The seaside pro-am match was originally known as Bing Crosby’s clambake, or simply The Crosby.  An invitation to Bing’s party was desired by movie stars, moguls, and golf professionals nationwide. Since then the championship has attracted professionals and superstars every year.  In recent years golf pros attending the championship included Phil Mickelson, Mark O’Meara, Davis Love III, and Vijay Singh. Celebrities love to golf too, and the championship has been attended by Clint Eastwood, Jack Lemmon, Bill Murray, Glenn Frey, Kevin Costner, Steve Young, George Lopez, Tom Brady, and Carson Daly.  Since its beginning, golf enthusiasts from every walk of life have come together at Pebble Beach to have fun, and show their love for the game of golf.   The championship was and is today the best party in golf, for professionals and amateurs.

From its earliest days in Pebble Beach in 1947, the tournament has been known for three things: great golf, celebrities, and unpredictable weather.  The rain and winds that frequently batter the course and players are as much a part of the championship’s character as the competition they interrupt. The inclement weather combined with the sometimes long rounds occasionally deters even the hardiest professionals.  However, even the worst weather can’t drive away the enthusiastic fans that come to see their favorite game.

Some of the more memorable events at the tournament include Sam Snead’s request for a new partner when Roger Kelly, an amateur and enthusiastic drinker, got sick in the bushes beside the 1st tee.  Snead was denied a new partner. The Snead-Kelly team went on to win the Pro-Am, and despite this rocky start, the team paired up successfully for many years to come.

In 1951 Phil Harris, a longtime bandleader and friend of Crosby, curled in a 90 foot putt on 17 to capture the Pro-Am title with his partner Dutch Harrison.  Never at a loss for words, hard-partying Harris asked, “Ain’t this a heckuva blow to clean living?”

In 1957 “Champagne” Tony Lema lost his footing on the cliff on 9 and fell eighteen feet to the sand below, suffering several bruises and contusions.  He survived to enjoy a great career and returned many times to play at Pebble Beach.

Competitive golf has a long tradition of mixing professionals, celebrities, extravagance, good times, stunning scenery and premier golf courses.  The Crosby is a real celebration of golf as a game that brings people together from all walks of life. Here’s to Pebble Beach, AT&T, Bing Crosby and the good golf times they helped create, and the good times to come!

Fun Facts about the Bob Hope Classic:
- Arnold Palmer won the first classic when he shot 22 under par 338 to win $12,000.
- The winner of this year’s Bob Hope Classic will earn $900,000, which is more than the total of all the purses from the first decade of the event.
- Phil Michelson ($2,029,861) is the Classic’s all-time leading money winner.
- Left-handers won “The Hope” three years in a row (2002-2004).
Former Hope Champion Bill Hass enjoys recommending this favorite of national tournaments. “If somebody asks me, ‘What do you think of the Bob Hope?’ I say, ‘Go!’ This is a place I will always play…And I would tell people it’s hard to find a place that’s better for golf!”

The champion of the Masters Tournament is traditionally presented with a green jacket. The “Green Jacket” has been awarded continually since 1949. It is the most coveted award in all of golf. The winner of the previous year’s tournament presents the Green Jacket to the new winner. When a golfer wins in consecutive years (such as Jack Nicklaus repeating in 1966 and Nick Faldo in 1990) the Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club presents the jacket.
Facts from Augusta National:

Aptly named “Amen Corner” (holes #11, 12, and 13) was given that moniker by “Sports Illustrated” magazine in 1958.

One of the most famous sights on this famous course is seen looking at the 12th Green – Hogan’s Bridge.

Best First Round Ever = 63, Greg Norman 1996
Best First Round by a Winner = 65, Raymond Floyd 1976
Best Second Round Ever = 64, Mike Barber 1979 and Jay Haas 1995
Best Second Round by a Winner = 65, Cary Middlecoff 1955
Best Third Round Ever = 63, Nick Price 1986
Best Third Round by a Winner = 64, Jack Nicklaus 1965
Best Fourth Round Ever = 64, 5 times
Best Fourth Round by a Winner = 64, Gary Player 1978
There have been 13 tournaments decided by a playoff.
There have been 18 holes-in-one (10 of them on Hole #16, and 4 of them on #6).

Fairway Rewards in partnership with Costco will be selling gift cards at select Costco locations in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona for Father’s Day.

Come join us as we continue creating a nationwide network, or national brand of golf courses, all with one end in mind: when people think of golfers on their gift list, they think of Fairway Rewards and the gift of playing golf.  Redeemable only at our member golf courses~ no golf retail stores, online golf equipment or supplies.

This is however just the beginning.  In coming months Fairway Rewards Gift Cards will be available at a variety of retailers, both in stores and online:

Costco nationwide, holiday season 2010

Grocery Stores

Our Google first page listing, link to your courses.

Greeting Card Stores

Corporate Incentives Distributors

Online Gift Card Providers

Look out holidays, here we come!

Last year over $16 billion, that’s right16 billion dollars in gift cards were sold through national platforms.  Isn’t it about time golf courses are adequately represented?

Please take a look at our attached presentation for further details.  A member’s form has also been attached for your convenience. We welcome your questions and comments.

Feel free to contact me directly at any time.

Fairway Rewards is putting together a nationwide network of choice golf courses throughout the US. Our goal is to create a branded name that golfing and non-golfing clientele will recognize as the “the premier network of US golf courses” with gift cards available for these golf courses only.

With the return of Tiger Woods to the golfing spotlight, many contradictory emotions have arisen. Many golfers are glad to see him back, but the majority are in disagreement. Give us your thoughts! leave us a comment telling us how you feel about Tiger Woods returning to golf and playing in The Masters.

For more information on the topic follow some of these links-

The 2010 Masters:

http://www.masters.com/index.html

Golfers reaction to Tiger Woods return to golf:

What golfer has not received a bad gift related to his favorite pastime? How many of us considered giving up the game just to keep from receiving any more cheesy presents? Alas, this grand, noble old game inspires the worst in gift giving. What’s the worst golf gift you ever received? Here’s hoping it wasn’t as awful as these:

“I built my own putting green in my backyard. My redneck neighbors gave me a goat to keep the grass trimmed. I call him “Randolph”.”

“After coming home from a golf trip to Hawaii, we found an 8 foot pastel palm tree on our front porch with golf balls hung from the branches. It’s been mulched.”

“…a clapper to use on the tee box “for those few drives of yours that deserve a hand’ “

“My buddies once gave me a blow-up doll dressed like my favorite beer cart girl.”

“1,000 golf range balls and a T-shirt that says, ‘Ya gotta have a lot of balls to golf the way I do!’”

“…a tape dispenser for my driver”

“My in-laws gave me a ‘snappy’ belt clip that holds tees and markers.”

“For my desk I got a snow globe with a golf ball on a tee.”

“Dorf on Golf. Need I say more?”

“I’ve gotten a few golf gifts that were thrown in the closet and waiting for the first garage sale! The first was a golf ball monogrammer from an aunt and uncle of mine. They gave it to me in July and said, ‘We got this for Christmas last year and I didn’t know what to get you this year. Merry Christmas!’”.

“…a monogrammed golf sweater that was misspelled”

“As a Christmas bonus I received a golf umbrella completely covered with my company’s logo!”

“…exploding golf ball”

“…the golf ball that won’t roll in a straight line. That was hilarious for about 15 seconds!”

“…a set of golf balls with naked ladies painted on them. No wait, I actually do like those!”

Give your favorite golfer a gift they really will enjoy. Golf gift cards are now available that provide a free round of golf at their favorite course. Maybe not as funny as an exploding ball, but a lot more valuable to your golfer!

Written by Art Thornton with Fairway Rewards

Fairway Rewards offers concierge services, golf gift cards, and complete tournament planning that can save you time and money. For information contact fairwayrewards.com, or call us at 1-877-270-7273.

Depending on where you live, you may have several months to greatly improve you strength and flexibility during the offseason. Don’t let your clubs rust and forget your game during the winter. It’s no secret that if you improve your strength and flexibility, you will improve your swing and hit longer drives that produce lower scores.

What is the best way to prepare yourself for the upcoming golf season? You’ve got several options. For many, the best bet is working with a local fitness professional who works regularly with golfers. A trainer who knows the mechanics of the golf swing can best train those muscle groups involved, and develop a specific program tailored for you. Of course, there are also dozens of DVDs and books published yearly that focus on golf fitness. Nothing grooves a swing like practice, and even golfers from northern climes can find driving ranges open year round to perfect their swing. Many ranges are floodlit and offer covered bays, allowing even the busiest golfer to squeeze in some practice time during winter months.

Another way to keep your game sharp during winter months doesn’t involve swinging a club. An exercise routine will maintain strength and flexibility in the offseason. Joining a gym or exercising regularly doing golf-specific workouts can get you ready to play your best in the spring. A recent study concluded that 5 weeks of 5 minute exercises done only 5 days a week can increase clubhead speed by an average of 24%. Every golfer understands that exercise can increase distance on their drives by increasing swing speed and power. If you incorporate an exercise routine with regular visits to your local driving range, you may well see an improvement in your game once spring arrives.

So don’t let the offseason go by without improving your game by improving your body. All it takes is a few minutes of your time a few days of the week to dramatically enhance your skills. Not much of a sacrifice to play better golf, is it?

Written by Art Thornton with Fairway Rewards

Fairway Rewards offers concierge services, golf gift cards, and complete tournament planning that can save you time and money. For information contact fairwayrewards.com, or call us at 1-877-270-7273.

For all its majesty and dignity, golf is still a funny game. It boasts much tradition and pomp but never pomposity. This great game humbles and builds character even as it tickles the player’s humorous instincts. Somehow laughter can take the sting out of a double bogie. Whether you’re a weekend hacker, touring professional, or somewhere in between, one thing is certain: Golf is a funny game.

This noble sport is fun – or at least should be. An oft repeated line by professionals who attempt to make their living playing the game is “I was just trying to have fun out there!”. If everyone on the course is “trying to have fun out there”, then it follows logically that golf is funny. A round of golf played by duffers or PGA pros is bound to have it humorous moments. Funny stuff happens on every golf course every day. Although we might not see it as amusing at the time, later, in an in-depth analysis at the 19^th hole, it will certainly produce a smile.

Golf is a very sociable game. Who wouldn’t enjoy a corporate outing playing in foursomes with names like “Shanksville Duffs”, “Foreplay”, “The Sultans of Swing”, “The Gimmes”, “The Shankendrinkers”, “Caddy Shack-ups”, “Shut Up and Drivers”, “Bunker Bunglers”, and “The Pitching Wedgies”? If you want to meet new people quickly, just pick up the wrong ball on the golf course. Time on the links always amuses the golfer in need of a laugh and a lower handicap.

Of course, there are many gag gifts designed for the golfer with a robust sense of humor. The golfer who already has the latest state-of-the-art putter may find himself receiving a novelty golf ball such as the Exploder (blows up on impact) or the Giggle Putt which emits snickering laughter when struck. Other gifts for the golfer looking for laughs include the Potty Putter golf game (allows practice in the restroom), Jetstreamer golf ball which trails a 15 foot ribbon in flight, and the Talking Jackass headcover. All these novelties take the stress out of the sport and remind the golfer that it is still just a game.

Of course, the best gift for any golfer is a round of golf! Gift cards can now be easily purchased which are redeemable at some of the best golf courses in America. These gift cards can provide your favorite golfer with a free round at the course of his choice. No green fee required – just bring your clubs and a sense of humor!

Written by Art Thornton with Fairway Rewards

Fairway Rewards offers concierge services, golf gift cards, and complete tournament planning that can save you time and money. For information contact fairwayrewards.com, or call us at 1-877-270-7273.