By Jeff Wuorio

www,Businessweek.com

The Niceties of Golf

Several years ago, Mike Kanazawa played a pleasant round of golf with three other San Francisco area businesspeople—two of whom later became clients of his consulting firm, Dissero Partners. “We talked business some, but then we also talked about our families,” says Kanazawa, chief executive of the 20-person, $2 million company. “I wasn’t out there pumping for business.”

Golf is unique partly because it gives you so much time with a colleague, prospect, or client. “Can you imagine if I called someone up and asked to meet for five hours?” asks Jay Mona-han, executive vice-president of Boston consultants Fenway Sports Group. “With golf, that’s what you’re asking.”

Read More, click here…

AllGolfTV, Inc (www.AllGolfTV.com) has formed a partnership with Golf Products of America, Inc, bringing its total number of partnerships with golf specific companies to five. 

Golf Products of America, Inc is a new company that creates innovative products aimed at creating fresh and viable revenue sources for golf courses throughout the world.  The company was started by Harold Jones and his team of seasoned golf industry professional.   Their team has had experience in many facets of the golf industry, from custom club fitting for a top manufacturer to supplying golf courses with custom scoreboards.  Collaboratively the team has mapped out ways to bring new sources of revenue to courses with very little financial risk.

Now that this partnership has been formed, AllGolfTV, Inc and its affiliates will be able to offer the golf industry opportunities for some much needed growth.  We have the ability to reach a very large targeted audience of golf enthusiasts through a partnership with a radio personality on national radio, the ability to offer placement on two top ranking websites, BestCourses.com and GreenFees.com, and the ability to offer interactive video services through our Internet TV station.  We have also named LinksLadies (www.LinksLadies.com) our official caddy service.  LinksLadies brings a great and classy service to our collaboration and will help us with our efforts to create winning business opportunities within corporate America.

“We are all very excited about attending the PGA Fall Expo and learning about all the new products and services being offered within the golf industry.  Every PGA show we have attended has always brought us new and exciting opportunities” said Eileen Luttrell, President and CEO of AllGolfTV, Inc.

About ALLGOLFTV

ALLGOLFTV (www.AllGolfTV.com) is an Interactive Internet TV Station devoted to the WORLD of Golf. Unlike other video websites, ALLGOLFTV incorporates TV quality passive video streaming with a host of Interactive features such as LIVE Chat, On Demand Programming, Pay Per View Videos, Personal Profiles, and Links to current News and our Sponsors. In addition, AGTV will be implementing a virtual Shopping Cart and access to Digital Books in the coming months.

For information on working with ALLGOLFTV, please email Eileen Luttrell at Eileen@AllGolfTV.com

Woodstock, MD. – FINE GOLF, combined with the talents of CONFIDENT GOLF announced today their participation and plans to launch their premiere teaching / learning tool, along with Trademark Global Ball Markers at the golf industry’s premier fall marketplace, the 2008 PGA Fall Expo, August 25-27, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

FINE GOLF will be located in the hard goods section of the Show floor, in booth number 1138 caddy corner from the putting green.  FINE GOLF is a new company comprised of professionally trained, talented and sensible golf coaches.

Marc H. Fine, the company’s CEO is excited to launch this state of the art putting teaching/learning tool. Based upon proven science and market tests, “The ANSWER™ allows all players to easily develop a perfect putting stroke by design. One of the primary goals is to allow coaches and teachers to utilize “The ANSWER™” geometry and increase a player’s confidence on the green, which then translates into an upbeat approach to the entire round. FINE GOLF has designed and built an extremely affordable and gorgeous work of art, plus FINE GOLF stands behind their product with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Additionally, the Trademark Global division will present their new point of purchase display of newly designed and totally customizable ball markers at remarkable prices.  

The PGA Fall Expo annually attracts more than 4,000 international golf retailers and some 400 top golf vendors to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  In 2008, the PGA Fall Expo moves to “fashion week” in Las Vegas and is held on the same days as MAGIC™, MODA™, MRkt®, and ACCESSORIES: The Show®*.  The PGA Fall Expo is packed with product discovery, equipment testing, career education programs, professional networking events and opportunities to source unique vendors and merchandise.  Additionally, the PGA Fall Expo Golf Tournament and Demo Day, Aug. 25 at Badlands Golf Club, has been expanded to include more than 40 equipment and golf accessories vendors and two tournaments with cash-prize awards for the top finishers.

The PGA Fall Expo is an industry-only event and is not open to the public.  PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders can register, book travel and learn more about the 2008 PGA Fall Expo at www.pgaexpo.com.   

AllGolfTV (www.AllGolfTV.com)  in a partnership with LinksLadies.com announced today they will be providing certified Links Ladies as promotional models for exhibitors at the upcoming PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas. Links Ladies is a tournament services company with certified female golf caddies available for tournaments, rounds of golf, and corporate events. The Links Ladies are a golf savvy group of women who have experience in promotional modeling and are part of a growing effort to change the way the game of golf is played.

LinksLadies.com can assist with promotional work at expo booths, increase foot traffic, help to build sales leads, and even assist in closing sales. After providing the girls with their branded apparel, exhibitors have only to brief their LinksLadies.com on the specifics of their particular product or service being provided. These ladies are sure to be a tremendous asset to all exhibitors.

LinksLadies.com will also be educating and directing visitors of the PGA Expo in Las Vegas to AllGolfTV’s website for further information and links to the websites of those companies that choose to take advantage of this offer thus providing more exposure after the Expo.  Any companies that participate will also have the opportunity to broadcast  commercials on the AllGolfTV Internet TV station and will be included in the On Demand menu of videos.

LinksLadies.com was recently restructured to provide key golf markets with access to educated and professional female golf caddies. The organization focuses mainly on corporate events and tournaments, adding a dimension of professionalism that is unsurpassed. LinksLadies.com provides more than a pretty face to the game; these ladies actually know the game of golf. In addition, many of these girls play the game and have taken part in golf tournaments around the country. The appeal of LinksLadies.com is that when you book a lady from the site, you can be certain that you are hiring someone who knows golf and can carry on an intelligent conversation about the game.

Exhibitors and tournament directors are urged to visit www.linksladies.com or call 800.717.4653 to reserve their Links Ladies today.

About ALLGOLFTV

ALLGOLFTV (www.AllGolfTV.com) is an Interactive Internet TV Station devoted to the WORLD of Golf. Unlike other video websites, ALLGOLFTV incorporates TV quality passive video streaming with a host of Interactive features such as LIVE Chat, On Demand Programming, Pay Per View Videos, Personal Profiles, and Links to current News and our Sponsors. In addition, AGTV will be implementing a virtual Shopping Cart and access to Digital Books within the next few weeks.

For information on working with ALLGOLFTV, please email Eileen Luttrell at Eileen@AllGolfTV.com

Dream Shot Golf will introduce the first of its kind Progressive Hole in One Jackpot to PGA Fall Expo Show attendees and golf tournament entrants.   Dream Shot will be sponsoring a Par 3 at each of the Badlands golf courses (Outlaw and Desperado) during the PGA Fall Expo Golf Tournament and Demo day.  Contestants will have the opportunity to experience the Dream Shot program at the Par 3, 8^th on the Outlaw course and the Par 3, 5^th on the Desperado course.  In addition, during the show, Dream Shot will be giving show attendees a chance to take their Dream Shot in the Dream Shot Golf booth (#802). 

What would you think if I told you that you have been given an opportunity to win 10 Million Dollars, and all you had to do was to take one golf shot from 150 + yards? Would you take it? Dream Shot Golf does just that. We offer golfers the chance to play for $10 million dollars each and every day, contribute to local charities, offer data base marketing to the course and generate excitement and extra cash flow for the golf course This type of contest will help bring market differentiation to each of our partners that will help build loyalty and bring new customers to their respective courses. You will not find this at every club and that is part of the appeal of working with Dream Shot Golf”. So why not play a round at one of our clubs as you just never know, you might just win 10 million?

Each and every day players will have a chance to qualify for the 10 Million Dollar Shootout. If a hole in one is made the player doing so is entitled to a $10,000 prize package that includes a trip to our VIP Dream Shot Shootout for the 10 Million Dollar Dream Shot as well as $5,000 in Cash or Prizes. Everyone who plays Dream Shot will walk away a winner. Each player will receive a scratch n win ticket with discounts in the golf shop as well as an opportunity to win a $250 retail gift package if you scratch the ACE. Any player who has opted into the contest that hits the green will receive a free sleeve of golf balls. If all four players in the group opt in and each hits the green they will all win a $100 Gift Certificate. In addition each month we will draw a name from all of the players who have participated in the Dream Shot Contest and that person will win a $500 retail golf package. Once a year we will also draw from the participants of the Dream Shot Hole in One Contest and that lucky winner will receive a free trip to participate in the Dream Shot Shootout at a very high end golf course somewhere in the world.

Dream Shot is the richest most exciting progressive hole in one program in the world. Designed to accommodate daily play as well as tournament play, we give every golfer a chance to win $10 million dollars by making their Dream Shot. While there have been many large payout hole in one contests, traditionally they have been “one off” in nature, usually associated with a specific event. Dream Shot is the first company to develop an ongoing program that taps the power of a network of operators participating in the program each and every day.

Top PGA-Staffed Facilities and Retailers Sign Up for the 2008 PGA Fall Expo
Re-Designed Event Draws Renewed Participation of Influential Buyers;
Exhibitors Anticipate Brisk Business

Sleek Golf delivers a USGA conforming playable training putter. Train, Play, Score.

Gahanna, Oh – Sleek Golf Equipment, LTD announces the new release of its innovative Training Putter System.  The putter is a training aid designed to correct putting errors and easily transforms into a USGA conforming competition putter. The TPS Putter System is engineered to put repetition and muscle memory into competitive play allowing golfers to close the gap between practice and performance.

The TPS Putter System is the only putting trainer of its kind to allow golfers to train and play the same club which significantly maximizes the results of practice. Providing more than just another training aid for your short game, the TPS system delivers an integrated weight management system to fine tune putting.  Not only does the putter meet training and play needs but it also portable, allowing golfers to practice before a round and be set to play 18 holes in a matter of seconds.

This unique putter system utilizes sets of guide rods of varying lengths to train a correct pendulum swing putting path, developing muscle memory from the start of the swing and throughout. The guide rods can be set in different arrangements to achieve the best practice scenario.  This training device is guaranteed to correct FACE-ANGLE errors which account for more than 80% of all putting errors. A perfect stroke is attained when a clean connection is made avoiding contact with the guide rods.

The true benefit of the TPS system is realized in the USGA conforming putter. The TPS easily transforms into your competitive putter and can also be weight balanced for non-competitive play. Every putter comes with a set of precision machined face plates for full customization of your short game. Golfers can choose to utilize SS, Copper Alloy, Brass, or Nylatron face plates to maximize the results of their putting.

Most training devices are cumbersome or simply do not translate repetition and training to real time results. The TPS Putter System is the only putter/trainer in the world to deliver both facets of the game and to do so, practically.  The TPS system comes with all the necessary components in a discrete carrying case that easily stores in any golf bag.  In addition to ease of use the TPS Putter System comes in a wide array of bold colors and styles that will match any golfer’s game.

Of the putters certain to take down competition is the TPS Sniper, a Camouflage Putter aimed at aligning your game with sharp shooter precision. You can get a great look at the TPS Putter System at www.sleekgolf.com .

Barney Adams, the founder of Adams Golf has written a new book called The WOW Factor.  I have provided an excerpt from chapter 16 of the book that I thought you might find interesting.  If you are interested in receiving a review copy of Barney’s book please let me know.   Mary Beth

From Chapter 16: In 1994 when Max Puglielli replaced me as the club fitter at The Haney Ranch I was able to take my fitting process on the road. During my travels I constantly analyzed my customers to determine how I could do a better job serving them. As I thought more about the concept, I realized that while my service was custom clubs the goal was better ball flight. There was no question that custom clubs were the vehicle but, if my customers could have improved ball flight by taking mud baths I would have been in the towel business.

My job was to make it as easy as possible to hit enjoyable shots. There was one particular area where I was failing ( along with everyone else)and that was the long shot played to the green with the ball on the ground…..The phrase “optimized ball flight” sounds good if you say it fast but what is it? The answer is not universal. The help you’d give Grandpa Barney and his 82mph swing speed doesn’t relate to his son Eddie who can hit one irons over a building. Being somewhat selfish I concentrated on Grandpa’s issues……

I’d like to say that I opened my computer and started working on a sophisticated design program right away. Two things would be missing from that equation though; a computer (which I did not own) and a clue about what one did. After all, this was eons ago early 1995 and even if some prankster had put a computer on my desk I wouldn’t have known how to turn it on, much less operate a sophisticated design program. I was familiar with a slide rule, but for technical tools let’s just say I didn’t measure up. So instead, I reached for one of the great inventions of all mankind, the yellow pad.

Check www.barneyadams.com  for his latest book selling venture.

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla.—David Leadbetter, the world’s No. 1 golf instructor and coach to countless tour professionals worldwide, announces that five of his tour-professional students enjoyed outstanding performances in the recently concluded British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, and in the Senior British Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, that concluded Sunday.

Leadbetter is extremely proud of the performances turned in over the past several weeks by the five players he has instructed over the years—Greg Norman (in both the Open Championship and Senior Open Championship); Ian Poulter (Open); Trevor Immelman (Open); Fredrik Jacobson (Open); and Mark McNulty (Senior Open).

“I can’t even fully express how gratifying it is when your students—whether they’re tour professionals or average players—turn what they learn into success on the golf course,” says Leadbetter. “However, to have these five players all perform so well in a two-week span at the highest level of competition in two major championships is especially gratifying for me. I’m very proud of each and every one of them.”

“I’m pleased and never surprised by David’s energy to help his students improve their games,” says Dieter Esch, CEO of Wilhelmina Artist Management, whose Wilhelmina Models Inc., division is Leadbetter’s exclusive worldwide agent relative to all appearances, endorsements and licensing businesses. Additionally, Wilhelmina manages the business affairs and growth strategy for the David Leadbetter Golf Academies in North America, the premier brand for golf instruction throughout the world, as well as manages Leadbetter’s contractual relationship with International Management Group (IMG).

“David travels around the world with endless enthusiasm and zest so he can look after all his Academies and to make sure all of his Academy students, regardless of their ability levels, receive the finest instruction possible,” Esch adds.

Norman, of course, received the most ink among Leadbetter’s students for his T3 performance in the Open Championship and T5 finish at the Senior Open Championship. The 53-year-old Norman was the surprise 54-hole Open leader and led eventual champion Padraig Harrington by one shot with nine holes to play on Sunday before Harrington blitzed the back nine to win his second straight Open Championship and deny Norman his third Open title.

Norman proved his Open Championship performance was no fluke by continuing his stellar play in last week’s Senior Open. Norman shot 67 and 68 over the weekend to finish at 2-under 282 in the tournament, won by Bruce Vaughan in a sudden-death playoff over John Cook. Meanwhile, McNulty tied for 16^th place after a solid Senior Open effort.

Poulter’s final-round 69 at the Open Championship earned the flashy Englishman a solid second-place finish, his highest ever in a major championship. Immelman—the 2008 Masters champion—and Jacobson both tied for 19^th in the Open.

“The tour professionals I teach obviously work extremely hard on their games, so their recent success over in Great Britain doesn’t surprise me at all,” Leadbetter says. “Other than the fact these players are among the world’s most elite golfers, the things we work on during our sessions aren’t really much different than what average golfers learn each and every day through our world-renowned teaching philosophy at our David Leadbetter Golf Academies.”

David Leadbetter is known throughout the world for his innovative and creative teaching techniques. Over the past 30 years his players have amassed over a dozen Major Championship titles and more than 100 individual worldwide tournament victories. His coaching has spanned three decades, and he has often been recognized as the “man who invented the golf instruction industry.” There are 28 David Leadbetter Golf Academies strategically located worldwide in 13 countries.

Leadbetter is the author of seven books that have sold over two million copies, has written and produced more than a dozen DVDs and is the designer of several golf training aids that have sold over a million units worldwide. An Honorary Member and PGA of America Master Professional, Golf Channel Instruction Editor and Golf Digest Teaching Professional, Leadbetter is known as the “master of the art of teaching the golf swing.” His unmatched experience and keen sense for utilizing emerging technologies to evolve his time-tested teaching methods and game-improvement products and services assures that David Leadbetter Enterprises and David Leadbetter Golf Academies will continue to play a major role in the growth of the modern-day golf industry.

Indoor Golf is REAL. When you play golf indoors you use clubs and balls, gloves and shoes. You wear your golf shirt. You can play rounds or practice. The emphasis is on making good course management decisions and executing good shots.

Indoor golf will never replace outdoor golf. The most avid indoor golfers are the first to hit the outdoor courses when they open. But indoor golf can make a strong contribution to the game overall through broader reach, the education of beginners, game improvement via teaching, club fitting, self-analysis, and increased access for golfers of all levels.

AboutGolf shares the concern, with many in the golf industry, that the game of golf is losing relevance to those most ardent participants, as well as the disturbing number of newcomers that leave the game almost as quickly as they enter the game.

Golf, one must recognize, has not suffered from lack of new customers. In fact, tens of millions of individuals have taken up the game over the last ten years in North America alone. The game of golf has been extremely successful in luring new players. Where golf has failed is in keeping players in the game. About as many players in North America leave the game each year as take it up.

Logic would seem to dictate that golf must apply the old retailer adage that “your best new customer is an old one that you keep” in seeking ways to enable growth in not only participants, but also rounds. Golf 20/20 most recently has focused on the need to return relevance in the game to its core players.

AboutGolf subscribes to this goal, but takes perhaps a more pragmatic and admittedly partially profit-driven view of this issue. Data indicates that the biggest factor affecting golf and the loss of players and rounds is, simply, time. We have evolved culturally to a point where we live our lives in much shorter time increments than in the past. More activities compete for a share of these increments; extended work hours, longer commutes, greater involvement with our kids’ extra-curricular activities, and competing leisure activities with fewer impediments, lower time demands, and a more predictable outcome.

Other key factors fostering the loss of golfers include weather, pace of play, intimidation, structure, social impediments, and inability to improve.

AboutGolf believes that underneath all the data is one very critical element that forms the root of why most players leave the game: fun. There is a great deal of evidence that shows that people who leave the game aren’t enjoying it enough to justify staying in the game. Logic arguably supports this. We all have a limited amount of expendable time and income. Logically, we will generally invest our expendable time and money on things we choose, versus things we’re forced or obligated to do, regardless of our level of enjoyment (work, family functions, personal commitments). And, logically we will choose to do things that make us feel good–things that are fun.

AboutGolf believes that if golf was more fun for more players, more players would invest the time and money and expand or maintain their participation in the sport. With its focus on indoor golf, AboutGolf will present here its case for how indoor golf, and particularly the use of its simulators, can aid the expansion of the game–including the increase of rounds on outside courses.

In the coming years AboutGolf intends to foster ongoing data collection on indoor golf, including the number of participants, retention of participants, the number of indoor rounds played, and the effect of indoor golf in the growth of outdoor rounds.

Overcoming golfer objections

Time

The majority of players who leave golf say it’s because there is not enough time to remain involved. Eighteen-hole rounds, including commute time, can take up 6 hours or more. Nine-hole rounds, including commute time, can often take 4 hours or more. Many golfers say that this is simply too long.

Indoor golf enables the play of any number of holes for any length of time. If a golfer has two hours free, he/she can play for two hours. Indoor golfers can access the course after work and after dark. They can play for 30 minutes or all day.

Weather

The highest number of golfers per-capita in the world is in Canada, where most players have access to golf courses less than six months per year. The four highest per-capita golf states in the U.S. are along the Canadian border. The majority of golfers in North America live where courses are closed half of the year or more, not to mention the rainy days that occur during “golf season”.

Indoor golf courses never experience inclement weather; cold, hot, rain, snow, how winds, lightning. Northern golfers can play year round. It never rains indoors.

Pace of Play

Slow play not only creates obstacles for many golfers relative to the time objection, but also many golfers simply don’t like to wait to hit shots. Conversely, many golfers, including many beginners, are unable to keep up with the pace of play.

With indoor golf there are no groups in front or behind you. There are no marshals–no marshals are required. Golfers can spend an hour playing one hole or an entire round–as they choose.

Intimidation

Many golfers are intimidated on multiple levels by many aspects of the golf experience. The game in many ways makes participation difficult for beginners, poor players, ladies, juniors, slow players, and even fast players. Many golfers are unfamiliar with basic etiquette, the Rules of Golf, and simply how to “get around the course”. Many are not good at following their golf ball and hence have trouble finding it.

Inexperienced golfers, ladies, and juniors can be easily intimidated by the “regulars” as well as the overall golf course environment.

The factors of intimidation to indoor golfers are far fewer than outdoors. Slow players can play as slowly as they want. Beginners who don’t know the rules or etiquette won’t get into anyone’s way while they learn at their own pace. Indoor golfers don’t have to search for their ball. The “regulars” can play on their own simulators, and not be bothered with those who are still learning their way around the course.

Structure

Golf is a very structured game. Not all golfers, especially beginning golfers, enjoy the structure. Likely evidence to support this point is the fact that as many as 4 million “golfers” in the U.S. only participate at driving ranges.

Indoor golf imposes far less structure. If players want, they can spend all their time holding long drive contests, closest to pin contests, disregarding the rules, or re-writing the rules. Golf traditionalists would shudder at the thought of a growing army of golf anarchists changing, for their purposes, how the game is played. But this can introduce more people to the game, and ultimately create more golf traditionalists (many liberals become conservatives over time). And it doesn’t hurt anyone or affect how others play the game.

Social impediments

Many golfers don’t have a compatible group of friends with which to play, or have trouble finding compatible friends available when they are.

Because of greater access, it is more likely that indoor golfers can find compatible groups. But also, with indoor golf, it is totally acceptable for one or two players to play a round. Because of greater time and access, indoor golf makes it more feasible for compatible players to get together in the social golf atmosphere of their liking.

Inability to improve

One of the largest reasons golfers leave the game is that they get frustrated–they fail to achieve their expectations–they fail to get better.

Indoor golf with the right simulator provides unprecedented technology in a neutral environment that has been proven to aid game improvement. The potential of indoor golf to aid player improvement should not be taken lightly–it can be a powerful stimulus to game improvement, which begets fun, which begets greater participation.