NGCOA Annual Conference attendance jumps 10 percent

Attendance at the 2014 NGCOA Annual Conference in Orlando earlier this month increased more than 10 percent over last year’s event. Representatives from 1,524 courses took advantage of educational and networking sessions and recognized a group of award winners that included Hall of Fame golfer and renowned course designer Jack Nicklaus.

Conference attendance included 714 registrants who participated in the golf industry’s largest gathering of owners and operators of daily fee, private, resort and municipal courses.

NGCOA CEO Mike Hughes called the conference “an overwhelming success, not only in attendance numbers, but also in the amount and quality of information that attendees were presented.”

The conference theme of “Project: Course Rescue” promised and delivered on actionable information designed to help course owners operate more profitably and efficiently.

Conference keynote speaker Tabatha Coffey, who specializes in rejuvenating businesses on the reality series Tabatha Takes Over, dispensed advice and insights during her lively opening address. “It doesn’t matter what the business is, everyone wants an experience,” she said. “Everything you do, starting with how you answer the phone, is part of the experience. It may sound like small things, but when you put them all together, they create an experience that brings people back.”