The unanswerable question – that provokes a few thoughts.
We built this business on a financial shoestring. We have remained on this string since we opened.
So to answer this :
1. I would do it again – with the same shoestring.
2. I would reconsider the move to 18 – but who knew the golf market would recede so drastically in 2004 and then get a new reality in 2008?
a. And likely I would still have opted to expand given I did not have the collapse anywhere on my radar. Thanks Tiger!!
3. I would have joined only the NGCOA – as it is the only national organization that cares about the owner who cares about you the golfer.
4. I would have let dogs on the course from day 1.
5. I would have found my marketing magician 15 years earlier…
Yes the golf business is a great business with a few bumps.
– The golfer who wants to drink their own liquor/beer more than golf
– The golfer who thinks a golf cart is a bumper cart and leaves it with broken pieces without taking ownership of the problem fore which they are responsible
– The golfer who wants to take their own sweet time without regard for the trainwreck of groups behind them
– The range player who feels range balls are free so takes them home to the dock or out onto the course where we find them
Of course there are lots of heartwarming stories
– Players who just played the best round of their life – and there are many
– Players who had so much fun they want to come back
– Players who can play 18 holes with their dog because it is no longer sitting alone at the cottage for 5 hours (including travel time)
– Players who have a story of a favourite hole or shot which they are happy to recount endlessly
– Players who are playing with friends they have known “All their lives”
– Tournaments who are so grateful for the funds they raised fore their cause.
– Neighbours who can walk their dog when we are closed fore the season
– Neighbourhood kids who use our ponds for skating in the winter
– Our lads with our grandchildren playing on the practice green, and running around on “fast carts”
And the view from the office ain’t bad even on a rainy day….
