EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Wood Interviews, Big Time Golf Management CEO, Ross “The Boss” Jenkins

Andrew: Hi, Ross thanks for taking the time to speak with us.?

Ross:?Yes, it’s not easy fitting you in between my frequent interviews with Golf INC, Golf Biz, NGF, my board duties, and my celebrity charities, but you are welcome.

Andrew: Ross, you came under some criticism recently when one of your company’s city courses renewed your-long term management contract despite the fact your company lost over 10 million dollars during your previous engagement.

Ross: Andrew, that was really quite unfair. Almost all of our KPIs were up over the last couple of years, which, as you know, has been a very difficult time for the industry. All you have to do is look at the media to see how bad the golf industry is doing. In fact, I am quoted as saying how bad the golf industry is doing in many articles.

Andrew: Yes, I understand, but you lost 10 million dollars of the city’s money, Ross? And the rest of the golf industry is booming with the covid bounce.?

Ross: Yes, but ask yourself how much the city would have lost without our help!

Andrew: Surely profit is one of your KPIs?

Ross: Err …..actually no. It’s a city-owned course. They are not really interested in making a profit.

Andrew: I see, so what type of performance indicators are we talking about, then?

Ross: Oh, you know, our brand recognition, impressions on our Facebook page, five-star ratings on Trip Advisor, we had over 30 last year!?

Andrew: How does the city feel about multi-million dollar losses?

Ross: Part of our new deal includes a performance clause. We have guaranteed the city at least a $50,000 a year improvement year over year.

Andrew: I see 50k, and how do you plan on doing that since you haven’t managed to do it once in the last decade?

Ross: We are not going to buy fertilizer this year. The course is in great shape, and it can easily make it through the year with sunlight and a little water!

Andrew: I see and do you have any other initiatives that might make the city’s voters happier?

Ross: Yes, we know how important it is for a city-owned course to keep the locals happy, and with the contract renewal coming up, we announced a reduction in the annual fee for locals of 20%!

Andrew: Yes, I am sure that will be a popular move, Ross, but won’t that impact profitability even more?

Ross: Andrew, you are not listening to me. You keep focusing on profitability. “IT’S A CITY-OWNED COURSE!”?Anyway, the city has agreed to put the green fees up by 40% for non-locals, which ought to balance things out.

Andrew: How many “Non-local rounds” did you do last year? Compared to local rounds.

Ross: I forget the actual numbers, but I think something like 34,000 to 2,000

Andrew: Ok, well, the math doesn’t work then.?

Ross: There you go again. It’s not all about money, Andrew. Just look at the goodwill we have generated for the city. The awards the course has won. The publicity we have generated, surely a marketing guy like you can see how valuable that is??

Andrew: All good stuff Ross but the 10 Million-dollar loss keeps sticking in my head!?

Ross: Andrew, if they wanted to make money, they would have hired Legendary Marketing, not a big bloated management company like ours. Anyway, you have simply no idea how much trouble it causes at a city course when they make a profit. We did it once about 15 years ago terrible mistake, everyone on the council fighting over how to spend the money!?=

Andrew: But Ross, 10 million dollars?

Ross: Get over it, Andrew. The city has already given us a new ten-year contract, and we upped our fee by 10% ??

Andrew: Yes, congratulations, Ross err….keep up the good work…..!