How do you measure up?

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following charts and graphs were meant to be stand-alone items in the print edition of the article. Their placement in the online article may not accurately correspond with the context of the surrounding text.

The numbers are in, and the raw data speaks clearly.

When it comes to interpretation of those numbers, I have used a combination of industry knowledge and communication with many in the industry to come up with my comments. While we all wish we had crystal balls that we could count on implicitly, guessing what the future will bring is difficult at best. By evaluating most of the responses of the survey, it was fairly easy to make comments based on those stats. Some of the questions reflected on where we have been and where we are going in the golf industry.

While the statistics may speak for themselves I have been asked to add some commentary to summarize the raw data that was received in the survey. With research of this depth and magnitude one could correlate the data endlessly. Since I don’t have that luxury – or editorial space – I’ll focus in on some of the research’s key topics.

I believe GCI readers will find that there are some interesting trends and certainly the business is changing. I like what I see and believe that this survey helps to make a case for slow and conservative recovery in the golf course maintenance side of the industry.
 

Are we making any money? There is no doubt that we have been in a recession for the last few years. This may be the single largest factor attributing to a decrease in rounds of golf and a negative number of golf course openings. A reasonable barometer of the health of golf would be the trends of profitability. Understand that some golf facilities are not operated with the goal to make a profit when interpreting the statistics.

Overall, around a third of respondents indicated that their facilities made money last year, another third indicated that they broke even and a third indicated they lost money last year. I do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and brighter days lie ahead for the golf industry. More than half of golf facilities either broke even or made a profit. Of those that lost money, it is hard to tell if they were supported by assessments or possibly that they were facilities that use the golf course as a marketing tool for a real estate development. Seeing the number of golf courses for sale I would think that more than a few are upside down at this point but things are improving.

This survey may not show how we got there and what we plan for the future but some of the questions reflected on facilities becoming more economically viable in the next few years. I truly believe there is optimism out there for a number of reasons. Golf facilities have reacted to the lower income by adjusting their expense side of the budget. This has directly affected many golf course maintenance budgets. Superintendents have stepped up to the plate as a part of the solution rather than being a part of the problem. Innovative maintenance methods have been implemented at many facilities allowing superintendents to make adjustments to the “new economic norm.” Couple this with aggressive marketing for players and membership and the feeling is very optimistic.

The survey indicated more than half of the respondents felt that their facilities would be more economically viable three years from now. The most common response as to the optimism was a combination of the overall improving U.S. economy and budget adjustments to the current economic climate.

It is my hope that with budget reductions at so many golf courses, the golfers understand that budgets cuts will surely have an impact on maintenance standards at any facility. It would be prudent to align maintenance standards and golfer expectations with budget adjustments that have been made to keep the clubs in the black.

Budgets

Excluding water costs, what is your non-capital operations budget, including labor and overhead?
 

If you’ve reduced your budget in the last 3 years, what have been the cost-cutting measures?

What was your greatest 2012 budget challenge?

Editor’s note: “Other” included: irrigation repairs, improving turf conditions, weather, water issues, and a combination of all of the responses.
 

Budget. Several questions dealt with budgets and labor at the golf facilities. In most cases, the labor component of the golf course maintenance budget is the largest line item. It takes people to maintain a golf course.

Considering we have been in a recession, it is very positive that around a third of our golf courses saw an increase in budgets. If we combine those that had a flat budget then we saw almost two thirds of respondents had a flat or increasing budget versus budget decreases. While it may not be at all facilities, I do believe we may have hit the bottom and are on our way back up on a conservative trend.

Reductions in labor have helped to lean budgets. More than half of those surveyed have reduced full-time labor and nearly three-quarters have reduced their seasonal labor. While this survey does not indicate it, my travels have also shown me that various adjustments in the number of full-time versus part-time employees and scheduling for optimal productivity have been influential in operating in a much leaner manner.

Half of the respondents indicated that they deferred capital expenditures. This may be a reflection on the profitability of the facilities and also a reduction in member initiation fees that are often used to fund capital projects.

More than half stated their facilities were spending less on equipment. It is always a challenge for superintendents to make their equipment last longer than a reasonable expectation established in a replacement schedule. Deferred equipment purchases can affect operations with increases in parts, repairs and hours spent on maintenance. In the upcoming years, I do believe we will see purchases made on critical needs and also backed up by a business plan for a true return on investment for major items.

Chemical and fertilizer application expenses were cut at about half the facilities. Once again, superintendents are very creative people, and have made appropriate adjustments at their facilities. Some of this may have been looking into alternative products and methods for plant health and also pest control.

Nearly a third indicated that their golf facilities had rolled back golf course conditioning standards. This may be the trend as some are doing less overseeding and irrigating and cutting out any unnecessary programs for maintenance. It is imperative these reductions be communicated effectively and agreed upon by management, ownership and golfers. If not, it could result in a feeling that the golf course superintendent is doing a poor job due to changing playing conditions and the potential inability to meet golfer expectations.
 

What percent of your operational budget is labor costs and non-turf overhead (insurance, administrative, workers compensation, etc)?

Operating expenses. Responses were pretty standard for the division of operating expenses overall. Water is a large variable depending on the part of the country and the source of water. Similarly, there were regional variances depending on grass types and climate for items like seed, chemicals and fertilizers.

When asked what the greatest challenges were for superintendents in the year ahead there were three primary responses: rising fuel costs, labor costs and equipment replacement.

It is difficult to manage fuel costs as so much is dependent on things outside of the superintendent’s control. It is also not a major budget item for most. However, there are many new options out there for the electric-powered equipment and alternative fuel sources. Looking to the future, it may be cost-effective to pay for a higher-priced piece of equipment that has greater energy savings in the long run.

Deferred equipment purchases are making it more difficult to manage a golf course. Increased repair costs and additional downtime for equipment has a cost that should be considered. There are a number of viable options for funding equipment replacement which might include leasing, buying used equipment or financing.

As stated earlier, labor is the key to budget management. Doing more with less is the way to stay in business. However, you can only reduce manpower so much before it starts to have a long-term negative impact on the golf course and golfing experience. We should all have caution that you can cut the fat out of the budget – but eventually you may start cutting into the bone.
 

Generic Vs. Name-brand products Superintendents are nearly split about their preference between using name-brand formulation and generic products. While a preference for name-brand products won out with turf managers at private and public facilities, the margin between the two was not too great and never exceeded a 10 percent difference. For the survey, we defined a “generic” product as an off-patent product sold as a less-expensive alternative to an original formula.

Capital expenditures. It would be difficult to have any conclusion regarding responses to the amount of capital expenditures. The numbers ran the gambit from no expenditures to significant golf course renovations. More important was the percentage of areas under consideration for spending capital dollars.

Less than a quarter indicated they would have course renovation as their primary focus while more than half indicated equipment purchases. This all falls hand-in-hand with my prior comments that you can only put a hold on equipment purchases for so long before the fleet starts to fail. Several years of not purchasing equipment can take twice that amount of time to play catch up unless things move along at an accelerated pace. Looks like good news for those that are selling equipment.

Bruce Williams serves as principal for both Bruce Williams Golf Consulting and Executive Golf Search. He is a frequent GCI contributor.

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