How I Became Scottsdale's Biggest Fan

When I got here in January of '86 there was a golf boom in progress for Scottsdale and the surrounding communities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler and you could count on 8-10 new public/resort courses opening every year. This explosive growth continued until the downturn of the late 90's when our inventory of courses and hotel rooms finally outpaced demand. At present there are now over 300 courses spread throughout Scottsdale and Phoenix, known affectionately by residents and our winter visitors ("snow birds") as The Valley Of The Sun. How could you not be a fan of a place that has over 300 golf courses?!

I am an avid golfer (12 hdcp), a baby boomer at 58 years old and feel fortunate to have been involved in the business of bringing golfers to Scottsdale in my various roles as: Golf Packager/Wholesaler, Golf Hotelier and Scottsdale Ambassador at- large. I have traveled to many cities and countries, working the booths at golf shows, making joint sales calls to local businesses and major corporations with Scottsdale tourism officials and working alongside them at trade shows. Hospitality Industry representatives who were there to promote Scottsdale as a vacation destination because their research and trend tracking had identified these cities as important "feeder markets" to Scottsdale. Places like Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, Southern California, Detroit and others. It's been a lot of fun and I got to know a lot of people in this business who are as dedicated as I am in promoting Scottsdale as a world-class golf destination. I have made many friends within the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce and I salute them for the great job they do in promoting Scottsdale to the world. Special kudos to Rachel Sacco for single-handedly re-inventing the Scottsdale CVB.

I have taken part in golf "summits" and hospitality seminars where the industry leaders gather to discuss golf issues both on a national level and those that affect Scottsdale directly. I have conducted amateur tournaments at world-class golf facilities and I have played every course that will eventually be listed on this site. I have served on committees within the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Assoc. and I am a Certified Hotel Sales Professional. I know the people who can make your trip to Scottsdale memorable whether it's your first or fifth time here. Methodical planning with your interests in mind makes the difference between a so-so vacation and an unforgettable one.