TRANSKRIPT 🔗
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Are you ready to live an active lifestyle?
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Welcome to Behind the Bluff, where we believe every moment of your life is an opportunity to pursue wellness on your terms.
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I'm your host, Jeff Ford, and today I have the privilege of being joined by Ashley Turner, our golf tournament and events director here at Palmetto Bluff.
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While members may know Ashley from the tournaments and events that she helps bring to life, there's so much that goes into creating these memorable experiences that we're going to discuss today.
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Our episode is going to focus on behind the scenes, exploring the planning, hospitality, and the sense of community that tournaments and golf make every single day here at Pometal Bluff.
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Ashley, welcome to Behind the Bluff.
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Thanks for having me, Jeff.
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Good to be here.
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I am thrilled that we could make this happen.
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Your world is expansive now with three golf courses and many active members who I was just talking to a couple members at the cafe yesterday.
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Yeah.
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Where they're golfing five, six days a week.
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It is the place to be outside of the fitness center.
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Of course.
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Yeah.
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No, it's uh obviously, you know, we started at Anson Point being walking only, which has been uh which was been awesome.
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And then we're back to carts now since it's hot.
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But yeah, all three golf courses are are very busy right now.
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Yeah, it's good stuff.
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Tell us about your role as golf tournament and events director and what led you here to Palmetto Bluff.
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Uh so I handle obviously all the golf tournaments and events that happen at all three golf courses.
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So Anson Point, Crossroads, and May River.
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Um, I also work with the food and beverage teams at each course.
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Uh, work with them to obviously create menus, uh, event setup, stuff like that.
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And then the other part of my role is doing all the resort groups with the montage.
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So if they have a corporate group that's 12 players or more, it goes through me.
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Um, and we I work with their montage team and then the the company's team too to plan and book tea times.
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And if they want a tournament or something like that, we can do that for them.
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Um and that's obviously only at
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May River and Crossroads.
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Um, but I control their access uh to that point um for any of the montage groups that come in.
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Tons of different groups attempting to access these incredible courses.
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What do you enjoy most about your role here?
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Um just that.
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I mean, I you know I started out in the upstate more on the event planning side.
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Got I was member services director, uh, went on to member relations at the next club.
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So I've always kind of been on that event planning side.
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Um, but I started out in golf as well.
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I played golf in high school.
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And then when I was at uh Thornblade, I was in the golf shop and helped out with tournaments as well.
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So when I this role kind of came up, it was kind of a cool thing of both worlds coming together for me.
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I could do event planning and golf all at the same time.
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It sounds like it spoke to you like this is where you were meant to be.
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Yeah, and it's kind of crazy.
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Like when I saw it, you know, I kind of thought you had to be a PGA professional.
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And when I called and reached out, they were like, No, we we don't need that.
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Like you could, you'll fit this role perfectly, which was an awesome kind of cool thing that happened for me in this industry because most people obviously and most tournament directors are PGA professionals.
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Yeah.
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It sounds like it was affirming that the team here saw your skill set, saw your work history.
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And I've heard I hear nothing but great things about the fun tournaments and the twists and themes that that happen every year to what y'all put out.
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What's something members would be surprised to learn about your job?
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If there's one thing that's, oh my gosh, who knew that Ashley does this?
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What would that be?
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I think it'd be the montage resort groups.
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I don't think a lot of people know, you know, obviously, like if we have a Tuesday blocked or if there's a block on the T-sheet, you know, someone's like, you know, what is that?
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I mean, they obviously know we have access, but um, I don't think a lot of people know that I I handle that too.
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Um because people ask and they're like, you handle that too?
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And they're like, you do that.
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And I'm like, so yeah.
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How many montage groups are there a year?
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Oh, probably if not including if you're including the big ones and the small one, I mean 50 to 60.
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Wow.
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Maybe more now that we have crossroads available to them as well.
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Um there's a lot, and obviously it's spring and you know, spring and fall are the biggest ones.
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Um, but even right now, I mean, we've we had a group yesterday um at May River, and the summertime's kind of their time um to have more availability, less members on property.
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Yeah, everyone's not here, so it's kind of the we kind of push them to that too, because that's the perfect time for them to get out there.
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Of course, golf tournaments are having a lot of things to do behind the scenes.
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When you think like taking our members behind the scenes with tournament planning, I want to talk about what it actually takes to create one of these memorable golf events.
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Walk us through what it takes to plan a golf tournament from the very first idea to the final putt.
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Yeah.
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Um, you know, to be honest, like I think about this all the time.
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I'm like always thinking about crazy stuff.
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And, you know, LinkedIn, obviously, their members also send like ideas of like, hey, we did this at our club.
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And then, you know, we we meet as a team.
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We we do have a leadership meeting, but I also have other meetings with, you know, Steven and um Colby, James, like our whole team, Erica, and we kind of come together and a lot of us spitball ideas, and we're like, hey, like what you know, and then we're like, you know, it kind of forms into like what we're actually gonna do.
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And like, does this make sense?
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Will the members like this?
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You know, I mean, now we have golf advisory, we'll even throw some ideas out to them just to see the reaction.
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Kind of soft test some of the ideas that pop up.
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Yeah, so we kind of do that, but that's I mean, we kind of come together as a team and really make those decisions.
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And, you know, cane break is obviously our big one.
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Um, we love themes, you know.
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We have golf, they play golf every day.
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So like the golf aspect will always be there.
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That doesn't change.
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We do come with different formats, stuff like that.
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But when it comes to the social events, that's where we go kind of out of the box, but it's also like the most memorable part.
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That's what everybody remembers.
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The sky is the limit with the social aspect of the tournament.
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From my little knowledge of golf tournaments, I remember one of the themes for Cane Break was like a college football team.
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Walk us through that as an example of the craziness that can can sometimes pop up, the unexpected.
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Yeah.
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Um, you know, obviously the tournaments in the fall.
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So we're thinking football.
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Obviously, who doesn't love football as well?
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Being in the south, but the thing to think about is in the south, college football is obviously a bigger deal, but up north, NFL is the bigger one.
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So we kind of combine both of them to kind of come together there.
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And also it goes into the gifts.
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The gifts are a big part of the tournament as well.
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They're and everything's a surprise.
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So the theme does not get really revealed.
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We start sending stuff out, but it's not revealed until they really get there.
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So you can't tell us today what the theme is for cane break in the fall.
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No, no, nothing, nothing is revealed.
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The gifts, everything's a secret.
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Obviously, that surprise has to be so awesome, right?
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For for the members when they they show up.
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Well, it's kind of anticipation of like, oh, what is she gonna do this year?
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And um, and obviously, like I think we you know, we exceed expectations each year.
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I mean, every year everybody's like, how are you gonna top next year?
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How are you gonna do this?
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And then they come and they're like, Okay, well, what are you gonna do now?
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And it's and that's the fun part.
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Like, we get to elevate it every year and you know, blow their minds with what's coming next.
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Yeah, it it's it sounds like what separates a golf tournament from another golf tournament is just the planning that goes in, the variation of it.
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I know in my world, it's all about year after year what what's different that we can do that surprises the members.
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In planning for cane break, like these bigger tournaments, when does that process
start?
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Uh years, I mean, a year in advance, but really, I mean, as soon as the other cane, like as soon as cane break ends, it's already like go time of what we're doing.
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Like obviously we we do a SWAT, you know, I call it a swat a SWOT analysis of like, hey, like, okay, what can we do better?
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What did we find with this?
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And then we're like, okay, what do we already want to start doing for next year?
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We're always and we're always kind of thinking about it.
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Like, I mean, this is our office talk.
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It's like, hey, did you see this?
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Like, what if we did this theme, or what if we did this?
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And what if we, you know, do we go this crazy?
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You know, like do we go so far out of the box?
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You know, then that's when James reels us back in, like, okay, guys, I don't know that we can do all this.
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Yeah, yeah.
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No, it's so fun to have that level of creative time in in a role, and and I can feel the enjoyment that you get from that process.
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As someone who is a leader of a separate department, we have a lot of events too.
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Have you ever run an event and it went exactly as you had envisioned?
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Uh, no.
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Good.
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I wanted to clear that up because something, you know, I'm always like, man, we could have done this better, or you know, this detail could have been a little tighter.
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Tell our listeners about that from your perspective within with event planning.
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I like to think of everything that could possibly go wrong.
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And I know that sounds like really negative, but yeah, I think I feel like if I think of everything that could possibly go wrong, then that's not what's going to happen.
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Because not only that, you're prepared for it.
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But obviously there's certain things, you know, from our thing, our biggest challenge, I would say, that obviously is out of our hands is the weather.
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We're we're held to the weather.
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And that's to me, that's our biggest challenge.
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Like we could have, I mean, food can be right, you know, and even food, drinks, you know, even golf, even their golf game, like that's you know, that's kind of on them.
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But you mean they don't always play perfectly when they show up to the tournaments?
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No.
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But we try, you
know, and that's you know, and obviously, like we want conditions to be right, you know, have the formats right, score scorecards are right, their handicaps are right, like all that stuff goes into setting them up for the golf side.
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But when it comes to, is everything gonna go right?
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Uh no, someone, you know, something can go wrong, but it's usually very small, you know.
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And if it's pivoting, it's usually pivoting.
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That's our biggest, you know, we're gonna be able to do that.
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Pivot's a great word.
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You know, if it we see a raindrop, oh no, we gotta move the buffet to the breeze way really quick, or we gotta pull the golfers off the golf course, you know, have the drinks ready.
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You know, they can socialize and drink and um I mean that, but obviously weather is probably our biggest pivot or challenge that comes to a tournament.
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Yeah.
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When I think of Martine, director of racket sports, and James, director of all things golf and and the golf pros out there, there's there that variable is always in play every single day.
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Yeah.
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How do you personally handle the unexpected?
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How do you feel about pivoting when it occurs?
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Um, I think I'm really good at it.
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I think you have to be good at in this industry.
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Like, I've learned from the first event, from the first club I worked at.
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I mean, I've just learned over the years like how to handle that situation, but it's all about being prepared for what could happen.
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And do you have all the boxes checked?
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And then you gotta be quick on your toes.
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Like, you know, there's gonna be situations where you have to make a quick decision, and it it could be a hard decision.
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Uh, I mean, remember, remember uh two years ago, big storm.
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What do we do?
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It looks like it's gonna hit us, pulled everyone off the golf course, canceled the turn, you know, got it in play, never rained.
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Yeah.
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You know, it's like, what do you do?
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You're thinking about all these different things.
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Um, but it's just about making quick decisions, and then you gotta, once you make that decision, you gotta trust it and go with it.
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And um, you know, you know, that's where our members come in too, like asking their opinion, especially our advisory committee, like, hey,
this is a decision we think we gotta make.
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You know, Juniper Cup got canceled due to the hurricane uh three years ago.
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You know, we we did the fruit practice round, we did the dinner, and then of course it hit in the middle of the night and we all came in.
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You know, property was like locked down and all the trees were down, and then having to make the call to cancel the tournament, especially for member guests, they've already flown their guests in.
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They're all here.
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You know, not only are they paying to be in the tournament, they're paying for their guests to be here.
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We had this whole thing planned and rentals, the tents were already up, everything was done, and uh, we had to make the call to cancel the tournament completely.
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That's tough.
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You sleep at night when you make those decisions.
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No, it was the most gut-wrenching decision we had to make.
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And we all sat there just like, oh my gosh, I can't believe we're gonna do this.
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But it was for safety reasons.
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I mean, we had no power.
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All the you know, Rye was trying, they were all trying to move the food around.
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Like it was obviously a situation that was explained uh by natural, you know.
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Occurrence that was out of your out of your control.
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It, you know, obviously it didn't pan out to be as bad as what was being, you know, portrayed.
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And and you know, we're not weather experts by any means.
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It's so amazing that you're able to share kind of that story and everything that goes in, because I think so many of our listeners, our members, can agree with the fact that it's better to make a decision than it is to flounder and to be unclear with the approach that we're deciding to take in anything.
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Oh, yeah.
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Anything on this property.
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Yeah.
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Of course, golf tournaments are much more than competition.
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I I've found with the in this may or may not be accurate, the community of golfers that we have here, there are competitive golfers, but what I see most at Palmetto Bluff is golf is really about bringing people together.
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I look at that in my world.
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Fitness, yeah, it's it's great for your health, but fitness is also about bringing people together.
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From your perspective, what role do golf events play in building community here at Palmetto Bluff?
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Um, I think they play a huge part, you know, especially with our golf members.
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I mean, like you said, we do have a competitive group, but I think our members, our golf members are also very social.
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Um, even from like think like pairings uh for our events and couples golf, like stuff like that.
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Like that's how new relationships get built.
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You know, some tournaments are nine holes, some are 18 holes.
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That's four hours that you're spending with maybe someone you've never met before.
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And by the end of that round, they're like new friends.
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You know, and we see a lot of this, like we do sometimes we ask for pairings, sometimes we don't allow pairings requests, and we we handle that.
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And obviously we're looking at who's who and stuff like that.
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Does that depend on the time of year when you actively pair people up with the like occupiedness of the courses or when it's depends on like what kind of tournament it is?
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Like if it's you know, like our SummerSlam, which is probably our most fun tournament, they play in sixums, which is typically not allowed, but they play in, they get to make their teams and they come with team names and it's all fun.
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Um, you know, some people you know they get to put their teams together, and that's more like they're hanging out with their friends.
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And so some people don't.
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Like we do have a singles team.
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If you want to sign up as a single or you don't know people, we do make a team.
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So there's separate registrations, if I'm hearing this correctly, depending on if you want to make your own team or if you, you know, you want to have fun with the SummerSlam, for example, but you you don't necessarily, you know, are worried about who you play with.
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Yeah, we do all inclusive.
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Yeah, you can sign up as a single or you can sign up as a six um and then we put them together.
00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:24.080
And just like couples go off, like, you know, we have a lot of people that reach out and be like, just pair me up with someone new.
00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:35.200
Like I, you know, I would like to be with someone new, and uh, you know, and we do that, and then they're friends, then they're going to bluff stock together or you know, they get their kids together and it forms other relationships on property.
00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.639
That's great.
00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:46.559
Can you tell us about a story, a very specific moment potentially that reminds you why you love what you do?
00:16:46.720 -->
00:16:49.840
And and please take it from the the community angle.
00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:53.120
Is there one of those moments between members?
00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.759
Anything specific that comes to mind?
00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:58.480
Yeah, I mean, I do have a specific story.
00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:03.759
Actually, we just had the homecoming, um, which is obviously a tournament that vertical members get to play in.
00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:08.000
It's a family focused tournament, um, which is awesome.
00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.519
You know, we uh we had a father-son duo.
00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:16.079
We don't have a lot of juniors play, and you know, we're we want to grow that program.
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:27.119
Um, and we had a father-son, another father-son, didn't know each other, had no idea, you know, their kids were even close to the same age and loved golf as much.
00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.640
And we paired them together.
00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:32.079
I, you know, I kind of asked everybody, like, okay, like do you guys think this is gonna be a good pairing?
00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.920
Like, I think they'll have fun together.
00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.359
And um, they did.
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:38.079
Like, they came up afterwards and like thanked all of us.
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.880
They were like, now our kids can like play together and like we didn't, we had no idea.
00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:46.880
Like, we had this in common, and um, it was just really cool to see.
00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:55.200
Like, they were so happy afterwards, and they were all talking and you know, chit-chatting and where they could almost be friends for life, those those two younger kids.
00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.680
Yeah, and it was just it was just like you know, the dads were excited too, because you know, it is kind of nerve-wracking, you know, playing in a tournament.
00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:09.920
You know, obviously, most juniors, unless they're playing tournament golf, you know, don't play in a lot of stuff, and we don't have as many tournaments for juniors as well.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:14.240
So seeing that kind of you know bond created uh was really cool.
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:21.200
Um, you know, I'm sure we'll see them now coming out to play on their own, maybe after school or something like that, or while they're hanging out for the summer.
00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.799
So it was really cool to see.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.880
And it was really we were all like, oh my goodness, you know, and they were very appreciative of everything.
00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:52.160
That's a great moment because I bet when you and the team were pairing, you know, the father, father-son, father-son together, you maybe didn't realize the the the impact it was gonna make, and then you you see it all come to fruition, and it's like, wow, like just this small thoughtful act of pairing up, you know, father-sons similar age.
00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:58.559
I love that aspect of what we get to do where you're just surprised by the connection that you sometimes create.
00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.279
Yeah.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:06.480
I think every community here in the low country has their own culture around golf.
00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:12.240
How would you describe the palmetal bluff club golf culture?
00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.720
And what's one thing that makes it different potentially from other clubs?
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.519
You know, I really think it's our members and our staff.
00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.000
You know, we have a special bond, I think, at the golf club.
00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:30.319
Um, you know, each, now that we have three, you know, we have moved staff around, which also helps.
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:35.119
But seeing that familiar face, um, you know, that's the thing about the club industry.
00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.880
Our members are here every single day.
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.079
It's not a hotel where that's you know new people every day.
00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:49.839
Um, you know, and that's the big thing when I got here too, that I I recognize with this membership, like everyone is very personable, welcoming, but we also do the same.
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:55.200
You know, we all know their names, we know what drink they want, you know, we know what tea time they want.
00:19:55.359 --> 00:20:01.519
We also, you know, if they're you know, when we're making tournament pairings, like we know who wants to go out first, who wants to play here.
00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:10.160
Um, you know, and I think that's just that's a big part of what makes that our golf club so great, too.
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:13.039
You know, and the the the relationship there, the interaction.
00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:18.799
You know, it's my favorite part is walking in and if gang sum sitting out there, you know, talk to everyone.
00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:33.440
I mean, it takes me like 30 minutes to get to my desk because like I am talking to them, I'm talking to our outside team, you know, I talk to the guys in the pro shop when I get there, you know, and like and all the and the members also like, you know, oh, like how, you know, how was your trip?
00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:38.160
Or like, hey, yeah, I heard about this, like, and we're the same way, and like it's no different than Fourth of July.
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.759
Like, a lot of people just came in to see us.
00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:45.119
Like, you know, a lot of the kids come in town, um, you know, and they're like, Oh, we just want to come by and see everybody.
00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:52.160
You know, obviously everybody's going to get candy too, but you know, we're they're also like there to see your team has the best comfort station, I've heard.
00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.720
Comfort station, we have the best candy, I think.
00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.240
You know, when you come in.
00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:56.960
No joke.
00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:59.119
The goldfish and gummy bears don't last very long.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.599
Goldfish and gummy bears are the most popular.
00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.480
Yep.
00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:12.160
I'm hearing that people create deep bonds and care about one another is the difference maker.
00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:17.680
Where it's it's not just, you know, members to members caring about each other, staff to staff.
00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.640
It's like this connection between everybody.
00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.200
Yeah.
00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:23.599
I think it's like a welcome home.
00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:26.160
Like this is this is your home, it's our home to you.
00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:29.200
Like, I mean, we obviously spend a lot of time here with a lot of people.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.279
I think it's just a home for everybody.
00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.319
Yeah.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:38.240
Let's shift our focus to the people, the experience that you strive to create.
00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:41.440
And we've we've stumbled into it a little bit thus far.
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.960
Throughout your career, how do you look at hospitality?
00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:50.160
What has hospitality taught you when it comes to serving people?
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.960
Um, you know, I think it's having a servant's heart.
00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.759
And, you know, I've had a lot of mentors along the way that have really guided and shifted.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:05.279
Me into like that is who I am and kind of getting me to realize that.
00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:14.720
But it's just like you said, like creating that sense of belonging for the members and those interactions, you know, the smallest things make the biggest impressions to these members.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:16.319
That's what they, that's what they remember.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:22.079
Like they remember us asking them about their day or simply listening to them or remembering their name.
00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.920
I feel like that goes a long, a long way.
00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.160
Even in a member guest tournament, you know, like we have a lot of guests that return.
00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.200
And we know their name.
00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.000
They're like, you know, the guests of the members' names.
00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.039
Impressive.
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.839
They're like, how do you like you have to remember all their names?
00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.480
How do you do it?
00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:42.240
And honestly, like I've always like, it's just a face, I just it just pops in my head.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.039
I don't even really know.
00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:45.440
Like everybody's always asked me, like, how are you able to do that?
00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.400
I'm like, it's just I it's just memories.
00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.519
And then obviously there's things about people that you remember as well.
00:22:51.680 -->
00:22:57.599
Like if they like a certain team or like there's certain things you talk about with that person, it helps you remember them.
00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:03.279
But you know, I think that's what goes a long way into hospitality when we're serving these people.
00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.279
We're doing it every day, but we love it.
00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.079
You know, for me, it's I don't really think about it.
00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:12.079
It's just, you know, I think it's just kind of who I am and who I've developed into.
00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.640
And like it's just so easy and natural.
00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:17.680
And it's it's it's why I love it every day, though.
00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:25.680
You've had a lot of repetitions, remembering people's names through specific things that you spoke with them about previously.
00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:32.400
And uh I just know how important it is to make people feel seen.
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:42.319
And it sounds like that's what is exciting for you guys, and you're and you're always after that with with the tournaments and the experiences at the golf clubs.
00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:46.559
There's a big future here at Palmetto Bluff ahead of us, specifically in golf.
00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.480
A lot of conversations with the growth.
00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:54.640
We can see that Anson has been incredibly well received across the board from the membership.
00:23:54.960 --> 00:24:00.319
What are you most excited about for the future of golf events at Palmetto Bluff?
00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.519
Um, growth, growing um, growing the program.
00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:08.240
You know, we do 12 uh events, tournaments a year.
00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:15.680
Uh, you know, now four majors with two member guests, two men's member guests, one ladies member guest, and then a member member.
00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:21.680
Um, you know, I think, you know, we can grow at each course as well.
00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:25.200
You know, Crossroads offers a specific experience.
00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.720
You know, that's kind of the cool thing.
00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:29.680
We have three different experiences that we can offer.
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:35.839
So Crossroads, you know, adding stuff out there that fits their mold.
00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:42.000
You know, May River is kind of like the OG, you know, so like you don't want to do too much out there.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:45.519
But and then we've incorporated things at Anson and like for 2027.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.200
I can't go into too much detail, but we're we've moved some things around.
00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:51.680
We've put some things at Anson that have always been in May River.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.680
And we did this this year too with Crossroads.
00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:56.559
We moved some stuff out there that was usually at May River.
00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:00.799
I mean, obviously, once Crossroads got here, we incorporated crossroads into things.
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.920
Now we've got Anson.
00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:04.240
But I think we want to add a lot of stuff.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:18.319
You know, we want to incorporate because we have such a, you know, a demographic, you know, where we've got the the young, we've got the juniors, we've got the younger couples, we've got the traditional member groups, we've got, and then we've got your competitive.
00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:23.599
We've we've got the tournaments that offer that competitive, we've got the social, we've got all that.
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.880
I think we can add more.
00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:33.519
It sounds like bringing more and more events to match the various wants archetypes of the demographics here.
00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:36.799
There's such diversity in the vibes of our courses.
00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:40.160
I love how you said May River as the OG.
00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.960
Yeah, I have a uh small group that I lead.
00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:48.400
It's the only regular small group training that I do weekly now, and they're big golfers.
00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:51.039
And they always talk about May River in that context.
00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.319
Yeah, it's the OG.
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:57.440
You know, let's keep it, let's keep the experiences maybe a little more neutral there.
00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.799
I don't know if that's the right word, but let's let's play the hits over there.
00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.200
Yeah.
00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:06.400
Um, so before we wrap up, I wanted to have a little bit of fun.
00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:13.839
And I don't do this with every guest, but Ashley, I knew that you could handle a rapid fire round.
00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:16.720
Give me a little context to each answer.
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.119
Okay.
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:21.920
Not too much, just the right amount, so our listeners can get to know you even that much more.
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.519
Morning or afternoon tea time.
00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.960
Morning.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:35.200
Uh, just because it's a little bit calmer in the morning, but I also am a morning person, so I'm ready to go in the morning.
00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:42.880
And I just I like, you know, the sense of exercise, of course, but I like playing a sport in the morning as well.
00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:45.599
Do you like when the sun's just coming up on the golf course?
00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:45.759
Yeah.
00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.559
Yeah.
00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:49.039
I mean, it's just it's just the best time to play.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:55.599
Um, I mean, obviously, as like staff, usually not when that's prime time for every people to play.
00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:58.240
But when I did play, that was my favorite.
00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:03.519
And the afternoon is pretty sticky around here in the low country.
00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.200
Walk or ride?
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.119
I'm gonna go
with ride.
00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:11.680
No, on Behind the Bluff Podcasts, a wellness-related podcast.
00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.640
Go ahead, Ashley.
00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:17.440
It's only ride because of the low country, because of the heat down here.
00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:25.920
But I will say when I lived in Greenville and I worked, um, I walked 18 holes carrying my own bag.
00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.279
So you're legit.
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:29.440
You're not trying to get out of anything today.
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.079
Yeah, no.
00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.799
Yeah, you're fully capable of walking 18 holes.
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.200
Yeah.
00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.839
Cool.
00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.960
Ride it is.
00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.160
Favorite hole at Palmetto Bluff.
00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:40.480
You have three courses to choose from.
00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:48.640
Uh, I'm gonna stick with my OG answer of May River number 14.
00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:52.640
It is the prettiest view um of the marsh.
00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:55.440
Where am I standing to get that view?
00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:58.000
Um T Box.
00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.119
T-Box is perfect.
00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:10.079
And then even the men, like, I mean, obviously I played from the fours, but even from the number two T-Box, you can see the it's like the beautiful opening to the right of the of the hole.
00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.519
Still my favorite.
00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:17.599
I haven't I have played crossroads um once.
00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.240
Okay.
00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:23.839
I mean, I I obviously go on all three golf courses all the time to like run stuff out or check on setup.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:27.839
Um, but when I played, that was my favorite at May River.
00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:30.000
Anson has a lot of pretty ones.
00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:35.359
18, obviously, like anything along the marsh or where you can see like the Savannah Bridge.
00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:39.279
Like, I'm just a scenery person, so I like anything with the scenery.
00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:41.119
That's excellent context.
00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:50.799
And I think for our listeners who are members here at Palmetto Bluff, take an extra look when you're on number 14 and number 18 at Anson.
00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:54.559
Favorite season at Palmetto Bluff?
00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.759
The fall.
00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.920
Everyone's back.
00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:01.119
Everyone, it's like, you know, it's still hot.
00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:06.799
I mean, I feel like it's still hot till November here for us, but it's starting to cool down.
00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:10.559
Um, but I love when everyone's back.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:13.759
You know, everyone's been off kind of off for the summer.
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.200
Everybody's excited to be back.
00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.240
They're excited to see everyone.
00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:18.079
You know, it's kind of just like everyone's coming home.
00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.599
And you get to see everyone again.
00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:29.519
Because it's kind of like, I mean, there's still a good bit of people here, obviously, right now, but a lot of people do leave and it's kind of quiet around the clubhouse, and it's always fun when they come back.
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:31.839
And then it's just, I love busy season.
00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.079
So there's just uh everybody's moving again.
00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.920
Buzz, bigger energy.
00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.400
Yeah.
00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:36.880
Yeah.
00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:37.920
I'm right there with you.
00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:45.680
In October, man, it feels so good when that temp starts to shift and the village green and just indescribable.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.680
Palmetto Bluff community, can you describe it in one word?
00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:53.680
Uh the word that comes to mind is cultivated.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.720
Cultivated.
00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.680
Explain.
00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:05.839
Um You know, I mean, we obviously have a certain culture here that's here, but also like that sense of family belonging, the energy that's here.
00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:09.920
You know, it's just it's to me, it's just a happy place to be, even for our members.
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.559
Like everyone, like it's kind of like how why could how can you not be happy in this place?
00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.960
Like there's just yeah.
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.720
Cultivated.
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.000
That's good.
00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:26.559
Final rapid fire question What does every great golf event need?
00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.119
Alcohol.
00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.000
Really?
00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:36.720
I know that's like not healthy, but we really don't have a golf tournament without alcohol.
00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:38.079
You have to have the alcohol.
00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.920
What's the top favorites?
00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:43.599
Like uh, well, at Crossroads, we have the Peacemaker.
00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:48.000
This is this famous drink we kind of created during a tournament that is taken off.
00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.039
The Peacemaker.
00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.160
The Peacemaker.
00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:53.119
Uh go ahead, walk us through the ingredients of the drink.
00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.839
It's okay.
00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.720
It's uh it does have Gatorade in it and zero.
00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.160
Zero Gatorade.
00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:58.640
Okay.
00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.480
Y'all are keeping it healthy.
00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:04.319
We've got it's got Sprite, uh, vodka, and lemonade.
00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:04.960
All right.
00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:07.839
It's very, you know, they say it's very refreshing.
00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:10.079
When does the peacemaker come out?
00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:14.160
Um, well, it came out during our tournament called the Home
Wrecker.
00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.720
Okay.
00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:16.079
Now it's like on the menu.
00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.880
Oh, it's on the menu, so you can get the Peacemaker anytime you want it.
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.599
Love the name.
00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:24.240
And then we have the new canned machine we're doing.
00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.200
Oh, I did see that.
00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.720
Chef Rye showed me that.
00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.319
How are members taking to that?
00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.359
Everybody loves it.
00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:29.759
Yeah.
00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:32.880
Anson really uses it obviously at the roost.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:36.960
And you know, Shelby's got all these like really fun cocktails and stuff they put in there.
00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:39.440
And then we do a specialty cocktail for couples golf.
00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.759
So that's something we do a specialty cocktail.
00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:44.079
Um, we don't really tell them when it's gonna come out.
00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:47.759
It could be before, it could be during, could be after.
00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:51.440
Um, and we and the bartenders come up with like a fun recipe.
00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:53.359
It's kind of a fun challenge for them, too.
00:31:53.680 --> 00:32:03.039
Um, but yeah, I mean, that's kind of uh that's what even the ones that are nervous, you know, about playing in tournaments and stuff like that, that just eases the tension.
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.000
Eases the tension.
00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.559
Yeah.
00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:10.960
And I will go on record saying that alcohol is not necessarily unhealthy.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.240
It's the amount.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.039
It's the amount.
00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:13.440
Yeah.
00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:20.480
And the best thing you can do for your health if you choose to drink adult beverages is do it with other people.
00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.279
Yeah.
00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:26.559
Ashley, we've gotten to the end of our time together.
00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:34.000
So it's time to ask the same question that I ask every guest who joins me on Behind the Bluff.
00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:37.039
What does wellness mean to you?
00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:41.680
Um, I think it's really just taking care of yourself.
00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:52.400
Um, obviously, like being healthy and exercising and eating right, um, which leads to a healthy mindset, which is important to me.
00:32:52.559 --> 00:33:11.359
Um, you know, having those those, you know, the healthy habits that you do on a daily basis, but being consistent with it, um, that leaves to, you know, uh a peaceful mind that ultimately is like our control center, uh, which helps us to carry on the wellness.
00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:17.279
But yeah, I mean, obviously the physical and mental is a a big part of keeping that healthy.
00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.640
Yeah.
00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:25.440
Take care of your health so that it has a positive impact on your control center.
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.319
Yeah.
00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.759
Right on.
00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:33.920
Well, just want to give you a bit of praise for all you do for Palmetto Bluff Club.
00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:39.440
I hear nothing but positive things every time a tournament has concluded.
00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:53.279
And uh, it's just been so fun to hear more about the behind the scenes, hear how you and your team come together to create events and most importantly, how you all approach creating community.
00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:57.759
And that word cultivate is is really gonna stick with me after today.
00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.480
Perfect.
00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.759
Thank you so much for having me.
00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.960
It's great to be here.
00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.559
You're very welcome.
00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:09.760
Listeners, feel free to hang out with me for a few more minutes and get some healthy momentum for the rest of your week.
00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:32.159
If you're a regular listener of Behind the Bluff, you know that I love to take something from each episode and share a deeper thought that helps you move forward in your life.
00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:42.639
And before I get to that thought today, I wanted to share that one of my favorite moments from this conversation had nothing to do with event planning.
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:48.480
It was the story behind the peacemaker, the signature drink at Crossroads.
00:34:48.719 --> 00:35:01.039
I I couldn't help but laugh because if there's one person out there who probably needs a peacemaker every now and then, it's leaders like Ashley who oversee large events.
00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:07.920
And it made me think about what Ashley said early on in the conversation.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:21.599
When you're responsible for creating experiences for large groups of people like golf tournaments, you have to go in knowing that something is going to eventually go wrong.
00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:32.159
The weather changes, like at the Juniper Cup, a vendor could be late, a timeline falls apart, a hundred little details don't go exactly as planned.
00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:34.159
And I reflected on that personally.
00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:41.840
Every single day that we operate a fitness class schedule and personal trainings, everything doesn't go according to plan.
00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:43.440
There's always something.
00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:50.559
Ashley shared that part of her job is actually thinking through everything that could go wrong.
00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.920
Let's stay right there.
00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:54.559
Thinking through everything that could go wrong.
00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.280
How often do we do that in our lives?
00:35:57.679 --> 00:36:01.760
At first, maybe it sounds negative, but to me it's not.
00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:03.280
It's preparation.
00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:07.679
And here's where I think it applies to all of us this week.
00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:12.719
Life will eventually ask you to make a decision.
00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:15.599
Life will ask you to pivot.
00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.639
Pete Cauley and I just talked about this as well.
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:22.079
Check out the episode Constant Corrections.
00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:28.320
If we think about this in translation with our life accounts, think about your career.
00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:30.400
Plans probably changed.
00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:31.760
Relationships.
00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:35.039
Have you been in the same exact relationship your entire life?
00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.679
Maybe.
00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:39.920
Life throws us curveballs with our health.
00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:49.519
The question isn't if you'll have to adjust, it's whether you'll be ready to adjust when you are thrown the unexpected.
00:36:50.320 --> 00:37:00.719
Ashley said something that really stuck with me, and I think it can stick with all of us this week, and it was this make the decision, trust it, and move forward.
00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:07.760
I'm speaking from experience, but I think so many of us lose momentum because we're waiting for certainty.
00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:14.079
We want to feel like it's the perfect solution, the perfect answer to the decision we're trying to make.
00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:17.920
So we stall in taking the next step.
00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:25.760
But we have to remember that confidence often comes after the decision, not before it.
00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:30.639
That's why I think healthy momentum isn't about having a perfect plan.
00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:38.880
It's about preparing well, staying adaptable, and trusting yourself enough to keep moving forward when plans change.
00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:42.000
So here's two questions for you this week.
00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:46.559
Where in your life are you being asked to pivot?
00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:53.199
And second, what is one decision you've been waiting way too long to make?
00:37:54.800 --> 00:37:57.360
You don't have to have the perfect next step.
00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:03.920
Just trust the step that you're willing to take.
00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:11.840
That reflection brings us to the end of this week's episode.
00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:20.960
I want to thank you for taking the time to join the conversation and remember to actively participate in life on your terms.