Disqus - Latest Comments for mrbusinessgolf

Re: 8 Tips to help you Become a LinkedIn Power User…

bambamieh — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:58:04 -0000

I do agree with you about the spam the groups spout out, usually i end up setting the mailing of the groups to either weekly for the good ones or non at all. That way my mailbox isn't filled with spam.
on the other hand like debra said Linkedin still offers the best value when it comes to getting in touch with professionals and keeping up with professional news. the value of being able to ask a question of a pretty homogeneous group of professionals is still pretty valuable.

Re: 8 Tips to help you Become a LinkedIn Power User…

Debra Askanase — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:45:01 -0000

I, too, feel that Linkedin is losing its value due to increasing amounts of spam in groups. I am now choosing my groups very carefully, and dropping out of groups that don't monitor the news-as-hidden-spam content. I think the real value of Linkedin twofold: Questions/Answers (becoming an expert, finding great answers, asking questions to the whole of Linkedin), and the fact that it is still primarily a professional networking space so that the users understand that the purpose is really business connections and information. At this point, Linkedin is still the best B2B network around, and it can still offer value if used strategically (searches, Questions/Answers, groups that have value).

Re: 8 Tips to help you Become a LinkedIn Power User…

mrbusinessgolf — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:19:30 -0000

How do you deal with the astronomical level of SPAM emails from the people who Upgrade? The value of LinkedIn has recently been knocked down a few levels from the unwanted notices in Group discussions on a product or service and the hundreds of broadcast emails blindly being sent out to hundreds of contacts. I am concerned that the years I have spent out on LI building my Network has not all been wasted since all my contacts (most I see in person) are saying they don't use LI anymore due to the shell shock they are in from all the unwanted emails they get form people they thought they knew but now (mostly due to the failed economy) have changed to Spamming to get attention to what they sell. LinkedIn is quickly losing its value as a business network.

Re: Tiger Woods Taking Crash-Course In Damage Control (And Fire Hydrants!)

ducks24 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:49:23 -0000

Sometimes role models and good people make wrong decisions and do embarassing things. He does need to show a bit of humility and speak to the public and his fans. I consider myself a pretty street smart person and at my age hardly naive, but if you had told me six months ago the two big escapade stories by the end of the year would concern Letterman and Tiger, I would have thought you were nuts. Not that I mean to put him in Letterman's class. If (and to me there is still a big if) there is really anything sordid to report. Whatever he would tell us, I'm sure the "I'm not Letterman" defense will not work with Elin. Hopefully she will forgive him. If there is anything to forgive.

Re: Tiger Woods Taking Crash-Course In Damage Control (And Fire Hydrants!)

mrbusinessgolf — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:16:54 -0000

Every kid that follows Tiger is watching how Tiger handles this. Him not telling the truth will again give the green light to boys and girls around the world that it is OK to be deceptive and stretch the truth. Tiger has caused a lot of damage to his image..he is human, but one a lot of people look up to as a role model. Hope he makes the right decision.

Re: Smashburger is the Best Burger in Dallas

mikemerrill — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:48:51 -0000

Thanks for the comments all!

Re: Smashburger is the Best Burger in Dallas

mrbusinessgolf — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:23:30 -0000

Smashburger PR people certainly did not search the internet for the #1 hamburger eater in Addison or they would have picked me up in a limo..geez. Good to see that someone is taking Purdies Hamburger place on Belt Line..I will have to check out Smashburger.

Re: Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?

nealschaffer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:57:58 -0000

Scot, that is a valid point. But the only way the spammers can get control of your email address is if you connect with them. Plus, they will only spam the email address that you have on record, which you have the freedom to customize as you see fit. I agree 100% of the spam issue, but there is spam everywhere, not just on LinkedIn, and I feel that the benefits far outweigh the potential spamming.

Re: Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?

mrbusinessgolf — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:37:44 -0000

There are some valid reasons why the large corporations stay away form social sites. In the case of LinkedIn, recently LinkedIn has been a magnet for businesses who are just out to fill an email database so they can promote some product or service that is of no interest to anyone, especially large corporations. This could be said for all social networks that are not controlled, but in the case of LinkedIn, who premise is to house a database of business people, it is a shame it has become such a draw for these email farmers since it is probably one of the only social networks that large firms would embrace as a tool to finding business connections and potential employees. Oh, the price we pay to be spammed.

Re: The PGA Tour Won't Be Too Happy About This...?

mrbusinessgolf — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:44:35 -0000

I really hope we don't see anymore Tweeting from the tee..geez..the pace of play is already slow enough. Can you image if we had to wait for everyone on the tee and fairway and greens to finish posting a tweet before we resume play. I can see it now where when the player signs in at the first tee for play he has to give the rules official his Twitter address so he can follow him while he plays to make sure he is not getting advice from a third party.

Re: Do Young Executive Memberships Really Help Country Clubs Survive?

OneEyedGolfer — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:14:08 -0000

Obviously, I was not talking about you or your club. Just people in general and clubs in general.

For the thirty-years I've belonged to my club, I have only mathematically made sense of my membership in the past five years since I retired. But, never in those thirty years did I even think about quitting. I started a new small business after retirement, but was still able to play 5-6 days per week. Drinks and sandwiches are probably 20-25% cheaper than other local eateries.

As soon as I hear someone say, "Well, if I play 7 times per month and the kids use the pool 3-4 times per week...", I know if he joins his membership is tenuous at best. The first month he gets a bill (Jan, Feb, Mar) when he did not use the club at all, his wife has already made the 'membership' decision.

It's tough out there. The pressure is on the club to do everything they can to preserve genuine value for every member dollar spent. Same thing at the non-private courses. Cheap is not necessarily value. Cranky bag boys and inattentive pros, waitresses and bartenders will chase people just as quickly as high prices...

I hope people appreciate the time and effort you put into this area of the golf industry. It is not glamorous or fun. But, unless people start listening to you, golf is going to continue to struggle for years to come.

Re: Do Young Executive Memberships Really Help Country Clubs Survive?

mrbusinessgolf — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:43:06 -0000

Good points Vince, And thanks for your support.

I have done a number of financial and psychological analysis on joining a private country club and find that I am sane to be a member of of a private golf club primarily due to how much I value my professional and personal time. I sent my time on the public links waiting on every shot and spending 6 hours for a round..I will stay with the private club four hour rounds, thank you.

We do have a good chef and the food is pretty good, but the facility was built back when Donna Reed was a housewife. It needs to be bulldozed. I am seeing a large number of aged clubhouses in my travels and hear from their membership that is the number 1 deterrent to recruiting new or younger members to join the clubs.

There are a number of options the private member own or the semi-private corporate owned country clubs can do, but they will need to hire none country club management background personal to reach new solutions.

Good news is..the investors who are losing tons of money are now realizing they will just have to walk away from clubs they built on borrowed money and, as your said, let the members run it..I am sure they could do just as well as these guys and gals demanding 18% ROI each month..geez..

Re: You Schmooze, You Lose?

mrbusinessgolf — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:09:39 -0000

Very good point. I agree. The new PGA policy is good for golf and will help the PGA enforce the withdraw many tour players make of sponsor hosted events.
However, in defense of some of the tour pros who would be forced into the 'rubber chicken' sponsor affairs during the tournament event I would have to say that those guys are going to be put into some very awkward situations the tour players who play in the Pro-Ams are NOT.
Five years ago I attended a Sponsor (I'll not mention the name of the sponsor for obvious reasons) event and Scott Gump was the only tour player in the room since the host was his sponsor. Out of the approximate 100 people in the room I was the ONLY GOLFER outside of Scott who was in the room. So naturally we talked, and talked, and talked. Most of the people in the room were employees forced to attend the function because the CEO (who did not attend the function because he was at the VIP function where the Big Tour Players were at) wanted them to have a good time.
Fortunately, Scott was able to talk other things and was very supportive but admitted very uncomfortable because NOBODY in the room knew he was a Tour Pro until he told them.
It is a shame, but this situation goes on all of the time where the sponsorship entitlements, that include Event Week gatherings at the event, sometimes do not draw the people who would be interested in talking to the Pros who will be forced to attend these shindigs.
I agree the tour pros need to be supportive of the sponsors and attend sponsor hosted events that make sense. However, I also feel strongly there are other things the tour players could do that would be more beneficial for the player and the sponsor. That should be what the PGA and LPGA push to create.

Re: Allenby Spiteful About Losing to Allegedly Hungover AK

mrbusinessgolf — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:04:46 -0000

Whether Kim did what he said are not, this incident should serve notice on how these games are played. AK will be the leader of the pack one day I am sure and this trash talk builds men out of boys..so lets see what happens the next time these two meet.

Re: When Freddie Speaks, Freddie Speaks the Truth

stephaniewei — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:51:38 -0000

LOVE is an understatement. Meeting him at The Barclays completed my life. ;)

Re: When Freddie Speaks, Freddie Speaks the Truth

mrbusinessgolf — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:43:16 -0000

You have to LOVE Fred..don't ya?. What a great guy. When I grow up I want to be just like Fred Couples...or at least be like him.

Re: Michael Jordan Tries to Explain Why Michael Jordan Is Here

txq — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:13:34 -0000

Right. Golf pros! Have Armstrong, Gretzky, Young, Pee Wee Herman, whomever, on the sidelines cheering and posing for a cameo or two, but don't crown any of them as a captain's assistant and give him his own cart (blanche).

The PGA hit a triple-hokey with this one in their hopes of boosting ratings ... but merely boosted gratings.

Anyone for a game of curmudgeons and dragons?

(Just jesting, GGD. Fire-breathing, though awesome, is hardly your style.)

Re: Michael Jordan Tries to Explain Why Michael Jordan Is Here

mrbusinessgolf — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:42 -0000

I think Arnie or Jack would have been a more appropriate pick for this event...at least they don't smoke cigars.

Re: Sponsorship Deathwatch: Verizon Drops Support of Heritage Tournament

Waggle Room Ryan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:49:33 -0000

Finchem cannot make Tiger do anything. Woods is an independent contractor whose only obligation to the Tour is their 15 event minimum.

Re: Sponsorship Deathwatch: Verizon Drops Support of Heritage Tournament

mrbusinessgolf — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:30:59 -0000

I don't think it is going to be that easy to find sponsors for PGA golf tournament and if the PGA does find a replacement to take Verizon's place I wonder what strings are going to be put into place by the new sponsor...like a Tiger Woods guarantee clause..humm.. ya think Finchem can put that in writing? He may have to.

Re: What Private Country Clubs Will Have to Do to Survive

mrbusinessgolf — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:34:06 -0000

Bob,
Yes, all you have mentioned is what I found when I drilled down into how country clubs are mismanaged. It looks from the tone of your message that you may have ventured off into reviewing the CCA sell to KSL since most of the items you listed run as their mode of operation. If this is the case I hope one day we get to meet so we can compare notes.

Re: September Session – Chris Vary of Weber Shandwick

mrbusinessgolf — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:50:52 -0000

Some outstanding insight into how Social Media is used at different levels of the business world. Thanks

Re: What Private Country Clubs Will Have to Do to Survive

mrbusinessgolf — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:41:35 -0000

Sam,
Thanks for your comment. I feel the travel component you suggested is a much more viable offer to private club memberships than other third party offerings many clubs are using or considering. Now, if your excursions had a business agenda, many more members would be all over it. Let me know how I can help.

Re: LPGA's players make extra effort to be fan-friendly - SignOnSanDiego.com

mrbusinessgolf — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:27:07 -0000

I always thought the ladies of golf do a much better job of bring golf to the fans...they know who their customers are..

Re: PRBreakfastClub Social Media Expert Challenge

mrbusinessgolf — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:45:36 -0000

PRCOG,
Thanks for taking the time your esteem college didn't to outline your intentions that were not clearly stated in this blog.
I am with you that someone calling themselves an expert should be based on actual experience and I agree that there seems to be a large number of people calling themselves experts in Social Media when it is obvious they are not. This challenge you have developed is clear wanting to test those individuals.
My point is that being rated an expert purely on the number of followers or friends a person can accumulated on the assortments of Social Networks does not make them an expert in Social Media. I do not agree that popularity qualifies anyone as an expert in anything.
That was all I was attempting to point out.
Thanks for you rebuttal to add more insight in what you whee wanting to get out of this discussion.
Cheers