Mar Hall’s Post

Has the Nonprofit Sector Lost Its Way? The PGA of America is a nonprofit organization. At $750 per ticket, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black will have the most expensive get-in price for a golf tournament in recorded history, a 581 percent price increase over the 2019 PGA Championship. And now the PGA of America executive staff will pay U.S. Ryder Cup players a $200,000 "stipend" to play at Bethpage State Park next year on Long Island. Can an organization really be nonprofit if its operations resemble a for-profit business model? Nonprofits are traditionally expected to serve the public good—whether that's through community outreach, education, or support for those in need. The idea is that the funds raised should directly benefit the cause, not just line the pockets of executives or athletes. But with massive ticket prices, exorbitant player salaries, and the commercialization of major sporting events, it’s clear that the line between “nonprofit” and “for-profit” has become increasingly blurry. The PGA of America is not alone. Many organizations in the nonprofit space, especially in sports, entertainment, energy, and even healthcare, are focusing more on revenue generation than on their original mission. When is a Nonprofit Not a Nonprofit? Excessive Ticket Pricing: Charging the public hundreds of dollars to attend an event that is supposed to serve as an inclusive community experience is a red flag. Sky-High Salaries for Players and Executives: Paying athletes millions of dollars (while calling yourself a nonprofit) raises questions about where the actual money is going and if it’s truly benefiting the public. Unclear Mission: The growing focus on generating revenue and commercializing events often leaves the original social mission of nonprofits unclear or sidelined. It's crucial that we, as consumers and donors, hold nonprofits accountable for staying true to their purpose. Transparency, fair pricing, and ethical management of funds are essential for any organization claiming to serve the public good. Let’s start asking the tough questions. Are these organizations truly serving the people, or have they become just another arm of a larger commercial empire? #NonprofitAccountability #Transparency #Nonprofit #PublicTrust #PGA #Charity

🧩✨ #AutismAwareness Top 36 Golf Course Rankings: Post 35 - Course #2⛳️ 🧩 🚨 ALMOST THERE: $13,111 of $15,000 (87%) goal raised 🚨 💰 DONATE - Please help us get to the finish line by donating to this link: https://lnkd.in/e4MFcQfd To represent the 1 in 36 kids affected by Autism in the US, I will be counting down my Top 36 Golf Courses that I have ever played with a short story/memory for each. If you could please consider donating $36 (or more) to Els for Autism via the link above, I would appreciate it ❤️ Golf Course #2 - Augusta National GC My second favorite course I’ve ever played is one that needs no introduction…Augusta National! Opening in 1932 and designed by Bobby Jones & Alister MacKenzie, ANGC was founded on a 365-acre site of a former tree nursery, which explains the property’s beauty. Jones figured this was the perfect place to build a world-class winter golf course in his home state of Georgia. Fun fact: There were also plans to build additional amenities at ANGC, such as tennis and squash courts, but these plans were scrapped due to lack of funding during the Great Depression and were never reconsidered. The Masters Tournament began in 1934, just two years after opening, and is still held annually which many would say is the biggest and most prestigious golf tournament in the world. I was lucky enough to play Augusta National two times while attending college at Clemson University; several alumni are members there at the club and they host Clemson golfers each year as a recruiting tool. The experience lives up to the hype in every way and provides a round of golf I will never forget. My 5 key takeaways from Augusta National: 1) My heart rate on #1 tee had to be close to 180 beats/min; it is a very cool feeling to tee it up in the same place as all of golf’s legends. 2) The course is longer and the greens are crazier than you think; for example, I had a 5 wood into #11 after a perfect drive (for me), and I don’t think I played a putt inside the hole all day 😂. 3) The atmosphere, including the lunch menu, is more simple and casual than you would think, but done with perfection; I had a post round cheeseburger with french fries that was delicious. 4) Although I am happy with all of the pictures I took, I think if I played it again, I would only take a pic on #1 and #18 and focus more on my round; I shot a 76 and a 80 the two times I played it. And 5) Walking up to the 18th green is a very surreal feeling, but also very sad moment, as you know your special, potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience is coming to an end; I can only hope that one day I will have another chance to play it…and who knows, maybe in The Masters ⛳️🏌️♂️

Celebrating National Golf Day with some positive insights from the Golf Canada : Today we celebrate golf’s physical and mental health benefits, its safe sport attributes, social merits, environmental stewardship, diversity, life skills for youth, and economic value to the business community. National data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Canadians have entered the sport since 2019, totaling six million Canadian golfers and further strengthening golf’s status as the number one participation sport in the country. ⛳ Approximately 6 million Canadians played golf in 2023, an all-time high for the number one participation sport in the country, generating 74 million rounds played. ⛳ $382 million was raised through golf activities for charities across Canada, a return to the pre-Covid-19 range and tops among all participation sports. ⛳ Golf supports 237,000 person-years of employment, illustrating its importance as a vital source of livelihood for countless Canadians. Nearly 135,000 Canadians work directly in golf, with 45,000 being student employment. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gN3y_KsF.

The Longest Day Golf Challenge...... 72 holes in one day. For those who don't play golf - this is a big day.... pretty much what it says on the tin. It will take around 12 hours to complete the challenge. But golf isn't the major focus for the day - raising awareness of the work The NZ Cancer Society does is the big goal. As is raising as much $$$$ as we can for an organisation that supports so many Kiwis every year. Ash Palmer and I are going to complete this challenge on Jan 11th at Horsham Downs Golf Club. To make this as successful as possible we need to following: - Items to raffle. This could be vouchers, products, cars - whatever you can donate to raise money on the day. - Helpers and supporters on the day. We will be having games, BBQ and possibly more, so any help is welcome. Part of the day, an hour here and there, it all makes a difference - Caddies. Ash and I are determined to walk all 72 holes, but volunteers to push a cart or drive our bags around is welcome (also you must be highly qualified at looking for golf balls!!) - playing partners. We will get a few early rounds in, but later in the day we will open up a few holes to have people play alongside of us. There is a catch of course - we want people to donate $10 per hole you play with us (we are that exclusive!!) -If you are in a business that has branded merchandise e.g. hats, shirts, umbrellas, water bottles etc - we would love to have some for spot prizes on the day. We will be running putting competitions and possibly a few other things (as we make them up) so having donated prizes for all ages would be fantastic. If you have any other ideas on how to support this crazy idea - let us know!

Golf for the HEROs Vision and Motivation: Enhancing the Game of Golf: We aim to foster new relationships and enhance the game of golf through innovative tournament concepts that allow professionals to compete alongside beginners. Inspiration from Mentorship: Inspired by my mentor, Dick Garn, and his Oldsmobile Scramble, I designed the Big Blitz to provide a unique tournament experience leveraging modern technology. Key Features: Financial Structure: One of the most significant features of the Big Blitz is the ability to use 20% of the fees to support PGA HOPE, The HERO Project, and the Wounded Warriors Project while awarding 70% to the prize pool. This ensures substantial support for noble causes and a significant return for participants. Event Types: We offer various event types to cater to different preferences: $10 winner-take-all $10 and $26 events with one winner for every 10 participants $25 events with one winner for every 40 entries Inclusivity and Accessibility: The format includes a free-to-play component and ensures that participation does not impact amateur status, making it accessible to players of all skill levels. Global Reach: With the capability to access the tournament from a smartphone, our goal is to add a global component, connecting golf enthusiasts worldwide. Personal Commitment: Long-Term Dedication: I have been working on these ideas since the late '70s and am committed to their long-term success, believing in their potential to revolutionize the sport. Community and Relationships: Our project aims to bring people together, fostering new relationships within the sports communities. Call to Action: Support and Participation: We are now seeking support to publicize and expand the project. Join us on this journey, contribute to the growth of this innovative golf tournament, and help us support PGA Golf, The HERO Project, and the Wounded Warriors Project. Our website can be found at www.thebigblitz.com. Events are FREE while we build the members' roster. Register once and then Sign in each day you play, with a fake Credit Card 4242 4242 4242 4242, any date, or security  number to see if it works for you

2024 was another record-breaking year for Turkey Trots! 🦃 This year, 1,109,909 participants joined 936 races across the country, raising an incredible $3.6 million for charities. These record-shattering numbers represent a 21% increase—that’s more than 189,000 additional participants compared to the previous record set in 2023. Read our full write up with all the stats! #runsignup #raceday #racemarketing #racepromotion #racemanagement #eventmarketing #eventday #racedirector #registration

Michigan’s golf ⛳ industry is a big deal, with a $6.1B 💲 economic impact, 61,000 jobs, and 859 courses—more public courses than any other state! The state also ranks 3rd in the U.S. for total courses, bringing in 1.85M golfers who contribute $1B to the local economy. Beyond that, golf here helps the environment and raises millions for charity. The #Michigan Golf Alliance is using this data to show just how important golf is to the state. With 859 courses in the state, Michigan is primed for adding automation on the courses! I have lived in Michigan for 6 months now and have come to realize golf is just part of life here in Michigan! #MichiganGolf #GolfImpact #GolfTourism #EconomicBoost #Sustainability #GolfLife #MichiganBusinesses #GolfIndustry #pga #nexmow URSROBOT Inc. #turf

🧩✨ #AutismAwareness Top 36 Golf Course Rankings: Post 20 - Course #17⛳️ 🧩 💰 DONATE - Please help us get there by donating $36 today: https://lnkd.in/e4MFcQfd To represent the 1 in 36 kids affected by Autism in the US, I will be counting down my Top 36 Golf Courses that I have ever played with a short story/memory for each. If you could please consider donating $36 (or more) to Els for Autism via the link above, I would appreciate it ❤️ Golf Course #17 - Ohoopee Match Club As we make our way to course #17, we go to play one of the newest golf courses on my list, Ohoopee Match Club. Opening in 2018, Ohoopee is found in the rural town of Cobbtown, GA and was designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. It is owned by successful businessman and golf enthusiast, Michael Walrath, who at age 32 sold his company, Right Media, to Yahoo. Often recognized by its unique “onion” logo, the land on which the course sits used to be a successful onion farm. This type of soil and dunes lends itself to be the perfect turf for excellent golf course conditions, often playing firm and fast to challenge the golfer’s creativity. The word that comes to mind when thinking about the Ohoopee experience is FUN - the lodging, food, service, caddies, and course are amazing and create a memorable weekend. One of the most unique things about Ohoopee is that the course has 22 holes in total with two different 18-hole routings, the championship routing and the whiskey routing, which enables you to have a totally different round while playing on the same property. One other unique aspect that caught me off guard is there are no tee markers. This is by design as the course is meant to be played with Match Play, allowing the golfer with honors to choose how he/she wants the hole to be played. I was amazed by Ohoopee and “the hang” it creates, which has proven to be the successful modern course model that many other courses now are trying to immulate. If you go to play Ohoopee soon, I have no doubt that you will have an amazing time ⛳️

The Leadership Advisory Council with Make-A-Wish Michigan is still looking for sponsors for our 3rd Annual Golf Outing at Thornapple Point on August 5th! If you're not familiar with Make-A-Wish Michigan (MAWM). MAWM makes wishes come true for children with a critical illness across the state of Michigan. A few fun facts: 💸 Every dollar raised in Michigan stays in Michigan. ⏳ A child is diagnosed with a critical illness every 20 minutes. 🏥 An estimated 800+ children will be diagnosed with a critical illness this year. 💫 While doctors provide the medicine, Make-A-Wish Michigan supplies the magic that provides a positive life-changing experience. 👨⚕️ Most notably, 75% of surveyed doctors said a wish could improve a child’s medical outcomes. ⭐ While each wish is truly unique, most fall into one of five categories: I wish to be, I wish to go, I wish to have, I wish to meet, and I wish to give. Join me in helping raise funds for this critical mission - sponsorships start at $250! https://lnkd.in/gD4ART4F

Bike Swaps in May 2024 Edmonton Bike Swaps - what’s new, what’s old, and how you can help us help others. 01 May 2024 - Alberta Bike Swap was founded in 2011 to provide a safe place to buy, sell, and donate bikes. Over the last 13 years Chris and Laura Grant have swapped thousands of tech-checked and serial-number recorded bikes. They’ve also been a conduit for thousands of donated bikes and they fund safe cycling in Alberta through the only recognized and standardized cycling education program – CAN-BIKE. What’s new? 1. There are two Edmonton Bike Swap events: May 11 at MacEwan University north side underground parking lot 10803 – 105 Ave NW and June 8 at CCT Golf Dome 11925 Kingsway NW. 2. Alberta Bike Swap is hosting a bike donation drive for Sports Central at both Edmonton Bike Swaps; 3. Alberta Bike Swap is building the CAN-BIKE certified effective cycling instructor base for the next generation. The first stage is a Level 4 Course May 25-26 and the Instructor Workshop May 30 - June 2. What’s old? This is still old: Ask anyone in Alberta whether they’ve heard about Alberta Bike Swap and you’ll typically get, “yes, I’ve heard of them”. This is getting really old, so please help us get the word out. What’s important? Alberta Bike Swap are honoured to be Bike Index Ambassadors and will continue preventing the selling and buying of stolen bikes; Sport Central’s mission is to empower kids, one piece of sports equipment at a time. The power of a bike is not limited to the hours of enjoyment a kid will experience, but also opens a new world of independence, physical activity, and offers an additional method of transportation. Last year, Sport Central Association saw a 48% increase in utilization of their services. The Bike program alone saw a 70% increase, and this is where you come in – please consider donating your outgrown or unused bicycles at either Edmonton Bike Swap or one of their other 46 donation locations so these bikes can go to those in need. #bikes #bikeswap #alberta Laura Grant https://lnkd.in/gPDCSjU2