Senior friendly Golf is an LLC company dedicated to the game of golf with emphasis not only for senior golfers but also for golfers who are mostly high handicappers hopeful of breaking 80 some day. Of course they have to manage breaking 100 and 90 first.
GOLF TOURNAMENT CONSULTING
SFG focuses on several areas. First and foremost is golf tournament consulting. SFG representatives meet with golf tournament planners and golf committees. This is a no fee service to help non-profits and charity organizations maximize the earning power of their golf tournaments. These services are also available for company or corporate golf events to insure a more enjoyable and exciting tournament that their employees or customers will never forget.
SFG is aware of everything tournament planners need to know to conduct a successful golf event. The PGA (Professional Golf Association) holds expositions in the fall and winter that are attended by over 1,300 companies in the golf industry. SFG attends these expos and meets with companies that have products and services that will be of interest to tournament planners. Companies who are contacted often provide samples. SFG then meets with local planners and leaves samples with them to be reviewed and considered by their tournament committee.
SFG refers tournament planners to local companies who can acquire specific expo products at competitive prices for them. There is no need for organizations to go out of the community to secure their tournament needs or waste time running around to find the right sources.
Most golf tournament includes plans the excitement of hole-in-one and shootout contests to add fun to their event and as a vehicle to increase revenue at the golf site. SFG has an arrangement with the American Hole-in-one Association, the largest insurer in the country. When planners call this source and mention they have been referred by Senior Friendly Golf they will receive a 10% discount. This company does not require lady golfers to hit from the designated men's tee distance to participate. Also, when the feature hole is designated and the insurance purchased for it all other three pars will automatically be covered with a significant prize.
Senior Friendly Golf offers the service of securing sponsors for tournaments and other events for fund raising purposes. This is especially desirable for new golf committees and with those having limited time to go out to solicit funding. This is a negotiated fee service. SFG refers interested clients to an individual with over 14 years success in the fundraising industry.
This individual is also available to arrange vendor and client participation in company or corporate golf tournaments. This is smart planning because companies do not have to take an employee off their work schedule to do this task.
Total tournament planning and management is not available at the present time, but a competent event logistics firm is being searched for. When identified, organizations will be referred to them, and a fee will be negotiated. Putting on a golf tournament in any capacity is a very time consuming job.
THE SENIOR FRIENDLY GOLF WEB SITE
The original Senior Friendly Golf purpose was two fold. First to present articles and information about golf on a web site and to write and distribute these articles to other golf publications. The following is what is offered on the web site.
ARTICLES & STORIES, most of which appear as journal entries, are mainly about golf but other subjects of interest as well, such as travel. These articles are informative and often humorous but all well worth reading. This section is something of a reality series of the founder's golfing exploits and travels. All journal entries from the beginning may be found in the ARCHIVES.
BOBBY STEINER is a nationally known author and columnist. SFG presents his answers to over 90 questions about golf and how to play better. Each question is discussed from three perspectives by the characters in his book, MUNI, THE JITTERBUG SELECTION. To order Bobby's book connect to his website www.BobbySteiner.com.
SFG RTATING SYSTEM rates golf courses based on 1 "very challenging" to 10 "very friendly." Of course for some low handicap golfers the lower ratings may be friendlier to them if they are looking for challenges. The main purpose of the SFG-rating system is to avoid unpleasant surprises if a golfer pays hundreds of dollars in green fees and then gets eaten up by the course.
COURSE REVIEWS with comments from the reviewer's point of view as well as lots of photographs of courses and personnel is found here. Most of the reviews include slide shows from tee to green on each hole and even music in some cases.
PRODUCT REVIEWS of items used and tested by the founder as well as golf book reviews is presented here. Only products actually used and evaluated are presented, and products of company web sites are usually included for further information.
SPECIAL OFFERS, which will be accessible to SFG members through FREE memberships.
GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY is a nationwide drop down menu on the home page that lists over 16,0000 golf courses by state and location. This is a great way to play off the path golf trips.
GOLF TOURNAMENT LISTINGS. Free tournament listings on the SFG web site and in the Colorado Springs Business Journal for southern Colorado tournaments. Listings may be made directly from the SFG home page or by clicking on the TOURNAMENTS link.
GOLF SCULPTURES are available from the famous Michael Garman Galleries at a discounted prices of up to 25%. In addition to the eleven golf sculptures, the complete line of sculptures is available on an on loan basis for silent auctions.
FREE GOLF CLUB can be secured by printing out the certificate for redemption directly from the web site. The club offered is a 21-degree rescue wood from Magique Golf Club Manufacturer in Tempe, Arizona. Get the club and say good by to your 2,3,4 irons.
GOLF LINKS invites golf related companies to have free reciprocal linking to the SFG web site Furthermore, they may have their products reviewed free of charge and the review will also link to their web site.
MEMBERSHIP link is another free area for product and service offerings. Advertisers may offer specific products and services at a discount for SFG members to buy. A 20% or more discount rates a "double eagle" designation, which means the offer is extra special and one not offered to the general consumer.
The areas of paid advertising include coupon and merchandise distribution in player gift bags to over 10,000 golfers each golf season. Contact GolfGuy@SeniorFriendlyGolf.com for more Information or call John K. Darling, Founder 24/7 at 719-520-5991. Mail to P.O. Box 38951, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80937
The founder wants to hear from you. Email your stories, jokes, trials and tribulations on the links and questions or answers about golf, health, travel merchandise, and anything else.
GOLF ARTICLES, COURSE REVIEWS AND RATING SYSTEM
The second original purpose of Senior Friendly Golf was to publish articles relating to golf. Golf articles are presented as journal entries on the SFG web site and are mainly written by the founder although guest articles are welcome. In addition to the SFG web site, articles are being published in Life After 50, the Idaho Sports Magazine and the Colorado Springs Business Journal.
Course reviews are presented in the COURSE REVIEW link on the web site. Reviews include not only a narrative but also, in most cases, a slide show review from tee to green as well as other features.
The SFG rating system has been developed that evaluates 27 specific areas about a course as follows:
| Hole length | Visibility to green | Visible 150 yard markers |
| Other visible yard markers | Width of fairway | Surface of fairway |
| Fairway configuration | Fairway gradation | Fairway elevation to green |
| Rough characteristics | Trees, brush, etc. | Trees, brush etc in fairway |
| Rough ease of exit | Hazards | Hazards coming into play |
| Number of bunkers | Bunkers coming into play | Bunker size, shape |
| Bunker ease of exit | Bunker condition | Pin position advisories |
| Green absorption of ball | Green size | Green configuration |
| Putting surface | Out of bounds | Psychological difficulty |
In addition to the above criteria, which is numerically calculated, mention may also be made concerning the following:
| Restroom availability* | Cart paths coming into play* | Food & beverage on course* |
| Use of carts in fairway* | 90 degree cart path rules* | Rain/Lightening shelters* |
| Water fountains on course* | How friendly are personnel* | Is nine hole play welcome* |
| Are senior rates available* | Are twilight rates available* | How tasty are the margaritas* |
MERCHANDISING
GOLF ITEMS FOR GIFTS, AWARDS AND PRIZES
Senior Friendly Golf income comes from overrides, or commissions, from product sources from companies tournament planners are referred to. These local sources, or companies, strive to give good service and discounted prices to non-profit and charity organizations as well as competitive pricing for companies and corporations.
MICHAEL GARMAN SCULPTURES
SFG markets the complete line of Michael Garman sculptures with emphasis on golf. There are eleven golf trophies that come in various presentations and can be hand painted to include logos and uniforms consistent with clients. For less than four trophies SFG gives a 10% discount off regular gallery pricing and 25% for four or more. Again, this includes the complete Michael Garman line of sculptures. The Michael Garman catalogue can be accessed directly form the SFG web site.
HISTORIC GOLF PHOTOS
SFG has access to thousands of golf and sports photos, which include up to date offerings of current playing pros on tour. A 15% discount is available. Interested clients may access www.historicgolfphotos.com and make their choice as to size, mat and frame and then send those specifications to GolfGuy@SeniorFriendlyGolf.com for ordering.
ON-LOAN AUCTION PROGRAM
With a minimum selection of six assorted Michael Garman sculptures, Senior Friendly Golf will provide those selected for fund raising program silent or live auctions. There is no cost for this service. A minimum bid price, which is the gallery list price, will be set. When one of the sculptures is sold to the highest bidder the organization pays SFG 85% of the minimum bid price and keep 100% of amounts over the minimum bid price. There is no S&H cost for local auctions.
With the selection of six assorted items from Historic Golf Photos, Senior Friendly Golf will set a minimum bid price, which is the quoted retail price on the HGP website. When one of the photos is sold, the organization will pay SFG 85% of the retail price and 100% of all amounts over the minimum price. Selected photos are shipped to the organization prepaid. Any unsold items must be returned to HGP prepaid.
Senior Friendly Golf acquires other golf and interesting items from time to time that are also available to organizations for their fund raising auction events.