Incentive - September 2008 - (Page 102)

TRAVEL The clubhouse of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews overlooks the flag on the 18th green of the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf ’s Pilgrimage “ There are believed to be approximately 32,000 golf courses around the world. Taking the law of averages into account, that’s 576,000 holes, and 2.3 million strokes in par play. And to think it all began at one course in Scotland, where holes were mapped out based on little more than the well-worn footpaths of local players. Although evidence of golf reaches much farther back in history—a game similar to golf is mentioned in the 11th-century Chinese book Dongxuan Records—it is the St. Andrews Links in Fife that the sport calls home. And as thousands who pilgrimage here every year will attest, there’s no place like home.” – Old Course Experience By Daniel J. Corcoran At St. Andrews, the Old Course Experience stands as stewards of their legacy me that the writer hadn’t conjured up the words; he simply “had the experience.” Having grown up with parents who play golf, and getting out a few times each year myself, I couldn’t help but stop by the Old Course Experience booth at last year’s Motivation Show. Maybe it was the free golf balls with the St. Andrews logo that caught my eye, or the traditional kilts of the team working the booth, but whatever it was, I decided to introduce myself to Robin Dugmore, managing director of the Old Course Experience. After a few pleasantries, I asked Robin what the marketing focus on “experience” was all about. Robin’s reply was simply, “Why don’t you tell me?” He told me to go and see for myself. Intrigued, I called my dad, who had visited St. Andrews 23 years earlier, and asked if he would like to join me in my quest to discover the meaning of the “Old Course Experience.” I don’t think I finished my sentence before a resounding “Yes!” came back through the phone. During the next few weeks, Robin’s very thorough and friendly staff handled every detail for us, as they do for countless incentive groups each year. At every turn, they offered suggestions, and the result was an itinerary that had been tailored to our every need and preference. For incentive groups, one special service provided by the Old Course Experience stands out: Through a special arrangement with the St. Andrews Trust, it has access to guaranteed tee times on The Old Course. All other visitors must enter a daily lottery for a tee time on the world’s most famous course. An incentive winner who worked hard all year and flew to Scotland would hardly want to hear that, but St. Andrews offers nine other golf courses (10, come spring). The day came for the trip to Scotland, and after a six-and-a-half-hour flight from I 102 | must admit, when I first read the above comments from the Old Course Experience brochure, I simply thought that the writer had a way with words, an ability to evoke special feelings about a famous place to play golf. It wasn’t until I visited St. Andrews in late April that it became clear to Incentive | September 2008 | incentivemag.com http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - September 2008

Incentive - September 2008
Contents
Editor's Note: The Best of Times and...
Headlines
Cover Story: MetLife Rethinks Recognition
Incentive Interview: Russ Edelman
Case Study Orkin: The Presidential Treatment
Coca-Cola Bottling: The Sweet Taste of Success
Keep Cash Off the Hood: Auto Incentives
Handle with Care: Motivating After Layoffs
Start Spreading the News: PR Incentives
Planning: Got Lemons? Make Lemonade
Industry Veterans Speak: The President Slept Here
Motivation: Action! Start Teambuilding Now!
Incentive Primer: How To Reward Well
Motivation@Work: The Character Connection
Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do
Top Undiscovered Destinations: New Territory
Field Report: South Africa In Style
Field Report: Golf's Pilgrimage
Potentials Here and Now
In-Room Gift Ideas: Pillow Talk
Shopping Sprees: Shop Till You Drop
Gift Cards: Plastic Is Perfect
Advertiser Index
Last Word: Outsmart! Author James Champy
Special Supplement: Mexico

Incentive - September 2008