Elmsford, N.Y.-The 2003 MGA Presidents Council was held at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, NJ on Tuesday, October 14th.  The Presidents Council is an annual meeting of the Presidents and Managers of private MGA Member clubs, to discuss topics of mutual interest to club leaders.  It is the Metropolitan Golf Foundation’s largest and most important educational program.

More than 160 club managers attended this year’s meeting.  The day included several speakers, a breakfast, a round of golf and a cocktail hour.  The speakers included, Burt Ward, General Manager at Century Country Club, Tim O’Neill, Superintendent at the Country Club of Darien and Ted O’Rourke, the Head Professional at the Morris County Golf Club.  The three managers spoke about the challenges faced by the three senior staff members of member clubs.  Such issues include communication with members and amongst themselves, qualifications necessary for their positions, how their roles have evolved and where they are headed in the future.

Also invited as a guest speaker was Raymond Ferreira, Associate Professor of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University.  Ferreira spoke on ‘big picture’ issues faced by clubs, such as long range planning, membership satisfaction and club surveys, and industry trends.