SLRG’s Jon Last and David Klein dive into the latest vital signs from new golf industry research that unpacks what lies ahead in 2026 and the underlying trends and attitudes behind them.
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First Call
Driver$: ‘Shark Tank’ for the golf industry
Guest: Kris Hart, PGA of America senior director of growth and ventures. Description: Hart joins Sports & Leisure Research Group’s Jon Last and David Klein for a candid conversation about innovation in the golf industry and how the PGA of America strategically identifies those ideas that can become “diamonds in the rough.” Talking Points: ▪️ How Kris Hart’s entrepreneurial […]
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Consumer Trends Sports Marketers Should Jump On In 2026
We all remember learning about marketing’s “four Ps.” Looking at recent research with sports fans, I found four significant themes for sports marketers looking to hit the ground running in the year ahead. I call them “the four Es”: Emotional connection: Is it just me, or does it seem like every article, sales pitch or […]
Read More » Driver$: How technology is transforming course ownership, operations
Guest: Whitey O’Malley, owner of Saddleback Golf Club and incoming president of the National Golf Course Owners’ Association. Description: O’Malley joins host Jon Last for a wide-ranging discussion about how golf facilities are leveraging technology to create operational efficiencies while maintaining exceptional customer service. Talking Points: ▪️ Finding the right balance between frictionless service delivery and high touch. […]
Read More » Driver$: Restoring a classic golf resort to greatness
Guests: Casa de Campo Resort and Villas’ Gilles Gagnon, golf director emeritus, and Jason Kycek, director of sales and chief marketing officer. Description: For 50 years, Casa de Campo Resort and Villas in La Romana, Dominican Republic, has been an innovative resort that continues to break new ground in the Caribbean. Gagnon and Kycek unpack the impetus […]
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