2nd Annual Golf Issue Tees-Off

You may actually be out on the links when your second annual Insurance Journal Golf Issue hits your desk. Then again, you may be at your desk wishing you were out on the golf course when you start to page through this magazine.

There is no escaping the fact that independent agents like to play golf and many squeeze some time in on the links when traveling to different industry events during the year.

I just recently returned from the 2004 Aon Resource Fair in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and much to no one’s surprise, the golf outing was very popular. I participated in the nature hike activity and managed to take in some of the outstanding scenery that the province offers. I couldn’t help, though, wonder how many duffers were out there having the time of their life on the greens.

Veterans of last year’s inaugural issue will notice as they page through this edition some familiar names of folks who authored articles for us last year.

You will again find valuable information on insuring clubs, hole-in-one insurance, some basic tips to take with you and improve your game, how charities use tourneys to help folks out, and much more. We also look at some of the various industry-sponsored tournaments around the country. Finally, we secured an interview with LPGA pro and two-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Karrie Webb.

Along with plenty of golf-related stories, you will find the usual helpful departments, articles impacting the industry, and a “Parting Shots” column from Andrea Ortega-Wells, IJ’s national editor, letting you know just how much we love those comments you post to our Web site (www.insurancejournal.com).

Now I must admit that golf is not my top participant sport. I’ve played from time to time, but would hardly call myself a regular.

Having said that, during some down time in my hotel room in Banff last month, I caught some of the British Open action on Canadian television. It was either that or watch the Calgary Stampede, but that is an entirely different story. The hotel even had access to the Golf Channel, which I must say is for the true diehard. Bottom line, golf is tremendously popular across the world.

We hope whether you are a diehard or not, you find this issue both useful and fun to read. Enjoy the issue, and we’ll talk to you soon.