WEST ORANGE, N.J. (October 17, 2023) — The Metropolitan Golf Association’s season-long education series concluded on Monday, as club presidents, general managers, professionals and other club leaders gathered for the Presidents Council Fall Conference this year hosted by Montclair Golf Club. The event welcomes industry professionals to discuss timely topics for club leadership, while also serving as an open forum for discussion and opportunity for leaders of MGA member clubs to network and share ideas and experiences.
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MGA President Patrick Donnelly welcomed attendees before the morning’s program began. Joe Trauger, President and CEO of the National Club Association, provided an update on legal, legislative and regulatory issues that face those in the club industry.
Chris Barron and Ken Butler were on hand representing Club Benchmarking, which the MGA began a collaborative relationship with in 2022, delivering Club Benchmarking’s Strategic Monthly Dashboard as a free service to MGA clubs that allows access to real-time data. Barron shared important data points collected from clubs in the Met Area and beyond, discussing a range of topics from business planning and capitol plans to strategic budgeting and effective use of KPIs.
After a brief break, Dan Denehy and Carolyn Kepcher of Denehy Club Thinking Partners explored the composition, roles and duties of a board. The duo delivered a lively exchange while pointing out pros and cons of varying board compositions and took questions from attendees throughout the presentation.
Following lunch, attendees enjoyed an afternoon round at Montclair Golf Club, which will host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Two winners took home prizes: Andy Bulizak won the Closest to the Hole competition and Kyle Higgins won the Long Drive contest.
The day concluded with an informal dinner and more opportunities for attendees to network and share ideas and thoughts on current trends.
For more information about the Presidents Council Fall Conference or to learn more about data from Club Benchmarking, please contact the MGA member services department.
