The Golfing Blog

Low Country, High Enjoyment

I recently spent a few days down on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina after having not visited for several years. Within a few hours of being on the island I asked myself "Why haven't been back sooner?" The only reason I could come up with is that I am an idiot.

What's not to like about Hilton Head golf? It has plenty of terrific golf, wonderful food and a laid back atmosphere. It is only a 45 minute ride or a 2 hour ride from Charleston and as you drive across the bridge onto the island you feel the stress disappear.

I am sure you have seen the lighthouse on television but it is truly a special feeling the walk down the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links which is one of my all time favorite places to play. The home of "The Heritage" is unlike a lot of the courses on the tour where you lace up your shoes tight and hammer at the ball. There you have the opportunity to use all the clubs in your bag and play a variety of shots. The 18th hole is the signature hole at Harbor Town but depending on the way the wind is blowing the Par 3 Seventeenth Hole can give all you can handle. The first round I hit an 8 iron into the green but on the very next day with the wind coming in off Calabogie Sound I needed to hit a 3 iron from the same tees. It is just a special place to play and incredibly fun. But Harbour Town is not the only place to play on the island. I have played and enjoyed the 2 other courses at Sea Pines Plantation as well as the courses at Palmetto Dunes which has courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio. After you have decided which of the many courses you wish to play you can easily book your tee time with a few clicks by using the golf course directory.

If you are a member of a private club it would be worth asking your pro to see if they could get you on one of the private clubs like Long Cove Club which is fantastic.

When it comes to eating after golf, head on over to The Salty Dog Cafe which is an island institution. The Gumbo they serve up at the Salty Dog is excellent. But if you are a fan don't even think about leaving without having a slice of their Key Lime Pie. I have had a lot of Key Lime Pie in my life but the Key Lime Pie at The Salty Dog Cafe is the best I have ever had (Sorry, Jane).

There is one more reason I like Hilton Head Island so much is the people. The people down on Hilton Head are relaxed and welcoming. It is nice to go to a place where you feel the locals want you to visit them. So if you have not been to Hilton Head Island "Go" and if you have "Go back soon" it is definitely worth the visit.

Growing Your Business Through Golf Entertainment

Even though golf has had its ups and downs in this economy it seems to still be one of the business tools preferred for entertaining clients. For several years I have served as the Teaching Professional for VIP Sports Marketing at amazing golf events such as the Masters, U.S. Open, and the Ryder Cup. During those events I have had the opportunity to teach people from all over the world who have brought to the event as a guest.

With the U.S. Open only a few weeks away I sat down with Alex Pramenko the President of VIP Sports Marketing to ask him a simple question.

Scott: Why should you entertain clients or reward your staff at premiere sporting events such as The Masters Golf Tournament, US Open, Ryder Cup Matches?

Alex: Entertaining at these events truly shows the appreciation you have for your client or staff. The Masters is ranked as the toughest ticket to get for any sport and only a small percentage of people each year are lucky enough to attend. These events leave a life-long memory that for most is a once in a lifetime opportunity. When you take a client or potential client to a premiere event they are going to remember you anytime they do business that is associated with what you do. That memory can and will push you over your competitors. The same is true if you run an award incentive for your sales staff. An award to the person that meets your incentive criteria will make everyone work harder to achieve the goal of attending the prestigious event. Above all, the most important reason to do this is a good Return On Investment (ROI). These events have a cost, but you will make up this cost and earn money in the process.

Scott: Thank you for your time Alex.

If you would like to know more about this special way to entertain clients or staff click here and tell them Scott sent you.

It's Masters Week

It is Sunny and 65 without a cloud in the sky. The grass is an amazing shade of green and the flowers are blooming everywhere. You can feel the electricity in the air at Augusta National Golf Club because it is Masters week.

As I wander around the course today, there is a different feel to the event than in the past. It may just be my imagination but it seems like there are more people here today on a Tuesday than I have seen in the last 5 years. The players are still out on 16 during the practice round trying to skip the ball across the pond and closest to the hole but the crowds are much more vocal and having more fun. I could actually hear them roar from the clubhouse. It sounds like a Sunday afternoon at Augusta.

My prediction? I have no idea and I am the first to admit that I am terrible at predicting tournament winners.

But if I had to pick a winner. It is just a sense, but I have a feeling this year's Masters could be a fun and wide open affair and the winner will be the fans.

It is Masters week and the golf season has truly arrived!

Golf Humor Aussie Style

 

Golf: Now For Something Completely Different

When we think of having fun play golf it usually means playing traditional golf. But today I wanted to share with you as Monty Python would say, "Now for something completely different".

 

By the way, these guys are REALLY GOOD!

3 Reasons To Not Put Your Clubs Away This Winter

As hardy a people as they are, when the cold weather comes to the Chicagoland area most people put their clubs away. But I would like to give you three reasons not to put your clubs away this winter.

REASON #1: The White Pines Golf Dome
Located in Bensenville, The climate controlled White Pines Golf Dome which is 100 yards wide, 100 yards deep and 100 feet tall is the largest in the Chicagoland area. It has a large practice putting green, three target geens for wedge practice and a simulator. Even with all those features what makes this dome an excellent practice facility is the staff. From the first time you walk in owner Mike Munro and his staff treat you like an old friend and do everything possible to make your time as pleasant as they can. The White Pines Golf Dome has been consistently rank one of the top domes in America.

REASON #2: The Buffalo Grove Sports Center
Voted one of the top domes in America, the Buffalo Grove Dome is located near the corner of Route 83 and Buffalo Grove Road.This dome is climate controlled, has a large putting green, bunker area and target greens. The dome has expanded their hours to better serve golfers.

REASON #3: Golfmania
The newest of the practice facilities is Golfmania in Niles at 6310 West Touhy Avenue. Golfmania is located inside a small wholesale center next to the Leaning Tower YMCA, if you are not paying attention to addresses you can easily miss the building. Once inside Golfmania you will find hitting bays, a practice bunker, an excellent putting green and several State of the Art Simulators. If you would like to practice then play a round of golf, this is a good site to visit.

By not putting away your clubs this winter you can enjoy the 2011 golf season more.

If you would like to improve your game this winter you can contact Scott by clicking here.

How Tough Is It Playing At The US Open?

When the average player watches the US Open it is hard to get a grasp on how difficult a US Open golf course is the week of the tournament. Please allow me to give you an idea by comparing it to the type of courses we usually play.

The average male golfer will play a course which is between 6300 and 6800 yards in length, this week they will be playing Pebble Beach at almost 7100 yards long. This is actually short for modern US Open courses, the last few have been played between 7300 and 7400 yards long. When is the last time you played a 500 yard Par 4?

Next the average person hits into a fairway which is 30 to 40 yards wide while the US Open participants are staring at fairways with a width of 22 to 29 yards wide on average. These narrow fairways are usually very firm and if it does not rain become very hard which makes it quite difficult to keep the ball in the fairway. A big reason for this is that during the tournament the USGA limits the amount of water that is used to a minimum.

If they stray from the fairway into the second cut of rough they are now searching for your ball in rough that is the length of your lawn, IF YOU DIDN'T CUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. They may be 200 yards from the green but they have a Sand Wedge in their hand because they a trying to advance the ball back into the fairway.

The fun does not stop when they get to the greens. The speed of a green during the US Open is usually 30 to 50 percent faster than the speed of the average public course green and on occassion the USGA has let the speed getaway which can make the greens faster than anyone could ever imagine. Even tour players.

The best story I ever heard about how difficult a US Open course is came from Phil Mickelson. Several years ago he was asked "How difficult is it to play a US Open course?".
He told how he played with a friend of his on the Monday after playing in The Open at Shinnecock Hills in the mid 90's. Phil said his friend carried a handicap of 0 at a club in San Diego, a good player who usually shoots around par. That Monday on Shinnecock Hills playing the same course under the same conditions as Sunday, his friend shot 105.

I think that says it all.

Golf Getaways: Grand Geneva Resort and Spa

The golf season is upon us and if you are starting to plan your golf getaway, I recommend the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa is a AAA Four Diamond resort tucked away in Southeast Wisconsin and has everything needed for a great golf getaway. For your stay the Grand Geneva has newly designed rooms, several dining options and a Spa with a lap pool.

But the attraction for me is the golf. The Grand Geneva has a very nice practice facility and two distinctly different and fun golf courses. The Highlands is a Links Style 18 hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye in 1969 and is good for players of all levels.The second course, The Brute, is a striking and appropriately named layout which winds itself through the beautiful rolling terrain of the property. This course gives players the opportunity to test their game.

But the two things that stood out when I played Grand Geneva were their golf staff and the condition of the golf course, both were great. The golf staff was friendly and knowledgeable which set the tone for a terrific day of golf. I then played the Brute which was in wonderful condition, in fact it was in as good a condition as most private clubs I have played and truly enhanced my playing experience.

To make your getaway even better,the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa is offering a special promotion where you can golf for free in 2010. To learn more about planning a getaway at the Grand Geneva click here.

Amen Corner at the Masters

There is probably not a more famous or pivotal set of holes such as the 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta National Golf Club. They are located at the far corner of the property and are known as "Amen Corner".

I am fascinated with the origin of words and phrases, I have watched the Masters almost my entire life constantly hearing the phrase "Amen Corner" and am ashamed to say that I never knew its origin.

So to enlighten myself and to share with others, I have found the origin and would like to give you a direct account from the person who coined the phrase back in 1958, Sports Illustrated golf writer, the renowned Mr. Herbert Warren Wind.

From a 1981 Golf Digest article titled "Let Us Now Pray At Amen Corner"

I hope you enjoy this little piece of Golf History.

In the middle of the action at Augusta

How many times when you watch a tournament do say "Boy, I bet it would be fun to be inside the ropes!"

Well on the Par 3, Sixth Hole at Augusta National not only do the fans sit between the tee and the green, but the players actually hit directly over the top of them.

The Sixth Hole is a Par 3 in which the tee is elevated approximately 30-40 feet above the green and fans are allowed to sit on the slope of the hill between the tee and the green. As a result of this set up, every player hits directly over the top of the fans sitting on the slope to get to the green.

Talk about being in the middle of the action! Only at Augusta!