By Rachel Carter
All organizations evolve over time, and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is no exception. Since its founding in 1971 by Don Rossi and other trailblazing private owners of public daily-fee facilities, the NGCOA has grown tremendously while staying rooted in its core principle to represent golf course owners' interests.
What began as a small collective of like-minded golf course owners has blossomed into a dynamic organization proudly representing 1,700 members and nearly 4,000 facilities across the United States. While the 'face' of the NGCOA’s membership has evolved over the past 50 years, the mission remains the same: to serve the diverse needs of its members through information, education, advocacy and community to operate golf facilities as efficiently and profitably as possible.
A Changing Membership Landscape
One of the most significant changes in the NGCOA’s evolution is the diversity of its membership. In its early years, the association primarily catered to owners of public daily-fee facilities. Today, the organization serves a broad range of business models, including private, semi-private, resort, multi-course operators, management companies, and municipal operators.
This transformation reflects the growing complexity and variety of the golf course industry. Each business model comes with its unique challenges, but the NGCOA prides itself on addressing the majority of issues that affect all sectors. In fact, 90 percent of the issues the association works on impact all operating models in the industry. The remaining 10 percent are tailored to the distinct needs of individual business models, demonstrating NGCOA's commitment to providing relevant and professional services to every segment of its membership.
Expanding Services for Evolving Communities
As the golf course industry has evolved, so too has NGCOA’s approach to supporting its diverse membership. The organization has made significant strides in refining services to meet the specific needs of its varied member communities.
For example, the Multi-Course Operators (MCO) Retreat, a hallmark of NGCOA for nearly 20 years, continues to be a highlight on the association’s calendar. Held in the breathtaking Monterey Peninsula in California, the event brings together multi-course owners and operators to share insights, build connections, and discuss the latest trends in the industry. Recently, the retreat has expanded to include resorts, broadening its impact.
An exciting recent development last year, during the Golf Business Conference, the NGCOA held its first-ever Owner’s Dinner for independent golf course owners and operators, the founding core of the association. The event was a tremendous success, and it has now become an annual tradition, further strengthening the bonds within this key group.
Today, the NGCOA turns its attention to that of the municipal operators. Already, and historically, home to over 300 municipal operators, the NGCOA hosted its first-ever Municipal Operators Roundtable Breakfast at the 2024 Golf Business Conference, a clear indicator of the increasing importance of this community within the broader golf course industry. The roundtable has now expanded to include dedicated breakout sessions at the upcoming 2025 Golf Business Conference, where municipal operators will have the opportunity to share experiences, address unique challenges, and explore collaborative solutions.
To further highlight the importance of municipal golf, NGCOA is thrilled to officially launch programs and services tailored to municipal operators in Q4 of 2024. These initiatives mark a significant step in uniting municipal operators in a way that has never been done before. We thank our Municipal Advisory Committee who have been so helpful on this journey.
To kick things off, we asked Golf Business magazine writer Steve Eubanks to feature some of the most exciting news in municipal golf, providing insights and success stories from across the country, which he has done in this issue.
Looking Forward
As the NGCOA continues to evolve and expand its reach, one thing remains constant: the commitment to serving its members and their business interests. Whether you are an independent owner, a multi-course operator, or a municipal golf leader, NGCOA offers a community where you can connect, grow, and thrive. With a range of programs, events, and resources designed to meet the unique needs of every business model, the NGCOA is well-positioned to lead the way into the future of golf course ownership and operation.
AMY NOTE: Please Include this list of Advisory Committee Members in a call out box of some sort
NGCOA Municipal Operators Community Advisory Committee
Josh Heptig Golf Superintendent, County of San Luis Obispo, CA
Michael Huber Director of Golf Operations, Channahon Park, IL
Adam Relan Portsmouth, VA
Mike Leonard Executive Director, Channahon Park District, IL
Jessica Steinberg Operations Director, Rockford Park District, IL
Daniel Wickman PGA/CMAA, Manager, Golf Division City of Aurora, CO