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GOLF & NETWORKING

GOLF & NETWORKING – A 20-year, transferable success story. I began our league 19 seasons ago: it's had hundreds participate, given 3,800 prizes, enjoyed widespread PR, hosted many “celebrity” guests, & realized untold business partnerships/deals.
THE PATTENGALE PLAN: Work to have it absorbed by an organization and aligned with long-term respected sponsors--Indiana Wesleyan University absorbed ours. It’s the perfect soft-touch commitment & community connection (anyone can join). The focus is fun & friendship, but often serendipitous business follows. Secret sauce: structured fun, flexible attendance, & intentional networking (w/ meticulous stats & contacts). People love to relax into structure, and, in sports, w/ fairness & begin to own it--see my podcast, last post.



KEYS:
*Flexible attendance—just show up
*Affordable, no league fees
*14 pts. nightly: prizes for 5 proximity markers (2 pts each), 1st team (2 pts.) 2nd (1 pt.) attendance (1pt)
*Annual clubhouse plaque & rotating trophy (we use a WWF-type trophy belt!), see pics
* Gather everyone at beginning & end. We pray, take requests, & use a lot of humor
*Send only one email or post weekly, w/ stats and 2-5 pictures
*Scramble format only: less threatening & fosters chats
*No Mulligans, strings, or any gimmicks (they slow it, and foster cheating)
*New teams weekly (except for families)
*Keep it fair (e.g., tape measures for markers; no stacked teams; person’s shot to green on longest putt, putts first; always same backup for common team ties [no. 1 handicap hole to easiest hole])
* Start at 5:30 PM to facilitate travel & home life
*9 holes only
*Never change the weeknight--people plan way ahead w/ standing commitments
* A known calendar annually--We do 18 weeks, May-August, Wednesdays, always at 5:30 PM
*Stagger age group and gender tees
*All volunteer staff
*Spread out A players
* Celebrate a wide array of players in newsletters. Everyone’s a winner, sometime. And other times, a hacker.
*Give annual awards with gifts: Best Mental Attitude, Most Improved, Most Unusual, Lowest Points (above minimum nights, e.g., half)
*Use smack talk—not personal stuff, just talent and/or luck. I pick on folk in newsletters and when embellishing, follow up with “I wouldn’t kid ya now.” (Because often, it’s believable.) Also, self-effacing humor goes a long way.
* Secure long-term sponsors. For us, Slingshot & CampusEdu.com (19 yrs), Hoosier Jiffy Print (10 yrs), and Rohrman Auto Group (2) have been amazing.
*Make first and last nights special: proximity markers on every hole, and we invite IWU golf teams to join, spread across teams.
All said, I’m the one who benefits the most—the league brings joy & no matter where I’m at in the world they know I try to be there Wednesdays if possible.
**This system works. To see scratch golfers & 30-handicappers win prizes on the same night is a hoot & strong friendships stretch throughout the community (from weddings and graduations to hospice and funerals).

Dr. Jerry Pattengale of Indiana Wesleyan University Awarded Indiana’s Highest Honor by Governor Eric J. Holcomb

December 27, 2024
MARION, IND. (Dec. 23) – Dr. Jerry Pattengale, a distinguished Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) professor and administrator, has been named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb for his lifetime achievements and commitment to the Hoosier state. The award is the highest honor the Governor of Indiana can bestow. It recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in service to the state or the governor and embody Hoosier values such as hospitality, wisdom, and dedication to their community. “We are so proud of Dr. Pattengale and his longtime affiliation with the Indiana Wesleyan University community,” IWU President Jon S. Kulaga said. “This recognition reflects his unwavering commitment to education, faith, and service. We are so happy for him and appreciate all he does for IWU.” The audience of 3,500 echoed these sentiments, rising to their feet in a thunderous standing ovation that celebrated Dr. Pattengale’s remarkable achievements and profound impact. “To be put in the same company as Gus Grissom, presidents, and Willy Nelson was a freeze-frame moment that literally stunned me,” said Pattengale. “My mantra is ‘The dream needs to be stronger than the struggle.’ To be given this award was beyond dreams and there many happy tears. God be praised. Dr. Pattengale is IWU’s inaugural University Professor and was a founding scholar at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. where he still serves as Senior Advisor. His influence extends beyond academia. As a Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, CSR associate publisher, and on the National Press Club’s Membership Committee, he continues to shape thought leadership on history, faith, and culture at the state and global levels. He has authored dozens of books and hundreds of articles and columns, including in prominent publications like The Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal. His recent works, The New Book of Christian Martyrs (Tyndale House, 2023), The Anxious Middle (Baylor University Press, 2023), The World’s Greatest Book (Tyndale House, 2023), and Habits of Hope (IVP, 2024) have received critical acclaim. Hoosiers especially cherish his award-winning “Buck Creek” newsprint series for its engaging and insightful storytelling. His Inexplicable TV series, hosted by Dennis Haysbert, also won three Telly Awards. His forthcoming book releases March 15, 2025, The Bible’s Influence on Western Civilizations, a textbook for schools. Born and raised in Buck Creek, Ind., Dr. Pattengale’s journey from poverty and homelessness at the end of high school to becoming a globally recognized scholar is an inspiration. He even addressed the United Nations and attended meetings at the White House. With the support of Wesleyan Church members and alumni of Marion College (now IWU), he pursued higher education, serving as student body president and graduating at the top of his class. Dr. Pattengale went on to earn a Ph.D. in history from Miami University (Ohio) with perfect marks and establishing himself as a leading voice in his field.  Despite the demands of his international career, he remains deeply rooted in Indiana. He commutes from Marion to Washington, D.C. and other cities multiple times a month.

Eminem on Donald Trump: A Lesson in Logic for Musicians

November 7, 2024
During the late 1970s, I booked or helped present concerts with trailblazers like Larry Norman , Randy Stonehill , Phil Keaggy , the Archers , Found Free, and Honeytree . Their songs were wide-ranging. They were about coming clean, like “ Rattle Me Shake Me ,” nature, such as “ Here Comes the Sun ,” and our eternal destiny. “ I Wish We’d All Been Ready ” had many of us Arminians back at the altar. Every time these musicians arrived, whether in a rattly repurposed school bus or via a driver, there was an official interview of sorts—as a young Christian, I wanted to know if they were authentic in their faith. I suppose nothing has changed with this routine. Most recently, I’ve walked away smiling from time with Shane and Shane , Dylan Thomas, Brooke Ligertwood , Brandon Lake, Cody Carnes, JVKE (the Lawsons), Michael W., and others. From little to lots of time, it’s been uplifting.  Against this backdrop I’ve watched some singers in the secular space make rather bold statements—and was reminded of this public and private scrutiny of musicians’ public statements and lifestyle choices. Let me focus on one, as it highlights this election season.
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