The recent debacle in Detroit on the NBA basketball court must leave one to wonder about a double standard, or at the very least confirm that golfers are a breed apart. How can anyone compare the scenes from Detroit with highly paid "professionals"...Compare this to Davis Love in California (PGA Tour Feb, 2004) and his desire to confront a spectator for heckling. Davis received various comments in the press, but regardless he handled the matter in a professional manner. I would suggest that golf enjoys this type of demeanor throughout the sport, from weekend amateur to top professionals.
Quality hotels - The difference between a mediocre hotel experience and exceptional can often be the difference in a member of staff''s attitude, their desire to go that extra mile to make you feel as welcome as possible. Having recently traveled and seen some outstanding hotel accommodations, the importance of friendly, happy people on the front line of any service business is only reinforced. The "can do" attitude is contagious; nothing is too much trouble, the guests stay is paramount. Over the years and my travel I have become fairly jaded and cynical, it is fairly easy to identify the member of staff who is only acting the part as compared to the employee who genuinely wants to impact your experience. How do you train for that? Years ago, I recall being at the Four Season on the Big Island of Hawaii and remember them saying they only hired happy people...The skills can always be trained..happiness is a slower learning curve! Leaving aside the quality of the service you receive, have you ever tried to define, in your mind, what a great hotel room provides....(for holiday stays)....a fireplace in the room...minibar with kettle....comfortable bed with plenty of pillows....twin sinks....soaking tub....music sound system with CD's....plenty of hanging space and storage....unpacking area....a wonderful view....sitting area....morning newspaper delivered....thoughtfully located clocks in the room....dressing gown....mirrors in places that are useful, particularly for lady guests....all simple things but it is remarkable the number of hotels which can miss the obvious.
Golf in New Zealand - One general comment...excellent. It does not enjoy the depth of courses that the British Isles possesses, but the top courses are outstanding. Coupled with exceptional accommodations, wineries, food, sightseeing and charming people it is a destination which has only one way to go...UP. I highly encourage a visit before some of the areas lose their charm, although the perception of distance will slow down the rate of growth.
Staying in touch - As someone that travels, I firmly believe in, and embrace the technologies of change. VoIP is a technology which permits calls from any computer with a broadband connection. Sitting in my hotel room in New Zealand, people called me on a local Atlanta, Georgia phone number. I called my office at a cost of 2 cents/minute. Try http://www.skype.com/ or http://www.vonage.com/ , this is all wonderful technology that makes travel all the easier, if you carry a laptop (there has to be some upside!)
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Thanksgiving Musings
Industry Trends - I was involved in a rather enlightening conversation between the Directors of Golf at a few of the more established clubs on the East Coast when the conversation turned to the falling number of rounds played at their courses. The membership roles are still full...but people are playing less. Why? Well, the answers appear many and societal...working Dad's in the new millennium are more involved in their children’s activities on the weekends....less golf. In the new economy, company entertainment budgets are curtailed...less golf. Golf still remains a time consuming pastime and people struggle with the luxury of 5+ hours out of contact...less golf. On the plus side of the ledger is the aging of the baby boomer generation and pending retirement...but the challenges mentioned above are real and can cause significant cash flow pressures on a club. It can become somewhat of a vicious cycle with the remaining active members shouldering more and more of the burden. Clubs are resorting to many different approaches to resolve these challenges, the days of assessments are mostly gone, creative ideas to increase traffic during slower periods, extend seasons, adjust pricing to reflect reality, are all tactics which make sense.
The Sanctuary - opened some 5 months late on August 20, this deluxe hotel on Kiawah Island is positioned to directly challenge the Cloister at Sea Island provides a perfectly adequate deluxe experience. Its competition is more the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island than the Cloisters. The Sanctuary is a corporate hotel with meeting signs in the lobby! The rooms are well designed, wireless internet access throughout the hotel, a workout room which was designed in the days of the three martini lunch! The golf experience is good, not great. The Ocean Course is their crown jewel....for consistency of experience with caddies and course conditioning, leaving aside superb hotel service, the Sanctuary is no Cloister. It is worthwhile visiting, but set your expectations in the realistic level.
Pro-Ams - I have been fortunate over the years to play in the Pro-Am before various PGA Tour events....a fun day, no question. But is it all it is cracked up to be and worth the cost involved...hmmm. You are in the professionals office, and the better they are know (read prominent) the generally, less interaction you will enjoy. All a bit of a show at best. Not long ago I was discussing the ill fated comments of Jan Stephenson with a retired senior golf figure...he agreed with Jan's view (relating to the LPGA), possibly her words could have better chosen. His view was the Pro-Am day is the most important day for the tour...that is the day that pays the bills...if the CEO & Chairman of the sponsoring company do not believe the event has value to their organization, they will quickly find alternative venues to spend their entertainment & promotional dollars. The PGA Tour has enjoyed unprecedented growth and long may it continue, but the players should never forget on which their success is based. In closing, I recently had the good fortune to play with Bill Haas (son of Jay) in a pro-am event. What a fine young man. Personable...and a great game.
Ryder Cup - It strikes me that for whatever reason, many people like to analyze the Ryder Cup Matches ad nauseum. Golf is an individual sport and regardless of effort or intent, will never be a team endeavor. Golfers, by definition are not reliant on others. As I travelled back to the UK the week after the matches, the press was ridiculing Hal Sutton's captaincy, in a way that I did not believe happened in the US press. The K Club in Ireland for the 2006 Matches shall be a decent venue. The course is not what one thinks of as great Irish links but it is the venue for whatever reason and doubtless the event will be as memorable as so many before.
Golf & Country club leadership structures - I am very fortunate to belong to different golf clubs in the United States and a recent exchange focused my mind on the significant chasm which exists between "Board Managed" and "Benevolent Dictator" managed facilities. The exchange involved a membership status change and the evidence I needed to provide to the Board. It is very sad to me that as a member of a private club, my word is not accepted as fact, due to the behavior of others. Rather, the club needs documents to confirm my request. Compare this scenario with the benevolent dictatorship which would surely show you the door to the club for behaving in such a fashion. I think it is accepted by many knowledgeable people that the best clubs are those run by an individual who understands the club vision. As Clifford Roberts once noted, "...the best committee is a three man affair, with two members absent." All around us we standards of behavior are dropping and if we cannot expect private clubs to demand behavior above reproach, then who should be expect it from?
Palmetto Bluff - Located about 45 minutes from Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Bluff is a 22,000 acre project which opened in September. The goal of the developer (Duke Energy through its Crescent Resource arm) is to create destination. Like Nantucket or Aspen. To that end they have built a village, opened an Auberge Inn and opened a Nicklaus designed golf course. The project is massive but built at the highest quality. Village homes start at $950,000 and have evidently been snapped up. The Auberge Inn has done extremely well since opening with exceptionally high occupancy rates. The view from the village across the Low Country scenery is fabulous. This is a project unlike any that I have seen in the United States. It is much more than a golf community and attempts to bring together the finest attributes of the most popular destinations alongside a lifestyle living environment. As with anything, it is exceptionally difficult to manufacture something to make it look natural...time will tell. Definitely worth a visit and if the Low Country is an area you are considering relocating to, be sure to put it onto your radar screen.
The Sanctuary - opened some 5 months late on August 20, this deluxe hotel on Kiawah Island is positioned to directly challenge the Cloister at Sea Island provides a perfectly adequate deluxe experience. Its competition is more the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island than the Cloisters. The Sanctuary is a corporate hotel with meeting signs in the lobby! The rooms are well designed, wireless internet access throughout the hotel, a workout room which was designed in the days of the three martini lunch! The golf experience is good, not great. The Ocean Course is their crown jewel....for consistency of experience with caddies and course conditioning, leaving aside superb hotel service, the Sanctuary is no Cloister. It is worthwhile visiting, but set your expectations in the realistic level.
Pro-Ams - I have been fortunate over the years to play in the Pro-Am before various PGA Tour events....a fun day, no question. But is it all it is cracked up to be and worth the cost involved...hmmm. You are in the professionals office, and the better they are know (read prominent) the generally, less interaction you will enjoy. All a bit of a show at best. Not long ago I was discussing the ill fated comments of Jan Stephenson with a retired senior golf figure...he agreed with Jan's view (relating to the LPGA), possibly her words could have better chosen. His view was the Pro-Am day is the most important day for the tour...that is the day that pays the bills...if the CEO & Chairman of the sponsoring company do not believe the event has value to their organization, they will quickly find alternative venues to spend their entertainment & promotional dollars. The PGA Tour has enjoyed unprecedented growth and long may it continue, but the players should never forget on which their success is based. In closing, I recently had the good fortune to play with Bill Haas (son of Jay) in a pro-am event. What a fine young man. Personable...and a great game.
Ryder Cup - It strikes me that for whatever reason, many people like to analyze the Ryder Cup Matches ad nauseum. Golf is an individual sport and regardless of effort or intent, will never be a team endeavor. Golfers, by definition are not reliant on others. As I travelled back to the UK the week after the matches, the press was ridiculing Hal Sutton's captaincy, in a way that I did not believe happened in the US press. The K Club in Ireland for the 2006 Matches shall be a decent venue. The course is not what one thinks of as great Irish links but it is the venue for whatever reason and doubtless the event will be as memorable as so many before.
Golf & Country club leadership structures - I am very fortunate to belong to different golf clubs in the United States and a recent exchange focused my mind on the significant chasm which exists between "Board Managed" and "Benevolent Dictator" managed facilities. The exchange involved a membership status change and the evidence I needed to provide to the Board. It is very sad to me that as a member of a private club, my word is not accepted as fact, due to the behavior of others. Rather, the club needs documents to confirm my request. Compare this scenario with the benevolent dictatorship which would surely show you the door to the club for behaving in such a fashion. I think it is accepted by many knowledgeable people that the best clubs are those run by an individual who understands the club vision. As Clifford Roberts once noted, "...the best committee is a three man affair, with two members absent." All around us we standards of behavior are dropping and if we cannot expect private clubs to demand behavior above reproach, then who should be expect it from?
Palmetto Bluff - Located about 45 minutes from Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Bluff is a 22,000 acre project which opened in September. The goal of the developer (Duke Energy through its Crescent Resource arm) is to create destination. Like Nantucket or Aspen. To that end they have built a village, opened an Auberge Inn and opened a Nicklaus designed golf course. The project is massive but built at the highest quality. Village homes start at $950,000 and have evidently been snapped up. The Auberge Inn has done extremely well since opening with exceptionally high occupancy rates. The view from the village across the Low Country scenery is fabulous. This is a project unlike any that I have seen in the United States. It is much more than a golf community and attempts to bring together the finest attributes of the most popular destinations alongside a lifestyle living environment. As with anything, it is exceptionally difficult to manufacture something to make it look natural...time will tell. Definitely worth a visit and if the Low Country is an area you are considering relocating to, be sure to put it onto your radar screen.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Thoughts for the fall season
So often I am asked, "...what is your favorite course?"...my answer is consistent. None. Golf is about the people you are with. I would gladly play golf at any local municipal course, if I had a group of friends with me. Of course, if your round of golf is played at a great facility, so much the better, but the defining memory of the day shall be the interaction with your fellow golfers. As we all know, golf is the most humbling sport but one must keep it all in perspective. Enjoy the camaraderie of the sport...the banter, the competition...and the terrific people you will doubtless meet.
Golf Travel Bags - Whether traveling around the globe or for a short weekend trip, what is the best Golf Bag Travel cover...without question, a cover which provides sufficient protection with a strong flexible cover along with some component which is hard sided, e.g. Club Glove or ArmorGear. While the hard sided covers looks safe and secure, they are thoroughly useless when you arrive at your destination...they do not fit in rental cars/vans, etc. During 20 years of traveling the world, I have not encountered any problems with well made soft sided covers.
Caddies - Often times, an integral part of a great golf experience is the caddy. Knowledgeable caddies are a wonderful asset to any golf course. However, it constantly amazes how poorly some golf clubs operate their caddy programs. In today’s economy it is grossly unrealistic and unfair to expect any person to sit and wait all day in the caddy shack in the hope they MAY get work. A fair caddy program must be in place if a club expects to retain qualified caddies. Either the caddies are assigned to players the day before or thereafter the golfer is liable to pay the caddy fees, or a club rule which requires caddies to be employed if they are available when you start your round. There are any number of solutions which work...but, as with anything, they must be fair to both parties to be successful.
On the theme of caddies, my favorite caddy story is from Lewis Grizzard, the Southern columnist who traveled with us on a few occasions...playing golf (poorly) at Nairn in the north of Scotland he hit yet another bad shot on #17, slammed his club down and taking his frustration out on his caddy, said, "you could be the worst caddy in the world"...to which his caddy said, without flinching, "...nae sir, that would have been to great of a coincidence".
Frequent Flyer/Loyalty Programs - As a frequent traveler and also involved in the travel business I have a curious view of loyalty programs. I have finally come to the conclusion that with the current turmoil of legacy airlines, the very best program is Starwood Hotel Program. Reason being, that they do not have blackout dates for rooms....if one is available, you can book. You can also transfer points to frequent flyer programs as needed. As the legacy airlines struggle and point to point (domestic USA fares) fall, you can generally buy flights cheaper than using your accumulated miles to find scarce (reward) seats. An article in the Economist magazine two years ago confirmed the view that airlines are adding significantly more miles to travelers accounts, than they are providing in redeemable opportunities to spend these miles.
Golf Travel Bags - Whether traveling around the globe or for a short weekend trip, what is the best Golf Bag Travel cover...without question, a cover which provides sufficient protection with a strong flexible cover along with some component which is hard sided, e.g. Club Glove or ArmorGear. While the hard sided covers looks safe and secure, they are thoroughly useless when you arrive at your destination...they do not fit in rental cars/vans, etc. During 20 years of traveling the world, I have not encountered any problems with well made soft sided covers.
Caddies - Often times, an integral part of a great golf experience is the caddy. Knowledgeable caddies are a wonderful asset to any golf course. However, it constantly amazes how poorly some golf clubs operate their caddy programs. In today’s economy it is grossly unrealistic and unfair to expect any person to sit and wait all day in the caddy shack in the hope they MAY get work. A fair caddy program must be in place if a club expects to retain qualified caddies. Either the caddies are assigned to players the day before or thereafter the golfer is liable to pay the caddy fees, or a club rule which requires caddies to be employed if they are available when you start your round. There are any number of solutions which work...but, as with anything, they must be fair to both parties to be successful.
On the theme of caddies, my favorite caddy story is from Lewis Grizzard, the Southern columnist who traveled with us on a few occasions...playing golf (poorly) at Nairn in the north of Scotland he hit yet another bad shot on #17, slammed his club down and taking his frustration out on his caddy, said, "you could be the worst caddy in the world"...to which his caddy said, without flinching, "...nae sir, that would have been to great of a coincidence".
Frequent Flyer/Loyalty Programs - As a frequent traveler and also involved in the travel business I have a curious view of loyalty programs. I have finally come to the conclusion that with the current turmoil of legacy airlines, the very best program is Starwood Hotel Program. Reason being, that they do not have blackout dates for rooms....if one is available, you can book. You can also transfer points to frequent flyer programs as needed. As the legacy airlines struggle and point to point (domestic USA fares) fall, you can generally buy flights cheaper than using your accumulated miles to find scarce (reward) seats. An article in the Economist magazine two years ago confirmed the view that airlines are adding significantly more miles to travelers accounts, than they are providing in redeemable opportunities to spend these miles.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Golf & Travel Thoughts
Golf has been front and center of my lifestyle (and career) for many years. During this time I have been fortunate to meet and play golf with a wide range of fascinating characters. I also have been blessed to play golf in some of the most remarkable venues around the world. As our business has grown, so have my opportunities to experience some of the most interesting and challenging golf courses and ancillary endeavors. Insofar as much of my time is spent with golfers, talking golf, I feel there may be some benefit to put my comments and experiences to paper and share them. Currently the plan is to update this blog from time to time as the information warrants, keep it simple and concise, with the knowledge that I shall gladly amplify or answer any questions which may arise. This is not sales sheet, but rather my musings on interesting ideas within the golf world;
Titleist Performance Institute - in Oceanside, CA....$3M later it reopened in December 2003 and focuses on the swing, strength & health of the golfers. Primarily designed for their Tour Staff Players, they do provide limited access to amateur golfers throughout the year (approx 600 annually). The 36 acre facility is state of the art with three dimensional swing analysis amongst other bells & whistles. For the golfer who enjoys being at the cutting edge of technology, this is very much inside the ropes. Other manufacturers have testing facilities, but at the current time, this is leader in the clubhouse.
TopGolf UK- an interesting concept that revolves around one patent....a golf ball fitted with a microchip that records every time it is hit! Styled as a driving range, the golfer then buys a predetermined number of range balls and hits to targets. The targets recognize which ball landed where and who hit it....this information is then displayed on a screen in your hitting bay. It is a combination bowling, darts and golf. Currently two ranges in the London, England area with plans to expand to USA and Asia. On two days I watched the "golfers"...to the majority this is bat ball. Most likely they shall never walk on a golf course....but as they drink beer and engage in games of skill with their friends, it opens up a new audience to a "kind of" golf. Each golf ball retains the data on every shot and the central database records every time a player hit a ball, when, how often, etc. Is the player improving, is he a target for lessons? Special offers? Fascinating business model.
Sand Hills - Built in the 1990's in Nebraska by the team of Crenshaw/Coore. Construction costs were $1M, of which the majority of these funds were for irrigation. The natural green sites are remarkable. It vaulted to a Top 10 listing the year after it opened. Having finally played there in early August, it surpassed my lofty expectations. A wonderful golf experience. Many of the green sites are surrounded by bunkering which is completely natural....created by cattle on the fence line! Sand Hills is located 50 miles north of North Platte, Nebraska. If you are given a chance to play at Sand Hills....go. This is pure golf. Eat, sleep, golf.....and then repeat.
Whistling Straits - I have the good fortune to play the venue for the 2005 PGA Championship the week after the event. It is an interesting course, and very hard. The fairways are narrow and unforgiving. A fun golf experience but due to the heavy post event (PGA Championship)play....tee times in the morning are preferred. We started at 2:10pm and finished at 7:50pm. Pete Dye did a remarkable job at creating a natual look. Opened in 2001, the Riverbend Club at Kohler is a private, members club within the Kohler complex. The club has 30 bedrooms in the former Mansion of the last Kohler family member to be Govenor of Wisconsin. It is a delightful building, very reminiscent of your favourite country house in the British Isles. The service is excellent and if you have the opportunity it is worthy of a visit.
Sea Island, Georgia - The Jones have family have cherished Sea Island for many decades and with the recent additional of the Golf Lodge and the pending reopening (in 2006) of the Cloister, they shall have the greatest, golf resort on the east coast. For a quality experience which also includes tremendous family activities, I believe Sea Island is incomparable. The courses are invariably in excellent condition and the level of service is second to none
Titleist Performance Institute - in Oceanside, CA....$3M later it reopened in December 2003 and focuses on the swing, strength & health of the golfers. Primarily designed for their Tour Staff Players, they do provide limited access to amateur golfers throughout the year (approx 600 annually). The 36 acre facility is state of the art with three dimensional swing analysis amongst other bells & whistles. For the golfer who enjoys being at the cutting edge of technology, this is very much inside the ropes. Other manufacturers have testing facilities, but at the current time, this is leader in the clubhouse.
TopGolf UK- an interesting concept that revolves around one patent....a golf ball fitted with a microchip that records every time it is hit! Styled as a driving range, the golfer then buys a predetermined number of range balls and hits to targets. The targets recognize which ball landed where and who hit it....this information is then displayed on a screen in your hitting bay. It is a combination bowling, darts and golf. Currently two ranges in the London, England area with plans to expand to USA and Asia. On two days I watched the "golfers"...to the majority this is bat ball. Most likely they shall never walk on a golf course....but as they drink beer and engage in games of skill with their friends, it opens up a new audience to a "kind of" golf. Each golf ball retains the data on every shot and the central database records every time a player hit a ball, when, how often, etc. Is the player improving, is he a target for lessons? Special offers? Fascinating business model.
Sand Hills - Built in the 1990's in Nebraska by the team of Crenshaw/Coore. Construction costs were $1M, of which the majority of these funds were for irrigation. The natural green sites are remarkable. It vaulted to a Top 10 listing the year after it opened. Having finally played there in early August, it surpassed my lofty expectations. A wonderful golf experience. Many of the green sites are surrounded by bunkering which is completely natural....created by cattle on the fence line! Sand Hills is located 50 miles north of North Platte, Nebraska. If you are given a chance to play at Sand Hills....go. This is pure golf. Eat, sleep, golf.....and then repeat.
Whistling Straits - I have the good fortune to play the venue for the 2005 PGA Championship the week after the event. It is an interesting course, and very hard. The fairways are narrow and unforgiving. A fun golf experience but due to the heavy post event (PGA Championship)play....tee times in the morning are preferred. We started at 2:10pm and finished at 7:50pm. Pete Dye did a remarkable job at creating a natual look. Opened in 2001, the Riverbend Club at Kohler is a private, members club within the Kohler complex. The club has 30 bedrooms in the former Mansion of the last Kohler family member to be Govenor of Wisconsin. It is a delightful building, very reminiscent of your favourite country house in the British Isles. The service is excellent and if you have the opportunity it is worthy of a visit.
Sea Island, Georgia - The Jones have family have cherished Sea Island for many decades and with the recent additional of the Golf Lodge and the pending reopening (in 2006) of the Cloister, they shall have the greatest, golf resort on the east coast. For a quality experience which also includes tremendous family activities, I believe Sea Island is incomparable. The courses are invariably in excellent condition and the level of service is second to none
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