Golf & Travel Industry Reacts to "The Attck on America"
By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - From Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona, activity at golf courses throughout the U.S. paused Tuesday to reflect on the "Attack on America," the worst attack on American soil since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
However, unlike the airlines and hundreds of other businesses throughout the country, the majority of the nation's golf facilities continued with normal business operations, despite the tragic events of Tuesday morning.
"We had a very good day, a lot of folks playing golf this morning and most started playing before it happened," said Tracy Conner, head professional at Bay Tree Golf Course in Myrtle Beach. "But as they made the turn, they have all come into the grill to watch what was going on television. Everybody is still in shock and most people have left the golf course."
In Orlando, Florida, Disney World's championship golf courses were closed in response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But the remainder of Orlando area courses continued normal operations, and reported average levels of play.
"It doesn't look like anything has changed around here, its about the same amount of play," said Jim Smith of Falcon's Fire Golf Club. "No one is really talking about it because they have watched it all morning on television. They are just going about their business like usual. If they had any calls to make, I guess they are using their cell phones."
Players arriving at golf courses in Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday morning didn't find out about the tragic events until approximately 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Play on the area's numerous facilities hovered around average according to local golf professionals.
"Everybody showed up, but not everybody's mind was on their golf game," said Steve Schyberg, head professional at the Whirlwind Golf Club on the Gila River Indian Reservation. "Everybody that showed up this morning already knew what happened. Every golfer that walks off the course this afternoon comes in a watches television."
In response to the Attack on America, which was carried out by four high jacked commercial aircraft, the FAA grounded all inbound and outbound flights in the U.S. Travel experts from around the country remained unsure of the impact that the breaches in airline safety will have on the future of golf related travel.
"Who has a crystal ball?" asked Al Gaspari, President of World of Golf Tours in Orlando. "The thing is this, the entire mental attitude of the traveling public will change today. They will come to the realization that our air service system is not foolproof and people will be thinking about that the next time they make a reservation to do anything. The general public is in shock, but the question remains, what impact will it have on the prime time season?"
At least one travel official in Myrtle Beach said it was time to put business concerns aside, and focus on uniting as a nation and carrying out justice to the perpetrators of one of the most horrific act of terrorism in American history.
"I don't care about any economic stress that this causes, I don't care if I have to give back all the money from my packages this weekend or this month," said Marty Ekster, Director of Golf Vacations of the Carolinas. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to play golf. I would put my uniform back on and fight if I could.
Ekster, who served in the U.S. Army over 30 years ago, said he was apalled that golfers continued to play through their rounds in the wake of the tragedy.
"I love golf more than anyone that I have ever met, and I couldn't play right now," he said. "This is an act of war that is no less than Pearl Harbor. How anyone could be out golfing right now amazes me, and it disgusts me that people are concerned about that right now."
