Thursday, July 25, 2019

The 1990 PGA Championship at Shoal Creek

Straight to the hole Photo by Mick De Paola on Unsplash
Straight to the holePhoto by Mick De Paola on Unsplash
A resident of Birmingham, AL, Scott G. Sink is an experienced utility insurance executive who has served as senior executive vice president at McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc since 1994. An avid golfer, Scott G. Sink is a member of Old Overton Club and Shoal Creek Golf Club.

Since it opened in 1977, Shoal Creek has hosted several major golf tournaments, including the Jerry Pate's National Intercollegiate event in 1994 won by a Standford University team led by Tiger Woods. It also hosted two PGA Championship events, with the most recent occurring in 1990. 

The 1990 PGA Championship was won by "the other Australian" Wayne Grady. One of the favorites entering the event was Australian Greg Norman, who finished tied for 19th and was in his private jet by the time Grady won the tournament. Grady, boosted by a second-round score of 67, won the four-round tournament with a combined score of 282, finishing three shots ahead of second-place finisher Fred Couples. He won $225,000 while Couples took home $135,000. 

The victory at Shoal Creek provided redemption for Grady, who squandered a final-round lead at the British Open the year prior. It was his second career victory and, while he continued playing on the PGA Tour until 2002, he never won another tournament.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Tips for Visiting Paris on a Budget

Eiffel Tower
Image: pexels.com
Scott G. Sink draws upon more than 30 years of experience in his role as senior executive vice president and practice leader for the energy and marine division at the Birmingham, Alabama-based McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc. An avid traveler, Scott G. Sink enjoys visiting foreign countries with his family and counts Paris, France as one of his favorite destinations. 

Although Paris is regarded as a lavish city renowned for its palace hotels and gourmet restaurants, it is possible to visit the French capital on a budget. For starters, it's possible to find relatively cheap airfare if you book at least six months in advance. Resources like TripAdvisor and Epinions can also be useful in securing flight and hotel vacation packages. Once in the city, consider using public transportation. For instance, a 10-pack of metro tickets cost less than 15 Euro and can be used to travel throughout the city and its nearest suburbs as well as Disneyland and Versailles.

If you are so inclined to eat at reputable restaurants, stand and eat at the bar rather than wait for a table as sitting down to eat often comes with a surcharge. Eating outside at a patisserie or boulangerie is another alternative. 

In regard to lodging, consider more affordable districts outside of the heart of the city where it's possible to purchase rooms for as little as 28 Euro per night. Some hostels even include breakfast, which can help you save your money for attractions or other dining options later in the day. 

Paris boasts numerous free attractions, including Sacre Couer and the Notre Dame Cathedral. There's also free annual events like the Paris Music Festival, Open-Air Cinema at La Villette, and European Heritage Days.