Senior Golfers Travels

Teaching Golf with Seniors in Mind.

 

Why is it that everyone with an understanding of the worldwide golf industry acknowledges the unrivalled  consumer power of the Senior Golfer, aged 50+, and then seems to totally disregard this huge market segment when creating and marketing every Golf Instructional product or service?

 

Why can’t  they comprehend that dissecting videos of Tiger’s or Sergio’s swing sequence, or their counterparts in every golf print magazine featuring Lorena or Michelle Wie , is totally irrelevant to Seniors who no longer have the physical attributes and flexibility of these golfer athletes?

 

However , finally a Teacher and Training Facility specialises in the mental and physical training needs of the Senior Golfer—18 year LPGA Tour veteran Penny Pulz and the Arizona Senior Golf Academy.

 

Click here for a recent article from US News and Report

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/retirement/2008/06/26/teaching-golf-with-seniors-in-mind.html

 

Visit Penny’s site at www.pennypulzgolf.com to check out what she has to offer and whenever possible support those golf industry participants  who pay more than lip service to the Senior Golfer.     

The social benefits of Golf for single women.

 

The game of Golf has a seemingly never-ending list of benefits for those of us who play regularly—physical, mental, social, and for some, financial.

 

These benefits encompass every age category, gender and marital status, whether we play in a regular group, as a couple, or as a single, expanding our circle of golfing friends by putting our name down wherever a spot is available.

 

While most of these benefits are available at the “pay to play” public access courses, they are more evident and accessible within the private club environment.

 

Of all the categories of club member, my observations are that the one I know least about , the single or single-again woman, enjoys the most social benefits.

 

In a world seemingly built for couples and groups, the golf club presents as an exception, where a single woman can comfortably integrate and enjoy  her sport , and the social interaction that comes with it.  The many mixed events within a golf club often create the situation where a single woman becomes a highly sought after potential partner—for golf and possibly après golf.

 

One interesting niche that has emerged within the Membership of the Club  created for Senior Golfers who love to travel at www.SeniorGolfExchange.com is the single woman.

 

It appears these single women have recognised the social benefits of our Home Exchange and Hospitality Exchange concept in overcoming the many hurdles for the single woman golfer who wishes to travel locally, interstate or internationally to expand her golf experiences.

A “Heads Up” for a canny read.

As a active observer of the worldwide community of Senior Golfers, I have recently discovered the excellent contribution to our  community’s knowledge bank from Larry Gavrich. 

Larry operates a blog site at www.GolfCommunityReviews.com , which he describes as “an advisory service for baby boomers and others seeking a lifestyle that includes golf”. 

While a fiercely independent expert  on all aspects of golf communities, particularly in the southern US states, Larry is an entertaining writer with an obvious respect for the traditions of golf, and an in depth understanding of real estate investment that makes his blog posts a thoroughly informative and enjoyable read, regardless of your current home location.

Larry’s course reviews, especially those while he enjoyed a recent home exchange in the UK, justify a regular visit to his blog.

Why not check out www.GolfCommunityReviews.com now, and while there follow the simple Registration process so that you can join in the stimulating conversations Larry initiates.

Just do it!

With half my attention on the TV highlights of the Tour de France, and the other half scanning the Sunday newspaper, I was suddenly aware of a moment of synchronicity.

Just as I was marvelling at the courage of the peleton , and the speed of their descent  in the French Alps, I spotted the following quote in the paper:

“Monte superata celeriter vado”.

That’s Latin for “When you’re over the hill,you pick up speed”.

Usually, I vehemently object to the “over the hill’ tag for people of my age, but it is true to say we are over the half way mark on life’s journey. Therefore it’s time to pick up speed.

With many of life’s constraints and the climb up the mountain behind us-the corporate ladder, mortgage payments, kids’ education , kids’ marriages- now is the time to pick up speed, not slow down or coast .

Whatever it is you have been thinking about doing, but delayed for what seemed like sensible reasons, let’s get on with it. What are you waiting for?

For Senior Golfers, if that’s a trip to St Andrews, or a couple of lessons to finally fix that slice, or spoiling yourself with new clubs, as they say in  Nike’s ad-JUST DO IT!

Bouquets and Birdies

Having just returned home from 8 games of golf in 9 days on the Gold Coast (in Queensland, Australia for our international readers), I’m more convinced than ever that golf is a great sport for all ages.  However for seniors, and senior couples, it is particularly beneficial, for all the social, competitive and health reasons we have discussed many times.

In a future post I will present my thoughts on the courses we played, including a bit of a rant about mandatory carts, but in the meantime I’ll register two bouquets.

Firstly, to Golf Oz, the organisation that facilitated every aspect of our golf, and their Director Emma Beauclerc.

Emma is totally immersed in the Gold Coast golf scene, a keen golfer, thoroughly efficient and knowledgeable, and a pleasure to deal with.

The answer to the question of “Why would someone who is supposed to be a golf travel expert himself, use a golf tour company?” is simple.  For no additional cost above what we could arrange accommodation and green fees for four couples, Golf Oz took care of those aspects, plus airport transfers, transport to and from the courses, arranged NTP and long drives each day, and provided trophies and useful discount and dining vouchers.

Everything on time and without a hitch, despite our best endeavours to complicate things with some last minute airline changes.

Well done to the team at Golf Oz, and a special thank you to our driver Peter.

Wherever you may be travelling from, if you’re considering a golf trip to the Golf Coast, here’s the web address you need www.golfoz.com.au or email Emma at golfOZ.

The second recommendation to come out of this golf trip relates to my recent purchase of two lightweight golf bags.

Having struggled for too many golf trips with the weight of my normal bag, plus travel cover (times two with my wife’s clubs), I decided, and so has every airline in the world, that there must be a better answer.

And the answer I found came from Eagles and Birdies, specifically their 8.5” Express Lite, weighing just 4.5kg, but with more useable features than my more expensive, and much heavier “staff bag”.

Go to www.eaglesandbirdies.com.au to see the full list of what this bag offers.  It weighs light, but it’s no lightweight for features.  The ultimate test of how good this bag is?  Neither my wife nor I has swapped our clubs back to our “normal bags” since we got home.

I’m definitely sticking with the Express Lite for everyday use, but my wife’s not sure – she really loves her normal bag – which also has an Eagles and Birdies brand on it!

Expanding the Senior Golfer Community

A primary objective of this blog is to foster the sense of worldwide community for Senior Golfers everywhere.

With a similar view of their role is the on-line golf magazine found at www.AustralianSeniorGolfer.com.au

Australian Senior Golfer is the first Australian online golf magazine and website catering specifically for older golfers.

The online magazine was launched only recently but is already providing a wealth of news, information, entertainment and resources for golfers aged 45 plus.

As well as general news and information of interest to all golfers, ASG focuses on highlighting events, tournaments and issues relating directly to older golfers.

In addition to the usual equipment, interviews, instructional and industry information, ASG is very interested in golf lifestyle areas such as travel, health, fitness and real estate, and doesn’t mind a bit of golf humour either.

Australian Senior Golfer was launched and is edited by long time Sydney journalist and avid golfer Brian O’Hare.

“As an older golfer myself, I was looking around the golf media and there wasn’t anything specifically covering this area,” Brian says. “I wanted to fill that gap.”

“Sure, as older golfers we are still very interested in what Tiger Woods and the top Australian golfers are up to, but we are also increasingly interested in golf lifestyle issues such as travel, health and fitness and maybe things such as how to keep your swing going as you start losing some flexibility – or at least learning how not to care so much,” he says.

“I also wanted to provide a central point for information and resources for areas such as veteran golf events and organisations and to highlight the senior golf circuit here and overseas.”

Brian says when he came across www.SeniorGolfExchange.com he thought it was a marvellous idea.

“I am hoping that in some small way Australian Senior Golfer can help build the fraternity of older golfers locally, nationally and internationally, and the Senior Golf Exchange is a concept that does that in a very meaningful way,” he says.

“We will certainly be doing our best to help Senior Golf Exchange spread the word on what it has to offer.”

Graeme Smith owns and operates SeniorGolfExchange.com www.SeniorGolfExchange.com

“Despite the high cost of living.........it remains very popular."

This quote is intended to remind us that we should all continue to enjoy our time on “the right side of the grass”.

Equally, despite almost daily increases in the cost of travel necessities such as fuel, or perhaps because of those cost increases, the travel options of home exchange and hospitality exchange remain very popular with Senior Golfers.

Particularly for seniors on fixed incomes, against a background of tough economic conditions and falls in stock market and real estate values, the home exchange and hospitality exchange concept really stretch your travel and entertainment dollar, making it affordable to still enjoy regular golf travel experiences, within a one-tank-of-fuel range, or across the world.

Home exchange and hospitality exchange are far more than just a “Free Accommodation” option, but that’s a great start.  So too is the ability to live like a local – meals at home, or dining, shopping and being entertained while avoiding all the tourist traps.

If the reasons for needing to drive your own vehicle a considerable, and expensive, distance to your next golf vacation include use of the vehicle during your stay and transporting your golf equipment, again the home exchange and hospitality exchange options may provide a more cost effective solution – exchange vehicles and golf equipment as well.

Throw in the savings associated with member introduced green fees, or possibly even exchanging your golf club membership entitlements, and you understand why, despite the high cost of living, home exchange and hospitality exchange remain very popular.

The bottom line:  The cost of living in your home, or in your “exchange” home is just about the same.  All you need to budget for is the cost to get there.

Graeme Smith owns and operates SeniorGolfExchange.com www.SeniorGolfExchange.com

How Important are your Member Listing and Property Listing?

As we assist new Members to settle into SeniorGolfExchange.com, the majority of our early communication revolves around the importance of the Member Listing and Property Listing.

How much, of what type of information, should be included in the two Listings?

We are also often asked why we have the two separate Listings – one about the Members and another about their Property.

One answer, but not the main justification for two Listings, is to accommodate Members who wish to include second or vacation homes as well as their principal residence.

But the more important reason is to place equal importance on details about the personality and interests of the Members, and details about their property or properties.

Unlike generic home exchange sites where all the emphasis is on the location and facilities of the property, Members of Senior Golf Exchange are equally concerned about their compatibility with the people involved.  This is true whether Members are considering Home Exchange or Hospitality Exchange.

The golden rule for deciding how much of what type of information to include in your Listing?  Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.  If you were going to travel from the other side of the world, or the other side of the country, to exchange with you, what would you want to know, firstly about you and then about your home.  What information, and photographs, would give you the comfort of knowing you’re exchanging with people who will respect you and your property?  What will indicate to you that your potential exchange partners are concerned about fully preparing for the exchange, and doing everything possible to introduce you to the local golfing community?

And finally, as more choice of potential exchange partners becomes available, and the competition hots up among Members in your location to attract that dream exchange to a golfing destination you’ve always wanted to visit, what would cause you to select your Listing to send off an introductory email?

Once you answer those questions, that’s what you need to include in your initial Member and Property Listing, and that’s the thinking you need to apply to a regular review of your Listings (at least quarterly) to ensure you are maximising your chances of attracting your dream exchange partners.

The one proviso, as required by our Member Etiquette, is that all communication between members is open, honest and transparent.

Graeme Smith

www.SeniorGolfExchange.com

Please add your thoughts on this all-important topic by adding a Comment below.

For Senior Golfers who love to travel - Exploring the world of Home Exchange and Hospitality Exchange

If you are a Senior Golfer, age 50+, who loves to travel to enjoy new golf experiences, whether on the other side of the world or within comfortable driving distance, this is for you.

If you are not currently enjoying all the benefits available through regular participation in home exchange or hospitality exchange, this is definitely for you.

Here are some definitions to help get us all on the same page.

Home exchange is a reciprocal arrangement between two exchange partners to exchange vacant possession of each other’s home for an agreed period of time and with specific understandings relating to the use of each home’s facilities.

A variation on this traditional arrangement is a non-simultaneous home exchange. In this option, both exchange partners enjoy vacant possession of each other’s home, but not at the same time. This can occur if one exchange partner has a second or holiday home or may be travelling on another arrangement, and would prefer to have their home occupied in their absence, and “bank” an exchange opportunity for later.

Hospitality Exchange, sometimes referred to as “hosted”, is a two-part arrangement. One exchange partner stays with the other for an agreed period of time and at a later agreed date the positions are reversed.

Because Senior Golfers are part of a worldwide community, about half of the exchanges will be Hospitality Exchange, where Members host fellow Members, join them in some of their golfing experiences, and share their other common interests, which are discovered during the time spent getting to know each other before the exchange is locked in.

What are the generally accepted benefits of exchange arrangements – regardless of whether you are Senior Golfers or not?

The main justification for joining a Home and Hospitality Exchange site is the saving of accommodation costs for the space and comfort of private residences versus hotel rooms, possibly savings on vehicle hire, and the ability to live like a local when it comes to meals and entertainment.  These significant financial savings gain extra importance as economic conditions get tougher or for people on fixed incomes.

Through the Home Exchange concept, the return on investment on your home increases substantially when it includes several golf travel experiences, which avoid significant accommodation and other costs.

More so with holiday homes. One major concern when deciding to invest in a holiday home is whether you will be restricted to having most of your future holidays in the same location.  Via Home Exchange, you are able to transform your holiday home investment into accommodation free travel anywhere in the world, and to eliminate those weeks when your holiday home is left empty and unprotected.

What are the advantages of Home and Hospitality exchange, specifically relating to Senior Golfers?Here’s the Top 10.

1.         Senior Golfers are at a similar life stage, share common interests outside of golf, and are more likely to be personally compatible with your prospective exchange partners.  Issues such as age-friendly housing requirements are handled more sensitively.

2.         Senior Golfers appreciate the integrity the game requires of its players and the respect of other people’s property.  Your circle of golfing friends expands via repeat and referred exchanges.

3.         Senior Golfers enjoy additional financial benefits by including golf equipment in the exchange arrangements, including battery buggies and motorised carts, plus savings on member-introduced green fees or temporary memberships.

4.         Perhaps more important than financial savings, home and hospitality exchange provide the opportunity for Senior Golfers to enjoy golf travel experiences that money can’t buy – access to courses and local golfing communities available only to well-connected locals.

5.         Senior Golfers are more flexible with their time commitments which allows longer exchanges internationally, and more frequent shorter exchanges locally.

6.         Home and Hospitality Exchange arrangements can accommodate travel parties of all sizes – a single golfer, a couple who both play or perhaps a regular travel group of 4, 6 or 8.  And non-golfers in your group are entertained by your hosts or their friends while the golfers are on course.

7.         Senior Golfers can time their exchange arrangements to coincide with a PGA Tour event or any other significant professional or amateur event around the world – whether you’re playing or watching.

8.         Senior Golfers can use exchange arrangements to test out a geographic area they may be considering for their retirement, and are not as attracted to trendy tourist hot spots.

9.         Senior Golfers can combine a golfing exchange with other social commitments, for example catching up with children and grandchildren without needing to rely on them for accommodation, or a school or workplace reunion.

10.       Senior Golfers with concern for the environment appreciate the home exchange concept increases the use of existing housing resources versus the need to construct additional hotel facilities, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas which attract golf course development.

How do you select the Home and Hospitality Exchange Club that has the greatest benefits for Senior Golfers?

The first question – free or fee?

Do you choose to join a site whose operators are running it as a side-line or hobby, and don’t have the revenue source to sustain the site?

Or do you join a club which has a properly funded business model and cash flow to ensure they will be able to support you long term?

What does your experience suggest you get for nothing?

The second question – generic or specialist?

From more than 50 years of home exchange and hospitality exchange, the collective wisdom has nominated the three most important considerations in selecting exchange partners are

(1)  Compatibility    (2)  Compatibility    (3)  Compatibility

Do you believe you are more likely to find compatible exchange partners within the world’s population at large, or within the worldwide community of Senior Golfers?

So how do you select the right exchange club for you?

Go online – visit a few – send off a specific golf-related query.  Do you receive a timely response; is it pre-determined by an auto-responder or individually written by someone who understands the two worlds of home exchange and seniors golf?

As your life experience leads you through the selection of any other professional services supplier, you will discover the club that you “feel” the most compatible with.

Graeme Smith owns and operates SeniorGolfExchange.com www.SeniorGolfExchange.com