The present OGCOA beginnings can be traced back to the early 1960's when groups of golf course operators discovered the value of networking - of joining fellow operators monthly to exchange ideas, to recap successes and ask questions.

How do you handle leagues? Where do you get sand, fertilizer, pesticides, grass seed, mowing equipment, rental golf cars or tax service? How do you reduce no-shows? What about irrigation and drainage? Which banks lend money? - etc. and ad infinitum.

Soon the local groups were drawn together by statewide concerns. Greenbelt legislation in the early 1970s brought fired up course operators to the state house. On two occasions threats of sales taxes on green fees made operators hunt for their legislators and follow them to Columbus.

Having first proved the surprising value of networking, the course operator next found the mechanics of statewide cooperation. So they incorporated to preserve their unification. Final papers were approved by the State of Ohio , May 24, 1979.

In the 80's, course owners, realizing that today's school children would be tomorrows customers, emphasized our junior golf program. The first Junior State Championship was hosted in 1982. 

In 1986 the general membership meeting was moved from December to early March to motivate the spring start of a new season and have rotated geographically.

New worker's compensation group savings legislation, effective in late 1989, enabled us to have 83 employees receive 80% discounts in their worker's comp manual rates beginning with fiscal year '92-'93. Unfortunately, this benefit went away. However, there are still many benefits of being a member including and automatic membership in the National Golf Course Owners Association.

OGCOA Vision: To continue to add benefits and grow our association back to over 100 members so we have an even stronger voice for Ohio golf courses.