Golf course businesses should integrate their superintendent into the senior leadership team, believes Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA.
In the first of a new series of Syngenta’s Changing the Business of Golf podcast, Evans says golf businesses would benefit by superintendents having a seat at the table in operational, financial and strategic decisions.
“The golf course is the product,” Evans tells podcast host Gary Firkins. “Without it, there is no game and no golf business.”
Evans believes elevating the superintendent into higher leadership roles would result in better playing conditions, smarter investments and stronger alignment across organizations.
The pair also draw on examples such as Pinehurst Resort and the GCSAA’s First Green program to discuss how golf facilities can make the game more accessible while supporting the industry’s long-term sustainability.
Throughout the episode, Evans outlines three changes he believes are essential for the future business of golf:
- Fully integrate the superintendent into the leadership of every golf business
- Embrace Best Management Practices as a core business strategy
- Build more accessible and affordable green-grass golf experiences
“Whenever Rhett Evans speaks, it is worth listening to,” said Mark Birchmore, Syngenta Head of Global Marketing, Turf & Landscape.
“His experience, insights and opinions are informative in a fast-changing industry where the need for new thinking, innovation and solutions is more prescient than ever.”
The Changing the Business of Golf podcast with Rhett Evans is now available to listen or watch.
Listen on Spotify: Changing the Business of Golf with Rhett Evans
Listen on Apple Podcasts: Changing the Business of Golf with Rhett Evans
Watch on YouTube: Changing the Business of Golf with Rhett Evans
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Useful Links:
- Syngenta Market Research: Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide
- Changing the Business of Golf podcast
- Find out more about GCSAA’s First Green Program
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Thank you for tuning in to the Changing the Business of Golf Podcast. Stay tuned for our next episode where we continue to explore the people, stories and strategies that are shaping the future of golf.