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.

Wyndham Championship Wrap Up Meeting Sept 7

"Hey guys,

Just wanted to get an idea of the numbers attending the wrap up meeting at Jim Ahrends on Sunday at 4. Let me know if you intend to make it. We will have a cook out, a few beers and go over the successes and failures of the tournament along with suggestions for next year to make it even better.

I appreciate everyone of you for your help and hard work. From what I hear from several sources, we exceeded expectations on all areas. In part that is because of you and your commitment to the tournament. Thank you very much!!! I hope to see all of you there. As far as time frame, show up and stay as long as you can. I know that it will take you from your family and football (that is a big one for me) but at least stop in and give your input and suggestions. Thanks.

Steve Melton"

Old School Jaycee Cookout Planned

"Hi Everyone,
Carnie and I will be having a cookout for all you old Jaycees, Saturday, October 4th, starting at 6 pm. This invitation is open to all old Jaycees, please feel free to pass this email onto to other old Jaycees. Please RSVP by Monday, September 29th to riddlen@hotmail.com or 336-697-5434, with the number of guests coming.
Looking forward to seeing everyone.
Nanette"

Scenes From the 2008 Wyndham Championship

1986 Greensboro Jaycee President Bill Brady and 1972 Greensboro Jaycee President Hal Greeson standing with 1991 Greensboro Jaycee President Rob Bencini on the 18th green.

What's on eBay?-GGO License Plate

1968 Greensboro North Carolina License Plate GGO Golf
Item number: 180284745312

Up for bid is a 1968 Greensboro, NC.," Home of the G.G.O.", License Plate in used condition with surface rust and minor paint overspray around the outside edge.

1980 GGO Decanter Sells for $87.50 on eBay

The ggoblogger likes to keep his reader(s) up to date on what's for sale on eBay and other online auctions. The other day this 1980 GGO decanter was featured on the "What's on eBay?" post on this blog. The ggoblogger doesn't have anything to do with the sell of these items and offers these post only as a service to those looking to add to their GGO collections.

Rarely do I give these auctions a second thought, but today I noticed that 1980 GGO decanter had 13 bids and sold for $87.50. (That's about $80.00 too much. That buyer should have spent $18.00 on A GGO Thing and I would have told him how to buy an entire set of decanters for what he paid for that one.) The 1980 GGO decanter is one of my favorite ones.