Industry Outlook: Social Media Revealed Part One

What a great month July turned out to be.  It has been incredible; lots of sunshine, dry fairways, tight greens, and golfing two-a-day or until the sun goes down. 

However, since I have a consulting business it is wise to get back to work though it pains me to leave the course.  Just as amazing as the perfect golf weather is the high numbers of questions new or perspective clients have for me regarding Social Media, Twitter, and Facebook.  Okay, so you’ve heard from someone, maybe your golf customer or best friend, tell you that this social media thing and social networking stuff is great and you should get involved. Maybe it will help in the economic downturn we are in. Maybe you heard something about how you can use Twitter for your business. But there are some complexities to this phenomenon. 

With your interest piqued, you have to understand the details if you are going to jump in and have social media work for you.  Questions to ask and answers to seek include:  How do you feel about getting out there and joining the Social Media experience?  What can be gained? Where would you start?  What should you do first? 

As promised, this will be the first of a three-part series on Social Media Strategy that promises exciting tips and how-to articles in the coming months. The whole point behind this is to get you interfacing with Social Media before the holiday season.   

So with that in mind, let’s get started.

Before you can truly start, you have to “listen”.  Listening is your first move in understanding social media. That means you need to read the blogs that are out there; specifically the blogs about golf.  Read from different media outlets.  Go visit Twitter.Com and more importantly search.twitter.com to learn what people are saying about golf.  Read comments on people’s blogs and identify which posts generate reader responses. Still not convinced? Then proceed to twendz.waggeneredstrom.com and enter any variation of golf and see what the results are.  Do you want to see if a golf blog or golf website has any social media presence?  Head right to website www.socialmention.com or www.howsociable.com and see what they have and don’t have in regards to social media. If you really want to hit the ground running, go straight to SEO MOZ and download the free toolbar which integrates into your browser. With this browser you now have a social media tool and a search engine optimization toolbar. Start using resources like Google, Technorati.com and  Dig.com to start listening to conversations that are out there. 

Now you’re ready for step one. Let’s start here. 

First the Platform: A Blog
No matter what, the very first piece of social media real estate to start with is a blog.  It’s a website with a lot of built in features that make it useful from a search perspective and simple from a content creation perspective. That alone is worth the price of admission. 

Don’t worry as much about the features, although certain companies make blogging platforms that go above and beyond simple content publishing.  Find format that works for you; add-ons and whizbangs are not entirely necessary, but bare-bones, no-frills blog is about as appealing as plain paper bag. My main point here is that a blog can be used as a website, an e-commerce site, a place to compile a weekly newsletter, and, with the right plug-in, your blog can also be used to email weekly promotional flyers as well.

Now, let’s break that into three potential scenarios. We will focus the three scenarios aimed at golf.

Personal Brand: I’d buy your own domain name and host it somewhere inexpensive, but with good service. Godaddy.com is ideal. This is for somebody who wants to write a golf blog, write about golf gear, and maybe sponsor OEM links on your blog. If you have a golf shop and want to sell through your blog, you could also give golf club building advice. Whatever your expertise is in golf, you can share your knowledge, favorite golf sites and whatever you want to with your readers to know about.

Company communication/website:  This is for companies who have a website and give members the ability to log in. Golf organizations and country clubs who already have an established website should consider the potential of a blog.  Just imagine having a site that can be used as a tool for communicating with members, the public, and useful as a membership campaign tool.

Nonprofit: With storytelling and pictures as the backbone, a non-profit or not-for-profit organization can raise an incredible amount of awareness for its cause.   No question about it, stories and pictures are powerful contributors to these endeavors.  Considering that our news programs and newspapers conscientiously devote a percentage of their reporting to human- interest stories, we know that readers and viewers listen.  In this case, a blog can become a springboard to attract volunteers, community participation and funding. 

Second Step: Outposts
In all cases, I would build outpost that would help me reach into different places and communicate with people wherever they may be.  Depending on your needs, you might use different tools. At the very minimum you should start accounts on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Face book.

Let’s look at how this works for our three examples.

Personal: Use Twitter to build relationships and share interests. Use Facebook to learn about groups and events of interest. Keep LinkedIn active and updated and stay involved in the answering of questions part of the site. Goal here: keep your name out there, far ahead of when you might need anything from anyone.

Company: Use Twitter as a way to show that you are human. Use Facebook as individuals and LinkedIn as individuals, but with a group purpose. You might participate in other people’s groups. You might find friends with like interests or similar demographics and reach out to them that way. Be human. That’s the main goal here.

Nonprofit: Depending on the cause, you could use Twitter using the cause’s name, or you can reach out as an individual.  

In all cases, use your picture for the avatar or profile picture, not a logo.  Aim for a candid shot that’s not a stuffy professional photo or an overly cropped picture.  And while the handy tool that lets you update Facebook and Twitter all at once seems efficient, it can be misconstrued to mean that you don’t respect your individual audiences at those outposts.

 Always put enough information in your profile to promote that you are both a business person as well as a human being. On Facebook, consider which applications you add to your profile. Yes, being a pirate or a vampire might be fun, but it might also make someone question your professional intent. Do feel free to share your interests in books or movies or sports, and make sure your status messages aren’t always and forever about your business interests or people might be less engaged after a very short amount of time.

Third Step: Audience
Once you have a primary place to express yourself (your blog), and a few outposts where you can communicate in a less structured, more real-time way (outposts), the next step is to find like minds.  For the three examples I gave, it would be an important thing to build a level of followership and interaction across your platforms, so we’ll cover this all as one group, not as separate goals.

My best advice about building community and audience is this: be helpful. Write blog posts that others can use (like this one, for instance). The more you can help others, the more they’ll come back.

Avoid writing “me too” blog posts about the latest news in your vertical. Chances are, someone else is doing it better, and your “me too” is just a throat-clearing proof that you’re not creating original content. Work harder on doing something original instead of just pumping out “I read this article about” types of posts, unless you’re going to expand on the ideas, and/or recast them for your particular audience. 

The most important thing to remember here is that your social media undertaking is move to start interfacing with your customers, clients, community, and contributors. If you have a golf business, pro shop or you’re a club maker, one of the first things you should do with a blog is ask you customers to take a survey. That’s the first step. 

For instance if I was a club builder who operated a website that emailed weekly ad flyers, the first thing I would do is survey my clients by email, or send them an ad flyer to take a survey. I would also be collecting email addresses from every customer who walked through the door. Find out what other types of golf-based facilities they frequent and ask them what type of golf gear they are interested in.  Finally, I would take a look around at all the other golf shops and see what type of new product they carry and what they aren’t carrying. 

Fourth Step: Experiment
If something is not working, try something else. If you’re not using analytics and stats packages to learn more about your web visitors, you’re missing out.  If you aren’t learning how these social media elements tie to your business and you’re just using them as another isolated thing, then you’re missing the whole reason to start (for businesses, at least).

Experiment. Try new things. I try something new every day. It might be a blog post.  It might be a strategy about how I can get more people to do X instead of Y.  It might be something as simple as reaching out to other people in new ways. But experiment. If you just sit around doing the same things you did last year or five years ago, you might as well turn in now. 

Take the time to listen, to create and to experiment.  Then listen again.  

Mike Rosas is the principal of AS Group Marketing/The Alternative Solutions, LLC. He can be reached at 425-742-3679, mike@thealternativesolutions.com, or visit www.thealternativesolutions.net for more information.

Local Teen Selected as Semifinalist for RBS Achievers of the Year Awards

by Cheri Brennan

Among the spectators at the just-concluded U.S. Women’s Open at the historic Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania was 18-year-old Jamie Kirsila of Bellevue and her father, Jim.  She earned the trip and a chance to vie for a $10,000 scholarship for being one of ten semifinalists for the RBS Achievers of the Year Awards.  As a semifinalist, she receives a $2,000 scholarship. 

Now in its seventh year, the RBS Achievers program, created by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group in conjunction with Charter One and Citizens Bank, recognizes outstanding participants of The First Tee.  

Kirsila, who lost her mother to breast cancer ten years ago when she was only eight years old and has a learning disability, became involved in the First Tee of Greater Seattle program in 2004. She is now at the Eagle level (the fourth in a progression of five levels) and volunteers with the youth development program at Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course in Bellevue. 

“As an outlet from the pain of my mom’s struggle with cancer, my dad enrolled me in The First Tee.” Kirsila wrote in her essay for the Achievers award.  “It has given me a solid foundation for my life,” she stated, adding she made the varsity golf team her freshman year.  “Playing on a team kept me motivated to always try my best. Golf keeps me grounded with a firm grip on reality as well as my club,” she wrote. 

The RBS Achievers of the Year Awards recognize deserving students for accomplishments in their daily lives while overcoming difficult circumstances.  The scholarship awards are not based on academic achievement or exceptional golf skills.  The program rewards young people that exhibit The First Tee Nine Core Values while demonstrating leadership, community service and teamwork.  The First Tee Nine Core Values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. 

Joseph Brown, 17, from The First Tee of Nashville, and Deloise Daniels, 16, from The First Tee of Southern Nevada were this year’s winners of the $10,000 scholarships. 

“While Jamie exemplifies all the core values, we are particularly impressed with her perseverance,” said Heidi Wills, executive director of The First Tee of Greater Seattle. “It’s been a pleasure to watch her gain confidence and assume responsibility as she interacts with younger participants. Clearly, she has earned respect from the younger kids, her peers and our staff and volunteers,” Wills commented. 

While a student at International School, Kirsila focused on sports psychology for her senior project.  She devoted months of research, job shadowing, and teaching children life skills through golf, culminating in a two-day clinic that she planned, organized, and conducted. 

Kirsila recalls finding comfort in golf during her mother’s battle with cancer. She also developed her golf skills, earning a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. She played on the Newport High School golf team where her teammates selected her as team captain during her junior and senior years. She hopes to continue playing competitive golf at a Division 1 college while pursuing studies to become a pediatrician.

The First Tee of Greater Seattle was formed in 2001 from a collaborative effort involving the Broadmoor Golf Club Foundation, The First Tee, the board of Municipal Golf of Seattle and the City of Seattle. It   became the 106th chapter of The First Tee the following year. 

Programming in Seattle began in 2003, with 224 kids participating at Jefferson Park Golf.  In 2004, The First Tee of Greater Seattle expanded to Jackson Park Golf Course serving 505 children. Expansion continued in 2005 with the addition of the Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course in Bellevue, with service to 676 kids.  More than 1,000 children currently participate at four golf facilities. In addition, more than 23,000 local students are served through Life Skills programs offered in public school physical education classes through The First Tee’s National Schools Program.

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 3.5 million participants in 50 states, over 3,400 elementary schools and five international locations - Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.  The First Tee Founding Partners are The Masters Tournament, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.

Mike Lewis Joins Tetherow as Director of Tetherow Golf Academy

PGA Professional, Mike Lewis, has recently joined Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon as the Director for their new Tetherow Golf Academy.  Lewis will be providing individual and group instruction, but will also focus on golf schools for incoming resort guests and visitors to Central Oregon.

Construction for the Tetherow Academy will begin in the fall of 2010.  The 1,700 square foot building will host three teaching bays using “Motion Analysis Technology” powered by Taylor Made. 

The “Motion Analysis Technology” will allow Lewis to work with resort guests to electronically track every motion of their golf swing, give visual feedback and instruction, and communicate with students personally, through email, CD’s, or on line viewing from anywhere in the world.   “The interactive, electronic coaching system allows me to fit guests for clubs, analyze their swing and work with them on their putting,” says Lewis.

Lewis is a PGA Director of Instruction and was previously the Director of Instruction for the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf at Pronghorn in Bend.  Originally from Utah, Lewis also owns the South Mountain Academy in Salt Lake City and Skelet Golf  LLC, a golf instructional company providing teaching curriculum and technology packages for golf facilities.

He was the 2002 Utah Section PGA Teacher of the Year and has conducted numerous workshops including one at the 2009 Pacific Northwest Section meeting in Bandon Dunes.

One of Mike’s passions is working with young golfers.  In 2008, he implemented the Central Oregon High School golf program working with students from Bend, Sisters, and Redmond with the goal of producing collegiate level golfers.  Of the 36 kids who have gone through the program, five have moved on to play at the collegiate level.  “We are definitely making an impact on these kids by giving them some structure to their practice, mental approach, and recommended changes in technique,” says Lewis. “Kids are the future of golf.  I love watching young people mature through the game, and it’s nice to know that I may have a part in helping them become responsible adults.” For more information, please call 541-388-2582, 541-410-3434 or visit www.tetherow.com.

The McKennon Golf Bag Company acquires Jones Sporting Goods, creators of the iconic Jones Bag

The McKennon Golf Bag Company (www.themckennongolfbagcompany.com) recently announced that it has completed the purchases of Jones Sporting Goods, makers of the classic Jones Bag (www.jones-golf.com).  McKennon acquired Jones from the Oregon based Yoshida Group.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We just bought a legendary company that has sold over 1,000,000 golf bags,” said McKennon Golf founder and CEO Mike McKennon.  “Jones virtually created the pure carry bag and the original designs from 1971 are still relevant today.  You will see those iconic designs again exactly the same as they were in the 70’s and 80’s, right down to the original logo.”

The deal will see Jones relocate operations and corporate offices into McKennon Golf’s existing facility in Lake Oswego, Oregon. McKennon will also take over as the President of Jones Sports.

“We have also been prototyping a new version on the original bag,” McKennon explained. “We have taken design cues from our McKennon Player’s Bag and combined them with the original Jones Bag.  We have a waiting list of buyers and it isn’t even out of the testing stage yet.”

Founded in 2009, the Lake Oswego, Oregon based company is one of the fastest growing golf bag companies in the industry and boasts a line-up of 6 separate hand-made leather golf products including the flagship Player’s Bag. 

“Our products exist at the intersection of too little and too much” said McKennon, a former All-American at Lakeridge High School and collegiate player at Oregon State.  “Jones was founded 40 years ago on that same strategy. ” It’s a perfect fit.” For more information, please email Mike@themckennongolfbagcompany.com.

Tour Striker is Golf’s New Overnight Success Story

Tour Striker, the new training golf clubs designed by teaching professional Martin Chuck, PGA, director of golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, has been launched to overwhelming sales success, with thousands of training clubs already sold in just a few weeks after its national launch in May 2010. 

“Tour Striker is a club that teaches golfers the tour players’ secret to ball striking,” said Gary McCord, a veteran star of the PGA Tour and long-time television golf commentator. “Why are professional golfers as good as they are? Well, because regardless of their swing style or shape, their impact position-a downward strike with the shaft leaning forward-is the same. And that’s what will happen to golfers of all skill levels when they start practicing with the Tour Striker.” 

The original Tour Striker 8 iron, Tour Striker Pro 7 iron and Tour Striker 56-degree wedge training clubs feature distinctive designs that have little clubface below the “sweet spot” unlike a traditional club. The clubs have been designed so golfers intuitively teach themselves how to deliver the “sweet spot” of the club to the ball like an expert ball striker.

“I found myself teaching so many golfers who were trying to scoop the ball at the bottom of the swing,” said Chuck. “That was how they tried to get the ball in the air. I wanted to create a club that would teach them to hit down on the ball with forward shaft lean. I’ve accomplished that with Tour Striker.” 

Many experts agree that practicing with the Tour Striker will automatically change a golfer’s swing and ball striking and they will quickly learn to apply forward shaft lean which will increase lag, add club head speed and improve their impact position naturally while practicing. 

“Most amateurs have a hard time coming over the top, and they cast the club a little early,” said PGA Tour Winner Kevin Streelman.  ”This action results in them losing both their lag position and their impact position, and ultimately any power they’ve created. The Tour Striker ensures that golfers maintain the optimum position, so it’s really a great practice tool to constantly work on your game.”

“Perfect,” said Randy Smith, instructor to Justin Leonard and other PGA tour pros, in a Golfweek interview about Tour Striker. “This forces golfers to get into the proper position if they want to hit the ball.” 

The Original Tour Striker is targeted for mid-to-high handicap golfers and those with slower swing speeds (under 90 mph with driver), while the Tour Striker Pro is geared for dedicated players with higher swing speeds and a handicap of 10 or less. Also available is a Tour Striker for women and younger players who wish to improve their game. The ladies/junior model is slightly shorter than the regular Tour Striker (35 inches vs. 36 inches) and has a graphite shaft appropriate for women and juniors. 

The Tour Striker training clubs are cast of 433 stainless steel. The vibration dampening logo affixed within the back cavity helps reduce shock on miss-hit shots while developing your ball striking skills. The lie angle and shaft length may be modified at a nominal additional fee. 

The Tour Striker commercials and instructional videos are produced by acclaimed golf production and marketing company, The Golf Agency.

The Tour Striker and Tour Striker Pro training clubs are available for $99.99. For more information and to order clubs, please visit www.tourstriker.com.

August 2010 Issue

July 2010 Issue

The U.S. Senior Open comes to Washington State

by Kelly Handley

The narrow fairways and fast greens of Washington’s Sahalee Country Club will be the place where golf’s top seniors compete in the 2010 U.S. Senior Open.  

Much ado has been made with Fred Couples, a Seattle native and astute golfer, taking the title of Honorary Chairman.  Couples, as you will recall, won the 1992 Masters at age 46 and competed again this year, taking 6^th place.   Additionally, Couples has played in the U.S. Ryder Cup, President’s Cup, Open Championship, and held the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.   Has he earned his spot at the U.S. Senior Open?  Definitely.  

Other noteworthy golfers who will be competing against Fred Couples are Paul Azinger, Mark Calcavecchia, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Funk, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Peter Jacobson, Mark O’Meara and Fuzzy Zoeller.    The field of players will be put the test at Sahalee Country Club beginning July 29^th with the fourth and final round commencing on Sunday August 1^st. 

Equally lucky as these men who have had such amazing careers, so are the fans living in the Northwest. The field of golfers, all 156 gentlemen, will bring their best game to this event now in it’s 31^st year being held for the first time in our region.  Sahalee Country Club, an absolutely perfect venue for the U.S. Senior Open, will host the event on their impressive grounds, making it more feasible than ever for those in the area to have the opportunity to see a major golf event.  

Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish is a classic golf course that requires players to hit the ball with accuracy.  The fairways, which are heavily lined with trees, demand precise drives.  The recently redesigned bunkers which add difficulty and variety to the course demand control as well as patience.   The impressiveness of the course is easily verified with accolades from Golf Digest, naming Sahalee on the Top 100, the only Washington course to make the list. 

The Senior Open festivities get underway July 26^th when the players begin taking practice rounds and spectators can begin watching and learning.  Unique to the event will be a temporary on-site Founders Museum adjacent to the 18^th fairway.  The museum will feature the history and development of golf at Sahalee as well as for the Northwest and USGA.  To honor local charities, each day of the Open, a different organization will be recognized, giving several agencies and groups a chance to showcase their cause and efforts.  Expect to see Special Olympics Golf, The First Green and The First Tee to name a few.  Additionally, Wednesday July 28^th is Military Day with free admission for Servicemen and Servicewomen, while kids under age 17 have free admission all week when accompanied by an adult.   

The U.S. Senior Open is a big deal but, happily, not at a painful price.   A ticket to the practice rounds runs $20 while tickets to the Championship rounds are $45 daily.  Upgrades are available, allowing access to The Trophy Club or package prices, allowing you to attend all four days of the Championship for the price of three.  However, the best deal is the Ultimate USGA Package.  For $165, you have weeklong tickets, practice and championship rounds, for the U.S. Senior Open and for the U.S. Amateur (August 23-29) at Chambers Bay, Washington’s newest course in University Place.  Additionally, that package gives you first rights to purchase tickets to the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, yet another major event in our region and one that is always sold out.  

This is an event that you cannot dismiss as it is a major opportunity for Washington State and Northwest residents.  If you have a young golfer, make plans to get him or her to the course on Tuesday July 27 for the Junior Exhibition where Fred Couples will demonstrate and teach your kids a trick or two.  Get your friends together and make your way to Sammamish’s Sahalee Country Club and watch the best, wisest pros compete for that 2.6 million dollar purse on those soon-to-be famous (or more famous) fairways.  

For more information and ticket sales, please visit www.2010ussenioropen.com or call (877)281-6736.

Mike Weir Takes Title At 2010 World Skins Game at Bear Mountain Resort

by Robyn Sciuchetti

Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, British Columbia was the site of the 2010 World Skins event.  Each year the event is held in a different Canadian province to raise money for a local charity.  Five professional players from five different countries participated.  This year’s participants were Mike Weir (Canada), Fred Couples (United States), Retief Goosen (South Africa), Ian Poulter (England) and Camilo Villegas (Columbia).

Players play a traditional skins format where the low score on each hole wins the prize money for that hole.  If there is a tie, the prize money carries over to the next hole until there is a winner.  $360,000 was up for grabs; $15,000 for holes 1-6, $20,000 for holes 7-12 and $25,000 for holes 13-18.  Retief Goosen looked like the early favorite after starting strong with 5 skins on Monday and earning $75,000.  Ian Poulter earned one skin on Monday for $15,000.  No other skins were captured on day one with $80,000 in carryover skins moved to Tuesday.

Fan favorites Fred Couples and Mike Weir were held skinless along with Camilo Villegas on the first day of play.  The PGA players, Goosen, Weir, Villegas and Poulter commented on the perfect green conditions at the Bear Mountain - Mountain Course after a rugged U.S. Open the prior week.  All were glad to be taking part in a relaxed format after the stressful U.S. Open.

On Tuesday, the prize money grew to $270,000 and 12 skins when birdies were hard to come by and no winners emerged on any of the 9 holes.  To decide the winner, a chip-off was held on the 18^th hole from 125 yards.  Mike Weir edged out Camilo Villegas by about eighteen inches much to the delight of the Canadian crowd.

For 2010, the event is supporting the dream of 16-year-old Jeneece Edroff who envisioned a “home away from home” for children’s families that need to travel to Victoria from other parts of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands for medical care in the same tradition as the Ronald McDonald House.   The facility will be called “Jeneece Place”.  She has raised over $1 million dollars with penny drives to support special needs children.   

Over $925,000 was raised for Jeneece Place at the event.  Telus officials later announced they would increase the donation to an even $1 million.

From Plywood to Three Wood/Nine Hole Gem is a “Jewell”

by Clifford Cowley

You’ve heard of the Jewel of the Nile and the Crown Jewels, but have you heard of the Jewell of West Medford?  Southern Oregon is known for its par three courses.  In previous issues, I have written about Laurel Hill Golf Course and Quail Point–two little nine hole gems, in Southern Oregon, you can play in an hour and a half without maxing out your debit card.  Let me share another nine hole gem that is truly a jewel, Stewart Meadows Golf Course.

Lay-up, laminate, cut up and ship.  For years, Jerry Lausman made sure those words rang true in his plywood operation, off South Pacific Highway, in Medford, Oregon.  His business savvy kept him and his employees in paychecks for many years.  In the early 1990’s, Jerry decided he’d had a good run in the valley, and he wanted to give  something back to the community.  So, next to the mill, on an old orchard, adjacent to Stewart Avenue,  he built an executive par three course. 

Head Pro, Dan Coughlin, calls Stewart Meadows a jewel not only because of its  manicured fairways and greens, but also because of its location. “Stewart Meadows has a strong appeal to juniors and the golfer of modest ability, but it is perfect for the senior traveler,” says Dan. “The course is relatively flat and easy to walk.  Perfect for the morning or afternoon exercises.” Carts are also available.  “It’s also conveniently located near shopping and overnight facilities,” he adds.

The course itself is like a walk in the park with a reason to stroll.  You half expect to see swing sets and slides.  As a matter of fact, #9 parallels the playground of Jefferson Elementary next door, and Fichtner-Manwaring Park is across the street. Amenities include a state of  the art practice facility featuring a driving range with real grass tees, a chipping and putting area, and practice putting greens at the driving range and in front of the club house. 

Opened in 1994, the course plays comfortably from the white and red tees, at 2658 and 2466 yards respectively, while the tips, at 2910 yards, provide a formidable challenge to the avid golfer.  Every hole has a sand trap strategically placed, thirty-nine in all.  There are four large ponds, over 800 trees, and at least four holes are guarded by a creek that bisects the sixty-two acre layout. 

The course provides ample opportunity to use all your clubs.  Except for the par threes, you can choose to use a driver on every hole.  When I played the course, I played with my wife and niece. My favorite was #4.  At 324 yards, I could easily lay up to the 150 marker and then get on in two with my seven or eight iron.  But, I like trying to hit my drive between the two large trees just beyond the 150.  Who lays up, right?  My niece’s favorite was the 176 yard, #5 hole because she could use her driver to the green.  At 195 yards from the tips, it rivals any par three on the PGA tour.  The finishing holes provide risk and reward for any golfer.  Both have OB fences on the left and trees can get in your way on the right.  Number 8 has a narrow, sweet spot, landing area on the drive, but an easy chip onto the green if you hit it just right.  Number 9, the only par 5, at 450 yards, can be reached in two.  If you got the guts, take the shot, but an errant second shot to the green can leave you in the sand, behind some trees, or with a difficult chip to a two-tiered green.   Some decide to lay-up to the sand traps and chip on in three.  Yeah, right.    

When you are done with your round, you’ll want to stop by for a hamburger and your favorite beverage at the Tee Time Cafe.  I had a basket of fries (my favorite).  My wife and niece had a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.  They were all delicious.  If you have a morning tee time, be sure to include their pancakes for breakfast.

Stewart Meadows Golf Course certainly lives up to its billing. This gem is truly the Jewell of West Medford.   

To learn more about how to get there, where to stay and rates, visit July’s edition of Golf Today Magazine: Northwest Edition.

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