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AMERICA'S VALUE GOLF DESTINATION
Golf Packages From $47.00 Per Day
Santee South Carolina http://www.santeetourism.com

THINK SPRING: THE OSPREY COLLECTION OF FINE COURSES
PLAN NOW TO PLAY IN 2007 http://www.golfospreyonline.com/
Black Forest, Canthooke Valley, Cutter's Ridge, Ridgewood,
The Medalist and Wilderness Valley

******* SHOW TIME *******
WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW-FEBRUARY 9-11
Web: http://westmichigangolfshow.com

LONDON GOLF SHOW - FEBRUARY 9-11
Web: http://golf-show.com

MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW-MARCH 10-12
Web: http://michigangolfshow.com

Edited by Art McCafferty-Producer/Publisher, GLSP

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__/ IRISH BLESSING
__/THE LAST HOLE IN ONE
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION
Gaylord-The Amazing Race at Treetops
Santee Tourism
__/MGN ON THE ROAD
Novi-Michigan Golf Show
__/ PARDON OUR ERUPTION-BY TERRY MOORE
__/ "WHO'S YOUR CADDY?"-BOOK REVIEW
__/ KEVIN MCKINLEY TAKES THE REINS AT TREETOPS AS SCOTT HEAD HEADS FOR HAWAII
__/ROUNDS DOWN IN JANUARY 2007 VERSUS 2006
__/WANNAMAKER TROPHY
__/ GOLF COURSE PREVIEW VIDEOS
__/ MICHIGAN GOLF PACKAGES
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
__/MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE'S TOP 10 LISTS FOR 2006
__/CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE WOMEN GOLFER'S SOUL
__/ CALENDAR
__/ ASSOCIATION LINKS
__/ ARCHIVES-MICHIGAN GOLFER

IRISH BLESSING
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/irish/index.html

***
MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION
Santee Tourism-South Carolina
One golf destination that continues to successfully attract our Michigan snowbirds and leafbirds is Santee Tourism. These friendly folks offer quality golf at a fair price and let you experience a more laid back golf experience than Myrtle Beach. Our video features a couple of spokespersons for Santee Tourism. They talk about the 10 golf courses that are available and the nine places of accommodations. Enjoy
http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/santee/

For in-state destinations
visit http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/golfcoursepreviews/

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Gaylord-Treetops-The Amazing Race
Kevin McKinley, Treetops new Director of Golf, Mike Fernandez, Treetops GM and Tish Jankowski who heads up the marketing for Treetops provided some winter fun this past week with their version of The Amazing Race. As golf properties continue to explore additional revenue streams by showcasing and presenting their facilities to other markets, they continue to come up with interesting ideas.

Golf properties are now being used for weddings, concerts and now apparently, Amazing Races. In their third edition of the Amazing Race, Treetopshad 12 four-person teams competing for prizes. The Amazing Race is just a click away.
http://michigangolfer.tv/miskier/season_6/amazingrace/ Enjoy.

***
MICHIGAN GOLFER ON THE ROAD
Novi-Michigan Golf Show
The Michigan Golf Show provided some a much needed confidence boost this week, by creating a great golfer turnout during its three day run. Golfers, most likely inspired by warm temperatures and blue skies, kept the isles crowded and vendors reaching under their tables for more literature. Business was not as usual, as the golf show staff continued to offer new ideas for the golf show goers. On Friday Golf Show attendance found another spot to whet their whistle, as the show featured a second bar on the show floor and the opportunity to catch some March madness while experiencing golf madness. On Saturday, they opened up the doors early and made it an 11 hour day for the vendors. On Sunday, it was daylight savings time and time to start and thus, end the show an hour earlier. However, on this Sunday, if you got to the show when it opened, there was free pancakes,highlighted by a wild and crazy pancake tossing chef.

Osprey Recreational Properties, once again, created the most buzz at the show. New booths, new literature, a new marketing mantra "We are Michigan Golf", a new zest for the job and some optimism for the future were all on hand. CEO, Mike Biber stopped by on Friday to wish everybody well and then he was gone to visit and ski at his company's latest aquisition, The Otsego Club. The firm also held an open house at the show and welcomed members and guests. On hand to greet them were Mark Hogan, Doug Bell, Lowell Weaver and Corey Crowell.
http://golfosprey.com

Golf Channel Amateur Tour
Rick LaRue, GCAT tournament coordinator, continues to be pumped about the reception his latest venture, the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. The Golf Channel is rolling out this championship in about 20 markets across America. Michigan seems to be one of the hot spots for participation.LaRue says that has been a lot of interest with other clubs about hosting one of the events. To meet the demand, he may start scheduling some tournaments on Sundays.

Cherry Tree Inn and Suites
Jim Held, formerly of Boyne and before that a principal in the now defunct Bavarian Village Golf and Ski stores, has a new business. Cherry Tree Inn and Suites, is a firm that is taking lakeside hotel properties and converting them into condos. The tagline for his firm is "Waterfront Real Estate Without the Watefront Price"

http://cherrytreecondohotel.com

Kevin O'Brien, Director of Golf for Tullymore and St. Ives, had his normal booth set up displaying upscale golf clothing. The news at St. Ives is that new ownership will soon be taking over. The deal is still a check away from being a done deal. The prospective owners are brothers; Rich, Ron and Bob Marino. They have been members of the club for some time and had been successul enough in their construction firm to purchase the courses. According to O'Brien, a new clubhouse will be built at Tullymore this year. The Inn at St. Ives, will be turned into condos.

Hawk's Eye and Golf Bellaire
Dave Hill, Head Professional at The Chief in Bellaire, indicated that one of the upsides of the recent sale of Shanty Creek to new owners, is that the new owners are more eager to partner than not. Because of this "area of good feeling", Golf Bellaire has been formed. It features the three courses of Shanty Creek, The Chief, Hawk's Eye and Bellaire Golf Club.

Hemlock GC owners, -John and Marcia Kennedy were enticing people to come over to their side of the state, Ludington. The Hemlock course is a terrific Ray Hearn design. I was in the neighborhood videotaping the Ludington Lakeside Half Marathon two years ago and stopped by the course. It was a beautiful Michigan morning and the course was so spectacular, I spent the next two hours walking around and shooting video of it. It is a flat out beautiful course and I would imagine that mowing it, is more play than work.

Michawye-Judy Mason was telling golfers about the Michaywe Madness specials they are having this year. The ingredients of their Spring and Summer Michaywe Madness is three days of unlimited gol, cart and a daily lunch for $75. They also have a two day $89 special in ths Summer. Check out their website for further details.

http://michaywe.com

Larry Bowden, of Marsh Ridge , is celebrating 15 years of golf at The Natural. Helping out Bowden this year, will be Ed Ford who will be running the proshop. The Natural has always been looked upon as a great golf value in the Gaylord area, and consistently gets its share of rounds in a very competitive area. http://golfthenatural.com

Shanty Creek Resort-Brian Kautz, Golf and Club Manager, says that the next major agenda for Shanty Creek Resort's new owners, is the renovation of the Summit Hotel. He feels that the rennovation is key in alerting its customers that the resort is making progress on its revitalization plan. They added new snow making and a magic carpet during the ski season, now their attention will turn to golf. Kautz also indicated that the Schuss Mountain Proshop is back. Some of you may recall, you had to register in the lodge last year.

http://shantycreek.com

The Emerald
The Emerald has hired Jay B. Eccleton, CGCS as their new Director of Golf Operations. Jay served as the greens superintendent at the Emerald since 2000 and will continue to oversee golf course maintenance as well as manage the clubhouse operations. The Emerald is a Jerry Matthews design.

http://emeraldgolfcourse.com

Golf Houghton Lake
A new marketing group, led by Ted Ferguson, has formed to bring some recogition to those courses around the Houghton Lake area. Ferguson, who used to head up the Sunrise Side golf promotion, is working with the various courses in the Houghton, Grayling and Higgins Lake area to put them on the golf map.

***
"WHO'S YOUR CADDY?" -BOOK REVIEW
In my work, I get a ton of books to review. Mind you I am not complaining here, but I do read a lot of books that I would not necessarily pick off the shelf to buy. This past week I picked up Rick Reilly's "Who's Your Caddy?" book and found it a delightful read. The premise for the book, is that Reilly becomes a Caddy for a day for the likes of John Daly, Jack Nicklaus, Donald Trump, David Duvall, Jill McGill, etc. The premise works, as Reilly takes you inside the huddle to observe golf through a caddy's eyes. The chapter on Daly was hilarious.

"Who's Your Caddy?" is a nice book to begin your St. Patick's Day week. Cheers.

***
PARDON OUR ERUPTION
The out of bounds swings of reader postsŠŠby Terry Moore
Excuse the rant here but Iım fed up with some aspects of instant communication and electronic reader ³feedback.² Now, donıt get me wrong; I love the many advantages and pluses of emails, internet newspaper access, and even the all-pervasive blogs. Heck, even this weekly e-newsletter launched by the fertile mind of Mr. McCafferty (howıs that for a little non-editing insurance?) is a boon for us computer readers. But an unfortunate downside to this flood of information and opinions is that so much of it is unfiltered, misinformed and downright discourteous. In the scope of world affairs, this is small potatoes indeed but nonetheless it gets my dander up. Case in point was a reader post (this is where online readers can email and post their opinions about a particular column or article right on the website) in last weekıs Detroit Free Press. All done in the interest, presumably, of building up the newspaperıs online circulation and readership. Ably written by golf writer Carlos Monarrez, the column centered on Mt. Pleasantıs Doug LaBelle whoıs having a fine year so far on the PGA Tour (six out of seven cuts--$392,162 in earnings.)

Monarrez accurately pointed out that due to LaBelleıs winnings and his current 41st spot on the money list, he would be eligible for ³entering prestigious invitationals.² He added: ³Thereıs almost no doubt LaBelle will keep his tour card for 2008.² I knew immediately what Monarrez was suggesting here. Certain tournaments such as Arnold Palmerıs Invitational, The Colonial, and Jack Nicklausı the Memorial Tournament all are limited field events, as is the most prestigious and most exclusive invitational in all of golf‹the Masters. Just because LaBelle has his Tour card doesnıt necessarily get him into these events. He has to earn his way in via earnings and high finishes. Monarrez was right on the mark with this observation.

But lo and behold, a smart-aleck reader chimes in with this ³posted² and verbatim feedback and it plops down online immediately following Monarrezıs column:

"I still can't figure out what this guy is doing writing about golf. He says that the top 70 is "the standard for entering prestigious invitationals" ?? Does he even know what "keeping your card" means? whatever happened to Jack Saylor. note to freep: If you are looking for a golf writer give me a call. Granted I am living in the mountains of Idaho but I am an ex golf pro with a 2 handicap and I kin spell pritty good."

It pains me to resuscitate this guyıs misinformed malarkey but it sharpens my point about the seedy side of the so-called ³online community.² The question about the late Jack Saylor really says it all about this ³ex-golf pro.² Like the sorry 85-year-old Japanese soldier still fighting WWII in the jungles of Borneo, this guy maybe missed the news by being up ³in the mountains.² So please write this down, sir: Mr. Saylor passed away in 2003!

One final note of thanks to the keen eye of Jack Berry whoıs wintering in Tucson but who continues to be an omnivorous reader. Berry emailed me the other day saying he read where Brad Faxon and Rich Beem both have criticized the new PGA Tour event outside Washington DC, hosted by Tiger Woods, because it is a limited field invitational!

In defense of Mr. Monarrez and with vigilant concern for the intelligence of some ³reader posts,² I rest my case.

***
THE LAST HOLE IN ONE
With his last moments on his beloved Emerald Isle, Michael O'Reilly was replaying his favorite rounds of golf in his head. He remembers when he was first married, how he came home from the course one day to the most wonderful chocolate-chip cookies.

It'd been years since his wife baked them for him, but as he lay there, gasping for each breath, he was sure he could smell those cookies. Crawling out of bed, he dragged himself down the stairs and into the kitchen where he finds--oh, joy!--his wife with a big platter of his favorite, freshly baked cookies.

With his last bit of strength, he is slowly reaching out for one when she slaps his hand.

"Don't touch those!" she orders. "They're for the funeral."

***
KEVIN MCKINLEY TAKES THE REINS AT TREETOPS AS SCOTT HEAD HEADS FOR HAWAII
Last week, we were up at Treetops taping the Amazing Race, an event put on by Kevin McKinley, who doubles as golf professional and ski director at the resort. Shortly after those hosting duties were done, he found out that Scott Head had taken a position in Hawaii and that he would be taking over that role. Head's family is from Hawaii and his father has also been ill of late and while Scott really loved the Gaylord area, he felt that it might be prudent to be nearer his father and family.

McKinley said he has to hire three golf professionals, deadline for resumes is today, to fill out the staff for the coming year. With a mandate from the new GM, Mike Fernandez , Mike McKinley will continue to sustain the national reputation that Treetops has in golf, but also continue a more pronounced agenda of working with the entire Gaylord community to boost tourism.

***
ROUNDS DOWN IN JANUARY 2007 VERSUS 2006
Rounds played in the U.S. decreased 21% in January 2007 vs. January 2006, according to the National Golf Foundation. Versus January 2005, January 2006 rounds played were up 30%. Large percentage changes are not uncommon in the winter because they are based on a small volume of rounds. The reporting is based on data from operators at more than 1,800 golf facilities.

For the full year 2006, rounds played were up 0.8%.

In areas where a significant amount of golf is played in January, only the Central/South Florida region held it own, increasing slightly (+0.4%) over last year. The Gulf Coast region was down 23%; the Southeast, down 11%; and the Southwest, down 4%.

Golf Datatech_s monthly report showed that rounds weredown16.3% January 2007 compared toJanuary 2006. The report includes 2,550 reporting courses.

Taken and edited from a NSGA Research Newsletter-Thomas B. Doyle ***
TOP MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW BOOTHS
by JennieMcCafferty

Golf:
Thunderbay Resort ­ Best video display. We could see the elk grazing from four booths away.

Oakwood Resort Golf Spa and Conference Center: Grand Bend, Ontario ­ Best use of a single photo:Dramatic photo of sunset on Lake Huron is all you need to know about the resortıs location.

Southwest Greens of Lower Michigan ­Best use of unusual photos: Life-sized photos of golf pros in shorts-- Chris DiMarco, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia-- made the point that you, too, can have a green in your backyard. Hale Irwin has one too, but he did not appear in shorts.

Traverse City Area ­ Best group:TC CVB,Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, A-Ga-Ming and Sundance, High Pointe, The Chief had an effective group arrangement marked with ³Traverse City² flags.

Golf Bellaire ­ Best tagline:7 courses within 7 minutes ((Shanty Creek and The Chief/Hawk Eye) They had Snickers and Milky Way bars, too.

Buster Grips ­ Best logo: Dramatic logo and lighting for grips ³produced in Michigan.²

Golf Your Metroparks ­ Best brochure display: Attention-getting photo, matching brochures in neat wooden cubbyholes.

Diamond Caravans ­ Best use of simplicity:Framed photos against lighted forest green background.

Pine Cone Accommodations ­ Best booth arrangement: ³Gaylord Golf Vacation² in a bright, cozy booth with especially friendly staff.

Florida ­ Best overall:Florida Sports Foundation, Visit Florida and other groups combined for a huge, colorful booth with a big package of brochures and a drawing for round-trip tickets on AirTran airlines.

Not directly golf:

Penrickton Center for Blind Children ­ Best prop:Now lots of people attracted to the raffle of two big, shiny Harley motorcycles know about the Penrickton Center for Blind Children in Taylor.

Country Smokehouse ­Best samples: No one passed up the salami and ³snak stix² samples ofelk, buffalo, and venison.

Entertainment Express ­Best idea:Head to Cedar Pointin a bright red stretch ı57 Chevy limo.

Soaring Eagle ­ Best interactive: - Throw the dice for a double or a 7 to get the chance to spin the big wheel.

Retired Greyhounds as Pets ­ Best booth staff: Who can resist fast, gentle dogs?

***
WANNAMAKER TROPHY
The 90th PGA Championship will occur on August4-10, 2008 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills.The famed Wannamaker Trophy, was on display at the golf show and many golf show goers took the opportunity to have their picture taken with it.

***
MICHIGAN GOLF PACKAGES
http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/golfcoursepreviews/

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GOLF COURSE VIDEOS ON MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION
Buck's Run with Jerry Matthews
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/bucksrun/
Rose Creek-with Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2004shows/rosecreek/index.html
Timberstone @ Pine Mountain with Jerrty Matthews
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/timberstone/
The Bull at Pinehurst with Jack Nicklaus
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2003shows/thebull/index.html
The Loon with Mike Husby
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/Loon/index.html
The Majestic at Lake Walden with Jerry Matthews
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/majestic/
The Natural at Gaylord with Jerry Matthews
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/natural/
True North with Jack Berry and Jim Engh
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/truenorth/
Tribute with Gary Koch, Rick Robbins and Keith Gornick
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/tribute/

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MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE'S TOP 10 LISTS FOR 2006
http://www.michigangolfer.com/win06-07/index.htm

***
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE WOMEN GOLFER'S SOUL
A story by Marilyn Smith was included in this release for the new Chicken Soup book series, we thought we would pass it along.

"In 1950, thirteen of us cofounded the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). I was an enthusiastic twenty-one. The youngest, Marlene Bauer, was an energetic sixteen; the oldest, Babe Zaharias, was an athletic thirty-eight. An we each set out to prove that women could earn a living as tourning golf professionals.

During those early years, we placed our faith and our money in the LPGA. All of us tithed 10 percent of our meager winnings into the treasury to supplement funds and keep the organization solvent. We served as our own staff and handled administrative duties: public relations, scouting new tournaments, and writing prize-money checks.

In order to gain a foothold in this male-dominated game, we had to sell ourselves - as well as our tour - and worked hard to promote our tournaments and grow our galleries. We held press conferences, spoke at civic luncheons, and made radio and television appearances. Sports Illustrated even featured us in style shows at the Dallas Civitan and the LPGA Championship in Las Vegas. Decked out in heels and hats, dresses and gloves, we hit the runways to prove that women could be both athletic and feminine (I always wore a skirt and pearls on the course).

But our biggest challenge - and best memory maker - was life on the road. It was a far cry from today's tour travel and prize purses. Few of us could afford airfare, so we crisscrossed the country in a string of cars, driving caravan-style. Riding two to a vehicle, we were loaded. Golf bags, shoes, clothes, cosmetics. Everything we needed.

Jackie Pung even brought her two daughters. A few brought their dogs. And Wiffi Smith brought her piano. It nearly filled her motor home, but she viewed it as a necessity: She said it was her favorite training device for strengthening her fingers.

Like a big family, we wiled away the miles, the hours, the days. We sang and laughed and we squabbled. When we needed to stop, we held cardboard paddles out the window. One indicated food, another gas, and a third meant potty time. When a car broke down - which happened all too frequently - every car stopped. Blowouts were common, and we helped each other change the tires. When we needed counseling or consoling, we helped each other then, too. Someone was always ready with the wisdom and the words.

On the course we were competitors, but on the road we were comrades. Sisters. Once we hit town, we set to work like the team we were. Our top priorities included a Laundromat, a hairdresser, and a desperately needed practice round. We attended sponsor parties. We met our press commitments. We handled the course setup, pin placements, and pairings ourselves.

And then we played golf. From the men's tees. Our courses measured a staggering 6,250 to 6,950 yards, yet we posted some remarkable scores under some amazing conditions.

Even more remarkable, over the next decade we kindled a flame of interest in women's golf and helped bring it to the forefront of American sports. It took vision and grit and teamwork. It took all of us - plus many others who caught our vision and drive. But we did it.

Because we were golfers.
Because we were dreamers.
Because we were...friends.
This story was written by Marilynn Smith. Marilynn is a golfing legend, and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She had 21 Tour victories, includingtwo LPGA Majors. This is Marilynn'sstory from my new book, Chicken Soup for the Women Golfer's Soul.

***

2007 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
http://michigangolfer.com/calendar.html"

ASSOCIATION LINKS
American Association of Golf Course Architects
http://asgca.org
Golf Association of Michigan
http://www.gam.org/
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
http://www.gcsaa.org
Michigan Section PGA
http://www.Michigan.PGA.com
Michigan Golf Course Owners Association
http://mgcoa.org
Michigan High School Athletic Association
http://www.mhsaa.com/
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association
http://migca.com
Michigan Publinx Seniors Golf Association
http://mpsga.net
National Golf Course Owners Association
http://ngcoa.org
National Golf Foundation
http://ngf.org
National High School Golf Coaches Association
http://www.nhsgca.org

***
MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
Website: http://glsp.com
Ezine http://michigangolfer.com
News: http://www.webgolfer.com/news.html
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv
Podcast: http://glsp.com/podcasts.html

Comments to artmccaf@glsp.com
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