Category Archives: Golf

Teeing Off for Recreation and Wellness

Golf, Youth and Family

Starting Friday afternoon students, faculty, staff and the community tee off for the fourth annual Recreation and Wellness Fall Fundraiser at the Forrest Creason Golf Course.

“We started it as kind of a fun opportunity to get students as well as faculty and staff together to raise a little bit of money for the student employment foundation,” Kurt Thomas, Director of Golf, said.

Linda Hammer, Administrative Assistant of the Department of Recreation and Wellness, was on the winning duo-women’s team last year and had the longest drive.

“I like contributing to the RecWell Foundation and giving back to the department,” Hammer said.

With the same goal in mind of raising funds for departmental student employee recognition and professional development, Thomas said they changed how the teams are formed this year. Last year there were teams of two, but this fall teams of four compete in order to attract more players.

“It makes it a little bit easier for someone that doesn’t play golf,” Thomas said.  “Last year we had about 72 players, so we’re hoping to do more than that,”

Another difference is participants choose their teammates unlike last year; however, the teams still compete for three different categories of men, women or coed. The winners of each category receive trophies and prizes such as gift cards.

Hammer recalls winning a trophy and a few other goodies for her team win.

Thomas said everyone from students to community members can play as long as they pay the participation fee of $40 for public or $30 for students and members.

Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. along with lunch on the porch of the Forrest Creason Golf Course until the shot-gun start at 12:30 p.m.

Thomas plans on attending the event this Friday.

“I like it because it’s a fun activity,” Thomas said. “It’s a good cause for Recreation and Wellness employees in the development aspect.”

Hammer also plans on returning to the golf course this year.

“I’ve actually ‘recruited’ from outside of the department for this year’s outing,” Hammer said. “I’m looking forward to a fun time!”

Golf Class May Be More Beneficial Than You Think

Golf

Do you need an extra credit next semester, and would rather take part in a fun, healthy activity rather than a traditional lecture class? If so, PEG 2460 Beginning Golf with Kurt Thomas might be right for you.

 

If the word “golf” sounds frightening, don’t be alarmed. The one credit hour course is tailored for those who have never picked up a club before, but at the same time it can also be beneficial for those who are experienced golfers. Thomas teaches techniques from how to grip a club to correctly swinging the club. Rules of the game are outlined in the class as well.

Kurt Thomas, has played golf and has been around the sport his entire life, starting at the age of five. Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 and a Masters of Public Administration in 1991 both at BGSU. He is the Director of Golf at the BGSU Forrest Creason Golf Course and has held the position with the Department of Recreation and Wellness since 2006. Before becoming the Director of Golf, Thomas was the Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach and he began his career at BGSU as the Assistant Director of Golf in 1991.

As a player, teacher, and overall fan of the game, Thomas has seen the benefits of playing golf his entire life.

“Golf is a lifetime physical activity,” explained Thomas. “If you learn early, you can play throughout your entire life.”

During the first day of class, Thomas laughingly nailed the point home saying, “you don’t see many 80-year-olds playing basketball, do you?”

The physical benefits from playing golf have been documented. According to a study on the PGA Tour Website, walking a 9-hole course is equal to walking 2.5 miles, on average, in which the golfer burns approximately 721 calories. Swinging a golf club also helps build muscle and aides in flexibility which adds to the physical nature of the sport.

“On top of being a physical activity, golf is also a social activity,” added Thomas.

One of more important aspect of the game is the ability to help you build business relationships. Occasionally, business deals are made during a friendly game of golf. Thomas explains to his students that many individuals learn to play golf because of the networking possibilities having felt disadvantaged when their bosses and colleagues go to play a round of golf and they are left at the office.

If you’re a golf novice and feel anxiety when picking up a golf club, don’t fret. Beginning Golf is the perfect way to learn the game, as well as tweak the aspects of the game you need work on if you’re familiar with the links. So, if one of the many benefits that golf offers sounds interesting, taking Beginning Golf can be a win-win situation.

BGSU Employees Have Opportunity to Compete

Golf, Student Employee Programming

Every hard worker deserves some time for leisure. This spring Recreation and Wellness is offering an opportunity for BGSU faculty and staff to get out of the office and on to the golf course.

The 2010 BGSU Employee Wellness Golf League is a 16-week league that takes place every Thursday at 5:30 PM. The league begins on April 8th and goes through July 22nd at Forrest Creason Golf Course. The cost of the league per player is $13.00/week walking and $19.00/week with a cart. Each team will only play 9 holes per week.

Teams are made up of two people, at least one of them being a BGSU faculty/staff member. Employees can team up with family, friends, or another BGSU employee.  Each team is paired with another team of two every week to create a four-some at tee off.

The first two weeks are played to determine golfer’s averages and handicaps. They are played with the same format and rules as regular league play.  Actual league play will begin on the third week.

Scoring is determined on a point scale. Teams of two compete against other teams in the league and the other team in their foursome. Two points are earned for every team victory and one point is earned for ties. Team scores are recorded by each team on scorecards and must be complete and accurate when turned in.

Coincidently, golf is one of the most utilized social mediums in the corporate world. The sport consists of friendly competition as well as a great deal of communication and socializing. Why discuss business around a boring conference table when you can discuss it on the golf course?

 

Open positions are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis so contact Caitlin Spontelli today and register by phone, 419.372.9309 or email, cspont@bgsu.edu.

Forrest Creason’s Inaugural Turkey Open

Golf

Area golfers have the opportunity to play a unique round of golf and win a turkey just in time for Thanksgiving. Sunday, November 15, Forrest Creason Golf Course hosts the Inaugural Turkey Open. The layout of the course differs for the scramble event compared to the usual format, and the winning team receives a turkey.

The four-person scramble is not a typical round of 18 or 9 holes of golf. Instead, the Inaugural Turkey Open consists of 12-hole, cross country golf.

“We have made up 12 new holes,” said Director of Golf at Forrest Creason Golf Course Kurt Thomas. “For example, we will tee off on top of the hill and go to the 13th green and tee off on the 14th hole and go to the seventh green. We will also have some interesting pin placements to make it more challenging.”

Entry into the Inaugural Turkey Open is limited to 12 teams of four people. According to Thomas, those participating can expect “a new experience on the course with a lot of fun and socializing.”

The cost of the Inaugural Turkey Open is $50 per team and includes golf, a cart, and prizes. The event begins with a shotgun start at noon. Entry is limited, so interested teams should sign up soon. Entry forms are available by the visiting the Forrest Creason Golf Course Web site.