Hooked On Golf Blog

What could possibly prompt the literary genius “OMG OMG OMG” in the title of this golf blog?  That would be the letter I received in the mail today.  The best piece of mail, ever.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Life, The Masters

Loyal readers of The Golf Space and Hooked On Golf Blog had a long and painful read a few days ago. That piece has been removed. I’m happy to say that all issues between myself and Martini Media Network have been resolved. The wounds are patched and healing, and we’ll all be better off in the end as a result of the experience.

I’m now pals with the CEO of the company Skip Brand. He’ll be taking me to lunch (at the most expensive restaurant in town) in a couple of weeks. I’m a cheap date though so no worries.

Skip and I had a long talk last night and I was able to sense that he is really a good person at heart with good intentions. He may have been a bit insulated to happenings within his company as some execs can be.  I helped expose some of those happenings, bringing Martini the opportunity to address them and improve.

Skip’s company is new and growing fast. This is a good thing, except for the fact that their infrastructure couldn’t keep pace with their growth, causing some problems. The issues I brought up were a surprise to him, and in the end I hope will end up helping his company grow and have better relationships with advertisers and publishers.

A good quote from my new account manager today:

Your reaction is changing the way we do business.

Glad to help.  Perhaps I should go into business consulting…

As a result of this situation, Martini will be implementing monthly meetings with publishers like me to discuss anything and everything.  They also have other policies in place, and have secured the resources necessary to handle their fast growth.  I wonder if I can get a few shares of founder’s stock before they completely blow up.

Maybe I can learn something

At lunch I’ll pick Skip’s brain a bit and get some tips from him on how to make companies grow fast, and he can get some tips from me on putting.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Life, Golf Media, Miscellaneous, Site News Martini Media Network

I haven’t typed anything in about 36 hours now. Why? Because my hands have just thawed. I couldn’t wait to get back home from Orlando to Salt Lake. I couldn’t wait to get back to 4200 feet above sea level, 12 degrees farther north in latitude than Orlando FLORIDA so I could WARM up. The big decompression day after my biggest and most exhausting PGA Show ever turned out to be nearly a complete train wreck, except for the fact that I got to spend it with two great pals.

I should have known when we couldn’t find a Starbucks within a 500 mile radius yesterday morning that it was going to be a rough day.

Orlando Golf Blogger and I had a rematch of the now world famous Guru vs Orlando Golf Blogger v1.0. This time we had a 3rd join us, John Duval from Into The Grain.  John can play.  In fact, I think he’s probably the lowest handicap golf blogger on our planet, and possibly several others.

The setting, Falcon’s Fire GC in Orlando

Thanks to our pals at Falcon’s Fire for playing host to this year’s battle.  Unfortunately for us it was so cold and windy we were battling hypothermia, rather than battling the golf course.  The winds were high and the temps down.  After blading three irons on the range, numbing my hands, then hitting two low worm-burners left with my driver, I was ready for play after a two month golf hybernation…  Right.

Time for some excuses

Until yesterday I hadn’t played golf for almost two months.  That is like John Daly going 6 minutes without cracking a beer, Obama going 34 seconds with saying the word “change” and Tiger going three hours without picking up a busty waitress at Perkins…  Oh, did I just go down that road?  My apologies.

On the first hole I hit the fairway with my driver and I was 100% fairways hit for the decade.  That’s as good as it was ever going to get.   That stat would soon vanish, as would many of my shiny Srixons and Bridgestones in my bag.  My confidence as well as my cash faded away as well, as I flamed out in the frozen wind blown tundra of Orlando.

I didn’t manage even one solid iron shot.  It could be because my hands were frozen, or that I hadn’t played golf in weeks, or that I’d just worked my ass (or lack of one, since someone told me at the show that I didn’t have one) off for days at the PGA Show.  It could just be because I’m a hack.

Whining aside…

OGB and Into The Grain are fun cats and I hope to play many holes of golf with them in the future.  I gladly handed my hard earned cash to Dave (OGB) for his triumphant victory, and like a good sport congratulated him on his victory while watching him celebrate.  The taste of defeat is bitter, but a character builder for sure.

16th hole fireworks

Because we were so cold and our scores were all blowing up, John and Dave decided to have some fun on the 16h.  Could John, a right handed player, beat the left handed Dave with his own clubs on a hole?  The video below contains the answer.  Be sure to watch for the incredible green side bunker shot.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Videos, Hackers, Miscellaneous Golf Blogs

I’m happy to report that the Salt Lake International Airport has free wifi. How cool. It isn’t terribly fast but I’m able to make an update about the next leg of the HOG world tour, which starts now.

Southwest could be the best airline for golfers

I’m currently waiting for my Southwest Airlines flight to Denver. Lunch in Denver airport then flight to Orlando. The reason I mention Southwest, is because I don’t think there is a better airline for golfers. Though Though I have a bunch of Delta frequent flier miles, I prefer SWA because they don’t charge for bags. The same set of bags I’m taking to Orlando, with my Ogio Monster, would cost almost $100 EACH WAY on Delta.

I’m stoked for this show and the new set of experiences I’ll be logging over the next 6 days. Once again, if you want to stop by and say hello I’m in the Sumi-g booth #3629, near the new product center.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Life, Miscellaneous, Site News PGA, PGA Merchandise Show

I’d love to say hello to any of you HOG “patrons” (stole that from Augusta National) who will be at the PGA Show. I know a few pals who will be there and I’m looking forward to seeing you all! I’ll be working the Sumi-G booth all week, #3629. Come by and say hello.

I’ve got a tee time Sunday morning at 8:15. Anyone interested?  The rematch of Mediaguru vs the Orlando Golf Blogger will be taking place.  Will OGB get his $1 back?  I have another $1 that says a resounding NO!

Maybe we can do dinner Friday night?

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Hackers, Miscellaneous, Site News PGA Merchandise Show

One of the biggest golfing greats I never got the chance to meet is Bobby Jones.  But I did get to meet the best golfer ever a few years ago with my son.  We met Jack Nicklaus and got to talk to him for a while.  Jack was nothing but nice.  I was so nervous I could hardly talk.  What a treat that was.

I got Jack to sign a couple of autographs for me.  One was on a Masters flag from the 2005 Masters, Jack’s last Masters and where Tiger Woods won.  The other autograph was on a St. Andrews flag from the 2005 British Open, Jack’s last official tournament.  Coincidentally Tiger won that one too.

I got to see Jack play golf in person three times.  One of those times was in a then Senior Tour event where he was paired up with Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino.  Lee got in most of the talking…

Happy Birthday Jack

Jack, I wish you the best and a very happy birthday.  Thanks for being so nice when my son and I met you.  That means a lot and shows the kind of character which I think is lost in some players these days.  And thanks for all the great moments in golf history you authored.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Champions Tour, Golf, Life, PGA Tour, The Masters Jack Nicklaus

Last year during the PGA Show my last product interview was with Sumi-g, a very hip golf accessory company which had just launched.  As I talked to the president of the company Marius, I’d found out that we had a lot in common.  First, we’re both golf junkies with similar handicap levels.  Second, we lived in the same town.  Third, we’d been playing the same course every Thursday for years, our tee times about 45 minutes apart.

Over the last year I’ve done numerous posts and product reviews about Sumi-g head covers, belts and other accessories.  I’ve played dozens of rounds of golf with Marius, and our friendship developed over the year.

Toward the end of 2009 I’d started looking for a new gig, as my other business world, the media duplication industry, was on life support.  Technological advances (digital downloads etc) and the economy were putting that business model to sleep.  I knew I had to jump ship before the boat sank.  Then one day Marius approached me and asked if I’d join Sumi-g.  I guess he’d gotten to know me well enough and through seeing how excited I was about the product line in person and on my web sites, saw some value in what I could offer.  I decided to take a leap of faith and jump from my sinking ship into a new position as national sales manager for the company.

Not To Worry

My web ventures like Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space are happy and healthy and it aren’t going anywhere.

As far as a conflict of interest goes that is an interesting thing to ponder.  If some company who competes with Sumi-g sends me a head cover or a belt or accessory to review, what will I say?  I’ve gone over that in my head for a while.  It really comes down to what I’ve always done, which is call ‘em like I see ‘em.  If the thing is awesome, I’ll write about it.  If it sucks, then I’ll write that too.

2010 PGA Show

Yes I’ll be at this year’s PGA Show.  But most of that time will be spent working the booth.  I’ll throw my press credential on a run a round a bit, but this year I won’t be able to do the massive coverage I’ve done in previous years.  I will be blogging about the show regardless so there will be plenty of info to chomp on.  I’ll also have other insights on what it is like behind the scenes and what is up at the Wednesday demo day.  I’ll be attending that for the first time.

So if you want to come by and say hello, ask for me me in booth #3629.  That’s where I’ll be most of the show.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Accessories, Golf Apparel, Golf Equipment, Life

Wrong… You figured I’d be golfing tomorrow.

I’M GOING SKIING!  No hope of golf so for the first time in about five years, I’m strapping flat sticks on my feet and sliding down a hill, trying not to impale myself on a pine tree.

A report will follow.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Life

I’m returning from my golf blogging break.  I haven’t posted anything since last year.  Back to blogging and this infuriatingly wonderful game called golf.

Happy New Year.  I look forward to 2010.  There is a LOT of stuff coming for this year so stay tuned!

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Life, Site News

Well it has been an interesting year for me in the world of golf and in my personal life.

My golf game got worse technically, from a 1 to a 3.8, probably due to lack of concentration on my part. That’s because of non golf related issues getting in the way. I hope to bring that handi back down in ‘10 and have a better year on and off the course.

Anna Rawson never returned my phone calls…

Tiger didn’t win a major, but won 6 times.

Tiger’s mistresses surface and a media frenzy happens.

TGS’s new dedicated server worked great. I went through a couple of format/template changes (hopefully improving the site).

The TGS Shop got up and running and made a few sales over the year.

My University of Utah Utes football team won the Sugar Bowl and ended up #2 in the country.

My best friend Alan played golf at St. Andrews with Boynie as his caddie. They called me from a pub! Alan called me from the 1st tee and told me “I’m touching the 1st tee with my hand.” I said “Take a picture.” He said, ” Every great the game has seen in its history has stood at this spot.”

I played the TPC Sawgrass Stadium course.

This year I met Anna Rawson, Rocco Mediate, Fuzzy Zoeller, Hale Irwin, David Leadbetter, Duffy Waldorf, Smokey Robinson.

TGS membership grew from 3800 to 4900 over the year (no advertising).

TGS visitors went from 4.3 million to over 7 million.

I had a bout of the shanks, changed irons 3 times.

I shot a 65 in my men’s league on “ladies’ day” where we played from the ladies’ tees.

Withdrew from the city amateur on my home course because of back problems.

A guy hit me in the ass from 3 feet with his driver on the driving range.

My youtube video views topped 1 million, then 2 million.

I vowed to play a golf hole naked if Sergio Garcia won the Masters. Pretty safe bet.

I won the money title in my men’s club.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Boneheads, Golf, Golf Life, Hackers, Life, Miscellaneous