A World of Commerce Surrounds THE PLAYERS Championship!

20160505_174432I think my Facebook post (included below) says it all about the St. Johns County and Jacksonville Chambers of Commerce (COC) kickoff event for the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship—this upcoming week shows the world what we residents of Northeast Florida experience and are grateful for year round (when we are here, LOL)—our vibrant, caring and sharing community of country, city, forests, salt-water marshes and beautiful beaches!

Here are some of the people I met last night, who they are, what they do and why they are so excited about their business and this years PLAYERS!

CLICK here for Part 1 of 2 Video Interviews with COC Members…

Matt Rapp, Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship

Michele McManamon, Tournament Chairman, Sandler Training

Alicia Sisco, Florida Accouts Manager, Gas South

Kim Malatesta, Director of Professional Services, JMI Resource

Darnell Smith, Market President of North Florida, Florida Blue

Rose Conry, CEO, Staff Time

Tina Robbins, Senior Account Manager-Sales, JAX Chamber

Anita Comisky, Founder & Owner, Amelia Toffee

Chuck from Mulligan’s Pub in the Hilton Garden Inn in Ponte Vedra Beach

Joey from Black Finn Ameripub at St. Johns Town Center Jacksonville

John E. Anderson, Allstate Insurance Agent

Tanya Guydos, Vice President, Iberia Bank

Mike with Lab Testing

Katherine Way, Creator & Owner, Katherine Way Collections

The 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass was officially kicked off by Executive Director Matt Rapp and Tournament Chairman Michele McManamon at the JAX Chamber & St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce event. Immersed in a world of commerce, THE PLAYERS continues to give back to the Northeast Florida community with a record $8.1MM last year and more than $75MM since 1977 when the tournament was first played here. I think the young couple from Australia says it all about the excitement and feelings of goodwill surrounding THE PLAYERS! The weather will cooperate and it will be the best PLAYERS ever! (-:   (Facebook Post with Highlight Video, Andy Reistetter, May 6, 2016)

Augusta’s Azalea House- Where Golf Meets True Southern Hospitality!

25Soooo at most golf tournaments there are associated parties (take note fellow Ponte Vedrans, THE PLAYERS Championship is only 30 days away) and The Masters Golf Tournament is no exception, it is always the leader… I only go to one party here in Augusta, on Saturday night, and that is at The Azalea House which is basically a party all week long… Why do I go? The inspiration of the Veteran Golfers Association, the benefitting host charitable organization! Plus the creativity of artist Justyn Farano, Farano Fine Art, have you seen his work? Plus, if you know me, it is all about the golf with me… This is the Augusta base of Frank Bassett and his Golf Talk America broadcast network. Like walking the fairways of Augusta National or enjoying the day under the oak tree by the clubhouse, The Azalea House is a place to meet old friends and make new ones… Happy Masters Everybody! (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4/10/16 with 30 Pics)

People of the 2016 Masters…

4Masters People I met on Tuesday & Wednesday! Old friends & new ones. Yes, there’s me & Ernie Els again, both back from South Africa! LOL… he is my sentimental long shot pick, Rory my sure thing and Vaughan Taylor the surprise pick. Fore, now driving Arnold, Jack & Gary and then 89 golfers competing to become the 2016 Masters Champion! (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4/6/16 with 30 Pics)

What an honor & privilege to be the Production Assistant in the booth with the talented Luke Elvy, Bobby Clampett & Ned Michaels on Holes 15 & 16 Live Coverage on Masters.com http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/index.html Join us this weekend and if you have one tenth the fun I am having it will be the best golf broadcast you ever watched! Reminds me of growing up and watching the CBS golf broadcasts with my Dad, brothers and uncles… I am learning so much about The Masters traditions, the game of golf and my golf swing too! These guys are awesome and will take you theeere, I mean heeere, to The Masters!   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4/9/16 with 5 Pics)

2016 Masters: Walking the Second Nine at Augusta National Golf Club…

12Masters Tuesday walking the second nine… Camelia, White Dogwood, Golden Bell, Azalea, Chinese Fir, Firethorn, Redbud, Nandina, & Holly…beautifully designed golf course, wondrous to walk amongst the spectacular elegance of The Masters…

2016 Masters: Walking the First Nine at Augusta National Golf Club…

First Tee Augusta National, First Nine, Fore, Now Playing...

First Tee Augusta National, First Nine, Fore, Now Playing…

Awesome Masters Monday! Good to see some old friends & meet some new friends! Walked the first nine backwards (not the front nine, this IS The Masters) but presented here as you & I will play it one day… like walking in a garden… tea olive, pink dogwood, flowering peach, flowering crab apple, magnolia, juniper, pampas, yellow jasmine, Carolina cherry… they are all beautiful! Happy Spring!Inspired by the junior golfers competing in the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at August National… played Jones Creek Golf Club with two good (won’t say old because we are,all young, just have known each other a long time) buddies- Bill Wolfe & Jim Hughes… awesome time… original Rees Jones renovated by Tom Fazio… Georgia golf at its best, & beautiful! Masters week off to a great start!   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4-4-16 with 30 Pics)

31Masters Trivia… there is only one Palm tree on the entire Augusta National property… without googling it, can u guess the hole?

2016 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National GC

11What an inspiring prelude Sunday to The Masters! The National Finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship for girls & boys ages 7 to 15. WOW, these kids & their parents are amazing! What a show put on by Augusta National GC, the USGA & the PGA of America!Inspired by the junior golfers competing in the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at August National… played Jones Creek Golf Club with two good (won’t say old because we are,all young, just have known each other a long time) buddies- Bill Wolfe & Jim Hughes… awesome time… original Rees Jones renovated by Tom Fazio… Georgia golf at its best, & beautiful! Masters week off to a great start! (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4-3-16 with 29 Pics)

 

 

Play Jones Creek GC in nearby Evans, GA during The Masters!

Augusta Time is Friends Time golfing at Jones Creek with Tall Jim & Happy Bill!

Augusta Time is Friends Time golfing at Jones Creek with Tall Jim & Happy Bill!

Inspired by the junior golfers competing in the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at August National… played Jones Creek Golf Club with two good (won’t say old because we are,all young, just have known each other a long time) buddies- Bill Wolfe & Jim Hughes… awesome time… original Rees Jones renovated by Tom Fazio… Georgia golf at its best, & beautiful! Masters week off to a great start!Inspired by the junior golfers competing in the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at August National… played Jones Creek Golf Club with two good (won’t say old because we are,all young, just have known each other a long time) buddies- Bill Wolfe & Jim Hughes… awesome time… original Rees Jones renovated by Tom Fazio… Georgia golf at its best, & beautiful! Masters week off to a great start! (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 4/3/16 with 17 Pics)

Afternoon Round on Old Mac at Bandon Dunes…

1Afternoon round on Old Mac… true links golf… another excellent Tom Doak design… played with my new golfing buddy Seafood Seattle Colin, aka as Bunker… after we both birdied the difficult last at Pacific Dunes… another thumbs up round at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort!   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 3-30-16 with 26 Pics and 2 Videos).

Sunset Hickory Golf at Bandon Dunes with Michael Chupka!

What a way to close out the 2016 West Coast Golf Journey- Bandon Dunes, Sunset Hickory Golf with Michael Chupka!

What a way to close out the 2016 West Coast Golf Journey- Bandon Dunes, Sunset Hickory Golf with Michael Chupka!

So this is what I really love about Bandon Dunes…. had a 7 pm sunset interview setup with Michael Chupka, Director of Communications (& Marketing & PR)… such a beautiful evening that he suggested we go play some golf .. so of course I complied & we did.. he grabbed his hickory shafted clubs, put a peg in the ground and off we went to play No. 10 and then 15, 16, 17 & 18 at sunset… spectacular… rest assured that the history, tradition & spirit of the game of golf is alive & well at Bandon Dunes… then we had a late dinner and off I went at 10 pm to catch a 5 am flight in Portland… some sort of pre-red eye!… thanks to Mike Keiser for creating Bandon Dunes & Michael Chupka for hosting Andy’s Goilf & Travel Diary … best to visit Bandon Dunes & see for yourself!   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 3-30-16 with 14 Pics and 1 Video).

Bandon Preserve, 5th but NOT Final Course at Bandon Dunes!

Bandon Preserve is Bandon Vista of the Pacific too!

Bandon Preserve is Bandon Vista of the Pacific too!

Bandon Preserve, the Fifth & Final course to be played at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort… 13 hole par-3 which is as good,as the other four except all par-3s…plus don’t forget the Punch Bowl, a putting course near the Pacific Dunes clubhouse… I did with regret…   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 3-30-16 with 25 pics and 1 video).