IGM expands westward

Golf Course News, Nov 2002 by Overbeck, Andrew

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. - International Golf Maintenance (IGM) is expanding westward with the opening of new business development offices in Dallas and Phoenix. It is also moving its West Coast headquarters from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

The contract maintenance company currently has four courses in the region and plans to add more.

"Our parent company, Meadowbrook Golf, is looking to acquire courses out West, sowe thought itwould be a good fit to increase our presence in these year-round golf markets," said IGM vice president Scott Zakany. "We had a presence out here, but our people were focusing on operations and business development at the same time. Now we will be more focused on new business."

Longtime golf industry consultant Dennis E. Shirley will head up efforts to expand IGM's business in Texas and Craig Johnson, owner of Golf Course Services, will handle new opportunities in the Southwest.

"Both Shirley and Johnson have lots of contacts in the business," Zakany said. "Once they get us qualified leads, we will get involved. They have the contacts and see the people that we want to get in front of."

IGM has also relocated its western regional operations to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. Brad Rook will head up the new office located at IGM's Silver Stone Golf Club.

"We felt Los Angeles was too far west and that we were missing opportunities in highprofile golf markets like Las Vegas and Phoenix," Zakany explained.

According to Zakany, the changes will help IGM achieve its goal of growing 15 to 20 percent annually.

"This is a time where you either fall back where everyone else is, or you move forward," he said. "We have chosen to grow instead of downsize."

Zakany said additional growth will come from placing new business development offices in the Northeast and Midwest in the coming months.