Adam Ellis

As the golf industry continues to experience record participation, our leadership team gathered to strategize for success in the coming year. Could we aim for more rounds of golf? Absolutely. Could we host more Food and Beverage events? Without a doubt. However, we recognized that none of this would be possible without a strong, unified team, where success is shared across all levels of the Willows. In an attempt to go against the traditional, this year, I took the approach that our leadership team works for our frontline staff. Our role as leaders was to ensure that our team could handle 99% of the challenges they encountered, making on-the-spot decisions based on the training and support that our leadership team provided. This began well before the golf season started. I challenged our leadership team to create comprehensive training guides for each department, ensuring that our frontline staff knew what was expected of them, and just as importantly, what they could expect from us. We created a culture where the voices of our frontline team were first, and almost immediately, we saw a shift in attitude—one driven by the support and encouragement from our leadership team. And the ongoing support wasn’t just operational. We regularly checked in with our frontline staff, not only as team members but as individuals, ensuring they enjoyed working at the Willows, felt empowered in their roles, and knew they had our support. Over time, I saw our leadership team evolve. They listened to their team, and while not every suggestion was implemented, the feedback that was actioned had a noticeable impact. Was this approach perfect? Did it solve every problem overnight? Of course not—and I didn’t expect it to. What I didn’t anticipate, however, was how quickly this approach transformed our team culture. It fostered a spirit of support not just from leadership to staff, but among the entire team. I share this not to boast, but to emphasize that when you build a culture your team genuinely wants to be part of, success becomes much more attainable. This was the first year of this approach, and I’m already excited to see what we can achieve in the future with what we’ve learned.

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Buffalo Soldiers partners with BathXpertz for creative, social, and digital media to boost brand presence and growth. read more: https://lnkd.in/dDmU3bWq Gaurav Jain | Prateek Dash | Apoorva Raj Singh | Ananya Dalmia #partnership #marketing #mediamandate #advertising #adtechtoday

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Best of JohnWallStreet: Sports Properties Using Premium Add Ons to Plug Experiential, Revenue Leakage Sports fans will pay up to attend ‘must-see’ events and ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences (see: UFC’s $22mm gate at Sphere). In fact, they’re 1.3x more likely to spend on hobbies, luxury goods, and experiences than non-sports fans. The problem volume sports properties and most other rights owners have though is few of their games qualify as either–even if the fan has a premium seat. It’s simply too easy to catch the next one, and the overall experience often isn’t great regardless of where one sits (think: traffic, lines). Rights owners can’t solve for every pain point that fans encounter on their way to the stadium, during their time there, and on the return trip home. But an increasing number are coming to realize that they are allowing others to dictate the fan’s experience with their product by failing to take ownership of as much of the outing as possible. That “is not the optimal strategy,” Flavil Hampsten (president of property sales, Elevate) said. Elevate acquired Zinc Agency, an event solutions company, in August and subsequently introduced Elevate Experiences to help sports properties concerned about the experiential and revenue leakage that exists try to plug it. The company offers a menu of premium experiential add-ons that fans and corporate clientele can bolt onto ticket packages. The goal is to ‘elevate’ an otherwise routine night at the ballpark into a memorable experience. #sports #sportsbiz #experiences #revenue #strategy #premium https://lnkd.in/evTwBpiY

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Golf - The Evolving Business Model. The men's professional game of #golf continues to be as divided as many of the stakeholders in the US political arena. We saw it yet again this past weekend, when one of the games showcase events "The Masters" was played at Augusta in Georgia, USA. Broadcasters seemingly, and incredibly unprofessionally, went out of their way to discredit the presence of the #LIVGolf league players who were in attendance along with their #PGATour colleagues over the course of the week. All of the sly and sarcastic interludes throughout the broadcast did not get lost on the fans of the game, as the internet lit up as if it were some kind of heated debate between passionate #Democrats and #Republicans. #PGA pundits making sly remarks about the LIV players not being able to manage playing 72 holes over the week, because the rival LIV tournaments are played over 54 holes over three days. This got me thinking. Who actually invented the concept of 18 holes for a round of golf, and how did 72 holes become the 'norm" for a golf tournament? Well you might be surprised to learn that at the traditional home of golf, St Andrews in #Scotland, the course originally consisted of 22 holes. 11 holes out, and 11 holes back in. This was later shortened when holes were merged together. Yet back then there was no standard, some tournaments even featured courses that had just 12 holes. It's when we jump back over the Atlantic once again to understand that The Masters tournament was originally played over eighteen holes over three days, eighteen holes were played each day for the first two days, and then a final 36 holes were played on the third day. Co-founder of 'The Masters" , Amateur golfer Bobby Jones suggested that the tournament should be played over four days so more tickets could be sold, and other events could be built around the week, so it was born, the concept, and norm that a golf tournament was to be played over eighteen holes over the course of four straight days. Other major tournaments followed suit such as 'The Open' and the 'PGA Championships'. In June 2021 the disruptors came into the game, the LIV Golf league. LIV introduced three day and fifty four hole tournaments. Ever since then the internal flames on mens professional golf has become an out of control wildfire. Players, fans and administrators are all embroiled in a never ending circus that started in 2021, over 250 years after the game was invented. The question is, when will the adults enter the room and realize that for mens professional golf to prosper the ego's need to be put aside so that the sustainable future of the game can be created which for now, is the only thing that matters. The only thing that matters.

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Lots of great insight on all things in the performance field in this conversation.

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The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has shared key rule changes for the upcoming year, with several focusing on uniforms and apparel regulations across different sports. Here are some highlights for team dealers, coaches, and sports retailers: 🔹 Little League Baseball & Softball: *Catchers’ gear gets tech-savvy with approved one-way communication devices for pitch calls. *Uniform guidelines emphasize contrast—pitchers' undershirts can't match the ball's color in softball, and pitchers in baseball can wear solid neoprene sleeves (no white or gray). *Jewelry rules are relaxed, permitting players to wear it unless medically unsafe. *Helmet stickers are allowed as long as they remain appropriate and non-excessive. 🔹 Dixie Softball: *Faceguards are required on pressurized helmets, ensuring both safety and compliance. 🔹 USA Lacrosse: *By 2027, jerseys must feature numbers that clearly contrast with the jersey's body color for better visibility. 🔹 General Trend: Across sports, there’s an emphasis on player safety, clarity, and individuality, allowing for modernizations like tech in helmets and more flexible rules for personal expression (e.g., jewelry and decals). Uniform updates like these can impact how teams prepare for the season. Whether you're a coach, player, or supplier, staying ahead of these changes is essential! 💬 What do you think of these updates? Share your thoughts below!

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I spoke to Scott Warfield about how the PGA TOUR continues to grow and evolve its sports betting offerings to fans as it enters Phase 2 of the sports betting era in the U.S. Check out my story in the August issue of Essential Golf. #golf #pgatour #sportsbetting #igaming #betting #sportsbusiness

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🚨Announcement: Bettinardi Golf, the leader in precision-milled putters, premium golf equipment, and accessories, proudly announces a groundbreaking licensing agreement with the National Football League (NFL). This multi-year collaboration will introduce officially licensed NFL-branded Bettinardi putters and accessories, blending world-class craftsmanship with NFL fandom*. . 📢 Press Release: https://lnkd.in/gR_KgV2x . When Bettinardi and the NFL join forces, they forge an inspiring community where artistry and sportsmanship collide. Together, they empower you to aim higher, dream bigger, and tackle every challenge with unyielding enthusiasm. . . . #NFL, #NFLFootball, #NFLxBettinardi, #BettinardiGolf, #GolfAndGridiron, #TeamPride, #PrecisionCrafted, #BettinardiHive, #MadeInTheUSA

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The latest research from The Exhibitor Advocate and EVOLIO Marketing  paints a sobering picture of the current state of the event industry. The report, The State of the Event Industry: From the Perspective of Exhibit and Event Marketers, highlights critical challenges facing exhibitors, organizers, and service suppliers. Rising costs and strained exhibitor-organizer relationships threaten revenue and the long-term sustainability of the industry, according to the research. Jessica Sibila, CMP, CTSM, executive director of The Exhibitor Advocate, warned, “The math simply doesn’t work anymore. Show organizers who take the lead in negotiating fair costs and transparent pricing models will gain a competitive edge.” Joe Federbush, President of EVOLIO Marketing, underscored the need for collaboration: “This is an opportunity to enhance event value, strengthen exhibitor relationships, and secure revenue growth.” TSNN's Danica Tormohlen dives into the data to provide key takeaways: https://lnkd.in/g6YhmcYM

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Where's The MONEY To Be Made At WNO 25? | The FloGrappling Show (Ep 11) This week we dive into the betting odds for WNO 25 and try to figure out where there might be a little bit of money to be made!https://lnkd.in/g8VFtxqY

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Las Vegas is well-known for its leisure brand, but wanted to enhance its reputation with B2B audiences. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority - LVCVA worked with Heart+Mind to conduct research resulting in a new ad campaign blending leisure + business in Las Vegas. Read the case study here: https://hubs.la/Q02yVgv60 #lasvegasmeansbusiness #brandstrategy

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Golf and talk about this:

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Leveraging the power of machine learning, we transform data into predictive insights for accurate sports forecasting.

Total Player Value continues to see social audience, engagement and brand return growing. This chart shows the current reach of athletes and official accounts by conference. Commercial and philanthropic opportunities for athletes to use their platforms are growing across the board, particularly in athletic departments and teams that provide education and facilitate opportunities. As the market continues to mature, both opportunities and the importance of a strong, long-term strategy will show results.

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Want to break 100 in golf? Master the chip shot! This essential skill can turn bogeys into pars and boost your confidence. Check out our blog for tips and techniques to improve your chipping and start lowering your scores today! https://lnkd.in/eHvGp5yU

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As you plan your event, you strive to cover every detail, yet some things might inevitably slip your mind. Read our latest blog to see a list of frequently overlooked yet crucial items to remember for your next activation! 🎉 https://bit.ly/3QzRwjj • • • #Marketing #Blog #Agency #Marketing #NYC #BrandAwareness #Advertising #EEqualsMC

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More details on the creation of KSP from Ben Fischer

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