Massive Study Could Be Checking You Out
April 1, 2010 by Ian Hutchinson
A wide network of secret shoppers, restaurant reviewers and recreational golfers is determined to fan out across the country this summer to explore every aspect of individual golf operations.
The findings will then be compiled into comparative lists in each category and for overall experience on regional and national levels. The study will also consider average green fees and other pricing in each region before determining a grade for each golf facility.
“Let me emphasize that we are not ranking golf courses here,” said Ima Scamma, who is heading up the study.
“We believe, and golfers we’ve talked to agree, that the golf experience includes more than the golf course itself. We need to emphasize the word experience, which is why we’ve got professional secret shoppers and restaurant reviewers involved.”
As an example, he said that golf shops will be measured by courteous staff, variety of products, shop layout and courses will be judged not only by design and conditions, but also by time intervals between arrival by beverage carts.
Scamma emphasizes that, on all visits, representatives of the study will remain anonymous to staff members in order to gain a true perspective of the operation.
“The schedule is being put together now and we’re expecting to visit about 90 per cent of golf courses in Canada, if not more,” said Scamma, adding that number has drawn the attention of various media outlets interested in publishing the results.
“I won’t say which media wants to publicize the results just yet, but let’s say the number is more than one or two,” said Scamma.
For more information on this undertaking, see the website, www.gotchaonaprilfoolsday.ca.
Ian Hutchinson is a veteran Canadian golf writer, whose history in the game includes an extensive background with Canadian golf trade publications. A golf columnist with Sun Media, Hutch is also a regular contributor to publications and websites in Canada and the United States.
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Will the new April 1 survey replace the two hour one that Ted Maude and Rick Fraser (RIP) did from a bar in Markham (figures are still in use by KPMG and NGF)
Very good my friend!
Ya, you got me!
And here I was on my best behaviour since then – I think you should arrange this Ian – good project – golfers would love the feedback!!
Don
To : Ian Hutchinson —-
Hi Ian — Just surfing the web and came across this — For the record , it was Doug Carrick and yours truly who put that study together way back in 1987 ! We knew we had a ” bombshell ” so because of my close relationship with the late Rickey Fraser , I ” leaked ” it to Rick at lunch at the Duchess Pub in Markham ! Rick later said to me that never in his years at The Star covering sports
did he the kind of response he got from that story !
Now , there is a hell of a story here —- The study basically stated that at the time ( 23 years ago ) there was a critical imbalance of supply vs demand — The study took Doug and I 6 months to research and we had all the facts to back up our findings —- The ” reverberations ” from the study coupled with Rick’s article was felt all across the country resulting in the largest golf course construction ” boom ” we have ever seen before or will ever see again !!
At the time , hundreds of proposals were in front of many levels of government all of which had no credible information as to how to justify new golf course developments — Our report changed all that resulting in ( even I don’t know ) how many courses have come on stream from coast to coast over the past 20 plus years ! But there’s a ” downside ” to all this so read just a bit further —
Doug Carrick and I are very close friends , hell , we even share the same birthday ! I talk to Doug all the time , and as you well know , over the past few years , times have been tough ! Few ( if any ) new courses on the drawing board in Canada —- Why ? Because it has all come full circle whereby supply ( courses ) has caught up to demand ( golfers ) and indeed surpassed it !!!
Doug and I say to each other ” I guess we shot ourselves in the foot ! ” — Sure , we all did well as an
indirect result of our study . I can’t begin to imagine the overall economic impact of it all and the thousands of jobs that were created !!
But , here we are today , when all the traditional golf course oriented ” lenders ” have packed up , or sold off their golf course mortgages ( portfolio’s ) —- Just try and secure financing for a golf course today — Like , how about ” private lenders ” at 18 % !!!!
Bottom line is , enjoy what we have , because there ain’t no more !!!!
Best Ian —
Ps — If you want some more stories feel free to call me 416 551 8157 or my email address is
tedmaude@hotmail.com You might even want to check out http://www.golfplusintl.com