encore-leisure-group

Sweetwater Country Club joins TPC Network portfolio, renamed TPC Houston

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:00:12 GMT

FOR RELEASE: March 2, 2026

FOR RELEASE: March 2, 2026
CONTACT: Lindsey Spatola, PGA TOUR, lindseyspatola@pgatourhq.com

Ryan Kern, TPC Houston, rkern@sweetwatercc.com

Scott Busch, Juniper Golf Properties, scott@junipergolfproperties.com

Sweetwater Country Club joins TPC Network portfolio, renamed TPC Houston

Joins TPC San Antonio, TPC Craig Ranch and TPC Las Colinas as the fourth TPC property in Texas

HOUSTON, Texas and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR’s TPC Network announced today that Sweetwater Country Club has been named the 31st property in the company’s network of premier golf facilities, to be renamed TPC Houston.

The club becomes the fourth TPC property in the state of Texas, joining TPC Craig Ranch, TPC Las Colinas and TPC San Antonio. As a licensed property, ownership and operations of TPC Houston will remain with affiliates of Sculptor Real Estate and Juniper Golf Properties, while Encore Leisure Group will continue managing the club.

Later this month, TPC Houston will be one of five sites hosting PGA TOUR Americas Q-School on March 24-27.

“We are excited to welcome this wonderful facility as a licensed property into our portfolio as we further expand our premier TPC brand in Texas,” said Vic Aliprando, Senior Vice President of TPC Network Operations. “We look forward to working closely with the team to support their goals, enhance the member experience and elevate the club to new heights.”

Originally envisioned as a home for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the Roger Packard-designed course opened in 1982. Shortly after opening, the course hosted the LPGA Hall of Fame Golf Classic, where LPGA legends Nancy Lopez and Amy Alcott were crowned champions. The club served as the corporate office for the LPGA and the home of the LPGA Hall of Fame during that time.

Located on the outskirts of Houston, the course has grown into a premier private club community, featuring championship golf, top-tier racquet facilities and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. A 36-hole property, the Pecan and Cypress Courses showcase classic Texas golf with wide fairways, strategic water hazards and tree-lined layouts that play through the natural coastal prairie landscape and offer a diverse challenge to all golfers.

“When we acquired Sweetwater Country Club in 2024, we saw the opportunity to elevate one of Houston’s premier clubs to an even higher standard,” said Steven Orbuch, President and Founder of Sculptor Real Estate. “Our affiliation with the TPC Network is a testament to how exceptional Sweetwater is—both to its members and to the broader golf community.”

Beyond the golf course, the club offers an array of amenities designed for both recreation and relaxation. Members can enjoy expansive indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball facilities, a resort-style pool complex including an indoor lap pool, world class fitness and wellness amenities, and dynamic dining and social spaces designed for year-round family living.

Juniper Golf Properties is a boutique golf investment and operating company with ownership in eight public and private golf courses in the southwest. Founded in 2024 by Dale Folmar and Jacques James, Encore Leisure Group manages 16 properties in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Massachusetts.

By joining the TPC Network, TPC Houston members will have access to the TPC Passport program that offers exclusive access to premier golf experiences across the TPC Network and reciprocal privileges at participating clubs, including TPC Sawgrass, TPC Scottsdale and TPC Harding Park.

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About TPC Network
Owned, operated and licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network is comprised of 31 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Fifteen of the clubs are operated by affiliates of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc. Each TPC meets the requirements to host TOUR-sanctioned events. Since TPC Sawgrass first opened its world-renowned PLAYERS Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete.

TPCs are known for their history of hosting PGA TOUR-sanctioned events, their outstanding conditioning and amenities, as well as a commitment to environmental excellence. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its unwavering commitment to further the PGA TOUR’s mission of giving back through support of charitable and grass-roots programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com . For the most up-to-date news, follow the TPC Network on Twitter (@PlayTPC), Instagram (@PlayTPC) or Facebook.com/TPCNetwork.

About Sculptor Real Estate
Sculptor Real Estate was founded in 2003 and has invested in over $27 billion of real estate assets across 30 different real estate-related asset classes including direct equity investments, preferred equity structures, ground leases, senior loans, mezzanine loans, among other real estate investments. Sculptor Real Estate is an investment solution offered by Sculptor Capital Management, a leading global alternative asset management firm with approximately $38 billion in assets under management. For more information, visit www.sculptor.com .

Encore Leisure Group to Manage Operations at Stone River Golf Club

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:54:35 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROYSE CITY, TX - Encore Leisure Group is proud to announce that it has been selected to manage all operations of Stone River Golf Club in Royse City, Texas, effective August 1, 2025.

Stone River Golf Club is a family-owned public golf course located just 20 minutes east of downtown Dallas, in a rapidly growing community. The course offers beautiful rolling terrain and is designed to accommodate players of all skill levels. Memberships are available, and the full-service clubhouse and spacious patio provide an ideal setting for post-round relaxation.

“We’re proud to partner with the owners of Stone River. It’s a great facility-much more than a hidden gem-and the surrounding community is poised for significant growth,” said Dale Folmar, Managing Partner at Encore Leisure Group. “We’re excited to work with them to grow the business, enhance the golfer experience, and help make Stone River a go-to course in the region. Their dedication to this property over the past 25-plus years is evident, and we’re honored to build on that legacy and take operations to the next level.”

Stone River Golf Club is located at 2001 Stone River Blvd., Royse City, Texas 75189. For more information, visit www.stonerivergolf.com .

Berry Creek Country Club purchased by area golf industry professionals

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:20:29 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renamed The Club at Berry Creek, the property was purchased from CBONS International Golf Group for an undisclosed amount. The fee simple acquisition includes 160 acres featuring an 18-hole golf course originally constructed in 1986, a full-service clubhouse, practice facilities, a swimming pool, fitness center, eight tennis courts, and six pickleball courts.

As a part of this transaction, the new owners worked in conjunction with the former ownership group to recently execute significant improvements, that include a full irrigation system upgrade and installation of a new Watertronics pumping station. Inside the clubhouse, extensive renovations have been completed, including a full remodel of the restrooms and shower areas. Additional physical and experiential improvements are being master-planned to further enhance the club experience—these will include expanded dining and social spaces, both indoors and outdoors.

“This is an exciting time for everyone,” said Folmar. “Personally, I’ve been in this industry a long time and have always wanted to own a club. The Club at Berry Creek is the perfect setting. The support from the members and the surrounding community has been incredible, and we are committed to making this the premier private club in Central Texas. There’s truly no better place to be.”

James echoed the enthusiasm: “This purchase is incredibly exciting. Being able to implement the ideas we’ve envisioned for years—and to elevate a long-standing, highly successful club into an even more vibrant and desirable destination for private club living—is deeply rewarding.”

Encore Leisure Group will continue to oversee daily operations at The Club at Berry Creek for the new owners under the leadership of General Manager Claire Hallett.

July 1st, 2025

Dogs or Cats?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:37:36 GMT

Okay, so I’ve decided that every once in a while, I’m going to resend an old Tidbit, because I think many of them are still relevant. We’ve been through a lot, we have tons of people that have been with us for a long time, and a similar amount who have been with us for just a while. Our Have Fun Leave Happy mindset certainly seems to be working, and as I was thinking about that and how we are focused on not only making people happy, but literally making ourselves happy as well, this old Tidbit from 2016 just rose to the top…..which one are you? Do you have dogs or cats in your operation? Cats are lovely, but they don’t really display the Have Fun Leave Happy way of life in my opinion…..

Dogs or Cats?

This week I’m getting out there a little, but sometime things just strike me a little differently.

Are you, or the folks on your team, dogs or cats? What on earth can I mean by that? I know that many of you are dog lovers, and that probably an equal amount are cat lovers, so this isn’t really about the two species, but more about how they are, what they do, and how the two can relate to our day to day activities in the golf/hospitality business we love.

Now me, I’m a dog guy, always have been. Love dogs, all types, but specifically the working breeds. I love hunting with “bird dogs”, pointers, flushers or retrievers that are bred and trained to do a specific task…find game and/or retrieve it when you are lucky enough to shoot one (for sport and food to be politically correct). I have two French Brittanies and one black Lab that I’ve been training and competing with for a few years. Now my favorite is Sadie, a small Brit, and she is simply a joy to be around. She loves me. I have a picture of her as my background on my phone, and if she had a phone I know my picture would be on hers. Not only does she have the instincts required to point upland birds, I’ve been fortunate enough to have her really respond well to my training and nurturing of her retrieving skills as well. She has a great personality, I can hear her in the back yard when I get home, she knows I just drove up and is much happier to see me each day than the humans that live there are. Open the kennel and the back door, she’s all over me, I swear she’s smiling, running around jumping up and down just glad as heck and eager to please. Her little dog brain is saying “Hi!! Great to see you!! What can I do to make you happy? I’m happy to do what you want me to do!! I love being around you!!” Last year when bird season opened, she was so excited, I think she knew the day it began. She was ready to work even though it was 100 degrees, only needed water to sustain her for the day, and when a bird went down, she worked as hard as she could to find and retrieve it. When she brought it to me, it was like she was proud of the job she did, her eyes said “this was great, let’s do it again!!…” that is until I would miss 4 or 5 in a row, then she looks up and basically says “Really? You need to do better than that, how about you do your job because I’m doing mine.” That’s what dogs are all about. Eager. Loyal. Respond well to communication and training. Always willing to please. Excited to see you every day, regardless of how bad a mood you are in. Fun to be around. They never quit. Will go get stuff and bring it to you if you ask them to, and sometimes even when you don’t. And the next day, they are exactly the same. To me, that’s how we in the hospitality business should be as well. Every single day.

Now take cats….don’t get me wrong, I love them too and we have a three in our home, but they are just not my style. They don’t do anything, they never jump up with excitement unless something scares them, they like to curl up and hide in the back or behind the sofa, they walk up and rub against you in that weird way but then just walk off, and heck a lot of times they don’t even show up for a couple of days. They even try to cover up the mess they leave behind… Adorable. Pretty. Likeable. Quiet. Sneaky. Hard to trust a cat.

Sound familiar?? You have any “cats” working in your operation???

Think about it…Be a dog and surround yourself with dogs!

Now go get em!

Respect

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:18:54 GMT

Well, it’s been a minute since we’ve had a little tidbit story, probably speaks to all of the busy times we’re all seeing. As I completed my online harassment training, I got to thinking about some of the terms that came out of it, rather than just the overall content. Be Intentional was one that stuck with me, but overall it’s about respecting each other, whether it’s their space, their beliefs, or anything else. I think that our teams do that very well, as we’re quite the diverse group and that’s something I’m personally really proud of. However, not all businesses see it that way, and here’s a great example….

If you know me at all, aside from McDonalds (formerly, since I’ve turned over a new healthy lifestyle) my next favorite place to eat is Waffle House. Well I talked Steph into going with me the other day, needed some bacon, eggs, and sausage to fill my protein quota. When we walked in, something just wasn’t right, it didn’t look for feel like the usual place. Tables needed cleaning, there were only 3 staff members there, which was one cook and two servers. Floor was dirty, we waited a minute for one of the folks to clear and wipe the table, then sat down. Now usually, while the service and quality isn’t Micheline Star, it’s pretty good. Not this evening. We waited a while, then finally a dude comes over, asks what we want to drink. We’re ready, know the menu, so we go ahead and order. If you’ve been there, you know it’s an assembly line, perfectly communicated and executed, orders called out to the cook verbally, who never misses a beat. Again, not this evening. There’s confusion, dissention amongst the troops, and clearly no leader. The food takes forever, it’s barely busy, but finally here it comes. Waffle first, which is a no-no, it’s always last. Then no bacon. Steph is getting agitated, but I said let’s watch this for a minute.

Then it gets good. A car pulls in, we see it out the window, and a lady gets out, but the lights stay on and the car is running. In she comes, doesn’t say anything to anyone, and starts sweeping the floor, picking up some plates, wiping things down. She kinda looks important, but we’re not sure, as she’s just doing the thing. Finishes up a little more tidying up, says something to one of the staff, and out the door, back into the running vehicle, and off she goes. I think she’s the manager.

Well, the service side doesn’t get any better. Guy comes in for a to-go order, and he’s waiting for a while. A second to-go order gets filled, it’s enough for a small army, and I think that one put the cook over the edge. Now all three staffers are younger, probably need some help and direction, but the manager is down the highway at this point (it’s 6pm) and no where around. Finally, an order comes out and it’s wrong, and then the three staffers start to get into it. One yells at the cook, she looks through her steamed up glasses, says something that we can’t understand, then just throws up the finger. I think she’s walking out, but stays in the fight. They all agree to just not talk to each other, which is hard to do if someone comes in and orders.

We’re done, walk up to the counter to pay, and there’s more drama. The credit card machine and the POS aren’t working, I lend a hand with the obligatory “just reboot it”…and that’s didn’t go well. So what happens next you ask? Well, the girl calls the “manager”, I can see her picture on the phone when she dials, but of course has to leave a voicemail cause said manager didn’t pick up. Now not only can they not get the food right, they can’t collect any money. All the while, the to-go dude is still waiting…

So I look at my ticket. Then ask the guy what he ordered. My quick math says the total of ours and his will be about $30. So I pull out two twenties, tell the girl this is for us and him, plus tip, we’re leaving. She says, “that’ll work”, which could have been “I’m so sorry, we’re a little understaffed and have some problems, I apologize”. Dude gets his to go, tells us thanks and he leaves too.

No respect amongst the team. No leader on site, and if you can call her the leader, certainly no respect for her team, who was in dire need of some help. Throw an apron on if you have to, maybe even turn your car off and plan to stay awhile….but no. I do know that our teams work much better together than this group, at least that’s how I answered my questions on the video…..let’s make sure we do just that. Help each other. Communicate. Respect each other and be aware of their struggles when they need help, and pitch in. Leaders lead. Teams work together. That’s how it works. Don’t, and you are no better than Waffle House #1347 in Waxahachie TX, which unfortunately probably lost us for a while. We’ll just drive up the road to the next one…..which is what disgruntled guests and members do. Let’s don’t allow that!!

Now, let’s Go Get Em!

Hospitality, Happiness, and So Much More

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:05:59 GMT

Life is hard. What we do every day is hard. That’s just a fact of life.

Our business is one of taking care of so many different people, who want different things, and we must have teams built that can handle and service everyone’s needs to the best possible result. While we have specialized people, experts in agronomy, sales, fitness, culinary, finance and even teaching, that doesn’t even touch some of the things we are charged with daily. Add in the fact that we’re working for owners of assets where they have invested millions of dollars, and we’re responsible for running their business for them, making them money as well as happy. Again, hard, not easy. Why start this message with something each of you should already know?

I was sitting at a red light, and looked over and saw a small building, that housed 5 separate businesses. Every store front looked the same, five doors in a row, but with a different business model, a different sign advertising their service. In less than 100 feet of sidewalk, I looked at this and realized just how much someone could get done is this space. First of all, if you needed to get your cell phone repaired, there was a place for that. Next door, you could also get your eyes checked and some new glasses if you wanted or needed to. Need some meds? Walk to the next door, there’s a small pharmacy for all your needs. After that, whether you have an appointment or not, you can go and get a Thai Massage, and feel great walking out afterward. End your little shopping spree at the Condom Sense store, and you’ve had a pretty full day………..but you had to go to 5 different places for what you wanted.

Now, all of that in a space that’s about as big as the clubhouse at Riverchase. You can get all of that, but every business owner has the luxury of being focused on just their singular product or service. Us, it’s different. We’re in the business of service as well, but so many different aspects under one roof, or on one piece of property. We sell shirts, clubs, repair broken ones, and even give advice on how to play and utilize them. We need to be someone’s favorite watering hole, with qualified mixologists at the ready every day. Need something to eat, heck we’ve got it from hot dogs to 5 star cuisine, or why not, we’ll go ahead and host 400 happy mouths to feed on Mothers Day, without fail. You can learn to swim, get your tennis racquet strung, have your hamstrings stretched, drop your kids off at some of our places, join a swim team, host 80 of your friends for a booster club golf outing even hit 100 golf balls into our wide open spaces. Oh, and we have to have 150 acres mowed and manicured every day so people can play the game they love, whenever they want to. At some of our clubs, you can play 5 on 5 basketball, get your yoga session in, then go have a nice pizza or salad for lunch. Need breakfast, lunch and dinner? We got ya. We’ll even be the local tree service if a limb is hanging over your wrought iron fence, and never complain about it. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, but I think you can see how much we can provide to someone, versus the multitude of places they may have to go if we weren’t there for them. That’s the beauty of what we do. We get the opportunity to be so many things to so many people, some want a lot of it, some want just what they want, and we are allowed to be there and give it to them, all in one place, and with a huge smile on our face. They can Have Fun and Leave Happy, and not have to go down a sidewalk door to door to get it.

Our business is one that provides so many services, so much hospitality and happiness, and with all of that in one place, it’s really quite convenient. Maybe that’s why so many people want to be where we are, I certainly hope so. It’s hard to be great at so many things every day, but that’s the fun part of it. If we all have a servant’s heart and mindset, providing a great environment that is full of hospitality and joy, then our one-stop-shop experience will hopefully make everyone happy, even though we know it’s hard.

Speaking of hard, my new lifestyle change mentioned a few weeks ago sure isn’t easy. Since I told you I was fat and was going to do something about it, many of you have asked me how it’s going. Again, very hard for me. I haven’t had a white powdered donut in a month, frankly almost zero sugar, and I’ve completely changed my diet and eating habits. No more snacks, my truck now drives past McDonalds without trying to turn itself into the drive thru, and I can open the pantry door and stare down the Cap’n Crunch box and the Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies with a vengeance. I’m doing what I set out to do, and the support of many of you is helping me keep going. Started at 250lbs, after 4 weeks I’m down to 233 as of this morning, and I’ve changed my goal from 215 or so, to a flat 200 pounds. Hopefully by July 1. It’ ain’t fun, it’s hard, but frankly all good things are hard to achieve. Just set your goals, focus 100% of your effort on it, and go make it happen. Maybe when I hit my mark, I’ll reward myself and go get some new glasses and a massage on the corner…

Let’s Go Get Em!

Take No Talent

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:46:37 GMT

Showing up on time. Smiling. Having Fun. Leaving Happy. Building relationships. Caring for others. Supporting your teammates. Doing the little things. Being organized. Having clean restrooms. Making people's day special. Remembering people's name. Giving people your full attention when they are speaking to you. Putting the phone down. Focusing on details.

These are all the things we need to be doing every day; we're in the service and hospitality business. They are the staple of our being, and there's a ton more of these little things that could be listed. Things like this have one huge thing in common....they Take No Talent.

Take No Talent, or TNT as this was shown to me on a video the other day, is spot on. Most of the things we do in our day-to-day worlds, simply don't take any talent. Other worlds too frankly....if your kid is in sports, and you're one of those parents who think they could be recruited to the next level, I learned this a long time ago with Reid was playing ball. These coaches and recruiters are certainly looking for bigger, stronger, faster, but what they evaluate first, every time/every kid, is what they do that requires no talent. Uniform look solid? Run on and off the field all the time? Team player? Knows what to do? Shakes hand and looks them in the eye when spoken to? Helps clean up the dugout or pick up the balls in the cage? Trust me, they want those kinds of people much more than someone who just runs fast or can hit a slider.

How do any of those things just listed above not apply to what we do? Read them again, but not with a sports perspective, but rather that from your current work team. I think you'll quickly see that we don't need a lot of talent to be successful at what we do, or to make sure our customers Have Fun and Leave Happy, it just takes a focus and commitment to doing the right things, the little things, without fail. Those things simply take no talent, you just have to do them.

Always remember that old adage...Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn't Work Hard....or just use those three letters - TNT. It takes no talent to provide the environment we strive for. Do those things, and everything we do will be more fun, and more successful.

Go Get Em!

Set Goals and Achieve Anything

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:23:21 GMT

Well, I’ve done it. Made a full on commitment to change my life style, it’s going to be hard, but at 65 years old it’s just time. I’ve come to the realization that I can’t keep doing things the way I have been. I’ve taken a hard look, realized it’s time to stop lying to myself and just admit it.

I’m fat.

And not just fat, but the kind of obesity that makes your knees hurt, back ache, and I’m always feeling bad somewhere. My golf swing has become shorter J Lo’s marriages, mainly because I’m just too heavy and not flexible I can’t go up the stairs without needing to catch my breath. And I’m just flat out tired of looking like I do. So now I’ve told the truth, no need for any of you to agree with me, I’m simply gonna do something about it. Stephanie is trying to inspire me, over the last year and a half she went through a transformation, lost about 35 pounds, and looks amazing. Everyone tells her that too, I just want a little of that. She did it with goals. With discipline. Without any cheating, she just dug in and made it happen. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to lose weight, get somewhat fit, and actually go to the doctor and see whatever else needs work and just get it done. Full transparency, I weighed in at 250 pounds the other day, and that may or may not have been my tipping point, it definitely contributed. However, it could have been when I got down on the floor to get something from under a table and couldn’t get back up!! My great niece said “get up Uncle Da, what’s wrong” while she was laughing…..that was it.

My goal is to get to 215 pounds. Get there by July. And then stick to it with a regimented lifestyle that completely eliminates the Cap’n Crunch, the Hostess white powered donuts, the late night McDonald’s runs, and the gallons and gallons of sweet tea that have run through my system. There will be exercise, maybe even some help from a trainer, but I’m going to look like I’m supposed to look gosh darn it. And I hope that you will help me, cheer me on, and hopefully appreciate and respect the efforts.

Seriously, my main driver isn’t just being fat and not wanting to do that any longer. A big part of it is wanting to be around to see grandkids when they come along. But to be completely honest, it’s each of you. It’s the rest of our ELG team members. I can’t in good conscience lead this group of people if I don’t look like I’m a disciplined, focused and healthy person. Leaders need to look like they can actually lead, while actually leading. They need to inspire, energize and set a great example for everyone to follow. That’s my goal. And speaking of goals, my 215lbs. is just one of them, but it’s my main focus. Easy to check every day, track progress, etc. And if I want to run past that because I’m liking the success I’m having, then so be it.

Setting goals, tracking them daily, stacking up daily wins, that’s how I’m going to get this done. Same for you and your business or personal life. If you don’t have a clearly defined goal, or even a few of them, how do you know why you get up and go to work every day? How does your team know what they are working for? With no goals, there’s no reward in my opinion. Set that target, stack days, and achieve whatever it is you want. Personally, that’s easy. As a business, it can get harder due to many factors, but if you’ll set the goal, and make sure that everything you do and that everyone on your team is 100% focused on helping to achieve that, you’ll have less wasted effort and much more success. And what happens if you don’t completely reach the goal? Nothing, other than you are far better than you where when you started….part of our ongoing formula for success “Be Better Today Than Yesterday”.

So I’m going to prove to you that setting goals, and putting it out there publicly so everyone can hold me accountable, works. The pressure is on me, and I won’t let myself or any of you down. If I can prove to you that I can have the drive to get to my goals, then you can show us that each of your teams can do exactly the same. Have a purpose, let everyone know what it is, and go get it.

Here I go!!

Effort and Attentiveness

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:18:19 GMT

I was in the airport the other day, had a little time and needed a bite to eat. There’s a pizza place, looked pretty good so I go over. It goes downhill fast from there, and what happened was just further proof just how far the decline in service and awareness at many places has fallen.

I walk up to the counter, no one there. About a minute later, a guy comes up, has this look on his face and tells me “I’m just a technician working in the back, I can’t run the register, but I can get you a pizza, and you just pay later”. Weird, that I’m being served by the HVAC guy or that he even suggests serving me. I look over there’s only one pepperoni on the rack, it’s got some burnt edges on it, so I pass. “I’ll just wait on the server”…

Tech proceeds to inform me that he’s in the restroom, and it’s probably going to be about 10 minutes. My imagination has now begun to run wild, my gut tells me to go elsewhere, but not me, I’m gonna see this through. I tell the tech, hell I’ll just eat the burnt one, so he puts it in the oven for a minute to heat it up, or to punish the poor burnt pizza just a bit more and delivers it to me. He even tries to take a knife and cut some of the black edges off, I tell him I’m good, just hand it over. No problem he says, just pay later.

Now I’m sitting down, eating my charred pie, when out comes the real pizza guy. Big dude, dressed in all black, with hair that looks like he was caught in a scene from Twister. My first thought was about a potential lack of hygiene. Second thought was about the 10-minute sabbatical in the back and if it was needed, or just him sitting there watching reels on Instagram. But if you know me, when I’m ready to eat, I just keep going. He notices I already have a pizza, seems a bit puzzled, but I say the other guy got me, I just need a coke and to pay him. He asked if it is for here or to go, I think that’s a scripted question, since I was already sitting down and eating right in front of him. Here, just a coke, so he grabs my plastic cup, fills it with ice and soda, grabs the top of the cup with his large restroom fingers, and passes it across. Anyone else, including each of you, says nope, starts over, or is at the chicken place across the way. Me, I’m all in, already thinking about how many mistakes are happening here, and unfortunately not even considering whether or not this guy in his Jelly Roll starter kit even washed his hands after being in the bathroom for more than the 10 minute allotment. Pizza was great, I used a straw for the first time in years, paid and tipped the dude, and just moved on.

This kind of stuff really shouldn’t be acceptable, but I’m betting it happens there all the time. Never saw a Manager, who knows how well this guy or others are being trained, supervised, led. Betting it happens elsewhere too. But I certainly hope it doesn’t happen at any of our operations. Bad communication, other than the clear direction to the tech that there would be a 10 minute blackout in service... too much information from the tech…obviously not enough staff to compensate for a bathroom break. Sanitation, doubtful. Perfect food prep and presentation, nope. The tech tried to make it right with the knife, but no gloves, etc... wrong. And the coke. My wife watches servers like a hawk. Her #1 focus is always on how a server or bartender delivers a glass. Hold it on the sides, never at the top where your mouth comes in contact with your previously uses restroom hands... do that and she sends it back. Embarrassing at times, but also fun to watch.

Not everything is great all the time, but the effort has to be there. Whatever you do, don’t do it like this place. Present yourself well, be attentive and aware of your customers, your surroundings, etc. And never let the HVAC guy take your order…

Go Get em!

Be Confident

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:32:46 GMT

I heard someone the other day, talking about confidence

It wasn’t about sports, but just overall about how confidence is one of those traits that simply comes out and shines in your personality, your aura if you will, because it’s truly from the inside of your being. They said that confident people simply look better and are more attractive, they have a purpose in their walk and in their appearance. We all have seen that in some form or another. Now I’ve always thought I was very confident in my abilities, whether that be professionally, in my ability to communicate or speak in front of people, in my golf game, or whatever. Humble confidence I would call it, never arrogant or cocky. I just feel like I know who I am, I’m very comfortable with it, and I feel that in almost every situation, I’m knowledgeable and prepared. Frankly, I think that’s all it takes. Even though unfortunately my confidence level doesn’t necessarily make me look better!

Is Patrick Mahomes confident, I sure do think so. High profile people like Musk, Trump, etc? They may be eccentric, narcissistic or even worse, but one thing they are is confident. How about Scottie Scheffler? Kinda came out of nowhere, and once he was confident in his ability to whip everyone’s rear end almost weekly, he rose to the top of the game. I’m convinced that it’s not his work ethic like Hogan or Tiger Woods, it’s his pure confidence, and humility, that says “this is easy, I’m the best and will just continue to be”. My favorite character, John Wick……kinda confident, I think.

Now a lack of confidence can certainly be a hurdle to overcome. Lacking confidence can lead to mistakes, in business, sports, and even every day life. Some people just aren’t wired to be as confident as they should be. It takes time, it takes working on yourself, but if you want to succeed in whatever you do, or simply feel better each and every day, you need to make sure that you are confident, and convicted to your beliefs, and know that whatever you do or say, you are going to be great at it. Self-talk surely helps, but I truly believe confident people are that way because they learn, they listen and they fully understand what they are doing and how to do it.

So let’s be a group of confident people, who exude confidence each and every day. Confident people smile more. Confident people make others feel good. I think it’s contagious, and I also believe that if you have a high level of confidence, combined with a side of humility, you will be successful, the people around you will be successful, and everyone you come in contact with will notice it and respect it. Know how to do what you do, know you do it extremely well, and then just relax and do it. Success and that calmness that comes with being confident will allow you to grow in ways you may have never imagined.

Calm. Confident. And don’t forget Humble. That’s the recipe…..Go Get Em!

Fun Facts

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:59:30 GMT

Here you go with some fun facts you may not know

1. You can’t see your ears without a mirror.

2. You can’t count your hair.

3. You can’t breathe through your nose with your tongue out.

4. You just tried number 3.

6. When you did number 3, you realized that you actually can do it, but that you look like a dog when you try.

7. You are smiling right now, because you were fooled just a little.

8. You skipped number 5.

9. You just checked to see if there is a number 5.

10. You can’t sneeze with your eyes open.

Just a little silly stuff, guess I’m in one of those rarely seen good moods. I am heading out on vacation tomorrow morning for a week, taking Stephanie and my annual trip to Mexico for some sun, golf, etc. I know many of you are going to be dealing with cold, arctic weather, covering greens, etc. and those of you out west are seeing it cooler too, but just know that while I’m out there enjoying myself, I’m truly appreciating being a part of such a great organization and working alongside such great people. It’s fun, and only going to get better, so let’s stick together, go out every day and Have Fun and Leave Happy, and make sure our people, our members and our guests do the same….thank you for all you do!

See you next week.

Accountability

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:08:41 GMT

Hold Each Other Accountable

My nephew Cody is a State of Texas Game Warden. That’s a law enforcement position, that simply put exists to manage the hunting and fishing resources for those men and women who enjoy that sort of thing, as you know I do. Of course, hunting and fishing comes with specific laws, guidelines and rules that apply and must be adhered to. If hunters and fishermen aren’t held accountable to these things, then at some point there could be no deer, birds, fish, etc. which would cripple the natural state of resources.

I bring this up today because when I hear many of his stories, engagements with people, and their lack of respect or caring for the rules, I always think back to accountability. Whether it’s enjoying the outdoors, driving down a highway, or performing our normal day to day work activities, we’re all accountable for our actions. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things, and doing it the way it’s supposed to be is not only the best way, it’s the best for everyone and everything concerned. Cody often talks about checking fishermen, who are out there catching fish either recreationally or professionally in a large way, and how so many of them disregard the laws. No license, catching fish that are “short” or too small, or catching more than the limit. “ I didn’t know I needed to have a license” is something he hears all the time, but a simple online check by him shows that same person had one two years ago…..”I didn’t know you could only catch 5 fish”…If you’re supposed to catch 5 fish, why on earth catch 15? The rules are published everywhere, if you care you know them. Those are the folks that get those dreaded tickets. Same for hunters….license? Duck stamp? Over the limit? Hunting out of season? His job is to protect the environment and it’s resources and protect it from those who don’t feel that being accountable to the rules matters or applies to them. When almost everyone else out in the field or on the water is compliant, doing it the right way, those that don’t want to play by the rules not only stand out, but can ruin it for many others.

Same applies to our business doesn’t it? When most of the team is doing it the right way, working for the common goal, but a few others don’t, it completely disrupts the rhythm, and can significantly affect the overall product and results. There are ways to do every job within our organization, and it’s up to Managers and Department Heads to make sure our people know how to do the job, and that they are doing it the right way. If they think they have a better way, or a more efficient way, then there should be some discussion and dialogue about it, but often shortcuts don’t necessarily make it better….frankly often it makes it worth. Accountability is key, for everyone. We should always hold each other accountable, and that’s easy if we all know what the goal is. You don’t have to be the police, but you do have to always be inspecting the job, communicating daily, and reviewing what is happening and its results. If changes need to be made so be it, but let’s do that as a part of the process, not because someone just disregards it and wants to do it another way.

No, we’re not using guns, expensive boats, and other things that come with a Game Warden holding people accountable. It’s dangerous, takes a special kind of person to want to do it, but they do it to protect the resources and make things as best as they can be for the majority of the people. No different for us…..we manage expensive assets, others money, and want to ensure that our Members and guests are always able to enjoy themselves, that’s what they pay for. Do things the right way, don’t cheat…hold each other accountable, and hold yourself accountable as well. Do it right, do it right the first time, and do it right all the time….that’s the formula for success wherever you are.

As always, Go Get Em

Which attitude do you want to have whenever you face any sort of adversity?

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:02:28 GMT

Which attitude do you want to have whenever you face any sort of adversity?

Honda came out with a great commercial that has stuck in my head for a couple of weeks now. The video, which you can see with the link below (so we give appropriate credit), depicts many of the challenges and disappointments faced in motorsports, of which I’m a huge fan. However, the way it’s constructed has made me really want to share this with each of you, because it contains a two-way poem that guides you toward the absolute best self-talk any of us could imagine. Read this from the top down, then read it from the bottom up….you tell me which attitude you want to have whenever you face any sort of adversity. You’ll clearly understand there are always two ways to look at your situation, and if you dig deep inside yourself, always take the positive position, your motivation will be completely different and frankly you’ll drive yourself to the absolute best attitude you can have, regardless of whether your struggles are professional or personal….Next time you need it, give this a try.

You won’t remember my name

This is the last time

You will see me at the top

My doubts

Will destroy

My dreams

The more I seem to learn

The more I seem to lose

I want to carry on

But not today

This is the point I give up

Now, read it again from the bottom line, and going upward. Listen hard to both versions, and you tell me how you want to handle your next truly difficult challenge. This is going to stick with me, I hope it helps you too. Nothing is too hard to overcome, let’s Go Get Em!

Here’s the link to view….. Honda | “Unstoppable Dreams”

Do You Appreciate the Job that Other People Do?

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:56:18 GMT

Do you have an appreciation for the job other people do?

Have any idea how difficult or “not fun” some other people’s jobs are? Have you even tried to do what they do?

Well, it’s not rocket science, but this weekend I had to do things that frankly I just don’t do, cause someone else does them for me. I had some truly great house guests this past week, while Stephanie was out of town for 8 days on a trip with some friends. Nothing unusual during the time my guests were here, but the stuff started when they left, and I knew Steph was coming home.

As of today, I have a newfound appreciation for what my wife does around the house that I simply don’t. Now I’m no slacker, but we’ve always had this deal that the outside is mine, the inside is hers. But I knew that I couldn’t leave the house the same after three guys stayed in it all week, taking tequila shots and watching stand up comedy until late in the night….

So here’s what I did Sunday…….

Stripped the linens off all the beds
Washed and dried them, even put a little bleach and fabric softner in there, not sure if that’s correct but did it my way.
Then went back and actually put the linens on the bed, to the best of my ability, including replacing all 36 pillows that are normally stacked on there that I have no idea how to do.
Filled and ran the dishwasher and emptied it too.
Washed all the towels, folded them and put them in their actual place, even hung the decorative ones….
Washed several other loads of clothes, mine frankly, and didn’t ruin anything.
Cleaned the countertop in the kitchen.
Actually, dry mopped the floors downstairs, and vacuumed the carpet in the bedrooms.
Changed the cat litter for the third time this week as well

Now, I think Steph can do this in her sleep, for me it took all day, and was not only exhausting but kinda satisfying. Knowing she would walk in about 10pm, and after an obligatory side hug, she would go into full inspection mode. I didn’t score 100, but at least I didn’t get yelled at….she was up early re-doing much of my intense workload.

What’s the point? Shouldn’t all spouses help each other? Indeed they should, and I often do, but never to this level. Strip the bed, you kidding me? I’d rather wrestle an alligator than try to put the fitted sheet on by myself. But this morning, I feel good about what I did, and have a truly higher appreciation for what she does to manage our household. And I think she appreciated the random act of kindness.

So do you know what everyone else does at your facility? Any idea how hard working in the kitchen is, managing orders, plating, expediting, washing dishes? How about you as a General Manager or department head get back there and give it a try? Shorthanded? Jump in there and help get things done. Want to know how hard it is to get in a hole and fix an irrigation leak? At least go see for yourself, so you can better appreciate what your people do. Hey, it’s no walk in the park to get to the Club at 5am, pull carts to set up for a large event, and get everything staged. That stuff doesn’t just happen, people have to do it. So go see what they do and how they do it. Learn from them and appreciate just how dedicated they actually are.

I survived, but also know that I can get these things done anytime I need or want to. I’m better today for doing it, and Stephanie actually acts like she likes me this morning, which is a huge plus.

Now Go Get Em, and Have Fun, Leave Happy!!

Be Good or Be Great?

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:19:38 GMT

Be Good or Be Great?

Often asked question, we all know that we want to strive for greatness, but what does that really mean? Are we missing something, is “great” something we try to do in everything that we do, or in just one thing?

I had a chance to hear Stewart Cink in a Q&A this week during a conference, and one question, and subsequent answer, has stuck with me for several days. Now Stewart Cink is no slouch…his resume included 8 Tour wins, including the 2009 Open Championship, 5 Ryder Cup teams, 4 President Cup teams, and over $43mm in career earnings. Kinda Hall of Fame worthy in my opinion, and a career to hang your hat on as possibly “great”. But when he was asked what advice he would give his younger self, his answer was intriguing. “Being good or great at something was always a goal, but if he could go back and do it over, he would focus on not trying to be a great overall player, but rater focus on being elite one aspect of the game”. Now Elite takes greatness up a level, and he says that he would have focused on one thing in his game, and worked his butt off to become elite at it. Great putter? Go be elite or the absolute best at it. He feels that would have made his career even better.

So naturally, I try to turn that into what we do. Do we provide great service, or is it elite? Greens really good, or are they elite? Is there a few things on the menu that are absolutely great, but could one or two of them be leveled up and made elite, where everyone knows they come to the club for exactly that? Are the racquet sports programs the best in the state, could they be even better if the focus was elite? On a personal level, or even as a department head, are there things you and your team do really well, but if you tried a little harder, or if your sole purpose and intention was to be truly elite at it, would it be even more successful?

In simple terms, being elite means that you are absolutely better than anyone else that’s doing the same thing. Think Navy Seals. Think Lewis Hamilton or now Max Verstappen in Formula One. Think Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, so many examples. Can your burger be elite? Can your hospitality and service levels be elite across the board, regardless of how old your facility may be?

Go find that one thing, stop focusing on trying to be good or great at everything, find your thing and go be elite at it…..you’ll be better, your operation will be better, and of course our people will all have even more fun and leave happier!!

Go get em, go be elite at something.

Toro + Encore Leisure Group

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:23:34 GMT

Contact Information:

Macy McElmury Dale Folmar

Anthologic Encore Leisure Group

515-224-7417 817-312-4318

macym@anthologic.com dfolmar@encoreleisuregroup.com

For Immediate Release

Encore Leisure Group Trusts Toro on and off the Course

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (September 27, 2024) – Toro is excited to announce its latest partnership with Encore Leisure Group. The golf course management company is planning on bringing Toro equipment to all 16 golf properties under the company’s management.

Encore Leisure Group brings over 35 years of industry experience to the courses under its management. Consisting of both public and private courses, Encore Leisure Group has properties located in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Massachusetts.

Moving forward, Toro equipment will be used at all courses managed by Encore Leisure Group. The partnership aligns with Encore Leisure Group’s goal of providing best-in-class golf course conditions to its patrons everyday.

“We're a small boutique firm that chooses to partner with leaders in each industry so we can achieve our goals,” says Dale Folmar, Encore Leisure Group Chief Executive Officer. “We don't want to be the biggest, but we want to be one of the best. So why not partner with the best?”

“We'll have the tools to do what we say we're going to do, which is provide best in class course conditions. That's how we’ll grow as a company and capture new clients,” he adds.

Encore Leisure Group has a long-standing relationship with The Toro Company and its distributor, Professional Turf Products headquartered in Euless, Texas.

“Business is built on relationships in my mind. I want to work with somebody that I trust,” says Folmar.

Throughout the years, Toro has proven its reputation as a premier equipment provider that prioritizes quality, ease of maintenance and machine efficiency. On top of all of that, Encore Leisure Group picked Toro as its equipment supplier because of the well-known service reliability.

“We had an instance where an entire golf course, all of the equipment, everything was underwater for a month and a half. Once that receded, our first call was to the local Toro dealer and they were able to help us find a solution,” says Folmar. “The relationship has always been great.”

Encore Leisure Group entrusts the turfcare of its 16 courses to Toro, ensuring the finest appearance and tournament quality playing greens. A mix of Toro fairway mowers, rough mowers and turf sprayers keep courses on par with some of the most iconic golf courses in the world.

Encore Leisure Group has also entered into an irrigation conversion project with Toro’s irrigation systems to ensure the greens, tee boxes and fairways are maintained to the highest standards.

For more details about Toro’s full range of commercial and golf irrigation products, visit toro.com .

About Toro

With roots dating back to 1914, Toro is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow management, rental and construction equipment, and irrigation solutions. Through a strong network of distributors, dealers, retailers and rental stores in more than 125 countries, Toro helps customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, construction sites and agricultural operations. More at: www.toro.com .

###

Get Uncomfortable & Always Be Selling

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:51:04 GMT

Two things. Get uncomfortable, you just might like it. And Always be selling...

We’ve all heard that phrase, get uncomfortable. Well, I finally did the other evening, and the result was quite unexpected. Stephanie and I finished a light dinner, and on the way home she mentioned that she needed to pull into the “nail place” and get her hands and feet done. If you know me at all, the words getting your feet done send chills up my spine. My feet are mine, and I have never wanted anyone to touch them. Watch some tv on the couch, and Steph lovingly reaches down for a gentle foot rub, and I’m up like a 10 meter spring board competitor, and won’t go back to sit down anytime soon. Well, she says I can go home and she’ll drive back up, but for some reason, I decide to have an out of body experience, say I’m going with, and fully intend to get my first ever pedicure at 64 years old. Yep, old school dude here, always do my own clipping….

I sit down, shoes off, and here comes my technician. One of 45 in there on the roster, which is unbelievable to me, but this place has it going on. While I’m soaking in the warm, plastic bag lined tub of water at the bottom of my chair, I’m offered a cocktail. WTF? Yep, look up and they have a full menu of complimentary drinks, martinis, etc. Not so bad at this point. She comes back, and starts to work. Clipping, carving, digging, etc. I’m half way laughing because my feet are ticklish, and the other half is wondering why someone would put themselves through the pain of all of the stuff she’s doing. Right foot, then left foot, and I’m clear. Back in the hot water for some relief, and then here it comes….I’ve figured out why the free drinks…..

I’ve been listening to Stephanie negotiate next to me, what kind of polish, gel or no gel, how long of a massage, eyebrows? Eyebrows? They will work on almost anything here at this place. My tech asks me do I want a 15 minute calf massage. I look to my left, ol Steph shakes her head, says anything over 5 minute is an upsell. This is from the girl who I believe just bought everything they offered. So I go for the 5 minutes. While she’s massaging a blue gelatinous mixture on my calves, I’m immediately thinking another 10 minutes wouldn’t be too bad, it’s only 10 dollars per extra 5 minutes. Still listening to Steph, and I’m thinking she’s about to spend a small fortune on all of her upgrades. Me, I’m a no about 3 more times on the high pressure selling techniques that the woman who has my leg in a vise is spitting at me. I’m tough that way.

Well, the experience is coming to an end, still getting asked to spend even more money. Honestly, I’m kinda enjoying the pampering, which I believe is the game here, but I give the typical “next time” response and pass. I know full well with 45 people working there, the odds of me getting my same person next time are pretty slim, so I’ll just see how it goes. I was proud of myself for getting uncomfortable and doing something I’ve never done, and I actually honestly enjoyed it. I spend every evening now looking down at my beautiful nails, and in my head have already blocked off the time in a couple of weeks to go back. Challenge yourself, get uncomfortable in life, work and anything you do. Even an old school guy like me can expand his horizons for the better.

I’m on to the upselling game too, so I’ll have the 15 minute massage, a couple of free drinks, and maybe whatever else they’re selling, cause those folks made me a fan! Get uncomfortable, and when you’re on the other side, offer up the services and extras all day every day….I guarantee you it will add up. My guess is the employee parking lot at this place is full of some high end vehicles!!

I had fun, and left happy.

Go Get Em!

"Pushing the Price Envelope - Jay Karen"

dfolmar@cbonsgolfgroup.com (Dale Folmar) — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:12:03 GMT

"Pushing the Price Envelope - Jay Karen"

This is a little big lengthy, but definitely worth sharing. If you ever question where we’ve been over the past few years, and what our strategies and focus are currently, then read the article below from the CEO of the NGCOA. Frankly, it sounds a lot like he’s been reading some of our internal emails and tidbits…………………I really love how he details some of the unrecognized costs of doing business, software, music licenses, etc. He even makes reference to our “cheap seats” comments from the past. Most of our members and guests simply don’t understand. And I guarantee you they are stopping on the way to the Club or course and paying that same $7.22 for coffee.

Stick to the plan. Think about ways to grow the business, grow engagement, grow activities and our business will grow with it!

Jay Karen

Chief Executive Officer at National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)

July 2, 2024

"Seven dollars and twenty two cents. Let’s put that in numerical form: $7.22. I just paid $7.22 for a cup of coffee, and I froze for a moment at the Starbucks counter. There’s a lot going on in my head during this pause, first and foremost of which is “What the hell?” But it’s quickly followed by some consideration and questioning. Wait a moment. Why does it cost so much? It probably has something to do with that extra shot of espresso. Then I thought: are people experiencing this same customer reaction much in golf, since the price increases we’ve seen across the industry over the past four years?

In the case of paying a lot for a cup of coffee (which I often do in local coffee shops all around America), I don’t mind. As someone who has represented small businesses in one sector or another since 1997, I don’t need reminding about the investments made in order to make that little cup of coffee happen. The land and building purchase. The wages and benefits paid up and down the line from managers to baristas. The software systems. Merchant processing costs. Furniture and fixtures. Costs of goods sold (oi vey!). Music licensing. Taxes. Profit pressure to pay investors or stockholders. And the list goes on. And here I stand, thinking about the $7 and the two hours I’m about to spend catching up on work and perhaps writing this column. And guess what? I’m feeling grateful that this place is here, that they hired and have to manage good people, that they sourced the milk and coffee in my cup, provided free wifi and a comfortable, air-conditioned place to hang for a while.

How are customers feeling about the price of golf these days? I’m not proposing we ask them in any official NGCOA survey, because it won’t really be helpful. Most people would wish for lower pricing on anything they buy, and impressions of value (experience received for price paid) will be a bell curve.

I, for one, have been grateful that the supply-demand changes since the summer of 2020 have injected confidence in course owners and operators to make the pricing changes they’ve (long) needed for the health and sustainability of their businesses. We went through, what I call, an “industry recession” for fifteen years, during which the consumer price index rose sharply, but the price of golf generally stayed flat or declined. This meant that golf became CHEAPER (relatively speaking) for golfers over that period of time.

As we continue to step into the 2024 breach, where we may or may not encounter a softening of demand, I encourage owners and operators to remember everything it takes to open those doors for the golfer about to pay $25, $50, $75 or $100 or more for that round of golf. You’ve risked a lot. You do a lot. You spend a lot. I’m reminded of the time a board member of NGCOA told me about the incessant complaining he got at the counter, when he raised prices by $1 (this was twenty years ago). He had just spent $30,000 on a new fairway mower, and parked that mower near the first tee with a price sign attached to it. He felt the need to politely and not-so-subtly remind golfers how much it costs to run what appears (to the untrained eye) to be a simple business. A bold move made under some frustrating circumstances, but I do think golfers don’t pause (like I did at the coffee counter) to consider EVERYTHING that goes into creating a golf experience.

If the booking patterns for the coming weeks or months do not look as strong as last year, or if customers start expressing their displeasure with your pricing, just remember there are more levers than just price that you can pull to keep the business strong. I’ve seen many business owners make the mistake of dropping rates to increase demand. Here’s a little secret: golf doesn’t follow the old price elasticity of demand formula. This doesn’t mean you can’t flex on some rates at some times for some targeted customers.

What I’m trying to say is this: when it’s time to consider your price, remember all the things it takes to make your business work. Remember that the loudest complainer about price doesn’t usually represent your entire customer base (remember that bell curve). Deliver that goodness that you do, and charge what you can or what you need in order to keep it going strong. I’m not worried about the affordability of golf - the market forces will ensure golf will remain a game for the masses.

Best of luck this season. Now, back to my cup of coffee."

Empower Your People

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:33:13 GMT

Empower Your People.

Are your team members empowered to make decisions on their own? Do you trust their judgement if they need help but there’s not someone immediately available? I sure hope so, and if they have been communicated with, fully trained, and know what the daily goals and objectives are, then you shouldn’t worry about it. If they aren’t empowered, there could be a problem.

Okay, I pull into a Tom Thumb grocery parking lot gas station, you know the ones with the pumps outside the large grocery store. I only do this two or three times a week, I was in North Dallas, needed gas so I pulled in. Clean enough, no one in line or anything, so it was perfect. I hop out, swipe the card, grab the nozzle and start the fill up process. 30 gallons takes a minute, and as has become the norm for someone my age, I realize I need to go to the restroom. Lock the truck, keep pumping gas, and just walk in. “I need to use the restroom” I say to the older attendant behind the counter, he points over there. I see where it is, walk over, and there’s an orange traffic cone in front of the door. I look over at him, he shrugs, and says “you can use it, there’s just not any toilet paper in there”. Good news since I wasn’t going to need any, I straddle over the cone, walk in, and do my business. All the while, I’m thinking this just can’t be.

So I finish my task, and come out on a mission. I’ve decided it’s a convenient store, they will have everything from Milk Duds to phone chargers, certainly they have some toilet paper. I don’t say a word, just scan the place, but no paper. I kinda chuckle to myself, walk to the truck, and as I’m returning the nozzle to the pump, I look over about 50 yards and realize that one of the largest grocery store chains in America is just over there, and I’m betting that they have an entire aisle dedicated to toilet paper, whatever number of rolls, sheets, 2 ply, 4 ply, super soft or bargain type you want. Sidenote…two rules in our family. (1) never put the milk in the door of the refrigerator, it doesn’t get as cold as the back and (2) never, ever, try to save money on toilet paper. Only the good stuff please.

Can’t the guy call a guy, over in the big store, and just tell him it's John over at the gas station, please bring some toilet paper? Or worst case, just lock the door, sprint over there, grab a package, and sprint back, 60 seconds tops. May not matter to me, but any ladies that need to use the facilities that afternoon would sure appreciate it. Anyway, it just blew my mind that this intelligent, mature gentleman would rather put a traffic cone in front of the door than do whatever he can to get some toilet paper in there. And if you know me, I almost went over there, got it myself, but then I wouldn’t have enjoyed telling this little lesson.

So to add insult to injury, when I put the nozzle back, it of course asks if I want a receipt. Yep, sure do, so I push the button. The sound those things make when they are trying to print something, but there’s not paper in it, might be one of the most irritating sounds you can hear. How about before the shift, you walk over to the 4 pumps and make sure they have paper. Well clearly, this isn’t the first time it’s happened, because I walk toward the door, and when I open it, without moving an inch, the clerk has my receipt printed, slides it across the counter, without a single word. He’s figured that one out.

Come on Tom Thumb, don’t leave this guy out there without any training, empowerment, or ability to solve problems. If he needs paper, teach him what he has to do to get paper. Make sure all of your people not only know how to make people Have Fun and Leave Happy, but know how to get things done in a pinch. Me, it worked out, gave me some ammo for another Tidbit.

Go Get Em. Empower your people.

Go Deep, Not Wide

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:20:35 GMT

Go Deep, Not Wide.

I’m watching a Netflix series, where a kid accidentally kills a gangster’s son, he and his dad try to cover it up, the kid then breaks up with his high school teacher whose having an affair with him, and he falls in love with the dead guy’s sister….gosh I wish I could think stuff like this up. Well anyway, he’s talking about his future, and he makes the comment that he’d rather Go Deep than Go Wide. I’ve said that phrase in my head for about 5 days now, even researched it a bit…it’s really a part of culture in some areas.

So what do you think Go Deep, Not Wide, really means? You can interpret it in many ways, but I choose to take it as we should focus only on what is clearly our goal, our direction, our passion, and don’t worry about a lot of other little things. We often talk about sticking to the process, and the results will come. Go Deep, Not Wide is a lot like that to me. Personally, you should know what your goal is, and focus purely on that with everything you do. If the goal is to be President of the United States, you’re probably not one step away from that. What are the steps it takes to get to there and Go Deep on each and every one of those, one at a time, until you’re reached your ultimate. In our business, it can be what type of Club are you, what is the most important aspect to your business success, or what do you need to be singularly focused on to help everyone achieve the goal. Go Deep, Not Wide means being laser focused to me. It means don’t get distracted by other little shiny things, don’t worry too far out into the future. Go Deep now on what you are working on, and the future will come to you.

We can often make the mistake of trying to be too many things, to far too many people. If we do, we’re not focused on Going Deep, but rather we are Going Wide, trying to be good at a lot but not great at one thing. We as a company have tons of examples, but closest to me is Thorntree Golf Club. Now this Club is one that we’re trying to sell currently, it has some older infrastructure both on course and in the clubhouse, yet it improves every year. The one area where we Go Deep and Not Wide in my opinion there is with the Superintendent Greg Marsh, and his greens. Don’t get me wrong, the golf course is pretty good, but it’s got its issues. Lack of water in the summer, tree problems, bridges that need work, bunkers, etc. Get the picture? However, the one area that Greg knows he can fully control, and does so with perfection, is his greens. I’m telling you and have done so for a couple of years now, that his Bermuda greens are the absolute best in DFW. Greg knows this, he knows full well he can 100% control this regardless of any other issues, so that’s what he does. And I’m telling you, people don’t talk about the bunkers, they don’t talk about dry fairways in August, but they talk about how perfect the greens are, every day. That’s just one example, but a good one.

Focus on what you can make great. Stop trying to be everything to everyone, we’ll never achieve that. Have the absolute best something. Go Deep on that. Stay focused on that and hang your hat on it. Bet everything you have on that one area where you, or your team, or your department, can focus on. If everyone does that, if everyone Goes Deep on their area of focus, and doesn’t steer Wide on something else, think about how great you and all of us can be.

Say it to yourself a few times a day. Go Deep, Not Wide. It can mean a lot to you once you figure it out. Sounds kinda like Details Matter doesn’t it?

Just Do The Right Thing

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:55:12 GMT

Just Do The Right Thing.

So, we found a little pizza place that serves the best crust on a pizza I’ve ever seen, enjoyed it once and now we go back at least once a week, sometimes more. Nothing unusual, it’s a little franchise place, in a strip center as usual, with carry out and delivery. Not the most attractive storefront or interior, they don’t even serve fountain drinks, and if they took a couple hundred dollars and bought some paint they may be able to charge just a bit more, but that’s not the story here…

Something’s up, someone there is running their own little scam, and I think it’s the employees. I go in the other day, to pick up my pizza, and they immediately ask me if I’m paying cash or card. I’m thinking they are in the “we add 3% for all card transactions due to the high cost of processing” business, but quickly I find out differently. My instructions were strict and clear, so clear and to the point that the girl reached around the register and did it for me. “you need to answer some questions first. Press the “0” button first, then the confirm amount button, then put your card in”. Of course I didn’t pay attention, just did it with her, got my pizza and left. No big deal. So next trip, same girl, same instructions. But old Dale decides to slow this thing down a bit, takes a look at what’s going on, and find out that the “0” button, if for the tip. I ask about it, she quickly tells me not to put a tip on there. My radar goes up, I ask how she gets her tip then, and it’s “well you can pay that in cash if you want”………..there it is!

Either she’s running a scam, collecting cash tips and not reporting them, or there’s something else. So naturally I ask again, WTF? She proceeds to tell me that if it’s a tip on the credit card, they don’t get any of it. So she chooses to direct customers to not tip on the credit card machine, but rather just reach in and get out a five spot or something….

Next trip, a couple of days later I’m ashamed to admit, different dude behind the counter. But I get the same instructions. So I do it, reach in and get out another $5, and go on my way. I knew I would get lucky at some point, finally last week I walk in and there’s an older man named Robert behind the counter. As I’m waiting, I look at the Food Handlers Certificates on the wall, and naturally the only Manager Certificate is Roberts, so I know I’m gonna find out something today. My total is $18.43, so I put the card in, with no instructions. I press the 20% tip button, Robert says absolutely nothing, get my receipt and my pizza, and I’m out of there.

So, who’s doing what there? Is Robert truly taking in tips and either not sharing them with the staff, or is he doing the right thing and paying them a solid high wage, or is he stealing from them? Or is the staff on to Robert, so they have figured out a way to take care of themselves first without worrying about the Manager/Owner/Rules, etc? Let’s don’t even get into reporting, which is another topic for a LaToya tidbit!

My guess is there’s probably two or more issues here. Betting Robert doesn’t give a gosh darn about any of these kids working there, probably doesn’t pay them enough and that these kids have figured out that they can make some money doing the tip thing. I think they are not only playing some game with tips, but if old Robby ain’t around, how many pizzas do you think don’t get rung up at all? And don’t get me started on what might be happening out there with his 18 year old delivery drivers…my money is on the fact that everyone there is working for themselves and not for the company. But there’s probably a couple of employees who haven’t gotten the memo and aren’t doing anything wrong. Yet.

The goal should always be a common one. Just do the right thing. Know the procedures, stick to the process, and let the business take care of itself. Managers and owners should be watching, training, and talking to their people to know what’s going on, are they happy, do they have better ideas, etc. At this place, the pizzas are really good. If there were some true professionals running this place and working in unison they could make a million dollars. Instead, they’re all fighting over the next $5…….

Work together. Trust each other. Communicate. Then go Have Fun, and make sure people Leave Happy.

Go Get Em.

Details Matter

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 21:43:51 GMT

Details Matter.

I recently asked everyone what they thought that meant and got some really good responses. We’ll begin to share those with you very soon, but of course I have a perfect example from last week to share…..stopped in at Portillos, my favorite hot dog place. Now it’s more than hot dogs, but a simple man like me gets giddy over two plain hot dogs with mustard, fries and an iced tea….perfection.

Well, I get my order, and go to sit down. Now it’s not busy, it’s about 2pm, so only 35-40 folks in there. I see a booth, the table hasn’t been wiped, but I’m usually okay with that and would sit down. As I begin to, I see that someone’s trash is still sitting in the seat, so I quickly move on and sit in the next one. As I’m enjoying my delicacy, I watch an employee with a broom, a dustpan, and a rag, he walks by the dirty booth, gives it a quick wipe down, but for some reason doesn’t feel the need to pick up the trash and throw it away. Odd kinda. So, I watch him a bit. He’s completely half-assing his cleaning duties, these tables aren’t being wiped with sanitizer, he might as well be using the broom as a cane cause he ain’t sweeping under anything, he’s just walking around faking it.

Well here comes two customers, looking for a place to sit. They head directly for the booth, almost sit down, then see the trash, and quickly move on. Watched them go to two other tables before they found an acceptable one and took it over.

So what’s the point here. It’s not just me, other people see it too. To me, Details Matter means do what you’re supposed to do, and do it very well. It means that things should be as they are supposed to be, physically, from a service standpoint, or otherwise. It doesn’t’ matter if it’s a big job or just picking up a little trash. There’s an old phrase that says your goal in business should be to always exceed expectations. Heck, it’s hard enough to just meet most people’s expectations most of the time. From a customer perspective, you expect things to be as good or better than you expect them to be. When they aren’t, it’s at least an inconvenience but more often a disappointment. Just wipe it down and pick up the damn trash, it’s that simple! Disappointed people aren’t usually excited, and they certainly don’t have fun and leave happy.

Whatever Details Matter means to you, in the least it means things are clean, tidy, well presented and in the immortal words of Scott Jacques it means “that you give a shit and take pride in what you do”. Evidently not the guy at Portillos…..

Go make sure people Have Fun and Leave Happy. Every Day.

Things Just Cost More...

Mon, 27 May 2024 21:43:52 GMT

Things Just Cost More!

I spent Sunday planning on mowing a two acre lot that Steph and I own, possible future site of Casa Folmar, but for some reason I’m not smart enough to realize that it’s rained about 10 inches this week. So 30 minutes in, I’ve stuck my Z-Turn, I’m covered in mud, but finally get it out. Load it back up, head to the car wash to clean the machine….I guess I’m just not as smart as I think. I typically take my car to a drive thru car wash, one where depending on how many upgrades you want, it’s $20. Been a while since I pulled into one of those with the wand and you have to actually do the work.

We’ll my first alarm should have been when I saw that each bay had a credit card swipe thingy on it. WTH? I don’t need that, just grab 8 or 9 quarters from the console, like back in the day, and get to it. I dig through my change, pull enough for what I thought would clean this thing, then see the screen says “input $3 for 3 minutes”. Wow. Used to be 75 cents. For the same 3 minutes. Whatever, I put the quarters in, work on the machine, get about half way done, and the bell goes off asking for more quarters. In the end, I put in $8 dollars for just rinse, no soap, and finally get the deal clean. That’s 32 quarters by the way, pretty impressive that I could pull that out of my change pile. Looking good, until I realize that my trailer is now loaded down with mud, and I’m out of quarters. No way I’m swiping a card at a self service car wash, so I just drive off, unload, and leave the muddy trailer for another day. If anyone was watching me, I bet I looked like some grouchy old man who has no clue it’s 2024.

If I did have a clue, I’d realize that things just cost more than they used to. I don’t blink when my #2a at McDonalds now costs $9.98, but the car wash got me. Was it better than it used to be, frankly not. Was it cleaner than it used to be, nope. More options? Same as always, even with the old school scrub brush that bubbles out the foam if you want it. Nothing different. Maybe that’s why it frustrated me.

So what’s the point? Not that I’m an old dude without a clue. It’s that things just cost more, which we’ve seen for some time now in our own business. Members are paying higher dues which is great, but are we giving them the same treatment or something better? Are we truly making sure they Have Fun and Leave Happy? Same for guest fees, beer, golf balls, etc….Even though demand is high and we can and do charge more, let’s make sure that everyone feels we’re giving them an incredible value, every day. Make them feel like they would pay more if we asked for it, just because things are great. I paid, left with a dirty trailer, and no quarters. Not a great experience if you ask me, especially when I was still covered in mud. I certainly didn’t leave happy. We all pay more for things, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with higher pricing, just make sure everyone is more than satisfied!! That’s the formula…

Have Fun. Leave Happy.