Thoughts on Gift Cards-Pros & Cons

As a retailer we love gift cards/gift certificates.  They are a great way for someone else to pay for our advertising!  We have noticed over the years that many of the gift certificates have not been redeemed. It disappoints us since we would love for more people to find out about our great products and customer service however, personally as a purchaser of gift cards it makes me worry.  Do the recipients ever use the card?  It would be great if there was a follow up that the company sent the giver of the card an acknowledgment that the card was used.  The logistics should not be difficult yet, gift cards can be used years later. I think if recipients knew that the giver was going to be notified people would be more conscientious about using the gift card on a timely basis.  They would not just throw the card in a drawer to be used later.
Any thoughts???

Try Smiling!

A tennis friend told the story of how intense she was in matches.  Her face and body language indicated her killer instinct on the court.  It made her partner and her opponents uncomfortable.  Someonesuggested she try this technique-Smile.  No matter how intense she felt she put this huge smile on her face while waiting for a serve.  No matter if she was winning or losing she would turn up the corners of her mouth and smile. 

There were two consequences to this behavior; first she found the smile actually relaxed her. Secondly, the smile got in the opponent's head.  They did not know how to react.  Some got annoyed with her but other players started smiling more on the court themselves.
So as the lyrics to an old WWI song go: "Smile, Smile, Smile!"

Golfing in the Dark?!

Now that the sun is setting very early-like 4pm in New England the shortened days are cutting into time on the golf course. Someone told me about this fun "Glow in the Dark" golf game.  You need "glow in the dark" golf balls, 3 golf clubs, glow sticks, and flashlight or headlamp.  The person said they only set up 3 holes since you need to put glow sticks at the tee box, down the fairway, and a glow stick around the pin. They were put in groups of 6 and just carried their 3 golf clubs of choice.  It sounded like allot of work but she said it was so fun everyone was willing to help set up the next time.  Good idea to take the edge off those long winter nights.

Golfer -Warm your Buns on cold mornings!

On those cold mornings when the golf cart seats are freezing put a bathmat with a rubber backing on the seat. Put the backing face down on the seat so that it does not slip around. Now you and your partner will have nice warm "buns" as you play your round of golf!

Sandtrap Mulligans-Fling It!

Fling It! Ever been a sand trap with a huge bunker overhang -impossible to get out?? Well, "Fling It." It is comparable to a Mulligan only you use it when in a sand trap. Just pick up the ball and fling it out of the sand trap no closer to the hole! Establish the "Fling It" rules ahead. For example, one or two "Fling Its" a round. $1 a Fling. Money goes to bar bill afterwards, or keep a "Fling It" chest to use the money for an end of the season treat.

Alternative for a Rainy Day Tournament

Although golf might be cancelled for your Member-Guest everyone can still have fun!  Arrange ahead of time for a specific time for everyone to show up for lunch. This should be put on the Invitation so there is no last minute phone calls and emails.  "In event of rain please arrive at 12 noon for lunch and prizes."
First, when everyone arrives have them fill out three pieces of paper for the drawings."Members" are put in one container and "Guests" go in another container and their combined names as the Member& Guest team.  Next, have members and their guest have a little putting contest, or golf ball toss just for fun.  Then proceed into lunch and let the fun awards begin.
After lunch start awarding prizes just as though the tournament took place. Build excitement about each award. For example, draw a name for the winner of the Member's Longest Drive-make up a number and award the gift. Continue awarding the team prizes and the individual prizes by drawing names from the appropriate containers. Everyone can join in on the fun.  People who seldom win love getting Longest Drive or Low Gross.  There are lots of laughs, and bragging rights at the end of the day.

Pinwheels-Tournament Idea

Pinwheels are whimsical! You can have a variety of themes and use pinwheels as your decorations.  For example, Blowing in the Wind or Fun in the Sun could be your overall theme and use the pinwheel as your decoration.   Line the driveway to your event with pinwheels, put pinwheels in a tricky sand traps for a free lift, arrange pinwheels in a container as the centerpiece.  Use pinwheels to indicate tee boxes.  Use pinwheels to indicate tennis courts used for different divisions in tournaments.  Pinwheels can also be used in your garden or deck.  Rumor has it they scare off squirrels! 

Get a Birdie? Have a Belt!

BELTS FOR BIRDIES! After getting a Birdie on a hole the other day my friend pulled out a cute pink flask and 4 small plastic cups-the kind of cups hospitals use for medication distribution. We proceeded to click our cups and congratulate the "Birdie" girl! Fortunately, or unfortunately, we only had one more birde during the round!  Try this fun celebration  the next time you or your friend get a Tweet! Tweet!  Don't forget your flask.  Great for cold mornings or late afternoons.

Grass Roots 9/11 Rememberance-JUST WEAR RED

We would like to start a grass roots campaign to honor all those who died in the attacks on the WTC. Let's show their family members that America will never forget. On September 11, 2011 everyone wear red.  It is easy-no cost. Imagine the solidarity it would show if every single man, woman, and child in America wore red for this one day.  Please share this post.  Just Wear Red

Even the Playing Field!

Instead of "giving strokes" the next time you are playing golf try this format. It is especially fun when playing in a foursome where there is a difference in handicaps. Young golfers can catch on quickly, and everyone has a chance of getting "points." We have set up the points in a table form so you can print it out and carry it with you. It is a variation of other games but it is easy to score. Everyone keeps track of their own points. You announce how many "points" you got after each hole. This relieves any embarrassment if someone had a high score. The player just announces his 'points." At the end of the round players total their points and pay off the winner. The Payment can be a round of drinks, a quarter, or any agreed upon award. (We are not encouraging gambling in any way!)
SCORING:
•1 POINT - DRIVE IN FAIRWAY
•1 POINT - ONE PUTT
•1 POINT - BOGEY
•2 POINTS - PAR
•2 POINTS - LAND ON GREEN PAR 3
•3 POINTS - BIRDIE
•3 POINTS - CHIP-IN

Susan B. Koman Tournament Idea

There are so many fun ideas to incorporate in the Pink Ribbon tournaments. This might be new to you!
Each 4some is given a Pink Ball with their names on it. That Pink Ball must be returned at the end of the round. (Putting the names on the ball keeps everyone honest!) Each player must play with the Pink Ball at least twice during the round. At the awards all the "returned" Pink Balls can be put in a basket. The foursome that is pulled can win a "Play with the Pro" round –or at least play with him a few holes.

Happy Birthday Theme for Each Hole!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY-Another inexpensive theme to consider is "Happy Birthday!" Each hole celebrates a month and the golfer who was born in that particular month gets a special gift. The" gift" could be a "mulligan" to be used anywhere during the play of that hole. Perhaps one stroke could be taken off the total score of the Birthday Hole. Decorations are inexpensive and easy-balloons, party hats, goodie bags… The centerpiece on each table could be a small birthday cake with candles! What could be simpler!

Pink Flag Tournament Idea

Plant the Pink Flag.  Everyone is given a Pink Flag with their Name and Perfect Net Score. As you play the round you keep a running total of your score. When your total score reaches the combination of your Handicap plus your actual score you Plant the Flag! If you have a 20 handicap and the course Par is 71 when you reach 91 you plant the flag. The person who plants the flag at the furthest point on the course is the winner!

Color Theme for Golf & Tennis Tournaments

Easy tournament idea for golf or tennis.  Choose a color-purple, blue, green and use that theme throughout. Golfers might call it Rub of the Green and wear green and all awards are green for example, plants, eco-friendly gifts...  Tennis players could pick Red -For the LOVE of the Game.  Everyone wears Red, awards are red such as socks, visors or bottles of red wine!   

Gold is over $1500 an ounce. Consider VERMEIL as an alternative.

Now that gold is over $1500 an ounce VERMEIL is an affordable consideration. VERMEIL looks like 14K yellow gold however; it is a fraction of the price.  In order to qualify as gold vermeil a piece of jewelry must have a base of sterling silver.  The gold layer with which the silver is plated must be at least 10K gold and the layer must be at least 2 ½ microns of thickness.  Consider vermeil as an alternative while the $$ of gold is prohibitive!

Lottery Tickets-Better than a Birthday Card-Inexpensive Goodie Bag Gift

After spending ten minutes looking for a birthday card for my husband, I walked away empty handed. The cards were too sappy, too silly or too sexist! As I was leaving I stopped and bought him a $2 scratch lottery ticket. After listening to his lecture about "nobody wins these things," he proceeded to scratch off two winning numbers and won ten dollars! So the next time you need to get a birthday or anniversary card just grab a lottery ticket. Even if they don't win, half the fun is the anticipation while "scratching!


Also, makes an inexpensive tee gift for golf or tennis tournaments

Golf Game that all level players can win. Easy to record.

DOTS & PUTTS GAME


Fun golf game to play with players of different playing ability. On the scorecard record a DOT for every DRIVE that lands on the FAIRWAY. It does not matter if it is only 30 yards out! That player gets a DOT. Next, record everyone's PUTTS. At the end of the round add the DOTS & PUTTS. For example, Mary had 13 DOTS and 36 PUTTS. Subtract 13 from 36 for a TOTAL SCORE for Mary of 23. Margaret had 10 DOTS and 40 PUTTS for a TOTAL SCORE of 30. Mary won since her total score (23) was lower than Margaret's (30)! You decide the prize

DAY AT THE SPA!

Day at the Spa Theme


 Fill a bucket or basket with goodies for bath /shower. Add hand cream, talc powder and other small items, wrap with clear plastic and tie up with an attractive bow. Place a beach chair, towel and fuzzy slippers at each tournament hole eg. Longest Drive… Send out invitations ahead to give info to Guests. Call us for more details. 800-533-3653

Made in the USA! How many companies can make that claim???

MADE IN THE USA!- Did you know that about 98% of our products are made in the USA? We really try hard to support small business like ourselves by buying only products made here in our country. The products we manufacture are made in facilities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Ohio. Other 14K Gold and Sterling Silver products are made by manufacturers in New York, Iowa and California. It is hard to compete with retailers who buy from oversea suppliers but we have tried to stay firm in our belief since 1989!

Jewelry Instead of Flowers as a Sympathy Gift

MEMENTOS INSTEAD OF FLOWERS!
We recently received an order with a gift note that said "Our flowers to you…When you wear this pendant, think of Rick." Historically, flowers have been a way to show sympathy and concern for a loved one who has died. However, this customer was creative enough to give a gift that will be a lasting reminder of their friendship. Although we sell sports jewelry we think this concept of giving a lasting memento is an excellent idea. So "instead of flowers" think of a shared activity or memory and send a keepsake gift. You can see some jewelry ideas at GOLF CHARMS AND PENDANTS.

















































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Tournament Ideas

SICK OF THE SAME PEOPLE ALWAYS WINNING? Do the same people always win your golf or tennis tournament? Does the same person always hit "the longest drive?" In tennis is it always the same person who wins the most games? Well, change it up! Give other people a chance to get a prize. One of the local golf clubs in the area is sponsoring a tournament called "Come In Second!" They are awarding prizes to the Second Runner Up for each event. You could go one better and award the team that comes in the middle of the pack-those unsung heroes of the golf course and tennis courts who play in every event and never win. Boating enthusiast have a special award called DFL-"Dead Freaking Last." Make up your own acronym and surprise the field with special awards!


EAT,PLAY & LOVE- Recently, we got a call from a customer who was looking for prizes/tee gifts working around the theme of the popular book, EAT, PRAY, LOVE. We loved this idea so much we thought we would share it with you so you could elaborate on the idea. LOVE is a tennis term so this would make a great theme for Tennis Tournaments. The "Heart" products are always easy to find-I Love Golf #1301 or I Love Tennis #1350 would make inexpensive tee gifts.

3 BLIND MICE- Deduct three worst holes from score. Lowest score after deduction wins!

SWEATY WATER BOTTLES??- One tennis fan of ours sent in this idea. Put your water bottle in a sock to keep the condensation from getting everything in your tennis bag wet. You need a long crew sock so it comes up high enough to cover the water bottle. This works on the newer canteen style bottles also. Be creative but the sock needs to have some thickness to it!

Gold jewelry Options

14K gold Jewelry has become Very Expensive, but there Options;

Gold jewelry never goes out of style. That is why gold jewelry makes a great gift! Because gold has reached record highs, we are offering two alternative precious metal options that are attractive, yet affordable. We are pleased to be able to offer both 10K GOLD and VERMEIL.
WHAT IS 10K GOLD? Pure gold is too soft to be used for jewelry, so other metals (or alloys) are added to it. K or Karat is the system used to state how much pure gold is found in an item. 24K is pure gold. 14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of other metal(s). 10K gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts other metal(s). Because there is less pure gold in 10K the price is more affordable yet the item still looks like the gold we are accustomed to buying.
WHAT IS VERMEIL? Pronounced VUR-MAY, vermeil is typically defined as a 14K gold layer measuring 100 millionths of an inch over sterling silver. The supplier we use layers a 22K gold over sterling silver. Since Vermeil looks like 14K yellow gold it is an attractive yet affordable alternative to gold.
Not all our products are offered in Vermeil or 10K Gold however, you might find an item that you like in one of our categories.