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2000 GCSAA Leadership Survey
The 2000 GCSAA Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in New Orleans, examined the opinions of more than 1,700 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.
Infographs
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Media coverage of the survey
- Private Club Advisor, June issue
- Golf Business, June issue
- Leader Board, May/June issue
- Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 30
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 18
- Washington Post, May 18
- Kingsport Times News, May 14
- Golfweek's Superintendent News, May 12
- Tucson Citizen, May 8
- Philadelphia Inquirer, April 30
- GolfWeb Wire Services, April 24
- TURF Rereation, April/May 2000
- GOLF Magazine, July 2000
- Bay State Golf, July 2000
- Turf's Superintendent, July 2000
- Kansas City Golf, July/August 2000
- Landscape Architect, August 2000
- Golf Georgia, September/October 2000
President's Day media coverage
To help promote the survey's media coverage by generating immediate interest, a question was planted in the survey asking superintendents with which 20th century U.S. president they would most like to golf. USA Today picked up the information and created a "snapshot" that was published on President's Day, the day following conference and show.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2000
A look at statistics that shape the sports world |
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Additional pick up by:
- Golf Business, June issue
- GolfWeb Wire Services, Feb. 21
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The GCSAA 2000 Golf Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's conference and show in New Orleans, examined the opinions of more than 1,700 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.
| In your opinion, compared to 10 years ago, has golfer etiquette improved, declined or stayed the same? |
| Improved significantly |
04% |
| Improved slightly |
20% |
| Stayed the same |
24% |
| Declined slightly |
33% |
| Declined significantly |
18% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| In your opinion, what is the greatest single challenge to the continued improvement of golf course conditions in the next five years? |
| Increased regulation of the environment |
23% |
| Increased operating costs |
25% |
| Decreased labor pool |
32% |
| Increased overcrowding |
07% |
| Extreme weather conditions (drought, flood, tornadoes, hurricanes) |
08% |
| Other |
03% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| Do you play golf? |
| Yes |
95% |
| No |
05% |
| If you do play golf, how often do you play? |
| Everyday |
02% |
| 1-2 times per week |
38% |
| 1-2 times per month |
54% |
| 1 time per season or less |
06% |
| On average, are you using more or less water on the golf course today than you were 10 years ago? |
| Much more water |
09% |
| Somewhat more water |
24% |
| Same amount of water |
16% |
| Somewhat less water |
29% |
| Much less water |
12% |
| Don't know/No answer |
10% |
| If you are using less water, how much less water by percentage are you using? |
| 1%-10% less water than 10 years ago |
21% |
| 11%-20% less water than 10 years ago |
46% |
| 21% - 30% less water than 10 years ago |
22% |
| 31% - 40% less water than 10 years ago |
07% |
| 41% - 50% less water than 10 years ago |
03% |
| Over 50% less water than 10 years ago |
01% |
| On average, are you applying water to a larger or smaller area of the golf course than you were 10 years ago? |
| Much larger area |
22% |
| Somewhat larger area |
33% |
| Same area |
28% |
| Somewhat smaller area |
14% |
| Much smaller area |
03% |
| If you are applying water to a larger area, what is the percentage increase in the area you are applying to? (Choose one) |
| 1%-10% more area than 10 years ago |
24% |
| 11%-20% more area than 10 years ago |
33% |
| 1% -30% more area than 10 years ago |
23% |
| 31%-40% more area than 10 years ago |
10% |
| 41%-50% more area than 10 years ago |
05% |
| Over 50% more area than 10 years ago |
06% |
| What golf course management practice or maintenance equipment innovation has had the most positive impact on the environment? (Choose one) |
| |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
| Improved irrigation techniques and technology |
01% |
01% |
| Increase of overall environmental awareness and knowledge |
45% |
33% |
| Improved techniques for applying pesticides |
01% |
20% |
| Development of environmentally-friendly pesticides |
28% |
30% |
| Innovations in mower technology |
07% |
01% |
| Improved turfgrass varieties |
18% |
01% |
| On average, are you using more or less product on the golf course (fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides etc.) today than you were 10 years ago? (Choose one) |
| Much more product |
06% |
| Somewhat more product |
29% |
| About the same product |
23% |
| Somewhat less product |
32% |
| Much less product |
05% |
| Don't know/No answer |
04% |
| If you are using less product, how much less product are you using on your golf course by percentage? |
| 1% - 10% less product than 10 years ago |
29% |
| 11%-20% less product than 10 years ago |
44% |
| 21% - 30% less product than 10 years ago |
18% |
| 31%-40% less product than 10 years ago |
05% |
| 41% - 50% less product than 10 years ago |
03% |
| Over 50% less product than 10 years ago |
01% |
| In your opinion, what is the single biggest threat to maintaining playability on your golf during drought conditions? (Choose One) |
| Negative public perceptions of water usage |
45% |
| State imposed water restrictions |
18% |
| Course overcrowding |
21% |
| Don't know/No answer |
16% |
| In your opinion, what single breach of golfer etiquette does the most damage to golf course conditions? (Choose One) |
| Pounding the green with one's putter or club |
05% |
| Not repairing ball marks |
82% |
| Not refilling divots |
10% |
| Not raking bunkers |
02% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| In your opinion, what single environmental or weather-related condition do you fear might negatively impact your course next year? (Choose One) |
| Drought |
50% |
| Flood |
12% |
| Tornado |
03% |
| Course overcrowding |
12% |
| Increased population of golf course pests (i.e. geese, prairie dogs, gophers) |
06% |
| Restrictions on pesticide usage |
12% |
| Don't know/No answer |
06% |
| In your opinion, what two breaches of etiquette are most prevalent on your golf course today? (Rank top two) |
| |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
| Talking during someone's backswing or during putting |
0.3% |
0.3% |
| Walking in a players line |
02% |
05% |
| Not repairing ball marks |
85% |
0.6% |
| Not refilling divots |
09% |
65% |
| Habitual bad language |
03% |
0.5% |
| Throwing golf clubs |
02% |
05% |
| Don't know/No answer |
0.1 |
01% |
| Do you have access to the Internet at either your job or at home? (Choose one) |
| Yes |
94% |
| No |
06% |
| What do you mostly use the Internet for? |
| |
1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
| Industry information |
44% |
43% |
| General information |
03% |
50% |
| Commercial purchases |
01% |
03% |
| Personal purchases |
03% |
10% |
| Communicating with others |
46% |
02% |
| Other |
03% |
04% |
| Currently, how often do you buy maintenance equipment and/or turf supplies over the Internet? (Choose One) |
| Almost all the time |
01% |
| Most of the time |
01% |
| Sometimes |
12% |
| Never |
84% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| If you use the Internet to purchase maintenance and/or turf supplies, what types of products do you buy? (Pick all that apply) |
| Pesticides |
21% |
| Irrigation equipment |
34% |
| Mowing equipment |
29% |
| Fertilizer |
22% |
| Hand tools |
58% |
| Fungicides |
17% |
| In the next five years, what percent of maintenance equipment and/or turf supplies do you foresee purchasing over the Internet? (Choose one) |
| 100% |
01% |
| 75%-99% |
02% |
| 50%-74% |
07% |
| 25%-49% |
14% |
| 5%-24% |
24% |
| 1%-5% |
16% |
| None at all |
29% |
| Don't know/No answer |
09% |
| In your opinion, what type of player is most often responsible for a breach of etiquette on the golf course? |
| Long-time golf facility golfer |
47% |
| First-time golf facility golfer/first-time visitor to the course |
53% |
| In your opinion, what type of golfer is most often responsible for a breach of etiquette on the golf course? |
| Experienced players |
35% |
| Inexperienced players |
65% |
| In your opinion, what type of golfer is most often responsible for a breach of etiquette on the golf course? |
| Men |
94% |
| Women |
06% |
| In your opinion, what type of golfer is most often responsible for a breach of etiquette on the golf course? |
| Younger players |
62% |
| Older players |
38% |
| In your opinion, what single factor causes poor sportsmanship on the golf course today? (Choose one) |
| Ignorance of golf rules |
38% |
| Overall decline of morals |
35% |
| Course overcrowding |
06% |
| Behavior of tour professionals at televised golf events |
04% |
| Consumption of alcohol |
12% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
| Who should "police" golfer etiquette? |
| Superintendents |
03% |
| Rangers |
24% |
| Head professional and his/her staff |
28% |
| A course judiciary committee |
03% |
| Golfers themselves |
42% |
| Don't know/No answer |
02% |
| In your opinion, who is the greatest golfer (current or former) of all time? |
| Jack Nicklaus |
33% |
| Arnold Palmer |
11% |
| Tiger Woods |
08% |
| Bobby Jones |
06% |
| Ben Hogan |
05% |
| Byron Nelson |
03% |
| Greg Norman |
03% |
| Payne Stewart |
02% |
| Sam Snead |
02% |
| Tom Morris |
01% |
| Other (4 or less) |
26% |
| In your opinion, what single factor do you believe will most improve the efficiency (reduce costs) of golf course maintenance operations in the next five years? (Choose one) |
| Improved irrigation technology |
11% |
| Increased use of sub-contract labor companies |
06% |
| Improved mower technology |
05% |
| Better skilled superintendents |
34% |
| Improved strains of turfgrass, i.e.: pest and drought-resistant |
37% |
| Other |
06% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
| In your opinion, has ownership consolidation of golf courses increased pay for golf course superintendents? (Choose one) |
| Increased pay a great deal |
03% |
| Increased pay somewhat |
14% |
| No change |
15% |
| Decreased pay somewhat |
37% |
| Decreased pay a great deal |
11% |
| Don't know/No answer |
20% |
| In your opinion, are advances in golf ball design good, bad or neutral for the game of golf? |
| Very good |
09% |
| Somewhat good |
26% |
| No effect |
26% |
| Somewhat bad |
28% |
| Very bad |
05% |
| Don't know/No answer |
06% |
| In your opinion, will advances in golf ball design change how you groom your course? (Choose one) |
| A great deal |
04% |
| Somewhat |
26% |
| Very little |
34% |
| Not at all |
31% |
| Don't know/No answer |
06% |
| If you believe advances in golf ball design change how you groom your course, how will you groom your course? |
| Narrow fairways |
32% |
| Widen fairways |
09% |
| Slow green speed |
06% |
| Increase green speed |
18% |
| Lengthen rough |
31% |
| Shorten rough |
04% |
| In your opinion, are advances in golf club design good, bad or neutral for the game of golf? |
| Very good |
12% |
| Somewhat good |
38% |
| No effect |
19% |
| Somewhat bad |
25% |
| Very bad |
03% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
| How much does knowledge of agronomy and course conditioning (grass types, bunker sand type, firmness of greens etc.) on the golf course improve one's enjoyment of the game for an average golfer (16-18 handicap)? (Choose one) |
| A great deal |
26% |
| Somewhat |
38% |
| Very little |
25% |
| Not at all |
10% |
| Don't know/No answer |
01% |
| In your opinion, how much has the increase of the golf season to an almost year round pastime has created unrealistic expectations for maintaining playable golf courses through all four seasons? |
| A great deal |
47% |
| Somewhat |
40% |
| Very little |
08% |
| Not at all |
02% |
| Don't know/No answer |
03% |
| If you believe year-round golf has raised expectations for playability, what techniques and practices will help the superintendent overcome this challenge? (Rank top two) |
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1st Choice |
2nd Choice |
| Development of new varieties of grass |
64% |
84% |
| Improved turf management practices |
05% |
09% |
| Innovations in maintenance equipment |
16% |
03% |
| Improved education to golfers about off season golf course conditions |
12% |
03% |
| Improved pesticides and fertilizers |
04% |
0.6% |
| What player currently in the top 20 world rankings displays the best sportsmanship on the golf course today (Top 5) |
| Phil Mickelson |
18% |
| Davis Love III |
09% |
| Mark O'Meara |
10% |
| Tiger Woods |
10% |
| Fred Couples |
07% |
| Other (five votes or less) |
07% |
| If you could play a round of golf with one of the US Presidents from the last century, who would it be? (Top 5) |
| President Kennedy |
16% |
| President Eisenhower |
13% |
| President Reagan |
12% |
| President Theodore Roosevelt |
11% |
| President Bush (t) |
08% |
| President Clinton (t) |
08% |
| In your opinion, if you could play one round of golf in North America, where would it be? (Rank Top 5) |
| Augusta National |
36% |
| Pebble Beach |
23% |
| Cypress Point |
18% |
| Pine Valley |
13% |
| Pinehurst |
11% |
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