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An Introduction to the Golf "Experts" of the Caravelle
Now that our blog is up and running we want to take a moment to introduce you to the golf department and the members of management at the Caravelle who play golf. We should clarify one thing first: These guys are golf experts because they can get your vacation taken care of without a hitch and they can give you great informative feedback on all of the courses on the Grand Strand - not because any of them will be playing on Tour anytime soon!
We felt that for visitors to our site it would be great for us to give real perspectives on actual rounds that we played, and to share a little bit about ourselves so that you feel comfortable knowing that when you talk to us about a golf package, you're getting a real live golfer much like yourself on the other end. Without further ado, introducing the golfers at the Caravelle:
Name: Chad Kwiatkoski
Position: Golf Director
Hometown: Saginaw, MI
Handicap: 16
Years in Myrtle Beach: 3
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Tough choice with so many courses. How about a top 5 in no particular order: Thistle, King's North, Arrowhead, Long Bay, Blackmoor, Barefoot Dye, True Blue, Prestwick, Legends Moorland, TPC of Myrtle Beach. Okay, that's 10. Sue me!
Your Dream Foursome: Wow. It all depends on the conversation that I'd want to have during the round. Tiger Woods, Jack and Ben Hogan if we are talking golf. My dad, Steve Yzerman and John Buccigross if we talk hockey. Will Ferrell, Bill Murray and Charles Barkley if I want to laugh my way through the round. My friend Jeff, Bo Schembechler (Go Blue!) and Woody Hayes for football...I can go all day (Ed.: Gee no kidding Chad...way to make up your mind!)
Your favorite golf tale: All these tough questions! I have played many rounds with great friends. Each round and golf trip has had events take place and the stories get told to this day. Breaking 100, breaking 90, breaking 40 for a side. First time I beat my dad (he hasn't beaten me since!) Shooting a 38 and following it up with a nice 52. Flipping a golf cart into a creek and playing the last 16 holes soaking wet and covered in mud (Ed.: Now that's one we wish we saw!). Playing 270 holes of golf in 8 days, the last 54 just me and my father. Playing with three other lefties and not hitting a shot with my own clubs (Ed.: Yes, Chad is our resident wrong hander). Sharing post round stories over a beverage on the 19th hole and reliving all the good and bad shots.
Name: Bill C
Position: Golf Coordinator
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Handicap: 18
Years in Myrtle Beach: 7
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: The Wizard
Your Dream Foursome: Arnold Palmer, Jesus, Saint Peter (Ed.: Talk about sucking up!)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I have one hole in one and my 30 year old son had also gotten one of his own. I got a phone call from him one day and he let me know that he was walking to the hole take his ball out of the hole on his second hole in one. He finally got one up on me!
Name: Rick G.
Position: Golf Coordinator
Hometown: Born in PA and moved to CT and spent the majority of my life there. I moved to Myrtle Beach to escape the harsh winters of the Northeast (Ed.: We seem to be noticing a trend here...)
Handicap: 16
Years in Myrtle Beach: 4
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Blackmoor, Arrowhead and The Witch
Your Dream Foursome: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstremski, Wade Boggs
Your favorite golf tale: I was out playing with two of my friends, Jim and Dave, several years ago in CT. I was riding Jim and Dave was riding solo. Through the round it was just a typical relaxing Saturday with nothing really spectacular happening on the golf course. We came up on the 12th hole hit our tee shots and drove off. Dave hit his ball off to the right, near a water hazzard, while both Jim and I were on the other side just off the fairway. We drove to our balls and I take a look over across the fairway and Dave was fishing his ball out of the water. No big deal there....happens to the best of us. Unfortunately when I turned to look I saw his cart slowly start rolling. Before I could think about reacting to say or do anything about it, the cart was making a big splash in the pond!
The two of us on the other side of the fairway ran over to help Dave who at that point was completely mortified. Jim and I took one look at the cart sticking out of the water and then another look at Dave's face and both COMPLETELY lost it. Dave looked like he wanted to cry. After the laughter subsided for me and Jim, we actually were able to help Dave get the cart from the water and no one from the course was the wiser. Jim and i rode behind Dave the rest of the way chuckling for the next hour, while Dave quietly finished the round. His golf bag, casual shoes, a jacket, his wallet, among other things were dripping all the way around the last 6 holes. When we got back to the bag drop, an embarrassed Dave grabbed his soaking wet golf bag and literally ran to his car. When the cart guy came over to ask what his deal was, we both shrugged and Jim said laughing "I think he's just mad because he drove it in the water today." The cart guy looked at us a little bewildered because he clearly didn't think that was something that could ruin your day. Little did he know that it wasn't a golf ball that Dave drove in the water!
Name: Aaron Thomas
Position: Director of Front Office Operations:
Hometown: Friendsville, MD
Handicap: 14-16 (Ed.: Does it change depending on how they're scoring the event, Aaron?)
Years in Myrtle Beach: 10
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: The Dunes Club, Tidewater, Caledonia, Arrowhead and many more!
Your Dream Foursome: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and any Victoria's Secret model (Ed.: It's not likely he would spend any time talking to MJ or TW that day!)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I was playing with a buddy who's a pretty terrible golfer but as honest and competitive as any I've ever seen and I watched him take a 16 on a par 3 at Arrowhead and then later in the round roll it over the hole off the tee nearly making an ace and ending up birdieing the par 3. I also look forward to an annual golf tournament with an old group of 15 buddies that is as fierce as they come. We used to have the event in a few different places, but since I brought them to Myrtle Beach we have kept it here....why go anywhere else!? (Ed.: The name of the tournament has been removed from Aaron's story so that no one would Google it and see this awful looking group of guys!)
Name: Chip Russell
Position: General Manager
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Handicap: 7 (Ed.: So you give strokes in a match to the other guys, right Chip? Right Chip? Okay, maybe not!)
Years in Myrtle Beach: 22
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Dunes Club, Caledonia, The Fazio at Barefoot, Beachwood
Your Dream Foursome: Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Walter Hagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Ed.: Apparently Chip gets a fivesome because he's the boss?)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I have played golf with my father-in-law for the past 22 years. He is an avid golfer and while he has a little age on him now there was a time when we played in any weather condition, showed up at any course location and would meet for any tee time that was available. Times have changed but not his motivation to play the game or remembering the time after over 40 years of playing the game he got his first hole-in-one on the 9th hole at Tidewater Golf Club.
It was a sunny and hot day as we were approaching the turn with only the 9th to play before reaching the clubhouse and getting that cold beverage he had been ranting about since earlier in the round after a really bad hole. As we got to the tee box I remember the flag in that back left corner (sucker pin) with marsh to the left. The play is to the right and if you're lucky the ball can filter down to that part of the green. After Matt Klugman and myself hit our shots (not too bad as I recall) my father-in-law got up to hit his. Very slowly he teed it up and without really looking, other than at the clubhouse, hit his shot.
I will never forget that once he hit it be proceeded to walk back to his cart not even following the shot. Matt and I stood as actually saw it drawing closer to the hole and landing right on the ridge which carried it down and in the hole it went. We went crazy with my father-in-law looking at us in disbelief! We got down to the hole he looked and said "nothing to it, now we can get over to the 19th hole".
Groups passed us while we were inside but that was OK as we knew this might not ever happen again. The moral of this golf story is nothing is better than having a playing partner have a hole-in-one right before you make the turn! By the way, we did finish the round so it would be legal.
Name: Matt Klugman
Position: Director of Marketing
Hometown: Albany, NY
Handicap: 10
Years in Myrtle Beach: 11
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: King's North, Oyster Bay, Grande Dunes, TPC of Myrtle Beach, Blackmoor
Your Dream Foursome: Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson, Tony Soprano (Ed.: Matt, you do realize that Tony Soprano isn't a real person?)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I was teeing off on the par 3, 13th hole of Prestwick playing as a twosome with an old friend rushing through the round on a quiet Sunday. There was a foursome ahead of us, so they said to go ahead and play through and they waved us ahead. We scurried to the tee and ran up to hit our shots so we didn't hold them up. I hit my shot and it looked pretty good and as it hit the green my friend yells "It's IN!" We couldn't see it so we rushed to the green to check.
The foursome ahead wasn't paying attention and when they heard my friend shout, they looked at the green and started congratulating me on my hole in one. I barely remember what happened next because I was so excited, but thank goodness there was another group that saw it so I actually have FIVE witnesses for my hole in one, but I only had to buy drinks for one person! (Ed.: Surrrrre there were five people who saw it. Surely they signed your scorecard, right Matt? Matt?)
Position: Golf Director
Hometown: Saginaw, MI
Handicap: 16
Years in Myrtle Beach: 3
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Tough choice with so many courses. How about a top 5 in no particular order: Thistle, King's North, Arrowhead, Long Bay, Blackmoor, Barefoot Dye, True Blue, Prestwick, Legends Moorland, TPC of Myrtle Beach. Okay, that's 10. Sue me!
Your Dream Foursome: Wow. It all depends on the conversation that I'd want to have during the round. Tiger Woods, Jack and Ben Hogan if we are talking golf. My dad, Steve Yzerman and John Buccigross if we talk hockey. Will Ferrell, Bill Murray and Charles Barkley if I want to laugh my way through the round. My friend Jeff, Bo Schembechler (Go Blue!) and Woody Hayes for football...I can go all day (Ed.: Gee no kidding Chad...way to make up your mind!)
Your favorite golf tale: All these tough questions! I have played many rounds with great friends. Each round and golf trip has had events take place and the stories get told to this day. Breaking 100, breaking 90, breaking 40 for a side. First time I beat my dad (he hasn't beaten me since!) Shooting a 38 and following it up with a nice 52. Flipping a golf cart into a creek and playing the last 16 holes soaking wet and covered in mud (Ed.: Now that's one we wish we saw!). Playing 270 holes of golf in 8 days, the last 54 just me and my father. Playing with three other lefties and not hitting a shot with my own clubs (Ed.: Yes, Chad is our resident wrong hander). Sharing post round stories over a beverage on the 19th hole and reliving all the good and bad shots.
Name: Bill C
Position: Golf Coordinator
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Handicap: 18
Years in Myrtle Beach: 7
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: The Wizard
Your Dream Foursome: Arnold Palmer, Jesus, Saint Peter (Ed.: Talk about sucking up!)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I have one hole in one and my 30 year old son had also gotten one of his own. I got a phone call from him one day and he let me know that he was walking to the hole take his ball out of the hole on his second hole in one. He finally got one up on me!
Name: Rick G.
Position: Golf Coordinator
Hometown: Born in PA and moved to CT and spent the majority of my life there. I moved to Myrtle Beach to escape the harsh winters of the Northeast (Ed.: We seem to be noticing a trend here...)
Handicap: 16
Years in Myrtle Beach: 4
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Blackmoor, Arrowhead and The Witch
Your Dream Foursome: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstremski, Wade Boggs
Your favorite golf tale: I was out playing with two of my friends, Jim and Dave, several years ago in CT. I was riding Jim and Dave was riding solo. Through the round it was just a typical relaxing Saturday with nothing really spectacular happening on the golf course. We came up on the 12th hole hit our tee shots and drove off. Dave hit his ball off to the right, near a water hazzard, while both Jim and I were on the other side just off the fairway. We drove to our balls and I take a look over across the fairway and Dave was fishing his ball out of the water. No big deal there....happens to the best of us. Unfortunately when I turned to look I saw his cart slowly start rolling. Before I could think about reacting to say or do anything about it, the cart was making a big splash in the pond!
The two of us on the other side of the fairway ran over to help Dave who at that point was completely mortified. Jim and I took one look at the cart sticking out of the water and then another look at Dave's face and both COMPLETELY lost it. Dave looked like he wanted to cry. After the laughter subsided for me and Jim, we actually were able to help Dave get the cart from the water and no one from the course was the wiser. Jim and i rode behind Dave the rest of the way chuckling for the next hour, while Dave quietly finished the round. His golf bag, casual shoes, a jacket, his wallet, among other things were dripping all the way around the last 6 holes. When we got back to the bag drop, an embarrassed Dave grabbed his soaking wet golf bag and literally ran to his car. When the cart guy came over to ask what his deal was, we both shrugged and Jim said laughing "I think he's just mad because he drove it in the water today." The cart guy looked at us a little bewildered because he clearly didn't think that was something that could ruin your day. Little did he know that it wasn't a golf ball that Dave drove in the water!
Name: Aaron Thomas
Position: Director of Front Office Operations:
Hometown: Friendsville, MD
Handicap: 14-16 (Ed.: Does it change depending on how they're scoring the event, Aaron?)
Years in Myrtle Beach: 10
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: The Dunes Club, Tidewater, Caledonia, Arrowhead and many more!
Your Dream Foursome: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and any Victoria's Secret model (Ed.: It's not likely he would spend any time talking to MJ or TW that day!)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I was playing with a buddy who's a pretty terrible golfer but as honest and competitive as any I've ever seen and I watched him take a 16 on a par 3 at Arrowhead and then later in the round roll it over the hole off the tee nearly making an ace and ending up birdieing the par 3. I also look forward to an annual golf tournament with an old group of 15 buddies that is as fierce as they come. We used to have the event in a few different places, but since I brought them to Myrtle Beach we have kept it here....why go anywhere else!? (Ed.: The name of the tournament has been removed from Aaron's story so that no one would Google it and see this awful looking group of guys!)
Name: Chip Russell
Position: General Manager
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Handicap: 7 (Ed.: So you give strokes in a match to the other guys, right Chip? Right Chip? Okay, maybe not!)
Years in Myrtle Beach: 22
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: Dunes Club, Caledonia, The Fazio at Barefoot, Beachwood
Your Dream Foursome: Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Walter Hagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Ed.: Apparently Chip gets a fivesome because he's the boss?)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I have played golf with my father-in-law for the past 22 years. He is an avid golfer and while he has a little age on him now there was a time when we played in any weather condition, showed up at any course location and would meet for any tee time that was available. Times have changed but not his motivation to play the game or remembering the time after over 40 years of playing the game he got his first hole-in-one on the 9th hole at Tidewater Golf Club.
It was a sunny and hot day as we were approaching the turn with only the 9th to play before reaching the clubhouse and getting that cold beverage he had been ranting about since earlier in the round after a really bad hole. As we got to the tee box I remember the flag in that back left corner (sucker pin) with marsh to the left. The play is to the right and if you're lucky the ball can filter down to that part of the green. After Matt Klugman and myself hit our shots (not too bad as I recall) my father-in-law got up to hit his. Very slowly he teed it up and without really looking, other than at the clubhouse, hit his shot.
I will never forget that once he hit it be proceeded to walk back to his cart not even following the shot. Matt and I stood as actually saw it drawing closer to the hole and landing right on the ridge which carried it down and in the hole it went. We went crazy with my father-in-law looking at us in disbelief! We got down to the hole he looked and said "nothing to it, now we can get over to the 19th hole".
Groups passed us while we were inside but that was OK as we knew this might not ever happen again. The moral of this golf story is nothing is better than having a playing partner have a hole-in-one right before you make the turn! By the way, we did finish the round so it would be legal.
Name: Matt Klugman
Position: Director of Marketing
Hometown: Albany, NY
Handicap: 10
Years in Myrtle Beach: 11
Favorite Myrtle Beach Course: King's North, Oyster Bay, Grande Dunes, TPC of Myrtle Beach, Blackmoor
Your Dream Foursome: Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson, Tony Soprano (Ed.: Matt, you do realize that Tony Soprano isn't a real person?)
Your Favorite Golf Tale: I was teeing off on the par 3, 13th hole of Prestwick playing as a twosome with an old friend rushing through the round on a quiet Sunday. There was a foursome ahead of us, so they said to go ahead and play through and they waved us ahead. We scurried to the tee and ran up to hit our shots so we didn't hold them up. I hit my shot and it looked pretty good and as it hit the green my friend yells "It's IN!" We couldn't see it so we rushed to the green to check.
The foursome ahead wasn't paying attention and when they heard my friend shout, they looked at the green and started congratulating me on my hole in one. I barely remember what happened next because I was so excited, but thank goodness there was another group that saw it so I actually have FIVE witnesses for my hole in one, but I only had to buy drinks for one person! (Ed.: Surrrrre there were five people who saw it. Surely they signed your scorecard, right Matt? Matt?)
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