References

Want to Reach Out to Clients – Here is a Very Partial List

JJKeegan+ would welcome the opportunity to provide representative samples of our work products.  We believe that they are unparalleled in their depth and breadth in providing meaningful insights.  Presented below is a sample of the firm’s recent clients:

Clemson Ph.D. Dissertation Study

Participants included:  Brooklyn Park, City of Bloomington (Illinois), City of Cedar Rapids, City of Columbus, City of Fort Worth, City of San Antonio, City of Spokane, City of Virginia Beach, Craigowan Oxford Golf and Country Club, Crystal Mountain Resort, Fernie Golf and Country Club, Golf Club at Brown Acres, Kokanee Springs Resort, Mecklenburg County, Northstar Golf Club; Oak Creek Golf Club (Irvine Company), Pine Meadow (Jemsek Family), Plum Creek Golf Course, Play Golf Calgary, Silver Creek, Salt Lake City, Thornberry Creek at Oneida and Mussatto Golf Course at Western Illinois University

Indian Bands 

Oneida Nation:   Mr. Troy Parr, Oneida Architect / Division Director Community & Economic Development Division, office 920.869.4529, PO Box 365, Oneida, WI 54155-0365, tparr@oneidanation.org

Regional Daily Fee & Private Club References

The Prairie Club: Mr. Paul Schock, 109 South Main Street, Valentine, NE 69201, paul@nvpinvestments.com, Strategic
Plan.

The Club at Ravenna: Mr. Kevin Collins, Chairmen of the Board, 1118 Caretaker Road, Littleton, CO 80125, 720.956.1600, kcollins@ravennagolf.com, Strategic Mentoring

Municipal Golf Courses

Alamo City Golf Trail: Andrew Peterson, President & CEO, Golf Association San Antonio, Brackenridge Golf Course, 2315 Avenue B, San Antonio, Texas 78215, Ph (210) 908-5913, andrew@satxgolf.com. Strategic Planning Webinar
Series with Market Analysis and Technology Review.

City of Arlington, TX: Greg Durante, PGA Golf Services Manager. Tierra Verde Golf Club, 7005 Golf Club Drive Arlington, Texas 76001 Ph. 817-548-5041, Greg.Durante@arlingtontx.gov. Market
Rate Analysis for the Texas Rangers Golf Club.

City of Duluth, MN: Mr. Jim Filby-Williams, Director, Department of Public Administration, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802, Ph. 218 730 519, jfwilliams@duluthmn.gov. Strategic Analysis
regarding the economic viability of two golf courses, including financial modeling of 11 strategic options.

City of New Braunfels, TX: Ms. Stacey Laird Dicke, CPRP, Parks and Recreation Director, Parks and Recreation Department, 110 Golf Course Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130, 830-221-4355, sdicke@nbtexas.org. Strategic Analysis including extensive
analysis of organizational structure and third-party
management options.

City of Round Rock, TX: Brian Stillman, Sports Facilities & Operations Manager, City of Round Rock, Texas, 221 East Main Street, Round Rock, TX 78664, Ph. 512-218-6607, bstillman@roundrocktexas.gov. Strategic Analysis and Feasibility Study including evaluation of current management company completed on August 19, 2016.

City of Spokane, WA: Mr. Jason Connelly, Executive O ffi cer, Spokane Parks and Recreation, 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd # 5, Spokane, WA 99201, jkconley@spokanecity.org, (509) 625-6211. Webinar Series Training for Staff completed February 2017.

Mecklenburg Park District, NC: Del Ratcliffe, PGA, President, Ratcliffe Golf Services, Inc., 800 Radio Road, Charlotte, NC 28216, Ph (704) 236-3921, dratcliffe@earthlink.net. Strategic
Analysis.

Oakland County, MI: Thomas Hughes, Chief Park Operations and Maintenance – South District, 2800 Watkins Lake Rd, Waterford, MI 48328, Mobile: 248.343.1011, hughest@oakgov.com, Strategic Analysis, March 2021.

Town of Eagle:  Eagle Ranch Golf Club, CO: Jeff Boyer, PGA, General Manager, P.O. Box 2210, Eagle, CO 81631, (970) 328-2882, ext 3, jboyer@eagleranchgolf.com, Financial
Management Plan, April 2022

Want More….?

Our book, “The Business of Golf – What Are You Thinking? 2016 edition includes attributions and acknowledgments received from industry leaders including Dr. Joseph Beditz, Executive Director, National Golf Foundation, and Mr. Greg Nathan, Senior Business Development Officer, National Golf Foundation who labeled J. J. Keegan as “Golf’s Answer to Money Ball.”

You will find recommendations in the book from outstanding golf course operators, management companies, clients, Directors of Professional Golf Management Programs, leading golf writers, golf software firm firms and other golf industry leaders.

Endorsements

“There are a lot of consultants. Some are pretty arrogant and self-assured that their theories on how to operate a golf course are correct. They presume a golf course operator can translate academic discussions to operational practice easily. Their approach is flawed notwithstanding their lofty corporate images.

What differentiates JJKeegan+ is that, in partnership with you, they apply solid theory developed over the past decade based on field research, deliver hard factual data regarding your facility and present a practical management system based on rules of thumb that will streamline and simplify your operation. They validate what you think is true, stretch your imagination, and encourage you to achieve more.

The result of participating in their Webinar series of nine 1 hour classes is that they create a customized solution to ensure that your facility creates value for your golfers on a foundation that will optimize the financial potential of a golf course.

At Play Golf Calgary, JJKeegan+ confirmed the economic viability of two new courses we are building while identifying the potential hurdles. They were a passionate sound boarding delivering progressive ideas for the brand we are developing, even providing valid suggestions as to the architectural style of the green complexes under construction. We tested their golf profit formula, consisting of 21 templates, which gave us great confidence that we are on the right path while stimulating our team on how to further excel. The worksheet providing insights on what is an appropriate green fee is uncannily accurate that is only possible with a thorough understanding of the golf experience.

Would I recommend JJKeegan+? Depends. If you are an average operator, JJKeegan+ will likely crush you if you don’t have a firm grasp of the fundamentals to absorb their fast paced, emotional presentations. They are like a fire hose with a torrent of amazing information that will drown you if you are not a business professional.

If you are good and seeking to be great, JJKeegan+ is awesome. They love helping you. It is perhaps the best money we have spent on education in the twenty years we have owned golf courses.”

~Scott Atkinson, Play Golf Calgary

“You were too humble in your involvement with CGC. It was a total team effort with you included. I appreciate everything you opened our eyes to at CGC with your assessments. Thanks for hosting the webinar today. I thought it was very well done. I already have the next one booked on my calendar!!!”

~ Graham Cliff, Head Golf Professional, 8000 Preservation Trail, Parker, CO  80134

“Congratulations Jim! This is really quite an accomplishment. You crafted a strategic plan for the City of Ocala and correctly identified every relevant issue. While it took us five years to implement all of the recommendations, you were directly on point from the outset as to the challenges we faced.”

~John Zobler, former Assistant City Manager, City of Ocala, FL

“Your insight during the last few years has been great for us.”

~Chad Hatch, The Prairie Club

“Today was great! Lots of positive feedback from my advisory committee; the Mayor was quoted as saying “some of the best money we have ever spent.” It reaffirmed several of the thoughts we had previously and opened the group’s eyes to several other issues we have yet to address.  This entire experience has been informative, educational, and invaluable to me, and for that I cannot thank you enough.”

~ Jeremy Hawkins, PGA, General Manager/Head Golf Professional, The Meadows Golf Club

“We are coming back strong. Imagine what is going to happen after we complete the course improvement and cart path projects that start in July. Number 9 green at Los Amigos turned out great. It’s been open for several months. Lots of positive feedback on your design enhancements.  I read your book. It is awesome. Just fantastic. Congratulations. I am very happy for you and the phenomenal accomplishment this book represents. You are the man.”

~ Stuart Hayden, Co-Owner, Strato Partners

The following individuals are among many who were kind enough to endorse our professional skills on Linked-In:

Andrew Birnbaum, Business and Funding Analyst at Private Capital Network

Gordon Bunker, Managing Director, Worcester Renewables Ltd

Clayton Cole, PGA, Cherry Hills Country Club

David Gourlay, CCM, GM/COO at Colbert Hills / Golf Generations Inc.

Barry MacLeod, President at Top Line Performance Consulting, Prince Edward Island, Canada

John Strawn, President/CEO at Hills & Forrest

Jan Tellstrom, PGA, Head Golf Professional at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort

Rob Waldron, Senior Vice President, Leisure Investment Properties

Andrew Wood, Legendary Marketing

Mark Woodward, Principal at DaMarCo Golf, LLC, Phoenix