Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Melvin Writes Letter to the Editor

"From tee to green, Wyndham was success

Congratulations and thanks to Mark Brazil and the hundreds of volunteers who worked on the Wyndham Championship at Forest Oaks. By all standards, the tournament was a big success.Congratulations and appreciation are also due Wyndham Worldwide for its marvelous support of the tournament through its corporate sponsorship.

Stephen Holmes, CEO, spent the entire week in Greensboro working and thinking about ways to make the tournament better next year.The Wyndham people are committed to the Triad. This can only be good news for our golf tournament.

A special thanks should be given to Bobby Long, chairman of the Greensboro Jaycees Charitable Foundation, who did a marvelous job of keeping our tournament alive. Under his leadership, the tournament became a regional project, not just a Greensboro project, which is a very positive move.

Jim Melvin"

This post was taken from the following link. To read comments regarding this letter go to:
http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/archives/2007/08/from_tee_to_gre.html

Monday, August 27, 2007

Foster Brooks Joke (Reprise)

I wanted to rerun Britt's favorite Foster Brooks joke with a photo of Brooks:

A woman walks into her house and finds her husband pointing a gun at his head. She starts laughing hysterically. He tells her, "Don't laugh! You're next".

Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Thursday, August 23, 2007

What's on eBay?

Up for auction are THREE Greater Greensboro Open Official Pairing Sheets. The first is from 1989 and features a photo of Sandy Lyle on the front ('88 champion). The second 1990 has picture of trophy and vintage club (also a player but do not recognize him). The third is from 1991 and has beautiful artwork featuring a lone golfer driving down the fairway.

These guides are filed with names such as Couples Watkins, Davis Love lll, O'Meara, Faxon (just to name a few!!). All are in great shape and feature a great course map in each (color). Filled with nice ads too!! They no longer have the Greater Greensboro Open (changed), so this is an affordable chance to own a piece of history!!

Item number: 330158742070

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Kind Words for Robert Swiggett


"Robert is as deserving as any recipient we've had. Please don't forget, as the plaque on the award itself states, it is the "Dan Eldreth Green Coat Club Worker of the Year" award."

Jeff Iddings
2001 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic
General Chairman and Greensboro Jaycee

"Oh my Lord! I didn't know it was Swiggett! It would have been awesome to have been able to honor Swiggett on the 18th green, as a Green Coat group, on Sunday. He has worked tirelessly for so many years with so many of us."

Ann Gainey Pinto
1998 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic
General Chairman and Greensboro Jaycee

"A hearty congratulations to Robert, one of the longest running friends of the Greensboro Jaycees and our golf tournament. Many of us have "Swiggett Stories" and they’re all good."

Frank Harris
1981 Greensboro Jaycee President

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The Dan Eldreth Green Coat Club Worker of the Year Award

Congratulations Robert Swiggett III as he received Dan Eldreth Green Coat Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding work at this year's Wyndham Championship. (Don't tell Wyndham it still says Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament on the award.)

Letter to the Editor of the News & Record

"Paper's negative spin on tourney helps no one

It has been disappointing in recent days to observe how the News & Record has prominently focused on potential negative aspects of this year's golf tournament, to the exclusion of addressing the many positive aspects of this, one of the country's longest-running professional golf events. There are some exciting new faces in the tournament with interesting stories to tell, and the newspaper should be digging these out and presenting them to us.

Instead, the tenor of the coverage has been very disrespectful to the community and tour professionals and is dismissive of the thousands of hours spent by community leaders and volunteers to keep this tournament as a showcase for the Piedmont area of North Carolina.The icing on the cake is that, after all the negative coverage, the editorial page exhorted citizens to come out and support the tournament. Somebody needs to talk to somebody. "

Jon Maxwell
Greensboro

This letter came from the following link. To read the comments about this letter go to:
http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/archives/2007/08/papers_negative.html

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Grey Goose Lounge Girls

The ggoblogger knows that most of you have already seen a photo of the Grey Goose Lounge girls, but there were two taken and this is the only way this blog will ever be able to compete with http://gatecity.blogspot.com/

Comment of the Week (Joke of the Week)

"Thanking (you) for the quick response...although, I believe the Foster Brooks act was just that...an act.

Favorite Foster Brooks joke:A woman walks into her house and finds her husband pointing a gun at his head. She starts laughing hysterically. He tells her, "Don't laugh! You're next".Never gets old. "

(Thanks for the great joke. The ggoblogger is sure the Foster's drinking was an act, but it added to the idea that Greensboro like to "pop a top".)

Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship


Don Gray, Rob Goodman, Bobby Powell, 2007 Windham Championship Champion Brandt Snedeker, Sharon Griscom, Mark Brazil, Steve Jent and Rebecca Neeriemer.

Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship

Reporter Robert Bell gets a few last quotes from Stephen P. Holmes Chairman, President and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide.

Scenes from the 2007 Wyndham Championship

Ralph Brown with the A&T shuttle.

Tim Finchem Spotted at Wyndham Championship

The ggoblogger has only met the guy twice, but he's pretty sure that was Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner, he saw riding around in a golf cart with Mark Brazil outside the media tent about 1:30pm on Sunday.

If Finchem shows up later telling everyone about how excited he is about the FedEx Cup race, then we'll know the ggoblogger was right. If not, the ggoblogger just saw a guy that looked liked Tim Finchem.

Question of the Week

"Randy,
Have you ever heard of the ggo referred to as the "beer can opener" or "beer top open"?
Britt Whitmire"

That's "Pop Top Open" thank you. Yes it's true. During the 1970's and early 1980's players and fans of the PGA TOUR often referred the the tournament in Greensboro as the Pop Top Open. The ggoblogger has even heard stories told by Green Coaters on recruiting trips handing out beers to the golfers as they completed their practice rounds.

The GGO has itself to blame. The 17th green was famous for its beer stands and rowdy crowds in the bleachers. Don't forget the Foster Brooks was a headliner for many of the parties hosted by the Greater Greensboro Open. One of the tournament's most successful promotions involved the commemorative whiskey decanters sold from 1972 until 1981.

The bleachers are back by the way as Mark Brazil and crew want to recapture a little bit of that excitement.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Grey Goose Lounge Maybe the Best Spot on the Course(Reprise)


Grey Goose Lounge is a new hospitality tent at the this year's Wyndham Championship. This lounge is an upscale air-conditioned hospitality area located near the entrance to the Forest Oaks Country Club next to the ninth green.

It offers upscale beverages-available for purchase. Tournament patrons with Clubhouse Plus badges or hospitality tickets can also get into the Grey Goose Lounge. Fans with daily grounds tickets may purchase a Grey Goose Lounge upgrade for $25 per tournament day.The layout reminded the ggoblogger of many of the clubs he saw while on a recent trip to L.A. It has upscale seating to go along with those upscale drinks, its air-conditioned, but that's not what makes this "lounge" cool. The staff is friendly (see photo above) and they kept the party going. This is where the young "Sex in the City" crowd will want to be seen.

As far as being seen, the Grey Goose Lounge also offers a viewing platform that over looks the ninth green where you can switch from people watching to bird watching as the eagles and birdies will fly. The ggoblogger likes this tent.

Grey Goose Lounge


2007 Green Coat Club Group Photo


2007 Green Coat Club Breakfast

At least one of these guys has a media center named after him.

Carson Bain at the 2007 Green Coat Club Breakfast

If the fact that he has three green coats does not impress you, maybe the fact that Sam Snead was one of his best friends should.

Jimmy and Kumar Go to White Castle (I Mean the Green Coat Club Breakfast)


2007 Green Coat Club Breakfast

Greensboro Jaycee Presidents Kevin von der Lippe, Leigh Anne Good and Gene Shanks at this year's Green Coat Club Breakfast.

2007 Green Coat Club Breakfast


2002 Greensboro Jaycee President Randy Harris had the pleasure of meeting Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman, President and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide at this year's Green Coat Club Breakfast.

WFMY's Web World Weekend Calls GGO Blog a Love Letter

http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/gms/article.aspx?storyid=88371

"Makes me wonder how much someone might pay for this ceramic golf cart. Don't worry Rosemary, I'm not going to sell your stuff. Today and if you still haven't had your golfing fix one more online shot. Check out www.ggoblogger.blogspot.com a love letter to golf in Greensboro. Even if you're not a fan, it's still worth a trip to see a picture of "GGO man." Trust me, it's worth a look."

This excerpt was taken from the above link.

Grey Goose Lounge Maybe the Best Spot on the Course

Grey Goose Lounge is a new hospitality tent at the this year's Wyndham Championship. This lounge is an upscale air-conditioned hospitality area located near the entrance to the Forest Oaks Country Club next to the ninth green. It offers upscale beverages-available for purchase. Tournament patrons with Clubhouse Plus badges or hospitality tickets can also get into the Grey Goose Lounge. Fans with daily grounds tickets may purchase a Grey Goose Lounge upgrade for $25 per tournament day.

The layout reminded the ggoblogger of many of the clubs he saw while on a recent trip to L.A. It has upscale seating to go along with those upscale drinks, its air-conditioned, but that's not what makes this "lounge" cool. The staff is friendly and kept the party going. This is where the young "Sex in the City" crowd will want to be seen.

As far as being seen, the Grey Goose Lounge also offers a viewing platform that over looks the ninth green where you can switch from people watching to bird watching as the eagles and birdies will fly. The ggoblogger likes this tent.

Wyndham Championship Reduces Concession Prices

In an effort to increase tournament hospitality for all fans, Wyndham Championship tournament have drastically reduced concessions pricing. With a new title sponsor in hospitality giant Wyndham Worldwide, the tournament is making food and beverage affordable for everybody.

Dasani bottled water and all other Coca-Cola products have been reduced to $1 per bottle for all tournament patrons. In addition, hot dogs have been reduced to $2 while all beer and sandwiches will be $3. “We are taking a page out of Wyndham’s book by making our tournament more hospitable for our fans,” tournament director Mark Brazil said. “We want to be an open and affordable event for everyone. Cutting our concession prices will improve the overall experience for all our fans”

Friday, August 17, 2007

Media Tent Looks Great

The ggoblogger likes to find things to complain about. After a few hours in the Wyndham Championship's media tent on Friday morning it pretty obvious that they've got it all worked out. Rob Goodman, Director of Media Relations, and Elizabeth McKinney, Media Committee Head, are doing an outstanding job this year.

Congressman Howard Coble at the Wyndham

One of the many things the ggoblogger loves about the Wyndham Championship is the fact that it's a homecoming every year. You make new friends, but it's the old ones you see that make you smile.

On the way back to the media tent, the ggoblogger ran into Howard Coble. He was on his way to a radio interview with Dusty Dunn on 1070 AM. He told the ggoblogger to say hello to his boss,Bob Page, at Replacements,LTD. So "Hello Bob. Howard Coble says Hi."

Play Stopped at the Wyndham Championship

The horn sounded at 8:43 am to stop play at the second round of the Wyndham Championship due to a small storm moving through the area.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

What's on eBay?

"Hello, up for auction is a nice 1987 GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN season pass badge/pin. This is a nice piece of history here, since there is NO MORE of these tournaments! It was renamed something else years ago, so that makes these badges/pins even more collectible!! This is in MINT CONDITION!! The badge/pin measures approx. 3 x 3" and has a nice red color with "GGO '87 SEASON PASS NO REFUNDS". Words are written in white. Wonderful piece of golf history!!"

The auction number is as follows:
330156665760

This Looks Like a Job for GGO Man


Sam and Kevin

The Greensboro Jaycees didn't just run the golf tournament-they formed relationships with the greatest players the game has ever known.

2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro Work Day

Before she was hyphenated and before she became the first African-American woman to wear a Green Coat Maria Hicks is seen here putting out biscuits during the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro Work Days.

Buckley Report:Shrinking Jaycees

"The name 'Wyndham Championship PGA Tournament' still takes some getting used to. For years, professional golfers competed in the Greater Greensboro Open or Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Unlike past tournaments, the Jaycees are not running things. But Bob Buckley reports an organizational change is not necessarily a bad thing. "

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read the entire post and view the clip go to:

http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=788B92486D8C653A60A9095473C655AC?contentId=4090549&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

The ggoblogger got a call from the junior historian. He wanted to know if the ggoblogger had any photos of the Greensboro Jaycees from "back in the day". The ggoblogger said "sure" and the junior historian came over to the mancave later that night an tore the place to pieces looking of these photos.

The blogger then asked "why do you need these anyway?" The junior historian replied, "the Buckley report wants to slam the Jaycees and they need the pictures."

The ggoblogger does not have a problem with the report, but Buckley refered to the tournament as a child at least three times. This is a really weird metaphor when you think about the fact that it's a 69 year old child. Also, most of us only get one set of parents so the metaphor really does not work for us. It is more like, "If you love something set it free."

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

One More Photo of the ggoblogger

The ggoblogger does not usually run this many photos of himself on the blog. Kevin von der Lippe complained that he would get into hot water if his bride saw the photo of him and Liz from Friday night. So fair is fair. (I hope I don't get in trouble with The Boss Lady.) Besides photos of Area Ten's leading lady mean more hits for this blog.

2007 Green Coat Club Reception


2007 Greensboro Jaycee President-Elect Maria Hicks-Few with "The Boss Lady" Kelly Eakes Harris at this year's Green Coat Club Reception.

2007 Green Coat Club Reception

Another shot of the ggoblogger with the Mayor of Greensboro Keith A. Holliday at this year's Green Coat Club Reception.

ggoblogger with the Mayor


Hot Golf!



Given the temperature this week at the Wyndham Championship maybe they should bring back this slogan.

Robert Bell Reports on Wyndham Championship

"This is what happens when your top two celebrities for today's Lincoln Financial Pro-Am — that would be NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith — pull out with injuries of their own. Or when the PGA Tour's longest driver, Bubba Watson, drops out, as well.

The casualty list for the inaugural Wyndham this week at Forest Oaks Country Club has been like a roll call of the tournament's top players. On Thursday, Boo Weekley withdrew, citing fatigue. Friday came word that Chris DiMarco had withdrawn for the same reason. On Monday, K.J. Choi, the 2005 Greensboro PGA champion and the world's 12th-ranked golfer, excused himself to rest for the upcoming FedExCup playoffs. That theme continued Tuesday as players checked out seemingly by the hour."

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read Robert Bell's entire article go to:
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/NEWSREC0101/70815001/-1/NEWSREC0201

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Wyndham Championship Schedule


Thursday – August 16th
1st Round Tournament Play – Forest Oaks Country Club
Television Coverage: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on The Golf Channel
The PGA TOUR Network Live Broadcast – XM Channel 146: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Friday – August 17th
2nd Round Tournament Play – Forest Oaks Country Club
Television Coverage: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on The Golf Channel
The PGA TOUR Network Live Broadcast – XM Channel 146: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Saturday – August 18th
3rd Round Tournament Play – Forest Oaks Country Club
Television Coverage: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on CBS
The PGA TOUR Network Live Broadcast – XM Channel 146: 12:00pm-6:00pm


Sunday – August 19th
Championship Round of the Wyndham Championship – Forest Oaks Country Club
Television Coverage: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on CBS
The PGA TOUR Network Live Broadcast – XM Channel 146: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Green Coat Club Members

"Dear Green Coat Members,

Please be advised that the proper credentials will be required for access this year. Your Green Coat Club member and guest badges will provide admittance to the grounds and to the Clubhouse throughout the week.

Your Green Coat alone will not provide you entry to the grounds or access to any area of the course, including the Family Lounge or to any sponsor hospitality area. If you are working the tournament this year, you should have your credentials shortly if you have not already received them.If you did not purchase a ticket package with a parking pass, your badge will also provide free parking at the old Winn Dixie parking lot (aka ForestOaks Shopping Center) for Saturday and Sunday only. This lot is locatedacross the street from the VIP lot.

We expect that with good weather on theweekend, the VIP Sponsor Lot (at Liberty Road and Forest Oaks Drive) willfill up, thus requiring this last minute change in plans. We aplogize forany inconvenience.

If you haven't purchased a ticket package yet, there isstill some time to do so.Once again, the Green Coat Breakfast will be Saturday, August 18 at theForest Oaks Country Club Clubhouse. Shuttles will be available as early as6:50 a.m. running from the Green lot. Breakfast will start promptly at 7:29a.m.

A group photograph will immediately follow breakfast. As always, we invite you to join us on the 18th green at the close of thetournament for a group picture with this year's champion. This year isespecially critical to have a strong showing for the trophy presentation.Please make plans to attend this event. Unlike past years, please gatherfor that photograph in the clubhouse in order to cut down on the congestion around the green.

You will be notified when to start moving toward the 18thgreen.Please refer questions regarding the upcoming events to either of us or toJustin Conrad, this year's Green Coat Coordinator.

Thank you so much foryour involvement, and we look forward to sharing some time with you at thisyear's Wyndham Championship!

Sincerely,
Jim Lanik, 2007 General Chairman
Jim Foglemen, 2007 Green Coat Club President"

Friday, August 10, 2007

2007 Green Coat Club Reception


2007 Green Coat Club Reception


2007 Green Coat Club Reception


2007 Green Coat Club Reception

Liz, Kevin, rum and coke in a tall glass and no comb in sight.

2007 Green Coat Club Reception

2002 Greensboro Jaycee President Randy Harris with Mayor Keith A. Holliday.

2007 Green Coat Club Reception


2007 Green Coat Club Reception

Two of the Green Coat Club's newest members, Mark Brazil and Jim Lanik share a joke at this year's Green Coat Club Reception.

2007 Green Coat Club Reception

1998-99 Greensboro Jaycee President Kevin von der Lippe, 1997-98 Greensboro Jaycee Vice-President Hunt Stanley and 1997-98 Greensboro Jaycee President Kumar Lakhavani enjoy a moment at the 2007 Green Coat Club Reception.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Wyndham Championship Block Party

The Wyndham Championship with present a free block party in downtown Greensboro on Saturday, Aug. 18. The Block Party will begin at 7 p.m. near Natty Greene’s. McGee Street between Elm Street and Davie Street will be closed. The event will take place at Hamburger Square next to Natty Greene’s. Sleeping Booty will play starting at 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Dean Smith Will Play in Wyndham's Wednesday Pro-Am

Legendary former NCAA Men’s basketball coach Dean Smith will play in next week’s Lincoln Financial Pro-Am during the Wyndham Championship. The Piedmont Triad’s PGA TOUR event is set for Aug. 13-19 at Forest Oaks Country Club. Smith will be paired with Wyndham Championship defending champion Davis Love III, an alumnus of the University of North Carolina.

This pairing will tee off on the first tee at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday. NASCAR NEXTEL CUP Series driver Kyle Petty will also play in the pro-am.

Tickets for the Lincoln Financial Wednesday pro-am are $10.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

What's On eBay?


You are bidding on an ORIGINAL Program for the 25th Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament April 12, 13, 14, 15, 1962. It appears to be complete and in very good condition. I do not see any writing, torn or missing pages. The only damage that I see is that it has some paper loss on the cover and a water spot on the word anniversary on the cover. It does not affect the inside pages as they are perfect, and it still displays nicely. Also included is a paper with a map of the Sedgefield Country Club Golf Course and Pairings and Times for GGO. Some of the Players listed are ARNOLD PALMER, BILL CASPER, JR., SAM SNEAD, JACK NICKLAUS, ECT..