DC4MS

Dear DC4MS,

As you may know, popular CBS Sports personality and former European Ryder Cup player David Feherty is an active member of Ultimate Escapes℠ Destination Clubs. If you are a golf enthusiast, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity for you.

Anyone who joins Ultimate Escapes℠ by July 31st will be eligible to win a day “Behind the Ropes” with David Feherty on Sunday, August 10th at the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills CC in Brookfield Hills, Michigan. You will walk side by side with David for 4.5 hours on Sunday where you will chat with PGA players as they warm up on the range and then security ropes will part for you and David as he provides CBS commentary on the final pairings for Sunday’s round.

Ultimate Escapes Co-CEO Rich Keith so enjoyed his “Day Behind the Ropes” experience at the 2007 PGA Championship that he wanted to offer it this year to new members joining the club. Click Here and read this humorous recap.

On July 31st we will draw the name from a small group of members who were able to take advantage of this unique opportunity. If you are interested and would like to be included, please reply as soon as possible and I will contact you immediately.


Warm regards,

Steve Healy
SVP, Sales
(407) 483-1903
steve.healy@ultimateescapes.com
www.ultimateescapes.com

Quintess Michael

Brookfield Hills...is that anywhere near BLOOMFIELD HILLS?

__________________
Michael Aumock
Director, Membership Development
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World

DestiFan

Great catch....classic.

DC4MS

Here is some more information on this event.

Ultimate Escapes - Once In A Lifetime Opportunity


ULTIMATE ESCAPESsm CO-CEO RICH KEITH SHARES HIS FANTASTIC 2007 PGA "BEHIND THE ROPE" EXPERIENCE!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Tulsa, Oklahoma and the final round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills


As both a golfer and an avid golf fan, I believe that I enjoyed last Sunday, a golf experience that will represent for me, as long as I live, the pinnacle of this sport, at least as a spectator.


Last fall, at an American Cancer fund raising tournament at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago, I was the high bidder at the live auction for a venue called, “Behind the Ropes with David Feherty”. Since it was a charitable cause, I bid more than I should perhaps but when the gavel fell, I became the recipient of this package, still months and months away. Despite the long wait, I still felt the twinge of excitement, from time to time, as the date approached. Who would I be following? Would Tiger be in the lead on Sunday so that I would have the rare experience of practically being in Tiger’s group as he competed for a major?

Fast forward to August 12th. Feherty calls me around 7:30 am, leaving a message to meet him meet at The Doubletree at 9:15. When I call him back to confirm, he says, “Wear long pants”. “What?! Long pants?”, I exclaim, “I didn’t bring long pants! It is going to be 103 degrees today with 95% humidity. Why would I bring long pants?” “Because it’s a major, you twat”, comes Feherty’s rapier response. “You’ll have to wear mine. See you at 9:15”.

I take a shuttle from The Ambassador Hotel to the nearby Doubletree Hotel. “Where are you?,” I ask from my cell as we pull into the front driveway of the nearby hotel. “I am in the silver Explorer, right in front”, Feherty says. But there is no silver Explorer because I am at the wrong DoubleTree. “Bloody hell, there are two Doubletrees in Tulsa. You are at the wrong one!” he groans. “Now you tell me, you moron”, I reply. “Where is the one you’re at?” Feherty says, “ You’re a good 20-25 minutes away and that wont work as I have to be in a pre-broadcast meeting in 45 minutes. Bloody hell. Tell you what, get a ride out here and I will come back to get you after the meeting which will be about 11.

Meet me in the Starbucks that is in the lobby.” As I wonder why the driver who took me from The Ambassador didn’t ask, “Which DoubleTree, Mr. Keith?,” I reckon that the leaders are still hours from starting, so no harm no foul.

Feherty flies in the door, adorned in all his CBS Sports regalia, including long pants. Ugggh. The pavement outside the DoubleTree is already beginning to give that mirage look, you know, when the air has squiggly lines rising up from it . It ‘s not even 11am yet. I recall thinking, “this is going to be the hottest day of my life”. And it would be. Just minutes from the hotel, we whisk through a ‘media- only’ security gate and park next to what looks like a city of trailers. It is immediately clear to me that broadcasting a golf major is not unlike deploying resources to cover a major news event. The technology is everywhere. As the heat rises by the minute, we bounce into the trailer that holds the CBS team of broadcasters.

The plot thickens. David introduces me to the crowd which consists of Peter Kostis, Ian Baker Finch, Gary McCord, Bill Macatee and Vern Lundquist. “Gents, this is Richard Keith, the poor fool that is going to walk the golf course with me in the 150 degree heat.” The replies range from, “Nice to have you here” to “You’re going to die out there” but they are each friendly and very accommodating. Good guys in fact. They are watching the TNT’s morning coverage of the event with a particular interest to insult the announcers covering the round.. “ He doesn’t even know what the hell he’s talking about”, was typical fodder for the boys. “He’s an idiot” or other affirmations echoed through the trailer. I didn’t know these guys well enough to offer scathing insults yet so I
listened and watched. I will admit that there were a few peaches though including Feherty’s , “that damn guy shouldn’t be covering golf, he should be in an asylum”. Supportive comments like that. You could feel the love.

“Alright Keith, we better get ready”, Feherty suddenly bellows as 1 pm approaches. With Tiger and Steven Ames going off at 2, it was time to head to the driving range and get our game faces on. Feherty hands me a CBS uniform, blue golf shirt with the logo, a golf hat and yes, long pants. His pants. “Where the hell have these been?” I ask him as hold them up. “You don’t want to know so just put them on”. Great. In addition to not knowing there former whereabouts, I have no idea if they are going to fit. But we are both active cyclists with similar frames and on they go, as if I brought them from home. I find myself delighted they fit and concurrently dreading the 4 and half hour walk in long khaki pants.

Completing the look is a CBS wireless radio that clips to my pants, official looking headphones and, most importantly, an access badge that states clearly, LIVE TELEVISION. That pass was my ticket to go anywhere I wanted on the golf course. As we approach the driving range, I am struck by the crowds. HUGE. People swarming
everywhere, lines at the ropes 6 or 8 deep and young kids, 3 or 4 years old, who are bright red from the heat already and the leaders haven’t gone off yet. What in the world were the parents thinking here?: These poor kids were probably told that there were headed to the park as they certainly would have thrown a hussy fit if they knew what they were signing up for. Funny, with all the drama of a major unfolding around me, that was
one of the more indelible images I took from Tulsa. Hot, sweaty, miserable little kids who wanted to anywhere but Southern Hills Golf Club. And rightfully so. On the range are Steven Ames and Ernie Els. Of course, it is roped off and there is security everywhere, keeping spectators 50 yards or more from the players. But not so for us. As we approach the entry to the range, security lifts the ropes and in walks David and me.. Zip, just like that . Feherty says, “let go talk to Ames”. Who am I to say no.

Steven is hitting shots, which look pretty good on the range. But when he is not hitting balls and turns to talk with us, I see it: He’s toast He is like a deer in the headlights, his eyes darting from place to place, clearly uncomfortable with the notion of being in the final twosome of a major, on Sunday, with Tiger Woods.. “It’s Tigers”, I whisper to Feherty. He gives me the look which distills to, “Da Ya think?” I decide to limit my
commentary at this point.

But now comes a highlight of this experience, something that any golfer could only hope to do; stand next to Ernie Els as he hits shot after beautiful shot. David and I watch him, with even Feherty looking like he was awe struck, as the smoothest swing in golf CRUSHES the ball but with effortless rhythm. Finally, Ernie takes a break, notices us standing there and says hello to Feherty and I, with sweat pouring off of him. Feherty says something like, “Hot enough for you mate?” with Els offering a single look that struck me as saying, “I can’t believe we are playing this fu—ing tournament, in August, in TULSA, OKLAHOMA!” But he merely nods and says, “Plenty hot, yes.” As opposed to Ames who looks like he had just consumed the entire commercial dispenser of espresso, Ernie looked like he had just woke from a nap in the hammock I was about to offer my insight to Feherty on this observation but he gave me the look that said, “ Zip it”.

Ernie put his hybrid in his bag and out came the driver. This I wanted to see. Remember, I am nearly off his right shoulder, as if I am his coach.. He tees up the ball, sets up, eyes the driving range for where he will land it, moves to his right side without effort , sets the club and BOOM, the ball comes off the driver face as if it were launched by a bazooka. It’s a clear day with blue skies but as I watch the ball flight, it disappears from view. He hit is so far that I could no longer follow its path. It seemed to me at the time that we should scream, “Fore!” to the spectators that were up the hill, near the clubhouse…..perhaps a mile away. Ok fine, I recall thinking. I will follow this ball start to finish. BOOM!!! The second drive soars from the range into the blue sky and out of sight again. Ernie looks back at me for a brief moment, perhaps seeing the awe in my face. “Looked a little quick at the top” I say. He smiles but I can tell he wants me to leave now.

As I finish my coaching with Els, it happens. The ropes part and onto the range comes Tiger, dressed in black pants and blood red shirt. He makes no eye contact with anyone and looks for a spot on the range for him to set up. He chooses the far end of the range and I start to walk that way, hoping to replicate the proximity to Tiger that I had with Els. Wrong. Feherty gives me the “leave him alone” look and I get it. Fine, he won’t get any
coaching from me then...

Already, there are 8 people deep behind the ropes following Tiger….on the driving range! He is all business, calm and deliberate, and all but ignores the circus like environment surrounding him. I think that the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad could have been directly behind him, topless, and he would not have noticed. The contrast in
demeanor between him and Ames will show on the tee shot on #1. It’s show time as the leaders start time nears. David and I get in the CBS golf cart and drive up the hill to the number 1 tee box. If it was circus like at the driving range, it’s a full blown three ring affair at #1. A sea of humanity lined the ropes and the grandstands
and the upper clubhouse windows are full of grown adults with their noses against the glass, waiting to see the greatest golf in history hit his tee shot on #1, chasing major #13. I would have had goose bumps if I weren’t sweating so much.

Walking onto the first tee box of a major, as effortlessly as if I were a player, was a thrill. The ropes dropped, security stepped back and onto the tee box I walked. I stood on the middle of it, looking down the fairway, lined with fans, thinking that if I were teeing off, they damn well better step back as I rip a screaming hook right into their shirt pocket. As I was day dreaming, with more than one person in the crowd surely wondering, “who the hell is that guy?”, up came Tiger. Oh, and Steven Ames too but few noticed. The crowd noise rumbled like an F-14 was flying right over head and he was, once again, oblivious. Ames though, scanned the crowd, eyes darting, likely looking for his mommy. “Ladies and gentlemen, from Windemere, Florida, the 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 PGA Champion, Tiger Woods!” You would have thought you were at Fenway with David Ortiz up in the bottom of the 9th with bases loaded, game tied, against the Yankees. Surely this isn’t golf noise, I thought. But it was and the noise was all about Tiger Woods. He is, in every way, a phenom. He pures his tee shot long and right down the middle, Ames hooks his over the crowd ropes, behind the trees and in the crap and it is immediately evident that if anyone is going to gain on Tiger’s two stroke lead, it is not Steven Ames. It will need to come from behind the leaders and if Els was attentive to my coaching, it might well be him.

For the next four hours, I walk down the middle of each fairway, the security ropes part as I approach and I am often walking shoulder to shoulder with the greatest golfer ever to play the game. It was surreal, partly due to how close I was to Tiger on nearly every shot and partly because of how hot it was. I drank 4 large Gatorades and two bottles of water, over 100 ounces in total and walked right past each bathroom without a second look
Ordinarily, I would have been pushing little kids down to get in front of them in the men’s room line but not in this heat. My first urge occurred at around 9pm that night. Tiger wins the tournament on the 15th, as he birdies the hole with three perfect shots: a blistered 2 iron of 287 yards, an uphill 187 yard 7 iron that he fades on top of the
flagstick (even Ames caddy says to Feherty as he walks by, “Do you believe that f@cki#g shot!”) and a screaming downhill 5 footer for birdie Two shot lead, three holes, game, set, match. He pars 16 and 17 and has a two shot lead on the 18th tee box. His tee shot on 18 is perfect and now the lights are officially out. Tiger will be the 2007 PGA Champion and I was right there to see every shot he made.

I walk to his tee shot before he gets there, check the lie and it’s all good. He could bogey the hole and still win. He takes all trouble out of the shot by hitting to the back of the green, away from all the bunkers and the only landmines that wait.

Now, it starts: the walk up the 18th fairway, on Sunday, in a major, as the leader. I tuck in behind Tiger, walking stride in stride with him from 15 feet, seeing what he sees and hearing what he hears. I couldn’t feel what he was feeling, however, as an 11 handicap is unlikely to make the walk up 18 as a champion of a major. But I sure didn’t let that stop me for a few minutes. I blocked Tiger out of my consciousness, looked left and right, and walked right down the middle of the fairway, as if I were the 2007 PGA Champion. The crowd noise was like a small earthquake, nearly shaking the ground with its reverberations. They were wildly celebrating the Cinderella story of all times: a 52 year old amateur, who is an 11 handicap and hasn’t even won the second flight of the club
championship at his home course, has just won a tour major, the PGA Championship. It took all my will power to not lift up my hands in victory as, for those brief moments, I was the man. But then I imagined people saying, “Who the hell is that idiot?” and reality crashed back in. And besides, ten steps in front of me was Tiger Woods and I could no longer tune him out. I reluctantly allowed him to share the limelight.

As Tiger made his second putt for par, there was no human being closer to him than me. I was on the green, in front of the photographers and only steps from Woods as he made the 5 foot putt for par. Up went his hands (damn copycat) and into the history books went his 13th major.

Since I was to ‘shadow’ Feherty, I suddenly found myself nearly sprinting AWAY from the green as he took off like he owed Tiger money. Up the hill, through the crowds to the CBS golf cart, waiting to whisk him back to his trailer. Isn’t here a ceremony or something on the 18th green, in as such an event? Yes, but weren’t going to see it. Feherty had driven to Tulsa from home and he was as trance like as Tiger was on the course about getting into his SUV and getting out of dodge. In fact, he didn’t even bother to go into the trailer to change, dropping his pants in the middle of the parking lot. I could only assume CBS stopped paying him when the final putt drops as this man was on a mission. Since I had his pants, which admittedly, were soaking wet from sweat, I felt I need to give them back. I however, showed the decorum of changing inside his car. I folded the pants in a nice, neat fold and as he was about to climb into the drivers seat, I handed them to him. He looked at the pants, dirty and wringing wet, and I could see that he was quickly sizing up if he could ever wear them again, knowing where they had been for nearly 6 hours on a steaming hot, Tulsa afternoon. Without hesitation, he grabbed them from me, threw them under his SUV and backed right over them, with an evil look on his face that looked a lot like Damien’s in ‘The Omen’. And that was it.


About David Feherty
David Feherty was born in the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. He grew up wanting to become an opera singer, until he discovered he had the knack for hitting a golf ball. David enjoyed a very successful professional career, with 10 victories worldwide and over $3 million in prize money. He also played on the European Ryder Cup Team in 1991; an experience that rejuvenated his fervor for golf. David Feherty's newest challenge is his job as a golf commentator for CBS Sports. "I always enjoyed talking more than playing and now CBS is paying me for what I like to do most." David\'s quick wit and colorful personality on the course adds a new dimension to golf telecasts. His knowledge of the game and Tour experience give him instant credibility. David's success does not end with the microphone. He is also an author, currently writing for Golf Magazine and Golf Online. David Feherty demonstrates his lighthearted spirit in the clinics and outings he performs throughout the year. David Feherty's goal is to encourage those around him to look at golf and life with the same selfless manner and enjoyment he does.

GregGH

It should be everyones dream to get 'inside the ropes' just once before you die. I had the opportunity to have press pass for the 1996 US Open at Oakland Hills - and will treasure the experience! Boy was I nervous the first 20 minutes. You have to look like you belong. I have a steno pad I was jotting notes on ( a reporter after all - or sort of -- these are totally unreadable -- I do have bad hand writing at the best of times --so writing notes on a fast walk produces scrawl )

I notice they said you walk down the middle of the fairway - well the press have to walk along side of the ropes in the rough --so when the pro walks 400 yards - you are walking 470 yards. And talk about having to be quick witted - you dare not be walking prior to and during a shot being played - so more than once I didn't get to vantage point I wanted and during a courtesy squat ( only the USGA officials didn't squat and thus blocked the patrons view - to more than one comment heard ) found myself totally obstructed in view by some darn mound. So when you can walk - you walk quickly and think ahead --where do you want to get to next on this hole for the best vantage.

It was neat going from one green to the next tee as the connecting ropes opened up and a sea of people parted like the red sea - but the press either goes ahead of or behind the players, rarely with the players - so if you wanted that special spot - say on the back of the tee block - be ahead of the players. Not an easy task if you are on the other side of the green to the next tee. Position is everything

At Oakland between the 8th green and 9th tee ( a short par 3 ) there is a drop - and I was thru first -- only to see a lot of 'other press in the tee blocks --but then to realize it was a backlog of players and I got to see Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin up very close :-) among others

Don't miss the press tent. Aahh to sit down!!! - in air conditioning, and listen to the post game interviews. Added 10 pounds from the ice cream made available to the press.

Your inside the rope 'badge' - which is more like an arm band at the US open and the really cool guys hung it thru their belt - so wanting to look cool - there it went - for Thur, Fri & Sat. gets you most places including in the club house - the only place denied was the hospitality tents - that was ok - as I would only annoyed another friend who had earlier in the month flaunted his mfg pass.

On Sunday I was back to reality as the true owner reclaimed his badge. But an experience to last a lifetime. Now when golf is on --I look at the press walking the ropes -looking for that one guy who is having the time of his life.


Greg