Conference Agenda 2027
JW Marriott Austin
April 12th – 14th, 2027
Owner Track sessions sponsored by Lightspeed
Operations Track sessions sponsored by TBA
Technology Track sessions sponsored by foreUP
Full Agenda Coming Soon!
Three days of insights, connections and strategies.
Day 1
Monday, April 12
Kickoff
Day 2
Tuesday, April 13
Main Sessions
Day 3
Wednesday, April 14
Closing Day
DAY 1 – MONDAY, APRIL 12
Registration Opens
Sponsored Text/Note
Registration Desk is located at the top of the elevator on the second floor, near the pre-function space
Check-in begins at 10:00 am. Have your confirmation ready for a smooth check-in experience and get excited for the next three days!
Opening Reception
PREFUNCTION SPACE
New and returning attendees are welcome to the Opening Reception, designed to help first-time participants network, connect with others and ease into the conference in a welcoming atmosphere.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
RISK – VERELST/PERCIVAL/VERNON
The risk manager’s blind spot: Clinical exposures that undermine coverage
A focused look at how clinical exposures can create unseen coverage risks, and what risk managers can do about them.
Moderator: Catherine Jones, CEO, Risk Transitions Healthcare Risk Management Company, LLC
Lisa Turman, Senior Clinical Risk Manager, Grady Health System
Erica Ladler, Risk Manager, Joseph M. Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center
David Ferrainolo, Founder and Attorney, Ferrainolo Allen
CLAIMS/LEGAL – BALLROOM ABC
Bad faith and medical liability: Avoiding large verdict pitfalls
Rising nuclear verdicts have increased scrutiny of settlement decisions in medical malpractice cases. Attorneys and claims leaders examine bad faith exposure, how professional liability differs from other lines, and key legal developments to watch.
Moderator: Daniel Huff, Founding Partner, Huff Powell Bailey, LLC
Joseph Sheahan, National Claims Division Manager, MedPro Group
Tanya Springman, VP, Head of Healthcare Liability Claims, QBE North America
Operations Track
Municipal Golf Reimagined: How Top Operators Are Winning Today
Municipal golf facilities are evolving to meet changing player expectations while balancing accessibility, affordability and financial performance. Hear how leading operators are driving participation, improving operations and creating exceptional experiences that keep golfers coming back.
OPENING KEYNOTE
Hot topics and emerging risks in medical professional liability
BALLROOM ABC
Industry leaders from claims, underwriting and clinical practice examine the key trends reshaping medical professional liability, from social inflation and nuclear verdicts to evolving care models and regulatory change.
Moderator: Graham Billingham, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Chief Medical Officer, MedPro
Tim Zawacki, Principal Research Analyst, S&P Global Market
Brant Poling, Attorney, Poling Law
Paul Greve, Senior Director, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Markel Specialty
Cocktail Party & Networking Party
PREFUNCTION SPACE
Join us for a relaxed evening with tasty cocktails, delicious bites and fantastic networking opportunities. It’s the perfect chance to connect in a social setting and enjoy a fun-filled atmosphere before getting dinner.
DAY 2 – TUESDAY, APRIL 13
Owners & Operators Breakfast Roundtables
By invitation only
Join fellow owners and operators for candid, peer-driven discussions on today’s most pressing business topics, including indoor golf, capital planning and membership strategies.
Breakfast for All Attendees
Sponsored by Addison Law
Join fellow owners and operators for candid, peer-driven discussions on today’s most pressing business topics, including indoor golf, capital planning and membership strategies.
MORNING KEYNOTE
From American Golf to Today: Lessons from Two Industry Builders
Joe Guerra and David Pillsbury began their careers together at American Golf, then the world’s largest management company, during a period that reshaped golf ownership and operations. Decades later, they lead major platforms across ownership, operations and investment. In this candid interview, they’ll share lessons from scaling businesses, navigating cycles and building enduring companies—offering practical insight on leadership, growth and risk in today’s evolving golf landscape.
TRADESHOW
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
Owner Track
Renovation in a Demanding Market
In today’s high-cost environment, golf course renovations require more than vision — they demand strategy, creativity and precision. Award-winning architect Forrest Richardson leads a discussion with a team of experts who’ve successfully navigated the challenges of modern renovation. Find out when the risk pays off and when it doesn’t.
Operations Track
Pricing Strategies Workshop
After years of strong demand and record-setting performance, golf operators are entering a new phase. Economic uncertainty, shifting consumer behavior and increased scrutiny of dynamic pricing are creating both challenges and opportunities. This session will examine the outlook for 2027, discuss strategies for sustaining growth and review legislative efforts that could impact revenue management practices.
Technology Track
Tech’s Evolving Role in Maximizing Play: Operations and yield management
Tech, tech everywhere – and now even more so with AI. This session will explore how operators are using technology to improve the customer experience and operate more efficiently and profitably. It is not just about doing what you are doing today more efficiently, but about reimagining how technology and AI can transform the golf experience and the golf course business model.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
Owner Track
The Architecture of Profit: Business Strategies for Long-Term Success
Great courses aren’t just designed to be beautiful — they’re designed to perform. This session explores how smart development and design decisions translate directly into stronger EBITDA, member satisfaction, and long-term asset value. From reinvestment strategies that future proof your property to the hard economics behind when (and why) upgrades matter, this discussion goes beyond aesthetics to focus on returns.
Operations Track
Trends in Private Club Programming & Amenities
Member expectations continue to evolve, influencing everything from events and wellness offerings to dining, recreation and family-focused experiences. This session will examine the latest trends shaping club programming and amenities, and how leading clubs are using them to enhance engagement, satisfaction and retention.
Technology Track
Big Data: Driving golf course profitability
An inside look at the key business matrices and numbers that drive golf course profitability. This panel will examine the stats and figures that can help optimize your business. Learn what to measure, how to interpret, and how you can use these data points to assist decision making for long term golf course profitability.
Lunch Break
Golf Inc. Networking & Awards Luncheon
Celebrate the best in golf ownership, operations and development during this special awards luncheon. Golf Inc. will honor the winners of Clubhouse of the Year, Renovation of the Year, the Golden Fork Awards, the Hilda Allen Award for Women in Leadership and other distinguished recognitions. Gather with industry peers for lunch and a brief awards presentation recognizing the year’s most notable achievements.
Owners & Operators Roundtable Luncheon
By invitation only
This exclusive luncheon brings together owners and operators for open discussions on the issues impacting their businesses. Share experiences, exchange ideas and gain insights from industry peers at tables focused on development, technology and operational challenges.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
Owner Track
Buy/Sell Part 1:
Golf Course Valuation: How Every Player Defines Value
Deals stall when stakeholders do not agree on value. This session shows owners how buyers, sellers, appraisers, brokers, and lenders each value your course — and how to negotiate from strength no matter which side of the table you are on.
Perspectives from the Pros:
Operations Track
Best practices in golf course operations
From staffing and technology to maintenance and customer service, successful operations require a thoughtful balance of efficiency and experience. This session will highlight proven strategies and practical solutions that help facilities improve performance, control costs and deliver exceptional golf experiences.
Technology Track
Course of the Future: How automation, AI and other advancements are transforming operations
What will golf course operations look like in three to five years? Technology is changing the business in ways never imagined. This session will discuss the future and what operators should invest in now.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
Owner Track
Buy/Sell Part 2:
The Golf Course Transaction Playbook for 2026
The deal looks simple. It never is. This session pulls back the curtain on the entire golf course transaction process — and the landmines hiding in each one. From pre‑listing strategy to post‑close value creation, this is a practical, no‑nonsense guide to avoiding mistakes, protecting leverage, and maximizing outcomes.
The Transaction Process:
- Pre Listing Strategy & Timing – Preparing the asset and the story
- Listing & Marketing – Targeting the right buyers, not just more buyers
- LOIs & Negotiation – Structuring terms that survive diligence
- Due Diligence – Common traps, red flags, and deal killers
- Financing Realities – What lenders will (and won’t) do in 2026
- Closing & Post Close – Immediate levers to create value after the sale
Operations Track
Innovative programming to increase member participation and loyalty
The most successful clubs are creating experiences that keep members engaged long after their round is over. Learn how leading facilities are using creative events, leagues, social activities and member-focused programming to boost participation, strengthen connections and build lasting loyalty.
Technology Track
Marketing 2030: How AI will reshape golfer acquisition, retention and loyalty
By 2030, the courses winning the battle for rounds won’t be the ones sending the most emails — they’ll be the ones whose data actually works for them. This panel explores how AI is transforming the golfer lifecycle: predictive models that flag at-risk members and lapsing players before they churn, agentic workflows that personalize offers using tee sheet, POS, and email data, and dynamic strategies that fill shoulder times without eroding rate integrity. We’ll separate near-term reality from hype and map what operators should be building toward today.
CEO KEYNOTE
State of the Golf Industry
Sponsored by TenFore
The golf industry’s surge in participation has created enormous opportunity — but also new complexity. In this CEO keynote, the industry’s most respected leaders offer a candid, behind the scenes look at how top operators and owners are evolving their strategies to capture growth, protect margins, and position their businesses for what comes next. This forward looking session will explore how successful organizations are capitalizing on sustained demand, navigating rising costs and labor pressures, and making smart decisions amid an uncertain macro environment. Panelists will also share what they are seeing across their portfolios—and what they expect in the year ahead.
The 19th Hole Reception
Sponsored by Thompson Golf Group
Wrap up the day with cocktails, appetizers and conversation alongside fellow Summit attendees. Whether you’re continuing a discussion from a session or simply relaxing after a full day of learning, this casual reception offers the perfect setting to unwind and enjoy the company of industry peers.
DAY 3 – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Owners & Operators Breakfast Roundtables
By invitation only
Join fellow owners and operators for candid, peer-driven discussions on today’s most pressing business topics, including indoor golf, capital planning and membership strategies.
Breakfast for All Attendees
Join fellow owners and operators for candid, peer-driven discussions on today’s most pressing business topics, including indoor golf, capital planning and membership strategies.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
What the Golf Consumer Will Want by 2027
Sponsored by Cover the Tees
Start the quarter with clarity and confidence. Drawing on exclusive NGF data and insights from top voices in golf, this session breaks down how the golf consumer is changing—and where the biggest opportunities will emerge over the next three years.
TRADESHOW
BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Choose one track
Track
The Women’s Market: Turning Participation into Long-Term Growth
Women are playing golf in record numbers and increasingly shaping purchasing and membership decisions at clubs and facilities nationwide. This session, led by Elisa Gaudet, founder of Women’s Day Golf, will examine how owners and operators can better connect with this growing audience through thoughtful programming, facility design, communications and member experiences. Panelists will share practical strategies and real-world examples for attracting new female golfers, increasing participation and creating lasting relationships that benefit the entire operation.
Operations Track
How to Build a Community based Culture at Public Golf Facilities
Creating a loyal customer base starts with building a culture that keeps golfers coming back. Learn how leading public facilities are using events, communication, customer service and community outreach to strengthen engagement, encourage repeat visits and support long-term growth.
Technology Track
The Practical AI Playbook: Where to start, what to fix and how to see ROI fast
Most golf operations don’t have an AI problem — they have a data problem. This panel skips the buzzwords and gets tactical: how to get your tee sheet, POS, and customer data clean and connected, which fixes to prioritize first, and which AI use cases deliver measurable ROI in months, not years. Panelists will share real implementations from real facilities, including what they cost, where they stumbled, and what they’d do differently. You’ll leave with a practical starting checklist, whatever your budget or tech stack.
Women’s Roundtable Luncheon
Invite only
FEATURED KEYNOTES
INDUSTRY KEYNOTE
State of the Industry
Tuesday, Sept 29 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Jim Hinckley
Founder & CEO
Century Golf Partners
OPENING SESSION
Expanding the Game’s Footprint
Tuesday, Sept 29 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Jay Karen
CEO
NGCOA
CLOSING KEYNOTE
The 2027 Golf Consumer
Thursday, Oct 1 | 9:00 – 10.15 am
Greg Nathan
President & CEO
National Golf Foundation
Location


