He grew up on tournament golf.

20 years after golfer Payne Stewart’s tragic death, son Aaron carries his legacy

Aaron Stewart spent his summers on the road as a PGA Tour kid. The behind-the-scenes visits at the Columbus Zoo during the Memorial Tournament stand out among his favorite memories as well as the “music man” under the big tree on Hilton Head Island.

He grew up on tournament golf.

It’s not surprising that Stewart would want to follow in the footsteps of his father, Payne, a three-time major winner and sporting icon. A humble Aaron calls it more of a blessing than an expectation that he’s now back in golf. The former SMU player (just like dad) was recently named vice president of sports marketing for Diamond Resorts and executive director of the LPGA’s Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.

Oct. 25 marks the 20th anniversary of the day Payne’s tragic death played out on television screens across the country. Four months after Payne won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, a private Learjet carrying the golfer and five others crashed near Aberdeen, South Dakota, after flying on autopilot for several hours.

“The fact that this is 20 years is pretty crazy to me,” said Aaron. “To think that amount of time has gone by.”

Aaron said he recently did an interview for PGA Tour radio with his sister Chelsea, who works for AT&T, and they talked about how their dad would’ve gotten along in today’s PC society. Imagine trying to control him on Twitter, Chelsea said.

“It never came from a mean-spirited place,” said Aaron of his father’s jokes. “Everybody knew that’s Payne having a good time. He was able to get away with it.”

Aaron, 30, looks a lot like Payne. People tell him that all the time. They also tell stories, and Aaron never tires of hearing them. The Stewart family still keeps in touch with many of the PGA Tour families Aaron and Chelsea grew up with.

After completing the program, Stewart landed a job that had over 400 employees reporting to him.

“He was special,” said Flaskey of Stewart taking on such a hefty role at a young age.He grew up on tournament golf.Aaron Stewart, son of late PGA Tour icon and World Golf Hall of Famer Payne Stewart, has been named Executive Director of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Stewart, who also serves as Vice President of Sports Marketing for Diamond Resorts, will oversee all aspects of the LPGA Tour event to be held January 16-19, 2020, at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club in Orlando, Florida.

After several years as National OPC Program Manager and Regional Marketing Director, Stewart and his wife, Naiara, took a break from work to travel the world, an adventure that had long been in the making.

They visited 40 countries that year, spending the most time visiting family from their mom, Tracey’s, native Australia.

One of the reasons Flaskey created the Diamond Resorts TOC was to focus on a younger demographic. Millennials account for 12 percent of Diamond’s total membership.

 

“We know millennials want to travel,” said Flaskey. “They want to get out there and go.”

When Aaron and his wife returned to the U.S., they decided to move back to Orlando, Florida. He returned to the company in March as Director of National Partnerships.

The 2020 Diamond Resorts TOC takes place Jan. 16-19 on Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando. Winners from the last two seasons are invited to play alongside sports stars and celebrities. Eun-Hee Ji won the 2019 edition along with former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz.

The tournament, which averaged 15,000 fans over the weekend in its debut, aims to be the biggest party on tour. To that end, there will be three concerts in 2020. While LPGA pros compete for $1.2 million over 72 holes, the celebrities vie for their own $500,000 purse using a modified Stableford format. The event has raised $3.5 million for children’s healthcare.

With the LPGA adding a second stop in south Florida after the TOC – the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio – the field at Tranquilo might be stronger in 2020. Michelle Wie’s victory at the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship makes her eligible for the season-opener should be healthy enough to compete.

Part of what attracted Flaskey to bring back a TOC format to the LPGA was the fact that it’s an earned event. In Stewart, he has found a man who is uniquely qualified to lead it.

“We just think that growing up in a lifetime of golf brings credibility to our event,” said Flaskey of Payne’s only son. “It helps us really take it to the next level.”

SOURCE:  USAtoday

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How Much Does It Cost To Play Today?

The phone rings.
Golf Shop Staff:  Drake Creek Golf Club this is Todd how can I help you?
Caller:  Yea, how much does it cost to play today?
That’s a common call to Drake Creek and I presume to many area courses.  It’s an important call too.  We know there’s a potential customer on the line.  But we also know that unless we are the last course on his list, he’s likely to hang up quickly and call the next course.  In essesnce, we know the caller is looking for the cheapest rate.
My staff and I discuss at length the best way to answer this frequent caller.  We continue to tweak our procedures to insure the caller chooses Drake Creek and pays our prevailing rate.  We’d like to think we’re getting better securing these callers to our course.  But this blog is not so much about training my staff.  Rather, it’s about how I’d like to train the caller.  Or more specifically the golfer.
I try to profile this golfer.  He’s probably not a member anywhere since he’s calling for green fee rates.  He’s probably not a member anywhere because he either doesn’t get to play enough golf to justify a membership or because he enjoys playing different courses. And obviously, he’s not interested in paying a significanlty higher rate than what’s available at other quality courses.  He’s watching his checkbook like most all of us.  I’m also guessing that he’d like to play the best possible course and have fun doing it.  (Sigmund Freud watch out, I’m on a roll.)
I only wish the caller could realize the answer to his question should be found in the aforementioned synopsis, not soley in a number. Because that’s what we work so hard to provide at Drake Creek Golf Club.
He’s probably not a member anywhere because he doesn’t get to play enough golf to justify a membership.  Since you don’t get to play as often as you wish, don’t you really want to play a really good course when you do play?  Drake Creek fits that bill.
I’m also guessing that he’d like to play the best possible course and have fun doing it.  Fun.  Isn’t that the point of golf?  A better question from the caller might be, “what else do you provide that can make my day more enjoyable?”  Our answer of course would be to take advantage of The Patio Grill at Drake Creek.  Everyone enjoys sitting around with their buddies after the round with a cold beverage and a good burger.  Or have the family meet you on the Patio after your round.  Take the kids on complimentary golf cart rides or play putt putt golf on our practice green.  Either way, you’re adding more fun to your experience.
He’s not interested in paying a significanlty higher rate than what’s available at other quality courses.  Well here’s the truth.  Our rack rates are within a dollar or two (sometimes lower sometimes higher) than other quality courses in the area.  And if you book online at www.drakecreek.com, we offer Internet specials and twilight rates that generally smoke our competitors.
So to all those golfers who simply ask, “how much is it to play today?”.  I say forgo the dollar.  Maximize fun.  Seek an enjoyable experience.  Seek value not price.  And by all means seek fun!
At Drake Creek, we have the amenities and a professional staff that’s committed to your total golf experience.  Come see for yourself.
Todd Butts
PGA Director of Golf and Operations
P.S.  If you’re still committed to calling every area course looking only for the best price, save yourself some time.  Just call Mid-Town Golf Course in Paducah.  They’ve got us all beat.
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