, Pine Ridge Golf Course, At-Large Director, PGA Board of Directors
    • Julius Rhodes, SPHR, Founder and Principal, mpr group
    • Steve Skinner, CEO, KemperSports
    • Michael Williams, Executive Director, Cyrano Communications and Contributor, Golf Business
  • Creating Your Course’s Entertainment Ecosystem — A Step-by-Step Approach from Firsthand Accounts
    • Shaun Hansen, Regional Sales Director, Toptracer Range
    • Don Rea, PGA, Vice President, PGA of America and Owner, Augusta Ranch Golf Club
    • Ken Reynolds, Vice President Sales Marketing, aboutGOLF
    • Tim Riese, PGA, PGA Head Professional, Pease Golf Course
  • Fortify Your Facility — How to Attract and Retain Talent in Today’s Marketplace
    • Kate Drimel, PGA, PGA Career Services, Recruiting Specialist
    • Kelly Gilley, Regional Director, Central Region, PGA Career Services
    • Scott Kmiec, Senior Director Member and Section Operations, PGA Career Services
    • Mark Mattingly, Executive Vice President, Landscapes Golf Management
  • Breakout Sessions:
    • What to Prioritize in the World of Marketing – Capitalize in the “Peaks”… and Prepare for any “Valleys”
      • Lon Grundy, General Manager, World Golf Village
      • Kris Strauss, Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Troon
      • Brady Wilson, General Manager, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
    • State of the Industry — Where Do We Grow From Here?
      • Jim Koppenhaver, Founder & President, Pellucid Corp
      • Stuart Lindsay, Principal, Edgehill Golf Advisors
    • Defending Your Turf — Courses from Coast to Coast are Battling Environmental, Legislative and Regulatory Hurdles… Here’s How to Battle Back
      • Craig Kessler, Director, Public Affairs, Southern California Golf Association (SCGA)
      • Michael Lee, Sr. Manager of Government Affairs, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
      • Ronnie Miles, Senior Director of Advocacy, NGCOA
      • Harvey Silverman, Principal, Silverback Golf Marketing
    • Golf Property Dispositions & Acquisitions — Planning Your Path With Precision
      • Larry Hirsh, President, Golf Property Analysts
      • Ryan Rafter, Managing Director, Hilco Real Estate
    • Three Scenarios for 2023 (and beyond) — Optimizing Revenue No Matter Which Way the Wind Blows
      • Jon Last, Founder & President, Sports & Leisure Research Group
      • Del Ratcliffe, President, Ratcliffe Golf Services
    • Modernizing the Model for Instruction — How to Create a Rewarding Coaching Structure that Benefits Customers, Club Pros and Your Bottomline
      • Will Robins, CEO, Robins Golf Logistix

GBC23 education sessions are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs) for Professional Golfers Association (PGA), Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Club Management Association of America (CMAA), and Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

About the Golf Business Conference

The Golf Business Conference is the industry’s largest annual gathering of golf course owners and operators, and is hosted by the NGCOA. Golf Business Conference 2023 will include three days of education, activities and networking relevant to golf course owners and operators. Through NGCOA’s continuing strategic alliance with the PGA of America and PGA Golf Exhibitions, GBC23 attendees can also participate in a wide range of activities at the 2023 PGA Show. GBC23 attendees can earn continuing education credits from the PGA of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Learn more at golfbusinessconference.com.