NTPGA Annual Meeting and Education Seminar

Today the Four Seasons Resort and Club hosted the Northern Texas PGA Annual Meeting.  The morning was reserved for education and the afternoon for PGA business.
We had 3 entirely different presentations for our education.  The first hour was a marketing company called  Retail Tribe.  They had some very good software applications for golf clubs.  They also presented some good info on how to effective market yourself and club.  The takeaway I got from them was:
1.  Your members and students want to hear about your expertise in all areas of golf.
2.  Spend more time making your positive results known.
3.  Let them read more about the impact of your relationships.

The second hour was a presentation from Callaway Golf.  Jeff Hall and  re-owned wedge designer Roger Cleveland discussed the new groove issue.  They gave a very good recap of what's ahead of us in understanding the rule change as well as a time line for when the different levels of player must conform.  Some good takeaways were:
1.  The CC on the new conforming wedges stands for Condition of Competition.
2.  There's three elements to the groove change.  The volume of the groove (how wide and deep), the sharpness of the groove edges and the spacing of the grooves.
3.  The clubs that are effected are ones of 25 degrees of loft and more.
4.  This one is still a very 'sticky' one with equipment companies.  December 31, 2010 is the last day that wedges that don't conform can be manufactured and shipped from the manufacturer.  Stay tuned on this one as you might see some legal action take place as the year goes on.

The last hour was a presentation by Dr. Rick Rigsby.  Dr. Rigsby is an Afro American male that recently weighed as much as 400 pounds.  He's down to 310 lbs and continues to work at it.  He's also a preacher that gives seminars to Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, and is a featured speaker over 200 times a year.  Let me just tell you, the man can speak!  Maybe the most empowered hour I've ever spent listening to someone.  Here's some of his gems.
1.  Good enough isn't good enough if it can be better.  Better isn't good enough if it can be Best!
2.  He spoke about making an impact in whatever you do.
3.  Discipline is the cornerstone to habit.  The better you discipline yourself the quicker you form a good habit.  Makes great sense in regards teaching the golf swing.
4.  When you do a job, do it right.  Don't just do it.

His book 'Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout' is a must read and I haven't even read it yet.  Google his name and check him out.

So the day of education was fantastic!  Always good to learn more about your craft and how to be better at what you love to do.