Host Colin Weston speaks with return guest and friend of the show Jay Karen, CEO at The National Golf Course Owners Association to hear his take on how golf courses will navigate the upcoming decades as climate change, technology, entertainment and sustainable practices present new opportunities and challenges for the golf industry.

To watch our extended conversation, go to our ModGolf YouTube video with Jay at: https://youtu.be/INfpvwSLq8U

"It's in the DNA of the citizenry to keep those city golf courses as green spaces and not convert them to urban development. There's a protectionism towards not developing our existing city golf courses to keep them intact. For as many people who say we should shut these down, there are stronger voices that say "no, we should keep them open and here's why it because they are good for our communities".

Jay has been the CEO at The NGCOA National Golf Course Owners Association since 2015. Click on this link or the image below to learn more.

"I would call it The American Dream Story where a family had a golf course for 50 years and they sold it to developer for 10 times more than it's worth as an operating golf course. But the problem is from a supply and demand standpoint is those courses are closing down. So where is the affordable public golf going to be? Municipal golf courses are positioned perfectly to continue to be the place where everybody can play golf because they're near urban population centers".

If you would like to connect with Jay, visit his bio page for contact information. To learn more about the 2025 Golf Business Conference January 20-22 located at The PGA Show in Orlando, click on the image below.

We want to thank our partner inrange® for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!

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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... plus you can WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

We want to thank our friends at Golf Genius Software who have supported The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!

Golf Genius powers tournament management at over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, resorts, golf associations, and tours in over 60 countries. So if you’re a golf professional or course operator who wants to save time, deliver exceptional golfer experiences, and generate more revenue, check them out online at golfgenius.com.

Special Guest: Jay Karen - CEO, The National Golf Course Owners Association.

"I want to see golf as a safer place for women where they truly feel that they are equals in this industry and it's not just a man's game anymore." Clare McMahon - MBA Grad and Golf Teaching Professional

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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

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"I have always preached that we are in the entertainment business and golf just happens to be the plate we serve it up on. That's it. If you don't have that joyful feeling with your staff and make it fun, then they're not going to then ooze fun to your customers. If things go sideways, we know what we're going to do. But the rest of time, let's have some fun, sell some beer, play some golf and bring joy into people. With COVID, golf was a respite for people. We got people back into the game that had left and new golfers in. We're in such a good position right now that the sky's the limit and we need to really start capitalizing on that."

Episode Chapters
[02:20] Lesley opens by describing Balmoral Golf Course in Red Deer Alberta, which her farming family has owned since her grandfather built and opened it in 1963.
[04:30] Clare talks about growing up in a “golf family” and her early days as a junior competitive player.
[06:40] Lesley discusses the number of women in golf industry leadership positions and the work that needs to be done to make it more equitable.
[08:30] Clare describes the unfortunately negative experience she had to endure at the golf course she worked at after graduating from college.
[11:55] Lesley shares the positive outcomes from The NGCOA Canada conference and the conversations around customer and staff engagement.
[16:10] Clare tells us about her next steps as a golf teaching professional and the positive changes the club she works at has made to improve the culture and work environment.
[21:10] Lesley talks about her path to becoming the first female president of NGCOA Canada and the value of organization provides for course owners.
[29:40] Lesley shares the golf startups venture she is developing that helps improve the experience for women golfers and industry workers.
[33:20] Colin talks about company culture and the Simon Senek video shown at the conference that demonstrates the impact of poor leadership on staff members.
[35:45] Lesley talks about how they create a positive, inclusive culture and work environment at Balmoral Golf Course to improve staff engagement.
[28:32] Nick shares how and why Twilight Golf Association became part of Golf Genius Software and the value of this partnership.
[39:45] Both Clare and Lesley share their future vision of where the golf industry needs to evolve in order to be more inclusive and equitable.

You can also connect with Lesley and Clare on their bio pages, along with checking out the Balmoral Golf Course website.

Special Guests: Clare McMahon - MBA graduate and Golf Teaching Professional and Lesley McMahon - Past President at NGCOA Canada / GM at Balmoral Golf Course.

Episode Highlights
• Jay shares his early love affair with golf, along with the purpose and mandate of The NGCOA.
• We learn the history of The NGCOA and how the organization has organically evolved over time.
• The NGCOA's involvement in the creation of Golf 20/20, WE ARE GOLF and National Golf Day, along with help removing golf from the federal government's "Sin List".
• The value of National Golf Day to help educate legislators on the importance of golf as a $84 billion / year industry.
• NGCOA's mandate to plan and stage events such as The Golf Business Golf Tech Con in Las Vegas and The Golf Industry Show.
• How The NGCOA reconciles the complexity of pursuing environmental sustainabilitiy practices with a sound golf operation business model.
• How enabling data-collecting technology helps golf course operators make better maintanence decisions.
• Jay shares how The NGCOA supports adaptive golf to enable more people with disabilities access and enjoy the game.
• Jay's look into the golf crystal ball to tell us what he thinks the game will look like twenty years from now.

Jay Karen and World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona at The 2018 National Golf Day press conference

Special Guest: Jay Karen - CEO, The National Golf Course Owners Association.