Comments for Ruminations from the Cart Barn

Comment on The ultimate Friday by JD

JD — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:03:53 +0000

HoHo….you such a funny guy….You know Phil won…..

Comment on Why is the golf industry in trouble? by DC

DC — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:22:47 +0000

Golftown is clearly the leader in the marketplace in Canada, but I think that it is largely based upon perception. Golftown is in no way a discount house as evidenced by their 22% gross profit the last year they published financial results as a public company (2006 maybe?). Any Club Professional would turn cartwheels and spit nickels for those numbers!!! But they are perceived as such because of their financial clout and their ability to provide close outs to their consumers. Successful Golf Professionals who own their shop utilize Golftown as a resource and do not see it as a competitor. The advantage of the Green Grass pro shop is service… no retailer can provide the service levels i.e. club fitting, and the personal touches that a Club Professional can provide. The retailer’s lure is price and price only – forget the after sale service or the follow up with them. Support your club professional – you will not regret the decision and the price will be at least the same and maybe even a wee bit better!!!

Comment on Why is the golf industry in trouble? by EC

EC — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:06:01 +0000

I agree Peter. The wrong question is being asked. Aspects of Golf are struggling. Some are not. The courses near me, the smaller ones, a little less frill .. but fantastic courses, solid Pro’s … and great service are thriving. I mean, the Pro-Shops are empty, unless your paying for your Tee time. If I was to put my finger on a danger, its independent Golf retail. There are very few retailers losing the fight to the majors. Or, should I say, Major, no “s”. The club pro-shop is dying, that’s happening everywhere in North America. Pop, chips, balls and Tee’s .. and maybe a Snickers in case the cart girl is slow. I see this as the problem. Especially here in Canada. No competition = no fair market value. Golf Town is the winner up here. No question. We may see a monopoly on the way, and there is no big US retailer going to come up here and battle them, there going to battle them in the US for goodness sake! I mean, we certainly saw that Forzani couldn’t do it. Nevada bob’s purchase and ultimate demise .. I mean, really, hiding your red-headed step child at the back of your big flagship store? I mean really, laughable. We need Pro’s to understand retail. Learn how to make that business successful, get your members back into the shop. Some of them do a great job! But we need more. I long for the day when you can walk into your Pro Shop, and have a conversation about the right club for you. Instead of having them tell you to go swing some at the local Golf Town. But, that’s Just my 2 cents!

Comment on Home rulings let couch potatoes be part of the action too by Lyle

Lyle — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:55:57 +0000

1. The arm chair golfer does NOT get the player disqualified for the player’s stupidity, the rules do that.

2. Information from ALL available sources can be used to assist in making a ruling. TV is just one of these sources.

3. By not allowing the rare call-in, who may have valid and relevant information which can be quickly verified, players will make cuts who should not have, prevent others from same, win the tournament or significant money, lessen the integrity of the game and diminish the self policing of the game that the current rules allow. And this is what you want for golf?

4. Using Camillo’s actions as an example, if he were to win the tournament on Sunday, (or $$$$) and a rules infraction made previously was made public on Sunday or Monday, I would wager anything that he, or any other player, would not accept his cheque or donate the fraudulent earnings to charity, rather than be branded a cheat.

5. I agree with the retroactive 2 stroke penalty.

Comment on Home rulings let couch potatoes be part of the action too by Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:39:14 +0000

Well stated Peter,

My issue is that Football, Hockey and Basketball players will all STILL GET PAID! for these infractions to the rule. A golfer will not. For someone at home to call in and take a potential paycheque or title away from a player is rediculous and should be kept inside the ropes for all involved.
I saw what Camillo did at the Hyundai, but it never even crossed my mind to call in and disqualify him. Where is the benefit? Does the caller get some kind of gratification? I caused that to happen. Obsurd.

I went to a Leaf game last week and couldn’t believe these guys get paid no matter how bad they suck!

Take that Hebscher, theres my RANT! ha ha.

Comment on How can I help? by Cam Shaw

Cam Shaw — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:04:36 +0000

Great article Peter.
I am a student in Tim’s Communications class. Some great points were driven home during that panel. It is a shame that it had to be cut short due to time constraints.

I felt we had oly sdcratched the surface of that issue.

Like you, I lack a great deal of knowledge on this topic, and plan to do some more learnin’ in order to answer the questions that were left lingering in my head.

Comment on Flawed stats lead to flawed conclusions by Wally Kemp

Wally Kemp — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:35:16 +0000

Peter:

You are bang on, I play 50 games a year, at public courses, and I cannot see one benefit to belonging to Golf Canada.

On the other hand I firmly believe, for the good of golf in Canada, all 600,000 golfers should be members, but you want something for your dues.

Just one thing, maybe even a McDonalds coupon.

Comment on Flawed stats lead to flawed conclusions by Ian w Scott

Ian w Scott — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:33:10 +0000

Great article Peter, I didn’t know you were so good at Math! Seriously, a good read. ian

Comment on Flawed stats lead to flawed conclusions by Tom

Tom — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:02:06 +0000

Peter,

Like your thoughts on the Junior concept…I agree getting the kids involved in golf as soon as possible and not placing so many restrictions on when they can play will benefit all of us in the long run.

I trust that the powers that be at Golf Canada will figure our the formula for success.

Comment on The X factor by Paul Bellemare

Paul Bellemare — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:19:14 +0000

Funny, from the golfers side, I see decent courses pricing golfers off of their tee sheets.

How can I justify ridiculous green fees when I want to play 3 or more times a week ? Even at a reasonable $40./round, 3 times a week is $120./week, that’s an awful lot of money on a game. What happens to the number of rounds I can play when that cost/round is now $60. ? Pretty obvious, I play less. If everyone plays less, there will be some who are actually driven away from the game entirely as well. Do course owners want that ?

It was like a few years ago course owners were actively TRYING to discourage play by upping prices. A great example of this is Glen Lawrence in Kingston. Their rounds had hit over $45. and the course was totally empty. When the prices were reduced to a more appropriate under $40. cost, the course became packed. Funny thing eh ? I wonder if they’re making more now, or were making more then ?

Avid golfers play ALOT, the more expensive it is the more likely you are to discourage people from becoming avid golfers…

What other game do you spend so much just to play ? None. Course owners need to come to the realization that lower green fees mean MORE ROUNDS. Do you want an empty course not generating any income, or a full one ?

Arguing that higher green fees are “needed” or worse yet “justified” is hollow as if you aren’t filling your tee sheets with the higher fees, you’re not generating ANY revenue during those empty spots.