Dr. John Rooney – Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Rooney measures the pulse of the American Golf Industry. He has analyzed the evolution of golf facility development, real estate golf, resort golf, contemporary supply and demand patterns, and future golf target marketing strategies. His understanding of the ever changing golf market have truly made him the front runner in the marketing, feasibility, and management aspects of the golf industry. As a co-founder of Longitudes Group, LLC, John’s most recent focus has been on the impact for both Golf and Travel due to the weak economy and post 9/11 travel patterns, along with Golf retail trends. His expertise as both a Sports & Cultural Geographer provides powerful insights into the dynamics of societal changes, spending patterns, participation trends, and golf course supply. Prior to founding Longitudes Group, John worked with Golf Digest and Golf World Magazines on the development of the Database of Golf In America in the 1990s. In 2002-2003 working with Eric Hardy and Dr. Steve Tweedie, he subsequently built the Longitudes Group, LLC database in order to provide an independent 360 view of supply and demand in golf, along with the inter-related elements of Transportation, US Census, and consumer segmentation data. As a member of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), John is a major shareholder and managing partner in two daily fee golf courses in Michigan and Oklahoma, and has had ownership interest in seven golf courses in three states. John is a noted public speaker with lectures at over 100 universities here and in Europe. Rooney has been interviewed on CNN, ESPN, NPR and a host of television and radio programs throughout the U.S. He is the author of five books including, “Atlas of American Sport” and “This Remarkable Continent: An Atlas of North American Society & Culture”. John is a Regents Professor Emeritus of Geography at Oklahoma State University. He received his B.S. from the Illinois State University and his Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University. Passionate for the game of golf, Rooney maintains the uncanny ability to play only once/month and always break 80.