A Letter from Tom Walsh – April Newsletter

Dear GreatLIFE Member, Team Member & Support Team,

Having been in the hospitality business for over 50 years, there are a lot of lessons that I have learned, several of them from mistakes I have made have been that have been tough lessons. One key lesson is that the pursuit of meaning, not happiness, is what makes life better! Finding a career that engages you in making a difference for others brings fulfillment and meaning. Plus, it makes you and everyone around you better. It is what we hope all of our GreatLIFE Team Members believe in.

With our Burger King restaurants our mission was to “Develop People & Community Leadership” with our goals of “Quality dining experience, leader in profitability & a positive, fun environment”. Our focus wasn’t on selling the most burgers or having the greatest sales volume. Our belief was if we did our mission and goals well, our business and our people would thrive, which it did!

When we started looking at creating GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness, we looked at our families and community to see where we could have the most positive outcomes for families and individuals, but especially kids. Importantly, what was going to be our mission and goals that every one of us could relate to and support? Our mission and vision that we developed together is “TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH GOLF, FITNESS AND HEATHY LIFESTYLES” and our vision is:

• Be the best in Member satisfaction, value and convenience for golf and fitness.
• Help families build strong relationships through involvement in sports, fitness and healthy lifestyles.
• Make a difference in people’s lives, especially those of children.
• Educate people about golf, fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
• Support our GreatLIFE Cares Foundation.

We have over 15 golf courses, over 20 fitness centers, Suburban Lanes Family Fun Center and many Member Benefits at no additional cost to you and your family. Please go to our web site at www.joingreatlife.com to learn more!

With the golf season getting ready for spring, we are providing free golf clinics for kids and families. We even have “Lil’ Linksters” program for kids 5 to 12 years old! You can learn more about lessons and programs by getting ahold of our PGA Pro Drew Trautman at drew.trautman@joingreatlife,com who runs our GreatLIFE Golf Academy at our Willow Run Golf Course. Joining our Golf Team this May is, Augustana University’s Women’s Golf Coach, Coralee Jorgensen. She will be helping our summer programs. Be on the lookout for more programs for women golfers this year.

We are also expanding our PLAY Everything program into several elementary and middle schools here in Sioux Falls where we show kids the connectivity of sports. We show and train them that the same movement for a golf swing is the same movement for throwing a football, kicking a soccer ball, hitting a tennis ball or a baseball. The amazing thing is, the less athletically gifted a child is, the more progress they make. Plus, their self-esteem and willingness to try new things is greatly enhanced!

Enjoy Easter and this warmer spring weather and everything turning green! Thanks for being a GreatLIFE Member, Team Member and part of our Support Team! Hope you enjoy “Pictures of Humanity”.

Tom