Golf Greater La Crosse-2015

2015 Golf Greater La Crosse Magazine “A Road Map to Golf Venues, Golf Products, Golf Activities, Golf Services, and the Great River Golf Trail”

The Greater La Crosse Golf Show kicks off the 2015 season. Come out of the cold to preview what’s new for the 2015 Golf Season.

Friday, February 27: 2:00PM - 8:00PM • Saturday, February 28: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

The Northwoods Conference Center at Stoney Creek is our new host and is conveniently located off Interstate 90 at Exit 5

Admission: Adults: $5.00 Children under 12: $1:00 2-Day Adult Pass: $8.00

• Each admission includes: Entry into Grand Prize Drawing: Courtesy of Destination Kohler - a one-night stay for two at The Inn on Wood Lake Hotel in Kohler, WI and golf for two with cart on The Irish Course at Whistling Straits and Meadow Valleys Course at Blackwolf Run. • Each admission includes: 12-month subscription to Golf Digest.

• Viterbo University Women’s Golf Team Golf Equipment Swap - Bring your golf equipment to trade and sell.

• Great River Golf Trail – Chance to purchase 2x9 or 1x18 golf at seven local golf golf courses for only $65.00.

• Ryan Poehling Foundation Golf Ball Giveaway - each admission includes three (3) seasoned golf balls.

• Also returning for 2015 is the very popular 19th-hole complete with flat screen televisions for all to enjoy professional golf and college basketball.

• Free parking available at Stoney Creek and adjacent covered parking ramp!

Site: Stoney Creek Inn, Northwoods Convention Center 3060 South Kinney Coulee Road, Onalaska, WI 54650 Phone: (608)793-1956 Website: www.lacrossegolfshow.com

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Plantation, FL and Plantation Preserve Golf Club

Great River Golf Trail Pass One 18-hole or two 9-hole rounds at SEVEN local courses • Forest Hills-La Crosse • Pine Creek Golf Course-La Crescent • Prairie du Chien Country Club-PDC • River Run-Sparta • Skyline-Black River Falls • Valley High-Houston • Viroqua Hills-Viroqua Includes admission to The 2014 Greater La Crosse Golf Show Feb. 28-March 1 at Stoney Creek Inn Only $65.00 + tax, some restrictions apply

608-793-1956 lacrossegolfshow.com

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Wisconsin Sports Services “Sports Done Right”

Wisconsin Sports Services (WSS) in an extension of the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS), a nonprofit organization created in 1991, which is dedicated to serving the youth sports population of Minnesota. The WSS coordinates youth sporting events primarily for the sports of basketball, baseball, softball, and wrestling, and provides education services applicable to all sports to the residents of Wisconsin.

In less than two years the Wisconsin Sports Services, with the help of great local host organizations, has run about 50 events which have reached over 10,000 participants and their families.

Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business with a growing organization? Some businesses are already seeing the benefit of sponsoring WSS events, such as Bucky’s Locker Room, the Hampton Inn, and La Crosse Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

There are many different ways to get involved with the Wisconsin Sports Services, and the key is flexibility.

We are able to create a custom branding program that is sure to get your product in front of a captive audience. Some benefits of sponsoring a WSS event: • Growing audience base – now is a great time to get in on the ground floor!

• Great sponsorship opportunity for hotels, restaurants, retailers, and travel-based

businesses and destinations.

• Dynamic website, updated continuously.

• Customizable sponsorship packages.

• Ability to get your message or product to sports groups known for their

purchasing power!

Below is a partial list of sponsorship opportunities. Contact Brian Meeter for more information at brian@wisportsservices.org or 608-780-2054.

• Badgerland Nationals Wrestling Tournament • Fall Softball League • Badgerland Baseball Ring Sponsor • Fall Fast Pitch (Girls) • Website Sponsorships (tournament index, event pages, etc.)

• Badgerland State Basketball Championships • Badgerland Basketball Tournaments Please visit our website at: www.wisportsservices.org.

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World’s top 50 prior to the event, and is the only one of the four majors that does not use alternates to replace qualified players who do not enter the event.

As I Tee It

Golf’s Major Events

By O.T.T.

Golf fans in the Midwest are very fortunate to have major events in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 within easy driving range (pun intended).

Sand traps must be referred to as bunkers. Spectators must be referred to as patrons, tickets, referred to as badges, are $65.00 per day for practice rounds and $100.00 per day for championship rounds. There is a yearly ballot for those who do not have membership or access.

Masters’tickets are the most difficult to obtain and ticket resellers are asking $3000- $10,000 for a weekly badge.

U.S. Open June 18-21, is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and 2015 PGA Championships on The Straits played at various locations in the United Course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI States. Winner is awarded the U.S. Open Trophy.

2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN 2015: Chambers Bay, University 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, WI Place, WA 2020 Ryder Cup on The Straits Course at 2016: Oakmont Country Club, Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI Oakmont, PA The opportunity to get to one of golf ’s four major tournaments and/or The Ryder Cup comes along very few times in one’s lifetime. Should one get the opportunity – take it. It should be a high draft pick on your bucket list. One or two days are plenty and it is great fun to watch the last day on television as you can say you have been there!

2017: Erin Hills, Erin, WI 2018: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, NY 2019: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA 2020: Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY 2021: Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA

The U.S. Open invites 156 players Below is a brief description and locations and is notorious for being played on difficult courses that have tight fairways, of the upcoming majors – enjoy! challenging greens, demanding pin The Masters Tournament April 16-19, is hosted as an invitational positions and thick and high rough, placing a great premium on accuracy, by and played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. Winner is awarded especially with driving and approach play. The U.S. Open is rarely won with a the Master’s Trophy and the famous score much under par.

Green Jacket.

The Masters invites the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players, although, like all the majors, it now ensures entry for all golfers among the

Daily ticket prices $50.00-$250.00.

Weekly tickets are sold out. It is our country’s golf tournament and has a very strict exemption list, anyone may try to qualify. The tournament has no rules

against entry for women or juniors.

The Open Championship July 16-19, (referred to outside the UK as The British Open) is hosted by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and always played on a links course at one of fourteen various locations in the United Kingdom.

Winner receives The Claret Jug. 2015: The Old Course, St, Andrews, Scotland 2016: Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland Links courses are generally typified as coastal, flat and often very windswept with deep pothole bunkers. The courses are generally not pampered effectively making the variable weather the main external influence on the field’s score.

The Open carries the prestige of being the oldest professional golf tournament currently in existence.

Recent professional major and amateur champions and leading players from the world rankings are exempt from qualifying. This is the grand championship of the United Kingdom and any male may try to qualify. Daily ticket prices £70.00, weekly ticket prices are £240.00. Junior golfers are admitted free.

PGA Championship August 13-16, is hosted by the Professional Golfers’Association of America and played at various locations in the United States. Winner receives the Wanamaker Trophy.

The PGA invites 156 golfers, 20 of which are club professionals and is the only one of the four majors to invite all winners of PGA Tour events in the year preceding the tournament. Amateur golfers do not play in the PGA, and could only qualify by winning one of the other three majors or having a high

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world ranking. The PGA is traditionally played at a parkland club in the United States, and the courses chosen tend to be as difficult as those chosen for the U.S. Open.

2015: Whistling Straits (Straits Course), Kohler, WI 2016: Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Springfield, NJ 2017: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC 2018: Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO 2019: Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, NY 2020: TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, CA Tickets are $30.00 per day for practice rounds and $95.00 per day for championship rounds.

Juniors and select military personnel are admitted free.

La Crosse Area Golf Updates and News General Manager Keith Stoll tells us

that Forest Hills Golf Course is going through many changes due to the expansion of the BNSF railroad tracks.

Work is currently in progress to build a tunnel under the tracks to allow for safe access to the course and eliminating any wait time. This change will forever alter the layout of the golf course.

For the 2015 golf season two holes will be altered and will be played to the current greens eliminating the need for temporary greens. The par four 1st hole will change to a par three with the tee box located on the east side of the railroad tracks roughly 155 yards from the green. The par five 18th will change, players will travel from the 17th green through the tunnel to the west side of the tracks playing the hole as a roughly 160 yard par 3.

With these changes the golf course will play to a par 34 on the front and back sides.

In 2016 the course will return to a par 71 with two new golf holes constructed on the far east end of the golf course in Hixon Forest allowing for all holes to be played on the east side of the tracks. The driving range will also be moved to the east side of the tracks leaving the entire west side of the tracks as a short game practice area.

Drawings of the new configurations are to be available at the 2015 Greater La Crosse Golf Show.

The Ryan Poehling Foundation is looking for area schools and youth golf programs that are in need of used golf balls. In the past 12 years Foundation Director and golf ball detective Henry Poehling has donated over 70,000 used golf balls to various organizations. The foundation continues to accept donations of seasoned golf balls. To give or receive contact Henry at the Greater La Crosse Golf Show.

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2015 Greater La Crosse Golf Show Vendor List American Metro POS Solutions Deans Satelite Drugan’s Castle Mound Country Club

Shoreview MN Sparta WI Holmen WI

River Run Golf Course River View Vineyard and Winery Riverbend Golf Course

Forest Hills Golf Club

La Crosse WI

Ryan Poehling Foundation

Generations Chiropractic and Wellness

Onalaska WI

Skyline Golf Course

Golf Headquarters

Onalaska WI

St. Charles Golf Club

Golf Outlet

Mequon WI

Sparta WI La Crescent MN Melrose WI La Crosse WI Black River Falls WI St. Charles MN

The House on the Rock Resort

Spring Green WI Trempealeau WI

Great River Golf Trail

Onalaska WI

Trempealeau Mountain

Jay Buckley’s Baseball Tours

La Crosse WI

USJT Golf Travel

Mulligans Golf Club Labels

La Crosse WI

Valley High Country Club

North American Squirrel Assn

Onalaska WI

Viroqua Hills Golf Club

Northland Golf and Ski

La Crosse WI

Viterbo Womens Golf

La Crosse WI

Onalaska Family Chiropractic Wellness Center Onalaska WI

Waushara Golf Club

Wautoma WI

Pine Creek Golf Course

Wisconsin Classic Golf Tour

Revive Chiropractic Wellness Center

La Crescent MN Onalaska WI

Wisconsin Sports Services

La Crosse WI Houston MN Viroqua WI

Grafton WI Madison WI

For an updated and complete list of vendors, go to www.lacrossegolfshow.com

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Winter Golf Holidays

Accommodations at Embassy Suites Biltmore included are daily

Since 2003 USJT Golf Travel has assembled ‘escape the cold winter’ golf holidays to amazing venues.

Plantation, FL and Phoenix, AZ are in the rotation for 2015 and 2016.

Arizona The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, Adobe and Links Courses, plus The Wigwam Golf Club, Gold, Heritage, and Patriot Courses, combine for (5) five days of unlimited golf.

Florida The Plantation Preserve Golf Club and Marriott Courtyard Plantation provide the setting for our winter break. Unlimited golf and a MLB Spring Training baseball game will warm you up.

Short and safe walking distance to restaurants, shopping and minutes to South Florida beaches Choose from (4) four program dates in February/March to get out of the cold and play some fabulous golf.

cooked to order breakfasts and cocktail hour reception.

Please visit our website www.usjtgolftravel.com or call 608-793-1956.

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“It’s easier to get up at 6:00 AM to play golf than at 9:00 AM to mow the lawn.”

Are you an addicted golfer?

We can help.

Go to www.lacrossegolfshow.com to purchase your Greater La Crosse Golf Card.

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Thank-You Golf Tournaments

By Dan Klinkhammer, MYAS Executive Director

Everyone knows that golf tournaments are great venues for raising funds for a variety of worthy causes. However, did you ever think about using a golf tournament as a way to say “thank you” to your valued vendors, volunteers or customers?

That concept could also fall under the heading of “Put your money where your mouth is!”Here’s my story.

would be appreciated. Long story short, we had 92 golfers at our very first Thank-You Golf Tournament and everyone got a door prize!

Now, 15 years later, we are still doing our annual Thank-You Golf Tournament, with a few modifications. Not only does everyone get a door prize, we also feature a skills contest on every hole. Since we have such a diverse (good, bad and average) group of golfers, the focus is on fun and not so much on the actual competition. There are a zillion ways to do that…just use your imagination.

Twenty-five years ago, I started a nonprofit, statewide youth Bottom line: I haven’t lost a supporting sponsor in 15 years and sports organization in Minnesota. We struggled mightily the when I call, they pick up the phone! Best business development first five years of our existence just to break even and the next dollars that I’ve ever spent! five years weren’t a whole lot easier. We survived because people believed in our mission and were willing to help us in a lot of different ways. In the early days, all I could do was to shake their hands and thank them profusely for their moral support and financial assistance. I always felt a little sheepish about asking for their free or discounted products and/or sponsorship dollars. So much so, that I promised myself I would return those favors if and when I had the financial wherewithal to do so.

That day finally came after 10 years and I’m still doing it today.

Since we were in the youth sports business, we were connected with a lot of able-bodied, active coaches and officials who loved to play golf and regularly participated in charity golf tournaments. However, most people can only afford to play in a limited number of those fund raising events. The concept of conducting a free “Thank-You Golf Tournament”to our valued volunteers, coaches, officials and vendors seemed like a nobrainer to me, so that’s exactly what we did.

Since we did not have deep pockets, we spent quite a bit of time trying to locate an affordable, quality golf course that could provide the tournament experience (18 holes with carts), along with a modest but tasty lunch to follow. (I’m talking burgers, brats and beer, not filet mignon!) I was pretty depressed in the early stages of our search but we eventually figured out that we could get a fairly good rate for the golf and meal if we were willing to schedule our tournament after Labor Day. In our case, it was perfect timing for me, our staff, and the majority of those who would be invited.

Imagine the raised eyebrows when people received our invitation. I don’t blame them for being skeptical. We all know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch and here we were offering a free lunch and a round of golf. Heck, I almost didn’t go myself; it was just too good to be true! Well, there was one catch to it. The invitation also hinted that a door prize donation

Open to the public 18 Hole facility Driving Range Bar/Restaurant Highway 14 South, Viroqua, WI 608-637-7615 www.viroquahillsgolf.com

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