Fore!play
Wow, can it really be almost
seven years ago?
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Chairman calls LVI more than a golf tournament
By Rand Miranda
Review-Journal
In its 16th year, the Las Vegas Invitational continues to be a highly competitive and entertaining event on the PGA Tour.
But what really thrills Chris Byrd is how the Las Vegas community has embraced the tournament as more than drives and putts.
"It's become truly a community event," said Byrd, the LVI tournament chairman. "It's continuing to broaden its fan base. We're able to get people out to experience an event, and not just a golf tournament."
Byrd, a local attorney who is finishing his two-year term as LVI chairman, said the continuing synergy benefits the community as well as the tourney.
While there are the obvious economic benefits of holding a professional sporting event in Las Vegas, Byrd said the LVI provides more than hotel bookings and entertainment revenue to the area.
Some $400,000 was raised for local charities last year as part of the LVI's non-profit fundraising, and Byrd said, weather permitting, he expects that amount to increase this year.
Another new feature for this year's LVI is the beer garden near the 16th hole. Gordon Biersch will be supplying the garden. Byrd said the location was selected to offer fans one of the best sites at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.
"First of all, the venue we created is the best view of the course," Byrd said. "You get a view of the second shot on (No.) 16, and the putt on 16. Then you can also see the drive and putt on 17.
"How those two holes have played have frequently been a pivotal point in the tourney. The fans will get the chance to watch golf from a great location."
With 39 skyboxes, four years ago the LVI had six, near the 18th hole, Byrd said the beer garden strikes a good balance for fans and corporate sponsors.
"It's great balance. But we are offering the best seat in the house for the people who come up and buy a ticket. And hopefully, this is one of the things that will encourage people to come out."
But Byrd, who played collegiate golf at Notre Dame, won't let anyone forget the main draw of the LVI: great golf.
"It's a lot better in person than it ever is on television. The excitement of the crowd can't be matched unless you see it for yourself," he said. "Even if you don't particularly know a lot about golf, it's a great way to spend an afternoon.
"We are getting families out there, it's not limited to golf fans," Byrd said. "And that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to make it a family event."
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Master of ceremonies talks a good golf game
By Rand Miranda
Review-Journal
For many, golf is a hobby. For a select few with the talent, golf is a profession.
For others, such as Las Vegan Jack Sheehan, golf can be a way to combine one's profession and hobby.
Sheehan is a local free-lance writer who has written such books as "Buried Lies" with PGA Tour star Peter Jacobsen and "The Players: The Men who made Las Vegas Famous."
But instead of writing about the Las Vegas Invitational, Sheehan will let his mouth do the talking.
Since 1990, his duties during the LVI include emceeing Friday's dinner for the amateurs who survived the cut, announcing the weekend pairings at that dinner, interviewing the winner Sunday on the 18th green, and again interviewing the winner as a reception for volunteer workers.
"I really don't consider any of it work," Sheehan said. "I have a fun job. A lot of the volunteers out here really work quite hard. For me, it (being the master of ceremonies and interviewing) comes naturally. ... It's like a paid hobby. It's a pleasure."
And it's a hobby Sheehan has been involved with most of his life, although recent developments, a toddler son and another baby on the way, has reduced his time out on the fairways.
"I was a 0 or 1 handicap," he said. "But now I joke that my son's scores will improve in direct proportion as mine disintegrate. But actually, I'm probably at a 2 (handicap) now.
While family obligations may have reduced his handicap a bit, it's done little to dampen his enthusiasm for the game.
"I have a lot of friends on Tour, so I follow it pretty closely. And that helps me ask a golfer intelligent questions. I make him aware that I'm knowledgable of what unfolded during the tournament.
"Then you go with the flow and sense what you're getting from the golfer," he said.
Among the more memorable interviews, Sheehan cited Davis Love III and Tiger Woods, among others.
"Davis Love stands out as being real good. And Tiger Woods was real fun after he won the LVI in '96," Sheehan said. "He gave confident, strong answers. And he was real unemotional about his first professional victory. He was cool as a cucumber."
Sheehan said last year's champion, Bill Glasson, was like interviewing Jekyll & Hyde.
"Bill Glasson was real tough last year on the 18th. I think it was because he was kind of surprised himself about winning the tournament.
"Afterward, at the volunteer party, I think he had had some time to reflect on the win, and he was loose and really great."
One aspect related to the LVI that Sheehan particularly enjoys is the opportunity to spend some time away from the courses with his touring friends, among them, Jacobsen, former Bishop Gorman star Tommy Armour III and Fuzzy Zoeller.
Another enjoyable aspect is the civic pride Sheehan gets with each successful Las Vegas Invitational. "I'm proud of the fact that the city can sponsor one of the best tournaments in the PGA Tour."
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Chairman calls LVI more than a golf tournament
By Rand Miranda
Review-Journal
In its 16th year, the Las Vegas Invitational continues to be a highly competitive and entertaining event on the PGA Tour.
But what really thrills Chris Byrd is how the Las Vegas community has embraced the tournament as more than drives and putts.
"It's become truly a community event," said Byrd, the LVI tournament chairman. "It's continuing to broaden its fan base. We're able to get people out to experience an event, and not just a golf tournament."
Byrd, a local attorney who is finishing his two-year term as LVI chairman, said the continuing synergy benefits the community as well as the tourney.
While there are the obvious economic benefits of holding a professional sporting event in Las Vegas, Byrd said the LVI provides more than hotel bookings and entertainment revenue to the area.
Some $400,000 was raised for local charities last year as part of the LVI's non-profit fundraising, and Byrd said, weather permitting, he expects that amount to increase this year.
Another new feature for this year's LVI is the beer garden near the 16th hole. Gordon Biersch will be supplying the garden. Byrd said the location was selected to offer fans one of the best sites at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.
"First of all, the venue we created is the best view of the course," Byrd said. "You get a view of the second shot on (No.) 16, and the putt on 16. Then you can also see the drive and putt on 17.
"How those two holes have played have frequently been a pivotal point in the tourney. The fans will get the chance to watch golf from a great location."
With 39 skyboxes, four years ago the LVI had six, near the 18th hole, Byrd said the beer garden strikes a good balance for fans and corporate sponsors.
"It's great balance. But we are offering the best seat in the house for the people who come up and buy a ticket. And hopefully, this is one of the things that will encourage people to come out."
But Byrd, who played collegiate golf at Notre Dame, won't let anyone forget the main draw of the LVI: great golf.
"It's a lot better in person than it ever is on television. The excitement of the crowd can't be matched unless you see it for yourself," he said. "Even if you don't particularly know a lot about golf, it's a great way to spend an afternoon.
"We are getting families out there, it's not limited to golf fans," Byrd said. "And that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to make it a family event."
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Master of ceremonies talks a good golf game
By Rand Miranda
Review-Journal
For many, golf is a hobby. For a select few with the talent, golf is a profession.
For others, such as Las Vegan Jack Sheehan, golf can be a way to combine one's profession and hobby.
Sheehan is a local free-lance writer who has written such books as "Buried Lies" with PGA Tour star Peter Jacobsen and "The Players: The Men who made Las Vegas Famous."
But instead of writing about the Las Vegas Invitational, Sheehan will let his mouth do the talking.
Since 1990, his duties during the LVI include emceeing Friday's dinner for the amateurs who survived the cut, announcing the weekend pairings at that dinner, interviewing the winner Sunday on the 18th green, and again interviewing the winner as a reception for volunteer workers.
"I really don't consider any of it work," Sheehan said. "I have a fun job. A lot of the volunteers out here really work quite hard. For me, it (being the master of ceremonies and interviewing) comes naturally. ... It's like a paid hobby. It's a pleasure."
And it's a hobby Sheehan has been involved with most of his life, although recent developments, a toddler son and another baby on the way, has reduced his time out on the fairways.
"I was a 0 or 1 handicap," he said. "But now I joke that my son's scores will improve in direct proportion as mine disintegrate. But actually, I'm probably at a 2 (handicap) now.
While family obligations may have reduced his handicap a bit, it's done little to dampen his enthusiasm for the game.
"I have a lot of friends on Tour, so I follow it pretty closely. And that helps me ask a golfer intelligent questions. I make him aware that I'm knowledgable of what unfolded during the tournament.
"Then you go with the flow and sense what you're getting from the golfer," he said.
Among the more memorable interviews, Sheehan cited Davis Love III and Tiger Woods, among others.
"Davis Love stands out as being real good. And Tiger Woods was real fun after he won the LVI in '96," Sheehan said. "He gave confident, strong answers. And he was real unemotional about his first professional victory. He was cool as a cucumber."
Sheehan said last year's champion, Bill Glasson, was like interviewing Jekyll & Hyde.
"Bill Glasson was real tough last year on the 18th. I think it was because he was kind of surprised himself about winning the tournament.
"Afterward, at the volunteer party, I think he had had some time to reflect on the win, and he was loose and really great."
One aspect related to the LVI that Sheehan particularly enjoys is the opportunity to spend some time away from the courses with his touring friends, among them, Jacobsen, former Bishop Gorman star Tommy Armour III and Fuzzy Zoeller.
Another enjoyable aspect is the civic pride Sheehan gets with each successful Las Vegas Invitational. "I'm proud of the fact that the city can sponsor one of the best tournaments in the PGA Tour."
Posted: Mon - August 8, 2005 at 09:40 AM
