If you’ve spent five minutes in a pro shop or maintenance shed lately, you know the biggest hazard in golf right now isn’t a deep bunker—it’s the labor market. Finding, training, and actually keeping great staff has become the #1 stressor for Ohio course owners.
That is exactly why the OGCOA is bringing James Cronk to Mansfield on Monday, March 2nd.
Who is James Cronk? (And why should you care?)
James isn’t just a speaker; he’s a former golf pro and club manager who has been in the trenches for 30 years. He doesn’t just talk about “service”—he builds legendary cultures.
Under his leadership, his facility was recognized by Golf Digest as having the 5th Best Customer Service in North America. He’s also been named one of the “Top 20 Most Influential People in Golf in Canada.”
From Canada to Ohio: The “People Problem” is Universal
You might not have met James at a local outing yet, but the world’s biggest golf organizations have him on speed dial. He has headlined the NGCOA Canada National Conference 18 times and has been a featured expert at the CMAA World Conference and the Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
We specifically asked James to host this pre-conference workshop because his company, Cronk Group, and his platform, Golf Industry Guru, are the gold standard for “The People Business.”
What Happens in the Workshop? (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Attendees are invited to a complimentary cocktail hour immediately following
This isn’t a 4-hour lecture. James is coming solo to lead a high-energy, interactive deep dive. You’ll walk away with:
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The Guru Toolbox: Proven systems to streamline your operations.
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The “Top 10 Employer” Blueprint: How to make your course the place everyone wants to work.
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Digital Efficiency: Strategies to move away from paper-traps and into modern, time-saving training.
Secure Your Spot
At just **$75 for OGCOA members** ($100 for non-members), this is a rare opportunity to get direct access to a high-level international consultant for the price of a round of golf.
Register for the Workshop Here
More About James
James Cronk isn’t just a consultant who speaks from a podium; he is a former golf professional and club manager with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the trenches of the service industry. His track record for excellence is backed by some of the highest honors in the business. Organizations under his leadership have been recognized as “Top Ten Employers” in British Columbia three separate times, and Golf Digest ranked his facility’s customer service as the 5th best in all of North America. Locally and internationally, he has been named one of the “Top 40 Business Persons Under 40” and one of the “Top 20 Most Influential People in Golf in Canada.”
As a sought-after speaker, James has headlined major industry events across the globe. He has presented at the NGCOA Canada National Conference 18 times, the Asia Pacific Golf Summit 6 times, and has been a featured expert at the CMAA World Conference and the European Golf Business Conference. His expertise is so well-regarded that he was recently the keynote speaker at the Australian Club Managers Conference. Whether he is speaking in Portugal, India, Spain, or Australia, James focuses on the “Universal Truths” of hospitality—the idea that the principles of human nature and staff motivation are the same whether you are in Vancouver or Ohio.
Beyond his speaking and consulting through the Cronk Group, James is a pioneer in golf industry technology and education. In 2021, he co-founded Golf Industry Guru (GIG), a global online training platform designed to provide course owners with 24/7 access to tools, templates, and videos from the world’s leading hospitality experts. He also helps clubs modernize through the Guru Collective, which offers digital solutions like eGolf Waiver and The Toolbox to help operators move away from outdated paper systems, reduce liability, and streamline their safety and training processes.