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Sector Check Golfers Can Help Heal the Golf Industry GCBAA's Justin Apel has high hopes for the sector. By Larry Coffman The main advocate of the golf course construction industry is the Golf Course Builders Association of America. Heading the Lincoln, Neb.-based organization is 35-year-old Justin Apel. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Apel joined the association in 2006 and became its executive director in 2011. He has helped lead GCBAA in expanding its membership categories while also participating in international initiatives that support Justin Apel the game of golf. The association membership represents the contractors who construct and renovate golf courses around the world, along with suppliers and consultants whose products are used in construction. GCBAA, established in 1970, also partners with the China and Asia golf shows. Additionally, Apel is responsible for administering the GCBAA Foundation, a youth player development program in more than 350 cities in the United States, 30 cities in China and more than a dozen U.S. military bases globally. Apel has a degree in agricultural sciences and worked for a Nebraska state senator. He has lobbied for the state's natural resources districts. If Apel were to assume the title of "Golf Industry Doctor" and give the game a physical examination, how would he evaluate the patient? "Golf is one of the healthiest lifestyles/sports a person can remain involved with," he said. "Walking 18 holes of golf burns nearly 2,500 calories and provides both physical and mental exercise. "Golf as a patient needs to take its own medicine and get out and play. Not by going out and playing with the regular Saturday morning group, but also inviting a new golfer to join you, or take your spouse or child. "Play more and invite others to play the great game. That will turn the industry." Kurt Huseman of Kingwood, Texas, is the current GCBAA volunteer president. Rick Boylan is the volunteer president-elect and will begin a two-year term as president when GCBAA has its winter meeting next February. The GCBAA states that its goal is to support the growth and vitality of the golf course industry while promoting the continued enjoyment of the game through the construction of the highest quality golf courses in the world. Apel said, "There are many companies seeking … work [with] a false mentality out there that, with competitiveness of contractors seeking the work, low bids are a great reason for a (golf property) to move ahead with its project. We feel this is an unhealthy attitude for any industry. "For a facility to expect a finished product that would complement the expectations of their players and users of their course, they will need to hire a company with the experience and skill set to meet those expectations. "That type of quality should come at a fair price. "With the number of courses available to a stagnant number of players in the U.S., many of the leading associations involved in the golf industry are working together on player development programs to shift the demand/supply curve for these courses. "With several creative programs to retain current players, invite lapsed players back into the game and teach the next generation of golfers, the industry feels very optimistic about increasing the total number of golfers in the U.S. and increasing the demand for golf across the country." ("Diversified Golf Course Contractors Wait for Greener Days" continued from page 23) Regulatory Considerations Now, as always, environmental factors are hurdles for golf course builders. "Depending on the area," Apel said, "there are usually local and state permitting requirements that must be met. Typically, the members carry the appropriate state licenses for the type of work to be completed. I have heard countless stories about scheduling the time requirement needed for [getting] approval of necessary applications and permits before any earth is disturbed. It's just as important as factoring grow-in periods when the course is completed." Water and the environment always will be an issue for golf course designers and builders, as it should be, according to Boylan. "All of the different sectors of golf understand and respect Mother Nature and the things she can do – good and bad," Boylan said. "In the days of 400 new courses a year, I would say on average it would take about 12 months from the time you heard about a potential project to breaking ground [on it]. Today, with regulations regulating regulations, I would say that time has at least tripled. "I also know that with the recent droughts that we have seen in the Midwest region of the country, golf courses that have survived are severely hurt financially if they have to purchase water." Slugocki remarked, "There always have been environmental factors that the industry has addressed. One issue that may come into play in California is having Tier-4 equipment. Most equipment rental stores do not have them. That could be a big issue in the near future." As of Jan. 1, 2014, all new machinery of 175-750 horsepower must be Tier-4 final compliant from the factory. California is notoriously 24 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | June 2013 20_Golf_Sector_Feature_KP.indd 24 5/31/13 2:35 PM