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<\/a>Leslye Dyke<\/p><\/div>\n
Since its inception, Head Golf Professional Leslye Dyke has overseen the Invitational and watched it flourish. \u201cThe first year, I ran the whole thing and it was a nice event,\u201d said Dyke, a former Duke University and Futures Golf Tour competitor. \u201cBut with member input and involvement, the Invitational has evolved over the years, incorporating more fun and entertaining features. The emphasis has been on having a good time with one\u2019s fellow members and guests.\u201d As someone personally witnessing (from the parking lot, not the first tee!) the camaraderie, laughter and high spirits of the Invitational field, let me attest good times<\/i> are in ample, Jimmy Walkeresque (\u201cDyn-o-mite!\u201d) supply.<\/p>\n Twirling fire batons<\/p><\/div>\n Helping the cause, a different theme is chosen each year by a member chairperson and the Grey Oaks staff. In the past, such themes as Circus, James Bond, Under the Sea, Slow Boat to China and Out of Africa have set the stage for the event. \u201cThis year our theme was Hawaiian Luau and it was carried out in the names of the flights, courses, decorations and entertainment,\u201d said Dyke. \u201cUnlike the Men\u2019s Invitational, the social aspect is more important than the golf. Many of the women decorate their golf carts and wear special team outfits and all of it is done in a let\u2019s-have-fun atmosphere.\u201d Dinner entertainment this year fittingly included hula dancers and fire baton performers.<\/p>\n Karl Bublitz<\/p><\/div>\n Karl Bublitz, Director of Golf & Operations at Grey Oaks, described the enthusiasm level of the Ladies Invitational as \u201coff the charts with an incredible energy level.\u201d He attributed the event\u2019s popularity to several factors. \u201cOne, is how proud the members feel about it. The ladies are eager to show off their club while guests are able to experience the social fabric of Grey Oaks over a compact two days,\u201d said Bublitz, a former Michigan native who was named Southwest Florida PGA\u2019s Golf Professional of the Year. \u201cSecond, the ladies have input and influence in how the Invitational is conducted. It\u2019s their event and we\u2019re here to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n On that last point, Bublitz added \u201cunderstanding your audience\u201d is critical for country clubs and golf in general. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned to adjust the golf event calendar to reflect both the social and competitive wants of our golfers. Traditional medal and match play events, both team and individual, are important and will always have a place at the club; but frankly they\u2019re becoming a smaller piece of the pie.\u201d While citing that women\u2019s play comprises over 40% of the rounds at Grey Oaks, he sees the importance of \u201cdesigning events that help build community and are responsive to member wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n Building member relationships is also a tenet at Grey Oaks, a luxury gated community opened in 1993, that has garnered a host of notable awards and national recognition and is experiencing double digit growth this season in the activity level of various member amenities.<\/p>\n \u201cAlong with name recognition of members and guests, we work hard on member-to-member relationships,\u201d said Dyke. \u201cBy getting to know our members, the staff often sees if there are commonalities among them for introductions. Positive relationships and friendships can build from there.\u201d<\/p>\n With such a community mindset and fire batons lighting the way, Grey Oaks remains on the right path to make the game more fun and welcoming.<\/p>\n For more information about Grey Oaks, visit www.greyoakscc.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/a><\/a>