There’s No Place Like Shangri-La Resort – and the Word is Spreading – FAST!
By Barry Willingham, President & CEO of Shangri-La Resort
Our Shangri-La staff and our members all enjoyed the opportunity over the past month to get better acquainted with Lance Funderburk, our new General Manager.
He brings great leadership and great ideas to our resort, as well as a wealth of knowledge about operating and growing great resorts; but his broad base of experience led him to share something with us that caught me a little off guard.
Through his 20+ years of observation of resorts throughout the nation, he said he has rarely, if ever seen a resort with as many choices of entertainment options and amenities as Shangri-La!
Even so, he is not satisfied – and he has already planned some very exciting new changes and additions to the options available to our members and our ever-increasing number of resort guests from an ever-expanding geographic base.
The Shangri-La News is Spreading Far and Wide
That geographic base continues to expand as more and more people find out about our little piece of paradise.
I had the privilege last month of spending a couple of days with two of the most influential golf writers in Texas, both of whom came to play all our courses, explore our amenities, and enjoy an opportunity to gather more information with their legion of followers.
Eli Jordan, Chief Editor of the popular Avid Golfer Magazine and Art Stricklin, a Dallas-
based award-winning golf writer and President of the Texas Golf Writers Association, both spent three days with us learning all there is to learn about Shangri-La.
Eli plans an extensive feature story in the November issue of Avid Golfer Magazine, and Art plans to spread his news about Shangri-La in several publications including Texas Golf Insider.
Art was kind enough to also ask me to be a guest on September 6th on his statewide Texas radio program & podcast, Golf After Hours.
We had a great time, and we are honored to have such prestigious writers join the many others who continue to spread the Shangri-La message throughout the nation.
Glen Turk at Wisconsin-based Midwest Golfing Magazine published a fantastic three-page feature about Shangri-La in last month’s issue; and Bill Cromwell at Kansas City’s Tee Times Magazine has prepared a feature to be published in his September issue. We are truly blessed.
Let’s Honor the Monkey Island Fire Department – ON THE GOLF COURSE!
Each year, Shangri-La hosts a major golf tournament benefiting deserving entities.
We have previously hosted tournaments for The Folds of Honor and the John Daly/Major Ed Heart of a Lion Foundation.
This year, we have decided to host a tournament honoring those closer to home – those
whose tireless service benefits each of us in many ways each and every day.
I hope each of you will sign up to participate in “The Courage Under Fire Classic” scheduled for Sunday, October 1, with proceeds benefiting the courageous team of dedicated first responders at Monkey Island Fire Department.
From fighting fires on land and on the water to providing quick and competent medical attention, the MIFD crews will respond to more than 1,000 emergency calls this year.
No one does more to keep us safe!
We will get more details to you very soon, but I hope you will mark your calendar and plan
to join us on the course Sunday, October 1 to participate in this great tournament for an even greater cause!
There’s Always More Golf, Golf, Golf
August was an incredibly busy month on the Shangri-La Golf courses.
Between Friday night horse races, couples mixers, SLWGA and MGA events, and a Par Club Championship at The Battlefield, our members have been keeping the course busy.
We had fantastic competitive fun, as well, including the awesome Mary Moore Charity Event, the WOGA Partnership Championship Tournament, and the Birdies & Bogeys Race to Shangri-La finals, along with some fun annual events like the infamous Run a Monkey Tournament.
The September Golf calendar is equally fun.
After a busy Labor Day Weekend including another exciting Glow Golf Scramble competition Friday, September 1 (9:00 p.m.), Dock Shots competition Saturday, September 2 (5:30 p.m.), and our Labor Day Alternate Shot Horse Race Sunday, September 3 (4:00 p.m.), players will keep the course busy all month long.
September 5, we are honored to host the PGA South Central Section Pro/Assistant
Tournament.
October 14, the SLWGA ladies will host Green Country Interclub competition.
September 14-15, we will once again host Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell’s “Luau on the Green” and golf tournament; and Missouri Southern State University will host their annual college invitational tournament at Shangri-La September 24-26.
PGA Instructor Joe Hassler kicks off his fall Golf Clinics this month, with Friday Ladies’
Clinics and Saturday Open Clinics each week beginning September 15 and, of course, our
weekly Friday Night Yellow Rabbit Run Horse Race competition continues this month.
The Football Fun is Underway at The Anchor
College football season is officially underway – and the NFL Regular season begins September 7. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of the action, The Anchor is the place to be!
The huge video walls and the many additional screens make sure we can handle all the
games, the PGA Tournaments, NASCAR season wrap-up, U.S. Open Tennis, and the final few weeks of Major League Baseball.
The Anchor always has something for everybody – the adults can catch the popular sporting events and the kids can spend the day in the arcade, on the Wiffle® Ball field, or the basketball court; and of course, there’s always plenty of pickleball and tennis action on the courts.
If Summer Fun is Ending, Can Fall Fun Be Far Behind?
Saturday, September 10 will be the last day of operation for this year at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. We’re going out with a bang, though.
Labor Day weekend entertainment features Torn on Saturday night and Brett & Terri Sunday night – and, of course, Eddy’s will also be open Labor Day Monday.
Our final entertainment of the year at Eddy’s will be Downbeat on September 9 – and September 10 will be the final day of the season at Eddy’s.
There are still a lot of other options, though.
If you haven’t tried the food at The Canteen at The Battlefield, you’re missing out on some fabulous food choices on Shangri-La’s newest menu! Breakfast and lunch menus are available – and the patio at The Battlefield Clubhouse is a beautiful place to relax.
The Pool Bar also remains open daily – 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:00
a.m.-Midnight Friday & Saturday.
Doc’s Bar & Grill has a fabulous new menu available – and continues extended hours of
operation this month – open until midnight Fridays & Saturdays with a special late-night menu available for snacking from 10:00 p.m. until midnight.
In addition to the Thursday night karaoke fun, Doc’s continues to offer live entertainment every Friday night.
September entertainers at Doc’s include Kevin Price, Mark Gibson, Ryan Graham, Scott Musick, and Rockwell.
And yes, the Thursday night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke with Jason Morgan continues through September!
The Summit Restaurant continues expanded hours of operation for September, as well.
The Summit is open for lunch seven days a week (limited menu on Tuesdays & Wednesdays) and dinner service Thursday-Sunday. The talented Terry Jordan returns to The Summit this month, entertaining every Friday and Saturday night from 6:00-9:00.
The Galley at The Anchor also offers food service seven days a week – 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays. The Sports Bar at The Anchor provides service until 10:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until midnight Fridays & Saturdays.
Boating Season Rolls on, Too
Labor Day is the final day of parasailing for the season, but boat and personal watercraft
rental and yacht charters are available at Sail Grand.
Remember, Shangri-La members receive a discount on yacht charters and boat & pwc rentals except on holidays and weekends.
Great weather has brought a busy boating season on Grand Lake and the weather is getting more perfect every day.
The marina and ship store are open to serve you seven days a week from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
It’s a Great Time of the Year on Grand Lake
It’s hard to believe that Fall arrives this month – the first day of Fall is September 23.
You know what that means, right?
It means the two best months of the year for boating and golf on Grand Lake have arrived.
There’s no time like September and October on Grand Lake, and we are grateful that you choose to spend those months enjoying all Shangri-La has to offer.
I can’t thank our valued members and guests enough for your continued support, encouragement, and participation that enables us to constantly move forward to greater success.
Your support is sincerely appreciated, and we hope to see you often – anytime you have the urge to “Escape the Ordinary!”
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