“Balls in the Air with Charlie Rymer” Podcast Episode 8 with Scott Tomasello

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Charlie Rymer (00:16):

Hi and welcome into episode 97 of Balls in the Air. It’s not really episode 97, I’m just making that up. It’s episode something, but we’ve been having a great time here on the new podcast. I am your, most of the time, friendly host Charlie Rymer and we’ve got another great guest today joining us from Golf Tourism Solutions. He is the tournament director, Scott Tomasello and Scott, in case you didn’t know it, is one of the nicest … in fact, the nicest guy in all of Myrtle Beach. Scott, how you doing this morning, bud?

Scott Tomasello (00:48):

I’m doing all right. I think you exaggerated just a smidge for me, but I appreciate that.

Charlie Rymer (00:53):

Oh, I never exaggerate anything Scott. Hey, let’s jump in a little bit, some of the folks out there, they might not be real familiar with Golf Tourism Solutions. Talk to me a little bit big picture what that company does.

Scott Tomasello (01:08):

Sure, so we kind of serve as the marketing arm for all things Myrtle Beach golf. Our motto here at least is we don’t really care where you stay or where you play, we just want you to experience everything that we have to offer. So plenty of golf. What we do here is make sure that you have a good time. Make sure we curate a great experience for everybody, whether you’ve been here one time or 300 times. So we have an events division that helps accomplish that and we look forward to hosting players for regular days or golf, or a competitive experience.

Charlie Rymer (01:36):

And I know that’s where your expertise is as tournament director in the events division. We’ll get into some of the events that you oversee, including the World Am, which is the world’s largest amateur golf tournament, in fact, the world’s largest golf tournament and I’ve had the chance over the years to host that. The “World’s Largest 19th Hole” happens every night and you can only do that here in Myrtle Beach. Most years, we utilize almost 50 golf courses to get it done. They got to be close enough together where you can get all the golfers back in the same place every night to enjoy that “World’s Largest 19th Hole,” which happens at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. But Scott, tell me a little bit about your background. I know you’ve been with this company … how many years now?

Scott Tomasello (02:20):

It’s going on 10.

Charlie Rymer (02:21):

Going on 10 years now, but tell me a little bit about your background. How you first came to Golf Tourism Solutions.

Scott Tomasello (02:28):

Sure, yeah. Always been a golfer, maybe not necessarily all that good, but grew up playing the game. Really enjoying it with my father. Went to South Carolina for school and-

Charlie Rymer (02:39):

And that’s all right [inaudible 00:02:40] but your college isn’t just for everybody.

Scott Tomasello (02:43):

So I’m a big Gamecock fan and never really wanted to leave South Carolina, it’s a beautiful place. A lot of great things to see, a lot of great cities. So I ventured out to Myrtle Beach after a few golf internships, trying to get my way into the business and I’m fortunate to have landed here with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at the time and just been running tournaments ever since.

Charlie Rymer (03:05):

So many young people want to get into sports, they want to get into golf. In particular, I run into young folks all the time that are in school. What was your degree in at South Carolina?

Scott Tomasello (03:20):

Sports management, which they have a great program there and I know a lot of schools around the country are picking up PGM programs, or sports management as a whole, which is great.

Charlie Rymer (03:29):

For someone out there listening right now that’s interested in getting in sports, or maybe they have someone in their family, a kid who’s going to college, what kind of advice would you give them on how to start a career in the world of sports?

Scott Tomasello (03:43):

Sure. I think two key things for me, at least, that I’ve kind of looked back on is one that the business side of things is very important. It’s not just about the playing or the operations aspect. Looking back, I wish I could have taken a few more business classes, because if you are able to work your way into this business, at some point you might look at being a general manager for a club or of tournaments and things like that. So the business side is very important. It’s not just marketing. If you want to make your way, you need to be able to be a jack of all trades, so to speak. So that’s very important, but also networking. You can’t say it enough. I’m fortunate to have had a great mentor in Paul Graham, a good friend of yours and without making key connections and networking, just staying close with the people that help you along the way is very important. I think that’s helped me and I think it would help a lot of people.

Charlie Rymer (04:29):

Yeah. You mentioned Paul, he’s been a guest on this show. He’s been my longtime agent. Also teaches, is a professor at University of South Carolina in that sports management program. You’re right, he is absolutely the best. One of the things that I think about when I go back to the last century when I was at college at Georgia Tech, I always try to remember a class that I took that helped me in what I do now, and it was probably public speaking. And I made a D in public speaking at Georgia Tech. I remember after my playing career wrapped up, ESPN hired me to be the lead analyst on about 15 shows, the second half of the PGA TOUR season or the end of the summer through the fall, and I remember thinking, “Wow, I’m sitting here for the worldwide leader of sports. We’re going out live to 168 countries around the world. What have I done to qualify myself for this?” And I thought, “I made a D in public speaking.”

Scott Tomasello (05:25):

Must have been right place, right time kind of thing for you. Goes back to networking.

Charlie Rymer (05:29):

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. That professor didn’t like me, but I do remember that class and a couple other … I enjoy taking some history, some English classes and that sort of stuff, but do you remember any class? I know it’s been a while now, but do you remember any class that specifically taught you a skill that you use on a daily basis?

Scott Tomasello (05:50):

I think Paul’s classes. He teaches event management for … whether it’s musical, concerts, for golf tournaments. He teaches a lot of classes, but technically at the end of the day, my best class was internships. So getting out there and actually experiencing it. So when we have events here, we love to have interns in because that’s, to me, the best way to learn. In our school at least, internships were partly classes. So I tried to do as many as I possibly could. I’m thankful for some of the opportunities. I think those are the classes you remember the most because that’s where you get the real learning experience.

Charlie Rymer (06:22):

Yeah. I’m with you on the whole internship thing. My two sons, there within the last two and a half, three years now, both graduates, college graduates. One from Florida State and one from Missouri and they are both gainfully employed that I am very happy about that. But both of them had wonderful internships. One of them went to New York City for the summer to work for an investment banker and the other one ended up taking an internship up in the Chattanooga area. After the internship, he went back to school, finished up for four months and went to work for that company. So internships are just absolutely vital, maybe a little bit different when I was in school, but again, I go back to the kids out there who are listening, or parent that’s listening, what’s a key at getting that internship? Because in your position now, I’m sure you get a lot of calls about people wanting to come intern for you.

Scott Tomasello (07:19):

Sure, yeah. I think the key goes back to networking, but at the end of the day, you need to make the most of that time. If you are given the opportunity, it’s your chance to prove yourself and without that, people may say, “Thanks for your time, we’ll take it from here.” That kind of thing. So while school is very important to give you those fundamentals, you need to act on the professionalism. A lot of college students, it’s tough to balance the work, the play, the fun, the experience that college is, but there will be a time in your life when you need to focus on the future. And if you do well in those internships, a lot of times you might be there for a good portion of your life.

Charlie Rymer (07:58):

Yeah, and you got to be pretty persistent in pursuing those internships as well.

Scott Tomasello (08:02):

Quantity of applications, correct.

Charlie Rymer (08:03):

Yeah, yeah, and make sure you follow up because a lot of times, you’re applying to very busy companies or individuals and don’t take it personal when you don’t get the reply that you want immediately. A couple years ago, I did an interview for a business journal and they were asking me what do you look for in young people that might come to work for you? And I think it still applies today, and college kids if you hear this, you need to remember it. I told them … in the article I said, “First of all, I want somebody that’s smart. I want passionate, I want dedicated, creative and I’ve got to have somebody that’s on time. And if I can only get one of those five, I’ll take on time.”

Scott Tomasello (08:48):

Of course, yes. Exactly.

Charlie Rymer (08:50):

You come out and you’re an intern or you’re starting a job, you better be on time or you’re not going to be in that position for very long.

Scott Tomasello (08:57):

What’s the expression? The best ability is availability.

Charlie Rymer (09:00):

Exactly. Exactly. That’s great advice for young folks. Well Scott, let’s talk a little bit about some of the events that you head up and let’s start with the big one, the World Am. For folks that have never been to the World Am, describe it for them.

Scott Tomasello (09:17):

The world’s largest golf experience. That’s about as short as I can put it. We try to host … typically, it’s 3,000 golfers from all over the world. I mean world when I say that. We usually have about 25 foreign countries represented in a normal year.

Charlie Rymer (09:31):

And Alabama.

Scott Tomasello (09:32):

And Alabama. So it’s really catered towards the everyday golfer, but we run the gamut, in terms of abilities, genders. So anywhere from a scratch golfer whose 25, to 36 handicap, we even have a division just for fun. So we try to make it as inclusive as possible. We don’t want anybody to have a reason to say, “Oh, that’s not for me.” If you’re a golfer of any shape or kind, you probably want to play in this event. It’s kind of equal parts golf, equal parts fun. When we have the 19th hole, you’ve seen it first hand, there’s music, there’s games, there’s entertainment. It’s really a golfer’s paradise. Free food and open bar. So I mean, the value again, is what I think drives a lot of the quantity of golfers, but the experience is what gets people coming back.

Charlie Rymer (10:24):

One of the things that I find so neat about the World Am … and what number World Am are we on? Now we’re sneaking up on [crosstalk 00:10:32] …

Scott Tomasello (10:31):

This will be year 38.

Charlie Rymer (10:32):

38, so we’re sneaking up on 40. I should know that, because I think I’ve been to most of them. But we actually have folks that have been to every single one-

Scott Tomasello (10:43):

That’s right.

Charlie Rymer (10:44):

Which is really cool and people come back year after year after year, and they don’t just come by themselves, they bring all their buddies, too.

Scott Tomasello (10:50):

Yeah. It can start as somebody who just comes down by themselves, as somebody who’s testing it out. Seeing what it’s all about and they’ll come back the next year with 10 of their best friends from their home clubs, or sometimes they’ll start with … we got a group of 30 that comes from Pittsburgh all the time. We get a group of 30 from Portugal. So it’s cool to see that. I think a lot of those folks make new friends here, so it doesn’t really matter if you come by yourself, you’re going to make three new friends a day on the golf course, and that’s to me what’s really cool. These seven golfers that you mentioned that have never missed a World Am, they’re like best friends now. So it’s just cool to hear some of the stories and you could be playing in a group with a guy from Italy one day, and then a guy from San Jose the next. It’s pretty cool the people you meet.

Charlie Rymer (11:35):

The reasons that people come here, as you just went over, are diverse. Some of them are just fun. Are the ones that are serious competitors, the handicapping system is something that … they’ll be coming here to play in a World Am and you don’t have a legitimate handicap is what I’m trying to say nicely. But that’s something that you have to monitor very closely, because we do want it to be as competitive as it can be, and as fair as it can be, and sometimes there’s a snag or two involved in that. Walk me through that a little bit.

Scott Tomasello (12:12):

Sure, so we’ve got a very intuitive … I’ll call algorithm. So we do need 3,000 golfers. Golf is about integrity at the end of the day, but there are some bad apples out there here and there, but we do our best to monitor that, police that and unfortunately, have to take matters into our own hands. I’ll use different words to make them ineligible for prizes. It’s a very small percent. People assume all the time. “Well I got to make sure I’m on the up and up.” Well 99 percenr of the golf world is, but we do have to make it an equal field and we take it seriously. But at the end of the day, most people get it, understand it, have fun with it and we try to make sure everybody comes out a winner.

Charlie Rymer (12:55):

If you’re a 17 handicap and you shoot a gross 69 that first day, that ain’t going to work.

Scott Tomasello (13:03):

We might call your head professional.

Charlie Rymer (13:05):

Yeah, that algorithm is going to be going … very quickly, but the vast majority of people do get it and it’s been a lot of the fun over the years, be the emcee of that event and see the same people year after year and see all the smiles out there in the audience. Okay. So let’s move to a couple other events, the Hackler Championship is an amazing college event. And you are over an event like the World Am and also college event, we’ll get in a few more, but how is the approach different in running the college event than it is something like the World Am?

Scott Tomasello (13:43):

Sure, the aspects of a college event versus a handicapped event are kind of focused towards … in the college event, it’s all about the golf course. It’s all about setting it up, painting the course, tees are in the right place, the pin sheets are proper. It’s very fine tuned to the athletes that these student-athletes are. So it’s a lot of focus on strictly playing golf, whereas someone like you or I, or maybe I should say myself, we’re just looking to have a good time. So golf course, yes, we want to have great quality courses. We want to have fun, but we also want to have a beer after the round. So logistically, college events cater to the golf course and for you and I, it’s catered to fun. At the end of the day, I don’t care if you shoot 100. Did you have fun? That’s what I want to know.

Charlie Rymer (14:28):

Yeah and during this pandemic, I want to call it something really foul and pandemic, the challenges for you in particular had to have been great. And putting on a college event, I’m sure you’re dealing with the requirements from the schools and putting on a World Am, having so many people. Talk to me about some of the challenges you faced in this last year and how you’ve overcome those.

Scott Tomasello (14:54):

Yeah. So the biggest challenge for us was overcoming the stigma of traveling, which I understand safety first. Traveling is optional. That’s not something we are encouraging people to do just for the sake of traveling, but golf as a whole, golf has kind of served as that safe haven. So once you’re out there on the golf course, just hanging out with your buddies. So we had to institute a few different policies, remove some banquets and social gatherings, which is fine. We were fortunate that our players are understanding. We tend to do things on a pretty good value clip, so when players have always come back because they trust that we’re going to do things the right way.

Scott Tomasello (15:33):

So for instance, at the event this (World Am) Q School event that’s going on right now as we speak, is we’re allowing players to ride with specific friends of theirs for safety reasons. As well as lunch is not being served buffet style. It’s little things [crosstalk 00:15:49]

Charlie Rymer (15:48):

Damn.

Scott Tomasello (15:50):

Little things here and there-

Charlie Rymer (15:51):

There’s no buffet? I’m going home.

Scott Tomasello (15:54):

But it has been challenging for some events, more than others, but as a whole, I think long-term this is going to be phenomenal for golf. There was a downturn for a little bit because we’re a tourism-based destination, but once tourism returns and golf has just continued to boom, we’re starting to see that return, which is fantastic. I love seeing a brand-new golfer pick up the clubs and learn all about the game.

Charlie Rymer (16:21):

Yeah, me too, and if you look at what’s going on in the world, and we are getting a big surge in golf for a terrible reason, but you got to take it when it comes your way. You’re looking at people there and I get the feeling that everybody sort of looked at the resources that are closest to them and are taking advantage of that, and maybe they’re rediscovering things that they always took for granted, and golf has been one of those. If you look at the rounds of play last year typically at home course for people, they aren’t traveling but they bought a ton of golf equipment. Right now, if you’re trying to get new golf equipment, you’ve got to wait months in some cases. They can’t make enough golf balls, golf shirts, all of that.

Charlie Rymer (17:02):

And these people, they’re not buying this stuff and putting it in their garage, they’re going to play golf. As soon as everybody starts feeling safe, which hopefully is really soon, Myrtle Beach is going to be one of the first places they look. So I tell folks out there, if you want to come to Myrtle Beach, and we’d love to have you, if you want to come this summer or you want to come this fall, you better book right now. Because if you wait until summer or fall, we’re going to be full. It’s just like this tidal wave that’s coming our way and I can feel it coming, and I’m really excited about it. For the game and our destination.

Scott Tomasello (17:31):

Yeah, we’re seeing that in spades, in terms of the events that the events have sold out in record time. So like Charlie said, it’s best if you know you’re going to come, you might as well go ahead and book it. Get it on the calendar. I’m a big fan of the anticipation factor, booking ahead of time makes it something to talk about with your buddies for four months leading up to it. Start talking a little trash before you get going.

Charlie Rymer (17:52):

Isn’t that the best part of golf? Talking trash beforehand. Talking trash after is not that much, you hurt somebody’s feelings then. But any time, it’s a lot of fun. Well Scott, I want to finish up and talk a little bit about the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship. Was at TPC Myrtle Beach last week, and that event, in its five years now I believe, this was the sixth one.

Scott Tomasello (18:14):

Yes sir.

Charlie Rymer (18:15):

That event has really grown to be one of the top junior golf events in the world. And looking at the field, boys and girls, everybody in the field’s ranked in the top 60. It’s really difficult to get in there. You run that event and tell me just how special that event’s become in just five quick years.

Scott Tomasello (18:36):

Yeah, that one is near and dear to us. With Dustin’s support, which is the reason that we have the event. He’s had this idea to give back to the junior golf community, specifically towards the Carolinas. So we’re happy that he entrusts us to run an event with his name on it, and we’re also thankful that he’s able to attend and interact with these kids, because that, at the end of the day is what makes the week for a kid at the event. So the event has grown in stature kind of with Dustin, as he continues to build his legacy. This is his event and he’s going to be a part of that. As it goes with experience, as kids want to come back and want to be at this event, because he’s invested his time and money into making this as good as it possibly can be. We’re well on our way.

Charlie Rymer (19:22):

Well I’m very excited about first time ever, we’re going to have a highlight show on CBS Sports Network of the golf tournament. I’ve been working on that show and spent a good bit of time with Dustin while he was in town, and I can’t wait for folks to see that show. I mean, number one, the kids look so good out there. I mean, these kids can flat-out play. These kids don’t play like they played when I was a kid, I can tell you that. Especially watching the young ladies, you’ve got 12- and 13-year-old girls that are keeping the ball in the air 240, 250 yards. I mean, it really is amazing to watch them play. It was so much fun for me to spend time with Dustin. I actually did an hour interview with him for the new show Charlie Rymer Golf Show, also on CBS Sports Network, where he was so relaxed because he was around the kids. I got him away from being number one in the world and having all that spotlight, and being in the big cities and all of that.

Charlie Rymer (20:25):

And got him at TPC Myrtle Beach where he played a lot of golf when he was in college, and then afterwards lived in this area and very relaxed. But it was just so neat Scott, to see the interaction between Dustin and the kids out there.

Scott Tomasello (20:42):

Yeah, at the end of the day, that’s what he’s looking for. He just wants to be one of the boys. I don’t think he … when he comes to this event, he’s in his comfort zone, even though … how do I say this? He basically wanted to provide the experience that he gets on a weekly basis, and I think we’ve accomplished that. So to see their smiles, it makes him happy. I know that it does. That’s why he comes year after year. And the fact that we just have to have a great field as well, that’s just the icing on the cake.

Charlie Rymer (21:13):

Yeah, and the event’s going to continue to grow. If you look at some of the kids that have come through already on the boys side, Akshay Bhatia who was the number one ranked junior in the world actually, and worked out at Dustin Johnson’s Golf School with the great instructor there Allen Terrell, who also heads up DJ’s foundation and runs the event. Akshay decided not to go to college and he’s already got two top 10s on the PGA TOUR and he don’t weigh 135 pounds.

Scott Tomasello (21:42):

Yeah, he rockets the ball.

Charlie Rymer (21:44):

Yeah, yeah and Alexa Pano, who has won everything in sight, she’s going to be … that’s a future star on the LPGA. She’s actually won the event twice on her side. So we’re getting a lot of these names that you’ll be able to follow in college, you’re going to be able to follow some of these young folks who are going to get to the PGA TOUR, the LPGA and it’s really neat. The event this year really didn’t have any spectators come out. Most years we do have a lot of spectators. Next year, we’re going to have even more.

Scott Tomasello (22:15):

That’s right. That’s right.

Charlie Rymer (22:16):

Then we’ve had in the past. But Scott, appreciate you stopping by and spending some time with us. Scott Tomasello, the tournament director for Golf Tourism Solutions and he ain’t much to look at folks, I can tell you that. But the nicest guy in Myrtle Beach, one of the smartest guys too and does a wonderful job running our events here at Myrtle Beach. How many events again are you in charge of? It’s 12, 13 now, right? Or maybe even more than that.

Scott Tomasello (22:44):

I’m starting to lose track. I think when we started it was three and now we’re up to 15.

Charlie Rymer (22:47):

And we’re going to be adding some more too.

Scott Tomasello (22:49):

That’s right.

Charlie Rymer (22:49):

So Scott we appreciate it. Thank you for spending time with us now.

Scott Tomasello (22:52):

Thank you.

Charlie Rymer (22:53):

All right folks, we appreciate you spending time with us as well. Like for everyone to know wherever you subscribe to your podcasts, like us, tell a friend. Have fun playing golf and we’ll see you right here next time on the Charlie Rymer Balls in the Air Podcast!