How a Caddie Can Help You During a Golf Tournament

"Caddies don't win championships, golfers do." What are your thoughts on this statement?

If you were to review the commentary made by C.T. Pan after the Wyndham Championship, basically that caddies should "show up, keep up and shut up", you would be missing out on an opportunity to learn a great deal about the game of golf. Pan was joking, of course, but, having his wife (an inexperienced caddie) on the bag was probably not the best idea when it came to winning or losing the tournament.

Been asked by many questions about my caddie (wife) last week. Would like to answer them all in this post 1. She is retired from caddying 😆 and ended her career on a high note. 2. I have a caddy for the next couple events. Thank you for all the offering. pic.twitter.com/HFFLrWT9Rd

— C.T. Pan (@ctpangolf) August 20, 2018

There are mixed thoughts on the roles that caddies should play in the game of golf. Bobby Jones, one of my favorite golfers, was not a proponent of caddies being a major part of his round, saying, "If I needed advice from my caddie, he'd be hitting the shots and I'd be carrying the bag."

Video producer Dan Jenkins was quoted with a similar sentiment about caddies, "If a caddie can help you, you don't know how to play golf."

Lawrence Donegan, a Guardian newspaper golf correspondent, admits that some caddies are good, "and some are bad." Good caddies are like psychologists during a tournament, helping with mood, club selection and reading the greens.

Caddies must have some worth to a golfer (aside from carrying clubs) as some make as much as ten percent of a player's purse!

Caddies are a breed of their own. If you shoot 66, they say, "Man, we shot 66!" But go out and shoot 77, and they say "Hell, he shot 77!"  ...Lee Trevino

From counseling on the mental game to advising which golf club is best to use in different situations, a caddie who knows your game can go a long way during eighteen holes of a tournament.

James Y. Bartlett, author of the book, "Think Like a Caddie, Play Like a Pro", believes that caddies "serve as a valuable team member to help them make better decisions and achieve the lowest possible score."

If you are offered a caddie during your company event or during an amateur tournament, here are three things to ask before accepting his or her looping ability:

- How often do you play this golf course? If you have never played the course, your caddie will know where the doglegs, and trouble lies!

- How well can you read greens? You may not see where the break is, but, if your caddie regularly plays the course, he/she will know!

- If I give you an idea as to how far I hit my 7-iron (for example...and no fibs on distance as the caddie needs to know the true distance), can you help with proper club selection?

You should know your distances better than a caddie who meets you for the first time but if you are unsure, ask for advice.

When I was invited to play Pebble Beach with the Navy Seals at the Legends Invitational Tournament, I was given a caddie who played the course often and gave me invaluable advice. On the 8th hole at PB, my caddie told me to hit my second shot (over a deep water divide) to the left of where the rest of the group was aiming (because they wanted to make the shot onto the green). I landed safely on the fairway and wound up with a bogey on this very difficult hole while my group's golf balls landed in the ravine.

Final thoughts: Caddies don't judge you - they've seen it all, from bad swings to stressful fits of rage, so asking for advice might be just what you need to improve your round during a golf tournament!

Have you ever employed a caddie? How did he/she help your round? Comments welcome below on this golf blog and tag us with your answers on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Why Businesses Should Sponsor #Golf Tournaments and Events

I recently wrote an article for my LinkedIn connections about how businesses that help sponsor golf tournaments can bring cutting edge benefits and visibility to their business and brand.

This article has proven to be of interest so I decided it would be wise to spread this information to a wider audience, hence to my readers on Golf for Beginners.

I have the honor of assisting the yearly Legends Invitational Golf Tournament with their social, marketing and sponsorship efforts and, in doing so, I  am also part of so much more: the main beneficiary of the Event is The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum.

Charitable concerns are important in our framework of life - selecting the beneficiary which can do so much good for others is extremely important not only to the event but to those who support or are in attendance.

In the case of Legends Invitational, the tournament supports The Navy SEAL Museum through donations which benefit families of fallen heroes and the heroes themselves via Trident House and educates through initiatives at the Museum.

With Legends help (and through the generosity of grants and corporate gifts), the Navy SEAL Museum helps preserve, and shares the legacy of, the world’s premier Special Operations force. The Museum receives no federal funding and relies upon the good will of people and of corporate entities.

Why should your business help sponsor a golf event? Here are a few bullet points:

 - In the case of Legends Invitational, it is an opportunity to make connections with many of the top business builders in our Country. Legends has been known for the past twenty-four years as the Most Exclusive Invitational Golf Tournament in the World.

- Great for entertaining clients. Imagine bringing those associates you want to impress to a five-star setting to play Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay golf courses. Top name Football Hall of Famers are in attendance,and...

Stacy with V. Admiral Kernan

The SEAL's not only make an appearance, but boy, do they ever make an entrance! What a WOW factor. (In my foursome, our Team Leader was Vice Admiral Joe Kernan...it was an honor to play golf for three days with him!)

- Reward your best employees - Provide major incentive to a foursome of your brightest stars for a job well done - it will ignite a fire that will last for years.

- Patriotic event - Navy SEALs, for example, enhance the reputation, image and prestige of the sponsoring company through association.

- Generates media buzz both traditional and internet. Watch KSBW-TV headlining news story: Navy SEALs and NFL Legends Team Up for Good Cause 

Company representatives do not necessarily have to be in attendance to sponsor an event yet can still reap the benefits. Here is an example - Jack Daniels sponsored the opening cocktail hour at Spanish Bay as well as tents at the 7th hole at Pebble Beach (among other initiatives). Another thought? Why not sponsor a hole at the Event. A Harley Davidson dealer placed a motorcycle at the tee box of a par-3 ready to be won in exchange for a hole-in-one.

Jack Daniels Cocktail hour before the Event

Your company can sponsor an entertainment, activity or cocktail hour, marketing their name to those in attendance.

For example, Legends Invitational and The Navy SEAL Museum offer many ways to donate to the cause. If you don't play golf but love the SEALs, your company can support Museum efforts directly or customize an event at your place of business with SEALs parachuting into YOUR event, or perhaps, instruction of tactical demonstrations onsite. Talk about a memorable experience for your workers - this will have them whipping out their smartphones, socially sharing your brand with everyone of their contacts.

A company can also offer goods or services to improve the lives of the Event beneficiary. Donations come in many forms, from becoming a member of The Navy SEAL Museum to helping to furnish Trident House or donating auction items - the ideas are endless.

There are so many ways for businesses to benefit from sponsoring a golf event from reputation association to brand building - consider this new arena as a part of your marketing strategy.

Learn how you can help sponsor The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum either directly or through Legends Invitational - read the Legends Invitational Sponsorship Brochure.

Voice your opinions on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

NFL Legends and Navy SEALs Attack Pebble Beach Golf Event

Aside from being one of the most anticipated golf events of the year, the mix of sports and football legends as well as Navy SEAL maneuvers made the 24th Annual Legends Invitational one of the most unique happenings I have ever attended. Here is my take on the festivities and why you should mark your calendar for next year's celebration.

After flying from east to west coast, I arrived in sunny Monterey, California to meet the Navy SEALs and play golf at the Legends Invitational Event. The trip was long but, as I stepped onto the back porch of The Inn at Spanish Bay illuminated by blazing fire pits, I became mesmerized by a scene of calm and storm; peaceful flag-fluttering greens were accentuated by waves crashing from behind. Long first day with the prospect of the adventure to come.

The Inn at Spanish Bay

Day two, standing on the porch having a cocktail at the Jack Daniels tent, I was awed as I watched a swarm of Navy SEALs parachuting onto the fairway of Spanish Bay Golf Links, gliding softly into three-point landings to the sounds of patriotic songs performed by The American Rogues.

It was a touching moment which made me realize how fortunate I am to be living in the greatest country in the world.

I had never seen demonstrations so realistic nor had I been in the immediate presence of so many Military in full gear – guns (not loaded) by their sides, GO Video cameras atop their helmets and canine SEAL-in-training MIKO ready for center stage – talk about up-close-and-personal, this was in-your-face cool.

SEALs warmly took the spotlight as cameras were flashing; Lauren Seaver, news anchor at KSBW-TV mentioned, "it was one of the coolest demonstrations I had ever seen" and that nothing like this had ever occurred before at Spanish Bay.

With Mrs. Kay Crabb and Navy SEALs Team

Nick Buoniconti, NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins said, "I had chills. You get chills up and down your spine because you know, that, in real life, they're putting their lives on the line."

Watch KSBW-TV headlining news story: Navy SEALs and NFL Legends Team Up for Good Cause

The Navy SEALs, heroes of Sea Air and Land, are special forces who go into situations of grave danger and provide reconnaissance - they are the ultimate warriors. Navy.com states that SEALs bring "a threatening act of sea piracy to resolution in the blink of an eye."

The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of SEALs (originally known as frog men), while honoring the fallen heroes and assisting the families of warriors who have perished in battle.

The Navy SEAL Museum receives no federal funding and relies solely on the patriotic support of our citizens which is why the Legends Invitational Golf Event has chosen The Navy SEAL Museum and these brave responders as the recipients of their support.

After a night of meet and greet with HOF Football Legends and Navy SEALs complete with delicious buffet prepared by the Spanish Bay Inn chefs, the next morning brought a few hours of respite before the official event start, so what did I choose to do?

Walk Pebble Beach Golf Links!

Being a golfer and knowing you are going to play Pebble Beach the next day, thoughts arise such as, “I wonder if hole number 7 is as treacherous as I read” or “does the 18^th hole really look that beautiful in person? The answers are yes to both questions.

Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay, three of the most beautiful courses in the world, each have a natural, rugged beauty that cannot be justified through the lens of a camera.

Pebble Beach Golf Course View from 11

If I could offer one tip that stands for all three of the golf courses mentioned above, whether you have played here before or not, it is to invest in a caddie. I thought my distances, reads on greens were close but I was off on almost every decision I would have made, so the caddie definitely saved my group and I a number of strokes.

My group consisted of Pete and Wayne Kostroski, Vice Admiral Joe Kernan and Kerry McNally.

Yes, I played golf with an ADMIRAL! While teams were captained by football and sports legends, other teams were led by Navy SEALs. In my opinion, our team hit the jackpot-the Admiral is an approachable leader and a true gentleman.

The additional three team members were a memorable group of excellent golfers. McNally is an Emmy Award winning videographer, Wayne Kostroski is the founder of Taste of the NFL whose annual Superbowl Party with a Purpose rallies the country's top chefs and the NFL's greatest players to raise money in support of food banks throughout the United States. Pete is his son and an awesome golfer (with a single-digit handicap).

As we got to the 7^th hole at Pebble Beach, we were greeted by Jack Daniels crew and we toasted to good health and good fortune with Legends Invitational owner John Lee (who stood and watched our shots) …and then we proceeded to par the hole!

The rest of my Pebble Beach golf round was equally as spectacular as this 18-handicapper forged ahead to shoot a 94.

What could make this golf event even more memorable for me? Playing Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay the following two days.

Legends Invitational title Sponsor, IZOD, created memorable gift bags including their outstanding golf apparel for all of the participants. A great deal of thanks for their devotion to the Event and for their support of The Navy SEAL Museum.

This is how to support the The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum.

More information on Legends invitational Golf Event and how you can attend next year's extravaganza.

Voice your thoughts on our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter: @Golf4Beginners, @NavySEALMuseum and Legends Invitational @SEALsGolf. 

Navy SEALs Rappelling Into Legends Invitational Golf Event

The Navy SEAL Museum, which honors SEALs and their predecessors for their contributions to our national security, has more support coming its way.

The 24th Annual Legends Invitational, a golf event which takes place from November 14-17, 2014 at three of the most beautiful golf courses on the Monterey coastline, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay, will be assisting the efforts of the Museum.

Teams of Navy SEALs, in conjunction with Legends Invitational and the Museum, will kick-off the tournament with tactical demonstrations, from parachuting maneuvers to rappelling with canines out of a helicopter onto Spanish Bay golf course. SEALs will also be "up-close-and-personal" for the duration of this one-of-a-kind golf event.

John Lee, owner of the Legends Invitational and member of the Navy SEAL Museum Board stated, 

“I am proud to serve on the Navy SEAL Museum and also have the 24th Legends Invitational raise funds to support SEAL families in times of distress, provide scholarships and answer the significant needs of the Museum.”

The Navy SEAL Museum currently receives no federal funding and relies on contributions from patriotic and grateful supporters to continue to preserve Naval Special Warfare history, honor fallen heroes at the SEAL Memorial and care for warriors and families through the Trident House.

“The National Navy SEAL Museum is delighted to be the beneficiary of the 24th Legends Invitational,” said Rick Kaiser, Executive Director of the Navy SEAL Museum. “We will be invading Spanish Bay via parachute and helicopter with help from our Military Working Dog Miko.  Should be fun for all!”

In addition to the excitement and fanfare surrounding the Navy SEAL's, Celebrity Sports Legends including several of Football's Greatest will be playing in the event alongside of corporate executives and business professionals helping to secure needed funding for the SEAL's and their families.
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You can also help the families of fallen SEAL's! Click on the links below to find out more:

Support The National Navy SEAL Museum

 Play in this once-in-a-lifetime golf event

If You Got Any Closer You Would Have to Enlist

Join us on Twitter to discuss the Legends Invitational and show support for the Navy SEALs - @Golf4Beginners and @SEALsGolf and show your support by liking the Legends Invitational Facebook page

And, as always, we welcome comments on our Golf for Beginners blog.