A few PJS staff members are on the ground this week in Augusta for a Masters Experience outing. Our main goal in planning and executing these unique trips is to create a once-in-a-lifetime memory for our clients, but we also enjoy attending the tournaments ourselves! After all, it is THE MASTERS! With cameras strictly prohibited from the grounds, check out these other weekend highlights…

The Augusta Chronicle - always a nice read to start the morning.

Making a morning Starbucks run at The Masters - does it get any better?!

Check out one of the cars we'll be using this week - the all new GS 350 F-Sport.

Executive Chef Eric Heinrich preparing tonight's meal. Very impressive to watch!

Jeff and Greg making sure the bar is properly stocked for this evening!

Jennifer Brackett, with Executive Marketing and Whitney setting up for tonight's dinner with Peter and Edwin McCain.

A little difficult to see, but the private planes are all lined up at Augusta Regional airport this week. Pretty cool!

Surf and Turf for dinner tonight!

The entertainment for the evening - Peter Jacobsen and Edwin McCain! Singing, laughing, talking, story telling.

More stories!

Peter and Edwin!

Our fabulous team - at the end of an amazing night. Great job Whitney, Jeff, Mike and Greg!

For more information on past Masters Experience outings, check out our TIMELINE section.

When I signed up for golf lessons the summer before I began high school I had no idea how much the game would impact my life. Through the many years of high school and college golf, I had the opportunity to play a number of courses all across the United States. As my appreciation for the game grew so did the list of golf courses I want to play in my lifetime. Bandon Dunes has been on that list for many years, but in early March I was finally able to cross it off!

My parents grew up in Coquille, a small town 20 miles east of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on the Southern Oregon Coast. My dad tell stories of riding dirt bikes on the land that is now one of the most well-known golf resorts in the world. This area of the country is a special place for my family, so when my dad and I set out on our Bandon golf adventure, I knew this trip would build memories I would hold near and dear to my heart always.

We teed off on Pacific Dunes on a blustery Tuesday morning with everyone bundled up in seven layers of clothing and rain gear. As cold as it was, not even the rain, snow, hail, or wind could take away from the natural beauty all around us. The course is built on the rugged dunes perched 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The views are breathtaking and the wind is fierce. My golf game is not what is once was, so I took full advantage of the ladies tees despite losing a handful of golf balls. Throughout the day, I also became well acquainted with the natural bunkers that line the landscape.

At the end of the day, our golf adventure was a success and one that will likely be repeated for many years to come. My dad passed along to me his love and passion for the game of golf. For that, I am forever grateful.

Doug (my mom's cousin), Me and Dad

Beautiful Pacific Dunes

Storms rollin' in

All bundled up!

I know that we, as sports fans, have come to expect certain things during March Madness.  We expect certain upsets every year and we usually get them.

This year, however, I’d like to talk about a different kind of madness going on in March, and it’s related not to basketball but to the National Football League.  We’ve got Peyton Manning traveling through Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, and California, to finally end up in Denver, Colorado.  Is it just me, or does anyone else notice that Peyton must love horses (going from a Colt to a Bronco)…? Maybe it’s just me.  Tim Tebow then had to rethink his future, although with what appeared to be a blatant lack of support from John Elway, he already had to have thoughts of relocation.  Every analyst I read pointed out that Jacksonville was a good fit for Tim (and how joining the Jags’ would help with game attendance) but then, look out, Tim’s now the backup for the New York Jets!  Is this starting to feel a little like musical chairs to anyone? Madness I tell you!

There was yet another kind of madness this month in the NFL and that was the retirement of Hines Ward.  My heart broke when I heard that the Steelers organization was opting to release Hines before his contract was up this year.  I mean my heart ached.  In an industry where money so clearly talks and players can change teams about as often as Lady Gaga changes her look, the Steelers organization manages to find players that may have originally been overlooked but are tough, old school, and in it for the long haul.  I cannot quote all of Hines stats over the 14 seasons he played for the Steelers, but I can tell you this:  The man delivered above and beyond what was expected of a wide receiver.  He’s been called a dirty player by some; however I think those players weren’t used to a receiver who enjoyed blocking as well as catching and scoring touchdowns.   This man, without a doubt, was a maniac on the field.  Whether he caught a ball with the tips of his fingers, behind his back, or whether he knocked down a defender, the man ended every single play with his beautiful signature smile.  Although we shouldn’t all enjoy tackling people, we should all feel that happy doing our jobs. He served Pittsburgh well, and fit the mold of what they expect of their players.

You will be missed very much Hines, but don’t worry, we’ll be sure to see you in the Hall of Fame!

When you host a barbecue or get together with friends, what is your main concern?  Is there enough dip?  Is it going to rain?  Is the bathroom clean?  Will any of my guests turn into zombies during dinner?  Ok, well maybe not that last one, but your main concern is whether or not your guests have a good experience.  If they don’t, you probably aren’t going to have enough players for that Marco Polo tournament you were planning for your 4th of July pool party.

“The Experience” is often our main focus at PJS, from the tournaments we manage to sourcing Pros for clinics and events to activating a program at PGA TOUR stop for a client, we strive to maximize everyone’s experience.  Whether you are Joe Public and stop by a Club Ketel One with your buddies, getting an autograph at the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion, or a player in the Pepsi Pro-am at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic; if you don’t leave at the end of the day with a smile on your face and a few fond memories, we haven’t done our job.

We are serious about fun, so to speak.  I can’t count the amount of people who’ve left a Club Ketel One saying they’re only buying Ketel One from there on out.  It’s something other companies, players and teams can neglect.  What would the Waste Management Phoenix Open be without the Crow’s Nest?  Think about some of the most success post-playing career athletes from Arnold Palmer to Shaq, they are people who are genuinely fun to be around.

While we are focused on your experience that doesn’t mean we don’t stop to pet the furry wall

or grab some peanuts and cracker jacks

or even dig our toes into the sand  when the opportunity arises.

Peter visited with friends at Golf Channel’s Morning Drive before heading out the start commentary at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Here’s a few behind the scenes shots of him getting ready for this morning’s appearance.

Getting a light coat of makeup before his spot on The Morning Drive

Gettin' mic'd up before going on air!

We weren't allowed on set so we hung out where the magic happens - the control room!

The Morning Drive Crew summarizes a few of Peter’s talking points HERE and check out a few of the show’s morning highlights HERE.

Wow! Is it already March?  It must be that time of year because my tulips and daffodils are poking their heads toward the sunny skies and volunteer registration for the 2012 Umpqua Bank Challenge has begun.  We are off to an incredible start – registration opened on March 1 and as of this morning, we have 150 Volunteers signed up and raring to go!  This means we are 50% full, so you need to hurry up and register if you would like to join the party at The Reserve!

This year will be my 4th year of working with the volunteer program at a PJS event and I can guarantee you, even if you are not a huge golf fanatic/player (like me), you will have a great time.  Peter’s  golfer impersonations at the clinic will make you roll over laughing or the World Long Drive Champion, Jamie Sadlowski will make your jaw drop when he smashes the ball thru a 3-inch plywood board down the fairway.

As a volunteer, your gift of time to the Umpqua Bank Challenge is also a gift to the community as proceeds are donated to the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and the “I Have a Dream” Foundation – Oregon.  Remember that being a volunteer also has its many perks.

It is a great way to….

-       Get involved behind the scenes of a professional sporting event!

-       Network and create new business relationships!

-       Build your resume and gain experience in a field of interest!

-       Meet new friends and establish long term friendships!

-       See some of the top professionals on TOUR!

-       Learn some tips to improve your golf game!

-       Spend a summer afternoon in August!

-       Give back to your community and support two incredibly well deserving non-profits!

-       HAVE FUN!

Volunteers are the cornerstone of this event – without you, we simply could not do it.  Your attentiveness, your hard work and your dedication will only help to ensure that the 2012 Umpqua Bank Challenge is a tremendous success.

If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to get your volunteer application in today. Click HERE to register now!  And I look forward to seeing you in August!

Earlier this week, Peter Jacobsen Sports organized a photo shoot and video interview at the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral with the three PGA TOUR golfers endorsed by Lexus. Our goal was to capture still images and video content to be utilized by Lexus in support of their USGA partnership. Jason Day, Charles Howell III and Nick Watney are three of the TOUR’s best players and they are also some of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Our team was on-site to coordinate the golfers and work with our outstanding partners at the Golf Channel and Getty Images. Below are a few behind-the-scene photos of our project. As always, we work hard, but try to have fun at the same time.

Taking still shots with Charles Howell III

Autographing U.S. Open pin flags.

Assisting with reflection fill for Nick Watney.

Windy conditions at Doral!

Peter films his “Jake’s Takes” segment to air during this weekend’s World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship on NBC. This week’s topic – TOUR FASHION!

Trying out his new style on the range, with Steve Stricker…

This January marked my 9th year as a full-time PJS employee, and before that I did five consecutive summer-long internships. I’m a “lifer” – literally. I was six years old when Peter, my dad, created the Fred Meyer Challenge, so before I was a real employee I spent time running around the office causing trouble with my brother and sister…begging for permission to answer the phones at the front desk and making faces at people through the windows of the conference room.

My first summer on the job, one of my tasks was to sort through my dad’s fan mail. I thought it was a little strange at first, but after weeks of reading through letters from people who were expressing heartfelt thanks to him for things from charitable donations to shaking the hand of their son at a tournament to a friendly exchange at an airport, I realized that he was truly a special person.

I felt proud (a little intimidated) and thankful for everything I had been given in life; especially my family. My family can be crazy, high-energy and loud. And we like to talk. A lot (case in point: the massive length of this blog post). But we love and respect each other and we truly enjoy each other’s company. These values were instilled in the three of us Jacobsen kids at an early age, as I know they were instilled into my dad and his siblings while they were growing up, and as I hope to instill in my own children. We’re a golf family. We may not all play golf, but we’ve all grown up around the game and we’ve all benefited from what it has to offer.

My earliest memory of my dad receiving an award was in 1993 when, actually, our entire family was named Family of the Year by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. Ten of us flew to New York for the dinner and awards presentation. Myself, my parents and my brother and sister, both of my maternal grandparents, my paternal grandmother, and my aunt and uncle (my dad’s siblings).

Clockwise from top left: AnnaBelle Davis, Barbara (Jacobsen) Gustavson (d. 2005), Peter Jacobsen, David Jacobsen, Jan Jacobsen, Susie Jacobsen, Esley Davis (d. 1997), Kristen (Jacobsen) Sahler, Mick Jacobsen and Amy (Jacobsen) Biery.

I recently dug up an old box of VHS tapes, and on one of them was the video that the MGWA put together for us and played that night. It’s a great piece – probably very high tech for 1993 – and it plays tribute to our entire family, including my dad’s father Erling and brother Paul who passed away in 1992 and 1988, respectively.

I’ve posted it below…for old times sake.

Earlier this week, Peter received the 2012 Old Tom Morris Award at the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s annual conference in Las Vegas (yes, I do refer to him as Peter in the workplace, which weirds my siblings out). I wish I could have attended, but I saw plenty of pictures and got the full recap from my mom the next day.

I still monitor my dad’s “fan mail” – though now it mostly comes in the form of emails and tweets – and the general consensus from those who were there that night was that he was poised, articulate, funny, genuine and thankful. Everything a recipient of the Old Tom Morris Award should be, and everything that I already knew I had in a father, boss and role model.

Peter shot two commercials yesterday for Srixon! He visited a few of LA’s major athletic landmarks.
It was a long but FUN day with the crew in sunny SoCal!

Getting ready for the first shot of the day – at The Rose Bowl!

Peter had a great time working with his fellow co-stars Hayes McEachern (University of Oklahoma alum) and Justin Skinner (Citadel alum).

Rehearsing for the second commercial… With a tennis theme.

Second location – The Home Depot Center!

Lights, camera, and ACTION!

UPDATE:

Peter finished up the last two commercials of the week. He’s a look at the softball-themed commercial…

Such a good sport!