2018 PGA Show: Demo Day at Orange County National… Demo Baby!

Demo Day Delight on Tuesday during PGA Show week! On & off the range!

2018 PGA Show: Tour Edge Outing at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club!

21Day One of the PGA Show was really Monday at the over the top TOUR Edge outing at Lake Nona Golf & CC! BEST golf outing of Andy’s life! TROML Baby!

 

Golf Ireland Tourism Outing at Orlando’s Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Point

_Irish Golf Day 2017Kicking off the PGA Show this week in Orlando with a Monday golf outing at The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe hosted by Golf Ireland; North and West Coast Links Golf; IGTOA Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association, The Voice for Irish Golf Tourism; Course Trends Europe, www.CourseTrends.eu; SWING, SouthWest Ireland Golf, www.swinggolfireland.com; Wild Atlantic Way, www.WildAtlanticWay.com; www.TheGolfPA.com, Ireland’s Premier Golf Tour Operator… never been to Ireland… looking forward to getting educated and visiting Ireland this year! Have you ever been to Ireland to golf?   (Facebook Post, Andy Ristetter, 1/22/17)

5Wild day at the Golf Ireland outing at @The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe… played with two great guys from Ireland… so windy it felt like Ireland… have to go to Ireland to experience for myself… participated in the David Edwards Golf show… good to see Charlie Rymer from the Golf Channel who spoke about how much he loves the Irish & their golf courses… good first day and the PGA Show hasn’t even started yet! Demo Day tomorrow Tuesday at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge…   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 1/23/17 with 30 Pics)

Golf Travel Writers Association… Fits me to the Tee!

With the GTWA gang for the first time at the PGA Village in January 2012.

With the GTWA gang for the first time at the PGA Village in January 2012.

You know when someone says you should do something or join something? Ninety-nine times out of a hundred they are wrong. Not so when Bruce Vittner, the Editor & Publisher of the Southern New England Golfer, told me about the Golf Travel Writers Association (GTWA) and suggested that I apply for membership.  The GTWA is an association of the best travel writers, editors, and publishers of state and regional golf magazines, golf columnists, radio and television golf show hosts and golf website operators. Membership in the Golf Travel Writers of America is available to qualified applicants in one of three categories—professional, corporate and resort. GTWA members specialize in writing about golf travel and golf destinations. The mission of the Golf Travel Writers of America is to inform the golfing public and forge relationships between and among its its members. I am happy Bruce made the introduction because the GTWA fits me to a tee!

With Kathie Dyson & Bruce Vittner who well represent the spirit of  the GTWA!

With Kathie Dyson & Bruce Vittner who well represent the spirit of the GTWA!

Besides Bruce some of the professional members I have come to know are Katharine Dyson, Matt Adams and Alice and Danny Scott. Katharine, according to her bio page, is “an avid golfer who makes up for atrocious putting with an insatiable curiosity for discovery, writes about golf, travel, golf fashion and lifestyle for magazines, newspapers and websites here and abroad.” I can attest to that as we have golfed together numerous times and had the pleasure of indulging in resort spas and dinners too.. She is also the author of “100 Best Romantic Resorts of the World” and “The Finger Lakes Book.”

Matt is a well-known best-selling golf author, PGA Tour Network and satellite radio broadcaster, and regular contributor to the Golf Channel. You know Matt as the award-winning international golf broadcaster on the PGA Tour Network, where he hosts the daily program, Fairways of Life, which is also one of nine books he has published. When I see Matt he is always smiling and gives me a warm handshake. Truly one of the inspirational people in golf!

Playing golf with America's Golfing Couple in Myrtle Beach near the Wizard's Castle of Mystic Golf. Guy in the orange cap is my friend Sir Charles Novitske.

Playing golf with America’s Golfing Couple in Myrtle Beach near the Wizard’s Castle of Mystic Golf. Guy in the orange cap is my friend Sir Charles Novitske.

Alice and Danny are America’s Golfing Couple. As stated in their bios they  are freelance multimedia journalists and travel the world exploring destinations, tours and products. They are founders of Butthead Covers, Inc. (the upside down animal head covers), and they offer coaching on all aspects of business creation, operation and marketing to live “The American Dream.” We have played golf several times and I have yet to be competitive with Danny who has the ultimate ‘A’ game!

As far as corporate members there are none more professional or nicer than Michael Abramowitz, Senior Editor of the The PGA of America. Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is the largest working sports organization in the world, comprised of more than 27,000 dedicated men and women promoting the game of golf to everyone, everywhere. Michael hosted us at PGA Village In Januray 2012 which was my first event with the GTWA.

At Medinah watching the conclusion of the Sunday Singles Matches with Michael Abramowitz.

At Medinah watching the conclusion of the Sunday Singles Matches with Michael Abramowitz.

The PGA Village is the flagship property of the PGA of America in Port St. Lucie, Florida. It is also the ultimate golf resort destination. The 54 holes of championship golf at PGA Golf Club have been masterfully laid out by design legends Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The cherry on the cake is the state-of-the-art 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance. I love it for the PGA Museum of Golf which contains all of the history of the PGA’s storied existence.

 

CLICK here for my article entitled ‘PGA of America, More than a Village!

With Claude Pardue, President & CEO of Mystic Golf- The Witch, The Wizard & The Man O'War.

With Claude Pardue, President & CEO of Mystic Golf- The Witch, The Wizard & The Man O’War.

Mystic Golf in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a resort member of the GTWA.  The mystical man behind the curtain is Claude Pardue who owns and manages three of Myrtle Beach’s finest golf courses — The Witch, the Wizard and Man O’ War — whose beauty enchants and challenges golfers of all abilities. Man O’War is the only golf course in the world with back-to-back island greens.

CLICK here for my Mystic Golf article entitled ‘Golf is Mystical in Myrtle Beach!’

If you are a professional golf travel writer, or represent a corporation or resort in the golf business check out the Golf Travel Writers Association (GTWA). Being a member is a lot of fun and it might fit you to a tee!

Source of Information above: GTWA website and linked individual websites.

Wearing my GTWA buddy Tom Gorman's Man O'War hat!

Wearing my GTWA buddy Tom Gorman’s Man O’War hat!

GTWA golfers playing the Pete Dye GC at PGA Village on a beautiful Florida morning!

GTWA golfers playing the Pete Dye GC at PGA Village on a beautiful Florida morning!

On the 9th green at Hammock Beach, part of the Salamander Resorts Legends of Golf Trail along with Reunion and Innisbrook.

On the 9th green at Hammock Beach, part of the Salamander Resorts Legends of Golf Trail along with Reunion and Innisbrook.

 

Book Review: Great Golf Collections of the World by Dick McDonough & Peter Georgiady

There she was sitting on a table in the New Products Zone at the PGA Merchandise Show.

There she was sitting on a table in the New Products Zone at the PGA Merchandise Show.

One of the most intriguing places of the PGA Merchandise Show is the New Product Zone. It is a good sized area at the show with row after row of tables displaying the latest, newfangled and intriguing products and services of the worldwide golfing industry. No different than walking the practice tee at a WGC or major as many will do at Pinehurst during the Women’s U.S. Open to see the newest and youngest golfing sensation- 11-year old Lucy Li. Though at the show there usually is little advance notice of what you will find in the New Product Zone. That’s the excitement of course, entering the Twilight Zone or bursting further into space on the Enterprise, one never knows what one will find when you get there.

Opened dust jacket of Great Golf Collections of the World.

Opened dust jacket of Great Golf Collections of the World.

Great Golf Collections of the World, by Dick McDonough and Peter Georgiady simply caught my eye sitting there so solemnly amongst all the gadgets and gizmos that will supposedly transform me immediately into a plus- handicapper. Perhaps it was the mosaic of photographs on its cover calling to me in a subliminal fashion to stop and say hello? Old balls and clubs, smiles, Bobby Jones and a colorful sketch of a pretty girl finishing her swing caught my eye. The young lady reminded me of a piece of collectible artwork in my own collection with a historic woman golfer in a flowing dress swings her club while a distinguished looking man observes in the background. With the words “Out on the links, we made our start… she missed her drive but caught my heart.” Golf can be a game of romance, life and sport all in one.

The new golf book, Great Golf Collections of the World, attracted a lot of attention at the 2014 PGA Show.

The new golf book, Great Golf Collections of the World, attracted a lot of attention at the 2014 PGA Show.

So I jotted down Booth 2191 and golf book collectibles on my “must-visit’ list and headed back into the sea of merchandising activity on the floor of the Orange County Convention Center. The name Peter Georgiady came to me as an associate of mine in the Golf Collectors Society. I must admit my name is Andy and I am a golf collector too. My addiction started back in the mid-1990s when my brother ‘LP’ introduced me to Dick Donovan, the renowned bibliographer of the printed word in golf. Dick introduced me to the Golf Collectors Society where I found Joe DeWulf and Harry Horton. Harry was as prominent as Dick in the golf collectible world as a restorer of hickory-shafted golf clubs. Books and clubs are my thing along with the history of golf. Pete sold me my first ‘Golf Goods Manufacturing Company’ hickory club which was made in the early 1900s right on Court Street in my hometown of Binghamton, New York.

I was excited to meet Dick and Pete at their booth. Unfortunately neither was there but I met Dick’s friend Jim who was covering the booth in their absence. I had a chance to pick up the book and look at the back cover- another 14 colorful pictures that took me back in time with the game I love. The dust jacket was amazing, how about the inside of the book? So I opened it and marveled at even more beautiful pictures. Without even looked at any text or the Table of Contents I knew this book was a milestone book along the lines of Dick Donovan & Joe Murdock’s The Game of Golf and The Printed Word and Jeff Ellis’ The Golf Club.

With Bobby Clampett in his 'Impact Zone' at the 2014 PGA Show.

With Bobby Clampett in his ‘Impact Zone’ at the 2014 PGA Show.

The Foreword was written by Bobby Clampett, someone I have had the pleasure of getting to know a little bit in the broadcast booths of The Masters and who is revolutionizing the golf instruction industry with his ‘Impact Zone’ methodology. I had a few minutes and being at the show is a little like being in the checkout line at the grocery store. It is okay to pick publications up and browse through them a bit! Bobby met Georgiady in the late 1990s and was smitten with the golf collecting bug about the same time as I was with Dick and Harry. Though his first collecting gig was a bit more memorable to the world than mine. After a Sunday golf broadcast, golf’s darling young amateur came out of his TV tower on the 12th tee at Augusta National and found the wayward ball of Greg Norman’s struck 8-ironway that averted his triumph in the 1999 Masters. That’s the best part of golf collecting. You learn the story behind the story and like any romance taking the time to do so is well worth the reward found within.

Like the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida this book is a collection of collections. Best part is that is all about golf collections. Treasure troves from private clubs the likes of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, from private collections the statue of Arnold Palmer and from museums like the U.S.G.A.’s ‘Golf House.’ There is also a topical section so if you are into seeing golf on magazine covers there you have it in Great Golf Collections of the World. I particularly like the Appendix which documents the origins of golf, golf clubs and balls. Remember I am a book and club guy!

With author Dick McDonough with book in hand at the 2014 PGA Show.

With author Dick McDonough with book in hand at the 2014 PGA Show.

The reality is that if you buy this book you automatically become a golf collector without the expense of being a golf collector. So educated by this book, you will know what to look for if you so choose to pursue the addiction. It makes a great gift for any golfer and conveys a message of depth and character that a pair of Loudmouth trousers simply don’t. Though there is nothing wrong with wearing Loudmouth trousers as this book is full of colorful characters and the clothing they wore since the game was invented.

I ventured back to Booth 2191 several times in hopes of meeting the authors. Both authors have their private collections in their book. I missed Pete this time but he is a ‘club guy’ like me so it is just a matter of time before we are standing at a table admiring some beautiful hickory-shafted clubs and happen to look up and notice one another. I did meet Dick whose collecting culminated in the ‘Art of Illustration.’ His collection contains a more modern glamorous golfing lady than mine but Great Golf Collections of the World has certainly caught my heart!

Happy Andy with golf books & clubs at the 2014 PGA Show!

Happy Andy with golf books & clubs at the 2014 PGA Show!

Unlike the tabloids at the checkout line at the grocery store, I knew I had to have my own personal copy of Great Golf Collections of the World!

This golf book is the Facebook of golf history and of certain impact to the golf collecting world.

CLICK here to order your copy and another for a friend!

Book Review: ‘Jewel in the Glen;’ Gleneagles to host 2014 Ryder Cup

Ed Hodge's book that will get you ready for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

Ed Hodge’s book that will get you ready for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

I have dreams of taking a “Journey to Scotland and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles” later this year. So, of course, I made myself present for such discussions at the Travel Pavilion at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in January. Designated Booth #1973 VisitScotland in the Exhibitor Listings but simply Scotland- The Home of Golf to the golfers of the world! There I found David Connor, Golf PR Manager who is focusing on the Ryder Cup. Right there in the same booth I met Billy Murray, Marketing Manager for the Gleneagles Hotel. Caught up in my excitement to journey to Scotland for Ryder Cup, he graciously gave me a copy of Ed Hodges book, Jewel in the Glen. Enough of the diary documentarian stuff, let’s get to the book and golf!

Author Ed Hodge with Paul Lawrie, member of the 2014 Euro team who won his Sunday singles match against Brandt Snedeker.

Author Ed Hodge with Paul Lawrie, member of the 2014 Euro team who won his Sunday singles match against Brandt Snedeker. Photo credit: Kenny Smith.

The subtitle of the book is Gleneagles, Golf & the Ryder Cup which quickly takes us ahead four months and further away, if you are American like me, from the ‘Misery at Medinah’ to a chance for redemption. Having ventured to Scotland on two previous occasions, I missed the Gleneagles area so this book was of immediate interest to me as a reference on planning this next trip. When considering to purchase this collectible volume one needs to look no further than who wrote the foreword. Jack Nicklaus did and he opened with the line “Gleneagles is among the great places in the world to visit and play golf.” Case closed, book acquired and opened to take us back to 1921 and then forward to the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.” In 1921 Gleneagles hosted the initial international match that was the precursor to the first official Ryder Cup match.

With David Connor, VisitScotland's Golf PR Manager. who would not want to be at Gleneagles for the 2014 Ryder Cup?

With David Connor, VisitScotland’s Golf PR Manager. who would not want to be at Gleneagles for the 2014 Ryder Cup?

This book is written by a special guy. Though a young whippersnapper of a sports journalist with a young family, he is obviously wise for his age and surrounded himself with a team that brought a sense of history and destiny to this story. Starting with the statement “Life is full of journeys in pursuit of reaching a desired destination” immediately brings in anyone and everyone who has connected golf with life, a day with a round and has an inkling to the spiritual essence of our game.  There is no doubt this is the first of many literary majors for Ed Hodges who came to the game through his dad and was inspired by his grandfather both on the course and in the writing arena.

With Billy Murray, Marketing Manager for the Gleneagles Hotel. Not the Bill Murray but I am still hoping for a Cinderella Story here!

With Billy Murray, Marketing Manager for the Gleneagles Hotel. Not the Bill Murray but I am still hoping for a Cinderella Story here!

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will host the 40th Ryder Cup and was designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1993. Originally called The Monarch’s Course it was renamed in 2001 to celebrate the centenary year of The Professional Golfer’s Association of Great Britain and Ireland. This is the sister organization of the PGA of America, both partners in staging the Ryder Cup competition.  Since the opposing Ryder Cup team expanded to include Europe in 1979, the European Ryder Cup team has won ten times, the United States seven. The modern European dominance started at The Belfry, home to their PGA, with the debut of the Brabazon Course with the Euros winning ten of the last fourteen. The Ryder Cup has been played (officially) only one time before in 1973 at Muirfield with the USA winning. Credit author Hodge in that Chapter 6 well documents that American victory.

Back to the book though I am getting as fired up as United States Captain Tom Watson. C’mon American team make golf our sport again not only our business! Chapter 1 of Ed Hodge’s book is a detailed account of Captain Jose Maria Olazabal engineered, Seve-inspired dramatic Sunday Singles comeback win after being down 10 to 6. Same as the 1999 American win at Brookline but on foreign soil. So from Chapter 2 on it is a good book!

Author Ed Hodge with Ryder Cupper Extraordinaire Colin Montgomerie with that piece of hardware the USA desperately wants to win...it has been 6 years since Valhalla!

Author Ed Hodge with Ryder Cupper Extraordinaire Colin Montgomerie with that piece of hardware the USA desperately wants to win…it has been 6 years since Valhalla! Photo Credit: Andy Forman

Actually it is an amazing book and a must-read prior to this year’s Ryder Cup. Chapter 2 documents the Ryder Cup before it was a Ryder Cup detailing how the matches at Gleneagles were an inspiration to continue to what we know as the Ryder Cup today. The book tells the history of Scottish golfing competitions at Gleneagles and the history of the ‘Palace in the Glen,’ which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. There is a chapter on the Golden Bear and a hole-by-hole guide of the host venue by World Golf Hall of Fame member Colin Montgomerie. Something every American Ryder Cupper should read prior to teeing it up at Gleneagles!

Ed’s old photo hunts were successful and 80 interview targets secured to make this an exceptional story and book!

Will the tee be silent for the first tee shot or will we see more or will Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson or other members of the 2014 teams incite them to cheer loudly? No one knows for sure. But we do know for sure that Gleneagles will be a historic host to a memorable Ryder Cup that is coming home to its roots 93 years later. Head to the bookstore door or internet keyboard for your own copy of Ed Hodge’s “Jewel in the Glen” to fully enjoy the ‘Scotland Stage’ this September!

 

 

 

 

 

Bobby Clampett is Making a Major Impact in Golf

CLICK here fro a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Bobby Clampett at the 2014 PGA Show.

With Bobby Clampett and the 'Impact Zone' book at the 2014 PGA Show.

With Bobby Clampett and the ‘Impact Zone’ book at the 2014 PGA Show.

We all remember the hot-shot amateur from California who was the low amateur at the 1978 U.S. Open and the 1979 Masters. The name Clampett hits squarely on the face as a PGA Tour winner and long time member of the CBS Sports broadcast team who recently joined the Champions Tour with success. Clampett’s game was influenced early on by Homer Kelley, one of golf’s all-time influential swing coaches, and his book The Golfing Machine. Now three-plus decades later, and six years after co-authoring the book “The Impact Zone: Mastering Golf’s Moment of Truth” with Andy Brumer, the Californian with an infectious smile and good nature, is positioned to make a ‘Major Impact’ to the game of golf. My how time flies and seeds planted long ago grow into big oak trees that change the landscape of golf.

Bobby making an impact at  the 2014 PGA Show.

Bobby making an impact at the 2014 PGA Show.

Simplicity and “out-of-the-box” thinking when it comes to coaching is what makes Bobby and his ‘Impact Zone’ very different than other golf instruction. Think about it, the real purpose of the golf swing is to make impact, dynamic impact with the golf ball. No more, no less, same as driving a car from Point A to Point B. It does not matter what type of car you drive as long as it gets you there when you need to be there. Simplicity is not a common element of various other golf instruction programs.

So too is accepting your ‘style of swing’ and then simply focusing on the impact of the golf club on the golf ball. There are many ways to get to that impact zone and why not focus on the purpose? No different than living in the moment. Yes there is a past back swing and a future follow through but all that matters is the moment of impact. Sounds revolutionary doesn’t it?

Bobby signing the 'Impact Zone' book at the 2013 PGA Show. Every year the 'Impoact Zone' makes a bigger impact in the game of golf.

Bobby signing the ‘Impact Zone’ book at the 2013 PGA Show. Every year the ‘Impact Zone’ makes a bigger impact in the game of golf.

I always look forward to interacting with Bobby. A few Masters ago he had a club in the corner of the broadcast booth frequently gripping it and going outside for a few swings as he prepared for the Champions Tour. Reminded me of my childhood growing up watching the Masters on TV and having my Dad or older brother ‘LP’ grab the club from the corner to launch a discussion of grip, stance, swing and golf and life in general. Now Bobby has launched his teaching organization has over 100 teachers certified in “Impact Zone Golf.”

Enjoy the video interview from the 2014 PGA Show. I did as I always learn something new from Bobby and find him entertaining and varied yet focused so it is fun too. Bobby was a three-time collegiate All-American and represented  the United States in Olympic-like golf competitions, first as an amateur winning the individual World Amateur medal and then as a professional in the 1982.

CLICK here to get Bobby’s “Impact Zone Golf.”

CLICK here for Bobby Clampett’s website.

CLICK here & check out the Payne Stewart Golf Club designed by Chuck Smith and Bobby Clampett.

 

 

 

Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/breaking80_gd1107#ixzz2y9rfFlQZ

Book Review: Linda Hartough’s “Green Glory”

"Green Glory" by Linda Hartough and Patrick Drickey is the ultimate Major visual reference in golf.

“Green Glory” by Linda Hartough and Patrick Drickey is the ultimate Major visual reference in golf. Photograph used with the permission of Linda Hartough Golf Landscapes.

Linda Hartough is by far the most prolific golf landscape artist of all-time. Her contributions to golf goes as far back as the mid 1980s painting the 13th hole at Augusta National by request of The Masters Tournament. Now, she has teamed up with photographer Patrick Drickery to chronicle  69 of the world’s finest courses that have hosted Golf’s Major Championships since 1950 in “Green Glory.” In other words that would be Augusta National Golf Club and 68 other renown golf courses of the United States Open, British Open and PGA Championship. As we start Major Season with The Masters next week, now is the ideal time to acquire “Green Glory” with its 250 pages and become the expert of your friends on the most important golf courses in golf and the world.

I had the pleasure of meeting Linda back at the 2010 PGA Show and have enjoyed every subsequent occasion when I have seen her again whether it was at The Masters, a U.S. Open or at her art exhibit on Hilton Head Island. CLICK here for an article I wrote on her and her long association with the U.S.G.A. and U.S. Opens, even longer than Tiger’s.

CLICK here to visit The Academy of Golf Art, a nonprofit organization that is progressing the relationship between golf and art.

With Linda Hartough at the 2010 PGA Show.

With Linda Hartough at the 2010 PGA Show.

Author in Vecci Fashions knickers at 2012 Masters with linda Hartough. The azelas in her painting of the 13th were in bloom!

Author in Vecci Fashions knickers at 2012 Masters with linda Hartough. The azelas in her painting of the 13th were in bloom!

With Linda Hartough at her gallery exhibition on Hilton Head Island.

With Linda Hartough at her gallery exhibition on Hilton Head Island.

 

 

 

 

Book Review: I went to Ireland for the Day…

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter escaped to Ireland for a day. With a Guinness in hand he celebrated the recent Ireland Invasion of world professional golf, with Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy, now all major champions and future World Golf Hall of Fame members. They were inimitable hosts for my visit. Fly to Ireland for a day? Join Reistetter for a penetrating day of golf exploration in Ireland without leaving the comfort of your home.


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