The following was sent to members of the Donald Ross Society by Executive Director Michael Fay, pictured on the right. The Ross Society is celebrating its 20th year in 2009. As noted in the Fay letter, the group of Ross enthusiasts from across the country will visit Northland Country Club in August. Fay provides several links within his letter to Ross Society information.
It would be disingenuous to declare 2008 a very good year. Although a half dozen or so restoration projects have been completed at Ross courses, the overall state of the Ross portfolio of country clubs is shaky. The economic scenario has hurt clubs throughout the country. Many clubs have lost significant numbers of members and the prospect of replacing them is much more difficult than in the past. The pool of prospective members has shrunk creating a dramatic situation wherein many clubs have to scramble to reassess their finances to preserve what they have.
Restoration costs money and there is little to put forward for improvements. Preservation has become the byword. It is a time when the average country club has to take a very close look at their finances. Examination of budgets, especially food and beverage, is imperative. Food and beverage is frankly a large money loser for most clubs. Internal accounting has for many years hidden this shortcoming. Today, faced with contracting membership, less expendable income among the members and increasing costs in nearly every area, a club must start to make difficult choices to survive. When assessing the actual numbers at a club it is best to take a fresh look at the numbers. The first and foremost item is the realization that every club has three categories of employees, those who work on the green crew, those who operate the golf operation and the rest are all attributable to the food and beverage sector. Perhaps the realization that a white tablecloth restaurant serving dinner five or six nights a week with a clientele potential of 300 people is unrealistic will dawn on the leaders of the clubs. Face it, a club that will serve the membership at all times is something we all desire. The problem is that most clubs cannot afford this level of service. Decisions to curtail certain services are difficult and often painful. Those elected or appointed to make these decisions have the responsibility to make these painful choices to guarantee the survival of the clubs.
Making your club more attractive to prospective members is still important. A good deal of improvements can be carried out internally. For tips on this approach I recommend that you read the “Restoration Guidelines” and review the Master Plan of the Teugega Country Club found on www.donaldross.org . Improving your product is essential; spending fortunes to accomplish this is unrealistic. Concentrating on green re-expansion, tree removal and mowing patterns does not cost a lot but can dramatically improve the average Ross designed course.
Meanwhile, 2008 was not a bad year for the Donald Ross Society and the portfolio of courses. Many Ross designed courses hosted national and regional events as well as a few PGA Tour events. The Wyndham Championship, the old Greater Greensboro Classic, was moved back to Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro was voted the “most improved” event at the fall PGA gathering. The Ross Society, represented by former Ross Society President and Captain Michael Fay assisted Kris Spence in restoring this old masterpiece. Apparently, our work paid off.
Speaking of Tour Events, Outing Chairman Derek Dobbs (Pictured in the hat on the right in the photo along with Ross Society President Gerry Stratford) has arranged a very exciting Ross road trip in Georgia in March of 2009. 
This will include the historical Roosevelt Memorial course (Ross 1926), The Highland Country Club in LaGrange and will be anchored by a one day outing at East Lake on Atlanta. East Lake hosted the Tour Championship in 2008 and was the home course for Bobby Jones. East Lake was bought by Ross Society Member Tom Cousins in the early 90’s and restored ably by Rees Jones. It is the centerpiece of a neighborhood revitalization which has greatly improved the lot of all those living in near proximity. All of this aside, take it from your Captain that East Lake is one of the great golf experiences in America. Invitations will be soon forthcoming.
We are also looking forward to our Annual Meeting in San Mateo at the Peninsula Country Club, home course of Ross President Gerry Stratford, in May. In September, Mr. Dobbs is polishing the details for a wonderful trip to Minnesota, which will include Northland Country Club in Duluth and a couple of exceptional Ross designs in Minneapolis.
I encourage all our members to try to make one or more of these outings. The costs are reasonable, the company is superb and the experience is one that all will remember.
I also suggest that you visit our new website www.donaldross.org . The new software allows us to offer more and better organized material that could be helpful to you and your club as we go forward.
2009 is the 20th anniversary of the Donald Ross Society and if you visit our online pro shop at www.donaldross.org you can find numerous fairly priced, high quality golf apparel items with the Anniversary logo.
It is hard to believe that we have been around for 20 years. We have come a long way in that time. We have been instrumental in over 100 Ross restorations and have significantly raised the collective consciousness among golfers of the contributions made by our namesake. Let us hope that we will continue to succeed in our efforts.
Northland Country Club's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Marti Buscaglia has joined the Board. Buscaglia will attend her first board meeting in February.
