The RGV Tour

At the end of every golf trip I think to myself... "What if I didn't have to stop playing golf?  What if I could just drive down the road and go to the next golf course? The next state? Just never stop playing golf?"  For years, that has been my dream.

I have decided that the time to live the dream is now.  I have resigned from my sales position, I have purchased a recreational vehicle (RV), and turned it into a recreational golf vehicle (RGV).  I am touring the country playing golf for the next 12 months.  I will be raising money for the First Tee and I am inviting you to join me.

“The time is now for me to play golf every day.”

— Patrick Koenig - RGV Tour Founder

Yes, that's right, I quit my job to play golf every single day.  Over the next year it will be my goal to play golf in the lower 48 states.  I will be looking to play everywhere, the local gems, the top 100's, the quirky par 3 courses, the local municipalities, and the top tier putt-putt tracks.  I am starting the Recreational Golf Vehicle Tour, or the RGV Tour and it is going to be glorious.

The best part about the RGV Tour is that I will be raising money for a worthwhile cause, The First Tee of Greater Seattle.  The First Tee positively impacts the lives of young people by building character, instilling life-enhancing values and promoting healthy choices through the game of golf.  With all that the game of golf has given me, I feel it's important to start giving back.  My goal is to present a check for $10,000 at the season ending check ceremony.

The second best part about the RGV Tour is that it is coming to your town.  I am inviting you to join me and you don't have to go to Q School to get your RGV Tour card.  All you need is a passion for the game and a 9 iron.  Just consult the schedule and send me a message l and I will do my best to bring the RGV Tour to you.

After we golf our socks off, you will be invited to sign The RGV Tour guest book with other legends of the RGV Tour.  Upon signing, you will automatically be entered into the RGV Tour hall of fame. Yes, everyone that joins the RGV Tour is a member of the hall of fame.

At 26 feet long, the recreational golf vehicle will serve as the RGV Tour headquarters for the next 12 months.  Now leaving behind your home and no longer having a "mailing address" can be scary, but this ride should ease the pain.  The Tour bus is complete with a mini golf library, and is stocked full of golf balls and energy bars.  It is #golfparty headquarters.

I have also transformed the RGV common areas into a portable podcast studio.  Please find me on the RGV Tour podcast with PJKoenig.  We will go behind the scenes as I golf like a maniac and talk golf with fellow RGV Tour pros, my favorite golf brands, and various special guests, 

While I have a tentative schedule for the states, I believe the magic resides in the spirit of exploration and adventure. The goal of the RGV Tour is to explore the places and people that make up the American golf landscape. 

It all starts on January 28th 2018 at the RGV Tour kickoff event at Chambers Bay.  If you are interested in joining, please let me know as spots for this premier event are limited. 

The first tour event of the season is at Chambers Bay on January 28th.

Please head on over to the RGV Tour Blog as the regular blog has been suspended temporarily due to the RGV Tour.

Oui, France, Oui!

With The Ryder Cup coming to France in 2018, I deemed it necessary to visit Paris before Patrick Reed gets his "shush" on and angers the French fan base.  I was able to sneak in one last 2017 trip and my partner in golf crime was Stephanie Wei.

When a normal person thinks about France, they think of the Eiffel Tower, French bread, and maybe some of those silly hats.  For me, I think... "I bet they got some cool golf courses out there."  Now, France is not well known for it's golf, but in this post, I uncover some gems and play some courses that are definitely not on your radar.  When you pair those gems up with the typical French destinations, you have got yourself a serious golf vacation.

Our first round of golf was at France's finest links course, Golf De Granville.  The course is an HS Colt design and is a time tested routing.  Like any true links test, we faced Granville in a pretty good side-ways downpour.  I started out with 2 great shots and a 3 putt par.  The golf party was on.

The clubhouse behind the 9th green.

I love a good riveted bunker.

On June 6th 1944 US, British, and Canadian troops stormed Omaha Beach on World War II's infamous D-Day.  Today, France is no longer occupied by German forces and instead of Nazi soldiers, there is a golf course on the bluffs above the beach.  Fittingly, the beach was getting stormed, with rain, as we put our tees in the ground at the Omaha Beach Golf Club.  Eventually the rain would lift and we would enjoy a gap in the clouds.

The 6th hole finishes right on the edge of the bluff overlooking the sea.

A view of Omaha Beach from behind the 6th hole.

After storming Omaha, we were off to Le Golf National, the host course for the 2018 Ryder Cup.  As we rolled up to the course we caught a glimpse of the rolling WHITE fairways.  To our despair, snow had covered the course the night before and we would not be able to play.

However, the snow and frost would not stop us from touring the course, getting some great pictures, and enjoying the day.

Le Golf National is perfectly suited to host a large professional championship.  With stadium seating on just about every hole, the Ryder Cup experience is sure to be a good one for the spectators.  The French fan base has already gotten their tickets with the event selling out in around an hour.  

The sun rises over a chilly 16th at Le Golf National.

The most prominent and challenging string of holes at Le Golf National is on holes 15-18.  Players will need to be both long and accurate on this key stretch if they want to stay dry and put points on the board.  There is sure to be some spectacular drama come September 2018.  Early odds are 10:1 that someone chucks a putter in the pond.

They have the flags up and the carts fully charged.  Le Golf National is Ryder Cup ready.

The frozen 15th and 18th greens.  You will want the Ryder Cup matches to make it to these holes.

After a solid scouting of the Ryder Cup venue, it was time to take in some of the French scenery.  There is an endless amount of obvious attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles to see in the Paris area.  We did our best to see what we could in a short amount of time.

"Look at all of the gold and rich stuff in there."

Stephanie Wei is happy to be in Versailles.

The fine folks over at De Vinis Illvstribvs had us out for a drink in Paris.  Even as a non drinker, I enjoyed the wine tasting.

Arc De Triomphe pose.

Successful high kicks start with consistent stretching.

For a golfer, the ideal way to take in the Eiffel Tower is obviously from the golf course.  That is exactly what you get at Golf de Saint Cloud.  Since St Cloud is a private club, the course isn't accessible to all tourists.  Fortunately, it's not Augusta and if you are interesting in experiencing this one of a kind golf experience, it's entirely possible.   You would just need to contact Private Golf Key for the details.  Just ask for Olivier and tell 'em Large Marge sent, ya.   Mentioning this blog post also works.

Two greens and the Eiffel Tower.  Golf courses don't pose much better than this.

Next up on the agenda was a visit to the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Cannes.  The IGTM is an annual get together of countries and tourism boards looking to promote golf and tourism within their countries.  It is a big deal and you get a really good idea of some of the amazing golf outside of the US.  As if my list of countries to golf in needed to get any longer.

After a serious rain fest at nearby Golf de Saint Donat, it was finally time for the sun to come out.  We tackled the Golf de Grande Bastide on a brisk but sun filled afternoon.  The course is set amongst the foothills of the Niçoise hinterland and has a strong Southern France vibe to it.  We had a tense 3 way duel that included several clutch putts with an overabundance of 3 putts.

High above the partially frozen fairways of Grande Bastide.

After a spirited day on the links it was time to kick off the IGTM.  With France hosting the Ryder Cup in 2018, the country is set for a huge year in golf and the IGTM coming to Cannes was no coincidence.  The Mayor of Cannes and the officials in charge of the Ryder Cup welcomed us and talked briefly about the unique opportunity that France has to assert itself as a legitimate golf destination.  France is not going to replace Ireland or Scotland but any visit to France should certainly involve several trips to the golf course.

The IGTM took place in the The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, the same venue as the Cannes Film Festival

The Mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, kicks things off with a ribbon cutting.

After a full day scouting the various golf destinations of the world, we decided to head down the street and actually visit one of them.

Good times in Cannes with Leo.

It's hard to capture the serene feeling that the surrounding trees on the Old Course provide.  

The Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia founded the Old Course at Cannes Mandelieu in 1891 and the routing would later be altered by HS Colt.  The most beautiful aspect of the course is without a doubt the canopy of trees that surrounds just about every hole. While it is not long at only 6,300 yards it is certainly a very enjoyable round of golf.

I teed it up with 2 Frenchman who did not speak a word of English.  Since I did not speak a word of French, there was not a lot of chit chat.  However, all 3 of us spoke the language of golf and we traded groans, grunts, and fist bumps as the highs and lows of our rounds unfolded.  

Even though we did not talk, I would rank my playing partners high on the enjoyability scale.  If you have the opportunity to play with someone and only communicate through golf noises, I would recommend it.

I only had to punch out 3 times on the 4th hole.

The short 16th was my favorite of the par 3's.

With only one course left to play in France. we were lucky enough to play one of France's finest.  We were headed out for some twilight action at Golf Country Club de Cannes Mougins.  The course hosted the Cannes Open in the 1980's and 1990's featuring winners such as Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros.  If you only have time to play one course in the Cannes area, this is the course you want to play.

Long Shadows.

Longer Shadows!

If you are interested in creating your own French experience please reach out to Paris' premier golf & art de vivre travel concierge, Private Golf Key.  The CÔTE D'AZUR website is also a great French reference.

Our trip to France ended in Cannes with a fantastic party that generated this awful selfie of me attempting to lick the Ryder Cup.  As an FYI, I google image searched "People licking the Ryder Cup" and found lots of people kissing, posing, and drinking from the cup, but as far as I can tell I am the first person in history to lick it.  According to my nieces, cooties only last a week, so we should be good to go come presentation time in 2018.

Sea Island Sweepstakes!

"I am already sold, sign me up for the free sweepstakes."  

In 2016, I went to my very first Masters and it was an experience that I will never forget.  However, you don't actually get to play golf and since they wouldn't let me out onto Augusta for a quick nine, I had to look elsewhere.  The course that I wanted to play was Sea Island in nearby St. Simons Island, GA.  The course is home to the PGA Tour's RSM Classic and it was time I paid it a visit.  Sea Island has 3 championship courses, The Seaside, The Plantation and the Retreat.  I was after the Seaside course.

The Seaside course winds its way around tidal creeks, marshes, and sand dunes on the southern tip of Sea Island.  Not only is the golf course fantastic, but the entire area and resort has a fabulous five star feel to it.  In fact, it's a Forbe's Five Star resort. 

Top notch conditions!

Basket pins!!

You:  "Patrick, this looks cool.  I also want to visit Sea Island." 

Me:  "But didn't you just lose your life savings on an overly aggressive Nassau last weekend?"

You:  "That son of a bitch!  With those pants he was wearing, it should have been a sure thing!! 

         "But yes... I now have no money."

Me:  "Fret not my friend!!  I have the perfect solution for your woes"

        "Everything you see below can be yours."

• Three (3) night’s stay at the Sea Island Resort located in Sea Island, GA
• Ground Transportation between Brunswick Golden Isles Airport or Jacksonville International Airport and Sea Island Resort
• One (1) $1,000 gift card to use towards travel costs
• One (1) round of golf for winner and one (1) guest
• BMW vehicle for transportation during stay at Sea Island Resort
• $500 Sea Island Resort credit for use at Sea Island Resort

Just click here to make this hypothetical conversation become a reality.  The deadline is December 1st, 2017.

Tathata Golf Launch Party

When Kyle over at Tathata Golf (www.TathataGolf.com) informed me that they were having a launch party to celebrate the new 60-Day Training Program and membership platform, I was excited.  When Kyle mentioned that he was inviting Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Annika Sorenstam to help launch the program, I was even more excited... and when Kyle invited me to help celebrate the occasion, I punched a hole in my wall with excitement.  For years, I had watched these legends dominate the sport and now I was getting the chance to meet and photograph them.  

Since Tathata Golf's teaching foundation is based on the movements of the greatest golfers of all time it only made sense to have Jack, Greg, and Annika join in the presentation and launch of the new training platform.  Greg Norman, the best driver of all time, was going to walk us through his approach to driving the golf ball.  Annika Sorenstam, the best female golfer of her generation, was going to demonstrate her wedge game.  Jack Nicklaus, the best pressure putter of all time, was going to share his thoughts on putting.  The evening would conclude with a $1 million closest to the pin competition with the proceeds going to the winner's charity of choice.  The event was aptly titled "A Celebration with the Greats" and it would be streamed on the Golf Channel.

Annika's approach to the wedge game is simple,   Every time she gets a wedge in her hands, she is looking to place the ball inside of 10 feet.  She has created a very repeatable fluid motion that allows her to do this consistently.  

Although it's no surprise, Annika stresses practice and really being able to get a feel for those shots inside of 100 yards.  It is a pleasure to watch as she drops wedge after wedge right next to each other.  Annika was going to be tough to beat in the million dollar closest to the pin competition.  

Up next was Greg Norman and his approach to driving the golf ball.  After twenty or so minutes of istening to The Shark talk about hitting a driver, I came away with a couple of things

• Pick the smallest target you can, every single time.  Small... I mean the leaf on a tree 400 yards away small.
• Try to hit the front of the golf ball and not the back of it.  This is a great way to visualize and feel the acceleration through the impact zone.
• Greg Norman is the man.  Even at 62, with large gaps of time away from the game.  Greg steps up and bombs the driver like a 30 year old.

“I never really got nervous, I would just get excited.”

— Greg Norman

It's not often that Annika or Greg aren't the main attraction at an event, but when Jack Nicklaus is in the building, all eyes are on the Golden Bear.  With 18 major championships to his name, Jack is arguably the best golfer to ever walk the earth.

Jack starts off by highlighting the importance of keeping your eyes directly over the ball and strokes a couple of putts.  It is a surreal feeling to be on the same putting green as Jack Nicklaus and at one point Bryan Hepler, the Founder of Tathata Golf, comments "Isn't this the coolest? Just hanging out with Jack and watching him roll some putts?"  

The biggest takeaway from listening to Jack talk is that he values the mental side of putting just as much as the fundamentals.  Because Nicklaus has built up such a strong mental game, he is much more dangerous when he fully engages his mind on the putting green.  Because of this approach, Jack is a notably better putter when he "needs" to make a putt.  If anybody can will a ball into a hole, it's Jack.  Well, maybe Tiger did it once or twice... (In corner, Michael Jordan raises hand)

Jack's head covers are cooler than yours.

The hands of 18 majors grip the putter lightly

Jack's philosophy on putting centers mostly around the importance of speed.  Three putt avoidance is important to Jack and he likes those second putts to be stress free.  He recalls several seasons when he made it to June or July on the tour without a three putt.  Most of us are lucky to make it to the third hole.

Jack doesn't just stick to the putting stroke and offers up his thoughts on the full swing.  Nicklaus clearly embraces a natural swing that develops from a golfer's own personal style. He also gives a few lines on today's competitive landscape.  "Jordan Spieth will be a much better golfer than he is today."  So Jack is clearly on the Spieth Wagon with the rest of us.

There is even a discussion about the whereabouts of a putter Jack used to win the Masters.  Apparently those things are valuable.  Side note:  If anybody knows where the Lynx putter that I used to win the 1994 Junior Varsity Bruin Invitational is, please let me know.

This quote may NOT have actually happened.

Uploaded by Patrick Koenig on 2017-11-27.

Greg, Annika, and Jack pose along side Bryan of Tathata Golf.

The roundtable discussion on the grounds of the Tathata training facility.

After the roundtable discussion winds up, it is time for the $1 Million shootout.  It's a 60 yard wedge shot and they only get one shot, closest to the pin wins $1 million.  Not to be left out, each runner up receives $200k for the charity of their choice.  The Greats warm up and give the honor to Annika.  Like a champion, she sticks it to 3 feet.  With the pressure on, Jack finds the sand and Greg catches it heavy.  Jack later laughs  "Greg and I couldn't get it over a bunker 40 yards away."  At 77, his game isn't what it used to be, but his mental outlook remains solid and fun.

Annika Sorenstam, Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman battle for $1 million at the Tathata Golf Launch Party.

Nice lil' check for Annika

With any luck, you picked up one or two takeaways from this post, I know I picked up 2-3 strokes just by meeting these legends.  It was truly a special treat.

If you are looking to improve your game at all, I would suggest checking out Tathata Golf and their new membership platform. It contains a variety of beneficial features in a Netflix-like user experience; training courses, weekly TV shows, 200+ Video Library, and mobile companion app.  If it's special enough to attract these champions, it is worth a moment of your consideration.

Jack, Greg, and Annika were gracious with their time and met everyone at the party.

The sun sets on Tathata Golf and one of my favorite golf days.