Save the date: Nor'easter Ski Day Jan. 17

In 1993, members of the Vermont GCSA and the Northeastern GCSA began a friendly rivalry to be held on the slopes of Vermont’s ski areas each year. The annual event includes a competitive ski race option for those who would like to participate. Fitting enough for these two groups, the winner of the ski race receives the Cup Cutter trophy (and yes, the joint meeting in June on the golf course awards the ski Boot Award).

Last year for the first time, members of both associations decided to open up the event to all the golf course superintendent associations throughout the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. The turnout was fantastic for the reinvented event, as over 100 members from all over the Northeast made the trek to Killington for the day’s festivities.

After a great day on the slopes, attendees were treated to an outstanding Après Ski party at the Wobbly Barn on the Killington access road. Killington was very gracious in hosting the group by providing affordable pricing on lodging and highly discounted lift tickets not only for the day, but through the weekend as well.

The Nor’easter Ski Day 2013 also served as a fundraising event for fellow superintendent Matt Dutremble of Ardsley CC. Matt was seriously injured after Hurricane Sandy while cleaning up storm-damaged trees on his golf course. This year's event will benefit a superintendent in need as well.

This event is quickly becoming a must attend for ski enthusiasts of any level. I can attest to that personally. I don't ski, and I would not consider missing it! It will be a fun day and is guaranteed to be well attended. Will you be there? Be sure to save the date and look for details as they become available.

Add your name to the comments, and let your industry peers know that they will see you at Killington on Jan. 17!

Value in the strangest places

How do we deliver value to our sponsors? That is a long-standing question for many chapters and sponsors alike.

This year's host of the Ontario GSA McClumpha Memorial event, GCSAA Class A member Mark Prieur, came up with a new answer to this question. Reflecting on the tee sign conundrum - not everyone plays from the same tee (seniors and ladies play forward) - Prieur noted that one thing about the golf round remains the same: Everyone finishes at the cup. He added value for event sponsors with just a few dollars, and his answer was simple: stickers. 

Prieur printed sponsor logos on clear mailing labels and placed those labels inside the cups. Done! The concept is simple, but the result was clear and effective. It looked great and caught my attention immediately. Several people asked about the process, thus indicating the value was recognizable. The cost for promoting two sponsors is equal to the price of 36 labels. Add putting green cups to that if you like, and the staggering cost might escalate by another dollar. Prieur has used this technique for many events at Trafalgar, and it is always well received. There is only one downside: The labels don't hold up well on rainy days.

Feel free to try this at your facility as well. When you do, be sure to credit our colleague Mark Prieur!

If you have any other creative ways to add value to sponsors at your events or facilities, please add your comments to the blog.