SOAR Blog

We all have our interests in life. A few around the office include cycling, baseball, volleyball, golf and fishing, and we’ve talked a lot about doing these activities together to experience something a little different and to get to know each other a bit better.

Well, last week we took an opportunity to participate in an activity together by taking the afternoon to play mini-golf and hit a bucket of golf balls at a local facility called, appropriately, Mulligans.

Here are some captions of the event:

The Team at Mulligans

FORE!

Can’t Quite Get Away

Scoping out the lay of the land

One too many practice swings…enough already!

For the Win!

Past the Windmill…through the tunnel…off the rock…up the volcano…in the hole!

Needless to say, we had a great time together. While we did keep score, everyone, it turned out, won. We built team unity and relieved a bit of stress…for those of us who could get away.

We’re planning to do these types of events every couple of months. Who knows what the next one will be, but I’m sure it will be a great time to be had by all, as this one was.

Outdoor Retailer - Summer Market 2007 officially begins in two days in Salt Lake City. But today is the opening day of Open Air Demo. 

So I’m gonna head up north later today to check out all of the new gear that will be highlighted “in the wild” up at Pineview Resevoir (up Ogden Canyon).

As I understand it, this will be the first time Open Air has been held at Pineview, with the decision to move the festivities occurring roughly two weeks ago due to low water conditions at Willard Bay.

Should be fun. 

I love going to a trade show for the first time ’cause it always provides an opportunity to quickly gauge the pulse of an industry.

That said, my trip to the Health+Fitness Business Expo & Conference started off on a somewhat different note than most as I began the afternoon out near the Denver airport to participate in the 2nd Annual SNEWS Golf Scramble at H+FB, a charity event to benefit Augie’s Quest.

To be honest, I was a bit nervous to be out on the links again as I had not been golfing once since I had had surgery to repair labrum tendon in my right shoulder. (Not that I was a great golfer before my surgery, mind you; but I was a bit concerned.)

Nevertheless, the opportunity to support a good cause while golfing with two leaders in the recreation industry — Tim Blumenthal, Executive Director of Bikes Belong; and Joe Flynn, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Nielsen Sports Group – was a chance I could not pass up.

As it was, Tim and Joe were excellent partners for me (and each other) in the scramble, as they both hit quite well and were very supportive of me as I had a consistently inconsistent round. Interestingly, the best part of my round was my chipping game. something that’s never been a strong suit before. Who knew?

Our team finished in the middle of the pack (score-wise) which was fine for me as I wasn’t expecting to compete for top honors anyway, just mostly looking for a good time, an opportunity to make some new friends and the ability to support a worthy cause.

The tourney at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club also allowed me the opportunity to connect up with SOAR Communications clients Lance Camisasca and Rich Kelly, Show Director and Marketing Manager, respectively, for both H+FB and Interbike.

Last comment. Steve Beuerlein, former NFL quarterback and now an NFL Game Analyst for CBS (and fitness club owner), was recruited as “the” celebrity golfer for the tourney. Beuerlein set up camp at the 12th Hole at GVR, where for $20 he was available for an extra drive off the tee for each team in the tourney.

Since it was for a good cause, the members in our team each ponied up twenty bucks, which led Beuerlein to guarantee he’d drive a ball out to the 200-yard marker for us.

And doggone it, sure ’nuff, we found his ball right where he said it would be.

Anyway, thanks to everyone at SNEWS and H+FB for putting together a great event. I look forward to hitting the links once again at next year’s H+FB.