Ladies League & Invitational Ideas from the Biggest Golf Club in Arizona with Sean Ferris
In this episode, Tori talks with Sean Ferris, the Tournament Director of the Desert Mountain Golf Club. Providing a detailed insight into the largest golf club in Arizona, the podcast delves into unique ideas for ladies leagues and invitational tournaments. As a beloved Arizona golf icon with invaluable insights into organizing impactful golf events, Ferris discusses innovative ways to improve invitational tournaments, drawing from his vast experience at Desert Mountain. If you're seeking fresh and exciting ideas for invitational tournaments, ladies' leagues, tea gifts, themes, or prizes, then this episode is a must-listen.
Maximizing the Female Golf Experience
Sean shares how Desert Mountain is creating a larger-than-life experience for women golfers. Desert Mountain has a larger budget allocated to the women's leagues, and they ensure it reflects in the quality of events and amenities offered.
Desert Mountain recognized that women golfers also seek value for their money, much like any other golfer. Thus, they have organized and structured their golf events considering these factors. While most golf clubs typically dedicate one golf course to their events, Desert Mountain's "Ladies Opening Day" in November uses two of their six championship golf courses. This illustrates the sheer size of their women's program. They cater to different player categories, from those who do not wish to play competitively to those who are more focused on scoring and standings.
Additionally, the golf club acknowledges the importance of making their women's leagues beginner-friendly. They've managed to accomplish this by providing different programs, like a late afternoon couples' league, that allows beginners to participate with their partners in a friendly and non-competitive environment. They also have a nine-hole ladies' league and a bridge program for beginners.
Sean also emphasizes on the social aspect of golf – it isn't merely about competition but also about camaraderie, fun, and relaxation. Desert Mountain has cleverly incorporated these insights into their event planning. For instance, they organize cocktail parties and shopping events, rendering a well-rounded and enjoyable experience to the participants. The success of those features was such that, when a golf event got rained out one day, the women participants enjoyed the replacement cocktail party so much that they asked for it to be included in all future events.
Furthermore, they have a separate instructional staff that creates shortened courses for beginners to promote learning and enjoyment. This approach unilaterally encourages more people, especially women, to experience golf without intimidation and have fun playing the sport.
Sean also shares the technical aspects of their opening day. This day, included in the annual fee, is a highlight for the ladies' league – it includes shopping, golfing, eating, and socializing. Both nine-hole and eighteen-hole players participate. The momentous event spans two whole golf courses for a day, illustrating Desert Mountain has commitment towards offering a superior golf experience for women. They believe in innovating continuously to provide the best possible experience while also embracing feedback from participants.
Driving Engagement: Innovative Themes and Prizes for Golf Tournaments
Sean dives deep into the art of organizing successful golf tournaments and the innovative approaches they utilize to keep delighting attendees.
He starts with an exploration of different welcome strategies and proceeds to elaborate on the tournament themes. For example, last year's "Enchantment Under the Sea" theme led to an ocean of mermaid costumes, transforming the greens into a lively aquatic spectacle – a testament to the members' enthusiasm for embracing novel ideas.
Prizes offered are another vital element under discussion. At Desert Mountain, due consideration to the preference of participants has led to a focus on functional and memorable awards over mere trophy plaques. From wine decanters to cutting boards, these tangible prizes serve as meaningful mementos of the tournament, gracing future dinner parties or gatherings.
Highlighting the importance of personalized experiences, another method discussed is getting staff members to familiarize themselves with participants beforehand. For instance, printing photos of participants for reference among the staff ensures a personalized approach during the event.
Creativity is not restricted to the game alone, as the extracurricular activities are equally innovative. Examples brought up in the conversation range from a flower truck for members to create custom bouquets, a cappuccino stand for a caffeine fix, to even having a tequila-laden donkey as part of the festivities.
The final aspect of the successful tournament crafting process touched upon in the podcast is tee gifts. The hosts suggest small daily gifts as a delightful surprise for participants, along with a more substantial gift like a shopping experience from unique vendors.
Golf Tournament Formats and Their Impact on Pace of Play
In golfing circles, there's a wide variety of game formats, each with its unique impact on the pace of play and overall enjoyment of the event. Among the discussed formats in this epiaode, Best Ball is highly favored as it allows each player to play their own ball, essentially mimicking the typical golf play. On the contrary, the Scramble format, while enjoyable to some, can slow the pace of play.
Another approach gaining popularity is Shamble, a combination of Scramble and Best Ball, where each player tees off, the best drive is selected, and then each player plays their own ball from that point forward. Shamble can prove more enjoyable because players still maintain the feeling of playing their round.
However, not all golfers appreciate these formats. For instance, some players argue that in an alternate shot format, it is possible to not feel like one has 'played golf', because they spend equal time waiting as they do hitting shots. Changing the format in response to player feedback can significantly enhance participants' experience in tournaments.
The Shift Towards Tee-Off Technology
Embracing the use of technology on the golf course is another aspect of modern golf culture under constant change. For instance, Golf Genius, a golf tournament management software, has rapidly gained acceptance among golf clubs and members and is used to streamline organization and scoring on-the-course.
Golf clubs are now going beyond encouraging Golf Genius; they are incorporating it into their technology infrastructure. For example, some clubs have the software accessible on the golf carts' GPS system, eliminating the need for members to use their phones on the course.
Such a shift is especially vital for catering to older members who prefer not to bring their cell phone to the golf course. It encourages efficient scoring, with member usage of scoring software increasing up to 80% when available on the golf cart. However, the traditional paper scorecards are maintained for accurate score records, reinforcing the idea that technology is revolutionizing golf without removing its traditional aspects.
Pricing Structures for Members at Golf Clubs
Sean discloses that the price of holding a member-guest event at his club typically fluctuates around $650 to $750 per team. This price is compared with other clubs whose costs can significantly range, some being less or more depending on the duration of the event and the amenities provided. For example, their ladies' member guest costs $2200 per team, offering four days of activities, including golf, parties, meals, and drinks.
Event Culture at Golf Clubs
The culture in these golf club events varies with each one. For instance, at the men’s member guests events, spouses are included. However, women’s events are exclusive and don't admit men. These diverse norms offer a unique experience for attendees, making each event intriguing.
Competition Structure at Golf Events
At these golf events, competition runs by awarding gross and net scores, with a capping system that prevents an overall shootout due to the size of the event. The system arranges for gross prizes per flight and eliminates the possibility for the overall champion due to restrictions on time and space with the number of participating teams.
Handicap Management and Betting Practices at Golf Events
The conversation also covers the practices of betting and handicap management in golf events. Betting practices seem to be common, albeit within legal limits, with team buy-ins and Para Mutual forms of betting being prevalent. The golf event-management process involves a tool called Cap Patrol, a handicap-managing software that monitors performances and identifies suspicious patterns that could suggest dishonest behavior. It aims to ensure fair play and improve players' engagement and trust in tournament golf
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