We all know the old joke, if you want to find an Air Force base, look for a golf course. It turns out managing all those courses worldwide -- 65 in all -- is such a complex task, the service has decided it needs some software to keep track of all the details.
The Air Force is not looking for plain vanilla golf course management software, either. No siree. In a notice posted on FedBizOps July 16, the Air Force Services Agency said it wanted to acquire some spiffy Golf Enterprise Solution software that "will leverage the commercial sector's best practices with the intent to transform [Air Force golf] into more efficient operations and potential cost savings."
The software will help manage rounds of golf played, pro-shops, fleets of golf carts, driving ranges, equipment rentals, food and beverage operations, and lounges.
The Air Force wants Golf Enterprise Solution software that will provide "automated, centralized reporting to allow geographically dispersed golf facilities to automatically report financial and operational data" and support XML data interchange with the Golf Handicap Information Network.
Because every systems integrator nationwide has at least one retired Air Force duffer general on staff, I bet this is a procurement that will attract a lot of interest. The request for proposals is due out Friday.
COMMENTS
We still make enough profit to support other NAF activities, unless anyone is under the dilusion that an Officer's Club makes money.
TT 07/27/10 06:54 am ET
Pat, Collins, when I was active duty, not only did the golf courses not get any appropriate funding, the golf courses usually made enough to subsidize other MWR activities. I think that practice was eventually stopped, but it does point out that the golf courses are self-sustaining and then some.
SPW 07/26/10 11:06 am ET
Pat Collins, I'm in Air Force golf management, and I will be the first to tell you that no APF dollars are used for anything, especially payroll. We get nothing, that we don't generate ourselves.
TT 07/23/10 07:17 am ET
The Air Force should not spend any apppropriated dollars on the golf courses including payroll, or dollars to maintain the facilities including calling for an appropriated fund plumber to clear a clogged drain. Let's follow the money to make sure.
Pat Collins 07/21/10 04:35 pm ET