Brushing the Dust Off - Spring Fever

Westchester County and it's surrounding areas are drying out after a week of hard rain and flooding. What better time to start talking about Spring? The weatherman uttered the number 70 when talking about temperatures for this weekend and I fully believe that Spring is on our doorstep not a moment too soon.

On my drive to work today I spotted more than one convertible top being lowered, car windows being rolled down and the very noticeable absence of things like winter coats, scarves and mittens.

Where I'm from Spring means one very important thing - it's golf weather. I grew up in Pennsylvania on the back door step of Oakmont Country Club. As a teenager I volunteered for every US Open event that came to town - working as a standard bearer for the women's tour and on the through board at the ninth hole for the men's tour. In the years before I was old enough to work at the Open I was employed by my father to grab autographs from such golfing greats as Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Arnold Palmer and yes, even the great Jack Nicholas. I was cute as a button and short so the autograph collecting and crowd dodging was easy for me. My father did reconsider my employment status as autograph collector extraordinaire when I told Gary Player to hold on before he went on to the next hole - he could sign my book too when the first guy was done. I did this during the US Open practice round. It got a laugh from Mr. Player and the crowd and I got a hug and the autograph! My father was found hiding behind a nearby tree.

Because golf weather evokes such strong memories for so many people, I thought this entry would be a good time to consider golf events here in Westchester County.

Golf can serve as a reward for employees who have reached their goals, the ultimate promotional branding event for any company or as a fund raising effort. We aren't without golf courses here in Westchester County at my best count 75 public and private golf courses in 38 Towns! That's a whole lotta golf and a whole lotta golf options.

With so many options, how do you find the right course? That has a lot to do with what type of event your planning, who will be playing in your outing or tournament and what kind of facilities you'll need for what happens after your players have walked off the eighteenth hole. If you're hosting a golf event the details of what happens after the event is often the most important part of your entire outing.

Things to consider:

• What level player will be attending your outing?



• Can you consider corporate sponsorships for each hole to deffer the cost of the event?



• Do you want to host a 19th Hole reception featuring some of Westchesters best catering so that you can continue the networking opportunities after your round is complete?



• Can you consider contests like closest to the pin and longest drive to make the round more exciting - if you want these, can the course you're considering provide the proper tools for this?

Golf is a great motivator - don't forget that when you're doing your Spring planning this year for your business. When you live in a county with 75 golf courses, it's something to be considered.

What's Happening In Westchester County?

Westchester Meetings & Events has been planning meetings and events for over twenty-five years through the efforts of our parent company, The Light Group, Inc. Now that we've hung out our new shingle here in Westchester County (Our home for more than five years) we're thrilled to be pairing our clients with the exciting events that are taking place in our area.

Meetings should be memorable for the participants and we understand that the work of planning a meeting can be either stressful or invigorating. The fast-paced and detail oriented world of business meetings is competitive for planners, but it's also competitive for our clients. If you're planning a meeting consider the benefits of hosting it here in Westchester County.

Event excursion and team building opportunities can transform a meeting into a motivational and memorable experience - one that not only builds your team, but also brands your message.

• Open-Hearth Cooking workshops at Van Cortland Manor - Private party making classes using 18th century recipes and tools.
• Private Wine Making Class
• Golf Outing and Gourmet Barbecue - Add a private putting lesson with a club pro before tee-off.
• Take a step back in time with a historical tour of the Hudson valley.
• A Guided Tour of Wild Flower Island
• Private Event at One of Westchester County's most historical sites - Lyndhurst, one of America's great castles and the property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Don't miss private access to the nineteenth century estate landscapes, grounds and gardens.
• Your group can take in year-round excellence in Equity theater at the Westchester Broadway Theater. Have dinner and a performance for your group only.
• French Tea and parties at one of Westchester County's gourmet restaurants.
• Chocolate making classes at a Mount Kisco pastry shop.

The list of things to do go on and on here in Westchester County. WM&E's partnerships with the special event vendors in this county translates into a fantastic event to add on to your meeting. Let us kick things up a notch and help make your meeting something to remember.

Till Next Time,
Kristin

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