|
Journal Entry #47 |
Click here to list your 2005 Tournament NOW! |
KERSTIN AND SARA WITH ADVANTAGE GOLF OF COLORADO
I had the pleasure again this year to assist at the Advantage Golf booth. The fact that my copartners included Kerstin and Sara, pictured above, and Melissa who came on duty the second half of the day enhanced the pleasure. My apologies to her for not snapping her photo. www.AdvantageGolf.com.
Advantage Golf of Colorado is one of twenty-eight franchises throughout our country. The company's concept is simple yet ingenious. A tournament planner simply drops by their office and everything they need to support their tournament is there. Whatever the product, be it signs, hole in one insurance, embroidered golf shirts, trophies, golf art auction items, and the list goes on and on. In addition to all the products and services, Advantage Golf also provides a multitude of free items regardless if a tournament planner buys anything.
JIM AND BRIAN WITH COLORADO GOLF MAGAZINE
Concerning the free stuff, Advantage Golf will be giving to each golfer in tournaments they serve a certificate for a free performance fitted Magique fairway recovery wood, although it is made of metal. As with last year a current Colorado Golf magazine will be provided too. www.coloradogolf.com This year a free year's trial subscription to Golf Illustrated will be available. You do not have to wait for your free certificate. You can go to their web site to order yours now - click here.
Bogart Golf was there again this year and their format was great as usual. What I liked most was the golf seminars held in the main entry area to the east of the Pavilion. This year there was a raised stage with plenty of seating. The clinics were great, and I even learned how to help my wife with her problem of topping the ball. There are about four causes. The two I remembered were not keeping one's front arm extended at ball impact. The second I can't remember. I hope I can recall it before summer comes and she is out on the links with me again.
After each clinic, folks were asked to come up and ask questions. You'll need some background on this. I wrote an article about my first hole in one for the Colorado Springs Business Journal where I mentioned that when I got to the green I pulled up the pin to watch the ball jump out of the cup. A day or so after the article appeared a gentleman called me and told me that technically I did not make a hole in one because of how I extracted the ball. So, after one of the clinic, I asked a PGA official what the rule was. He explained to me that the rule is that when the ball comes to rest at the bottom of the cup the play is over. So, ha, ha, ha to the guy who thought he knew it all. Of course I could care less. It was my first hole in one and I enjoyed it whatever the rule might be.
JEFF LAVERDIERE REPRESENTING MONTANA GOLF
The Denver Golf Expo is not just for Colorado golf. One of the first booths I visited was promoting golf in Northwest Montana's Flathead Valley. Jeff Laverdiere, Senior Sales Manager for the Grouse Mountain Lodge, and I visited for a while. Montana has a special place in my heart because my son, and SeniorFriendlyGolf Webmaster, lives a couple of hours south of Whitefish in Missoula. www.montanasfinest.com.
DAVID NOLAN AND JEFF JENSEN PROMOTING LAS VEGAS GOLF
Nevada was well represented. I had a chat there with Jeff Jensen, director of sales at The Legacy and with David Nolan, director of sales for the Casino. www.thelegacygc.com, www.suncoastcasino.com.
DANIEL J. CONKLIN AND FRIENDS REPRESENTING ARIZONA GOLF
Arizona was well represented at their booth by Daniel Conklin and his group of lovely ladies. Their focus was on the Loews Ventura Canyon Resort. www.loewshotels.com.
MARK MATANIS AND DAVE BROWN REPRESENTING THE SANTA FE GOLF TRAIL
If you go to the ARCHIVES link on www.SeniorFriendlyGolf.com you will find our review of the Santa Fe Golf Trail in New Mexico. It's journal entry number 40. I think you will enjoy it. While at the web site, also go into the COURSE REVIEWS and access the BLACK MESA review. I know you will enjoy that one. Black Mesa reminds me of the wilderness ride at Knotts Berry Farm. www.Santafetrailgolf.com. If you want to take a neat golf vacation, I highly recommend the Santa Fe Golf Trail. The price is right and the courses are exceptional. All eight courses have their own character. You will not be bored.
JOYCE KELLY AND FRIEND REPRESENTING ST. GEORGE
One of the most fun booths was the St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau booth. The three stooges, in the background, not the real folks in the booth, were ever ready for you to take a picture with. You may remember the flood pictures on television last January when a dozen or so homes were falling into the Virgin River as a results of the hundred year rains in California, Utah, and Nevada. I was nearby in Mesquite where I made a hole in one during those heavy winds and rain. www.utahstgeorge.com.
Another fun booth was a just a drawing table with Greg Chapleski, co-founder and creator of eDimples, drawing caricatures. Send him a photo and he'll caricature it into a happy face. www.eDimples.com.
TARGET PRACTICE AT THE SADDLEBACK GOLF COURSE BOOTH
Since I am still referencing fun booths, the Saddleback Golf Course had a target to hit tennis balls at. Stick on the bull's eye and you get a prize. I believe they had a putting contest the previous year; however, I believe they made a wise choice to change their format this year because there were many putting opportunities this year. I counted at least five. The best of those was the LPGA long puts. Sorry I did not get a photo. www.Saddlebackgolf.com
HEATHER (ON THE RIGHT) AND FRIENDS REPRESENT MEXICO GOLF
I missed getting a photo of the Nebraska booth but did enjoy chatting with Heather Anders who is with guest services/sales at the Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach Resort in Mazatlan, Sin. Mexico. I don't have a web site address for them, but I am sure she will send you information if you email her at handers@estrelladelmar.com.
RICHARD KNUDSON, CREATOR, AND FRIEND MAN THE sportKNUTS BOOTH
Golf equipment is big at the Expo as well, but my interest was with a young entrepreneur who has invented, no discovered, a new putting concept. The last year or two has seen a number of those putters with one, two, or three white circles extending behind the clubface. Richard Knudson, the club creator, has come up with yet another concept for keeping puts straight and on line. Basically the top of the putter head has three grooves side by side within which the ball is aligned. Wish I had a photo, but if you will email Richard at rchardbgnt@aol.com I'll bet he'll send you a photo or some material to take a look at. The design of those putters is unique as well and will make an unusual gift or trophy for tournaments. They come in very bright colors and feature two weights, which can be attached to increase the acceleration of putting strokes.
Colorado was well represented. Stroll through the following pictures and be sure to click on their web sites.
BRYCE A. BERVIG, PGA PROFESSIONAL
cattails@amigh.net, www.Cattailsgolf.com
KELLY POPEJOY, CLUB ADMINISTRATOR AND DAWNE KORTGAARD, DIRECTOR OF GOLF
www.grandotepeaks.com
GREEN VALLEY RANCH GOLF CLUB & McGETRICK GOLF ACADEMY
www.gvrgolf.com, www.mcgetrickgolf.com
THE FOLKS AT THE RAVEN GOLF CLUB AT THREE PEAKS BOOTH
www.ravengolf.com
THE HOMESTEAD, LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 720-963-5181 SONNY WILLIAMS, PGA HEAD PROFESSIONAL
FOSSIL TRACE GOLF CLUB
www.fossiltrace.com
JIM HAJEK, PGA HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL
jhajek@ci.golden.co.us
CONTACT RUSS BY EMAIL
rclark@eaglgolf.com
AURORA GOLF COURSES HAS ALL NEW RESERVATIONS SERVICE 303-326-8333
www.golfaurora.com
BOB MEYER AND CONNIE McGHEE OF PUBLINKS GOLFER MAGAZINES
www.pblinksgolfer.com
REDLANDS MESA #1 BEST NEW AFFORDABLE GOLF COURSE IN AMERICA
www.redlandsgolf.com
HEAD PROFESSIONAL ERIC FEELY
eric@redlandsmesa.com
Be sure to mark your calendar for next year's Denver Golf Expo.
My guess is February 10, 11, 12.