Finance, Governance The Subjects Of New GMIC Courses

The Golf Management Institute of Canada is offering two new online courses that will begin in May.

Golf Club Governance, will feature George Pinches of the Club Managers Association of America and Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

The course is designed to help students understand the dynamics of boards and committees at golf facilities.

Board structures will be discussed in detail, as will the the decision-making process, club strategy and policy matters and the role of golf associations. Discussion groups, assignments and readings will be part of the course, which will include online chat sessions each Tuesday for six weeks, beginning May 22.

Finance for Non-Financial Managers in the Golf Industry, will feature Colin McDougall as course professor.

The course is designed to help students identify financial information required to address specific management issues and problems, access the short and long-term financial impact of resource allocation decisions and be able to effectively interpret and golf operation’s financial statements.

The manager’s role in budgeting and forecasting will also be explored using cases, annual reports and industry research. Beginning May 24, the course will include live online chat sessions for eight weeks each Thursday.

Cost for both courses is $599.

Two GMIC Courses Start In Late March

The Golf Management Institute of Canada is beginning a couple of online courses in late March.

Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry begins March 20 to teach students how to identify opportunities and develop strategies by recognizing the factors that affect all businesses. Students will learn how to organize a business idea into a concrete business plan.

Susan Hodkinson, chief operating officer for Soberman LLP, will be the course professor. Cost is $599, with live online sessions each Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Retail Management in Golf Operations begins March 22 and will explore topics such as seasonality, inventory management, customer identification and service, display techniques and promotional ideas for generating additional revenues.

Course professor is Keith Keindel, executive director of the Canadian Golf Industry Association, and cost is $599 with live online sessions each Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, click here.

New Courses Coming Up At GMIC

The Golf Management Institute of Canada will be starting two new online courses, beginning in late May.

Finance for Non-Financial Manager in the Golf Industry is designed to teach decision-makers in the golf industry to understand and properly use financial data.

The course will focus on the financial information required to address specific management issues and problems, assed short and long-term financial impact of resource allocation decisions and interpretation of a golf operation’s financial statements.

The course will be taught by Ken Fanjoy a Certified Management Accountant with 17 years of experience as an entrepreneur and small business consultant. Cost is $599.

Golf Club Governance, which gets underway June 2, is designed for understanding the dynamics of board and committees at golf facilities to ensure an effective operation.

The course will be led by Terry Ruffel, a Chartered Accountant who has spent over 30 years in the not-for-profit sector and has served as a director and president of St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto. Cost of the program is $599.

 For more information, click here.

Two GMIC Courses Start In March

The Golf Management Institute of Canada is introducing two online courses, beginning in late March.

Retail Management in Golf Operations will begin on March 22, featuring topics such as seasonality, inventory management, customer identification and service, display techniques and promotional ideas for generating additional revenue.

The course will be led by Keith Keindel, executive director of the Canadian Golf Industry Association.

Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry will begin on March 24, focusing on topics such as teaching students how to identify opportunities and develop strategies by recognizing environmental factors that affect all businesses and how to conduct a feasibility study.

The course will be led by Susan Hodkinson, chief operating officer for Soberman LLP.

The cost of each GMIC course is $599.

CPGA/GMIC Introduce Learning Modules

The Canadian PGA and Golf Management Institute of Canada have developed a series of self-directed learning modules as part of the PACE (Professional Advancement, Career Enhancement) program.

 A total of five Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules have been designed and are mandatory for all candidates for membership. 

They cover all aspects of the golf industry and include golf operations and club services, tournament operations and event planning, turf management, retail management and food and beverage management. 

Candidates for membership are required to complete all five modules, with minimum completion of one per year.  All of the Core Competency Golf Modules will be administered and evaluated by the GMIC.

“We have been looking to provide unique learning opportunities for aspiring golf professionals for many years”, said Canadian PGA executive director Gary Bernard.

“Now, students have the opportunity to study at their own pace, while working with industry professionals and members of our association to learn the core fundamentals of golf operations.  Our partner, the Golf Management Institute of Canada, is recognized for expertise in online learning and independent study, so working with them was a natural fit.”

GMIC President Grant Fraser says his organization is happy to be working with the Canadian PGA.

“I think we have developed a series of modules that provide a solid foundation for the next generation of golf professionals. All of the self-directed learning modules have been developed in collaboration with golf industry experts and will provide Canadian PGA candidates for membership with a thorough understanding of each topic”.

For more information, contact Morgan Court of the Canadian PGA at morgan@cpga.com or 1-800-782-5764 or Ash Patel of the GMIC at apatel@golf-management.org.

Nature’s Fury Strikes Golf Courses

The past month or so has offered at least a couple of examples of how nature’s fury can mean more than just the inconvenience of a barren tee sheet.

I haven’t heard of any damage to golf courses by the fires that have been burning throughout British Columbia, but you have to wonder about the possibilities in the future, especially with the mountain pine beetle infestation turning trees into kindling in the summer months.

In Ontario, the Muskoka Bay Club near Gravenhurst is back in business after being hit just over a week ago with an apparent F0 tornado that that can produce wind speeds of between 60 and 110 kilometres an hour.

According to reports, hundreds of trees came down, roofs were ripped off golf carts and patio furniture and other objects were found as far as a kilometre away, forcing the club to shut down for a few days to clean up. [ Here’s a first hand description ]. Read more

GMIC To Begin New Courses

The Golf Management Institute of Canada will begin two new online classes in August. Both cost $589.

Strategic Management in the Golf Industry will teach aspiring managers how to develop operating strategies for all areas of a golf operation. Students will be expected to develop/implement product, pricing, promotion and human resources strategies and analyze the impact of their decisions on the organization.

That course, which begins Aug. 4, will be led by Keith Keindel, executive director of the Canadian Golf Industry Association.

Human Resources in the Golf Industry will focus on the professional application of human resource management practices in the golf industry. All aspects of people management will be covered including hiring, compensation, training/development, health/safety, performance management and employment law.

That course, which beings Aug. 6, will be taught by Susan Hodkinson, chief operating officer at Soberman LLP.

For more information, see www.golf-management.org, or e-mail apatel@golf-management.org.

New GMIC Courses Will Soon Begin

The Golf Management Institute of Canada will start two new online classes in late May.

Golf Club Governance will begin on May 26, with live online chat sessions held each Tuesday for six weeks from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST.

The course is designed to help students understand the dynamics of boards and committees at golf facilities. Discussions will include board structures in private course settings, the decision-making process, club strategies and policy matters and the role of golf associations and their involvement in the golf industry.

Cost of the course is $589, the same as it is for the Finance for Non-Financial Managers in the Golf Industry class that gets underway May 28 and is designed to help non-financial managers in the industry how to understand and properly use financial data.

Students will learn how to identify the financial information required to address specific management issues and problems, assess the short and long-term financial impact of resource allocation decisions and interpret financial statements.

Live online chat sessions will be held each Thursday for eight weeks from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST.

To register, see the website www.golf-management.org

GMIC Offers New Courses

The Golf Management Institute of Canada is offering two new courses beginning in late March, including Retail Management in Golf Operations and Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry.

The Retail Management in Golf Operations course, which begins March 24, deals with topics such as seasonality, inventory management, customer identification and service, display techniques and promotional ideas for generating additional revenues.

The course will be led by Kevin Hurd, the general manager of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Club and former general manager of the Brookefield and Beaverdale Golf Clubs in Cambridge, Ont. He also served as corporate marketing director for Golf North Properties Inc. between 1998 and 2004.

The Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry course will introduce students to the concept of entrepreneurship and assess their potential.’

Students will be taught to identify opportunities and develop strategies by recognizing factor that affect businesses. They will learn how to take their ideas into a concrete business plan.

The course will be taught by GMIC president Grant Fraser, who established the first golf management program in Ontario at Toronto’s Humber College before founding the GMIC in 1999.

Cost of both programs is $589 each.

For more information, see the website, www.golf-management.org, or e-mail Ash Patel at apatel@golf-management.org.

GMIC Introduces Two New Courses

The Golf Management Institute of Canada will be running two eight-week online courses that begin in January.

The Food and Beverage Management course that begins January 13 will provide an overview of foundations for food and beverage, offering students the opportunity to learn about specific areas of the operation such as product knowledge, service, financial management, purchasing and control systems.

Students will also perform practical and applicable exercises and projects that relate to a successful food and beverage operation.

The course will be run by Glen Phillips, the regional director of hospitality for ClubLink Corporation since 1999. Phillips also worked for the Royal Canadian Golf Association as clubhouse manager of Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., prior to joining ClubLink.

Cost of the program is $589 and it will include live online sessions each Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST for eight weeks.

The GMIC is also introducing a Golf Course Design, Construction and Turf Management course that begins January 15 and will include live online chat sessions each Thursday for eight weeks from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST.

That course addresses golf course design principles and turf management practices. Students will learn how golf course architects design courses through all phases of development and renovate/expand existing facilities.

Other topics include obtaining permits and dealing with local authorities about environmental issues associated with golf course development.

The fundamentals in golf course maintenance will also be addressed through topics such as grass and soil identification, drainage systems, equipment use in maintenance procedures and establishing and implementing a turf management program.

An introduction to pesticides and fertilizers will also be included.

The course will be led by Vito Cirone, an environment planner and executive director of Burnside Golf Services, Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Association president John Taylor and Kevin Holmes, senior golf course architect with MBTW Golf Design in Toronto.

Cost for the course is $589.

For more information on the GMIC or to register for these programs, contact Ash Patel at apatel@golf-management.org.

GMIC Introduces New Courses

The Golf Management Institute of Canada is introducing four new online courses that begin in late October and in January:

Marketing Management in Golf Operations
Oct. 21–Dec. 9

Business Law for Golf Managers
Oct. 23-Dec. 11

Food and Beverage Management
Jan. 13-March 3

Golf Course Design, Construction and Turf Management
Jan. 15-March 5

For more information, see the website, www.golf-management.org.