CMAA Club Connection

Private club memberships bouncing back

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

The past few years have been financially crippling, causing discretionary spending habits towards private club memberships to decrease. However, despite the past few years, the National Golf Foundation is predicting that the "vulnerability of current private club memberships may have peaked and lapsed club members who resigned memberships under financial pressures of the past four to six years, now appear to be reconsidering their non-member status."

The attraction individuals feel to country clubs

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

Members of clubs attribute the reason for their membership to having a place to get away from the crowds and having a sense of belonging in a group of peers. Recently, a report on Private Club Desirability from the National Golf Federation was showcased, outlining that club memberships had stabilized and clubs should expect to see a gradual increase in memberships. In response, here is more information on what attracts and detracts from club memberships.

Players' picks: Top 10 PGA tour courses

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

When Golf World set out to identify which courses players liked and disliked most on the PGA Tour, we opted to set aside many of the categories that have become synonymous with the Golf Digest ranking process, and instead, let these busy elite golfers simply award a 1 to 10 score, with 10 being best. Even with this condensed form of evaluation, the 81 players polled often agonized over scores and even changed a few to ensure consistency. In short, they put their heart, soul and minds into our year-long process and as evidenced by the top 10 courses, they simply love older courses that do not fight the land and which reward intelligence as much as they benefit brawn.

Supreme Court upholds health care reform

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

In a highly anticipated decision last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 decision. In writing the majority opinion, Justice Roberts stated that the individual mandate is within Congress's authority under its power to tax. So what does that mean for clubs? Read the complete Legislative Report blog on the implementation timeline.

Two health insurance plans to be sponsored by the government

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

The Obama administration will sponsor two nationwide health insurance plans that will compete with private insurers. The national insurance plans will be regulated by the federal government, state insurance commissioners and state insurance exchanges.

Workplace violence: You have to think differently

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

Everyone thinks that workplace violence can't happen in their place of business — and hopefully you or your co-workers will never have to face any of these difficult situations — but that doesn't mean you won't have to answer some difficult questions.

Proposed bill aims to ban criminal checks on potential job applicants

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

A new bill, Ban the Box Act (HR 6220), was proposed in the House to make it illegal to ask job applicants if they have been convicted of a crime. Under this proposal, it would be appropriate to ask a potential employee this question only if a conditional offer of employment has been made, or if the candidate potentially may be a considerable risk towards specific individuals or the general public.

Global bacon shortage imminent

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

This past summer, numerous reports were released outlining the scarcity of prime-cuts of red meat thanks to the drought that plagued the Midwest this summer. Now, it seems the pork market is reeling from the aftermath of the drought coupled with an already global, declining population of pigs. The result is that the price of pork will increase and a shortage of bacon supplies is unavoidable.

Connecticut golf course pays OSHA fines, institutes safety updates

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

On June 25, a lightening incident injured 15 maintenance workers due to a "serious" violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, by failing to provide a place of employment "free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees." Lake of Isles, North Stonington, Conn., the golf course at fault, has paid $11,600 in fines to OSHA.

Judge rules against errant golf balls lawsuit

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

A Missouri couple sued their neighbor golf course, Hamilton Golf Club in Hamilton, Mo., for errant golf balls from the 18th hole. The 2011 lawsuit acknowledged that some 1,300 golf balls landed in the couple's yard causing trespass, nuisance and breach of duty. However, a Ravalli County judge ruled against the couple, citing that they should have known the risks when they purchased a home along the 18th hole of a golf course.

Trump's controversial golf course opens in Scotland

21 Dec 2012 10:41:14 CDT

Donald Trump opened his Scottish golf course retreat despite much controversy from locals; both of political and environmental affiliations. Trump purchased the land several years ago with the intention of building the course as well as a hotel and estate on the property. Plans for the hotel and estate have been postponed since a verdict has not been reached on a proposed wind farm that could be constructed off of the coast of his estate.