MGN ON THE ROAD

Traverse City-

The Park Place was gussied up with all things delightful. It is coming off a very nice year, has a new and spacious parking facility going up next door and has recently become a wireless facility. While there, we had the opportunity to meet Amy Parker, the GM of the Park Place Hotel and Rob Gauthier, their chief engineer and the person responsible for bringing this technology to the hotel. The wireless is set up for their lobby and meeting rooms. We were able to log on easily and enjoyed a very robust connection. Very cool for those of us who spend lots of time on the road.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
A trip over the holidays to Traverse City would not be complete with out a visit to the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. As you might expect, the holiday decorations were elegant and bountiful. They have a wonderful gingerhouse and village display that involved the entire community. A ride to the 17th floor allows the visitor to experience one of the great views in Michigan. The landscape was white and wintry, but it was easy to harken back to the images of lush fairways and greens of summer. They have a terrific photo from the camera of James Robert McCammon just behind the registration area.

MIDNIGHT GOLF IN DETROIT

Detroit
When we were taping an upcoming show highlighting the Michigan Section PGA, Ken Devine, CEO, mentioned that one of the successes of the year was the Midnight Golf program in Detroit. It also caught the eye of Harry Blauvelt of USA Today, who did a cover story on the program in the December 26th issue.

"The driving force behind Midnight Golf is Renee Fluker, a single mother, who founded the program at the suggestion of her son, Jason Malone, just before he left to attend Loyola University ofChicago," said Blauvelt.

MICHIGAN GOLFER INTERNET TELEVISION-MIKE HUSBY'S WILD BLUFF GOLF COURSE

As the Upper Peninsula snows cover the fairways of Wild Bluff and snowmobiles roam the course rather than golf carts, we ignore all of that and watch Mike Husby discuss his great course with Bill Shelton. Wild Bluff GC has joined the "national" ranks of televised courses. Others in the group include, Treetops, Bay Harbor GC, Oakland Hills, Egypt Valley, TPC of Dearborn and Warwick Hills to name a few. Join us on this summer sunny day as we explore Wild Bluff Golf Course

FULLER CUP- SIMULATES DYNAMICS OF ACTUAL CUP TO HELP HONE SKILLS

A patented new device to help golfers perfect their putting game has people scratching their heads and muttering: Why didnt I think of think of that? Called the Fuller Cup, it consists of two round, stainless-steel plates a spring-loaded upper and a lower base plate designed to grab and hold a well-stroked ball while rejecting any "lip-outs" and "never-up" putts that fail to drop in actual play. Thats according to octogenarian Ernie Fuller, inventor of the Fuller Cup, who has designed and owned golf courses since the 1950s.

"Theres nothing pretty about it, but it works. Its engineered to let youknow whether you would have made the putt or not," says Fuller, a long-time member of the National PGA Advisory Committee and past chairman of the Michigan PGA Section. "Its much more realistic than any other device made for practice putting on the market." The Fuller Cup is a precision-engineered product using the latest polymer technology to withstand the elements, he explains. The round shape permits putts to be made from any direction, unlike wedge-shaped ramp devices with automatic ball return mechanisms that restrict the angle of the putt.

The product was introduced in October at Golf Europe 2002 in Munich, Germany, on the heels of the 34th Ryder Cup Matches near Birmingham, England. The annual trade-only show is considered the most important exposition for the retail golf trade outside the U.S. The positive reaction to the Fuller Cup by show attendees was welcome relief to Chuck Dallavo, president of the new division. "Although there are many putting aids on the market, none of those products can give the player a true putting experience," he says. Show-goers were invited to compete in a putting contest, using Fuller Cups on a carpeted putting green.

Office golf has become as big as bowling leagues and softball teams, he comments, adding that the Fuller Cup portable model is ideal for indoor-league competitions. "Our product can be placed on any surface, enabling the golfer to putt from any direction. It adds realism to office golf," adds Dallavo.

For more information, contact Fuller Cup Golf, 8600 PGA Drive, Walled Lake, MI 48990 USA. Tel. +1-937-748-

GOLF INDUSTRY LEADERS TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY AT PGA CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO

Leaders from the entire spectrum of the golf industry will gather for a first-of-its-kind panel discussion on the state of the business of golf and its future, during The PGA of America's first Business of Golf Conference, Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The conference will focus on the wide impact that technological advances in the equipment sector have had on the golf industry and will include top executives of some of golf's leading equipment companies, television networks and the organizations representing professional golf and major tournaments in the game. It will take place from 1-4:30 p.m., at the Orange County Convention Center, site of the 50th PGA Merchandise Show, which begins the following day and runs until Jan. 26.

The first of two sessions will address television's perspective of golf as programming and a business, the effect of public investment in the game and the role golf's major championships have in the promotion of the game and in highlighting the advances in player performance and golf equipment. Panelists include CBS Sports President Sean McManus, NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, USGA Executive Director David Fay, Augusta National General Manager Jim Armstrong and Royal and Ancient Secretary Peter Dawson. The second session will address technology and its effect on the performance for professionals and every day players, plus its effect on golf course design. Panelists will include Callaway Golf Chairman Ron Drapeau, TaylorMade Golf President Mark King and noted golf course architect Tom Fazio.

Taken from a PGA Merchandize Show press release

GOLF WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN VOTE IN WOODS, SORENSTAM AND IRWIN

Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Hale Irwin were named winners of the Golf Writers Association of America 2002 Player of the Year Awards. All three players will be honored at the GWAA's Annual Awards Dinner April 9, 2003, in Augusta, GA.

TREETOPS HAS LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR

Joe LaForest, Marketing Manager for Treetops Resort, has a leg up on next year's marketing theme. "Travel & Leisure Magazine" has named Threetops -The number one par three in the country. "Golfweek" magazine, has ranked the Treetops Smith "Signatgure" course is #28 in it's top 40 resort courses in the nation. "Great Lakes Golf" magazine named Treetops the Best Golf Resort in the Midwest. And finally, ESPN has renewed the Par 3 Shootout for the next five years.

Taken from Treetops press releases

KEN ALLARD AND JOHN TRAUB TAKE HOME SOME CASH AT PGA TOURNAMENT SERIES

Ken Allard of Rochester, Mich., was a recent winner at the PGA Golf Club in the final event of the 27th annual PGA Tournament Series season. He picked up $1,230 for his effort.

Allard, 54, an assistant professional at Wabeek Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., topped the senior division for PGA professionals 50 years and older by one stroke, closing with 69-212.

Allard, playing in South Florida for the first time in 20 years, carded four birdies, three on putts inside three feet, plus a 12 footer at the sixth hole. He also bogied the par-4 ninth hole after hitting a "fat" 6-iron second shot short of the green.

"I came down here a couple of weeks ago to play some golf with some members from my club," Allard said, "and decided to stay and play in these last three tournaments. They're great fun." He was third and ninth in two 36-hole events last week.

John Traub,of Rochester Hills, finished a stroke back of Ken and picked up a check for $960.

TOM GILLIS QUALIFYS FOR PGA TOUR

Lake Orion native Tom Gillis fulfilled the dream of every aspiring pofessional golfer last week as he qualified for the PGA Tour in La Quinta California. Tom survived the grueling six round marathon by finishing T-21st with a 10-under-par total 422, which included a 68, 69, and final round 70 to secure his 2003 PGA Tour playing card.

Tom entered the game of golf at the age of 14 and caddied for two years at Indianwood in Lake Orion, which he plays out of still today. Following a successful career at Oakland University, Tom turned professional at 21 and registered a victory on the Hooters Tour.

Taken from a press release from Golf Marketing Services

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"A young pro eager to improve his game, asked Hogan if he could give him any advice.

'Do you have any practice balls?' Hogan asked. Expecting to be led to the practice tee for a lesson, the young pro assured him that indeed he did have practice balls. Hogan said, 'Then use them.'"

"Golf Anedotes", by Roberet Sommers,Oxford University Press, New York, 1995.

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