Ted Simons, Synergy Group Consulting Afterhours
This episode delves into the evolving landscape of golf, particularly the integration of technology and entertainment within the sport. We engage in a thoughtful discourse with Ted Simons, CEO of Synergy Group Consulting, who articulates his perspective on the intersection of traditional golfing experiences and the burgeoning popularity of simulators and interactive formats. The conversation underscores the necessity for the golf industry to adapt and embrace innovative approaches that cater to a diverse audience, particularly those who are new to the game. Furthermore, we explore the potential benefits of mixed-gender teams and the importance of fostering a more inclusive and engaging atmosphere for players and spectators alike. Ultimately, we ponder the future trajectory of golf, emphasizing the imperative of creating enjoyable and accessible experiences that will attract and retain participants.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Painted Hills Natural Beef
- Synergy Group Consulting
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Transcript
Welcome to Grilling at the Green After Hours.
Speaker A:The conversation that took place after the show ended.
Speaker A:Hi, everybody, it's JT and this is a special version of Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:Grilling at the Green is brought to you in part by Painted Hills Natural Beef.
Speaker A:Beef you can be proud to serve your family and friends.
Speaker A:That's Painted Hill's natural Beef.
Speaker A:Welcome to After Hours here on Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:I'm JT and we've got Ted Simons with us today, CEO of Synergy Group Consulting.
Speaker A:So we kind of led into this at the back of the main show.
Speaker A:Ted Tigers deal.
Speaker A:I'm about 50, 50 on it right now.
Speaker A:That's just me.
Speaker A:And I haven't watched what has there been three or four of them?
Speaker A:I've, I've watched like one and a half of them.
Speaker A:So I think that facility that they put together is pretty cool, especially the green.
Speaker A:And you were talking about that, that, you know, it changes and undulations and rises and, you know, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker A:That's pretty cool.
Speaker A:I think they wanted the players to be more interactive with each other, but as you and I talked off the air the other day, they probably aren't going to talk the way they talk when it's just them on the course and they're, you know, and they're playing for $1,000 a hole or something.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:The language might be a little more colorful.
Speaker A:Yeah, little colorful.
Speaker A:Y like that.
Speaker A:And frequent.
Speaker A:And there would be, you know, questioning of one's parentage, etc.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:But like Tiger saying, I, I think it's a good idea.
Speaker A:It's fun.
Speaker A:But the.
Speaker A:Also, the thing that sets in my mind is I look at that surroundings and I'm not opposed to this.
Speaker A:I just haven't kind of figured out how to, I don't know, think about it properly, I guess.
Speaker A:But it also looks to me like it's something, a betting situation, gambling, you know, And I'm not opposed to gambling.
Speaker A:I made my living for a few years as a gambler, but I, that's what it seems to me.
Speaker A:It's almost like the Romans in the circus, you know what I mean?
Speaker A:In the Coliseum, except we're, we're hitting balls.
Speaker A:So how's that for some really strange analysis for you.
Speaker A:But I wanted to get your take on that.
Speaker B:I am, I'm in the camp with you.
Speaker B:I'm, I'm not, I'm not wildly excited about it and I'm not a purist.
Speaker B:I'm, I'm an innovator.
Speaker B:I love technology.
Speaker B:I mean, that's kind of where that's kind of my mark right now is technologies.
Speaker B:And so the technology side of it, I enjoy the parts that, I mean, you already touched on.
Speaker B:Not all players have personalities.
Speaker B:I think it's going to, I think each, each episode, if you will, will probably get better because the other players will have watched other players and they'll start to get a little bit better cadence of, of how to interact.
Speaker B:A couple things that I wish, I wish we were playing.
Speaker B:They were playing what I would call a little more normal golf.
Speaker B:Golf courses.
Speaker B:You know, the golf holes look like a video game.
Speaker B:And I don't, I don't find that interesting.
Speaker B:I'd rather, you know, maybe, maybe iconic holes would be, would be better.
Speaker B:And I think the, I think the green, the, you know, and again, it's, it's based on the design of the, you know, from the designer, the architects of the golf holes.
Speaker B:I think the greens are a little, a little too tricked out to be realistic.
Speaker B:It's fun to see them fail because it makes, it makes it okay to fail.
Speaker B:But when you see some of the ups and downs and overs and plateaus and yeah, it's, it's, it's not real either.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I just, like I said, I'm not.
Speaker A:It's too early for me to have in my mind a solid opinion of it.
Speaker A:But as we talked in the regular show, you know, simulators and stuff are big now.
Speaker A:We've actually, I don't know if it's reached its peak as far as restaurant or bar room settings.
Speaker A:We can go in and have some bar food and you and your friends can, you know, pick pebble beach to play for an hour.
Speaker A:And, you know, when you don't have to walk and you don't have to do that, it moves it along pretty fast.
Speaker A:So you can do that.
Speaker A:We've already had a couple of them close because I think they probably overspent on their simulators and build outs because they didn't own the buildings.
Speaker A:And as you know, as I know that, you know, you get those triple net leases and that stuff, it gets expensive.
Speaker A:So the thought in our area was because of our winters, which are mostly wet and soggy, that this would be a place for people to congregate.
Speaker A:An indoor version of topgolf, if you will, like that.
Speaker A:So the ones that have been successful are still going.
Speaker A:The ones that were a little marginal, I think they're gone now, are going, but back to television.
Speaker A:You know how they do like with the NFL coaches at halftime, they catch them when they're going off the field or coming back and saying, hey, Coach Ted, what do you need to do for your defense second half?
Speaker A:Whatever those little comments, I think they're trying to integrate that in there.
Speaker A:But they've got to have people that, like you said, have a big personality and can talk and say, boy, I hit that shot like crap, you know, or whatever.
Speaker A:So I think if they get that, I think maybe, or it might be something.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I think, again, I think things will improve as the players understand their role in the success of the league.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:You know, it's just not, you know, how well you play.
Speaker B:It's not.
Speaker B:It's not even.
Speaker B:I understand there's money involved in winning, but these guys are making enough money anyway.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, everybody wants to win, but I think.
Speaker B:I think if they see that it's as important, if not more, to sell the product versus sell your ability, your capabilities already established.
Speaker B:That's why you're there, you know, so, you know, you know, it's.
Speaker B:It is entertain.
Speaker B:It's supposed to be entertainment.
Speaker B:And so, you know, you need to become an entertainer whether you like it or not.
Speaker B:I mean, we've all been in that boat.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I actually think too, you know, the stuff we see late in the fall, early December, some of those.
Speaker A:They used to call it the silly season, those tournaments, the PNC, etc.
Speaker A:If I was going to advise Tiger and those guys, I would say you need to have mixed teams, and maybe they will.
Speaker A:But, you know, have Rory and Nelly Corda, you know, team up against Tiger and somebody else, you know, whoever it is, and do that and have them.
Speaker A:Because I know they do play together once in a while, and when there's no microphones around, they are always giving each other the jazz, you know, like that.
Speaker A:And so I think maybe that would be a little more entertaining and see the human side of them when they really muff a shot and their.
Speaker A:Their teammate really sticks it in their ear on the deal.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, I fully agree.
Speaker B:I thought early on if they could, you know, do something.
Speaker B:What you're talking about, incorporate.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Male, female, you know, teams playing, playing groups.
Speaker B:I think it would be.
Speaker B:I think it would be way more interesting, and I think it would.
Speaker B:I think it would be good for both sides of the equation.
Speaker B:Most male golfers, if they have the opportunity to watch LPGA players, will gain more from that than watching watching PGA players.
Speaker B:I mean, you learn.
Speaker B:You learn the importance of tempo and, you know, and Hitting the ball square from a little 135 pound girl, smacking it down the fairway.
Speaker B:285, you know, then, you know, some guy at 235 that's smacking a 350.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:I've covered quite a number of LPGA tournaments and I am always impressed that for the most part, they, you know, hard for them to compete with Rory, you know, or Ludwig or some of those guys that can really kill it out there.
Speaker A:But as far as accuracy, I'll.
Speaker A:I'll stack those LPGA players up against the PGA Tour players any day because they may be shorter in distance and not by a whole hell of a lot, but they are far more accurate on their shots for the most part.
Speaker A:I don't know the comparing stats, but I would.
Speaker B:Come to Jesus offering.
Speaker B:Years ago in Jeremy Ranch in Park City, I was playing with Danielle Lamakopani, who at the time was number one in the world with Dottie Pepper.
Speaker B:And we're playing my home course and yeah, I hit my drive out there, she hits her drive out there, and she's playing appropriate tee.
Speaker B:She plays whatever tee.
Speaker B:The distance makes sense based on the lpga.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:And so sometimes we'd be at the same marker, sometimes she'd be, you know, one or two ahead of me.
Speaker B:And we get out to our balls and I'd have a seven iron in my hand and should have a five wood and should hit it within six feet and I'd hit it within six yards.
Speaker B:And I'm going, okay, get to the next hole.
Speaker B:And it's, it's the same thing, you know, their ability to hit long clubs in close that.
Speaker B:I mean, I did not have that skill set at that time.
Speaker B:And it was, it was, it was demoralizing and gave me a true appreciation for how good the ladies are, the girls are.
Speaker B:And to this day, like I say, I would rather watch their swings as far as getting into a tempo and course management versus watching guys hit at 340.
Speaker B:We don't hit a 340.
Speaker B:We're lucky to hit it at 250.
Speaker A:Daniel is going to be on the show here shortly.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Talking about her new tour and stuff coming up.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Yeah, I just met with the.
Speaker B:I just met with the commissioner yesterday.
Speaker A:Oh, you did?
Speaker A:Good, good.
Speaker A:Well, we've not to get in the weeds here, but I reached out to her.
Speaker A:Oh, almost a year ago, I think, and we follow each other on LinkedIn and finally we talked and kind of waited till all this stuff started to come to fruition before you know, there was some substance there to talk about.
Speaker A:And yeah, she's going to.
Speaker A:I don't know exactly when.
Speaker A:Probably within the next month.
Speaker A:And so we'll do that.
Speaker A:It's all good.
Speaker B:Good timing.
Speaker A:So how's your game, Ted?
Speaker B:My game is.
Speaker B:We'll just call it on the Shelf.
Speaker B:I've yet to, I've yet to come back from my L1 through L5 spinal fusion.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, I'm.
Speaker B:I'm at a point where quality of life is better than quality of golf.
Speaker B:So I prefer walking around the PGA show, pain free and walking sitting, standing, doing what I do on a daily basis versus maybe over twerking a silly golf shot and not enjoying my life.
Speaker A:Been there, done that.
Speaker A:All, all of it that you just mentioned, all the aforementioned have the same rebuild process in the back there.
Speaker A:And now with both knees, I figure in another 15 years I'll be probably dead.
Speaker A:But, you know, I just kind of going for it.
Speaker A:But it doesn't make a big difference.
Speaker A:It makes a huge difference.
Speaker A:I can't rotate like I used to.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I can live with that.
Speaker A:But when I go to swing the club, I'm not getting three quarters of the way through the swing and starting to turn and have a shooting pain that goes from your ears to your toes, you know?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Win scene is not good.
Speaker B:No, it's not good.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:No bueno.
Speaker A:No bueno.
Speaker A:Okay, last question, my friend.
Speaker A:You put your prognostication hat on and tell us what Ted's thoughts are of going forward with golf in general.
Speaker A:We kind of covered the tours and stuff, but you just came from the show.
Speaker A:You work in this, you consult with this stuff every day.
Speaker A:Are we in a good place and are we going to keep being in a good place and keep expanding or what?
Speaker B:There's a couple of factions that are on the positive, which is the, you know, the industry, whether it's club owners or developers, are embracing short courses, non traditional golf courses.
Speaker B:Whether it's six holes, nine holes, 12 holes, any, any configuration that allows people to go play the game faster, right?
Speaker B:To go out and spend, you know, just an hour with you and say two your two boys and play six holes, short holes.
Speaker B:That is what I think the game needs.
Speaker B:But my, my big thing.
Speaker B:And I would, I wouldn't say I'm on the pulpit here, but you know, we have this, I call them topgolf golfers.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:They go out, they, you know, they go out once or twice, have a good time with their friends.
Speaker B:They certainly, you know, maybe enjoy some food and beverage at the time.
Speaker B:Occasionally they hit it into the clown's mouth.
Speaker B:They go, this game would be fun.
Speaker B:And then they show up to a golf course, pay 150 to $300, and five hours of their life is miserable.
Speaker B:We don't do a good job transitioning the top golf golfer to the golf course.
Speaker B:And I think there's a big miss there.
Speaker B:And I'm finding people that are starting to think like me.
Speaker B:They're not following me yet, but they're thinking like me.
Speaker B:As far as putting together programs that allow us to transition that driving range golfer onto the green grass to where they're comfortable.
Speaker B:Their game's not any better, but they're comfortable.
Speaker B:18 holes is a pretty intimidating factor.
Speaker A:I would then just off the top of my hat hanger here, I would think that if you did that topgolf, or even some of these simulators, if they went out and created a little network of just nine hole courses, you know, that you could, after work, take you an hour and a half to two hours.
Speaker A:Gonna be a little longer if you've not played on grass before, but work out a deal with them that they block out, you know, two hours worth of tee times for these people to come in and play.
Speaker A:Like you said, 18 can be intimidating.
Speaker A:And if you haven't played 18, it can be very fatiguing like that.
Speaker A:And just make it so it's kind of fun and get out there and maybe even have their assistant pro or pro out there rotating on the holes and they can ask them questions, you know, like that.
Speaker A:Not a full lesson, Just, you know, little, little tidbits here and there.
Speaker A:Maybe something like that would help.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:That's first blush.
Speaker A:I haven't put much thought into it, obviously, but maybe something like that.
Speaker A:Because I know the nine hole courses, especially on really nice days, they don't get as much traffic as the, the bigger courses, the 18s and stuff.
Speaker A:Because if you've played before, you want to go play in 18 with your friends.
Speaker A:Okay, I don't know, maybe something like that.
Speaker A:Who knows?
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:And set the golf course up appropriate, you know, provide some up tees that are 100 yards long.
Speaker B:And again, it's, it's all about, you know, providing people the opportunity to have success.
Speaker B:If you have success, you'll, you'll stay at something.
Speaker B:If you fail for five hours, you're probably not coming back.
Speaker A:No, probably not, Ted.
Speaker A:Thank you, my friend.
Speaker A:It's always a pleasure to talk to you.
Speaker A:And again, whip out your URL as they call it, and tell them where they can find you.
Speaker B:Synergy Group consulting.net okay, very good, Ted.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:We'll be back next week with another edition of Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:Until then, go out, play some golf, have some fun, and most of all, be kind.
Speaker A:Take care, everybody.
