Bocce, Budgets, and the Business of Member Experience

Season 26, Episode 24 - Shaun Boyce, Bobby SchindlerTom Ruth and Katie Ruth are the first married couple to join the GoTennis podcast, and they run racket sports programs ten miles apart on Hilton Head Island. Katie is the Director of Racket Sports at Moss Creek, and Tom is the Sports Center Director at Long Cove Club. They break down what it takes to run a tennis and pickleball program inside an HOA, where every amenity loses money and the real job is proving your department deserves its share of the budget.Key TopicsThe first husband and wife pair on the GoTennis podcast, running HOA racket programs ten miles apartHow Tom and Katie get real feedback from members, beyond the annual surveyWhy no amenity at either club makes money, and what that means for budget conversationsThe debate over private lessons: inefficient drain or necessary member experienceHow to justify a growing racket budget when golf still comes firstKatie and Tom's answers to our signature question, king and queen of tennisKeywords: Tom Ruth, Katie Ruth, Long Cove Club, Moss Creek, Hilton Head tennis, HOA racket sports programs, director of racket sports, tennis club budget, pickleball club management, club member experience, GoTennis podcast, ARA, American Racket Sports AssociationSound Bites: "The more money you touch, the more money you make." "We are in the feelings business." "For fifteen hundred dollars, Tom will wear his pants."Full YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/-CtH5498sXsKing of Tennis Video Tom: https://youtube.com/shorts/8uceq2Yt0fk?feature=shareQueen of Tennis Video Katie: https://youtube.com/shorts/dqXstT8ne3E?feature=shareare Private Lessons worth it: https://youtu.be/rkVksyQ1A_AContact Our HostsShaun Boyce, RSPA: shaun@americanracketsportsassociation.com | https://americanracketsportsassociation.com/Bobby Schindler, RSPA: schindlerb@comcast.net | https://letsgotennis.com/windermereGeovanna Boyce: geovy@regeovinate.com | https://regeovinate.com/GoTennis Website: https://letsgotennis.com/Learn more about the Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award we (the GoTennis! Podcast) won from USTA Georgia: https://letsgotennis.com/captivate-podcast/gotennis-podcast-wins-the-marc-kaplan-media-excellence-award/Join Our Community Check out the GoTennis! Atlanta Facebook page for deals, updates, events, podcasts, news, stories, coach profiles, club information, and more.Support the ShowDonate Directly: https://gotennispodcast.captivate.fm/supportCrypto Donations: Get into crypto with https://coinbase.com/join/PEWRLWK?src=referral-linkStart Your Own Podcast Considering your own podcast? We recommend Captivate: This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free (https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=atlantatennispodcast).Note: swap in the YouTube link once you have it. Let me know if Tom or Katie have a club website or LinkedIn you want added as a "Learn more about" link.