Aloha! I was recently in Palm Springs for the Troon 2014 Western Regional Sales & Marketing Summit. The summit was at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in sunny, and hot, Rancho Mirage, California. We left Scottsdale on Monday and spent the next three days there. It was great seeing everyone, and meeting people that I had only emailed with in the past. Like Dennis Piekarski, Director of Revenue Management – Southwest, Lon Grundy, Executive Director at PGA WEST and La Quinta Resort & Club and Doug Sutter, Sales Manager at Princeville Makai Golf Club.
When emailing Doug, expect a ton of energy. He’s happy, passionate and always full of life. He is just a blast to be around. Granted, he lives in Hawaii… So I am sure that helps!
The first night we were there we had dinner at Vue Grille and Bar at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Before dinner we had a small mixer and I got the chance to chat with Doug. I told him about my passion for craft beer and how I hoped to visit a few breweries while in Palm Springs. Coachella Valley Brewing Company is right across the street from Mission Hills, so I figured that would be my first stop, if I had time. I never made it to the brewery, but I did get the chance to try their IPA. On Tuesday night, my birthday, Doug invited me over to his room after dinner. I went, and he surprised me with a bottle of Monumentous, their India Pale Ale.
Needless to say, I was surprised. Doug had remembered me talking about craft beer and the brewery, and went out of his way to get me a bottle. We sat there until the wee hours of the morning talking about golf and drinking beer. It was the perfect end to my birthday. The beer is really good, too. Makes me want to go back and visit the brewery so I can try all their beers!
I never got the chance to properly thank Doug for his hospitality. I guess I need to plan a trip to Kauai so I can thank him by taking him out to dinner. Oh, I almost forgot. On the way to dinner on Monday, Doug was telling me about a memorable round of golf he recently played with a family member. It was a touching story and I am honored he was willing to share. Then he pulled out a bottle cap from Odell Brewing Company. He handed it to me and said he used it as a ball marker during his round. He shot even par, starting with three birdies in a row… So perhaps this ball marker is magical! Anyway, he gave me the bottle cap and I plan to use it in my next round.
Doug, it was an absolute pleasure finally meeting you, learning more about you and getting the chance to share dinner and drinks with you. I’m serious, when I visit, I’m buying you dinner. It’s the least I can do. Mahalo!
(Doug pretty much starts every email with Aloha! and ends every email with Mahalo! It seemed fitting to do the same here! Thanks again, Doug!)
