1978 GGO Champion Seve Ballesteros Released from Hospital

Seve Ballesteros continues recovery
Seve Ballesteros has begun chemotherapy as he continues his recovery from a brain tumour.


"Ballesteros, 51, returned to his home in northern Spain from Madrid, where he was released from hospital on Dec 9. The winner of five majors went into hospital after collapsing in October.

"Today is Friday, and I have started me first chemotherapy session," Ballesteros said in a statement on his website.
"At this point, my thought is to rest and follow the neurosurgeon doctors Heredero, Isla and Perez Alvarez's indications - as well as the oncologist doctor Cristobel Belda's advice."

The 51-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent a lengthy operation on October 24 to reduce pressure on his brain and remove remaining tumour tissues following two previous operations.

On November 18 he had recovered sufficiently to leave intensive care but was readmitted a fortnight later for further surgery."

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read the entire article go to:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/3852925/Seve-Ballesteros-continues-recovery.html

What's on eBay? 1976 GGO Leader Board Photo

1976 Greater Greensboro Open Leader Board Wire Photo
Item number: 120351411912


Description: You are bidding on an original black & white photo of the leader scoreboard from the 1976 Greater Greensboro Open (GGO). Photo is stamped on back with the date (Apr 4, 1976) and credits (Jim Stratford).
Year: 1976
Size: Approximately 7 x 9 inches
Condition: Good condition with markings from the newsroom

Devil Ball Golf Blog Insults Greater Greensboro Open

In an article entitled "Tiger's caddy is pretty mouthy for a guy who carries a bag"
Jay Busbee, of the Yahoo blog Devil Ball Golf, insults the Greater Greensboro Open with the following:

"I can think of only one way to settle this: Caddy Cage Match. Lock Williams and Bones in a steel cage on the 17th at Sawgrass and let 'em go at it. Come on, tell me you wouldn't rather watch that than yet another installment of the Greater Greensboro Open."

To read the entire post go to:

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Tiger-s-caddy-is-pretty-mouthy-for-a-guy-who-car?urn=golf,129119

What's on ebay?-1972 GGO Decanter

Vintage Greater Greensboro Open GGO Golf Decanter 1972 by Ezra Brooks
Item number: 350138271699

"This auction is for a vintage 1972 GGO Greater Greensboro Open In The Spring It's The GGO Thing decanter. These were given away at the 1972 GGO. They are very rare & hard to find. The decanter is porcelain and made by Ezra Brooks. This was the 35th GGO and it was held on March 27- April 2, 1972. The decanter is in excellent shape. It does not have any nicks or cracks. I do believe the gold trim is gold plated as well. It measures 8 inches wide & 11.5 inches tall."

Anonymous Comment/Question of the Week

"Wyndham Worldwide to cut 4,000 jobs
December 8, 2008

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide Corp., a major hospitality company which franchises Ramada, Days Inn and other hotels, said Monday it would restructure its time-share business and eliminate 4,000 jobs.

Wyndham said in a statement that it is scaling back the scope of its timeshare business as a way to cut its reliance on asset-backed securities. The company did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The job cuts represent about 12 percent of the company's overall work force. The pullback will result in charges of up to $75 million to be taken mainly in the fourth quarter.

Wyndham now expects sales in the timeshare business will be $1.2 billion in 2009, down from $2.0 billion in 2008, as it eliminates sales offices and marketing programs.

Wyndham also reiterated its fourth quarter and 2008 guidance. But based on the changes to its timeshare business and current economic conditions, the company says it now expects to earn revenue of $3.7 to $4.1 billion for 2009, down from previously announced expectations of $4.1 to $4.5 million for the year.

What does this mean for the tournament?"

The ggoblogger is not one to start trouble. First of all I do not speak for the Wyndham Championship. Mark Brazil, Tournament Director of the Wyndham Championship, would be the one to answer this question. He can be reached at (336)379-1570.

My reader(s) have made it clear over the years that they like my photos and my history lessons, but not my editorials so as always thanks for reading the Greater Greensboro Open Blog.

What's on eBay?-1976 GGO Decanter

Vintage GGO (Greater Greensboro Open) Decanter Liquor Bottle 1976
By Royal Halburton
Vintage Greater Greensboro Open GGO Golf Decanter 1976
Item number: 350137928410

"This auction is for a vintage 1976 GGO Greater Greensboro Open Declaration of Springtime decanter. These were given away at the 1976 GGO. They are very rare & hard to find. The decanter is No. 50 and made by Royal Halburton. This was the 39th GGO and it was held at Sedgefield County Club on March 29- April 4, 1976. The decanter is in excellent shape. It does not have any nicks or cracks. It measures 4.25 inches wide at the base & 9.5 inches tall. The irons on the top are made of real metal. The rest of the decanter is porcelain."

(The ggoblogger likes to post these items as a sevice to those readers that have an interest in collecting GGO items. These descriptions come directly from the sellers on eBay. I just wanted to point out that this one is flat out wrong about the irons in this golf bag being metal. They are just painted silver and are porcelain just like the rest of the decanter. This is covered on page 26 of A GGO Thing.)

What's on eBay?-1973 GGO Decanter

Ezra Brooks GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN 1973 Golf Decanter
Item number: 170285298297

"This is an Ezra Brooks Greater Greensboro Open Decanter. It reads Springtime is G G Time 1938 - 1973.It is in good shape with the only problem being part of the cork is broken off. It is made by Heritage China 1973."

2008 Greensboro Jaycee Holiday Parade

2008 Greensboro Jaycee Holiday Parade

Cass Jewelers Christmas Open House

2006 Wyndham Championship General Chairman Geoff Cass invites you to the Cass Jewelers Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 7th from 1pm until 5pm.

What's on Craigslist?-1974 GGO Champions Banquet Glasses

To find out more about these glasses go to the following link:
http://greensboro.craigslist.org/for/929406125.html

"1974 Greater Greensboro Open Celebrity Champions Banquet Glasses (2) - $4
Great Estate Find here in Charlotte, would like to get these to a collector back where they belong. Shipping from Charlotte to Greensboro should be about $6"

Finchem Congratulates Wyndham Championship

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the outstanding job and special recognition the Wyndham Championship has received for its efforts,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.

“The Wyndham Championship is a great asset for the entire Piedmont Triad community and is a testament to the region being a great place to live and work. With the move to Sedgefield Country Club, sponsors and fans throughout the region showed great support for the tournament as both the third and final rounds of the tournament enjoyed sellout crowds.

It is clear that the region has rallied around the Wyndham Championship, and that overwhelming support is part of the reason the Wyndham Championship is our Most Improved Event this year.”

What's on eBay?-GGO 50th Anniversary Book

"GGO pictorial history 1938-1988 Greater Greensboro Open
Item number: 140279093194

Greater Greensboro Open 1938 - 1988
50th anniversary book
1988; hardcover; 144 pages; hard to find copy ; pictorial Golf history of GGO
hardcover , no jacket , vg/exc condition , clean pages , no marks.
not an ex-library copy.
Many older historical photos thru-out. Most photos b/w , some are color."

2009 Kodak Challenge

The Wyndham Championship will be part of the inaugural Kodak Challenge that tees off on the PGA TOUR in January 2009. Hole No. 15 at Sedgefield Country Club has been selected as a Kodak Challenge hole.

The Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players and celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR. Players must play at least 18 of the 24 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to compete for the Kodak Challenge title and $1 million.

A player’s lowest score relative to par on 18 of the Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. In the case of a tie, a sudden death playoff on the final hole will take place immediately after conclusion of the last tournament of the Kodak Challenge, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart.

“Being a part of the inaugural Kodak Challenge is a nice honor for the Wyndham Championship,” tournament director Mark Brazil said. “The 15th hole at Sedgefield was selected as among the most beautiful and memorable on the PGA TOUR, and that’s a credit to Kris Spence who led the course restoration as well as Sedgefield superintendent Keith Wood. Piedmont Triad golf fans will be intrigued by this new game within the PGA TOUR.”

“The Kodak Challenge holes are among the most beautiful and memorable in all of golf, and we look forward to the many Kodak Moments to come when the Kodak Challenge tees off in January,” said Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “The excitement and anticipation will build throughout the season as players step up to each Kodak Challenge hole and compete for the $1 million. All they have to do is play – it’s that simple.”

“Kodak and the PGA TOUR have worked closely together to develop this exciting new competition that will generate a lot of interest, particularly as it culminates during the Fall Series,” said Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer, PGA TOUR. “The Kodak Challenge effectively combines the beauty and the memorable moments found regularly on the PGA TOUR with Kodak’s famous brand and image.”

The Kodak Challenge holes were selected by the Kodak Challenge Advisory Board in collaboration with Kodak and the PGA TOUR. Advisory Board members are David Feherty, CBS Sports golf analyst; Rees Jones, golf course architect; Jules Alexander, golf photographer; Andy Pazder, PGA TOUR Senior VP, Tournament Administration; and Lance Barrow, CBS Sports golf, Coordinating Producer. Holes were selected based on their beauty and their connection to memorable moments in golf. Fans can see all 24 Kodak Challenge holes at kodakchallenge.com.

Greater Greensboro Open Blog Gets 30,000th Hit

Thank you to all the reader(s) of the Greater Greensboro Open Blog for your continued interest and support of this blog. I know that 30,000 hits is not a lot on the information super highway, but the ggoblogger thinks it's pretty cool.

1996 KGGO Honorary General Chairman George Allen Mebane IV

MOCKSVILLE — George Allen Mebane IV, of Mocksville, North Carolina, died Friday, November 14, 2008, after an extended illness.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, at his home.

Allen was born September 28, 1929, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He excelled in leadership and sports at Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, where he graduated in 1948. After attending Davidson College and Philadelphia University, he served in the United States Army for two years.

Early in his career he worked in sales in the textile industry and became familiar with all aspects of the business. At the age of 35, he assumed his first executive position as President and CEO of Throwing Corporation of America. In l967 he founded, with two others, Universal Textured Yarns where he was President and CEO. Four years later, the company was sold and he and others started Unifi, Inc. Over the next 30 years, the company grew to sales in excess of $1.5 billion, becoming the largest producer and processor of textured yarns in the world, with plants in the United States, England, Brazil, and Ireland.

In 2000, Allen retired from Unifi, Inc. and directed his efforts toward the Mebane Charitable Foundation, Inc., with a significant focus on education in public schools. The Foundation has been responsible for providing technology and educational programs to thousands of children in Davie County.

Allen was a member of the Board of Visitors of Columbia University Medical Center of New York, a former member of the Advisory Board of Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina, and Trustee Emeritus of Christ School in Arden, North Carolina.

In addition, he was a founding member of the Country Club of North Carolina, Pinehurst, North Carolina, and a member of Old Town Club, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Wade Hampton Club, Cashiers, North Carolina.

Allen possessed an ever-curious and forward-thinking mind; he was a relentless seeker of information. He pursued his passions for golf, art, hunting, and friends with a great deal of enthusiasm and enjoyed life to its fullest measure.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Pat Pannill Mebane.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Marianne Cheek Mebane; his sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Allen Mebane V of Shelby, North Carolina, and Mr. and Mrs. William Michael Mebane of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; his daughter, Lucy Mebane Webster of Fletcher, North Carolina; his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Mebane of Greensboro, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a host of valued relatives, faithful friends and business associates.

In lieu of flowers, Allen's family asks that those wishing to honor him consider making contributions to A Storehouse for Jesus, Post Office Box 216, Mocksville, NC 27028; Christ School, 500 Christ School Road, Arden, NC 28704; Columbia University, C/O Brian David, PH 8E Room 105, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032; or Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Office of Development, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.

Salem Funeral Home in Winston-Salem is assisting the Mebane family with arrangements.

Robert Bell Reports "Wyndham Wins Most Improved"

"Talk about a comeback: Two years after Greensboro almost lost its professional golf tournament, the PGA Tour named the Wyndham Championship its most improved event in 2008.

Tournament director Mark Brazil said the award shows just how far the Wyndham has come in the past two years.
"It's nice to know that the tour agrees with us," he said. "And that's that we believe we have one of the better tournaments on tour.""

This excerpt came from the following link. To read the entire story go to:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/11/18/article/wyndham_wins_most_improved

What's on eBay?-1983 GGO ESPN Media Badge

"1983 PGA Golf Greater Greensboro ESPN TV Media Badge
Item number: 250327581439


1983 ESPN Greater Greensboro Open TV Media Badge in Excellent condition. With pin on reverse. Measures approximately 2 7/8" x 1 3/4" each."

Check Out ggoblogger on Fox 8 Website

In case youe missed the ggoblogger on Fox 8, you can go to http://community.myfoxwghp.com/blogs/FOX8_Solutions/2008/11/19/CreateSpacecom#comments and see Melissa Painter's report on Createspace and A GGO Thing.

ggoblogger on Fox 8 News

The ggoblogger got an email from Fox 8 News Reporter Melissa Painter saying the interview she conducted with me will air on Wednesday, at 5:00 pm. Melissa wanted to do a story about Createspace and the new book A GGO Thing.

What's on eBay?-1975 GGO Decanter

"EZRA BROOKS GOLF DECANTER- 1975 GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN
24 KARAT DECORATED Item number: 110312197546

THIS UNIQUE DECANTER IS FROM THE 1975 GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN. IT IS EZRA BROOKS AND HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL LABELS. IT DECORATED IN 24 KARAT GOLD AND HAS NO DAMAGE, JUST ABOUT PERFECT. (I NEVER CLAIM ANYTHING IS "PERFECT") THE STOPPER IS CORK. IT CONTAINED 90 PROOF BOURBON WHISKEY."

The Prefect Holiday Gift for That Green Coat on Your List

With the Wyndham Championship's return to Sedgefield many golf fans have pulled their old Sedgefield memorabilia out of storage and dusted it off. These cherished collectibles undoubtedly include a GGO decanter or two.

A GGO Thing:A Brief History of the Greater Greensboro Open Commemorative Decanters is a book written to answer some of the questions that may be asked by those that do not remember a time when the tournament was held at Sedgefield. This volume begins with a brief history of how the Greater Greensboro Open began and then moves to a discussion of each of the eleven bottles produced to market the GGO.

Randy Harris,the ggoblogger, presents a brief history of the commemorative decanters produced to promote the Greater Greensboro Open from 1972 until 1982. This account details the way in which the bottles were used to market the golf tournament during the 1970's and beyond. It includes dozens of photos and interviews that bring these collectible decanters to life. A GGO Thing also details the move from Sedgefield to Forest Oaks and back again as seen through the stories told by each decanter.

A GGO Thing takes its name from the back of the very first decanter produced in 1972 that reads "In the Spring, It's the GGO Thing".

When asked why the GGO decanters remain so popular, the book's author Randy Harris had this to say. "The decanters have become a part of our shared past. They are more than souvenirs, they are a limited edition piece of our community's history."

A GGO Thing is currently available on Amazon.com.

For more information about A GGO Thing, please visit Amazon.com or contact Randy Harris at (336) 545-8825. randyharris@triad.rr.com

1978 GGO Champion Seve Ballesteros Update

MADRID, Spain -- (1978 GGO Champion) "Seve Ballestero has spoken to his family as he makes progress in his recovery from a third operation on a brain tumor.

"Seve Ballesteros continues to evolve favorably. He is conscious, is breathing spontaneously and can talk with his family," said a statement from Madrid's La Paz hospital on Monday. "He has begun to receive rehabilitation treatment in the intensive care unit."

The 51-year-old Spaniard underwent his third operation on a brain tumor just over a week ago.

His family also posted a statement on the golfer's official Web site www.seveballesteros.com on Monday, thanking everyone for their messages of support.
"Seve is putting as much positive strength in this battle as he is capable of," said the family. "With the help of God, the neurosurgeons and their teams and those who are keeping watch over his state of health at the intensive care unit, we trust with unquestioning faith Seve will come out successfully from this hardship.

"We would very much like Seve himself to produce the next press release when his health allows it. Meanwhile, and just as has been happening lately, it will be the hospital who will keep you updated regularly on his progress," the family said.
Ballesteros was taken to hospital at the beginning of October after suffering from dizziness and briefly losing consciousness."

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read the entire story go to:
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3680256

What's on eBay?-1995 KGGO Money Clip

NEW 1995 K-MART Greater Greensboro Open MONEY CLIP
Item number: 300271565019

"GREAT GOLFER's GIFT !...THIS ITEM is a new-in-a-plastic-case 1995 K-MART GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN 57th CHAMPIONSHIP Gold-colored MONEY CLIP. K-Mart no longer is a sponsor of these events. GOOD LUCK and LOOK FOR another similar MONEY CLIP I HAVE FOR AUCTION as WELL AS MORE ODD...INTERESTING and UNIQUES ITEMS !"

What's on eBay? 1980 GGO Glasses

"1980 Greater Greensboro Open golf Champions glass
Item number: 250318558545

Nice old glass from the 1980 Greater Greensboro Open golf chamiponship. This is from the Champions Banquet and is 6 inches tall. It is in very nice condition. A great item to add to any PGA or golf collection."

Congratulations Kumar Lakhavani

The ggoblogger would like to congratulate Kumar Lakhavani on the new addition to his family VITORIA ZARINA ROCHA LAKHAVANI.(This child will never find her name on one of those little license plates they sell at Six Flags.)

John Daly Passes Out at Winton-Salem's Hooters on the Hill

"Golfer John Daly's battle with alcohol abuse continued Sunday morning at a Hooters Restaurant on Hanes Square Circle in Winston-Salem.

Someone at the restaurant called EMS after he lost consciousness. Paramedics say Daly refused to go to the hospital so they called for help from police.
Officers described Daly as extremely intoxicated and uncooperative. He repeated he didn't want to go to the hospital.

Hooters employees asked Daly to leave. But Daly did not have transportation. Officers say he was part of a group traveling on a tour bus. The group left Daly behind at the Hooters because they didn't want him to continue traveling with them.
They escorted him to the Forsyth County Jail where he spent 24 hours in a "sober up" area."

This excerpt came from the following link. To read the entire post go to:
http://www.digtriad.com/news/top/article.aspx?storyid=113239&catid=14

What's on eBay? 1972 GGO Decanter

"This is the first Ezra Brooks Decanter commorating the Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament in 1972. It is used but in wonderful condition.
Ezra Brooks "Greater Greensboro Open"Golf Decanter 1972
Item number: 350116930668"

1978 GGO Champion Seve Ballesteros in Stable Condition after Brain Surgery

"MADRID, Spain — Golf great Seve Ballesteros underwent a 6 1/2-hour operation Friday on a cancerous brain tumour, and the La Paz hospital said the procedure went "better than expected."

The operation removed the rest of the 51-year-old Spaniard's tumour and reduced the swelling on his brain. The hospital said he is in stable condition and in intensive care.

"The operation went better than expected and Seve will now be under close observation for 48 hours in the intensive care unit," the hospital said.
Ballesteros, who won three British Opens and two Masters, was admitted to the hospital on Oct. 6 after briefly losing consciousness at Madrid's international airport. On Oct. 14, a sizable part of the tumour was taken out.

Ballesteros was taken to the operating theatre at 8:30 a.m. local time Friday and surgery began two hours later. The operation - described as one "of great complexity" - finished at 5 p.m. local time.

"Today we remember Seve Ballesteros with special affection and concern," Crown Prince Felipe said Friday at an award ceremony in Asturias. "As he himself said, he is playing the game of his life at the moment."

The surgery was aimed at relieving pressure on the brain caused by swelling and bleeding. It also aimed to remove remaining parts of the malignant tumour located in a very deep part of the brain.

Ballesteros' tumour is an oligoastrocytoma, which affects cells that cover and protect the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read more go to:
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j22sQRezvXMViS7UWMxMa4SRpLXg

Where Are They Now?-Barbara J. Esquibel

Friends of the Greater Greensboro Open Blog know Barabara Esquibel as the 2001 President of the Greensboro Jaycees-but you may be asking yourself "Where is she now?" Barbara is seen here with the ggoblogger at a recent wedding the two attended in Washington,D.C. Barabara works as a Litigation Paralegal with the Office of Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. (And she's a great dancer.)

Lakhavani Meets Huckabee

The ggoblogger has not posted anything on the Greater Greensboro Open Blog for the last couple of days because he's been catching up with some old friends over at Facebook. While adding friends to my list I ran across 1998 Greensboro Jaycee President Kumar Lakhavani's profile and decided to take a look. I wanted to share to photo of Kumar with former Governor Mike Huckabee.

What's on eBay? 1971 GGO Tickets

Vintage Original Greater Greensboro Open Passes Lot '71

"Here we have a vintage original from 1971 lot of Greater Greensboro Open Passes for 4 different days. These are all still in pretty nice shape. These came from an estate where the person was a promoter and did all sorts of big venues, shows and concerts in the 1970s and 1980s."

Item number: 270283813206

Where Are They Now? Mike Woodard

The Boss Lady and the ggoblogger were in Durham on Saturday night celebrating the World of Beer Culture at the 13th Annual World Beer Festival when we ran into some old friends of the Greensboro Jaycees. Mike Woodard and his wife were also at the event. Mike, you will remember was the 1999 President of the North Carolina Jaycees, is still living in Durham were he serves as a member of the Durham City Council.

Wachovia Championship News

"When it was announced Monday that Citigroup was taking over banking giant Wachovia, it set off alarm bells in Charlotte, N.C., where the highly popular and successful Wachovia Championship is held at Quail Hollow Club. (A subsequent bid for Wachovia came in from Wells Fargo.)

But this spring, the company signed a six-year extension with the PGA Tour to sponsor the tournament through 2014, and Wade expects that any new owner would honor the contract, although it remains uncertain whether the name of the tournament would change.

"With rare exceptions, we've not had anyone asking to get out," Wade said. "Or even asking for relief. We haven't had those requests, other than one or two minor ones. Not any more than we would have had in a good year."

There have been recent examples of companies getting out of contracts, such as 84 Lumber, which abruptly canceled its sponsorship of a tournament in Pennsylvania following the 2006 event; the tour quickly stepped in and replaced it with the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Conn. PODS opted out of its deal in Tampa after only two years, but tour officials were able to secure Transitions Inc., a lens company, to begin a four-year deal in 2009."

This excerpt was taken from the following link. To read the entire story go to:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3619836

Melissa Painter Reports on Createspace and "A GGO Thing"

The ggoblogger was paid a visit by Fox 8 consumer reporter and weekend anchor Melissa Painter today. She is working on a story about Createspace that will air in November. She wanted to know how the ggoblogger got his book "A GGO Thing" printed and put on Amazon.com. She and cameraman Chris were delightful and I look forward to seeing her report in November on Fox 8.

What's on eBay? 50th Anniversary Program

"1988 GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM. FROM FOREST OAKS C.C. GREENSBORO NORTH CAROLINA. "SAM SNEED EIGHT TIME CHAMPION". THANKS."
Item number: 170267107503

Wednesday Pro-Am Wyndham Championship

Comment of the Week

"I have a 1979 GGO Decanter, in very good condition, I may want to sell if anyone is interested. It is the one waiting for rain, says on back 1938-1979 The Greater Greensboro Open, empty decanter, with tape strip still on cap. I can be emailed at piedmontfriends@hotmail.com

Thank you,
Kimberly

What's on eBay? CCG Shirt (This is the Greater Greensboro Open Blog's 1,500th Post)

"PGA (TOUR) CHRYSLER CLASSIC GREENSBORO GOLF SHIRT MEDIUM 100%
Item number: 320299704812

PGA CHRYSLER CLASSIC OF GREENSBOROPOLO GOLFSHIRTGRAPHIC IS EMBROIDERED"

Stephen P. Holmes Interview on Youtube

Check out this interview with Stephen P. Holmes on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4x2A_vXh8I

Meet Franz Hanning

Franz Hanning at the Feb. 20, 2007 Press conference announcing the tournament's move to Sedgefield.

(Franz Hanning is seen here, far left, at the Sam Snead Cup Presentation at this year's Wyndham Championship.)

Franz Hanning is president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Inc., and is responsible for the world’s largest developer and marketer of flexible, points-based vacation ownership products. The company’s three primary consumer brands - Wyndham Vacations Resorts, WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific - together comprise more than 145 resort properties throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific representing more than 17,500 vacation ownership units, and serve more than 800,000 owner families worldwide.

Hanning is responsible for all management, operations, strategic plans and growth initiatives for Wyndham Vacation Ownership. Under his direction, the company has posted the strongest gains among the Wyndham Worldwide business units, representing the largest contribution to its EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).

Hanning joined one of the country’s largest land development entities, Fairfield Communities, Inc., in 1982 as a sales professional. He was later selected to join the company’s first exclusive timeshare resort, Fairfield Williamsburg, and based on his outstanding sales results, was appointed sales manager for Fairfield Resorts in 1987.

In 1992, after just 10 years with the company and having successfully served as sales manager, Hanning was appointed as sales vice president for Williamsburg and Myrtle Beach, Fairfield’s first destination resort. In 1996, his next promotion took him to Orlando where he served as regional vice president of sales for that market. One year later, he assumed responsibility as vice president of sales for all of Fairfield’s 20 sales locations.

Hanning continued to demonstrate effective leadership and from 1998 to 2001 served as chief operating officer for Fairfield Resorts. In 2001, culminating his nearly 20-year career with Fairfield, Hanning was named president and CEO of Fairfield Resorts upon its acquisition by Cendant Corporation.

In 2004, Hanning was named president & CEO of Wyndham Vacation Ownership (previously Cendant Timeshare Resort Group) and his role was extended to oversee the operations of Wyndham Vacation Resorts, WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.

In 2007, Hanning marked his 25th anniversary with the company he originally joined as a sales professional. Today, he leads a worldwide staff of more than 17,700 employees. He is based at the company’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

Meet Stephen P. Holmes

Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman, President and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide with Arnold Palmer and Richard Petty.

Brandt Snedeker with Stephen P. Holmes

Holmes at the 2008 Wyndham Championship Wednesday Pro-Am

Stephen P. Holmes is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Worldwide. With more than 30 brands and revenues of close to $4.4 billion, Wyndham Worldwide is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. It employs more than 33,000 people and operates in 100 countries.

Prior to the formation of Wyndham Worldwide in 2006, Mr. Holmes was vice chairman and a
member of the board of directors of Cendant Corporation, which ranked 114 on Fortune’s 2006 "500 List", and chairman and chief executive officer of Cendant’s Travel Content Division, where he oversaw Cendant’s hotel franchise, vehicle rental, timeshare development, timeshare exchange and vacation rental businesses. Significant innovations under his leadership included the creation of the TripRewards® loyalty program; the launch of the successful RCI Points Program for the timeshare industry; and the growth of the timeshare development business to become the largest seller of vacation ownership interests.

From 1990 to 1996, Holmes was executive vice president and chief financial officer of HFS
Incorporated, responsible for the company’s successful public offering and for setting and
implementing financial policy and controls as well as overseeing the administrative functions of the organization. During his tenure as CEO at HFS, the company acquired more than 20 businesses, grew to a market capitalization in excess of $20 billion and was one of the fastest-growing stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. He joined HFS at the company’s founding in 1990. Previously, he was a managing director of The Blackstone Group, where he was involved with the strategy, negotiation and integration of acquisitions for the Blackstone investment partnership.

Mr. Holmes began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP. In addition to his position at Wyndham Worldwide, Mr. Holmes serves as a Vice Chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Travel Business Roundtable. He donates his time to the
Boys and Girls Club of America and is a member of the board of trustees of the Chilton Memorial
Hospital Foundation in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

Mr. Holmes received a BSBA degree in accounting from Bucknell University, Lewisburg,
Pennsylvania, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Davis Love III with Kelly Marks

1993 KGGO General Chairman Kelly Marks stays dry with Davis Love III in the starter's tent on the 10th tee at this year's Wyndham Championship.

Davis Love III at the Wyndham Championship

Davis Love III takes a moment to pose for a photo with the standard bearer and the walking scorer following his group at this year's Wyndham Championship Wednesday Pro-Am.

What's on eBay? 1977 GGO Decanter

Ezra Brooks-Greater Greensboro Open-1977-Forest Oaks
Item number: 150294475483

This is an Ezra Brooks liquor container. It says "A Swing into Spring; Forest Oaks; 40th; 77". At the bottom, it says 1938-1977 Greater Greensboro Open. It is in excellent condition with minor wear on the lid. There are no chips or cracks. It is approximately 8 inches wide and is 9 inches tall.
This would be a very nice addition to add to your collection.

What's on eBay? 1981 GGO Decanter

1981 Medley Distilling Co
Greater Greensboro Open
Forest Oaks Country Club
44th Annual Tournament
Condition: Very Good (no chips or cracks, cork is broken on inside of decanter)
1981 Medley Greater Greensboro Open Golf 44th Decanter
Item number: 350070922932

ggoblogger Prints Entire list of Wyndham Hotel Group "Fun Facts and Figures"

The ggoblogger was cleaning off the Greater Greensboro Open Blog's desk and found this year's Wyndham Championship Press Kit. I started reading the different files and wondered how much of these "fun facts" actually got used in news stories this year. Well, we love our minutia-and we hate to see fun facts so easily cut and pasted into this blog's content go to waste- so here they are in its entirety. Enjoy.

Wyndham Hotel Group Fun Facts and Figures

Wyndham Hotel Group, one of three principal components of Wyndham Worldwide, encompasses more than 6,550 hotels and 551,000 rooms in 59 countries on six continents under the Wyndham®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate® by Wyndham, Baymont Inn®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge®, Knights Inn® and AmeriHost Inn® brands. All hotels are owned individually and operated independently or by Wyndham Hotel Management. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J.

Fun & Interesting Facts

MANZANILLO, MEXICO - Wyndham’s Grand Bay Isla Navidad resort is located on a private 1,200 acre island.

RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO - The Wyndham Rio Mar has the largest ballroom in the Caribbean and was voted one of the Top Ten Best Family Friendly Resorts this year by Parents Magazine in 2008.

GALVESTON, TEXAS - The Spa at the Hotel Galvez has a new $6 million, 10,000 square-foot spa, salon and fitness center.

RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO - The Wyndham Rio Mar is situated on 500-acres between the tropical El Yunque National Rain Forest and a mile-long stretch of Atlantic coastline. The resort features a 7,000-square-foot casino; and two world-class, 18-hole golf courses designed by Tom and George Fazio and Greg Norman.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - According to the Roberts Mayfair Hotel, a Wyndham Historic Hotel in St. Louis, the actor Cary Grant was responsible for starting one of the biggest hospitality trends in the hotel business: chocolate on your pillow, which he started in the 1950s. He reportedly laid a trail of chocolates from his parlor suite, through the bedroom, and finally onto the pillow of his female companion. The Roberts Mayfair continued the tradition and it spread to hotels across the country.

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA - Built in 1924, the George Washington Hotel - A Wyndham Historic Hotel, played host to celebrities including Ed Sullivan and boxer Jack Dempsey.


GALVESTON, TEXAS - Hotel Galvez, the choice for discerning guests for nearly a century, was known as the "Queen of the Gulf" when she opened in 1911. A renowned AAA Four Diamond hotel, a multi-million dollar restoration has returned this hotel to its rightful place as a timeless showplace on the Gulf of Mexico

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISANA - The Whitney - A Wyndham Historic Hotel - Formerly a bank, this nationally-registered hotel offers a unique private dining experience in its famous Bank Vault.

(1972 Greater Greensboro Open General Chairman John Forbis and 1999 Greensboro Jaycee President Kevin von der Lippe will enjoy the following fun fact.)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Union Station - A Wyndham Historic Hotel is a stunningly restored, 100-year-old railway station.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (TOUR STOP FOR THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN, OCTOBER 9 - 12) - Since first opening its doors, the historic St. Anthony has played host to royalty, presidents and celebrities from the worlds of music, theater and film. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Peacock Alley promenade, as did President Eisenhower, and General Douglas McArthur. Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco were honored with a reception in their honor in Peacock Alley during their visit to San Antonio in 1968.

o Many guests from Hollywood's "Golden Era" enjoyed the style and luxury offered at the St. Anthony including: Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire, Betty Hutton and Greer Garson. Lyndon Johnson, John Wayne, Gregory Peck and Rock Hudson dined many an evening in the prestigious St. Anthony Club, which today host weddings for San Antonio brides as the Georgian Room.

o The Peraux Room hosted Hollywood current royalty such as: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Patrick Swayze, George Clooney, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis and Matthew McConaughey during the opening of San Antonio's Planet Hollywood.

GALVESTON, TEXAS - The Tremont House -In the ivoried pages of the century-old register are names now legendary: General Sam Houston, Ulysses S. Grant, Clara Barton, Edwin Booth, Anna Pavlova and Buffalo Bill. From the earliest days of the original Tremont House, built in 1839, the hotel's fortunate Galveston location and its undeniable cachet attracted a fascinating array of visitors from Texas, America and the world. Twice the hotel has been reborn. First, in 1872, following a raging fire that had swept through the Strand district in 1865 and once again, in 1985, forty-five years after the doors of the last Tremont were closed.

What's on eBay? KGGO Buick Official Car Plate

"IT'S A TAG THAT WAS ON A BUICK CAR THAT WAS USED IN THE KMART GREATER GREENSBORO( N.C.) OPEN GOLF TOURNEMENT IN '92 OR '93. "

Item number: 250291752087

Greater Greensboro Open Blog Remembers Larry Heath

September 11th reminds us of New York City, a field in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. That day seven years ago when we can still remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the news. September 11, 2007 is also a date friends of the tournament held in Greensboro will remember as the day we lost 1975 Greater Greensboro Open General Chairman Larry Heath.

I wanted to remember Larry for his many contributions to the golf tournament and to the community, but also for his contribution to A GGO Thing. I was fortunate enough to sit down with Larry a few short months before his passing and we talked about one of his most favorite things-the GGO. The following are excerpts from the book. I wanted to share Larry's words as we remember him and the other events on this day.

Larry Heath on the Crosby Clambake and Looking for Celebrities

During a 2007 interview, Larry Heath, the Greater Greensboro Open’s 1975 General Chairman, talked about his trips to the Clambake. Unlike the events of today, Heath said that members of the GGO Executive Committee attended the Crosby to recruit celebrities for Greensboro’s tournament, not just golfers.

" We went just about every year to the Crosby. There were a lot of celebrities there at the time. There were a lot of celebrities we could talk to. And the people at the Bing Crosby were good friends of ours, so they gave us all the credentials and everything we needed to get to the celebrities."

Among his cherished collection of photos in one of Larry standing beside John Forbis in front of the famous Lone Cypress tree also known as the Pebble Beach trademark. The same tree that is depicted on the 1970 bottle that could very well have been the inspiration for the 1972 GGO commemorative decanter that John Forbis and his committee brought to Greensboro. It was during this trip that 1972 Greater Greensboro Open General Chairman John Forbis first spotted the collectible decanters that had been produced to promote Bing Crosby’s event.

Larry Heath on 1977 Greater Greensboro Open General Chairman Wade Peoples

This portion of the GGO story begins with a 2007 interview conducted with 1975 GGO General Chairman Larry Heath as he detailed the important role 1977 GGO General Chairman Wade Peoples played in the transition from Sedgefield to Forest Oaks Country Club.

Heath said, "The year I was appointed chairman, which was ’75, I kind of thought maybe and a think a lot of other people thought that might be the year that Wade got appointed. But for whatever reason it didn’t happen and I think it turned out to be a blessing."

"Wade was our most experienced leadman that we had working with the Jaycees. He had been a leadman probably six or seven times and had worked on that tournament from every angle. So with the move coming about the way it did we were sitting there with a chairman that probably knew more about the golf tournament than anybody else could have possibly known that would have been considered at that time for it."

"Wade went to Forest Oaks and all of the sudden we had all these new issues about bleachers and roping. It was just damn lucky. Right guy, right time, right place."

These excerpts are from A GGO Thing:A Brief History of the Greater Greensboro Open Commemorative Decanters by Randy Harris

Sam Snead Cup Presentation

Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman, President and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide presents 2008 Wyndhan Championship winner Carl Pettersson with the Sam Snead Cup.

Clicks of "All Access" Chicks

2008 Wyndham Championship Intern Jenna K. Hill with Director of Tournament Operations Bobby Powell.
Jenna is a raising Senior at Elon University were she majors in English and minors in Communications. She was one of several "All Access" interns at this year's Wyndham Championship.