Archive for the ‘General Golf’ Category
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Did you know that about 2 million baby boomers are due to turn 65 this year in the Chicago area? With Census Bureau projections indicating that 20% of the U.S. population will be over 65 by 2030, many companies are looking at the long term impact those numbers will have on their business and products.
One such company is Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Wilson is investing in new products like lightweight irons, made with steel and graphite to help counter the effects of aging. But the company walks a fine line between making products that will appeal to both the boomer generation and being the choice for up and coming younger players who will be the major market in about twenty years.
Tags: Baby Boomers
Posted in Baby Boomers, General Golf | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
A lot. Sunday’s viewership of the tournament held at Firestone Country Club was a 2.0 share compared to 4.3 last year. What was the difference this year? Tiger wasn’t on TV except for the highlights of his dismal performance. And last year? Well, Tiger what it all. Click here for the complete article by Darren Ravell of CNBC.
Tags: Business, PGA, PGA Tour, Tiger Woods
Posted in FedEx Cup, Fun Golf Stories, General Golf, PGA, Tiger Woods | No Comments »
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Everyone else is blogging about Tiger Woods’ and Phil Mickelson’s collapse this weekend. I am going to change gears. I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal this weekend. It is about the impact this summer’s weather has had on golf courses. Pretty interesting read. A few courses have had to shut down completely.
Who is to blame? According to this article….well…..everyone has a little blame.
Tags: greens, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, turf, weather
Posted in Economy, General Golf, Weather | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Cristie Kerr lead the LPGA Championship held at Locust Hill Country Club during all four rounds with a final score of -19, overtaking the rest of the field by 12 strokes. She went into the fourth round leading by 8 strokes and ended with a birdie on 18 for a final round of 66. Her game was definitely on during this tournament resulting in her second major champhionship title. Kerr is the first American to win this major since 2000 when Julie Inkster took the title.
By winning this major event, Kerr moves into the number one LPGA world player position. Hats off to Cristie! The number one player position has shifted quite a bit over the past three weeks. Kerr is the third player in three weeks to become the world’s best. Last week Ai Miyazato had the number one slot as a result of her ShopRite LPGA Classic win; the prior week, Shin was number one. Kerr has won 14 tournaments in her 14 year career with the 2010 LPGA Champhionship making her the world’s best LPGA player.
Over the years, Annika Sorenstam lead the world. After going into retirement, the reigns were taken over by Lorena Ochoa. In April Ochoa retired, leaving the lead role open to all.
“It means a tremendous amount,” Kerr said about the No. 1 ranking. “It’s something that I’ve wanted my whole life, I worked for my whole life. I take great pride in being the top American.”
Congratulations to Cristie Kerr for her LPGA win and the coveted number one ranking!
Tags: Ai Miyazato, Annika Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr, Jiyia Shin, Julie Inkster, Lorena Ochoa, LPGA Tour
Posted in General Golf, LPGA, Women's Golf | No Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland claimed the victory for the 2010 US Open. McDowell finished with a 74 (+3)… just 2 putts on the 18th hole to win. This was one great tournament and certainly challenged the best. Going into the final round, Dustin Johnson was leading by 3 strokes. But the table suddenly turned when he shot a triple bogey on the second hole and a double bogey on the third hole. After that it only continued to decline for Johnson as he finished his round with an 82 and tied for 8th place.
Els, Mickelson, Woods, and Havret all struggled to work some magic on the course to take the lead. Only one player could withstand the pressure of the tournament and the challenges of the course and that was Graeme. “I can’t believe how difficult this golf course was,” McDowell said. “No matter how good you play … good golf got reward, and bad golf got punished really badly.”
This is McDowell’s first major tour win. He’s the first European to achieve the feat since Tony Jacklin did it 40 years ago at Hazeltine. McDowell turned pro in 2002. Prior to becomng a pro, McDowell won the Fred Haskins Award as the United States’ top collegiate golfer. Two weeks ago, he won his fifth title at the Celtic Manor Wales Open. McDowell has earned a five year exemption as a result of his victory should he decide to join the PGA Tour. And why wouldn’t he? It’s a golden ticket to playing both the U.S. circuit and the European Tour.
McDowell’s victory was the perfect Father’s Day gift for his dad, Kenny, who has been by his side since he began playing golf in his junior years. For those of you who watched the final shot and green’s celebration, I’m sure you all caught that “Hallmark” moment when father and son hugged in glorious celebration. Congrats to Graeme McDowell for his well-deserved US Open win!
Tags: Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, PGA, PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Tony Jacklin, US Open
Posted in General Golf, PGA, PGA Tour | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
The golf industry continues to look for ways to attract more golfers to the sport. Over the years programs such as U.S. Kids Golf and the First Tee have been established to teach our youth the game of golf. Our golf industry leaders continue to emphasize the importance of getting kids involved in the game of golf as today’s kids are the lifeline to growing the game of golf throughout the world.
So what can be done to attact more and more kids to the game? As we all know, in order to maintain the interest of kids, they need to first and foremost have fun. Now, if taking them out to golf on a traditional par 72 golf course is to be considered fun, think again. For kids, golf needs to be “easy” as well as fun. For a kid, a par 3 hole at 120+ yards over the hazards just does not equate to fun and ease! A 6,679 yard course is way too much of a challenge for a kid to really expect them to get hooked on the game. So, what’s the alternative? How about this little par 3 gem of a course….Boyne Rapids Adventure Golf Course in Boyne City, Michigan.
The folks at Boyne Rapids have designed a “pint” size course that is perfect for our future golfers. This course is all of 701 yards long with all the traditional features of a regulation course except for the hole distances. With its well-maintained Blue Grass tees and fairways and Bent Grass greens, the longest hole is only 95 yards and shortest two are 12 yards each! Imagine, your little one being able to par a hole or two! Now, that would get them hooked on the game. Remember, kids want fun and ease as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Perhaps short par 3 courses populated all over the world is the answer to get our kids getting hooked on golf. Not only will it hook the kids but might very well hook the adults too…..imagine, playing 18 holes in an hour and a half versus the traditional four or four and a half…. sounds pretty enticing to me!
Posted by Marilyn Harris
Tags: Boyne City Michigan, Boyne Rapids Adventure Golf, First Tee, kids golf, Par 3 course, U.S. Kids Golf
Posted in Economy, Family Golf, General Golf, Young golfers | No Comments »
Monday, May 10th, 2010
China is becoming a golf mecca in its own right and is now positioned to experience a 50% growth rate over the next 10 years. China is now in their 26th year of developing golf as a sport; all in all, still in the infancy stages of growing the game. There are currently approximately 4 million golfers in China and about 400 golf clubs. Each year they experience about 50% growth in golf. With those numbers, it is projected that China will overtake the United States with the largest population of golfers by 2020!
The average greens fees in China are between $150 to $200 a round. One of the neat things that the Chinese can do is go golfing anytime of day or night. Yep, that’s right….at night. The last tee time being midnight; therefore allowing one to golf until 2 in the morning! This certainly caters to those night owls out there and all those folks that work all day and want to play a round on a nice evening.
When it comes to player expectations…. for the Chinese culture, service and hospitality are in the forefront. A lesson our American culture should certainly take more to heart! As the United States continues to look for ways to grow the game of golf through junior programs, the We Are Golf efforts, special women initiatives, family golf events, and creative pricing options, we might think about the roots of the game and refocus efforts on the core values that made this sport so special. Remembering that exceptional customer service throughout the entire golf experience is what keeps bringing that golfer back time and time again.
The game of golf is an addictive sport and one that many truly enjoy. It creates character and integrity and offers unique challenges all with a nice walk in the park. Let’s all take a few lessons from the Chinese culture on service and hospitality and work on our own turf to grow the game of golf as well!
Posted by Marilyn Harris
Tags: Average Greens Fees, China, Junior Golf Programs, Number of Golfers, We Are Golf
Posted in Economy, Family Golf, General Golf | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Rory McIlroy shot a 10-under 62 on Sunday en route to capturing the the Quail Hollow Championship. Rory is the ripe ole’ age of 20. He became the youngest player to win a PGA Tour event since Tiger Woods in 1996.
Meanwhile, halfway around the world, Ryo Ishikawa shot a record 58 on Sunday to win the The Crowns Championship in Japan. This is his seventh Japan Tour win. By the way, he is 18.
In my opinion, this is what golf needs. We need Rory, Ryo and the Anthony Kims of the world to step up and start winning tournaments like this. All three have a certain sense of flair like one Tiger Woods. And let’s face it, we need a little flair to drive us to the TV sets and watch golf. No offense against the Steve Strickers or the Lucas Golvers of golf. They just don’t do it for me like these other guys. Would you rather be watching a 20 year old kid who looks 13 with black curly hair hanging out of his cap who stands all of maybe 5′ 9″ who also has energy and enthusiasm? Or would you rather watch Stricker, Glover, Weir, etc.? I know the answer for me. Go young guys!!!!
Posted by Rod Snyder
Tags: Lucas Glover, Quail Hollow Championship, Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa, Steve Stricker, The Crowns Championship, Tiger Woods
Posted in General Golf, PGA, PGA Tour, Tiger Woods, Young golfers | No Comments »
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
2010 has proven to be Ernie Els come back year. He broke his 2 year winless streak by capturing the WGC Championship in Doral in March. Ernie then followed that victory when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill two weeks later giving him his 18th PGA Tour victory (two 2010 starts and two wins).
Back in 2006, Els put together a 3-year plan…. his goal: To challenge the his American rival…the number one player in the world….Tiger Woods. According to Els’ website, in 2007, he is quoted as saying… “I see 2007 as the start of a three-year plan where I totally re-dedicate myself to the game. I want to win more majors and start giving Tiger a run for his money. If you look at where he is at the top of the rankings, it’s a big lead so no one is going to get near him any time soon. I’ve got to give myself a three-year stretch to try to approach him and I really believe I can do it.” Needless to say, his may have become a little to aggressive in his planning process. Three years have since passed and Tiger remains number one.
However, with Tiger not in the equation the first 3 months of the 2010 golf season, Ernie reminded us of his golfing finesse. The Big Easy (nicknamed for his physical stature and effortless swing) showed his true talent that we all admired when he was on his game in the late 90’s and the early 2000 years. Despite his efforts and his knee injury of 2005, his last major win was at the 2002 Masters. That was eight years ago. Fast forward to 2010…..a year full of endless stories about Tiger’s fall from fame due to his “transgressions” resulting in his decision to take an indefinite (4 month) leave from the game of golf. With his “indefinite” leave coming to an end, Tiger has elected to return to golf at the 2010 Masters in Augusta.
This week, Tiger and Els will go head to head at the Masters. This is the first time Tiger is playing professional golf since November 2009. How will he fare? Will emotions get in the way of his true talent? Can Els give him a run for it? Els has finished as runner-up in six majors over the years. And, most notably runner-up finishes to Tiger (more than any other professional golfer). However, Els has always been described as the golfer with the right game to beat Tiger in a major.
Els is playing every shot and every hole for what it is – like he did before. Els currently leads the FedEx Cup point system and has won two of the four PGA Tour pre-Masters tournaments. The last person to win two of the four tournaments and go on to win the Masters was Tiger Woods in 2002. Can Els recreate Tiger’s 2002 tournament play record and come home with the Green Jacket this year?
Let the golf games begin…..this year’s Masters will certainly prove to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the year!
Posted by Marilyn Harris
Tags: Ernie Els, FedEx Cup, Masters, PGA
Posted in FedEx Cup, General Golf, PGA, Tiger Woods | No Comments »
Monday, March 29th, 2010
If you’re looking to increase the number of rounds of golf at your golf facility, you may want to take a few tips from the Wall Street Journal and give your facility more “female appeal”. According to WSJ, women have a high level of standard expectations of the golfing facility where they choose to golf….. “course operators vastly underestimate the significance to women of top-notch conditions, speed of play and the length of holes. They also tend to trivialize concerns such as having adequate drinking water and clean bathrooms on the course, clear directional signage and tee markers, well-stocked women’s merchandise sections in the pro shop and a friendly, welcoming staff attuned to women’s needs.”
Research studies show that women are actually willing to pay a premium for this “ideal golfing universe”; yes, they are willing to pay 8% to 15% more for these course amentities and services. So why is this round generating opportunity overlooked or worse yet, dismissed by golf facilities throughout the country? Is is because of the stigma that golf is a good old boys sport and that the good old boys’ standards are no equal match for that of our women? Or, is it because the course designs have always catered to longer holes…hence, the male population? Why not incorporate into the design of the course, forward tees that provide an enjoyable, yet challenging, opportuntiy for the ladies to have a “good” hole? No guys, it’s not just as simple as putting a tee box in the middle of the fairway…..it’s creating the right distance while incorporating interest and challenge for that women population. From a skill challenge this would be a great feather in your cap! Then add a few niceties and you may very well be onto driving more women to your golf course.
Women’s golf has only grown by 1% over the past 30 years. Perhaps it’s time to make a change and create an enviroment that drives more women golfers your way……p.s. don’t forget the clean bathrooms and flowers!
Posted by Marilyn Harris
Tags: rounds of golf, Wall Street Journal, Women's Golf
Posted in Economy, General Golf, Women's Golf | No Comments »
