347: National Club Conference Recap & Review.

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:08.551
Hey everyone, welcome to Private Club Radio Show, the industry's source for news, trends, updates and conversations all around the world of private golf and country clubs.

00:00:08.551 --> 00:00:11.246
Whether you are brand new to the industry, welcome.

00:00:11.246 --> 00:00:13.791
Or a seasoned professional, welcome back.

00:00:13.791 --> 00:00:15.666
I'm your host, denny Corby.

00:00:15.666 --> 00:00:27.629
Thank you all so much for being here this episode quickly going to recap the NCAA Conference National Club Association their annual conference held a couple of weeks ago in Fr texas at the omni pga headquarters.

00:00:27.629 --> 00:00:42.372
Before I do go on, um, I do want to thank the nca for inviting me out uh, for allowing me to come to engage, interact uh, to be a part of what they've built, what they have going, and it really really means a lot.

00:00:42.372 --> 00:00:51.912
Um, they've been extremely supportive uh of myself and the Private Club Radio Show over the years and I just want to give a big hats off, a big hat tip.

00:00:51.912 --> 00:01:01.502
Thank you so much to Joe, john, the whole team over there, kim everybody is absolutely fantastic and thank you all Really appreciate it.

00:01:01.502 --> 00:01:14.236
Same token want to thank my show partners because their support of me and the channel allows me to go and do things like attend the NCAA conference and go and do the CMAA conference and go to education and go and do things.

00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:29.170
Big shout out to Kenneth's member vetting, active, good factual background checking and getting information and digging in about the applicants that are coming into your club.

00:01:29.170 --> 00:01:30.573
You're really setting your club up for potential risk.

00:01:30.573 --> 00:01:45.192
So if you're interested in learning on how Kennis can help you with fact-based member vetting and really find out who your applicants are who are trying to get into your club, check out membervettingcom.

00:01:45.192 --> 00:01:49.313
Set up a call with Paul Dank Really great guy, really good group of people over there.

00:01:49.313 --> 00:01:54.569
Also, concert golf partners, boutique owner-operators of private golf and country clubs nationwide.

00:01:54.569 --> 00:02:05.067
If your club is looking for recapitalization, even if they're not looking for recapitalization, even if you, your club, somebody else's club is just looking to get out of being member owned, they just want to.

00:02:05.067 --> 00:02:07.152
They want it just a club that they can go to.

00:02:07.152 --> 00:02:12.026
That is that they know is going to be handled, managed, taken care of, upkept.

00:02:12.026 --> 00:02:13.127
No more assessments.

00:02:13.127 --> 00:02:18.806
Um, you know it's not always about being in a bad place, it's about just what's best for the club.

00:02:18.806 --> 00:02:25.820
Uh, head on over to concert golf partnerscom.

00:02:25.820 --> 00:02:28.467
Set up a confidential phone call with Peter Danula and you guys can take it from there.

00:02:28.568 --> 00:02:30.492
Big shout out to our friends Members.

00:02:30.492 --> 00:02:33.763
First, premium-based software for member based organizations.

00:02:33.763 --> 00:02:39.493
They have a great app, great product, amazing web development websites.

00:02:39.493 --> 00:02:48.000
It's not just that they understand and get clubs and their club people, a lot of the staff, a lot of the people there come from the club world background.

00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.412
Whether it's general managers, management leadership, they come from clubs.

00:02:52.412 --> 00:02:56.621
So it's not just they're here selling a software or they're selling a website or selling anything like.

00:02:56.621 --> 00:03:01.168
They understand clubs, they understand data, they understand what makes clubs tick.

00:03:01.168 --> 00:03:08.447
So if you're interested in learning more, head on over to membersfirstcom, slash PCR and hit them up.

00:03:08.447 --> 00:03:14.086
They're really good people and thank you all listeners, because without you this show would not be possible.

00:03:14.086 --> 00:03:15.289
So thank you all for being here.

00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:19.548
So quick little recap of the NCAA Conference National Club Association.

00:03:19.548 --> 00:03:31.967
It was at the PGA Omni, so it's the PGA headquarters right nearby on the same campus, but they have the Omni down there, a great facility, almost brand new.

00:03:31.967 --> 00:03:43.751
It's only a few years old and I wasn't going to put this in, but I just want to let you know how good the staff is there, because the whole experience was great at conference.

00:03:43.751 --> 00:03:50.264
There was just this one bartender in the main lobby who was just a little bit off, and it wasn't just me.

00:03:50.264 --> 00:03:56.228
There was other people in the part of the NCAA who also noticed and it was brought up in other conversations in different times.

00:03:56.228 --> 00:03:58.888
Anyway, I don't complain, I don't care.

00:03:58.888 --> 00:04:00.246
He was just a little bit off.

00:04:00.246 --> 00:04:05.407
Like there was the hospitality of the customer service, just wasn't there at all.

00:04:05.407 --> 00:04:14.109
I mean when, when, when the people cleaning up the plates at seven in the morning for breakfast have a better attitude than the bartender serving $18 drinks?

00:04:14.109 --> 00:04:15.673
Something's not right.

00:04:15.673 --> 00:04:17.908
So anyway, I'm on just the survey.

00:04:17.908 --> 00:04:18.733
I just made a note.

00:04:18.733 --> 00:04:20.680
Hey, everything was great, but the bartender server.

00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:28.685
They reached out and actually I just had a call with somebody from the team asking for some more information.

00:04:28.685 --> 00:04:30.548
That's amazing.

00:04:30.548 --> 00:04:31.750
So big shout out.

00:04:31.750 --> 00:04:33.314
The facility was awesome.

00:04:33.314 --> 00:04:35.947
I think a lot of people wished it was at a club.

00:04:35.947 --> 00:04:39.346
Next year it's going to be at the New York Athletic Club, so it will be at a club.

00:04:39.346 --> 00:04:40.267
This was a little bit different.

00:04:40.267 --> 00:04:47.394
I think if you can't have it at a club, having it at pretty much the PGA headquarters golf central, I mean, come on, you can't beat it, um.

00:04:47.394 --> 00:04:51.021
So facility was great, uh, place was great there, um.

00:04:51.021 --> 00:04:57.622
The other location that we did go to was the middle B innovation kitchen, um, but that we'll talk about that a little bit later.

00:04:57.622 --> 00:05:01.045
But, uh, this, the everything on property, everything was was great.

00:05:01.045 --> 00:05:02.127
It was a great facility.

00:05:02.127 --> 00:05:04.250
The education was really good.

00:05:04.750 --> 00:05:07.134
What's neat about the NCAA, the National Club Association?

00:05:07.134 --> 00:05:27.379
If you don't know, it's the association for private clubs and their boards, so it tends to be a little bit more deeper conversations, a little bit more in-depth on the governance and more pressing issues than just the overall general theme theme.

00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:31.288
And with that, during the sessions, they also have breakout and separate sessions specifically for the board members who come from private clubs.

00:05:31.288 --> 00:05:41.826
So they have specific education, specific tracks, specific networking and things for them to go do and interact and engage so they can all network and learn from each other as well.

00:05:41.826 --> 00:05:47.887
So it's really cool how they mix and mingle and let people come together but also separate and do their own thing.

00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:54.586
Really, really, really great, really enjoyed that there is so much networking, which I think is super important.

00:05:54.586 --> 00:05:56.226
That's why we go to things like this.

00:05:56.226 --> 00:06:00.831
You know you can learn and get educated anywhere online now.

00:06:00.831 --> 00:06:03.846
You know, listening to podcasts here, there's so much way to educate.

00:06:03.846 --> 00:06:09.723
But really, I think it boils down to this, to the in-person.

00:06:09.723 --> 00:06:10.764
You know the the shaking hands and slapping asses.

00:06:10.764 --> 00:06:11.346
Really, that's what that's.

00:06:11.346 --> 00:06:14.221
That's what this is about and this is what I loved about the conferences.

00:06:14.221 --> 00:06:23.728
Everybody was there for the same reason to grow, to engage, to network and to build our personal and professional relationships and our brains.

00:06:24.389 --> 00:06:32.853
So the first night they had a new member reception, which was a lot of fun, the NCAA chair and chair reception and dinner.

00:06:32.853 --> 00:06:34.101
That was really good.

00:06:34.101 --> 00:06:47.934
And then they had the night golf outing at the Swing, which was on property and it's a lit short nine and that was just cool because not a lot of places you can golf at night and or have lights.

00:06:47.934 --> 00:06:55.531
So to be able to be out with our peers just hanging out, playing golf and at night, it was just a good time.

00:06:55.531 --> 00:06:57.656
It was just good energy, it was good vibes.

00:06:57.656 --> 00:06:59.809
The education was really good.

00:07:00.129 --> 00:07:01.834
I'm just going to go through my notes quick.

00:07:01.834 --> 00:07:03.557
I did take notes.

00:07:03.557 --> 00:07:12.867
Some of the education, I will be upfront, was above, way over my head, did not understand, but I'll be the first to say yeah.

00:07:12.867 --> 00:07:15.791
So some of the education.

00:07:15.791 --> 00:07:20.117
They had Seth Waugh, who's the CEO of the PGA of America.

00:07:20.117 --> 00:07:25.745
He was there just kind of giving a quick update overview.

00:07:25.745 --> 00:07:34.680
It was a fireside chat with him and Joe Trauger, the CEO of the NCAA, and just going over what's going on in that world.

00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:41.834
I have a bunch of notes, but one of the notes towards the end, you know, is talking about culture and the PGA is Seth.

00:07:41.834 --> 00:07:46.773
Seth said they have a no jerks allowed rule, which I thought was that was pretty cool.

00:07:46.773 --> 00:07:46.934
It's a.

00:07:46.934 --> 00:07:50.276
It's a culture of conversation and openness.

00:07:50.276 --> 00:07:55.970
And another quote I really liked from him was the only thing you can compete on is excellence.

00:07:55.970 --> 00:07:58.348
I thought that was pretty good Speaking of.

00:07:58.389 --> 00:08:05.451
So they had their club governance symposium which was just specifically for all of the board members of the clubs.

00:08:05.451 --> 00:08:13.081
Obviously, I couldn't go, but the feedback and things I heard from the board said it was really good, really educational, really valuable.

00:08:13.081 --> 00:08:21.358
And going back to being able to meet and have conversations with other people and other boards from other clubs in other parts of the world too.

00:08:21.358 --> 00:08:40.347
So it's not just you're chatting with other board members from other clubs in your community, it's you know people come from all over the country, so you're getting input and valuable data and insights from clubs all over big and small towns, communities, jurisdictions, townships, villages.

00:08:40.347 --> 00:08:44.719
To the NCA government relations update panel.

00:08:44.719 --> 00:08:48.128
I have notes on the on the government relations update.

00:08:48.128 --> 00:08:56.096
But, like I said, some of this stuff is a little over my head, so I don't know if I want to say anything, because I don't want to sound dumb, stupid or give the wrong misinformation.

00:08:56.096 --> 00:08:57.791
But here we go.

00:08:59.666 --> 00:09:04.149
Some of the takeaways from that part was you know, with elections coming up, things are just going to get a little crazy.

00:09:04.149 --> 00:09:07.905
Obviously, 2025 is going to be the Superbowl of taxes.

00:09:07.905 --> 00:09:11.572
I thought that was pretty fascinating.

00:09:11.572 --> 00:09:16.320
There's with the FTC banning their junk fees.

00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:34.619
I think the big thing is because there's going to be some differentiators contacting just your local, your tax expert, and just making sure you are all handled when it comes to fees, taxes, gratuities and some of these junk fees and things that are going on.

00:09:34.619 --> 00:09:56.576
He mentioned the OSHA walk-around rule, which would allow people to bring in third parties onto your clubs, into the properties on site, if there happens to be a concern, because those people who are coming on could be unknowns.

00:09:56.576 --> 00:09:58.620
They could be lawyers, reporters, you don't know.

00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:01.312
So there was the OSHA walk-around rule.

00:10:01.312 --> 00:10:05.676
Dig into that a little bit if you don't know what that is already.

00:10:05.676 --> 00:10:15.971
And we're talking about the independent contractor rule, which we've talked about here on the show and I think a lot of people know about that already, but also with the joint employer rule.

00:10:15.971 --> 00:10:19.219
Sometimes those two instances they will come together.

00:10:19.219 --> 00:10:22.273
So that is also something to check out.

00:10:22.273 --> 00:10:27.636
Make sure you're safe, make sure you're taken care of, handled and not open to any negativity.

00:10:28.205 --> 00:10:36.714
There's a session on cracking the culture code, kelly Merbler, and there's a couple good quotes in here.

00:10:36.714 --> 00:10:39.933
She referenced Marcus Buckingham.

00:10:39.933 --> 00:10:41.772
Leaders are experience makers.

00:10:41.772 --> 00:10:43.432
I really liked that quote.

00:10:43.432 --> 00:10:45.270
Management is not leadership.

00:10:45.270 --> 00:10:52.953
I liked that because management is more SOPs and systems and processes and leadership is all about the people.

00:10:52.953 --> 00:10:56.245
So those two things are separate.

00:10:56.245 --> 00:10:57.846
The same, equal, different.

00:10:57.846 --> 00:10:59.267
I just like that.

00:10:59.267 --> 00:11:07.091
Management is not leadership If there is no psychological raise or a new title is not professional development, and I liked that.

00:11:07.091 --> 00:11:29.368
Then there's a few other things going on.

00:11:29.388 --> 00:11:29.548
That day.

00:11:29.548 --> 00:11:35.595
There was a networking roundtable luncheon, which was a lot of fun at a great table, met some really cool cats there and we had some fun conversations.

00:11:35.595 --> 00:11:39.875
The evening we had the Excellence in Club Management Awards and Dinner.

00:11:39.875 --> 00:11:41.118
That was really good.

00:11:41.118 --> 00:11:42.731
Congrats to all of those winners.

00:11:42.731 --> 00:11:50.254
Only downside was dinner didn't start till late, like food didn't come out till like I don't know, like 8.45.

00:11:50.254 --> 00:11:51.356
It was wild.

00:11:51.356 --> 00:11:54.966
Other than that, really good night the following day.

00:11:54.966 --> 00:11:57.187
So there was two days of education.

00:11:57.187 --> 00:11:58.528
Really good night the following day.

00:11:58.528 --> 00:12:00.812
So there was two days of education the next day it was all about.

00:12:01.532 --> 00:12:20.359
One of the sessions was why the rising healthcare costs and waste is one-third of healthcare costs, one-third Wastes and one of the other things that's what's driving cost is providers paid on volume, not outcomes.

00:12:20.359 --> 00:12:25.802
And, like I said, this is something that was going over my head so I'm not going to touch too much more on it.

00:12:25.802 --> 00:12:38.869
But one thing he did say and it did hit home for me in trying to learn a little bit more and be more educated on it is, he said pay attention, because you're paying for it one way or another.

00:12:38.869 --> 00:12:41.037
And that hit home.

00:12:41.037 --> 00:12:45.291
Yeah, that, that hit it, hit it slapped.

00:12:45.291 --> 00:12:52.472
So they had Cameron Dawson, a speaker from New Age Wealth, on the economic factors affecting clubs and members.

00:12:52.472 --> 00:12:53.293
Same thing.

00:12:53.293 --> 00:13:12.133
This is a lovely starting to go over my head on some stuff, but so much data, so much info that the biggest thing I got taken away from this is and I think some of us know this as well is the government is spending more on interest than the military and defense Interest payments Craziness.

00:13:12.133 --> 00:13:13.903
We're in a wild time right now.

00:13:14.585 --> 00:13:23.692
One of my favorite sessions was Jim Butler talking about the economics of private clubs and the economic impact they have on the communities.

00:13:23.692 --> 00:13:25.484
That was one I actually didn't take too many notes.

00:13:25.484 --> 00:13:27.389
I was there just listening and taking it all in.

00:13:27.389 --> 00:13:30.750
I really enjoyed what he was saying.

00:13:30.750 --> 00:13:33.548
But I will say their data sources.

00:13:33.548 --> 00:13:41.927
So they got it from Club Benchmarking, club Management Association of America and the National Club Association of America, which gave them about 5,600 clubs.

00:13:41.927 --> 00:13:46.708
They had to exclude about 1,500 clubs that did not have EIN numbers.

00:13:46.708 --> 00:14:16.160
Then they excluded about 800 clubs with no operational revenue that they could have or did not get and then they excluded 1,100 clubs with revenue less than a million dollars, which means their final database, their final polling which to me this is just an interesting number is that there's only 2,235 clubs in the United States doing more than a million dollars in revenue.

00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:21.732
Take it for what it is and then to end the whole thing or not really to end it.

00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:27.533
It was just one of the last big fun things was the Middleby Innovation Kitchen Tour.

00:14:27.533 --> 00:14:29.482
That was so much fun.

00:14:29.482 --> 00:14:32.347
So Middleby Innovation Kitchens.

00:14:32.347 --> 00:14:33.890
They have amazing.

00:14:33.890 --> 00:14:37.703
Anything you need kitchen related they have it.

00:14:37.703 --> 00:14:45.576
So they have a showroom with all of their top of the line products, anything and everything, and they allowed us to come in.

00:14:45.576 --> 00:14:46.941
They opened it up just for us.

00:14:46.941 --> 00:14:48.825
They had about 18 chefs.

00:14:48.825 --> 00:14:50.869
All of their stations were open.

00:14:50.869 --> 00:14:56.124
Oh my God Pizzas, foods, lobster rolls the product.

00:14:56.124 --> 00:14:59.090
It is amazing.

00:14:59.090 --> 00:15:00.753
I love seeing what food does.

00:15:00.753 --> 00:15:06.188
Food brings people together and you saw that there was not a sad face in that building.

00:15:06.188 --> 00:15:11.451
Everybody was happy, laughing, having a good time talking food, learning about the product, touching it.

00:15:11.451 --> 00:15:16.272
That was cool too is like the chefs and the staff were there to let you see, touch, learn, feel.

00:15:16.272 --> 00:15:22.732
They allow clubs to bring their staff and management and their teams in so they can use it.

00:15:22.732 --> 00:15:27.447
They can bring their own foods, they can supply the food so you can try the stuff, try the kitchen, try the products.

00:15:27.447 --> 00:15:44.610
They have so much going on there and that was a real treat and a real highlight for that and that was sponsored by Middleby Innovation Kitchens and Bolter Food Service Design and Equipment.

00:15:44.610 --> 00:15:47.153
Big shout out you guys.

00:15:47.153 --> 00:15:48.325
Thank you so much for that.

00:15:48.325 --> 00:15:51.967
Overall, it was a great conference, it was a good time.

00:15:52.328 --> 00:15:53.230
It's not always perfect.

00:15:53.230 --> 00:15:56.724
I will say a little.

00:15:56.724 --> 00:16:05.674
I don't want to say the cons, but a little of the downside was I think it lacked a little bit of fanfare, a little bit of energy.

00:16:05.674 --> 00:16:08.884
There was a little bit of a I don't know.

00:16:08.884 --> 00:16:15.600
Uh, just during during some of the sessions and things um didn't run on time 100.

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:24.869
I know I'm not a huge stickler for time, but um, things seemed a little bit behind um, I mean, if that's really the worst that happens, it was that and like a lack of like fanfare.

00:16:24.869 --> 00:16:26.886
But I think that's me coming from the entertainment background.

00:16:26.886 --> 00:16:27.581
You know.

00:16:27.581 --> 00:16:32.110
Just, there's a few times like a speaker wasn't ready or something whatever.

00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:35.807
And that's fine, it's not a huge deal, it's not the end of the day.

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:39.200
It wasn't like it was this 5000 person conference.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:45.490
It was a fairly smaller, intimate room, which I will say that I think for the amount of people, I think we could have used a smaller room.

00:16:45.490 --> 00:16:57.808
I think there was some open space, some openness and for me being, you know, entertainment and fun and when it comes to people and engaging, interacting and getting involvement, it was just like high ceilings in a very big room.

00:16:57.808 --> 00:17:00.489
But I get it because also the vendors were in the room also.

00:17:00.489 --> 00:17:03.927
So, all things considered, if that's like the worst.

00:17:03.927 --> 00:17:05.952
Really really not a big deal.

00:17:05.952 --> 00:17:08.486
So really wasn't anything bad.

00:17:08.546 --> 00:17:09.791
The exhibitors were good.

00:17:09.791 --> 00:17:11.801
All the people who were there wanted to be there.

00:17:11.801 --> 00:17:19.788
It was great seeing so many friends and colleagues, club professionals Some of my show partners were there, kenneth was there.

00:17:19.788 --> 00:17:22.461
Got to see Paul Dank members first.

00:17:22.461 --> 00:17:27.768
It was great seeing Don and Jason and all of them there and got to meet amazing new people as well.

00:17:27.768 --> 00:17:30.111
It was a good time.

00:17:31.712 --> 00:17:33.174
Yeah, highly, highly recommend.

00:17:33.174 --> 00:17:44.738
If you are unfamiliar with the NCAA, definitely recommend you check them out and if you are interested or have it, I highly recommend you come to an NCAA National Club Conference.

00:17:44.738 --> 00:17:50.463
Next year is going to be in New York City at the National Athletic Club, at the New York Athletic Club.

00:17:50.463 --> 00:17:51.747
So I'm excited for that.

00:17:51.747 --> 00:17:53.491
Don't have to fly, going to drive there.

00:17:53.491 --> 00:17:55.807
So that was it.

00:17:55.807 --> 00:17:57.986
That was my review.

00:17:57.986 --> 00:17:58.888
It was a great time.

00:17:58.888 --> 00:18:01.690
Very little to complain about, if anything.

00:18:01.690 --> 00:18:05.006
It was great people, great networking, great education.

00:18:05.006 --> 00:18:07.932
What more can you ask for?

00:18:07.932 --> 00:18:16.463
Great food, it was all around a fantastic time, highly recommended.

00:18:16.463 --> 00:18:17.567
That's this episode, if you're enjoying the content.

00:18:17.567 --> 00:18:17.788
Thank you.

00:18:17.788 --> 00:18:18.570
Share with a friend.

00:18:18.570 --> 00:18:20.999
Subscribe to our newsletter.

00:18:20.999 --> 00:18:23.048
Head on over to privateclubradiocom.

00:18:23.048 --> 00:18:24.537
Catch you on the flippity flip.