Hype

[Dan Kelly]

What's the most ludicrous self-promotion you've seen from a golf course?

My favorite (to date) is this densely packed paragraph -- from www.shakopeedakota.org/meadows/index.html, on behalf of (WARNING! Deadly article/preposition combo ahead!) "The Meadows at Mystic Lake" in Shakopee (pronounced SHOCK-o-pee), Minnesota:

"The Meadows at Mystic Lake, an 18-hole championship golf course, is the Midwest's most spectacular golf destination. Golf Digest agrees, ranking it one of the top ten new courses in the country. Golfers experience bent grass fairways, tees and greens, 13 holes with water, 80 bunkers, 20 fountains, greens averaging 6,700 sq. ft, and GPS in carts. Adding to the experience is a 2500-foot stream with four waterfalls, and incredible life-like statues on seven holes. Next to Mystic Lake Casino . Hotel, Minnesota's largest gaming and entertainment facility, with luxurious accommodations, five fabulous restaurants, exciting gaming and world-class entertainment."

In case you're curious, here are the upcoming examples of "world-class entertainment":

Ricky Nelson Remembered
featuring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson
LIVE in the Grand Ballroom! • TWO SHOWS!

Saturday, August 4, 2007
4:00 & 7:00 P.M.

Tickets: $24
   
Mystic Lake Comedy Night
featuring Williams & Ree
LIVE in the NEW Mystic Showroom!

Friday, August 10, 2007
7:30 P.M.

Tickets: $15 & $10
   
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
LIVE in the NEW Mystic Showroom!

Saturday, August 25, 2007
7:30 P.M.

Tickets: $29 • creedence-revisited.com

[Mark Bourgeois]

There's a lot to work through here.

1. I don't understand why "Creedence Clearwater Revisited" is needed when the original name was "Creedence Clearwater Revival." Shouldn't "Revival" cover all the bases?

2. 20 fountains divided by 13 "holes with water" = a fountain-hole ratio ("fontanelle"?) of 1.538. That's a lot of spouting!

3. Of whom are the statues likenesses?

[Tom Roewer]

coming from a guy who trademarks his name --- veeeeerrry interrresting..

[Rick Shefchik]

Mark,

I can answer one of the questions. "Revisited" is necessary because this band lacks John Fogerty, who wouldn't do a Credence Reunion if you put a gun to his head, and Tom Fogerty, who is actually dead. This act might contain either Stu Cook or Doug Clifford of the original band, but not necessarily. They are in almost all respects a tribute band, rather than even a facsimile of the real thing.

[Dan Kelly]

coming from a guy who trademarks his name --- veeeeerrry interrresting..

Yes.

But I'm joking.

And they're not.

Mark Bourgeois --

The "fountain-hole ratio" is a keeper!

Can't say what the very lifelike statues depict. (Haven't been there.) I'm kinda hoping one of 'em is Garrison Keillor. And maybe a big walleye.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Rick

Yeah yeah. (But not the "Yeah Yeah Yeahs," who in their future geriatric reunion should be called the "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeahs."  Or would it be the "Yeah Yeahs?")

Rick, it sounds really less like a "revisited," certainly not a restoration, possibly a renovation.

But I digress.  Lemme draw your attention to definition 1b of "revival:"

1: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: as a: renewed attention to or interest in something b: a new presentation or publication of something old c (1): a period of renewed religious interest (2): an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings2: restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)

At worst, I say they call themselves "Creedence Clearwater Re-revival."

Mark

PS The statues are: "Life-sized bronze statues are featured at six different holes: bear, eagle, fox, deer, moose, and buffalo. Larger than life bronze statues of three horses thundering down a hill are found at hole #10." Clank!

PPS Dan, missed this: "The golf course contains more than 650 mature trees, and an additional 500 trees were planted in 2005."

[Dan Kelly]

At worst, I say they call themselves "Creedence Clearwater Re-revival."

I wonder if the trademark folks would allow "Creedence Clearwater Re-'vival."

[Larry_Keltto]

PS The statues are: "Life-sized bronze statues are featured at six different holes: bear, eagle, fox, deer, moose, and buffalo. Larger than life bronze statues of three horses thundering down a hill are found at hole #10." Clank!

This disappoints me. I was hoping for a statue of a ginormous mosquito.

[Scott_Burroughs]

I like, but don't love CCR.  However, any CCR without John Fogerty's distinctive voice wouldn't be worth listening to, IMO.

[Joe Hancock]

PS The statues are: "Life-sized bronze statues are featured at six different holes: bear, eagle, fox, deer, moose, and buffalo. Larger than life bronze statues of three horses thundering down a hill are found at hole #10." Clank!

This disappoints me. I was hoping for a statue of a ginormous mosquito.

I heard on the radio this morning that Merriam-Webster has declared "ginormous" as an official word, including it in the upcoming Fall release of the Merriam-Webster dictionary. I think it's fantabulous news......I guess there's something to this "hype" concept after all.....

Joe

[Jim Nugent]

The statues are: "Life-sized bronze statues are featured at six different holes: bear, eagle, fox, deer, moose, and buffalo. Larger than life bronze statues of three horses thundering down a hill are found at hole #10."

Don't believe him!  

I have it on good authority that the statues are of Tom Lehman...Prince...Hubert Humphrey...Jesse Ventura...The Andrews Sisters (count as one)...and Patty Berg.  Not just standing there, either, but plying their special trades.  

Shoot, the course might be worth seeing just for that.  

[Mark Bourgeois]

Actually, I read that the horses are "strategic statues" as they are placed right in the center of the fairway.  Also, if -- when -- you hit them it triggers a stirring interpretation of "Crazy Horse" by Prince Rogers Nelson.

Clank!