Golfdom Bingo: Shall we play a game?
It’s been a minute since we sat in a Bingo parlor with Grandma, a thick cloud of cigarette smoke hovering overhead as a monotone voice called out letter and number, letter and number, until someone shouted, “Bingo!”
In this month’s issue, we included a new spin on the old game, inspired by a superintendent and the mundane things golfers say to our readers day in, day out.
Superintendent Bingo, sponsored by Sipcam Agro USA, was inspired by a Twitter post made by Jason Haines (@PenderSuper) when he asked his followers what would be some of the most common phrases they hear while working that they would include on a superintendent bingo card. The resulting conversation — and commiseration over some of the most overused phrases — inspired Golfdom to make the game a reality.
Now that annoying moment when a member of the crew drives past a par three and has someone from the foursome proudly point to his or her ball with a, “You should have put the pin there!” can be celebrated … somewhat.
Because after all, we have prizes. The first 25 readers to post a Bingo (five squares covered in a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally for those of you unfamiliar with the game) on social media and tag @Golfdom and @SipcamAgroTurf will win some gear from Golfdom and a free case of Karma from Sipcam. The first blackout (all 25 squares covered) will receive $1,000 in Sipcam product credit for any enhanced turf quality product, Karma or Coastal.
Remember, golf is a game of integrity and honesty. We expect the same honoring of the rules, and fair play, in our inaugural Superintendent Bingo. A “find Jimmy Hoffa yet?” from last month does not count. However, the entire crew for a single 18-hole course can play on one card. (We’ll politely ask those facilities with multiple courses to play on a different card for each 18.)
Posting the card on the bulletin board in the pro shop is not only within the rules, but encouraged.
“Golfdom readers know that we have their best interest in mind, and maybe when golfers see this Bingo card, it will motivate them to come up with original material, or even better, to say thank you,” says Seth Jones, Editor-in-Chief, Golfdom. “Mostly, we want our readers to have fun with this. Their most stressful time of the year is quickly approaching, so hopefully this Bingo game can give them a laugh when it’s most needed.”
Sam Wineinger, manager, T&O marketing & formulator business, Sipcam Agro, says he knew his company and its new product Karma would be a good match to sponsor the laidback game as soon as he saw it. Wineinger spent many seasons working on a grounds crew before his current gig, so he knows how often these phrases are uttered.
“The Bingo card is an outside-the-box fun approach to have a good time on the golf course,” Wineinger says. “Many of the quotes on the card are things I’ve absolutely heard from my days of working on the golf course. It gave me a few laughs and brought back some good memories. The first square players should (fill in) is try using Karma to control Pythium.”