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1999 GCSAA Leadership Survey
The 1999 GCSAA Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion
poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in Orlando, examined the
opinions of more than 1,200 superintendents on trends in golf and golf
course management. The survey was designed to position the golf course
superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry. The
results of the 32-question survey were put into press releases and sent
to 1,000 golf industry and trade media around the country.
Infographs
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Media coverage of the survey
The original news releases summarizing the results of the Leadership Survey were released from Orlando during Conference and Show. "The placements are starting to pick up with the warming of the weather," says John Gates, Mullen. "As they say in the industry it is quite an 'evergreen' story."
The 1999 survey results were featured in publications such as Golf World, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Sports Illustrated and newspapers throughout the country. The 1999 results made more than 16 million impressions to readers and subscribers.
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The 1999 GCSAA Golf Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in Orlando, examined the opinions of more than 1,200 superintendents on trends in golf and golf course management. The survey is designed to position the golf course superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry. The results of the 32-question survey were put into press releases and sent to 1,000 golf industry and trade media around the country.
| How would you describe the "image" of the golf course superintendent among players? |
| Excellent |
13% |
| Somewhat positive |
65% |
| Neither positive or negative |
16% |
| Somewhat negative |
04% |
| Poor |
01% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| How would you describe the "image" of the golf course superintendent among course owners/board of directors? |
| Excellent |
21% |
| Somewhat positive |
64% |
| Neither positive or negative |
11% |
| Somewhat negative |
03% |
| Poor |
.4% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| How would you describe the "image" of the golf course superintendent among golf professionals/club managers/other management? |
| Excellent |
18% |
| Somewhat positive |
54% |
| Neither positive or negative |
17% |
| Somewhat negative |
09% |
| Poor |
02% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| What breach of etiquette is most prevalent on your golf course today? (Rank top three) |
| Breach |
1st choice |
2nd choice |
3rd choice |
| Walking in a players line |
02% |
01% |
02% |
| Not raking bunkers |
18% |
21% |
28% |
| Not repairing ball marks |
60% |
26% |
07% |
| Not fixing divots |
09% |
33% |
26% |
| Lack of knowledge of the rules of the game |
08% |
13% |
22% |
| Using cellular phones during play |
02% |
02% |
06% |
| Talking when someone is putting or driving |
02% |
02% |
03% |
| Cheating on one's scorecard |
02% |
02% |
05% |
| For each pair of groups, please indicate, in your opinion, which group repairs divots with more regularity? |
| Group |
1st choice |
2nd choice |
No answer |
| (1) Men vs. Women (2) |
43% |
44% |
13% |
| (1) Older players vs. (2) Younger players |
36% |
57% |
07% |
| (1) High handicap golfers vs. (2) low handicap golfers |
23% |
69% |
08% |
| (1) Experienced golfers vs. (2) Inexperienced golfers |
12% |
83% |
06% |
| (1) Public course players vs. (2) Private course players |
12% |
69% |
18% |
| What single improvement in technology or turf management technique has had the most positive effect on the game of golf in the last 5 years? (Pick one) |
| Introduction of lightweight mowers |
42% |
| Increased use of rollers |
05% |
| Fairway top dressers |
02% |
| Increase of hand rake consistency |
01% |
| Introduction of computerized irrigation controls |
44% |
| Increased use of the Internet and e-mail communications |
08% |
| Don't know/No answer |
05% |
| What has been the most significant change in golf course playing conditions in the last five years? (Rank top three) |
| Change |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd Choice |
| Fairway conditions |
23% |
27% |
22% |
| Increased height & cut of rough |
02% |
03% |
06% |
| Height of turf |
14% |
21% |
18% |
| Increase of "perfect bunkers" |
04% |
11% |
16% |
| Green speed |
39% |
27% |
14% |
| Increased overcrowding |
14% |
09% |
13% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
01% |
07% |
| How significant will each of these changes in course operations be over the next 5 years? (Pick one) |
| Rise of environmental regulations |
74% |
| Increase of operating costs |
41% |
| Lowering of operating costs |
28% |
| Increased consolidation in ownership of golf courses |
20% |
| Development of new courses |
29% |
| Decrease in water use |
52% |
| Increased use of biological "natural" pesticides |
43% |
| Improved environmental management techniques |
63% |
| Don't know/No answer |
10% |
| What single factor has caused the greatest increase in expectations for golf course conditions? (Pick one) |
| Golf tournaments on television |
70% |
| Rise of green fees |
06% |
| Improvements in golf equipment |
01% |
| Increased competition among golf courses |
15% |
| Increased sophistication of players |
05% |
| General growth of the game |
09% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
.4% |
| Which one of the following golf equipment innovations has had the most beneficial effect on modern golf course conditions? (Pick one) |
| Changes in golf shoes -- spikeless golf shoes |
89% |
| Development in golf club design -- titanium heads, graphite shafts etc. |
09% |
| Development in golf ball design & construction |
01% |
| Development of sophisticated technology for golf cars (GPS, yardage meters etc.) |
02% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
04% |
| What single trend has most led to the rising cost of golf? (Pick one) |
| Shrinking labor pool has increased operating costs for superintendents |
11% |
| Changing golf course operating standards has increased costs for superintendents |
49% |
| Development of new courses has not matched golfer demand |
04% |
| Competition among other courses for best course conditions |
26% |
| High costs of development of courses |
13% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| In your opinion, what is the single future trend that could most negatively affect the game of golf in the next 5 years. (Pick one) |
| Rising cost/lack of availability of chemicals |
26% |
| Limited use of chemicals on targeted pests |
21% |
| Increase of contract maintenance -- outsourcing |
12% |
| Universal adoption of contract maintenance among operators |
08% |
| Increased consolidation of golf course ownership |
18% |
| Restrictions on future golf course development when they are most needed |
10% |
| Don't know/No answer |
11% |
| What do you consider to be the most valuable tool in daily management of your golf course? (Rank top three) |
| Tool |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd Choice |
| Personal computer |
14% |
13% |
23% |
| Irrigation system |
46% |
33% |
13% |
| Golf car |
03% |
05% |
10% |
| Top dresser |
.4% |
04% |
10% |
| Mower |
16% |
28% |
16% |
| Two-way radio |
19% |
17% |
26% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
01% |
.1% |
01% |
| What trends or management practices have contributed most to slow play on the golf course? (Rank top three) |
| Trend |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd Choice |
| Decline of golfer etiquette |
23% |
23% |
24% |
| Increased use of cellular phones |
03% |
05% |
08% |
| Increased tree growth along fairways |
02% |
04% |
06% |
| Increased course traffic |
33% |
24% |
16% |
| Reduction of monitoring by management personnel |
11% |
17% |
18% |
| Increased consumption of alcohol by golfers |
.9% |
02% |
04% |
| High rough & fast greens |
26% |
23% |
17% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
.3% |
05% |
| In your opinion, what course grooming technique in your experience has reduced slow play on the golf course? (Pick one) |
| Widening of fairways |
25% |
| Shortening of tees |
05% |
| Shortening of rough |
46% |
| Slowing of greens |
14% |
| Faster/firmer fairways |
07% |
| Don't know/No answer |
08% |
| What is the most common golf car driving violation on the course today? (Pick one) |
| Ignoring daily posting of golf car restrictions |
34% |
| Ignoring directional signs |
24% |
| Driving on the fairways |
05% |
| Overloading golf car |
01% |
| Driving on or too close to greens |
41% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| In your opinion, how important is it for superintendents to be regular golfers in order to succeed in their field? (Pick one) |
| Very important |
59% |
| Somewhat important |
36% |
| Somewhat unimportant |
06% |
| Not important at all |
03% |
| Don't know/No answer |
.4% |
| What percentage of golfers do you believe cheat on the rules of golf? (Pick one) |
| Under 5% |
05% |
| 6-10% |
09% |
| 11-25% |
18% |
| 26-50% |
30% |
| 51%-75% |
20% |
| More than 75% |
18% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
04% |
| How often do you play golf with a member of your club or golf course? (Pick one) |
| More than once a week |
04% |
| Weekly |
15% |
| Bi-weekly |
13% |
| Monthly |
22% |
| Bi-monthly |
06% |
| Quarterly |
08% |
| Seasonally |
09% |
| Little or never |
25% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
| Has El Niño increased operating costs at your golf course? (Pick one) |
| Significantly increased costs |
09% |
| Somewhat increased costs |
35% |
| Has had no impact on operating costs |
38% |
| Reduced operating costs somewhat |
04% |
| Reduced operating costs substantially |
.8% |
| Don't know/No answer |
18% |
| What price has environmental compliance had on your golf course? (Pick one) |
| Increased operating costs in order to pay for environmental compliance |
29% |
| Environmental compliance has increased some operating costs, but reduced others |
33% |
| Operating costs have not increased in order to pay for environmental compliance |
27% |
| Environmental compliance has reduced operating costs |
03% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
13% |
| What new technology or management technique has increased operating efficiency on your golf course? (Rank top three) |
| Technology/technique |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd Choice |
| Computerized irrigation systems |
60% |
13% |
09% |
| Low pressure heads |
02% |
05% |
04% |
| Low dose pesticides |
11% |
22% |
19% |
| New grass varieties |
11% |
23% |
18% |
| New management software |
03% |
07% |
09% |
| Improved fertilizer |
09% |
24% |
26% |
| GPS technology |
.9% |
02% |
03% |
| Don't know/No answer |
04% |
02% |
08% |
| What is the most telling indicator that a golf course is in good condition? (Rank top three) |
| Indicator |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd Choice |
| Health and vigor of turf |
40% |
19% |
19% |
| Length of rough |
.3% |
.3% |
02% |
| Condition of fairways & tees |
02% |
35% |
46% |
| Condition of greens |
54% |
36% |
06% |
| Condition of bunkers |
02% |
08% |
25% |
| None of the above |
02% |
.4% |
01% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
.5% |
01% |
| Do you groom your course in order to try to compensate for the increasing distance of golf balls? |
| Yes |
18% |
| No |
84% |
| Don't know/No Answer |
04% |
| If "yes" rank top three. |
| Method |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
3rd choice |
| Shorten and narrow fairway |
29% |
18% |
12% |
| Lengthen rough |
21% |
25% |
16% |
| Add bunkers and water hazards |
09% |
16% |
21% |
| Plant trees |
07% |
20% |
20% |
| All of the above |
18% |
04% |
05% |
| None of the above |
14% |
04% |
05% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
11% |
12% |
| Do you buy, lease or lease/purchase your maintenance equipment? (Pick one) |
| Lease |
68% |
| Buy |
11% |
| Lease/purchase |
23% |
| Don't know |
03% |
| What is your course's overall annual operating budget? |
| Under $50,000 |
01% |
| $50,000 – $100,000 |
02% |
| $100,000-$300,000 |
14% |
| $300,000-$500,000 |
27% |
| $500,00-$750,000 |
29% |
| $750,000-1,000,000 |
16% |
| 1,000,000+ |
14% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| Which of the following best describes your job title? (Pick one) |
| Golf course superintendent |
80% |
| Business professional |
02% |
| Golf industry executive |
.6% |
| Golf course director |
04% |
| Golf course manager |
08% |
| General manager |
03% |
| Other |
08% |
| What is your age? |
| <25 |
06% |
| 26-35 |
34% |
| 36-45 |
41% |
| 46-55 |
21% |
| 56-65 |
03% |
| 65+ |
01% |
| What is your highest level of education? |
| High School Diploma |
09% |
| Certificate |
08% |
| Associates Degree/2-year degree |
35% |
| BS/BA |
47% |
| Masters Degree |
4.3% |
| Ph.D./JD/MD |
01% |
| No Answer |
01% |
| In what region of the US do you work? |
| Northeast |
24% |
| Southwest |
10% |
| Midwest |
29% |
| South (includes Puerto Rico) |
23% |
| West (includes Haiwaii) |
08% |
| Northwest (includes Alaska) |
05% |
| Outside of the United States |
07% |
| Number of employees that you manage? |
| 0-5 |
06% |
| 6-10 |
13% |
| 11-15 |
27% |
| 16-20 |
26% |
| 21-25 |
15% |
| 26-30 |
07% |
| 31+ |
12% |
| Do you operate a public or private course? |
| Public |
46% |
| Private |
56% |
| Don't know/No answer |
04% |
| How big is your golf course? |
| 9 holes |
04% |
| 18 holes |
74% |
| 27 holes |
10% |
| 36 holes |
09% |
| 45+ holes |
06% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| How do you project the size of your course staff will change in 1999? (Pick one) |
| Grow significantly (more than 25% above 1998) |
03% |
| Grow somewhat (between 10%-25% above 1998) |
28% |
| Staff will remain at same level |
65% |
| Be reduced somewhat (between 10%-25% below 1998) |
06% |
| Be reduced substantially (more than 25% below 1998) |
.6% |
| Don't know/no answer |
03% |
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