July–August 2004
Tee Time: Industry News

AstroTurf Maker Closes Shop
ISouthwest Recreational Industries, the Leander, Texas-based manufacturer of AstroTurf, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February. According to news reports, the company plans to sell two smaller divisions that manufacture sports flooring and equipment for volleyball, gymnastics and basketball, and it will shut down its operations for football and baseball turf and running tracks. Plans for SRI’s golf division were unavailable at press time. In court documents, SRI reported debt of $88.1 million and assets of $101.9 million.

Range Use Rebounds in 2003
The number of alternative participants (exclusive short course or practice range users) increased 14 percent to 5 million in 2003, according to the National Golf Foundation’s recently released “Golf Participation in the U.S., 2004 edition.” Though this was an increase from 2002, it remains below the 6.9 million alternative users reported in 2001.
The number of core golfers grew for the second straight year, from 12.6 million in 2002 to 13.2 million in 2003. Core golfers, who on average play 37 rounds per year, are defined as adults (ages 18-plus) who play a minimum of eight rounds per year.
Looking at other golf participation segments, occasional golfers (one to seven rounds per year) increased 4 percent to 14.2 million in 2003 and juniors decreased 10 percent to 5.5 million. Total golf participants (comprised of core and occasional golfers, alternative participants and juniors) increased 3.3 percent to 37.9 million in 2003, an all-time high, according to NGF.
NGF attributes most gains in participation to females and juniors, groups that are seen as having good potential for future growth. The number of female participants has increased by 1.4 million since 2000 while the number of juniors is 1.5 million higher. These numbers (which overlap somewhat) include many occasional golfers and those who go exclusively to practice ranges or short courses. For a complete look at golf participation in 2003, call NGF at 888-NGF-2500 for a copy of the full report.

PGA Fall Expo Returns to Vegas
Returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center Sept. 20-22, the 2004 PGA Fall Expo will offer an expanded schedule of events. Attendees in the exhibit hall can visit with more than 300 golf-related exhibitors, try out products at the equipment testing center, preview new apparel in the Fashion Parade, browse through the latest wares in the New Product Center and relax at the 19th Hole. A complementing educational conference will offer more than 30 professional development opportunities within six tracts, including advanced retailing, growing the game, marketing and promotion, merchandising, personnel and service, retailing basics and technology. The day before the show, Callaway Golf Center will play host to a demo night from 5:30 to 8:30.
Buyers can register and make travel and hotel arrangements online at www.pgafallexpo.com or by calling 800-840-5628.

Players Turf Expands Operations
Based in Peoria, Ill., Players Turf International LLC has established two operations centers in the Southeast and has added 14 staff members since late 2003 to meet a growing market for its synthetic turf products. The company also plans to add six project installers to serve the Southeastern U.S.

Program Develops Golfers One Bucket at a Time
Dick’s Divot Driving Range in Eau Claire, Wis., is offering a Bucket-a-Day program in hopes of developing young aspiring Chippewa Valley golfers. Through the program, children age 5 to 15 receive an official “Bucket-a-Day” card that entitles them to a free bucket of balls every day through Sept. 1; no other purchases are necessary. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult and only the card-bearer can hit the free bucket of balls.

First Tee Doubles Efforts in Denver
TThe First Tee of Denver opened two new learning centers in May: Katie’s Course at Willis Case Golf Course and Chubb’s Course at City Park Golf Course. Located just six miles apart, the courses each feature four holes measuring between 40 and 160 yards. The addition of the two facilities, along with the First Tee of Denver’s in-school programming, will allow the chapter to reach more than 1,300 youth each year.
In other First Tee news, construction of a third First Tee facility in Houston will begin this fall with resources and land provided by Redstone Cos. An initiative of the Houston Golf Association, the First Tee of Houston at Redstone Golf Club will feature a three-hole par-3 golf course and teaching facility. Located behind the 18th hole of the Rees Jones Course, the facility will attract national attention when it serves as the media center during the Shell Houston Open. In addition, the YMCA of Greater Houston will introduce the First Tee’s Life Skills Education curriculum into its after-school programs at three area locations.

Ad Campaign Targets New Players
With its sights set on increasing participation among new and occasional adult golfers, Play Golf America, the golf industry’s national marketing initiative, kicked off a $12 million ad campaign in April. More than 500 national TV ads will air during 2004 golf events sponsored by the PGA, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and USGA. In addition, advertising sections will appear in the August issues of Golf Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Money. The campaign’s goal is to reach 17 million adults who have expressed a desire to play golf and the 14 million adult golfers who play between one and seven times a year.

USGA Relaunches Web Site
The United States Golf Association has relaunched its web site, www.usga.org. The new site offers a collapsible navigation bar on the left side of each page to make it easier for users to find information. Other new features include a revamped search engine powered by Google technology, printer-friendly pages to satisfy Mac and PC users, flash images and improved download time.

Fun Expo Offers More to Explore
Riding on the success of last year’s inaugural Paintball Pavilion, Fun Expo has added two new pavilions for the 2004 show, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Las Vegas. The Party Pavilion will group suppliers of party goods and services in a central location and feature live demonstrations. The pavilion will be complemented by party-focused seminars at Fun Academy, which starts Sept. 27 and runs through the show. This year’s lineup includes beginning and advanced programs from Frank Price, founder of Birthday University, plus “Parties 101,” “Entertaining Young Ones” and a special three-hour session, “Party Magic.” Laser Tag moves into the limelight with a new Laser Tag Pavilion featuring live laser tag demonstrations in addition to a preshow Laser Tag Education Day and a 90-minute Fun Academy session.
Exhibits and sessions also will provide information on food and beverage operations, inflatables, play structures, miniature golf, redemption systems, design and construction, computer hardware and software and more.
Fun Expo is sponsored by the International Association for the Leisure and American Amusement Machine Association and co-located with the Amusement & Music Operators Association International Expo. For more information, call 708-226-1300 or visit www.funexpo.com.

Irrigation Guidebook Stresses Conservation
A new book on golf course management offers guidance on developing and maintaining effective irrigation systems that conserve water and improve course aesthetics and performance. With golf courses under increasing scrutiny by governmental and environmental groups for their use of water, “Golf Course Irrigation: Environmental Design and Management Practice” provides up-to-date information on water supply, plant irrigation requirements, application uniformity and construction management to help architects, builders and superintendents improve playing conditions in the face of diminishing natural resources. Published by John Wiley Inc., the book was co-authored by Brian Vinchesi, president of Irrigation Consulting; Robert Dobson, president of Middletown Sprinkler Co.; Paul Roche, irrigation division manager at S.V. Moffet Co.; and David Zoldoske, director of the Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno. “Golf Course Irrigation” is available from major booksellers.

New Products

Range Balls Take Flight at Eagle One
Eagle One Golf Products in Orange, Calif., has added a line of range balls to its product offerings. Lighter than a regular range ball, the Floater (P400F) ball will float if hit into water and flies a shorter distance because of its less-dense core. The Controlled Distance (P400CD) ball is a limited-flight golf ball that travels about 80 percent of the true distance, making it an ideal choice for ranges with homes or businesses close by. The company also offers the Regular (P400R) range ball, which travels 100 percent of the normal flight and features a hard cover. All range balls are available in white with a blue or red brand logo. Balls also can be customized with the range’s logo. (Eagle One Golf Products, 800-448-4409, www.eagleonegolf.com)

Miniature Golf Course Turns Pro
Lomma Golf Inc. in Scranton, Pa., has developed the Pro-Am Miniature Golf Course, which boasts undulating greens, sand traps and even water hazards. The 19-hole course has exchanged the traditional mechanical challenges for more natural obstacles, including contoured fairways, hilly “rough” and angled shots. Developed with the serious golfer in mind, several of the holes, from tee to green, are three to four times the length of traditional miniature golf holes. The course also has bi-level and par-5 holes. (Lomma Golf Inc., 570-346-5559, www.lommagolf.com)

CaddyPatch Hits the Spot
CaddyPatch, an erasable ball-impact marker, allows range users to easily identify the hot spot on their clubs and record every hit. Less than 1/2-milimeter thick, CaddyPatch is made of suede leather backed by a poly film and layers of special adhesives that allow it to be repeatedly applied and removed from the clubface so that several different clubs can be used during a practice session. After the image of a struck ball is captured on the suede surface, users can erase it with a swipe of their thumb. The patch will last through 150 hits on an iron to 400 hits on an oversized driver. CaddyPatch is available for woods, irons and oversized drivers. (CaddyPatch, www.caddypatch.com)