Michigan Golf News, October 22, 2010

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Patti Butcher, The 2010 Golf Professional of the Year by the LPGA:

By Terry Moore September Weather: No Favors Nationally from Mother Nature Golf's Other Rules - a Golf Digest Survey Devine Thoughts Thad Gutowski - The Cyber Geezer = Part X of a Series Michigan Golfer Magazine Fall Issue Now Online:

http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/

New Shows on GLSP Minzey's Musings Michigan Golf Calendar Michigan Golf Archives http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/archives.html Michigan Golf History http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/history.html Michigan Golf Association Links

http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/associations.html

__/__/__/__/__/__/___/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/ __/__/ CIRCULATION 16, 047 Subscribe http://tiny.cc/g6onk Edited by Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com Michigan Golfer Magazine http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues Editor - Jennie McCafferty Archived, graphic, Michigan Golf News: http://issuu.com/michigangolfer Michigan Golfer Television http://michigangolfer.tv Producer - Art McCafferty Associate Producer - Jennie McCafferty __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/ ============================================================================== PATTI BUTCHER, THE 2010 GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR BY THE LPGA & CP:

By Terry Moore ============================================================================== This past month Patti Butcher, Director of Golf and Club Operations for Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich., was named Golf Professional of the Year by the LPGA’s Teaching and Club Professional organization. This prestigious award was established in 1980 and it’s awarded annually to an outstanding female golf professional involved directly in the entire golf operation. Before joining Blythefield, Butcher owned a very successful golf instruction company and was recognized as a Top 50 Teacher by Golf for Women magazine. Twice she was named the LPGA Midwest Section Teacher of the Year. Recently, Butcher spoke with me at Blythefield CC. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation.

Q. What are the key factors for being a successful golf professional in this challenging economy?

A. It’s all about relationships. Golf professionals must strive to offer an experience at their club or course so golfers feel at home and welcomed. If golfers and members feel a sense of community, if they feel valued and engaged, then they will stay involved and committed to their club. And in this challenging economy, golf is never more relevant as it today. Golf engenders relationships and business --especially small business -- relies on relationships.

Q. What about golf and the family?

A. In this fast-pace world, it’s important to have a haven like a golf course, a place where one can slow down and enjoy the game as well as one another. When families play golf together they’re away from the computer, away from cell phones, away from texting, and better appreciate their time and experience together.

Q. How did your teaching and golf career begin?

A. It all started at Oak Hill Country Club in New York where I worked as an associate professional under Craig Harmon. It was there that I really began my teaching career and I was so fortunate to be surrounded by quality people who loved teaching. For many golf pros, the next step would have been a head golf professional position but for me it was the Director of Instruction at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. That was also a tremendous opportunity. And of course, I’m so appreciative being at Blythefield which gave me the opportunity to be the head golf professional. Not a lot of private clubs were ready to have a female as a head pro. It’s been an incredible journey.

Q. What about communication skills in teaching.

A. I have definitely become a better listener in my teaching career. I’ve worked with so many interesting people over the years. And I’ve learned so much from my students who have been champions in business as well. They have counseled me and given me tremendous advice on the business of golf and teaching. I think it’s important for golf instructors to be succinct, to focus on one thing that will click with their students. It starts with listening and asking a lot of questions of your students. Good teachers are obsessive about helping their students reach their goals. It all comes down to teachers caring about their students.

Q. How do you use video?

A. Video is a very useful tool but it’s overused at times. For example, I don’t think you teach a gymnastics student how to do a back flip off a parallel beam by showing them video of an Olympic gymnast going through her routine. It’s more complicated than that. It’s more important for students to understand the cause and effect of ball flight and what’s going in their swing and with their bodies.

Video should be a communication tool, a means toward understanding swing aspects but not an end in itself. Students need a sense of purpose, a sensation through rehearsal, and an objective in their practice so as to know what they’re trying to accomplish. If you could hit your golf ball with your brain, you wouldn’t need a teacher.

Q. Over the years, you’ve had a number of prominent students including Muskegon’s Brendan Gielow, the Wake Forest All-America who was named to the Walker Cup team last year.

A. Brendan Gielow was special from the day I first met him. He was ten years old at the time and he came out to see me when I was teaching at The Meadows. He aimed at a tree on the practice range and said, “Okay, I’m going to start this ball left of the tree and bring it back to the right edge of the tree. And he did it.” He epitomized at an early age that every shot has a purpose. I was fortunate to work with him for six years. He’s destined for more great things in golf. I’m also very proud of Melissa Sneller who played at Grand Valley and was the individual champion at the NCAA Division II golf finals. She was a hard-worker and a tremendous competitor. But I’ve also been very blessed to work with everyday golfers trying to get better not only in their games but also in their lives and careers. I’ve received so much satisfaction from these individuals.

Q. What are the fundamentals that you stress as a teacher?

A. I don’t think the average golfer realizes the swing gurus and instructors who accompany Tour players and are out on the range are largely working on set-up, alignment and fundamentals. They may be quoted about swing plane but generally speaking they’re working on fundamentals. It’s

important to know you can’t just tell your body what to do. Correct fundamentals come about through rehearsal and repetition.

Q. And what about the all-important short game? Why don’t more golfers practice putting and chipping in spite of all of the evidence it’s the path toward lower scores?

A. It’s just not as much fun for many people to work on their short games. It’s more fun to hit a long drive or hybrid. But to your point, if a Tour player is in the top ten in putting and scrambling statistics he or she will have a great year. The statistics bear it out.

But we’ve done short game schools here at Blythefield and they fill up fast. We’ve developed a road map on how to practice the short game and it’s been effective for them.

Q. Award winners usually thank others for their support and encouragement. To whom do you want to thank?

A. First, I must thank my mentors in the golf business. People like Craig Harmon, Pat Lange and Annette Thompson. They’re all nationally recognized golf professionals and they have supported me throughout my career. They have freely given me valuable advice over the years on how I could be a better golf professional and teacher. I wouldn’t be a golf pro without them. Anything I know I have been taught and everything I’ve taught has been given to me. It’s my obligation to pass it on. =================================================================== SEPTEMBER WEATHER: NO FAVORS NATIONALLY FROM MOTHER NATURE =================================================================== September marked the 4th consecutive month of unfavorable weather at the national level as Golf Playable Hours (GPH) dipped 4% versus September 2009. That further eroded the Year-to-Date (YTD) GPH reading to -1%, which is still considered a neutral reading (+/-2%).

The weekend versus weekday GPH distribution at the national level for the YTD period continued its unfavorable trend with weekends down 2% and weekdays down 1%. While this doesn't impact utilization, it does impact both rounds and revenue results as favorable weekend weather produces more rounds and higher revenue per GPH. Looking at the September YTD weather impact breadth ratio results (measured as the number of regions up compared against the number of regions down), the regional breadth measure continues in negative territory at 1:1.4 (14 regions up, 20 regions down and 11 regions in the neutral zone).

Looking back at the previously-reported August weather results versus the Golf Datatech/NGF rounds played figures, the monthly Percent Utilization measure held its own at 53% (comprised of a 5% decrease in rounds demand against a 5% decrease in GPH) which put it statistically flat with the 2009 year-end benchmark. The YTD Utilization measure now stands at 52% or 2 points below the 2009 mark. The YTD Market-level breadth improved slightly but remains negative at 1:2.9 (comprised of 8 markets up versus 23 markets down and 30 in the neutral zone).

For more specific information on how Pellucid's Weather Impact capabilities answer key business performance questions, including a sample report and pricing, contact Jim Koppenhaver at jimk@pellucidcorp.com.

=========================================== GOLF'S OTHER RULES - A GOLF DIGEST SURVEY =========================================== The main rules of golf are dependably immutable. You know the powers-that-be won't start allowing "hit till you're happy" off the first tee in competition or declare, "You know what? You can ground your club in a hazard from now on."

Yet golf's other rules -- its unofficial customs and etiquette -- are in a state of constant evolution.

Bluejeans at the club? Out of the question a few years ago, but now acceptable at many courses. Cell phones? Considered a hideous invasion a decade ago. Now it's the rare club that doesn't allow them somewhere on the premises.

Depending on your point of view, these represent welcome changes in a game that is sometimes too stuffy for its own good or pernicious threats to the sport you love -- or maybe somewhere in between.

To find out where clubs stand on these and other mannerly matters, we surveyed more than 2,600 public and private-course golfers throughout the United States. Here's what they told us about the rules where they play the game, circa 2010.

COURSES THAT ALLOW DENIM (BLUEJEANS) PRIVATE: 37% PUBLIC: 68% Among private clubs that allow denim, 74% permit it in "designated areas" only.

COURSES WHERE COLLARLESS SHIRTS ARE OK PRIVATE: 60% PUBLIC: 69% Collarless shirts are rarest in the Northeast, where 49% of private clubs ban them.

SNEAKERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE ARE PERMITTED PRIVATE: 85% PUBLIC: 93% 92% of all Midwest courses allow clubhouse sneakers, the highest percentage.

COURSES WHERE CARGO SHORTS ARE PERMITTED PRIVATE: 54% PUBLIC: 92% The Midwest is cargo-central; 96% of its public tracks allow them.

FLIP-FLOPS OR SANDALS ARE OK IN THE CLUBHOUSE PRIVATE: 61% PUBLIC: 79%

Among courses that do not allow flip-flops, 67% also outlaw denim.

COURSES WHERE GOLF CARTS ARE MANDATORY PRIVATE: 13% PUBLIC: 11% Among courses that smile on walking-and-carrying, 80% permit it at any time.

COURSES THAT ALLOW HATS INDOORS PRIVATE: 69% PUBLIC: 96% Southern public courses are most comfortable with hats inside; 97% allow it.

COURSES THAT ALLOW CELL-PHONE USAGE PRIVATE: 83% PUBLIC: 98% 18% of all courses that allow cell phones forbid their use on the golf course.

COURSES THAT LIMIT TEE TIMES FOR WOMEN PRIVATE: 31% PUBLIC: 2% 30% of clubs limiting women's tee times do not restrict guest play.

COURSES WHERE MEN MUST TUCK IN THEIR SHIRTS PRIVATE: 76% PUBLIC: 24% Even at public courses that allow jeans, 14% still require men to tuck in their shirts.

WHERE WOMEN MUST TUCK IN THEIR SHIRTS PRIVATE: 29% PUBLIC: 13% Courses requiring tucked-in women are almost twice as likely to limit their tee times.

COURSES THAT PERMIT CAPS FACING BACKWARD PRIVATE: 31% PUBLIC: 74% This look is least popular in the Mid-Atlantic region (only 23% of private clubs allow it).

IT'S OK TO LIGHT UP IN DESIGNATED AREAS PRIVATE: 79%

PUBLIC: 76% Smoke 'em if you got 'em in the Northeast, where 80% permit it.

WHERE JACKETS ARE REQUIRED IN SOME ROOMS PRIVATE: 26% PUBLIC: 1% Of all courses requiring jackets, 78% ban backward-facing caps.

CLUBS THAT LIMIT TEE TIMES FOR JUNIORS PRIVATE: 60% PUBLIC: 11% 37% of clubs limiting junior play keep them off the course on weekend mornings.

Taken from Golf Digest Magazine http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2010-10/rules-survey ======================================================== THAD GUTOWSKI; THE CYBER GEEZER - PART X OF A SERIES ======================================================= Metaphorically speaking I am about to walk off the eighteenth green in preparing these internet golf marketing messages from the Cyber Geezer, but regrettably I don’t hear much applause.

Wireless marketing offers a trifecta + one: Email, Facebook, Twitter and the plus, Website. They are not competitors in delivering a message, but when done properly each is an important segment of a well conceived plan to deliver an effective revenue-producing message. Simply put, you need what I call the Big Four, to cover all the bases.

But first, if you are one of the vast majority of Michigan golf courses committed only to emailing lowball green fee rates when your tee sheet looks anemic and/or because your facility doesn’t have much more to offer, please don’t waste your time reading what I am about to present. But I will be looking for your operation on the list of those ten per-cent of America’s courses the National Golf Foundation predicts will fail each year until supply and demand are in balance.

Experts say the average male golfer plays three courses 80% of the time. One is his “favorite” and accounts for about half his rounds played. The remaining fifty per-cent of his golf participation is split between the other two. Here is a simple course in logic: Your increase in rounds is going to come from the other two he now plays, or from those not in his personal “Rota” as the Scots may say. Chances are that he is going to look at your website long before he checks you out on Facebook or Twitter. Let’s finalize this series by touching base on the big plus: website marketing.

You get only one chance to make the critically important first impression, so don’t drop the ball. Let’s forgo the soup and salad and get right to the meat and potatoes. Here’s a quick list of what I suggest you consider in your website presentation, obviously not in the order of importance: ·

Make it worthwhile to visit your site.

·

Don’t start with an “Enter Site” or similar link. Get to your story immediately.

·

Say only what the viewer wants to hear, not just what you want to say.

·

Organize your pages thoughtfully.

·

Create copy that is a pleasure and easy to read. Keep it fresh and relevant.

·

If writing good copy is not your bag admit it, and get some outside help.

·

Include a menu on every page with links at the top of pages.

·

Make your pages to fit most computer screens - 600 pixels wide or less.

·

Limit page length to two screenfuls.

·

Keep distracting flash graphics to a minimum.

·

Use simple backgrounds so your text is easy to read.

·

Make your text large enough to be easily read. Check the font style.

·

Don’t use reverse text. It’s difficult to read.

·

Give your copy “breathing room” with wide enough line spacing

·

Minimize caps. Make words standout with italics, bold or a different color.

·

Make links blue because that is what the viewer expects.

·

Explain your link points and make sure they are working.

·

Don’t underline words if they are not links.

·

Place your contact info on top or bottom of every page.

·

Use proper punctuation. Minimize exclamation points!

·

Run your copy through a spell-checker and then do it again.

·

Compress your image files to reduce loading time.

·

Place an E-club invitation link on every page. Offer a reward for joining.

·

Always remember: Form follows function.

·

KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid.

As my hero Porky Pig might say: Th-Th-Th-That’s all folks! cynergeezer@inbox.com Editor's Note: Kudos to the Cyber Geezer, A.K.A., Thad Gutowski, for this thoughtful series. We hope you have taken his missives to heart to keep the bogeyman away from your door. ================= DEVINE THOUGHTS ================= An elderly spinster called the lawyer's office and told the receptionist she wanted to see the lawyer about having a will prepared.

The receptionist suggested they set up an appointment for a convenient time for the spinster to come into the office.

The woman replied, "You must understand, I've lived alone all my life, I rarely see anyone, and I don't like to go out. Would it be possible for the lawyer to come to my house?"

The receptionist checked with the attorney who agreed and he went to the spinster's home for the meeting to discuss her estate and the will.

The lawyer's first question was, "Would you please tell me what you have in assets and how you'd like them to be distributed under your will?"

She replied, "Besides the furniture and accessories you see here, I have $40,000 in my savings account at the bank."

"Tell me," the lawyer asked, "how would you like the $40,000 to be distributed?"

The spinster said, "Well, as I've told you, I've lived a reclusive life, people have hardly ever noticed me, so I'd like them to notice when I pass on. I'd like to provide $35,000 for my funeral."

The lawyer remarked, "Well, for $35,000 you will be able to have a funeral that will certainly be noticed and will leave a lasting impression on anyone who may not have taken much note of you! But tell me," he continued, "what would you like to do with the remaining $5,000?"

The spinster replied, "As you know, I've never married, I've lived alone almost my entire life, and in fact I've never slept with a man. Before I die, I'd like you to use the $5,000 to arrange for a man to

sleep with me."

"This is a very unusual request," the lawyer said, adding, "but I'll see what I can do to arrange it and get back to you."

That evening, the lawyer was at home telling his wife about the eccentric spinster and her weird request.

After thinking about how much she could do around the house with $5,000 and with a bit of coaxing, she got her husband to agree to provide the service himself. She said, "I'll drive you over tomorrow morning, and wait in the car until you're finished."

The next morning, she drove him to the spinster's house and waited while he went into the house. She waited for over an hour, but her husband didn't come out. So she blew the car horn. Shortly, the upstairs bedroom window opened, the lawyer stuck his head out and yelled, "Pick me up tomorrow, she's going to let the County bury her!"

Ken Devine is the former COO of the Michigan PGA, who never met a joke he didn't like. ================================================= MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE FALL ISSUE NOW ONLINE ================================================= Contents http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/ Senior Tournaments Put Michigan Golf Back on the Map: By Jack Berry Michigan Tournament Round Up with Tim Hygh Strom Storms From Behind to Win Women’s Michigan Open Andy Matthews Wins Over Fouch and Do at the Tournament of Champions Brehm Wins Second Michigan Open at Orchard Lake CC Ron Beurmann Wins PGA Championship at Eagle Eye Teaching Pros Compete with the Touring Pros: By Brad Shelton Dyebolical: By Jack Berry The Golf Club at Harbor Shores Grand Opening: By BR Koehnemann For Pete’s Sake, Enough is Enough: By Bill Shelton Manitou Passage: Rebirth of King's Challenge: By Terry Moore Michigan Golfer Fall Issue http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/ Past Issues 1996 - 2010 http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues ============================= NEW SHOWS ON GLSP NETWORK ============================= Michigan Travel Television

Scenes From Porcupine State Park http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIq0yBh1H0

Michigan Skier Television

Stephen Kircher -Winter Olympics, the Golf Market and Pure Michigan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ecYP9c_cc

Michigan Golfer Television

Scott Hebert at the PGA Championship - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-B_2Y2PGJM Wisconsin Golf- Peter Allen and Mike Duff discuss their favorites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTmzwSPmA7w Sweetgrass GC - Jennie McCafferty interviews Dave Douglas, Dir. of Golf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ5g4spcm40

Michigan Runner Television

Marathon Oasis de Montreal - http://michiganrunner.tv/2010montreal/ The 2010 Crim Festival of Races - http://michiganrunner.tv/2010crim Milford Labor Day 30K http://michiganrunner.tv/2010milford/ Kensington Challenge http://michiganrunner.tv/2010kensington/ Playmakers Spartan Invitational http://michiganrunner.tv/2010spartan_invite/ Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo http://michiganrunner.tv/2010runwild/ The Brooksie Way http://michiganrunner.tv/2010redoctober/

================================================== MINZEY'S MUSINGS - NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE ================================================== I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

The trouble with life is there's no background music.

The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson ============================= 2010 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR ============================= NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 30 - Dec 2 Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids http://www.mgcoa.org JANUARY 14-16 Columbus Golf Show, Columbus http://www.northcoastgolfshows.com/ FEBRUARY 11-13 West Michgan Golf Show, Grand Rapids http://www.showspan.com/WMG/Home.aspx 18-20 Cleveland Golf Show, Cleveland http://www.northcoastgolfshows.com/ 25-27 Lansing Golf Show, Lansing http://michigangolfshow.com/lansing/ 25-27 Chicago Golf Show, Chicago

http://www.chicagogolfshow.com/ 25-27 Indianapolis Golf Show, Indianapolis http://www.northcoastgolfshows.com/ MARCH 4-6 Michigan Golf Show, Novi http://michigangolfshow.com/ ------------------------------------------