Summary
Agent provides leadership to the operations of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fames Botanical Gardens
Situation
The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame (GGHF) is a State Facility that is located on 17 acres in Augusta, Georgia. The botanical gardens comprise 8 acres of the site. The gardens were installed in 1999 and were opened to the public in April 2001.The botanical gardens get many local visitors along with individual and tour groups from across the state, nation, and from all over the world. The gardens also host many parties, particularly weddings and wedding receptions. The peak for tours is during Masters Week in April. The big event during Masters Week is the Mayors Reception where a professional golfer who is playing in the Masters is featured with a sculptor in his honor. In 2006 it was Raymond Floyd. Visitors from all over the world come to this reception that is open to the public.
The Golf Hall of Fame cost 6 million dollars to create and was the result of public/private partnership effort. Its economic impact on the local economy has been 30 million dollars in the five years it has been open. The cost to operate the gardens is $525,000 per year including seasonal plant material, replacement plants, and other maintenance. The gardens also contain one million dollars worth of sculptures that must be maintained.
The Gardens have had multiple problems such as iron staining from the well water that is used for irrigation. It had stained the sculptures of the golfers, the plant material, the brick work, and all permanent structures in the gardens. Also many plants were performing poorly due to improper watering or lack of maintenance. The director of the facility was also looking for ways to reduce the cost of the gardens since so many plants, mulch, and repairs were being supplied or made from out of town vendors, which added shipping or travel costs.
Response
The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Board of Directors is a volunteer statewide board whose members are appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House. In 2005, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Board of Directors invited Mr. Mullis to create and chair a local advisory committee for the Botanical Gardens. Upon accepting, Mr. Mullis appointed local advisory board members who were experts in all files related to the gardens: roses, water features, sculptors, landscape maintenance, etc. As chairman the agent conducts the monthly meetings and works closely with the director, site manager, and horticulturalist on the operations of the gardens.
Impact
Under the agent's leadership and guidance of the Garden Advisory Board, the Botanical Gardens have addressed many critical issues, resolved many problems, implemented cost control measures and provided guidance to the staff related to implementing improvements, policies and with program development. Some of the successes the Botanical Gardens have experienced under Mr. Mullis's leadership are
? Development of an Education Department complemented by a Children's Garden.
? An annual increase in visitation of 150,000 visitors to the Gardens.
? Creation and implementation of a routine and preventative maintenance plan for the Botanical Gardens creating an estimated savings of over $65,000 annually.
? Proactively bringing the Botanical Gardens landscape maintenance “in house” through development of a Landscape and Horticulture Department and employment positions thus ending a $250,000 annual maintenance contract with a corporate company that will have an estimated savings of over $100,000.
? Restoration of over $1.5 million worth of larger-than-life bronze sculptors of golf's greatest champions in the Botanical Gardens.
? Instrumental in relationship development for the Gardens. Secured Dr. Paul Vendrell, UGA Extension Water Quality Specialist to help address water issues with the wells. Initiated collaborations both locally and with Dr. Jeff Lewis, Director of the UGA Botanical Gardens. Dr. Lewis recently visited gardens and gave input at the invitation of Chairman Mullis.
An email from the Executive Director to the agent was: “Thank you again for all your help with so many projects! I cannot tell you how much your leadership and support means to all of us and the success of the gardens.”
State Issue
Agribusiness Development/Value Added
Details
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Year:
2006
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Geographic Scope:
International
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County:
Richmond
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Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
