Public golf courses play a vital role in bringing new players into the game. As the industry looks to the future, there's a real opportunity to protect and grow these facilities, while finding a more sustainable balance in how courses are maintained.
That's the view of Mark Mungeam, President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), who joins host Gary Firkins on the latest episode of Changing the Business of Golf podcast to share his three changes for the industry.
Who is Mark Mungeam?
A lifelong passion for sustainability, nature and wildlife conservation sits at the core of Mark's design approach – a commitment that began at the age of 18 and continues to define his work.
Mark's path into golf course architecture began on the maintenance crew. Working as a greenkeeper while at college, he became involved in the redesign of the course he was looking after – the start of a career that has since included the renovation of Olympia Fields' North Course ahead of the 2003 U.S. Open. Having grown up playing public golf, he now does much of his work on public courses, giving him a first-hand view of the pressures they face and what's at stake for the future of the game if they disappear.
How can Golf build a Sustainable Future?
In this conversation, Mark shares his three changes for the business of golf:
- Develop more alternative-length, low-cost public golf courses – As affordable, public courses close, golf is losing the places where beginners start. Mark explains how municipalities and clubs can replace them, pointing to the 9-hole course he designed at Lyman Orchards as a successful, financially sustainable model.
- Grow a more diverse customer base through community programs – Golf needs to do more to welcome players from ethnic minority backgrounds, a challenge also identified in Syngenta's own Golf & Social Media research. Mark explains why a positive first introduction is critical, and why each club needs a facilitator who makes newcomers feel comfortable.
- Educate players on the true cost of perfect course conditions – Rising maintenance standards are putting superintendents under pressure. Mark makes the case for balancing good conditions with sustainability, and calls for superintendents to lead that conversation with customers.
If you’re looking to manage rising expectations, strengthen your facility's role in the community and build a model that's financially sustainable for the long term, this episode is essential watching.
Watch on YouTube: Changing the Business of Golf with Mark Mungeam
Listen on Spotify: Changing the Business of Golf with Mark Mungeam
Listen on Apple Podcast: Changing the Business of Golf with Mark Mungeam
Useful Links:
- Connect with Mark Mungeam
- Changing the Business of Golf podcast
- Syngenta Market Research: Golf & Social Media: Diversity
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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.
