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Oct. 1, 2011
Sept. 24, 2011
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Kids, Sports and Life Lessons
Parents and kids today are so busy with youth sports and it seems to have taken on a whole new meaning inthe past 10 years. I reflect back on my childhood when in the fall we played football both organized through Pop Warner and the sand lot games with sides picked on the bus on the way home from school. Football was always followed by lacrosse and/or baseball in the spring and that was about it. No special outside coaches, no year round traveling teams and certainly not two or three sports all at the same time.
We all see it every weekend now, where parents are shuffling kids to football practice then over to the baseball field for another practice or game. Is this really ideal for our kids to be so over committed? Whatever happened to sandlot football and baseball games? When is the last time you drove by a open field and saw kids out there playing a pickup game?
The other major issue is access for kids that don’t have the funds to participate or even a bigger issue is a parent than can actually afford to take the time off from work to be the taxi driver.
The great game of golf is something that can offer a respite for kids to be involved in a sport where they can be involved with less restrictions on time constraints, access to playing time and (don’t take this the wrong way) over zealous parents/fans adding more meaning to a “game” than the process of teaching kids.
I live in a community that is a relative affluent area of North Atlanta and access to sports is readily available for so many but I recently noticed there are many in the area that are under served due to financial contraints on household income and time contraints of parents work schedules. This is not unique to my area, in many communities there are plenty of households trying to keep up with the Jones’ which means they are living way over their means and many times kids suffer.
The Back 9 Charitable Foundation is in the process of creating an all access golf program for kids of all economic backgrounds to begin to learn this great game of golf. The virtues of the values it instills in people is something that every child can benefit from. The game allows for players of all levels to learn and improve their skill set at an individual pace. It allows kids to take ownership of their own progress thus building self esteem and pride in their accomplishments. Golf is more than a game as they will come to see as they grow as young men and women in the community.
Please follow us as we move forward with this journey and if you have questions or comments please let us know as we are passionate about this endeavor.
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Rocket Ryder Cup- Mason Dixon Classic
Rocket Ryder Cup
The Rocket Ryder Cup has been a staple on the schedule for the past five years and is the one event players circle on their schedules every fall. What started as matches with friends at Indian Hills Country Club with teams Choctaw and Seminole has grown in stature to pit Northern men vs. Southern men.
The fact that nobody is really from Atlanta, a city of transplants, is evident in this rivalry. Over a long weekend of endless golf, camaraderie and a few beverages, the banter is always at an all time high. If you have thin skin and are easily unnerved you will struggle over the 3 days.
The Northern Team, captained by Rob Pritts (NJ), is made up of 8 players how grew up in the North representing NJ, NY, OH, Boston and MI. While the Southern contingent, captained by Micheal Cheever (GA & GT Alum), draws its players from GA, FL, MD, VA and even a bumpkin from Arkansas (suh-wee)!
The matches are always close and seem to come down to the last group to claim the coveted cup. As the man who started this mess and who loves it so much, it is killing me to admit that I have yet to bring home a winning cup. Sure we have tied but as an old Pop Warner Football coach told me when I was 10 yrs old, “A tie is like kissing your sister…it doesn’t count!” As a 10 yr old this didn’t ring my bell but now at 44 yrs old it cuts like a knife.
The North team is ready, all their men are present and accounted for (of course we were the first to fill the team) but that doesn’t get us any points. Cheever’s men are slowly filing in, maybe complacent, maybe feeling like this is just another few days of golf but let me assure you they will be ready when the bell rings.
Now, it’s time to put up or shut up. Deposits are due so click here and lets get ready to rumble.
Deposit $275
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PGA Championship Week, My Time With Gentelmen
The 2011 PGA Championship is here in my backyard, at Atlanta Athletic Club, a short 20 minute drive from my home. Our state of Georgia has had the pleasure of hosting some major golf events from the Masters to the Tour Championship and this year adding the PGA Championship. As a long time patron at the Masters and annual treks out to the Tour Championship I am lucky compared to many golf fans across the country.
I spent a lot of time out at Atlanta Athletic Club this week meeting up with some friends from all over the country that were in town for Glory’s Last Shot. PGA of America President, Allen Wronowski, was one of the first people I ran into early Monday morning. Allen was all over this week with a full schedule of media and PGA of America duties and it seemed that everywhere I turned Allen was front and center.
As President of the PGA of America his plate is overflowing but for a guy with less than 2-3 free minutes every time we crossed paths he could not have been more gracious and welcoming. Many may think as the face of the PGA of America he might just be glad handing but he was on point 24/7 and working non-stop. Wronowski is one of the hardest working men in golf and as a leader of the organization the PGA Members should be proud to have him at the helm.
I headed over to Country Club of The South for a Media Day Clinic with new Mizuno Team Member Charles Howell III for what turned out to be a refreshing up close with a man that gets it! Howell and I were members of West Lake Country Club in Augusta, way back when as he was tearing up the AJGA Junior ranks. Howell did a great job in the clinic, he was open and forth coming on his choices to put the new Mizuno Irons in his bag this year. His ball striking has made a drastic improvement since the switch and as a Mizuno guy myself it was great to hear why he is so high on his new equipment.
After the clinic Charles and my partner Drew Nelson spent some time talking. Charles and Drew grew up playing together on the junior circuits and it was nice to hear them talk about the “old” days. I had a question for Charles as I was a witness to an amazing event some 15+ years ago. I needed clarification on the story to make sure over the years I didn’t embelish the story over time to make it ieven better than it was. Howell was in the group in front of me at Jones Creek Golf Club in Augusta and there was aback up on the 11th tee. The Par 5 1th hole is a tough one and it often backed up. The tee shot requires a long ball to a fairway that doglegs right for your second shot over water. Charles had banged it into the lake on his tee shot and proceeded to take his drop near the lake. I was on the tee watching this. He dropped and went for the green with a 2-iron (remember those things).
Mizuno Man, Charles Howell, III
Charles was probably 14 years old at the time and if he wieghed 130 lbs it was because he had a dozen balls in his pocket. This lure now begins…He ripped that 2-iron probably 240 yds on his third shot after taking his penalty. Here is where I wanted to make sure I didn’t add too much to the story over the years. I asked Charles about that day, mentioning the course and the hole, he was smiling and recalled it like it was yesterday..”Yeah, Par-5″ Charles recalled. I said ok let me statrt the story and you finish it so I can be sure I had my facts right. I went through the tee shot and the drop and had him finish the story…. “Yep, I hit a 2-iron and holed it out for Eagle!” We both high fived again after 15 yrs and laughed as if it were yesterday! What a great guy!
This was a huge week for 3 time major winner Larry Nelson, 1981 PGA winner, as he played in the event in what might be his last major championship. On Wendseday night Mr. Nelson was awarded at the PGA’s Distinquished Service Award. My wife and I were invited to attend and could not have been more proud of Larry Nelson to be recognized for all he has done for the game of golf and for the scores of people he has touched in his life. 2008 winner, Vince Gill, entertained those in attendance and was engaging and truly honored to be a part of Mr. Nelson’s evening. Oh yeah, Allen Wronowski was there and was the Master of Ceremony. This guy is everywhere!
PGA of America President Allen Wronowski
On Wednesday I spent some time on the range and had the opportunity to meet up with Jason Dufner. Jason is a quiet and humble player that back in June stepped up in June to help out the Alabama Tornado Golf A Thon we held. Jason and I linked up on twitter before the event and he didn’t hesitate to send us some signed memorabilia and without prompting made a nice donation to the families we were going to be assisting. The irony is that as of the writing of this is tied for the lead on Saturday Night at the PGA Championship. Needless to say you know who I am rooting for!
The highlight of my week was this morning when I took my kids to their first major championship. What a great jesture the PGA of America did by allowing all ticket holders to bring 4 kids to the event, this was a great thing for the game of golf. The kids were thrilled and it was great to spend the day giving them the tour!!
Topping it off was our visit to the Golf Channel’s LIVE FROM set. Golf Channel personality Kraig Kann invited me to sit on the set and watch them do the live show. The kids were so psyched to be a part of this (I was too!). We sat on the side behind the camera’s and watched as Kraig, Tim Rosaforte and Jason Sobel did their pre-game show. Kraig, Tim and Jason could not have been nicer to the kids. We were able to pose with them on the set for pictures and the kids will never forget it. Sadie now wants to be a producer! Oh yeah, as we walked in guess who was leaving? You got it Allen Wronowski and he took a few minute to meet the kids!
Kraig Kann, Tim Rosaforte and the Pritts Family
Later, we headed over to the putting green to watch the players get a few last putts in before they hit the links. We ran into my friend Damon Green, Zach Johnson’s caddie. At the 2011 PGA Merchandise show back in January I was on the road for the show and missed my son Payne’s birthday. I had a bunch of people at the show give video Happy Birthday messages to Payne, they all said the same thing “Happy Birthday Payne and now that you’re 7 yrs old it time to start making your bed!”. Well, Damon was one of those that did it and for Payne to finally meet him was a pretty cool thing for a 7 year old!
This whole week in our town has been just great. Sure my phone has been blowing up but hey how often do you have a major in the backyard. The bottom line, this week was all about major championship golf but to me it has been a week of gentlemen at their best!
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PGA & U.S. Open Champion Larry Nelson, Life Champion
It’s a story of that isn’t written or scripted in golf today. Larry Nelson took up the game of golf to kill some time while his wife Gayle was at work and he just wanted to learn the game to kill some time. The 20 year old Vietnam Veteran hit the driving range after seeing a comrade in the Military that was hooked on the game of golf.
Simple enough, thousands have taken up the game on a whim and after 10 or 20 years are happy to sign a scorecard in the 80′s. Nelson on the other hand became an accomplished golfer and broke 100 his first time out and broke 70 in 9 months. He took a job at Pinetree Country Club as an assistant and then hit Tampa for the winter to test his game. He qualified for his PGA Tour card at the age of 27 and has not looked back since. The rest is history.
Larry Nelson is a World Golf Hall of Fame Member, winner of 2 PGA Championships and a U.S. Open and a wrecking ball on Ryder Cup Teams of the 1980′s. He has won a total of 10 events on the PGA Tour and when he turned 50 took his winning ways to the Champions Tour and collect 19 titles.
The golf accolades in and of themselves are incredible but the attributes that standout to his friends, fellow competitors and family is his humbleness and pure heart of gold. Many men with this resume could let these accomplishments enter and fill a room but not Larry Nelson. If you were to run into Larry Nelson at a local restaurant or the grocery store you would never know and frankly he would almost rather you didn’t. A humble caring man that simply feels he is blessed to have had the opportunity to play golf, support his family and be a dad like anyone else.
During his prime he worked is playing schedule to be there for his kids baseball and basketball games. Who would fault him for staying on the raod chasing titles but he had and still has a focus on what is important in life, his relationship with Christ Jesus, Family and then his work. You walk away from meeting him knowing that he is as genuine as the day is long.
Just this year, I was introduced to the Nelson family and now spend a lot of time with his son’s Drew and Josh. Drew plays a big role at Back 9 Promotions continuing in the Nelson tradition of helping others. Josh, the South East Director of Links Players Ministry, is also in service to others fitting of the Nelson’s.
Larry is my friend’s Dad. Sure I was well aware of all his success and accolades on the golf course but after a few minutes that beccame secondary. To spend time seeing the man not the golfer is a testimony to fatherhood, integrity and respect of others.
This week at the 2011 PGA Championship is a special week in celebration of his 30 year anniversary of his first major championship in his home town of Atlanta at Atlanta Athletic Club. To add to that the PGA of America has named him recipient of the 2011 PGA Distinguished Service Award.
“Larry Nelson is one of golf’s consummate champions, who performed at the highest level on many of the game’s grandest stages and has carried himself with dignity and grace to become one of the sport’s most respected ambassadors,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “Having begun the game late in life, Larry’s journey in golf is truly remarkable. He served our country valiantly in time of war, and returned home to dedicate himself to excellence in his sport and become a spokesperson for treating one another with respect. Larry’s talent on the course matches his ability to connect with others both in and outside our industry. Through this effort, he has devoted much of his time to the welfare of those who would otherwise never pick up a golf club. We are truly honored to present him with the 2011 PGA Distinguished Service Award.”
I am thrilled to be attending the awards dinner, with my wife, to witness him receive the award along side his family. It is just another gracious act on part of Larry Nelson and his family to include us in their week of celebration. The humble Nelson will probably be a man of few words, thanking others for their role in his success and I would expect nothing different.
Nelson is more than deserving and for one week it will be great for he and his family to soak in the true testimony of a man that achieved so much and forged a great example for so many PGA professionals that they strive to follow in his footsteps.
Larry Nelson.com
World Golf Hall of Fame
http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/
PGA of America
Tags: 2011 PGA Championship, Larry Nelson, PGA of America, World Golf Hall Of Fame
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Austin Family Golf Marathon
As you probably have heard, we lost a good friend much too soon to cancer this month. He was a special man just 33 years old, a great husband and incredible father to his 3 young children. This family needs our help and I am working hard to make that happen.
On July 26, 2011 we are hosting a Golf Marathon in honor of Adam’s family at Echelon Golf Club. The Event is going to benefit Adam’s wife and 3 young children to help them get through this tough time in their young lives.
We are going to be playing golf in honor of Adam Austin from sun up to sun down in hopes of playing 100 holes of golf in one day. You are probably asking yourself, why would I want to take on such a lofty goal. The answer is simple…. to raise money for the Austin family.
You see, Adam was a great husband and father. Adam passed away after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 33, leaving behind a loving wife and three little kids that need our help. As I am sure you are aware, fighting cancer is not only emotionally draining on the entire family, but also can put families in a financial position that is nearly impossible to handle.
Take the time to play with us or at least donate to the cause at www.austinfamily.golfreg.com
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It never seems to end…
In the time I have spent since starting Back 9 Promotions we have evolved into a respite for friends that I have never met as they reach out for a helping hand. From day 1 when I chose to play some golf in honor of my daughters classmates dad who was suffering with Stage 4 Lung Cancer it has taken me on a ride that I never would have envisioned.
Today was a typical day, returning to the office after a fun weekend with my family doing the “normal” things we all take for granted. Then it begun as I saw a Facebook post from a friend announcing a gathering at Fodo’s a great Irish Pub. Well of course I was curious since I love a good pint of Guniness. Upon further reading, it is a fund raiser for one of their long time waitresses who at the age of 30 was diagnosised with cervical cancer last summer.
Regon Macinnis, Regon currently a bartender/events manager at Fodo’s pub. She has been working for the company for nearly 7 years. Those of you who know her, know her to be one of the most fun and caring people you could meet. This time last year Regon got word that she developed cervical cancer. In the past year Regon has gone through to a variety of different chemotherapy treatments, unfortunately none of which have taken that well. Regon’s cancer in fact has gotten worse. Regon is 30 years young and with her family base being in Hartford, Maine has been able to rely on her Fado family in her time of need. Regon’s mother has spent a better part of the year away from her home in Maine helping Regon do the things we take for granted every day like walking her dog Jake! Regon obviously not only has acquired doctor’s bills, travel expenses to therapy as far away as Maryland but also the shear comfort of not having to worry about the day to day costs of living.
I don’t know her but I felt called to do something. I shared her story on Facebook and immediatley gained support from others in donating a few dollars to her. I haven’t met her but I am going to the event and hope to bring many with me to support her fight.
Thirty is just too young and it just feels so good to help someone else in need and show her all the love that she needs.
Then another story popped up. Adam Austin a high school friend of my partner at the age off 33 passed away last week from a relapse of sinus cancer. He had beat it and was doing great than was feeling off so he visited his doctor last week. He was told it had come back and spread to his his brain and lungs. He was given a few weeks left with us then in 3 days he was gone. Leaving behind a wife, 2 boys and a girl to rebuild a life with out their husband and father.
Ravished with medical bills and all the financial burdens of this disease they need desperate help. How do you say no…. Adam’s friends have all ready begun to rally around his family and in just 3 weeks we will hosting an event in honor of Adam Austin and his family.
I am baffled how so often I hear similar stories and wish it was different but being in a position to help is an honor and a privileged position to be a conduit for hope.
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Back 9 Charitable Foundation
The things that I have been involved in for years have come full circle. I have been blessed to be raised in a family that made it a point to help out others whenever a need presented itself. It is a way of life and after 16 years in banking I was given my walking papers and I was at a cross road and was lucky enough to start a company that assists organizations in raising funds for their causes through the great game of golf.
I have always been involved in some sort of community giving my entire career from being a member of the Exchange Club and Rotary. I have helped through my church both within the congregation and outside in the community. When I lived in California and stayed with my Aunt and Uncle for a a few months I learned so much more about giving back.
My Uncle Joe is a man that lives and breathes for giving back. It was common place for me to wake up and share a cup of coffee with him and share about life, business and whatever was the topic of the day. It was a norm for him to say “Let’s take a ride I have a project.”, that was code for scrap your plans for the day you have been recruited!
Uncle Joe would “recruit” you in the way Uncle Sam did it (but much faster)… no letter, no warning, no choices, just get up and go! Some of the best times I spent with Uncle Joe were on projects helping out other. One of the best was when our Barber Virgil (80 yrs old and hands that shook, comforting right) lost his wife. Virgil needed help both financially and with moral support, he didn’t have family in town or anyone to step in to assist him in his time of need. Well, that meant it was go time for Uncle Joe and since I was with in striking distance (under his roof you were 1st on the recruiting list) I was given the opportunity to help.
We stepped in to help Virgil fix up his home to sell it. We then helped him move into a new apartment and get him settled. The time I spent working on this was one of those times that I learned that you sacrifice your time to help someone else and in the end that time is so much more important than the menial task that I had on my agenda.
Who is the Uncle Joe in your life? Do you look for opportunities to help out or are you too busy with the things in your life? We can always find reasons not to step in but if you truly look at what you can do you will get so much more from making time.
The time has come for me to take these principals and put them into work for others with the Back 9 Charitable Foundation. I now have the opportunity to inspire others to have the opportunity to get involved, step out of their comfort zone and give back.
The Back 9 Charitable Foundation is in full force with its first event last month to help the people of Alabama that lost so much with the devastating tornadoes that ripped through their homes. We raise $60,000 in just 30 days to make an impact. We took on this project in a short time frame of 30 days. On paper that was not the time frame to make something happen in a state we don’t live in, in an area that we know nobody and then to top it off recruit players from outside of Alabama to come into the state to pour out a blessing. Without faith it isn’t possible but shedding the easy excuses to say no we just did it, we took dead aim and just worked it. That is what it’s all about, stand in the gap, work hard and know that we can make a difference.
This foundation is going to make a difference by a group of leaders that share this vision. We will succeed, we will triumph, we will give smiles to those in need and we will give relief and love for those on the back 9 of life.
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What’s Up On The Back 9
June was a busy month for the crew at Back 9 Promotions and there is lots to talk about. Giving back was the theme of the month and we logged in endless hours but was worth every minute of it.
The highlight of this month was the Alabama Tornado Golf-A-Thon at Limestone Springs Golf Club just north of Birmingham, AL. With 17 die hard golfers from KY, SC, GA, AL, FL, MS and LA they took on the challenge to raise a bunch of funds for the victims of the April 29th tornadoes that ripped through Eastern Alabama. In just under 30 days $60,000 was raised and a ton of golf was played that day.
Mike Coffey of Bowling Green , KY started his day at 5:30 a.m. before anyone else even got to the course and broke the Back 9 one day record with 104 holes played and raised over $35,000. This guys is my new golf hero!! We had guys play 85, 83, 75 holes and everyone had a blast. If you ever have the chance to play Limestone Springs Golf Club it is a MUST!!!
June rang in one of my long term dreams of forming a foundation to help others in need and to mentor at risk youth through the game of golf. The Back 9 Charitable Foundation was finalized and our board was formed. This gives us the ability to effect change and lend assistance to many more families! Stay tuned for more exciting information!
The month of June was also know as the “Skills Challenge Month” in which we hosted 5 Back 9 Skills Challnge events with players all over Atlanta taking their skills to new levels. We had TPC Sugarloaf, Indian Hills Country Club, John Davis’ Ga. Mountain Hospice, Brookfield Country Club and The Dogwood Invitational have their players and guest breaking glass and hitting flop shots over the 9′ Black Monster Wall of Doom!
We are blessed to be a part of so many exciting events and using the tools of the game of golf to give back!
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10 Commandments of the US OPEN
1- Thou shall not miss thy fairway
2- Thee rough is thy wicked enemy hold steadfast to the short stuff
3- Putteth thy ball with tender conviction but only once or twice, three times a fool.
4- Enjoyeth thy walk between the valley of shots past and future
5- Do not covet your partners lie or his misfortune
6- Old man par is your comforter and friend
7- Tho shalt not speak blasphemy of the USGA set up committee
8- Love thy neighbor, fan, playing partner and God for they are your only hope.
9- Smile while chopping out of the cabbage
10- While holding a 71 Hole lead aim left of thee tents on the right
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