Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Clemson adds Golf Convergence textbook to PGM program

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

“The Business of Golf: What Are You Thinking?,” the recently published book authored by James J. Keegan that focuses on how to maximize the financial return of a golf course, has been incorporated into the curriculum of a PGA Golf Management Program course this fall semester at Clemson University.

The ground-breaking book is based on hard data and extensive field experience gleaned by Keegan, who is a recognized authority on the business of golf today based on his extensive field experience that has covered more than 40 countries around the world.

One of only 20 PGA accredited programs in the country, the Clemson PGM program curriculum is built around a strong recreation management s background, while also earning the student a minor or major in business management . This fall students will be asked to create a strategic plan based on an 82-page case study, and will be asked to use and apply the eight key steps in Keegan’s textbook, according to Rick Lucas, program director.

“We are confident of one thing,” Lucas said to his students. “For those of you who diligently read the book and studiously complete this case study, the vast knowledge gained will place you significantly ahead of your peers in being able to manage the profitability of a golf course.”

Lucas went on to say that he is excited that Keegan – the visionary behind Golf Convergence, Inc. – will participate in the financial presentations by the class to provide further insights.

“I believe students learn best by doing,” Lucas said, “and the case will provide exercises and opportunity to grasp the important Golf Convergence™ formula concepts toward improved financial performance.”

Likewise, Keegan said, “I am thrilled to be affiliated with the Clemson program and especially with the enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit that Rick Lucas has shown.”

“This book provides an excellent complimentary tool to the PGA educational curriculum for the PGM Level 1 business planning classes and the PGM Level II golf operations sessions,” Keegan continued. “Further, we believe this book would be very beneficial to those pursuing the Certified Professional Program and Master Professional Program in golf operations, general management, ownership/leading and executive management – four of the six core PGA career paths.”

The book, available in print and on-demand electronic versions, in addition to the case study, includes class exercises and a test bank of questions. Moreover, Club Prophet Systems (Oakmont, Pa.), which helps golf shops across the globe streamline operations, is providing its software solutions to help the Clemson students grasp the importance of technology and guide them in solving the case study exercises.

Within its first 60 days of being published, “The Business of Golf” is in the top 22 percent of books sold, according to statistics published on Chris Anderson’s blog, The Long Tail (http://bit.ly/b2pnXd).

For additional information on the book, visit http://www.golfconvergence.com/textbook-on-the-business-of-golf. For more information on Golf Converage, visit www.golfconvergence.com, Twitter/golfconvergence, Facebook or call (303) 283-8880.

World Air Traffic 0-24h

Friday, July 30th, 2010

This is a pretty unique perspective

READ THIS BEFORE VIEWING THE VIDEO

This is a 24 hour observation of all of the large aircraft flights in the world, condensed down to 1:11. From space we look like a bee hive of activity. What you will see, is a video showing air traffic around the world for 24 hours, taken from a satellite.

You won’t believe this! The yellow dots are airplanes in the sky during a 24 hour period.

Stay with the picture. You will see the light of the day moving from the east to the west, as the Earth spins on it’s axis. Also you will see the aircraft flow of traffic leaving the North American continent and traveling at night to arrive in the UK in the morning. Then you will see the flow changing, leaving the UK in the morning and flying to the American continent in daylight.

This is something that everyone should see. For us old-timers it is really fascinating. For our children/ grandchildren it provides a superb learning moment and an opportunity to open up what could be a very interesting discussion. This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It surpasses the “World At Night” poster that NatGeo (I think) published about 20 years ago and my “America At Night” coffee mug. How many people do YOU think are in the sky at any given moment?

You can tell it was spring time in the north by the sun’s foot print over the planet. You could see that it didn’t set for long in the extreme north and it didn’t quite rise in the extreme south. I have never seen this before.



We are taught about the earth’s tilt and how it causes summer and winter and we have had to imagine just what is going on. With this 24 hour observation of aircraft travel on the earth’s surface we get to see the daylight pattern move as well. Remember watch the day to night….. Day is over in Australia when it starts.

Respectfully,

Steven G. Cunningham. | EOD Technology, Inc.
Project Manager | TWISS

What Associations Really Matter in the “Game of Golf”

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

The Alexa rankings for the primary golf trade associations as of July 16, 2010 are as follows:

PGA.com   23,775
USGA.com   47,999
NRPA.org (National Parks and Recreation)   719,706
GCSAA.com (Golf Course Superintendents Society of America)   1,121,782
CMAA.com (Club Managers Association of America)   1,131,992
NGCOA (National Golf Course Owners Association)   1,566,756

As a reference, Golf Convergence is 499,385 as of this posting, up from 713,084 with the publishing of our book, “The Business of Golf”:  http://www.golfconvergence.com/textbook-on-the-business-of-golf.

Why the difference in rankings?  The leading sites are consumer v. trade industry based.

Lost Generation

Monday, April 26th, 2010