No matter who you are, and no matter what kind of rose colored glasses you're wearing, the world looks very different from the way it did just a year ago.
Even if your tag line is "fun, flirty and fashionable" you can't deny the new economic reality. The one that descended on the entire world just a couple of months ago. In my case it's resulted in a pile of unopened 401K statements. This attempt at denial hasn't worked, however. There's just too much bad news out there, if you watch tv or puruse the internet you can't avoid it.
Last week the 20th anniversary of Greg Norman's Merill Lynch Shootout took place at the Norman designed Tiburón golf course in Naples, FL. The Shark Shootout is a unique competition featuring 24 top golfers playing on two-man teams in a mixed-format of modified alternate shot, better ball, and scramble. The tournament, with its lush surroundings in the shadow of the Ritz-Carlton Resort is known for an atmosphere of intimate, exciting luxury.
This year however with the future of sponsors Merrill Lynch and Chrysler looking somewhat ambiguous, and crowds more subdued than in the past, golfers like Fred Couples, Stewart Cink and Mr. Norman himself, were feeling the economic reality and acknowledging that things had changed.
If you play golf, you know the effect negativity and pessimism can have, and you avoid them like the plague. As the Shark said last week, “If we played our golf in a negative mind like that then we would never get anywhere going forward.”
The truth is, as far as the world economy is concerned, no one knows how it's all going to play out. At this point, there's simply optimism or pessimism.
That's why I'm sticking with "fun, flirty and fashionable".
Photo: Last spring when I played at Tiburón.
Seeing The Shark and Spiderman team up would have made me forget about the economy--at least for a while. Personalities like Mr. Norman and Mr. Villegas make golf so much fun to watch. Mr. Norman was one of the first golfers I ever followed and Mr. Villegas is part of a new generation. Both have wonderful style and make great contributions to the sport. I hope to see even more of them next year.
ReplyDeleteWe had a course close down near us and it was sad because just a couple of years ago it was thriving.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful that this "natural selection" may help other courses to survive and ultimately thrive as we painfully pare down from a number that was probably not sustainable.
I played Tiburon too. Love that it's so wide open, and the Ritz Carlton is a great place to stay if you have a family that doesn't play. They really take care of families.
ReplyDeleteCan/will Tiger save us???
ReplyDeleteEveryone's going to need to think outside of the box for the next year or two (at least). You're doing a great job with that here. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteGreg Norman has so many business interests and he's very successful but he's certainly lost a lot as we all have and having to come to terms with the way things are now. It going to be difficult, but I'm convinced it's for the best. Thing got out of hand...we need to get back on the fairway. ;)
ReplyDeleteLike the lime green shirt. Nicey.
ReplyDeleteThe world always ends up balancing itself out. When there's been good times for a while, some tough times usually follow. Things will turn around eventually.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that I totally agree that the economy is really affecting their wallets. I'll really doubt that we will see tournament purses go down...and there are plenty of companies ready to jump in and sponsor if one bails out.
ReplyDeleteFashion transcends economic conditions. Women in the 1930's did not wear flour sacks. Take a glance at depression-era golf fashion.
ReplyDeleteDepression economics didn't stop this attractive blonde from looking her best as she made her way around the links in New Orleans.
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