The Social Golf Course | Now Available in Amazon

The Social Golf Course

The Social Golf Course: Increasing Rounds with Social Media by Zeb Welborn from 19th Hole Media and John Hakim from Greenskeper.org

The Social Golf Course

Download the eBook on Amazon for Free (Tomorrow Only)

John Hakim and I, Zeb Welborn are excited to announce that our new book, The Social Golf Course: Increasing Rounds with Social Media is now available on Amazon.

We are giving the book away for free tomorrow, Wednesday, February 26.  To get your free downloadable copy, please click on the link – The Social Golf Course.

The Social Golf Course Tournament at Los Serranos Country Club on March 14, 2014

To promote the book, we are having a hard launch on March 14, 2014.  We will be holding a book signing and golf event at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, CA.  If you’re interested in playing in the tournament, it will be $60 which will include a round of golf and a signed copy of our book, The Social Golf Course.  You must RSVP to attend this event by contacting Zeb no later than March 1, 2014.

Phone: 909 973 9089
Email: Zeb@WelbornMedia.com

Additional Information on The Social Golf Course

John Hakim was a guest on the Defining Success Podcast on July 22, 2013 when we discussed creating this book for the golf course industry.  It’s been a lengthy and rewarding process to create this book to help educate golf courses on how to use social media to reach more customers.

David Kramer, from Los Serranos Country Club wrote the foreword to our book and in the foreword, he wrote, “I’m certain owners and operators of businesses in other industries will find an inspiring introduction to the practical benefits social media can provide for improving your relationship building with your marketplace and patrons.”

A special thank you to my Dad, Larry and my Mom, Annie for helping to edit the book.  Your expertise and insights were invaluable.  And to my sister, Lacey for designing the cover, formatting the book and assisting in the editing of the book.

Lastly, I’d like to thank you for being involved with us.  I encourage you to download the book, rate and review it in Amazon.

Thank you!

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How Do We Get More Younger Golfers Playing Golf?

How do we get more younger golfers playing golf?

One of the biggest reasons why the golf industry has been struggling in current years is because we’ve become complacent and lacked innovation.  Our times have changed over the past couple of decades and the golf industry, as a whole, has been slow to adapt.

Junior golfers are an important component toward growing the game.  As older golfers leave the sport, we need to be inspiring more younger golfers to take up the game to fill in the gaps.  In order to do this we need to communicate with a younger generation . . . the way they prefer to communicate.

Traditional media like magazines, newspapers and television ads are not viable options in todays internet and social media age.  Young people are using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, YouTube videos and a variety of other to connect and communicate with one another.  They are also using those mediums to connect with their passions.

We are not giving young golfers the opportunity to connect with local golf courses and people in the golf community because, for the most part, local golf courses are not socially active online.

We’re missing out on the biggest opportunity of our time and are giving it up to other recreational sports and activities that are seizing this opportunity.  If we are to grow golf, we need to connect with younger golfers and speak their language using social media.

At 19th Hole Media, we’re helping to get the word out about social media and the impact it can have on the future of the golf course industry.  Please contact us to learn more about how we can get younger golfers playing at your golf course . . . Or, just to connect with us!

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Tournament at Western Hills to Kickoff New Pro Golf Tour

A golf tournament is set to take place on Monday, November 25 at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills, CA as a fundraiser to kickoff a new golf tour for professionals.  The new golf tour hopes to be able to give more money in prizes and charge less for entree fees.

They are looking to get 12 foursomes for the event and the cost is $160 per player, which includes a BBQ Lunch and prizes.

The event is being held by some great people who are working tirelessly to build a professional golf tour that offers enough prize money and value that golfers will continue to improve their game at the professional level.

As someone who is looking to promote and grow the game of golf, I know these individuals have their heads and hearts in the right place and are looking to make a difference to help grow and promote the game we all love.

If you love golf and want to see the game grow, I strongly encourage you to enter this golf tournament at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills, CA.

If you’re interested in entering this tournament or would like more information about it, please contact me, Zeb Welborn at 909 973 9089 or by email Zeb@WelbornMedia.com and I’ll get you in touch with the tournament organizers.

Golf Tournament at Western Hills Country Club

Golf Tournament at Western Hills Country Club

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California Golf Course Owner’s Association (CGCOA) Presentation on Social Media

The California Golf Course Owner’s Association (CGCOA) invited John Hakim, owner of Greenskeeper.org and myself, Zeb Welborn to speak to their members about the importance of social media on October 23, 2013.

California Golf Course Owner's Association CGCOA

California Golf Course Owner’s Association CGCOA

During the presentation we discussed the importance of social media and the impact it’s having on our economy and our golf courses.  We also gave a lot of practical examples on how to use social media effectively at the local golf course level.

We had a lot of great feedback from our webinar and were asked to come back to present again at another date in the future.

The California Golf Course Owner’s Association (CGCOA) is dedicated to the stimulation of market growth for California’s golf course industry. They promote collaborative advertising and promotional advertising programs encouraging more rounds of golf throughout California.

John Hakim and I love sharing our knowledge and expertise with the golf course industry.  If you’re in the golf course industry and you have questions regarding social media, contact me.

Zeb Welborn

Zeb@WelbornMedia.com

(909) 973 – 9089

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New Marketing Methods for Golf Courses

The Golf Course industry as a whole is way behind the curve when it comes to promoting the game and encouraging others to play it.  As a community, we need to work together to help grow the sport and encourage others to take up the game.  We have developed new marketing methods designed to help grow golf by implementing social media policies at local golf courses across the country.

Social media, in particular, Facebook can have a substantial impact on the growth of the game at the local level.  Local golf courses need to create a buzz and excitement around the events that are happening at their golf course.

If more golf courses can encourage more golfers in their local areas to take up golf, the golf industry will thrive for decades to come.  If we continue to market and promote the game like we have in the past, we will be killing the game we all love so much.

Other recreational sports are using Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms much more effectively than other sports and the golf industry is missing out on opportunities left and right.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help your golf course reach more customers and reach more customers more effectively than other traditional forms of advertising – email me at Zeb@WelbornMedia.com.

I’d also love to hear your thoughts on the video we created for 19th Hole Media – New Marketing Methods for Golf Courses.  Please visit our Facebook page to leave your comments for us to see how we can improve our presentation for future videos.

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19th Hole Media Social Media Clients

We feel very fortunate to work for our golf course clients in Southern California and Greenskeeper.org.  We love managing their social media presence and have built strong, long-lasting communities at our courses.  More golfers are being exposed to these golfers courses and playing them more often.

Personally, I’d like to take some time to acknowledge those golf courses on our blog in the hopes that you golfers out there will be able to make your way to them sometime in the near future.

San Dimas Canyon Golf Course is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a unique experience for the golfers in the Los Angeles area—a true “get away from it all” experience. The 6,400-yard, par 72 course runs along the base of the San Gabriels among the native California oak and other natural vegetation. San Dimas Canyon Golf Course was previously awarded “Best Course for the Dollar” in all of LA County by Greenskeeper.org and the banquet facilities won the Bride’s Choice Award by WeddingWire.com in 2010 and 2011.

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club is a public-access daily fee facility featuring an 18-hole championship-length golf course designed by PGA Tour professional Tom Lehman and well-respected local golf course architect, Casey O’Callaghan. Set amidst Trabuco Creek and The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, the 240-acre Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club provides an unforgettable golf experience on par with South Orange County’s finest high-end clubs. Conveniently located off Avery Parkway, Arroyo Trabuco offers unparalleled value in a pristine, park-like setting.

Greenskeeper.org is a free online community, golf social network, providing golf course reviews, aeration alerts, overseeding schedules, photos, specials, tee times, score tracking, outings, product reviews, and more.

We really are grateful that we get to work for such amazing organizations in the golf industry and, using social media, are exposing each of these businesses to more golfers and encouraging their golfers to play more often.  If you’re in Southern California, we strongly recommend visiting San Dimas Canyon Golf Course and Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club.  And, if you’ve never heard of Greenskeeper.org you need to check them out.

If you have any questions about how we can help use social media at your golf course or your golf-related business, don’t hesitate to contact us – Zeb@WelbornMedia.com or (909) 973 – 9089.

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Bunkers Paradise – An Online Golfing Community

For those of you that don’t know, I’m the host of the Defining Success Podcast, an online, interview-style radio show that aims to interview people from all walks of life to determine what it means to be successful.  In Episode 9, we talked with Ken Lee, the Editor-in-Chief at Bunkers Paradise, an online golfing community devoted to everything golf.

In the interview with Ken we discussed a variety of topics, but mainly focused on the impact social media has had on growing Bunkers Paradise and how he’s effectively managed to grow an online golfing community.

Ken Lee from Bunkers Paradise on Building a Golfing Community

Ken Lee

The online golfing community is set up to give golfers the ability to learn from other golfers who enjoy and love the great game of golf.

Ken, and the people at Bunkers Paradise like to have fun.  They make unique golfing videos, they review golf equipment and all in all just have a great time connecting with other golfers.

Social media has been critical to the success of Bunkers Paradise.  Their enthusiasm using social networks has encouraged more and more golfers to partake in online golfing activities, connect with other golfers and play more golf.

“Social media has been our forum for success,” Ken said.

Online Golfing Community - Bunkers Paradise and 19th Hole Media with Ken Lee on the Defining Success Podcast

Bunkers Paradise

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A 19th Hole Story by Bob Pouliot

Larry Velte, Bob Pouliot, Dave Kelley and Jeff Kelley

Larry Velte, Bob Pouliot, Dave Kelley and Jeff Kelley

This took place in October of 1992 …

Back in the day when Dave & Jeff Kelley, Larry Velte and I had a regular Saturday starting time on the north, we would team up against each other. This particular day, Dave and I teamed up against Larry & Jeff…

It was a very windy day… Due to the wind, we had an erratic match going, with the lead changing back and forth. We approached the par 3, 12th. Dave and I had the tee, set at 185 yds.. The wind was almost at gale force, in the direction of the green.

Dave selected a club and was getting ready to tee off… I interrupted and asked “Dave, what club are you hitting…?” .. Dave answered “5 iron.”.

I said… “Dave.. don’t you feel that wind? that’s WAY to much club…” Dave asked: “What club are you using..?” I responded “7 iron…” and wouldn’t let up…

Dave backed off and selected another club… and was getting ready to tee of again. I asked… “What club do you have now?” Dave responded.. “6 iron” Dave… (I ragged on him) “THAT’S WAY TO MUCH CLUB…”

Dave, a little irritated by now, backed off and asked again…”WHAT CLUB ARE YOU USING?”, I responded again 7 iron…”

Dave went to get another club… and I figured I might as well tee off…which I did… and badly. Shanked the ball off to the right..

Dave steps up to his ball… makes great contact…. hits the green… takes 2 bounces…goes in the hole..

I asked….”Dave…What club did you hit?” Dave responded “7 iron.” …… But I just used it to show you that you were WRONG!!!! I don’t remember who won the match…

Anecdote: The following week, unbeknownst to Dave, I hid a bottle of champagne in my bag… We approached the 12th … I popped the bottle

We all toasted Dave’s first Hole-in-ONE.. and still his only…

–Bob Pouliot

Do you have a 19th Hole Story you’d like to share?  Please contact me to post your story of an experience you had on the golf course.

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Building an Online Golfing Community

We met Ken Lee from Bunkers Paradise while we were managing the Twitter account for Los Serranos Country Club in 2012.  Ken is helping to build an online golfing community at Bunkers Paradise to help promote the game of golf and encourage more golfers to take up the game.

At the time, Bunkers Paradise had just begun to develop its online following and had really just started utilizing social media. Today, Bunkers Paradise is now getting recognized by almost every single major golf company. Everyone is interested in having the Editor in Chief of Bunkers Paradise try out there products and share their findings with their following.

In the following interview with Ken Lee, we learn how he was able to build a strong golfing community and how he’s used that to reach more golfers and generate value for his organization. By building and managing his following online Ken Lee has created a resource where golfers feel comfortable connecting with one another and sharing their ideas and opinions. And, as a business, Bunkers Paradise has prospered.

The previous interview was taken from the Defining Success Podcast, managed by myself and is devoted towards changing the way we view success. The podcast features interviews from people who love what they do, are good at it and are using their skills to help others.

We can help you build an online golfing community at your local golf course. Ken Lee discusses the importance of quality over quantity and we couldn’t agree more. We can help your golf course reach more customers, encourage golfers to play more rounds and generate more sales for your golf course. If you’d like to find out more about what we do or how we’ve been able to help golf courses across Southern California, please contact Zeb Welborn by email at Zeb@WelbornMedia.com or by phone at (909) 973 – 9089.

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My Brother and His Love for Golf

by Lacey Welborn

lacey-and-zebWhen we were little Zeb was an excellent big brother. He always looked out for my twin brother and me, and he was a good role model for us. Zeb was the first to try baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis and golf. He loved sports from the beginning and, maybe because we wanted to be more like him, so did we. We played sports outside all the time with other kids in our neighborhood. It was so much fun.

I remember one time Zeb showed me a golf course he designed. I remember thinking it was a weird thing for him to do, but he was excited about. That was going to be his golf course.

I played most of the sports my brother did, but I grew to love soccer and track and field. I was fast. I could use my speed to beat all the other girls on the field. Zeb will tell you that he had a lot to do with my speed; if I didn’t grow up playing sports with him and his speed pushing me to go faster then I would never have gotten a scholarship for track and field… and maybe he’s right.

Being able to run fast doesn’t help much on the golf course. I never developed the same love for golf as Zeb. He loved being at the golf course so much he got his first job there. And then he got a 2nd job at another golf course and stayed there for years. Even after that, he got his teaching credential and coached the high school golf team.

He has always been connected to the game of golf.

Now that we’re older Zeb is still an excellent big brother. We’ve been working together for a few years now and he is still a good role model.

I built this site for my brother’s birthday. I know this is a perfect gift for him. He can combine his love of golf with his love of helping passionate business owners grow their business. Now he can share his experience and knowledge in this place.

Happy Birthday Brother!

Welborn High Five!

Welborn High Five!

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