Big Announcements and New Tour Directors: Welcome to the 30th year of the Golfweek Amateur Tour

Speaker 1: 0:45

Welcome back, chris. I know it's still 2023, but welcome to the 2024 Golf Week Amateur Tour and senior amateur tour season.

Speaker 2: 0:52

Yeah, one down, another one to go. Can't wait to get it started.

Speaker 1: 0:57

The 30th year of the Golf Week Amateur Tour and we've got lots of announcements from you and me that were that we're gonna be doing this year. We'll probably break those out over. You know this episode in the next couple as we start hiring some things out. So I'm we go ahead and get it started. Yeah, let's start.

Speaker 3: 1:19

Ladies and gentlemen, golf Week amateur tour the podcast Talking about all things golf week amateur tour, including interviews with tour directors, players and course pros. Now here are your hosts and Lana tour director Tim Newman and El Paso last cruises director Chris Rocha.

Speaker 1: 1:50

Chris, welcome back to the States. You were golf a little while, or one of my so crews, when you want to hear all about it.

Speaker 2: 1:56

Yeah, I mean it was a fun family trip. You know we talked about it before. Once the season's done we have a little quick one to two week break Before we start getting the ball rolling, especially for the tours on the West Coast that have more months to be able to play. So took the family on a cruise to Mexico, had a great time, got home and Got a little sick. I don't know if it was from there, from the hot weather down there and then the cold weather over here in the States, but well, hold on.

Speaker 1: 2:24

I don't hear about been interesting two weeks. I don't hear about any cold weather from you in Texas. You know what? When I hear you belly aching all year long about how hot it is, I don't want to hear that it's 70 degrees. He's in his cold.

Speaker 2: 2:35

No, we're in in El Paso wearing the 40s, which is crazy. I'll tell you December last two months or not December winter last two months, but I have told you I hate the cold so it doesn't sit with me. But you know, finally got got back on my feet and Starting to get the season rolling, so can't wait to have some announcements from my tour coming up next couple weeks and Just started in January. Well, good, I'm actually up in offensive an.

Speaker 1: 3:06

You're seeing, seeing the grandkids. You know we were texting back before today and. It's about 40 degrees here. Yes, it's too cold for me too, so I'm yeah. I'm only giving you a hard time because you complain that it's too hot all the time. What do you?

Speaker 2: 3:20

well, yeah it. What do you agree is too cold for me? I prefer, I prefer, you know, mid-seventeenth, mid to high 70s to Well, so that everybody you know that, to the degree starting with the 80, if it has a nine in in or above, it's too early. I'll be here, I'll be a little princess.

Speaker 1: 3:37

That's all right, that's all. Yeah, I think everybody wants it in the 70s and 80s all the time and that will be perfect right, Right, right right.

Speaker 2: 3:45

But I think our, our next guess that we're gonna have Can complain all he wants about the weather because he has to deal with it all the time.

Speaker 1: 3:53

Yeah, well, you know it's, let's find a good segue. You know, as we head into then, this is our second year with the podcast, second full year with podcast, but this was About weeks 30th year. So you know there's a lot of big things going on and yeah, this was that. This year is gonna be a little bit different because in the last several years We've had a bunch of new toy record. Well, you know we're free both name.

Speaker 1: 4:19

You're second down for various reasons, or adding new toys. Yeah, this is the first year like the think of what we're, one or not adding retorts and we only add Well, if you know this, but we'll be at 3d toward electors for a sponge.

Speaker 2: 4:31

Yeah, I mean, that's that's. I don't know if it's good or bad news, but it's great to have some new faces to get to talk to, kind of, you know, as a family of tour directors, kind of guide them through their first seasons and be a support to them like everyone else has been to us. You know, when we first started and had to learn the tricks of the trade I don't know me for sure with Gabe from Arizona and then me being able to do it with Gina, you know, help Gina out in Louisiana and things like that. So it's, it's a full circle to kind of see. It's nice to see, but can't wait to meet all these new directors. Well, you know.

Speaker 1: 5:09

I actually think it's it's it's a great thing, what we normally have three new tour directors. You know we probably have the bus tour directors in the country one day. Maybe I'm biased, you know, obviously there are two ways out there and they do. We have a very specialized gets and and my it do seems to get the best toilet and I think that kind of shows where we only have three new ones this year and though one of them is one of the new tour record, is a essentially kind of a new tour and that they were on all sheer but John Redmond, but you know we talked about what one I said beside on One is no walkie and that's Edmund Rero's.

Speaker 1: 5:50

Really had on on couple of those ago and, Yep, this one is it's a Last the Los Agus tour. It's an established tour. Last year the director had some it's a wealth problems and had a step away. But I'm just be back invited never to issue with me to other record. Go ahead and welcome. And Kevin Durant from Las Vegas. This is Kevin Durant from Las Vegas. This is not Kevin Durant from Phoenix socks.

Speaker 5: 6:17

No, sir, you'll be disappointed. When I stand up, I'm a foot shorter.

Speaker 1: 6:24

Well, kevin, what is it's great? Great to have you on the show is great to have you for a team.

Speaker 5: 6:28

Man, I am super excited and you said it best the tour directors make or break your, your organization. So I'm glad to be back with golf week and glad that I can have an opportunity to try to Make it better and learn from, from the best.

Speaker 2: 6:49

Yeah, me and Kevin were talking before we went on air and I was telling them Vegas is such a big golf Market so it's good to see you know that we're gonna have a Vegas tour Popping over there. I know I've enjoyed going out to play some events out there. I know my wife's enjoyed coming with me just to see the city. It's just it's good to have that market back on our tour, so welcome.

Speaker 5: 7:16

Oh, thank you, You're absolutely right. Last year I spent the better part of the year going back between California and did one Arizona tour Because we didn't have anything up here. So when this opportunity came about, it's like the weather's great here. I know you, you like your 75. I love 75, but you know, I don't mind playing in a hundred degrees because the ball travels a little farther, makes me so like I can hit it toward distance.

Speaker 1: 7:45

Well, like Chris, what we're this being. This is a first episode of the new year and what we're trying not to do is Pick on Chris all year long with Chris and plowd. You meant you just make it so easy, but hey, you know what I'll take it, I'll take it.

Speaker 2: 8:02

It's it's, it's fine. Somebody has to do it. On every podcast you hear. Somebody has to be the punchy mag, and I'll take it.

Speaker 1: 8:10

Okay, what, once you tell us a little bit about yourself so that I bring gets me a little bit?

Speaker 5: 8:14

Okay, it's a strange background. I played baseball in college at st Joe's University, and After that I've today actually I'm celebrating my 20 year anniversary of owning a martial arts school, so I have two schools in Las Vegas that I own and still train. I'm a seventh degree black belt and my family's totally involved in it and Caught the golf bug about ten years ago and and been hooked ever since.

Speaker 1: 8:46

No wonder it's amazing. So you know it's like you know, being a business owner, being a business for for 20 years, that takes a lot of work by the education and you'd have to have a good product that your customers want and yes, absolutely. And you're, and obviously you have to take care of them, otherwise you won't be around for his own gas Boy. Congratulations, we'll be around that long.

Speaker 5: 9:08

It had many of us, thank you.

Speaker 1: 9:11

How has? No, I don't know much about martial arts. Well, I do know that seven degree black belt is somebody you know I would. I want to be walking next year well but how does martial arts help you or help anybody in terms of other golf kick.

Speaker 5: 9:29

You know they type perfectly. Sometimes I have to catch myself being a hypocrite on the golf course because you, you have that open space. It's like being in the woods can. Can anyone hear the tree fall in the woods if nobody's there?

Speaker 5: 9:45

Right, when you're on the golf course, it takes that same focus, that same dedication to One move at a time, one strike at a time, looking for that one opportunity. And when you see it, you take it. Golf is no different. You can hit a 275, 300 yard drive and Spin the next five shots it hitting it 70 yards if you're not focused. So that that temperament, the balance, having a strong core is all tied together Absolutely. And when I'm on the golf course it's funny because I will be 55 in this few months, next month, and I'll hit next to a 28, 30 year old. And they're like, wow, you put it out there, man, your swing speed is so fast. Like yeah, not too bad. They ask me my age and then they're like you're what? And it's, it's from that martial arts, it's the core, is the balance, that good eye vision from baseball to Take your time, see that ball just like it's sitting on a, on a cone.

Speaker 1: 11:06

And so that's probably my problem. I don't have good balance, I don't have the core strength, and so I know I gotta work on one as well as many other things. See, if you've been with golf week for for three years now, what what I drew?

Speaker 5: 11:25

you to the tour again. So I was actually with golf week in In California when I lived in California before I moved here six years ago. Then when I moved out here I jumped on with golf week and a different door toward Opened up and I tried that out for a little bit and I'm glad I did, because you know, sometimes you don't appreciate home until you you leave, right. And and when I left Things weren't run the same, it didn't have the same feel. And when I went back a few years ago to golf week it, it just fit. I got felt like I was home, that the players were nicer, that tour director was accommodating, it just felt right. You know, even even from the little things that as a customer we think about, right, oh, that person, sam bagging, what are they gonna do about it? Well, golf week, they do something about it. They, they will move you and I Appreciate that. So it's been great to be back. Missed golf week.

Speaker 1: 12:37

Well, like I said, it's great to have you, well you know, comes back to you. People like really make the best tour. Director's are the ones that have been members and know what the product is and then know the tour is about on because they get it. It's just really kind of seamless. Well so, so we don't have to teach them know the idea of time, route or the idea of family, idea of fun, competition, right, those types of things, somebody who doesn't necessarily know the culture of the tour. We have to kind of teach them and bring them wrong. That take takes more a little while to.

Speaker 5: 13:12

Understand, get and and you know it ties right back to martial arts. For me, integrity is is first and foremost and I've played on two other tours over my ten years of playing golf and the integrity level and golf week is second to none and it just that's what I need. That's what I want because if you're going to, you know Participate, you want to know that it's on an equal playing field and that you're making friends, you're having fun, but everybody's trying to to do it the right way.

Speaker 2: 13:46

So we know that you can kick anybody's butt, probably, but how is the golf game for mr Durant over here in Las Vegas?

Speaker 5: 13:56

I have moments and I have moments I can. I can bolt one out there 320 and Spin the next five shots trying to get in to putt right. So I always say if I was gonna write a book it would be. Can I putt from here? Sometimes getting around is a challenge but to answer your question, I'm really a sea flight player and but I Was on a text thread and talking about that camaraderie on golf week and everybody's talking smack and we're having some fun and someone said, madden, you know, I'm just winning on the B flight, there's nobody I can touch.

Speaker 5: 14:42

I Said, put me in a B flight. I Told. The tour director jumped me up to the B flight and you know what? It actually improved my game tremendously because Because I'm a long ball hitter, right I it forced me to start playing the short game and play the smart game. So take out a five wood, hit that 240 and know that you can hit the next shot. You have a club for it, right Verse, just trying to. Oh, 350. I think if I have a 1% chance of hitting that drive, you know, maybe I should pull out a seven iron or a six iron, go 200 and play a 150, shot it, so it's getting better. I'm starting to think my way around the course a lot more because I'm taking it more serious now that I'm back on a golf week tour and that I pushed myself into the B flight even though realistically my scores would say I should be a C flight. But I don't mind that. I love competition. I get punched and kicked for a living, so losing on the golf course doesn't bother.

Speaker 1: 15:59

It's all good there's. How many times have we heard that story? When you move up a flight, you've got to figure out a different way to get the ball in the hole than you did in the flights that you were in, and I think this is something that you think your advice comes in so that they can't compete and they differ Like 14 is a 14, the 13 is a 13. It doesn't really matter what you get. The ball in the hole is different than how somebody else puts the ball in the hole, and you just got to be able to figure out what works for you and get better at the things that you need to get ball right to.

Speaker 5: 16:35

Oh, and you talked about. You know what I do for a living martial arts Perfect example. I mean, I hit that 280, 300 drive and I'm like this is it, this is it. Oh, birdie, I'm already looking at the scorecard. The old guy behind me is hitting it 220. It's a second shot. It rolls maybe onto the front of the green or a little short. I go left right, start talking in Spanish. He chipped one putt, he's par. I'm looking at a six. Here you go. Great, so so definitely learning how to improve my game. So I've watched my handicap drop drastically because I think that switch forced my hand to say, okay, I don't like being embarrassed and I'm definitely competitive, so I had to put that driver down sometimes and learn how to play smarter. That's good to hear. So what kind of?

Speaker 1: 17:30

driving you to become truly.

Speaker 5: 17:32

You know, it's one of those things. Like I said, playing in that other tour, I saw things that I didn't necessarily like, right, and you know, if all three of us get to know each other, we're sitting, you know, drinking our favorite beverage. Sometimes we sit there and complain, right, oh, they should do this and they should do that. Well, it's a lot different when you're writing the check, right, I always like to say you know, you can take my job at the karate school. You just got to write a big check and then deal with customers and learn, make sure you know everything. You know. Same thing here. I want to help, I want to produce the best product. I love what Golf Week does. So at the end of the day, instead of talking about it and complaining, I want to be part of the solution.

Speaker 5: 18:20

And when I saw that Vegas was not available, it didn't deter me from Golf Week. It actually made me drive back home to California and take the three hour drives and go to all over and play some great courses. And so, Cal, I'm from the Bay Area, so learned some courses. But I said, man, there's a need in Vegas. Right, there are great golf courses, there's great opportunity. Who's going to step up and bring it back? So I want to step up and bring it back and talk to one of our players, randy Murrow. He's a great golfer, way over my pay grade, and said hey, I want you to help me bring back Vegas, because we were doing all the traveling to California last year. So we want to still support California, but we want to create something here.

Speaker 1: 19:11

Well, you've got plenty of opportunity here. Like you said, it's a, it's a, it's a court market. Plenty of golfers, plenty of great courses, plenty of opportunities. So if looking forward to seeing how you guys do so, what can the players expect?

Speaker 5: 19:27

in your first year, right off the bat. Transparency I think the biggest thing that you can have when you start a group and you're in an organization is transparency. So I want them to know everything. I don't want them to feel like they don't have those answers, which create that Pandora's box Right. The more you let somebody think about it, right, the worst is worse.

Speaker 5: 19:55

It is, hey, we got to talk tonight and you go, uh, move for four hours You're thinking, what did I do? Did I do this, that or another? I just want to be transparent and let them know yes, we can play anywhere you want. I'll go find it and hunt it down. But I'm also going to tell you what the price is and what the cost of that course is going to be to play in a tournament setting First, you go on to play it with your friends and I think that brings a lot to the table for the golfers to know. Okay, he's not trying to rake us over the coals. On pricing, I looked at the other tours pricing. The way I have it set up, we're like $40 to $60 less for each tournament, because I'm not trying to gouge anybody. I'm not trying to set up my Bahamas vacation off of this. I want people to enjoy golf in a tournament setting.

Speaker 1: 20:58

Yeah, that's what's good to hear, especially if you're playing the same forces throughout the same time of year and players especially the time of year, they're going to look at it and they're going to do a side-by-side comparison. Well, because this is that and it likes that, while I'm getting and this is Tim talking here a better product, a better service for all this money.

Speaker 5: 21:21

I was floored when I started looking at the pricing. I said, all right, there must be something in the soup. I'm missing Salt, some pepper, something's missing and really it's just trying to create a margin that, in my opinion, can be excessive. When you're talking about I can play the course for $100 and now you're charging me $300 to play that course, what am I getting from it?

Speaker 5: 21:51

If the awards are basically the same, the payouts are closer to the same, then where's the difference lie? And so, for me, this isn't something I'm trying to get rich off of.

Speaker 1: 22:08

Well, if you're trying to get rich off of this, you're in the wrong business.

Speaker 5: 22:13

This is about my love for golf and getting to meet people all over. I've been playing for 10 years, so this is six years now in Vegas. I'm still meeting people. I'm still getting to know people here. So what a great opportunity to put myself with other like-minded people who love the game and want to play. And, by the way, yeah, I want to walk away with the trophy or talk a little smack or whatever and have some fun, right.

Speaker 1: 22:42

With some skin money. Exactly, exactly.

Speaker 5: 22:44

Say it Exactly.

Speaker 5: 22:47

I just had to replace that six. I got on that hole and I was only 70 yards away from it, right? So do you have your schedule built? Yes, I am still finishing it out. I have one more thing to set up, but, yes, we start off at Aliente in January and then, you know, we have the next day, we have the icebreaker at Paiute, so that's going to be a lot of fun from headquarters. Then I have Tymera, I have Angel Park, prim, I have Boulder Creek Bears, best Valley, high and Arroyo, so I have a lot of good courses to play.

Speaker 1: 23:34

I've been out there and I've played a few of them. I really like the Kring courses A little bit further from the city out there in the desert. I think they've got two really good courses down there. I don't think it gets to love the voltage at all.

Speaker 5: 23:50

Yes, yes, and you know we're going to play Highland Falls and Palm Valley. So we have a lot of nice courses out here, all structured differently Some that are 100% desert to those that are tree line. That will make me feel like I'm back in California. I didn't know how much I like oxygen until I started golfing and my ball would find those trees. There you go.

Speaker 2: 24:16

Well, I can't wait to make it out and have some fun and get to meet you and see how the new tour is doing out there.

Speaker 5: 24:24

I can't wait. I got some exciting stuff that we're working on to make it better and different. So really really just super excited about it and super excited about being on your podcast and just everybody that I've met and encountered at Golf Week. It's been the same vibe it really has. In that I want to continue that legacy.

Speaker 1: 24:50

I'm sure you will. Just a brief interaction here. You're going to fit in great with Westloteam. I really appreciate you taking some time with it and talking with us and looking forward to seeing what you guys have done in Westloteam this year.

Speaker 5: 25:09

Thank you so much for having me, and now I'm looking forward to meeting everybody. So I can't wait to meet you guys.

Speaker 1: 25:15

Thanks a lot. Take care. We'll talk to you soon. All right, Take care, Chris. We've got a new tour to Retro Celebrity in Kevin Durant from the Vegas tour. He is really excited to get started. I think it's great the idea that he's run Marshall Art Studios for 20 years and how he can really relate the sport and the discipline of Marshall Arts over to golf. So I think he's going to do a great job.

Speaker 2: 25:44

Oh yeah, definitely. I want everyone to pick a fight with him, that's for sure. But it is good to see that he picked up the Vegas tour and we're able to get that one going again. So I'm pretty sure we're going to be talking about him a lot at the directors meeting.

Speaker 1: 26:01

Yeah, I hope so. And, like we started to show off with there's only three new tour directors this year, which again I think is great, kevin Durant's won, and we talked to Ed Monroe a few weeks ago, a few episodes back, and he's taken over the walk. But the third new tour director is Sean Redmond from the Richmond tour, and he's been around for a long time. I'm excited to hear what he's got to say. So let's go ahead and welcome in Sean from Richmond. Sean, welcome to the show. Bud. Hey, how y'all doing today. Guys Doing great. So glad that you could take some time with us today. You know, I know everybody's busy, especially this time of year. Right after Thanksgiving, right before Christmas, everybody's trying to get everything done, schedules done, all those types of things. I appreciate your time. Yes, sir.

Speaker 4: 26:47

Yes, sir, we are in the process of building this Richmond thing and meeting with a lot of new golf forces. We've got some of the good staples from the Richmond tour that we had last year that are going to be back again this year. But yeah, working on numbers, visiting driving ranges, you know, trying to get the name out there. There's a lot of good golfers in the 804 Richmond area.

Speaker 1: 27:12

Yeah, there are. So you've been around. You know the Golf Week Tour for forever. You know as long as I've been around. So 2008, 2009, that sort of timeframe, you know. Why don't you give us a little bit of history of you know the Richmond Tour and you and your involvement in the Tour of Raw?

Speaker 4: 27:29

Yeah, I started back. My first tournament was a D-Flight when there was a Richmond Tour and at that time it was the last year of the Richmond Tour for a while and then I just I was addicted. I mean, started in D-Flight, went out, played a Belmont Golf Course, which was a staple in Richmond at the time, shot a smooth 108 in D-Flight and us and I was just hooked after that. And you know, for competition, if you did anything competitive in your life, the older we get. The only thing we could compete in is golf, the way the tours set up. You can be in a neck and neck battle in D-Flight, b-flight, a-flight, champ-flight, but it's in your flight and you have a chance to win and no matter what your flight is, you're the winner for that flight.

Speaker 4: 28:22

And I think a lot of people that have been competitive in sports across the realm, especially golf, it just gives you an outlet of real playing golf. You know a lot of times, even some of the VSGA stuff, and you know you got two or three players in your flight and you know the brand that's out there with the golf week. Um, through all the tours I've played, you know different events throughout, throughout the country on different tours and it's it's competitive in um. The people you meet is the biggest thing to me. Uh, through D-Flight till now in A-Flight I can see my C-Flight guys that I played with and we're friends. You build relationships and I think relationships build the tours. That makes sense.

Speaker 1: 29:07

Absolutely, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 29:09

So um yeah, for sure.

Speaker 4: 29:11

Yeah, and that's what it is, cause what sells the tool more than anything else is word of mouth. Um, everybody plays golf with other people. So if you can get one or two guys to come in and play your event and you host a good event, they're going to tell somebody and then it's going to grow from there. Um, you know, I've been playing for a long time and it's just something that just, I don't know it, just it got to me where I said this is something I want to do, um, you know, and we just, you know, kept playing.

Speaker 4: 29:43

Um, I think you know not to pat myself on the back, but I think I played 16 years without missing any event on the tidewater tour. Um, so, and it's, it just worked out. I didn't have no major family events and I didn't get sick, but you know, you look forward to that, you look forward to the points. You want to win, um, and, and you know you got to get in there and and and repetitious and show up to all the events. But also, you know you got skin money, you got prize money, uh, and then, once you get your group of friends, you want to beat those guys, you know right, right, yeah, and you, especially you.

Speaker 1: 30:21

Now you want to take trophy home, but you want to take that skin money home and, you know, kind of flap it on your hand in front of them as you get in the car. We'll see you next week. Yeah, that's it.

Speaker 4: 30:29

And a lot. A lot of people don't know how awesome these tours are. And then now we've got regionals. Um, you know, last year I played the, the one at the Golden Horseshoe with Lyle. We went down to Fripp Island. I mean, we've got some phenomenal venues for regionals now. Um, so it's, you know, it's always been prestigious, but now it's on the next level. Uh, you're going to, we're going to places and venues. Um, you know that that a lot of people don't get to play on a day to day basis, that you go down there and play a two day and you've done something.

Speaker 1: 31:20

Right, Right, Yo you have. I'm glad you brought Fripp Island. You know, I've heard nothing but great things about that and I'm so glad we're going back there this year, Um you know I'm definitely trying to work my schedule around it because I definitely want to go play again.

Speaker 2: 31:35

To relate with you. You know I started in D flight and Tim knows I've been working hard trying to get to B flight, uh, which I had a successful year this year. But, um, it is a matter of word of mouth and putting on a great uh event for your players and then just seeing them invite people week after week and seeing those people become members, it's just uh, it's a fun sight to see and you're right, if we can provide the best experience for them, um, there's no reason they wouldn't come back.

Speaker 4: 32:06

Yeah, that's um. You're building relationships. Uh, and Tim will tell you, we've met people over my 17, 18 years of playing. I've met people that I never would have met in day to day life. Uh, lawyers, doctors, carpenters, brick mason, pipe fitters, navy officers, ceos, the whole nine Um, and when you meet different people from different areas and different walks of life, it's just a different relationship, it's a different bond. Golf pools people together because I don't care who you are or how much money you make, you chip in for Eagle, you hold a long putt for birdie, you hit a great drive. People are going to say, hey man, good shot. I mean you build relationships and and if it's built on that, it'll sustain Um, and then everybody looks forward to playing.

Speaker 4: 32:58

I know the first tournament of the year. There's people that I can't wait to see, that I haven't seen all winter, you know, and it's like, hey man, just just like, when I go up to see this as tournaments, I'll see some guys up there that I haven't seen in a while. Talk to them, how's it going? Same thing when we go down to down Easter. Um, when we go down to Georgia and say, I mean there's certain, certain people that you look forward to seeing it. Um, and that's sort of like going back to the players cup a little bit. So when you build a relationship with Cephas and Marty and them, so when you go play their tournaments, which is sort of in our footprint, which you know, it's a two hour drive and you want to go play cutter creek or something, one of the mice courses they have on their tour, um, when you get down there you already know people, so you're comfortable, you don't feel out of place and almost every tour director that I've been to, uh, that has a tournament that we've traveled to. When you get there, they know who you are and they glad and they appreciate you for coming. It was like hey, that's Sean from the title, water from the Richmond tour. Um, and that's that, then you, then you're not nervous about playing the title because somebody's already knows you and you and you know you've already got a little bit of a relationship going. Um, and that that's my thing about the Richmond tour. I want to know my players, I want to get some feedback, but I want them to be comfortable to the point where they're going to tell all their buddies because on a Saturday or Sunday away from tour. Nobody plays golf by theirself. They're always in a foursome somewhere. And if they could tell somebody um the guys from Richmond last year. I challenged them. So if everybody brings one more new person this year, we double in size. That's it One person. It's so easy.

Speaker 4: 34:35

Um and the and the tour sell itself. You know them got nationals. You know you're going in the Hilton head playing some of the best courses down there. You know um, and it's competition. You're not just playing regional, you're playing everybody and whatever your flight is across the country. So you might be the best C-Flighter in the country. You know, let's go Give it a shot, right? Yeah, that's it.

Speaker 1: 34:57

Yeah, so you bring up a couple of really good points, you know. First, you know, after national championship, I'm tired, you know, and I need a break. It's not that I don't want to see the guys, but by this time of year I'm ready, I'm missing them. Text them, say looking forward to seeing you. Thanks for signing up, you know. You don't forget. You know, the first regionals, first weekend in January.

Speaker 1: 35:18

I can't wait until we get together and have our first first event, you know, and it's the guys are doing it not only with me, but but they're playing partners and the other, the other members, and that's that's what really drives it, like you said, is is. You know the relationship. And I tell you, if you get a guest to come out and and they just want to play as a guest, I guarantee you, if you show them a good time, they're gonna, they're gonna be signed up halfway through the round. They don't care what they shoot, they're already having a good time, they're loving the competition and by time they come in, you know, credit card doubt, book it. I'm paying for, for my membership, I'm paying for next three rounds and we'll see you next week.

Speaker 4: 36:03

Very seldom has somebody come out and play to a tour that didn't play another event and join it's. It's. It's very seldom, um, if, and it's art or job, as as the tour directors, to go out of her way and Talk to them, make them feel welcome, make sure they're a part of what's going on and then make sure you put them in a good group. You know who? Um, you know pace of play is something that everybody complains about, but Pace of play is on the players.

Speaker 4: 36:33

You know, I'm just now becoming a tour director, but I know that if there's a hole open we're behind. You know, and and I think that that's the only complaint you get from some players that don't want to join a tour it's pace of play, but pace of play is on the players. You know if, if you've got a slow golfer and and we've got slow golfers, so if you know that guy's gonna take three or four minutes to set up, shoot it, then you have your club in hand going hit. Um, you know, all the three guys play fast and you pick up the tempo. But although then slow play, that is the only negative thing I've heard across tours in the last year and a half.

Speaker 1: 37:13

Yeah, and, like I said, it is on the players and and we've got a, we've got a police, it. You know, If you go up to a slow group, it's you know. You talk to them. It's nobody in that group is slow, but you're, but you're two holes behind. How are you? How are you? How's nobody in the group being slow if you're two holes behind? Or if you got a shotgun start and you've got two groups that finish 45 minutes after everybody else?

Speaker 3: 37:35

Yeah, you know, it's and it's got, it's got it. You got to be able to have.

Speaker 4: 37:38

Oh, those hard conversations are gonna come up to you, know you, you're gonna have to have them so you have to because it it affects everybody, you know, in the tournament.

Speaker 1: 37:51

But it also affects the course and if, if the courses saying you know you guys are taking five, five and a half hours, you know we can't have you back and now you just lost the course, you know you probably lost a you know a good course or they're gonna charge you extra the next year because you know You're taking too much time.

Speaker 4: 38:05

Yeah, and and that's another thing, because the courses, you know COVID was was was good for the golf courses but bad for tournaments. So many people started playing golf. They didn't need us as much as they used to need us To come in and fill up a t-shirt and make it happen. So, but even even with the courses, its relationships. Last year I was able to work underneath Lyle and there's courses that you know he's been to 15, 20 times, you know, or 10 times how many ever times it's been. But they know that he's gonna run it and this is the way it is, um, so they respect that and then it's that relationship show, relationship is built.

Speaker 4: 38:45

So now with the Richmond, I'm having to build those relationships and it's taking a little bit of time Because most golf courses on the weekends are booked up anyway. So we've got a right, you know, we've got to sell ourselves. We got a sell that we're developing golf, we're building their brand and ours and if we work together this would be a long-term relationship. And I found that's that's a little bit of a struggle, um, getting other golf courses to understand what we're doing and what we're trying to build. And and that's why I'm gonna put on, you know, fixing ball marks, raking bunkers. If we leave that course better than we found it, then they're gonna definitely want us back. I think that's another thing that we need to take advantage of and say hey look, we're bringing real golfers that want to play good golf but also want to respect your course.

Speaker 1: 39:36

Um, so yeah, and and, and they spend a lot of money. They spend a lot of money to forces, to you're out of the, out of the. You know the the greens fees and that sort of thing. You know they're going into restaurants and they're buying food and they're buying drinks and they're going to the pro shops and almost Everybody goes in the pro shop and buy something. That doesn't really matter what it is, whether it's a glove, where it's a ball, where it's a ball marker, a shirt, a hat, whatever. Almost everybody's buying something. And you know it. A lot of times it's when you go to a new course. It's just, you know, take it, give us a chance, takes it, take a chance on us and and let us prove to you how you know, how we can, you know, run this tournament right well and benefit you, your course, by by generating a lot of work.

Speaker 4: 40:18

Yeah, and I think once they see what, what product we bring to the course, it's gonna build, because some of the courses that we've already played in Richmond are really ready to have us back and they want us to come back. So Really got some good stuff working in Richmond.

Speaker 1: 40:33

What courses you got this year and you know what are some of the big draws.

Speaker 4: 40:37

Okay, um, we've got Chesden landing again, which is a really good course. Semi-private, nice track, good greens. Um, I think my, my, one of my better courses is gonna be the Highlands Lightning fast greens courses in great shape. Um, it's probably gonna be the, the premier course and then we're gonna do all um, you know three you'll be the tidewater, come in and see if this is group is gonna come in. It's gonna be a combo, but that course is just always in great shape and Truly the pro out there wants us out there. So it makes a little bit of a difference when, when that the course wants you there and with three tours, there's gonna be some big-skinned money. Uh, and it'll be a competitive round. Um, everybody's got good players and they all want to win. So when you get three different tours, the head they gonna be coming.

Speaker 1: 41:31

Absolutely, absolutely. You know and and uh, yeah, it's, it's great that you can get, get those good courses and you know, get double, double shotguns. You know because you know, because you know you bring a lot of guys and and the courses know that. So that's, uh, you know, like I told, uh, see, if samari last, uh, last episode, you know those courses that you got and for them to block off the day, for you to get, get your double shotguns, that's a, that's a testament in in how how good the the tour is and what they're actually bringing to these courses.

Speaker 4: 42:03

So and then you know, with with mardy and seafest and lyle, all those guys are established guys and they've done what they said they're gonna do. So so you don't have, you know, they've got a good name. So when you're already putting a good product out there and there's a familiarity with it, a lot of times it's not as hard, you know, going in, you know, fresh, without having any relationship. So I think that makes a big difference too. It does make me so. And then you're always, you always building the blend. Uh, you know, you're always trying to.

Speaker 4: 42:37

I'm really Trying to get out to the driving ranges, um, which is gonna be a focus for me through the winter, because a lot of people work on their game through the winter. But if they're at a driving range, you're trying to get better. So if they're trying to get better than they, they want to play better golf. So you bring a product to them and say, hey, look, man, we're gonna give you the opportunity to come and play and compete. And your flight, if you're a d-fliter, you're a c-fliter or whatever you're coming out, you're going to compete on that level. And I think that's going to be an avenue to really stir up some more, some more participants in these tournaments and getting people to join the tour.

Speaker 1: 43:12

Yeah, I agree and and I don't. I think you guys finished with like 70 some members.

Speaker 4: 43:18

Yeah, I don't have the numbers in front of you, but I think that's pretty close.

Speaker 1: 43:22

Yeah, and so number one, that's a. That's a. That's much better than the average first year tour, and so it generally. You know you start to see really good growth in years two, three and four. So if you're starting off with 70, better, better way, better than average you should, you should end up this year with 125, 130 guys. Would would be, that would be awesome.

Speaker 4: 43:46

I think we're like 20, 28 or 29 players have already signed up. And then I've got a bunch of guys that have already told me they're going to sign up. It's just, you know, there's gonna be another week or two before they join the tour. Um, so, yeah, we're gonna build it. And then, um, I've got a couple things. I've got a couple, a couple guys that are doing some some legwork for me, because you got to get the brand out there. They got to know about us. Um, so, while we're in the process of getting a trailer, like, uh, uh, you know, all, stick it up and ready to go, because we're gonna take the trailer, leave it at some golf courses, put up plenty of flags and we're just going to promote the brand. The golf week. If you don't see golf week average tour, richman, it's my fault, you know. So I'm gonna be everywhere with it.

Speaker 1: 44:29

Well, you, you know I, I know you, you see, you see if it's his trailer and you know he has me. You know as much stuff as he has on his cart when he's playing golf.

Speaker 2: 44:37

He's got triple that, and I was about to say are you sure it's not his golf cart You're talking about?

Speaker 1: 44:43

another trailer. Well, he's had something through all this stuff, you know.

Speaker 4: 44:48

That is hilarious.

Speaker 2: 44:50

Next. Next we're gonna see if it's rolling down the golf cart, already ready to go out of that trailer.

Speaker 4: 44:55

So but yeah, there's gonna be some big things in Richmond over the next couple years. This year is gonna be and it's a little tough. Um, you know you, it's a lot of behind the scenes that that people don't really know. When you're running a tour and you're getting everything going, it's uh, it's a it's a right good bit of work. And now I've always known like, because you know, I've been tight with Lyle for a long time, so I've always been able to watch him. And then I've talked with Gina and and and Louisiana and and how she's been doing things, and you know it's it's a lot of work. But I found more joy this year and talking to golfers and trying to get them to To come out and experience this almost as much as playing in a tournament. I don't know if that sounds weird to you guys, but when I'm on a driving range and I'm telling, hey guys, man, I was that guy, I was in d-flight and I remember the first tournament. I wanted a playoff at rivers bend golf course A long time ago and shot a 98 in one d-flight, you know, I remember, though I still got the trophy, you know. So, um, it means a lot to people and people want to be competitive, uh, and we give them that outlet and it's gonna grow. Um, so I'm really excited. I'm really grateful for the opportunity. Um, you know, I've had a lot of good people in my circle and, um, this whole, the way it came about and everything was awesome. And I think, because of my loyalty and and and and what I could, my commitment, lyle was able to reach out and start making this thing go last year and then turning it over to me this year. I'm honored because it's it's a big thing. Um, something that I've poured myself into and I've enjoyed every round that I've ever played. Um, but also, so other people can experience that.

Speaker 4: 46:50

Um, real quick, I'm gonna tell you a story. So, a guy, keith weeks, a friend of mine, hadn't seen him since high school. Last year, when I was starting the tour, we just started talking on facebook. He plays a lot of golf and he came out and he won, uh, his first tournament. And he just come up to me afterwards. He's like man, I am so glad you got me to come out and play and I was like, and I was more happy for him about winning than I was you know anything else. So, um, because, no matter what anybody says. When you win anything, you win something that you did, man it's. It's a good thing it is. It is awesome to see people playing yeah.

Speaker 1: 47:29

And you know, make them think about this. You know you learn from one of the best in Lyle. Lyle is, he's been around, just finished his 20th year with Golf Week. He is the best. I think every tour director that I generally talk to reaches out to Lyle for advice. That says something You've got the benefit. You've seen him, you've been working with him for years and he's right there in your backyard, so there's no doubt that you're going to do well.

Speaker 4: 48:02

And it is a little pressure because I don't, you know, you don't want to let people down. So there's some big shoes to fill. But I will say this Lyle has gone out of his way to help but make it my show and not his. I respect that and I'm very grateful that I do have somebody because I could tell you story after story when you're around somebody for 17, 18 years, you know there's been a lot of good stuff. You know when there was a year where we went back to back to back national champions. Three years in a row we were national champions. Now I don't know it's probably been done since then, but that would that, would that team concept and I'm building that Richmond, I'm working on the hammer and some champ flight guys. Now I want, in the next five years, I want to compete in nationals. I want to get down there for Dennis to hand me a trophy oh son, it is something I would love to experience.

Speaker 4: 49:06

Um, you know, you build your team and that's, that's one of the things we're selling. We're selling our local tour, but we want to go down to Hilton head and we want to. We want to bring our best golfers and see what we can do.

Speaker 2: 49:18

I completely agree with everything you're saying. You know, coming from West Coast, you want to be able to bring that team to compete and it would be nice to get that belt or trophy or whatever, maybe from Dennis, and be able to hold that up high. So, um, I think you're on the right track, brother. I really do, and uh, can't wait to see what, what you bring this year, cause I mean, you can tell you know we're a voice podcast, but you can tell in your voice how excited you are, and I think that's number one. If we're excited as directors and we show up with that excitement, then it just bleeds onto the players and then their, their friends and what they talk about on their, on their weekend games or their week games, and that's how you build this tour, man. So I just I can't wait to see what happens.

Speaker 4: 50:05

Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm really excited about what we've got, what we're growing and the players and, like I said, there's a lot of good courses in Richmond. Um, there's a lot of good golfers, a lot of good golfers in Richmond and as we get the brand out there, um, I definitely have the ZZ, oh for it. And, like I said, when I came on tour and D flight, I needed that. I needed that in my life at that time and some people won't tell you but to be able to go out, compete, meet new people and give you something. And there's something that you can go out and attain and get. It's just. It's just, it's just different.

Speaker 4: 50:46

And us, as men and women that have played competitive sports, and you need that outlet and this is a perfect opportunity. Look at how many professional football players, baseball players what are they doing now when they retired? Playing golf. Um, you know so. So, there, it's there. So now we just tap into it and get these guys to come out and play. And you know, this thing is only getting big. Um, you know, I think, between the rich men and the tidewater and DC and North Carolina, there's a lot of good tours and, um, it's, I think, I think the next two years we're going to see the most growth, uh, competitively, and then in what we're building here.

Speaker 1: 51:29

I think you're probably right. You know, if it continues to go like it did you know over, you know, thanksgiving weekend had had record numbers of uh members rejoin or join over Thanksgiving weekend and we've ever had record record numbers um across country. So uh I I. As long as that trend continues, I agree with you.

Speaker 4: 51:53

Yeah, I think, um, you know, as as the courses loosen up a little bit, um, I just I'm I'm amazed at how many regionals are playing at high profile courses now. Uh, there are some really nice regionals that you go compete and go play Copperhead, you know you're playing some really nice courses, that that this brand, that's golf week amateur, towards going to be the one to get you out there, and not only you playing it, you're playing it in a tournament. You know you go down there, uh, Jason, the whole one Copperhead a couple years ago, down there on a flight. I mean, that's prestigious. You know you could hold that trophy up and say hey man, look what I did. Um, you know, I don't care who you are, you go down there and win something like that. That's, that's big time.

Speaker 1: 52:37

Yeah, absolutely, it is. Yeah At at. You know, at this stage, like you said, I don't care which regional if you go to. If you win a regional, you've done something you, you, and it doesn't matter what site it is, which, which course it is. Again, we're playing really great courses on these regions. You go out to any regional and you win. You have done something you, you, should, you should go. That's a trophy.

Speaker 4: 53:03

that you need to highlight because you're playing the regionals, you're not playing just your local guys on your local tour. You, you know people are paying good money to go compete. You know they're not going down there just to have a good time with their guys, they're going down there to win. Um, you know.

Speaker 1: 53:22

And you know, I would suggest that guys you know go go to to these regionals and use that as practice for nationals, because that's that's really the next step. I mean, if you can go down and win a regional again, I get it. You know, you got to catch lightning in a bottle two days in a row, but you get used to that elevated competition. You get used to playing outside of your comfort zone. You know not. You know, even when you're playing in a local tour you know, a lot of times you're you're playing with guys that you know and you've been playing with for a while. You go to a regional, you may be in a group of three other guys who you don't know, and that's a that's a different level of pressure. So, sean, thank you again. Thanks so much for for spending some time with us. I really do appreciate it. I'm I'm excited for you, I'm happy for you that you got this opportunity. I know you're going to do do great and I look forward to talking to you later on this year.

Speaker 4: 54:13

Yes, sir, I appreciate it and y'all have a good day, guys, and let's all, let's keep building this thing and hopefully maybe we'll have another one talking about the numbers and Richmond and tournaments and all that little bit later on in the season. I'm sure we will.

Speaker 1: 54:26

I'm sure that we will All right. Guys, y'all have a great day. All right, take care. Thank you, buddy. Again, another good interview with with a new tour director, with Sean Redmond. Like said, I've known Sean for a while, he's a fun guy and he's going to do really, really good things in Richmond.

Speaker 2: 54:43

Yeah, Like I said in the interview, you know you can just tell in his voice how excited he is to get started. I mean, you don't hear people talk about the work we do behind the scenes at the range and things like that. And he's ready to, you know, to buckle up and get going. So can't wait to see what's going to happen from that tour.

Speaker 1: 55:04

Yeah, and you know he sees a lot of stuff again because not only with his friendship with Lyle he's been with Lyle, like I said, for forever but you know with Lyle, kind of training him and getting him ready to go. It's being trained by one of the best.

Speaker 2: 55:20

Definitely I think I need to reach out to Lyle. If these tours around him he puts his hands in, keep thriving. Maybe he can help us out here in the West Coast.

Speaker 1: 55:30

And you know, like I said, you know and there's so many tour directors that just reach out to him, you know, just for you know, some advice and ideas and obviously you know he said he's one of the best spent around for 20 years. As you know, your biggest tours, you know, is always bringing guys to nationals the Lava Cup. You know he was one of the impetus and one of the main movers in the Players Cup. You know he really loves a tour and will do pretty much whatever he asks to to grow it. So Sean's in a good spot with him, you know, right next door.

Speaker 2: 56:11

Yeah, he definitely is.

Speaker 1: 56:15

And you know it's the, you know the 30th year of the Golf Week Amateur Tour, which is huge.

Speaker 2: 56:23

I can't believe it's been that quickly. I remember when I got in it was 25 years as my first official, by myself tour director. So for you to say now it's 30, I can't believe it's gone that fast.

Speaker 1: 56:38

Yeah, and not only has it gone by quick, you know I've been with Dennis 15 or 16 years myself. It's exploded, and you know just when we think that. You know it's reached its peak. You know, this year, over Thanksgiving weekend, we've had the most registrations over that time period that we've ever had.

Speaker 2: 56:59

Yeah, it's been crazy to see these emails come through. I don't even have time right now to process how many emails I keep getting from Susan and Jennifer. That it just shows that we need to get everything going as quickly as possible.

Speaker 1: 57:19

Yeah, yeah, you know it's huge. I remember when I took over Atlanta the year before I was there, I think there was only 50 members, 50 members, and we had more members join in over Thanksgiving weekend than we did an entire year. I think we ended up with like 74, 75 paid memberships just in, you know, friday, saturday, sunday, wow.

Speaker 2: 57:56

That's. It's crazy, crazy, even think of that.

Speaker 1: 57:58

It is, and you know how. About you? How'd you guys do?

Speaker 2: 58:04

Like I said, it's been coming through. I haven't even had time to look at it, but I'm not really worried about it right now. In December, once I started doing my December giveaways that I do every year, you know just up as the elf and do all of that on social media, that's when it starts to skyrocket because everybody wants to be a part of those free entries.

Speaker 1: 58:26

Yeah, just just make sure again when you start dressing up like an elf. Just make sure that there are pictures and you don't delete them from Facebook.

Speaker 2: 58:37

Oh, there's, it's all over. If you're not following me and you want to see this, I suggest you follow. And for any of my guys that are listening, if you want any free entry fees, you better get your membership put in before we start those. I think it's December 14th when those things get started 13th or 14th, one of those days.

Speaker 1: 58:55

Yeah, so, so in about a week.

Speaker 2: 58:58

Yeah, thanks. Thanks for the reminder.

Speaker 1: 59:01

How? How's your schedule coming along?

Speaker 2: 59:04

Schedules coming along. I know you know you and me are going to are going to announce some things later on this episode, but it's been a how do I say that? An interesting process this year, because a lot of courses now in my area where we weren't getting affected with pricing, we're now getting affected with pricing. So trying to negotiate those things the good thing is, you know, we've been around for so long that they know us and we've made that rapport with them, so we'll just see what happens, you know to trying to put out the best product for our guys at the best rate we can, and yeah, so you know, with us in Atlanta I've got had had one date that I was really hoping to get a course for, but they're doing they're they're doing aeration the week before, so so we can't do that course.

Speaker 1: 59:58

So that was going to be for a member guest. I've got I've got three open dates still trying to to to lock down and the course that we wanted to do our our local tour championship or was just sold. So we've got to wait a couple of weeks to see how that, how that, breaks out. And you know who we need to book, to book the, the tournament with. You know we will probably still be there, but we just have to kind of wait and see how that. You know, like I said, how it plays out and who we're, who we're dealing with in terms of booking it. But schedule is almost done, got a few new courses and we're really looking forward to getting it started. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:00:39

It's always nice to add a new course here and there. I know the guys look forward to those, so so trying to do that as well, you know, with with with me being to a two city tour within 45 minutes of each other.

Speaker 2: 1:00:55

I'm going to try something a little different for our tour final and see if it pays off or not. It's kind of one of those little gamble things, but I mean, in the past we've done our tour day final either in one city or the other and I feel like it gives an advantage to people that live in that city and a disadvantage to the people that don't live in that city. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1: 1:01:18

Yes, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:01:20

Yeah. So this year I'm going to have day one in one city and then day two in the other city and kind of see how that takes, see if people like that or if they don't. We'll find out at the end of the year.

Speaker 1: 1:01:33

Yeah, that's not a bad idea what you're saying, that El Paso and Las Cruces are only about 45 minutes apart.

Speaker 2: 1:01:39

Right, las Cruces is the closest, and then you're talking, another three to six hours to get to the next town. So it's fun.

Speaker 1: 1:01:49

Well, I'm sure that you guys have some good courses there and it's going to be great. So let's talk about some of the things that we're looking forward to for the 2024 season. Again being the 30th year of the tour, I think there are some big things, and first let's look at the regionals. I think last year we had 12 or 13 regionals. This year we're at 18. Is that where it is?

Speaker 1: 1:02:25

Yeah, it's 18 regionals this year 18 regionals, which is huge, and they're all at really good locations and you and I will actually be at some of these broadcasting live.

Speaker 2: 1:02:44

Yes, that's going to be something new this year and it's going to be exciting to do. I know when we broadcast live at national, everybody loved it, and especially at the welcome party you know from I don't even know how old the kids were, all the way up to some of our older members just wanting to get on and talk to us. Or the interviews that I did after each round and with the champions was something that people looked forward to and I think it brought the excitement to the tour. And now being able to go to a couple of regionals is going to be fun for these regionals to have us out there, but also the players to be able to take pictures and we can sign autographs and do all that fun stuff.

Speaker 1: 1:03:31

Yeah, yeah, everybody's going to want my autographs. It's going to be great. Start practicing. So now that my kids are older, you know when they were younger and in school and we have to go to parent-teacher conference, you know it always talked about. You know their handwriting and how bad it was, and everybody would look at me like it's my fault. My handwriting is absolutely atrocious. It's atrocious. So if, gentlemen, if I'm writing something down, I got to type it out even for me to be able to read it. Yeah, I can't imagine somebody number one wanting my autograph number two if I wrote it down and being able to read it and just and just not saying, oh, just scratch, let's just throw it out.

Speaker 2: 1:04:18

Well, we'll get you a stamp and you can just say again just get a stamp. Yeah, we'll just get a stamp.

Speaker 1: 1:04:24

Get a stamp with an X on it. So you know, you know what I've been talking and for sure, 100% for sure, these are the are two that we will definitely be at, and the first one will be the June 1st and 2nd Great Lakes Regional at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Speaker 2: 1:04:46

Yes, that's going to be fun. I don't think I've ever been to Michigan. My goal is to at least play one round in every state in the US at one point in my life, but I don't think I've ever been to Michigan. I may be wrong, I don't know, but it'll be fun. The course looks, you know, with the picture that we see here on the website the course looks magnificent and I know that you have a little part of that course. You know there's something about that course that draws your eye.

Speaker 1: 1:05:28

Yes, so this is a Jack Nicklaus course. It's a tribute to our military. If you go to the website, it's owned by the folks that own Folds of Honor, so it's definitely a course that honors our veterans and those who fight to keep our freedoms. When you open up the website, it's listed as golf's most heroic round, so I encourage everybody to sign up quickly for this, because I know this one's going to sell out. It's the weekend after Memorial Day, and so I'm really looking forward to getting up there and seeing the course and interacting with our members that are playing and see some of the history that is enshrined there At the course. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:06:37

I mean, you know, because I am an active players member director, I might have to play these two regionals and do some on course live action segments for you, for our podcast. You know people can't see me when I'm throwing my hands up like all shucks type of thing.

Speaker 1: 1:07:00

Yeah, so it's, you know, tough work, but I think you're gonna have to do it.

Speaker 2: 1:07:05

Yeah, it's tough, it really is, but oh shucks.

Speaker 1: 1:07:15

And so the next one that we're definitely going to be at is the next weekend. After that, it's the June 8th and 9th, the Cajun Classic at the Tamaka Trails in Louisiana.

Speaker 2: 1:07:27

Yes, you know the Louisiana tour. They've been doing great things, gina and her husband, I mean, they're just. They're so much fun to hang out with, or so much fun to be with, I can't. That's probably one of the ones that, when we talked about this, was circled. You know, I really want to go that one because I've been meaning to try to get out to their tour and just play a tournament for them and, you know, just have some fun with them, for that is one that I'm really looking forward to as well.

Speaker 1: 1:07:59

Yeah, it's going to be great. You know, again Gina's doing a phenomenal job for Louisiana North tour and it's great that she has a regional and again looking forward to getting out to Tamaka Trails and seeing that course and talking to the members and talking to the players and the winners of the region. You know and like like we talked about with Sean, if you go to a regional and you win a regional, you really accomplish something just because of the competitions.

Speaker 2: 1:08:29

Yes, I was so close a couple of years back, so close to winning the TPC Scottsdale regional, and I've had one of my C-Flighters now B-Flighter Stephanie. She's won a regional in California and you can just tell that once you win one of those it just picks up your game and you just end the play. You know you're a lot better golfer once you get one of these under your belt.

Speaker 1: 1:09:03

Yeah, absolutely Absolutely. And you know we'll be at other regionals for sure. Just haven't really kind of locked down that schedule yet. You know we've got the icebreakers coming up that you know I'll be in Hiltnet for those and interviewing winners and other players. And, chris, you'll be at the icebreaker in Vegas for sure, interviewing winners and players as well. You know, just cut, we just really need to kind of lock our schedule in. But our plan is to get to a number of these all across the country, you know, to again to get out and talk to members from all over, interview these winners and really kind of help grow the tour.

Speaker 2: 1:09:46

Yes, it's again. Oh shucks, I have to go to Vegas for work, but it you know it's going to be cool. When we talked about this, it's been what? Maybe six months to a year in the works, and when we talked about this, this is something that we really wanted to do and I think we blew. We blew the water in nationals with the live broadcasts that we were able to do, and being able to now take this to as many tours as we can is going to be something that's just going to take this podcast and the golf week tour to another level.

Speaker 1: 1:10:25

Yeah, and you know we'll kind of explain how this all kind of came together in our next episode we're next couple of episodes as time permits. We had kind of hoped to be able to share some information, but there was a snag in the schedule. So we'll kind of lay out how this all kind of came together and how this is happening and why it's happening. How are we going to be able to do this over the next couple of episodes?

Speaker 2: 1:10:53

Yes.

Speaker 1: 1:10:55

It's fun, looking forward to it and can't wait to meet everybody.

Speaker 2: 1:10:58

Yes, yeah, I mean, if you're going to that regional, you'll know you'll be able to find us. We'll be the big guys with the mics. But other than that, you know, come say hi. I know, like I said earlier, tim's excited. He's going to be practicing his signature for you guys and he'll sign a golf ball or a scorecard or something for you.

Speaker 1: 1:11:20

With my X stamp.

Speaker 2: 1:11:21

Yes, with the stamp in the ink. At least you get something.

Speaker 1: 1:11:27

You'll get something. And we've got one other nice surprise coming. It's going to be a contest. It's going to be a nationwide contest to win free entry into a national championship. This all kind of came from, you know, after nationals last year hanging out talking and kind of a funny little episode happened which kind of is a genesis of this idea for the contest for the free entry.

Speaker 2: 1:12:01

It really just jumped out that and it literally jumped into our lap with how funny it was, and then just kind of some, I think somebody not even you or me, somebody just mentioned it That'd be a cool thing to do, and now we're going to make it official, so it's going to be fun.

Speaker 1: 1:12:22

Yeah, well, it was, it was. This was Dennis's idea and it's kind of changed a little bit. But that's okay, it's still going to be fun, it's still going to be a great time and we'll lay out all the rules and how people can enter to do this Hopefully next episode, right before Christmas, and that way, if you need to buy somebody a Christmas present to get them an entry into this, you'll still have time to be able to do that.

Speaker 2: 1:12:57

As a perfect time to announce it and get the ball rolling on this.

Speaker 1: 1:13:04

Exactly, exactly, so you know. That being said, you know registration is open now. If you're already a member, you know, give somebody a membership. If you're not a member, ask somebody to buy you a membership where you just do it yourself, because the you know, the 2024 season is. It's right around the corner.

Speaker 2: 1:13:28

Yes, you know, before you know, we're going to be talking about the icebreakers and things like that. So, like Tim said, definitely make sure to get your memberships in quickly, because then things like prices will go up for those and other things that you don't want to happen. So, yeah, definitely get get those in as quickly as possible.

Speaker 1: 1:13:49

Exactly, all right my friend, it's good good seeing you. Glad you're back from vacation and ready to get this thing started.

Speaker 2: 1:13:57

Yes, sir, we'll talk to you soon.

Speaker 1: 1:13:59

All right, Talk to you soon. Take care everybody. Stay shoes.