Food For Thought

My wife Betsy and I spent the first half of September on the East Coast helping with some family business, so the 2nd most important family member (our dog Beckett, who ranks just below Betsy and just above me in the family pecking order) needed some accommodations for a few weeks. When I glanced at the receipt that they gave us when we picked Beckett up, I got a good chuckle… Betsy had chosen the accommodations that the kennel referred to as “Selectively Sociable”.  It is a perfect description of Becket… she is frequently friendly and playful but there are social situations… most noticeably when another dog gets a nose …

Is the 2020 boom in golf demand a temporary phenomenon or can we build on it?

The new Doubles Golf format gives Joe and Josie Golfer a chance to go low… try it, you’ll like it.

The paper scorecard should go the way of the rotary dial phone… the paper airline ticket… the horse and carriage… the typewriter.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any weirder, they have!

Who’s better off? Golfers in Minnesota or Wisconsin? It’s yet another close sports battle between these two proud neighbors.

The Apparation team has thought long and hard re how we can help course operators cope with COVID-19. Unlike the U.S. Government, we can’t print money, but we do have some unique assets to contribute.  

Here were the 3 biggest takeaways the Apparation team took out of Orlando this year… what did you learn?

Several months ago I wrote to you about the rumors that GolfNow, the largest golf course management software company, was in negotiations to buy #2 (EZLinks). This week the other shoe dropped… NBC Sports (parent of GolfNow) announced that they have acquired EZLinks. What does this mean for course operators? #1 – My sources are pretty good… if I tell you in the future that I’m hearing rumblings about a significant change… don’t doubt me. #2 – Don’t worry… the GolfNow/EZLinks combination will not result in a monopoly in the golf course management software market.  Click here to read the analysis of the situation we wrote in June (“Monopolies Suck… and Then They …

Have you noticed the game of SurveyMania that consumer services companies are engaged in these days? Every time I take an airline flight, I get an email survey asking me to rate the experience.  The same is true for hotel stays, car rentals, automobile repair/service visits, doctor and dentist appointments, etc.  EVERY TIME. Many call centers employ the same strategy, trying to get me to stay on the line to answer a few questions after a call to make a reservation or get an answer to a question. I’m receiving the surveys from both giant companies (e.g., Delta Airlines) and small ones (my local car dealer).  I thought it …