Thanks to our sponsors the registration fee is $100 per person which includes continental breakfast, education, lunch, beverages, golf, carts, forecaddie, prizes and reception. A team package including hole sponsorship is $500. The education-only fee is $50 per person and includes breakfast and lunch.
Independence Golf Club
Hosting the event is NGCOA-MA member and 2015 Public Golf Leader Award winner Giff Breed, who oversaw a full-scale renovation of the club in 2014, and the result is a varied and inventive course, appealing to golfers of all skill levels. The changes included re-grassing the fairways and greens, ridding the layout of an overabundance of bunkers and strategically removing trees to get air moving, resulting in healthier turf. After the extensive renovations, Golf Digest has ranked Independence in the Top 30 Best New Courses in the Country.
In addition to the championship course changes, Independence Golf Club has gone under unique renovations to their short course, clubhouse and dining facilities. Breaking the mold with the goal of attracting the new, younger breed of golfers, changes include a sports bar style grill with an in-house brick oven for pizza along with the addition of large holes on the short course that welcomes footgolf fanatics.
EDUCATION PROGRAM
What a lineup for the Education Program! NGCOA CEO Jay Karen will kick off the meeting with an update on the many new things happening at the national office. Lester George and George Crews will share their project to speed play, reduce maintenance and make golf at Independence both fun and profitable. Then IGC Owner Giff Breed will moderate the “It’s More Than Golf” Panel, featuring VSGA President Bruce Matson and IGC partner companies.
Keynote Speaker
Jay Karen, CAE
NGCOA Chief Executive Officer
Jay Karen is the CEO of National Golf Course Owners Association, where he leads the golf industry’s trade association and initiatives to support the success of the golf course business. Prior to his appointment at NGCOA, Jay was CEO of Select Registry, a portfolio of over 300 premier boutique hotels. Jay will provide an update on national initiatives.
There will also be two excellent educational offerings to get you thinking "outside the box"
“Renovating to Grow the Bottom Line”
Lester George, George Golf Design; George Frye, Champion Turf
"Its More Than Golf" Panel
Giff Breed, Owner of Independence Golf Club
Bruce Matson, VSGA President
Ben Spencer, Cafe Zata
Brian Edmonds, 288 Sports Group
Tom Flood, Lexus Richmond
Jason Yarema, GForce
Derek Smith, Passion Academy
(L-R, Lester George, Giff Breed, Bruce Matson)
NGCOA Mid-Atlantic Innovation Awards to be presented
Mid-Atlantic Golf Leader - recognizing an individual who displayed leadership in the Mid-Atlantic as evidenced by long-term business achievement and/or service to the industry
Public Golf Innovator presented by IBS - recognizing a non-private golf facility for an outstanding marketing program executed within the past year
Private Club Innovator presented by IBS - recognizing a private club for an outstanding marketing or member recruitment program executed within the past year
Sustainability Award presented by Jacobsen - recognizing a club for innovation and leadership to incorporate sustainability and environmental stewardship into operating practices