WEST ORANGE, NJ (October 17, 2023) — The Metropolitan Golf Association’s educational series concluded Monday, as club presidents, general managers, professionals and other club leaders gathered for this year’s Presidents’ Council Fall Conference by the Montclair Golf Club. The event welcomes industry professionals to discuss current topics for club leadership, while also serving as an open forum for discussion and opportunity for MGA member club leaders to network and share ideas and experiences.
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MGA President Patrick Donnelly welcomed participants before the morning program began. Joe Trauger, President and CEO of the National Club Association, provided an update on the legal, legislative and regulatory issues facing those in the club industry.
Chris Barron and Ken Butler were on hand to represent Club Benchmarking, with whom the MGA began a collaborative relationship in 2022, providing Club Benchmarking’s monthly strategic dashboard as a free service to MGA clubs that provides access to data in real time. Barron shared important data points collected from clubs in the Met Area and beyond, discussing a range of topics from business planning and Capitol plans to strategic budgeting and effective use of KPIs .
After a brief break, Dan Denehy and Carolyn Kepcher of Denehy Club Thinking Partners explored the composition, roles and functions of a board of directors. The duo had a lively exchange while highlighting the pros and cons of different board compositions and answering questions from attendees throughout the presentation.
After lunch, participants enjoyed an afternoon round at Montclair Golf Club, which will host the United States Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in 2026. Two winners took home prizes: Andy Bulizak won the competition closest to the hole and Kyle Higgins won the Long Drive contest.
The day concluded with an informal dinner and other opportunities for attendees to network and share ideas and thoughts on current trends.
For more information about the Presidents’ Council Fall Conference or to learn more about Club Benchmarking data, please contact MGA Member Services Department.
