My Season Kicked Off With A New SeeMore Putter

I recently finished my first three rounds of the year and have to say I'm extremely happy with the new putter I put in my bag--a SeeMore m3. I really like the red dot alignment technology that completely eliminates any doubt about whether your body is aimed where you want to send the ball. With that kind of confidence, a solid stroke is almost automatic.

SeeMore putters feature a patented alignment system that helps you set up your putter perfectly each and every time by lining up the bottom portion of the shaft between two white lines and covering a signature red dot on the heel of the top line. If you can’t see the red dot-—you’re good to go! It’s foolproof and available in a wide range of styles and sizes to fit every golfer.

D.A. Points used a SeeMore putter to good effect, too, winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am for his first PGA Tour victory. He also won the pro-am with partner Bill Murray for a double whammy. Points used a SeeMore FGP for his victory, the same putter he has used since early 2009. At the AT&T, he finished first overall in putting average, first in birdies, and second in fewest total putts.

There's a little backstory about SeeMore putters at Pebble Beach. The brand first arrived on the scene in early 1999 when Payne Stewart, in his first tournament using the same putter, won the AT&T and then went on to win the 1999 US Open. The SeeMore brand was re-launched in 2007, and immediately regained worldwide prominence as Zach Johnson used a SeeMore FGP to win the 2007 Masters.

My putting performance may not have matched D.A. Points, but I recall only missing a single putt under ten feet in three rounds last week, which got my year off to a good start.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Start Your Season Right At Westchester Golf Show

The annual Journal News Golf Show at the Westchester County Center offers more ways than ever this year to kick off your season with a bang. For half the price of a new ProV, you'll get everything from free lessons from top PGA Pros to free swings in the demo area using the latest clubs from major manufacturers like Titleist, Mizuno, Cleveland, Nike, Srixon, and Adams. Club fittings, ball fittings, plus all kinds of travel, gear, and other offers will give you everything you need to start the season.

This year’s 7th Annual Event will take place at the Westchester County Center in White Plains Saturday 3/12 and Sunday 3/13 from 10AM until 5PM each day.

One of the most popular features of the show is the MGA's "Let’s Talk Golf Stage" featuring experts on every facet of the game. Here's the schedule:

Saturday
11AM The Keys to Good Consistent Putting
The Putting Doctor, Joseph Bermel
12 Noon The Rules of Golf
Brian Mahoney, Tournament Director, Metropolitan Golf Association
1PM Slice Free Golf
Brian Crowell, PGA Head Professional, Glen Arbor Golf Club and NBC Sports Broadcaster
2 PM Form Follows Function: Develop Your Skills
Tom Sutter, PGA Professional, Dunwoodie Golf Course and 2004 Met PGA Teacher of the Year
3PM The Art of Scoring
Tom Avezzano, PGA Professional, Sprain Lake and Maple Moor Golf Courses

Sunday
11AM The Rules of Golf
Brian Mahoney – Tournament Director, Metropolitan Golf Association
12 Noon Proper Grip, Stance and Alignment
Jason Gobleck, PGA Head Professional, Westchester Hills Golf Club
1PM Curve The Ball At Will
Charlie Meola, PGA Head Professional, Saxon Woods Golf Course
2PM Swing Arc Explained: Develop a Swing Arc that Works For You.
Max Galloway – PGA Head Professional, Mohansic Golf Course
3PM The Keys to Good Consistent Putting
The Putting Doctor, Joseph Bermel

In addition, the popular Discount Pro Shop has been expanded and will be filled with exceptional bargains on brand name clubs, shoes, bags and apparel. The Calendar Golf Card Booth will award one attendee with The Great Hudson Valley Golf Getaway, a series of free rounds of golf for four at different Hudson Valley Golf Courses. Westchester County Courses feature a “Two Fore One” voucher where two play for the price of one for the first month of the season at any County Courses.

Entergy sponsors the Charity Golf Corner and will introduce golfers to the Red Cross, Hospice and Palliative Care of Westchester and The Boys and Girls Clubs in Northern Westchester Charity Golf Events.

The Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA Westchester) will again host a free lesson area for Women with Lessons provided by LPGA Teaching Pro Nicole Sikora from The Westchester Driving Range.

The price of admission is only $9 ($8 for seniors) and dollar off coupons are available in The Journal News. Since you will receive a coupon for a free small bucket of balls from the Fairview Golf Range--a $7 value--admission is half the price of a new ProV!

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Save The Date To Maximize Your Golf Event Sponsorship

Here's a guest post about a timely topic from Steven Wilson, an expert in golf event management.

In addition to the diet centers and tax preparation assistance companies, this is the time of year charities work hard to clean up their lists to send a "Save The Date" for their golf outing and to ask you to buy a sponsorship, via a donation, to their 501 (c) (3) organization.

This "donation" can be an investment that delivers a significant ROI. Sponsorships range from a few hundred dollars, to $40,000+ that includes a range of benefits, and that's where you find the seeds of an ROI.

Charities are now very flexible to bring on a sponsor at any price point. Analyze all sponsorship levels, from Tee Signs to Title/Presenting Sponsor. Be creative as to what type of "Custom Sponsorship" package would work for you and then be ready to negotiate.

Develop a set of criteria to be used to rate each event and help you determine which event works best for you. Develop a goal that you want to meet and then consider the following tactics. The more of them you incorporate, the higher your return.

The tactics are: client engagement... public relations... signage... database acquisition...networking... sampling... mobile marketing... coupons... tax credit ... employee outing... digital marketing... email marketing... direct mail... electronic event journal... video... advertising.

A golf outing presents an exciting marketing opportunity that can yield an ROI in many ways. The key is to select an outing that matches your criteria. Then develop a strategy and integrate as many of the above tactics to implement a sponsorship program that will deliver an ROI.

For more information, contact stevenmwilson@optimum.net

Steven M. Wilson has developed and implemented golf sponsorship programs at IMG and Golf Digest's Event Marketing Division and for the past 12 years at SMW Marketing.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Editorial Excellence Awards Pile Up For Met Golfer

For the third consecutive year, my friends at The Met Golfer were honored by the International Network of Golf (ING) with multiple awards for editorial excellence. At the ING’s 18th Media Awards, presented on January 27th at the PGA merchandise Show in Orlando, two writers won first place: Jimmy Roberts for his opinion piece “Winter of Discontent” (February/March 2010), and Scott Kramer for his equipment story entitled “The New Ball Game” (August/September 2010).

Roberts, a longtime commentator with NBC Sports, also received an Outstanding Achiever honor his column from the June/July 2010 issue, “What Flavor?” Other Outstanding Achiever honors went to Alex Myers, for his competition piece “Catch the Rising Stars” (April/May 2010); Howie Munck, for his profile “Sweet Sounds” (June/July 2010); and Associate Editor Billy Condon, who wrote the “Off to School” cover story in the August/September issue.

"This was our most successful year since first entering the ING Media Awards competition," said Met Golfer editor Greg Midland. "All of us at the MGA are proud of our magazine and grateful for the quality of our contributing writers, who continue to provide area golfers with entertaining and informative articles in each issue."

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Bensel and Labritz Shine In PGA Stroke Play Championship

Century Country Club assistant pro Frank Bensel added another trophy to his groaning shelves yesterday by winning the PGA Stroke Play Championship on the Wanamaker Course at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  He pulled off a come-from-behind five-stroke victory with a three-under par 69 in windy conditions.

Rob Labritz, Director of Golf at GlenArbor GC was the only other player to match Bensel's 69, giving him a tie for fourth place in the event.

This marked Bensel's fourth victory in the PGA Winter Championships.  He topped the Match Play in 2004 and won the Senior-Junior with Kevin Morris, formerly of Westchester Hills CC, in 2006 and 2008. He was the Met PGA Champion in 2009 and Player of the Year in 2005.

Labritz was the Met Player of the Year for 2008 and the low club pro at the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Free Golf Every Month April to September

The golf season officially begins in the Hudson Valley when the Journal News Golf Show opens its doors March 12 and 13 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY.  This year, one of the big attractions will be your chance to win free golf for four at a different Hudson Valley golf course each month from April to September.  The promotion is sponsored by the Calendar Golf Card.  That's six free rounds at six great courses!

That's not the only reason to make this show a must-see.  All the major golf equipment manufacturers will be there and you'll have a chance to try out hundreds of clubs on the driving range and putting green.  The discount pro shop is always a great place to fill up your golf bag for the coming season and save more than a few bucks while you're at it.  Expert club fitting and professional swing analysis are available as well as free seminars and demonstrations going on almost continuously.

Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.  Look for discount coupons available in the Journal News and at LoHud.com in the weeks prior to the show

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

When To Regrip Your Ball Retriever

Next to How To Line Up Your Fourth Putt, Bobby Rusher's latest book, When To Regrip Your Ball Retriever, may be the saddest golf book I've ever read.

Like the original, it's also side-splitting funny, especially when Rusher tells you things like "How To Handle Your Caddie's Hysterial Laughter" and "What To Do If You Find More Balls Than You Lost." He's got plenty of sage advice about scoring, too, such as "How To Hit The Ball On The Roll Without Losing A Stroke." I'm sure you get the drift.

Both tomes are full of pithy golf aphorisms turned inside out and upside down to great humorous effect. A few are also chewed up and spit out, not to mention expelled from other bodily orifices often cited by golfers at various times during their round. One of my favorites is "Why You Should Instruct Your Caddie To Listen For The Ball Off The Tee Rather Than The Traditional 'Watch The Ball.'"

The sad thing about these books is how many of Rusher's characters I recognize from my 45-plus years playing this stupid game. I've even glimpsed one or two of them in the locker room mirror after a round. If I weren't laughing so hard, I'd probably be crying.

To get your copies, as well as the accompanying CD "Music To Shank By," visit www.4putt.com. By the way, don't be confused by the author's name, which may actually be Bobby Runk.

Dave Donelson, author of The Dynamic Manager's Guides a how-to book for business owners and managers.