LG Skins Game Recap

As fast as the LG Skins Game came upon us, it quickly sneaks out in the night. The past two days have been filled with returning rental vehicles and transportation trams. For those of you who didn’t get a chance to spend the weekend with us, The LG Skins Game was one of the best ever! The weekend was the ultimate postcard for the Coachella Valley! The weather was spectacular, the crowds were involved, and the golf course was in exceptional shape! Congratulations to golf course superintendent Scott Werline and his turf management team members.

Head Golf Professional Brandon O'Neill and Food and Beverage Director Jim Carvajal and their team members did an outstanding job. From the Pro Am event to the LG Skins Game Retail Center to crowd management, the golf operations team members were on alert, and did a professional job.

The Food and Beverage team members cooked over 1500 meals in 15 different venues, on top of operating the patrons’ food court.

The weekend got off to a great start with Golf Professionals Anthony Kim and Jeff Gove lighting it up on the golf course. In this blog I have mentioned Anthony numerous times, and he proved me to be prophetic. Anthony set the course record with a round of 62 the first time he ever set foot on the golf course. He birdies 7 of the first 8 holes. Jeff Gove was busy himself, making two eagles en route to a great round of 63.

Saturday saw Fred Couples take advantage of the field with $175,000. No wonder they call him, “King of the Skins Game.” Steven Ames made a couple of big birdie putts on the back nine and topped Fred Couples' birdie on the 17th hole. Ames finished off John Daly on the second playoff hole, as Daly’s tee shot was embedded in the fairway bunker. The Skin on the Playoff hole ensured Ames with the LG Skins Game Title.

The irony of the whole thing for me was that Jeff Cranford and I had the opportunity to play a practice round with Steven Ames at the PGA Championship. We had a nice conversation during the round about how fun the LG Skins Game would be. We explained to him how great the weather would be, etc. Who would have known then, when we were walking down the fairways at Medinah, that Ames would become the 2006 LG Skins Game Champion?

A final "thank you" to all the patrons who came out and spent the weekend with us - and to all the team members who made our final LG Skins Game our best ever.

A quick note to all of you who are looking for a venue for your next golf event, corporate outing, or wedding - We have handled the LG Skins Game, and we can handle any request you would have of us!

Until next week, keep rolling that rock!

LG Skins Game is Here!

LG Skins Game week is officially here! The golf course is being roped off for the spectators, the Hospitality and Vendor Tents are being put up, the landscaping crews and turf management crews are working at a feverish pace to have the facility ready to show off to the world. The RV park for the players has been set up, with some of the finest motor coaches that the industry has to offer.

Head Golf Professional Brandon O'Neill and his staff have cleared out the golf shop and are preparing to move it into the vendor tent. The golf shop will be transformed into the Media Center.

Food and Beverage Director Jim Carvajal has assembled his team to prepare for one of the largest catering operations of the year. Jim has assembled some of the finest culinary people the desert has to offer to prepare for the event.

Today, I spent the day meeting with our various wholesale partners, prepping them and fueling the excitement of the LG Skins Game week.

This was the first day that Trilogy Community Members could pick up their complimentary tickets that they had ordered online. Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Shea Homes, Heather McMann, and her staff of volunteers were working at a break neck pace to keep up with the demand of tickets today.

This past Friday night we had the awards banquet for the Navigator Pro Am. This annual 5 day event included 33 Canadian Golf Professionals and 99 amateur golfers. The golfers were very pleased with the golf course conditions. Golf Course Superintendent Scott Werline played a few tricks on the boys with some very savvy hole locations. Golf Professional Dean Brown did find a way to work around the tough hole locations by firing a 9 birdie round of 64 on the final day. It was the best round of the week and secured top professional honors for him.

This morning Head Golf Professional Brandon O'Neill toured the golf course with General Manager Jeff Perry and National Marketing Director Ben Keilhotz. Each found the golf course in great shape and the rough at tour level! From the Skins Tees thy found the golf course to be a full challenge. General Manager Jeff Perry continues to make great strides with his golf game, considering the limited time he has to work on it. Another fine round of 79 is evidence that he is finally starting to understand his own game and how to manage it around the golf course. Not a bad round for a number cruncher like Jeff!

Some exciting news on a couple of Pro Am golf professionals who will be participating in the Celebrity Pro Am on Friday: Jeff Gove comes into the event after a 2 under par finish at the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational, and Anthony Kim, a La Quinta High School grad and three time all American at Oklahoma was the medalist at Q-School Second Stage in Mckinney, Texas. Anthony birdied the final 3 holes for a round of 67 and the victory. Anthony advances to final stage of Q-school at PGA West. He grew up on the Stadium Golf Course in High School and is quite familiar with both the Nick Tournament and Stadium golf courses. It is as close to having home field advantage as a golfer can have. Anthony will stay in La Quinta after the LG Skins Game to prepare for the event.

Just a reminder that the golf course is closed to the public and Trilogy Community members this week due to the LG Skins Game. We will open up bright and early Monday, November 27th for regular play.

Celebrity Pro Am Participants include

• John Daly
• Stephen Ames
• Fred Couples
• Fred Funk
• US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman
• NFL Legend Matt Blair
• ESPN Analyst Jamie Little
• PGA Tour Member Anthony Kim
• PGA Member Jeff Cranford
• PGA Tour Member Jeff Gove
• MLB Legend Johnny Bench
• MLB Legend Rollie Fingers
• TV Star Alfonso Ribeiro
• Former Pittsburgh Pirate Andy Van Slyke
• 15 Year Major Leaguer Kurt Bevacqua
• NYPD Blue's Gordon Clapp
• PGA Tour Legend Lee Elder
• Long Drive Champion Mike Moulton


Starting times for the LG Skins Game are as Follows:

Friday, November 24th – The LG Skins Game Celebrity Pro-Am
Will Call and Ticket Purchase will be available outside the event gate from 7-11:00AM.
• 7:00AM Parking lot opens to the public
• 7:30AM Gates and all food and merchandise centers open to the public
• 8:15AM Long Drive exhibition by Long Drive Champion Mike Moulton
• 9:30AM Play commences at the LG Skins Game Celebrity Pro-Am
• 2:30PM or so Play is completed at the LG Skins Game Celebrity Pro-Am

Saturday, November 25th – The LG Skins Game First Nine
Will Call and Ticket Purchase will be available outside the event gate from 7:30-11:00AM.
• 7:30AM Parking lot opens to the public
• 8:00AM Gates and all food and merchandise centers open to the public
• 8:45AM Long Drive exhibition by Long Drive Champion Mike Moulton
• 10:00AM Play commences at the LG Skins Game
• 12:30PM The Official LG Skins Game at Trilogy La Quinta after-party begins. The Trilogy Thanksgiving Bash, with live entertainment by Eddie Money, player participation, and a surprise guest on the concert stage. Free to all LG Skins Game ticket-holders, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Sunday, November 26th – The LG Skins Game Second Nine
Will Call and Ticket Purchase will be available outside the event gate from 6:30-10:30AM.
• 6:30AM Parking lot opens to the public
• 7:00AM Gates and all food and merchandise centers open to the public
• 9:00AM Play commences at the LG Skins Game
• 12:00PM The presentation of the Official LG Skins Game at Trilogy La Quinta trophy to the 2006 Champion
Until next week, keep rolling that rock!

PS. University of Montana Grizzlies 13 Montana State Bobcats 7. Grizzlies win the Big Sky Conference, and will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. No confusion in this division who should play for the national championship. It is decided on the field not on a computer! Grizzlies finish the season 10-1, with 10 straight victories!

Staying 'chili' in the desert

The weekend was highlighted with Chef Isaias and Chef Roy competing in the First Annual Coachella Fiesta of Chilies. Their White Bean Chili was a hit! On top of it they took first place for the best table display! Way to go guys. You will see the chili as a special on the lunch menu.

This week we are fully involved with the Navigator Pro Am. The group from Canada includes 33 golf professionals and 99 Amateurs. The practice round was on Sunday, and the Tournament will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.

Golf Course Superintendent Scott Werline continues to get the maximum effort out of his turf management team. The golf course is shaping up nicely.

Wednesday, we will be closed in the morning to take care of an Aerial flyover for the LG Skins Game. We will have an 11:00 am shotgun.

The Azul Restaurant will be closed on Friday the 17th of November, we will be having a closed party for the Navigator Pro Am. It will be also closed the following Friday due to the LG Skins Game.

Monday November 27th will be the first day of our winter rates that will go Through December 24th, 2006. Monday thru Thursday rates will be $99, with the Friday thru Sunday rates being set at 119.00

Saturday was a tough day for our Head Golf Professional Brandon O'Neill, not only was he stuck in two different traffic jams on his way to the USC/University of Oregon football game, but he had to pay $60.00 for parking, and the final insult was to see his beloved Ducks put the ball on the carpet three different times on their side of the field, making USC have chip shots into the endzone.

University of Montana update, Grizzlies 52 Northern Colorado 21. Final regular season game against its cross state nemesis Montana State University. The winner wins the Big Sky Championship. The Griz are ranked #2 in the Nation for Division 1-AA.

Welcome to the Trilogy Report! If this is your first time browsing thru my notes, I welcome you, if you are a regular reader of the Trilogy Report, welcome back.

Highlights of the week include the lowering of the mowers on the greens. No more need for the anvil when you are putting! I toured the golf course today, and it keeps looking better everyday. Head Superintendent Scott Werline and his Turf Maintenance team members are doing a remarkable job.

We continue to have great rate of progress reports. People are playing in 4 ½ to 4 ¾ hours. With the course still under golf paths only, those times are what we are looking for.

Azul Restaurant continues to increase in popularity. If you haven’t tasted the entrees prepared by Chef Isaias and Chef (El Gato Grande) Roy, you are keeping your taste buds from experiencing some of the finest food on the eastern side of the valley.

Friday night patrons at Azul were presented with a surprise - we eliminated the separate side orders and included them with the meal. The response was fabulous.

“The Room with a View” continues to gain popularity; if you haven’t experienced an evening by the fireplace out on the deck, I invite you.

For you ladies who had your eyes on the Paula Creamer Collection, it is restocked and ready for you to find you favorite eyewear.

The Pre-purchase program for the 2007 Hybrid pass has been quite successful. Get on MTL, or starting Wednesday, visit www.trilogygolfclub.com to find out more about the pre buy incentives.

Congratulations to 2004 Skins Game Participant Adam Scott for his victory at the Tour Championship. The victory vaulted him into 3rd on the final PGA Tour Money List. Once again the Skins Game has an eye out for talent.

The Celebrity list for the LG Skins Game continues to grow! How do I know, you ask?Well, I have been keeping my ear close to the tracks (an old Montana saying). The names I cannot release without the penalty of a jail sentence - so I will just keep you in suspense... there was something about World Series heroes past, though... and with that, I have given too much information. If you see me over the next couple of days looking like I lost a few pounds, it won’t be from the Daniel Diet that I am on, it will be from some hide taken out of my backside for hinting about Pro Am celebrities!

Almost forgot! Montana 10, Calpoly 9. What a barn burner! How about Louisville! I went to high school with Head Coach Bobby Petrino! As a young football player, our football practices followed Carroll College Fighting Saints football practice. Their coach at the time was Bob “Putter” Petrino Sr. Just a little random Montana information for you all.

Until next week, keep that rock rolling!