Recent Articles
Golfers Accomplish a 64 million to 1 Feat At Panther Valley Golf & Country Club
Four Golfers, Jerome Rossman, Bob Russell, John Abromitis and Paul Bederson were playing in the annual Hackettstown Hospital Charity Golf Event held at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club in Allamuchy NJ. When they got to the 13th hole, there was a hole-in-one contest for a car on the 180 yard par three. Jokingly, one of them suggested that before hitting their shots, if they got a hole-in-one, they would split the prize. After some discussion they agreed. The first golfer Mr. Rossman stood up at the tee and proceeded to put his shot in the hole. The next two hit theirs on the green. The fourth golfer Paul Bederson got up and hit his into the hole as well. According to golf statisticians the odds of two people getting a hole-in-one in the same foursome in the same round are 64 million to one! Unfortunately the second hole-in-one didn’t win a second car but they did wind up splitting the proceeds when they sold the car they won.
Interestingly a foursome on another green who couldn’t see the golfers on 13 but could hear them surmised that they got a hole-in-one when they heard the uproar. However when they heard it a second time they figured that that it was just some guys who drank too much and were making noise. Little did they suspect it was a second hole-in-one.
Hole 13 at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club
Social Media in Scottish Golf Travel on The Scottish Golf Podcast
Ruairidh Macdonald, the host of The Scottish Golf Podcast interviewed me about my book, The Social Golf Course. Listen to the episode titled, Social Media in Scottish Golf Travel, by clicking on the link.
During the interview we talk about my Scottish heritage and how I’ve been able to help golf courses reach more customers and get golfers to play more often using social media.
Scottish Golf Podcast
The Scottish Golf Podcast launched to enhance the travelling golfers understanding of the Scottish golf scene. For too long, the traveling golfer been puzzled by what awaits them on this golf course infested isle. The podcast hopes to unearth the gems of Scotland while showcasing the great variation of golf courses, hotels and activities this great country has to offer. Make the trip to Scotland the most fulfilling you can at any budget and experience all that Scotland has to offer.
The Scottish Golf Podcast aims to:
- Showcase Scotland as truly the best golf destination by covering a wide spectrum of activities that the country has to offer golfers
- We want to distribute revenue generated through golf tourism throughout Scotland and away from the statistic ’75% of revenue, created by 25% of courses’
- Create a better experience for you the inbound travelling golfer and create a platform where golfers can share great Scottish Golf experiences
I had a fantastic time chatting with Ruairidh and hope one day to get the chance to play at the home of golf. If I do, I’ll definitely be hitting up my good friend, Ruairidh.
Listen to my interview with Ruiaridh Macdonald on the Scottish Golf Podcast.
Share This Article!
Friday Foursome with Zeb Welborn from The Social Golf Course
Immediately following the launch of our book, The Social Golf Course, John Hakim and I headed to Phoenix to meet with Troon Golf, a golf management company located in Phoenix, Arizona. I had been communicating with Ricky Potts through his Google+ Golf Community and randomly, John Hakim scheduled an appointment with Troon Golf and Ricky Potts was in attendance.
We hit it off immediately, sharing ideas about social media, golf and it was a great experience along with a great lunch.
We connected further in conversations on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter until a last-minute dropout on his schedule put me on his show, Friday Foursome which he co-hosts with Jason Boslow and Les Bailey.
It was so much fun talking with Ricky, Jason and Les about my book, The Social Golf Course and we had such a great time chatting that Ricky plans on having both John Hakim and I back at a later date for another Friday Foursome.
During the interview I chat about our book, the future of social media and even answered some random, rapid-fire questions about myself, golf and other random bits of information. Loved the light-hearted tone of the interview and like I said, I had a blast.
A big thanks to Ricky Potts, Troon Golf, Jason Boslow, and Les Bailey for the opportunity to share my book and introduce myself to the Google+ Golf Community.
Share This Article!
California Golf Course Owner’s Association Presentation on The Social Golf Course
John Hakim from Greenskeeper.org and I presented a webinar to the California Golf Course Owner’s Association (CGCOA) on April 10, 2014.
The webinar focused on our book, The Social Golf Course and highlighted social media and how to use it effectively at the local golf course level. The webinar was the largest webinar the CGCOA has put on and we had a fantastic time sharing our knowledge of social media and golf with the CGCOA members.
California Golf Course Owner’s Association
The Social Golf Course: Increasing Rounds with Social Media is an introduction to golf course marketing with social media. Social media is not just a marketing and sales tool. It creates word-of-mouth excitement, helps attracts more golfers and gets golfers to play golf more often. help build business.
The CGCOA aims to enhance the lives of golf course owners by making their businesses more profitable, more efficient, and better managed. They provide exceptional products and services to every type of owner – from the family-owned 9-hole course to the multi-course corporation.
A special thank you to Marc Connerly for giving us the opportunity to speak with the California Golf Course Owner’s Association. Looking forward to being involved with the CGCOA for many years to come.
If you have questions about social media marketing for golf courses, contact me, Zeb Welborn at 909 973 9089 or by email Zeb@WelbornMedia.com
Share This Article!
Zeb Welborn Discusses The Social Golf Course on Golf Talk Live
Had a blast being interviewed by Ted J. Odorico on Golf Talk Live about my book, The Social Golf Course on March 13, 2014.
Listen to the interview here – http://www.blogtalkradio.com/golftalklive/2014/03/13/mar-13th-2014–coaches-corner-plus-guest-michele-trimarche-zeb-welborn
Golf Talk Live with Ted Odorico
Golf Talk Live happens every Thursday starting at 6pm PST and Ted interviews “some of the best teachers, club makers, and golf industry types around the world.
Ted’s show starts off with an interactive segment between golfer and teacher. It’s an opportunity to talk with some of the best instructors in golf like:
- Clint Wright – PGA Teaching Professional at R3 Golf Academy.
- Stan Moore – PGA Teaching Professional at BocaRatonGolfLesson.com.
- Brian Dobbie – PGA Golf Professional at Montclair Golf Club, New Jersey.
He then transitions to a call in session from 6PM – 7PM CST where golfers can get some great tips from the “Coaches Corner” panel.
Later in the show, Ted interviewed PGA/LPGA Class A Professional – Michele Trimarche . . . And last, but certainly not least, me, Zeb Welborn to discuss the launch of “The Social Golf Course”.
During the interview we discussed The Social Golf Course, a book co-authored by Zeb Welborn of 19th Hole Media and John Hakim of Greenskeeper.org. During the interview I was able to share my thoughts on social media, golf and the golf course industry. Ted had some questions about his social media presence too and I was able to help him out with that a little bit as well.
All in all, I had a blast being on Ted’s Golf Talk Live and would encourage you to take a listen!
Mar. 13th, 2014 – Coaches Corner plus Guest- Michele Trimarche & Zeb Welborn
Ted Odorico
Share This Article!
Golf Instruction Used To Be Simple
In the battle of simplicity vs. complexity, simplicity wins, every time. We gravitate toward products and services that eliminate complexity from our lives, and we rail against the things that complicate matters and make us feel stupid.
Back in the days of the three-martini lunch, golf instruction was simple and appealing. As a country club member you had a pro at your disposal. He’d work with you on the driving range, play with you, coach you to get better, and monitor your progress.
It was a personalized, one-on-one experience.
No two lessons were the same. He worked with the swing you had, and helped you build the skills you needed to score well on the golf course.
Accountability was built in… You’d practice because you knew the pro was keeping an eye on your progress.
But those days are gone.
Sam Adams Golf Instruction Used to Be Simple
Today, less than 5% of all golfers have a relationship with a golf pro. According to the NGF, less than half of all golfers have ever taken a lesson, and when they do they are often disappointed. There are 27 million golfers, but less than 4 million lessons in any given year. Maybe we should think about why that is…
Because most lessons are totally intimidating, especially for women. Because most instructors make them way too complex! And most of all, because they frequently don’t work.
It is a rare instructor who sends the student off with fewer than five or six “things to work on.” According to Phil Mickelson, even the tour gurus are often guilty of over-instruction. “Can’t you just give me one thing to work on?”
Often it’s a checklist of a dozen mechanical issues that the average guy can’t possibly grasp, much less incorporate into his game. The more technical the lesson is, the worse it gets.
Group lessons and most golf schools are especially ineffective. Common complaints include: “I came back worse than when I started.” “It was just way too technical.” “He didn’t give me anything positive, it was all about what I was doing wrong.”
Video analysis only helps the most analytical, visual learners; Maybe one half of one percent of the golfing population. And yet, instructors routinely use stop motion video to analyze every position and point out every flaw.
More often than not, it’s just confusing and demoralizing for the student.
In an issue of Golf Digest, Jim Flick, one of the top five teachers of all time, wrote an article that sums up the problem with modern golf instruction:
“A lot of today’s teachers are enamored with what works for the tour pros, and they give the same information to their higher-handicap students… In general, trying to swing like most of today’s tour pros will make the average golfer – say a 5 handicap or higher, – only worse.”
Rather than working with the student’s natural swing, today’s teachers tell everyone to emulate Tiger or some other tour player.
They bottom line is that if the golf industry is going to turn things around, the methods of instruction HAVE to change. We’ve got to make it simple, enjoyable and fun.
If you like what I write about I would love more likes on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/racingdonkey. Also leave comments about what you would like to see.
Also check out my websites www.Essentiallygolf.com and www.Racingdonkey.com. There are plenty tips and info on the blog and video pages. Check out our store on either site for all your golf needs.
Share This Article!
