Where We Gather

We launched Tee Times & Tequila at Great Dunes Golf Course on Jekyll Island — one of Georgia's most iconic coastal courses — and it set the tone for exactly the kind of society we're building. 28 members made the trip. We played 4-man net best ball in the afternoon, then headed to Tortuga Jack's for post-round tequila tasting where spouses and significant others joined the group for dinner and drinks. A few couples ended up staying the night at the Westin, where the fun continued well into the evening. The van ride down was part of the experience. So was the fact that at least two people figured out how to nap on it. Great Dunes did everything a first event should: it got the right people in a room, set the vibe, raised money for causes we care about, and left everyone asking when the next one is. We had planned on running a 2-man blind draw, but somewhere between Tortuga Jack's, scorecard interpretation, and one too many tequilas by the event organizer, the scorecards became largely indecipherable. We'll tighten up operations slightly next time. Probably. The event also raised money for causes we care about: $1,000 to the Caretta Research Project, $250 to First Tee of Savannah, and $1,100 split between Evans Scholars Foundation & The Tequila Interchange Project. We were excited to have First Tee of Savannah involved and to have a couple of their participants join us during the day.

Our second Tee Times and Tequila event is officially in the books. Eleven golfers, six caddies, three groups, nearly three bottles of tequila, and one absolutely perfect Ohio summer afternoon at Brookside Golf & Country Club. Honestly, we couldn't have ordered better weather if we'd tried. Temperatures sat comfortably in the mid-70s, the course was in outstanding condition, and the caddies somehow managed to keep all of us moving despite the occasional search party into the rough. The format was a two best balls of four competition. With only eleven players, one group received assistance from our now legendary fourth player, Mr. Par. THE COMPETITION When the dust settled, the team of Joe Whiston, Xhevair Brakaj, Nic Radel, and Griffin Schultz posted a winning score of 12-under par. As is tradition, each player earned $50 in Tee Times and Tequila member credit. At the time the final putt dropped, Nic Radel was the only official Tee Times and Tequila member on the winning team. We briefly considered awarding him the entire purse before cooler heads prevailed. Joe Whiston, proving he may have been the smartest player on the team, has since corrected that oversight and joined the society. The scorecard was impressive. The tequila tally may have been even more impressive. MORE THAN GOLF One of the things we're trying to build with Tee Times and Tequila is a reason for good people to spend more time together. Brookside felt like a great example of that. We welcomed several first-time attendees, introduced a few people who had never met before, and added a new member along the way. By the end of the day there were already conversations about future events, future matches, and future host clubs. The growth model for this thing has always been pretty simple: members bring guests, guests become members, and members eventually host events at clubs they love. Brookside felt like another step in that direction. A HUGE THANK YOU A huge thank you to Brookside Golf & Country Club for hosting us and for presenting the course in fantastic condition. We'd also like to thank our caddies, who elevated the experience throughout the day. Walking a great golf course with a knowledgeable caddie is one of the purest ways to enjoy the game, and our group was fortunate to spend the day with an outstanding crew. Special thanks to Boomer for coordinating everything and making the day run smoothly. The feedback on the caddies was universally positive and a big part of why the day felt special. BRITT'S EMERGENCY EXIT Not every story involved golf. Britt Joseph was unfortunately forced to leave early after learning one of his employees had become stranded on the highway. Fortunately, the situation was resolved. Unfortunately for Shawn "Swanee" Swanson and his team, they were left having to rely on Brian Olinger and Alex Gonzalez once Britt's stellar short game exited the competition. Results were predictable. GIVING BACK We're proud to confirm our contributions: - $150 to the Evans Scholars Foundation - $150 to The Tequila Interchange Project WHAT'S NEXT Next up is The Lakes Golf & Country Club on July 21. If Brookside was any indication, we may need to revisit our tequila forecasting model before then. Thanks to everyone who joined us, brought guests, supported the charities, and helped make another great day even better. Golf. Tequila. Camaraderie.

Sometimes the golf gods have other plans. After spending the morning negotiating with the weather (unsuccessfully), we managed to get between 10 and 14 holes in before Mother Nature finally won. While we didn't get the full round in, we certainly made up for it afterward with plenty of food, tequila, and stories in the clubhouse. A huge thank you to Britt Joseph for hosting us at The Lakes Golf & Country Club. The Lakes recently hosted Final U.S. Open Qualifying, and even in less-than-ideal conditions, it showed why it's one of Central Ohio's premier clubs. We were also excited to officially welcome Griffin Schultz, Shawn "Swanee" Swanson, and Mark Weisenburger as Tee Times and Tequila members. Griffin and Swanee first joined us at Brookside as guests, and it was great to have them back as members. We were also happy to welcome guests Damian Santos and Adam Roorda. There were plenty of memorable moments despite the weather. Swanee somehow made it after spending the morning with his dad, Britt generously put the beverage cart on his tab for the entire group (don't worry Britt...TT&T has you covered), and once the rain finally settled in, it simply meant we got to the tequila tasting a little earlier than planned. One thing is becoming pretty clear after three events: even when we don't get all 18 holes in, the best part of Tee Times and Tequila has very little to do with the scorecard. The messages that came through the next morning probably summed it up best. Eddie Kline, The Lakes' head pro, let Swanee know how much he enjoyed our group and invited us back, Britt was immediately talking about getting another date on the calendar so we could finish what we started, and there was already plenty of discussion about when we'd be back at The Lakes. As always, a portion of every event supports charities that are important to our members. Thanks to everyone who joined us and continues to help make an impact. Next up, we head west for our Southern California Swing—Sandpiper, La Cumbre, Las Posas, Bear Creek, and La Costa.

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