Singapore: Adopting an innovative budgeting philosophy will be the theme of Hazeltine National Golf Club General Manager Eric Rule’s presentation in the next webinar in the Asian Golf Industry Federation’s (AGIF) on-going Sustainability Series.

To be held on Thursday, October 15 (10 am Singapore time), Nickels and Dimes is the title of the topic that will be addressed by Rule, who is known for mentoring and tutoring staff during an illustrious career in club management.

“It is a fiscal model where all add-on charges, like lockers, bag storage and range fees, as well as food and beverage fixed costs, are rolled into dues. The cost of food is sold at cost plus 20% and beverages at cost plus 50%,” said Rule, of the subject he will cover in his webinar which will also include time for discussion and questions from participants.

Since moving to Hazeltine National in 2018, Rule has led the Minnesota club in rewriting all governance documents and procedures, hosted the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and begun a new strategic planning process.

One of only two golf clubs in the United States to have hosted every premier championship offered by the USGA and PGA of America, Hazeltine National was the scene of Korean YE Yang’s historic PGA Championship triumph over Tiger Woods in 2009.

The club has been named as the venue for the 2024 US Amateur and the 2029 Ryder Cup, making it the only club in the country selected to host the match play event for a second time in the United States.

Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have a presenter of the calibre of Eric participate in our Sustainability Series.

“Club management professionals interested in improving the fiscal performance at their facility will not want to miss this fascinating presentation.”

Rule previously served the membership of Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York for 27 years. As General Manager, he aggressively and enthusiastically increased standards of service to elevate Oak Hill to the elite level of clubs in the United States as the number one ranked country club in the United States by the readers of Golf World in 2010.

He successfully led the club through the 31st Ryder Cup matches in 1995, the US Amateur in 1998, the 2003 PGA Championship, and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship.

Rule accepted a position with Pacific Links in 2012. He oversaw the construction of a world-class 27-hole course in China along with a 45,000 square foot clubhouse and operations, which were based on the North American model of rules, dues, and operational standards.

Veteran Royal Selangor Golf Club Course Superintendent Jack Cheong teed-off the second AGIF Sustainable Series, addressing the topic: Attaining the Suitable Green Speed for Your Facility, Your Members and Guests. The session was sponsored by The Toro Company

On October 22, turf management returns to the agenda with Thomas Nikolai, Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University. Revered as the ‘Doctor of Green Speed’, Nikolai will discuss The A, B, Cs of Putting Green Maintenance. This session is sponsored by The Toro Company and Syngenta.

The first batch of four webinars in the AGIF Sustainability Series featured presentations from Dr Larry Ross, Professor Emeritus, The Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise, Florida Southern College; Dr Roch Gaussoin, PhD, Professor and Extension Co-ordinator, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Michael Braidwood, General Manager at Qatar’s Education City Golf Club; and Roger Goettsch, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Operations at California’s Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club.

Lynge said: “Targeted at both turf and club management professionals, our webinars feature respected speakers and presenters from around the world, all of whom are experts in their chosen fields.”

In addition to the exchange of information, education/association credits can be gained in Club Management Association of America (CMAA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), PGA of America, PGA of Great Britain and Ireland and PGA of Australia. Attendance will be tracked and a certificate of attendance will be issued, pending attendance for a minimum of one hour on the webinar.

For further details and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Gwen Ng, the AGIF’s Event and Membership Manager, at gwen.ng@agif.asia  

October Schedule of Events

Club Management Series 
October 15 (Thursday): 10 am to 11:30 am (Singapore time)
Topic: Nickels and Dimes
Presenter: Eric Rule, CCM, General Manager, Hazeltine National Golf Club, United States
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PyhnYzW5SHe3KZfhRTbt4A

Turf Management Series  
October 22 (Thursday): 10 am to 11:30 am (Singapore time)
Topic: The A, B, Cs of Putting Green Maintenance
Presenter: Thomas Nikolai, Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uiX05OkkRRmBMAD-N-C2kg