If you like a number of of the social mediaist here at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson, you have a lot to be grateful for Time Warner providing the Outstanding internet connections.

So many times things like wireless connections are taken for granted and normally connections to the wireless phone network or internet is not expected at a PGA Tour event.  However, here at this year’s Nelson everyone is encouraged to bring their Smartphone’s so they can join in and be part of the social media extravaganza.

I had the pleasure to interview one of Time Warner’s Media Communication Representative, G’Nai Blakemore.  Enjoy the interview.

I am out at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship, in Las Colinas (known to the Dallas natives as Irving), Texas, providing my golf fans a view of what goes on behind the scenes of a PGA event.  You can follow the action at my Mr Business Golf blog and on my Twitter feed at @mrbusinessgolf…just follow the hashtag #HPBNC.

On the social media side of things HP, the title sponsor of The Nelson, is really stepping up to plate to what is rapidly becoming a social media extravaganza.  Naturally the Twitter Feed is a blaze with activity of what is going on around the event.  You will also see a large number of posts made on Facebook that have a little more detail on the latest and greatest of things going on around the Nelson.  Everything from where the coldest beer is located to tracking the players stroke by stroke play.

New vs Old

The good news is, HP ‘Gets It’ when it comes to using social media.  At the Nelson, HP has assembled a great team of social mediaist, me included, to pump out to the internet information on what is happening on and off the golf course.  I’ll report more on the HP Team later.

The bad news is the use of social media is not readily appreciated with everyone here at the event.  It is unfortunate many do not ‘Get’ social networking and how it can work for them.  Fortunately, there are some in the traditional mainstream of sport media you would think would be the ones who would shun social media who are however very eager to learn more.  In a couple of visits I have made with some of the old guard of sports media I am encouraged with their willingness to accept social media as the New way of getting a message to sports fan.

Mr Business Golf Show

I will be doing some interviews while I am here to put in a few podcasts I will be producing for the Mr Business Golf Show.  I will also take some of the issues I have found many people have with social media and bring them to the Mr BG Show to discuss.

There is still a lot unfolding to report at ‘The Nelson’ which I will be back to offer you more insight to the behind the scenes activities.  Until then..let me know how I can help.

If you have been to a PGA Tour event then you understand the atmosphere around watching the worlds best golfers competing.  It can be exciting to see them hit a little white ball great distances to within inches of where they intended it to go…or not want it to go which could be the case.

However, have you ever wonder how all the information is provided the golf fans on the screens around the golf course.  Just, who it is that attends the a PGA Tour?  Who are these people running around with Microphones chatting up the players before and after their round of golf? 

I am out at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship this week working in the Media center pumping out posts to Twitter and Facebook on what I am finding going on behind the scenes.

I will also be posting blogs and podcasts over on the Mr Business Golf blog.  So, stay tuned for more action and reports.  You can follow my Twitter posts at www.twitter.com/mrbusinessgolf

Have fun and let me know how I can help.

Calling all Golf Professional!

Here is a great Pro-Am event for the golf professionals…the prize purse is nothing to sneeze about.  If you have never played in a Golf Marathon, here is your chance.  Great golf course, great golf and great FUN!… Come on out and play for cash while raising funds for a great cause.  The Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundations will appropriate your support.  More info on this great event will be posted right here, so stay tuned.

It was encouraging to read Pellucid President Jim Koppenhaver’s remarks from his State of Golf report at the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fl., last week.

This year’s Pellucid report consisted of..

… five key questions:
• What were the key takeaways of the industry’s 2010 performance?
• What did the industry barometer (revenue, rounds, rate, supply, consumer base and equipment sales) register in 2010, are we heading up or down?
• Facilities under financial stress, how are revenue and expense colliding at the profit line?
• The re-emergence of discounting and how the digital world is enabling it
• Is institutional mediocrity at the golf shop counter more costly than anyone knows?

I wish there was more to report on the answers to these five questions Pellucid is offering.

Koppenhaver continues, "… Our State of the Industry is not a labor of love, but rather a cold-eyed gathering of facts along with critical analysis that should be the basis of your business decisions for the upcoming year. We can say with some certainty that a number of industry stakeholders will not survive in 2011… ."

I have been saying for sometime now adjustments in how the golf industry does business will need to be made which will result in a significant number of business in the golf vertical not surviving the adjustment that will be made in 2011.  I am excited Pellucid’s studies are starting to confirm the new direction Golf will need to take to make it through one of the toughest economies Golf has ever seen.

Jamal Adams report from the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL

There was no way you could have missed Michael Breed at the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show and his demo of the Putting Cyclops training device.  I was jaw-dropped for ten minutes watching how the Putting Cyclops worked. 

The company line was…

 

"Without a doubt, The Putting Cyclops is the BEST and the ONLY putting trainer for you… You WILL be making more putts and seeing much lower scores!"

Michael Breed

Host of the Golf Channel’s "The Golf Fix" GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Instructor Head Professional at Sunningdale CC, Scarsdale, NY 2009 Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year

NICOLE HAGE
LPGA Tour Player
"The Putting Cyclops has helped me to become much more consistent – you need that when under pressure on the LPGA Tour."

Of course..that Scott Cameron putter at the top of this post that Michael was using was SWEET..wonder how I could get one of this?  Maybe I need to see if Mr Cameron is here and talk to him about this.  See you all back in Dallas at the Super Bowl…yeah!

Jamal Adams, reporting for the Business Golf Country from the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show..check out Jamal at his site jamaladams.com