By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
In May 2022, I had the privilege of chatting with John Scarperia, the long-time owner and operator of Tex-Net Inc., the leading manufacturer of polyester, polypropylene and nylon barrier netting systems. Scarperia founded the netting and fencing company in 1986 and has grown the business to serve a variety of industries, including amusement parks, zoos, ski resorts, indoor and outdoor sports fields and facilities, landfills and of course, golf courses and driving ranges.
With a professional team in place with decades of industry experience, Tex-Net also offers a complete line of hardware, including wood and steel poles, and provides installation assistance and 24-hour support.
A long-time partner of the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) and staple at the PGA Show (both dating back to the 1990s), Scarperia looks forward to his annual trip to Orlando next month to promote his stellar company’s goods, services and extensive expertise.
“Business continues to be strong since the pandemic,” Scarperia says, “and there’s a lot to look forward to for many years to come.”
Scarperia says he enjoys the many great relationships he’s forged over almost 40 years and appreciates the PGA Show as a vehicle to maintain and even build upon those connections. “As time marches on, we’re getting old customers coming back to update their facilities again,” he adds. “It’s always nice to see those familiar faces, while of course meeting new professionals in the field who are just learning about us.”
Joining Scarperia at the PGA Show this year will be a few other industry infrastructure experts. Ken Jones and his company, Coastal Netting Systems, are another valued GRAA partner. Jones, who will be joining Scarperia at his PGA Show booth, “has been providing quality steel pole and netting systems for over 40 years.”
Over the years, Jones has become an industry leader in manufacturing steel poles. These steel poles, along with Scarperia’s Tex-Net netting products, have helped solidify many projects at sports stadiums, athletic fields and landfills across the country.
“Our companies have enjoyed a relationship since the 80s,” Scarperia says. “Ken has extensive experience with oil field netting that keeps migratory birds out of the sludge ponds that form and could hinder their mobility and put them at risk. We have manufactured a considerable amount of netting for Ken and Coastal, and it’s been a successful collaborative relationship for many years.”
Also appearing with Scarperia at the PGA Show next month will be Dave Tanner of Tanner Consulting Group, LLC. “Dave has brought science and engineering together for golf ball trajectory studies,” Scarperia explains. “He’s a fascinating guy who has worked with many golf clubs, practice facilities and golf ball manufacturers over the years. Dave is the last word when it comes to the height of a golf ball.”
Scarperia says Tanner’s insights and consulting services have become invaluable to golf courses and driving ranges that absolutely cannot have a golf ball go outside the landing area. He has combined weather statistics, topography and golf ball trajectory for several different brands to become a tremendous resource in the industry and has even authored a book on the topic.
In addition to Jones and Tanner, Scarperia will be joined by Joe Engle, a structural engineer with several decades of industry experience who has established steel pole design literally to “new heights” when experts like Tanner say that a facility’s netting designs must be higher than standard.
“A few years ago, Joe invented what is now known as a breakaway snap that, in the event of icing on the netting, will purposely “fail” when it gets to a certain weight on the net. This enables the netting to break away from the poles, ensuring the integrity of the poles,” Scarperia details. “The net comes down, but the poles don’t break.”
This group, which Scarperia calls “The Three Wise Men,” has been instrumental in solving off-target ball problems for facilities like Topgolf, stand-alone ranges and public and private courses. Although they could be considered competitors of each other, these industry experts are happy to share their knowledge and appreciate what each other brings to the table in way of expertise, work ethic, research and customer service.
