GolfNews

New Web Tools for Golf Meetings

A new web-based business offers a complete menu of services for golf meetings.

GolfPodium.com (www.golfpodium.com) is foremost a speakers' bureau, with more than 200 choices ranging from Tour players to broadcasters. Planners can hire personalities for corporate outings, pro-am tournaments, charity events, clinics and trade show appearances.

"This grew out of my company, Infinity Sports Marketing," said Eddie Smith, president of the Jupiter, Fla.-based website, who had strong golf relationships, and saw a market need for a golf-related speakers bureau.

The company also plans the golf meetings themselves. GolfPodium.com offers online registration, handling invoicing and post-event surevys. Among other available services:

The company arranges instructional golf trips in conjunction with Jim Flick Premier Golf Schools at such resorts as Pebble Beach in California and the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida.

GolfPodium.com stages events at major tournaments, including the Masters, British Open and the Ryder Cup.

Elsewhere on the Internet, EventRebels.com (www.eventrebels.com), a meetings-managements site, now offers automatic golf pairings. The system divides participants into balanced, random foursomes, depending on their handicaps. Planners can easily go into the site and change the pairings, if needed.