The Psychic was invited to play in the recent Bad Pants Open at Rush Creek Golf Club recently. The tournament, that raises funds for Minnesota Special Olympics, is strongly supported by the MN Section of the PGA. Pros spend the morning on the course with Special Olympic athletes helping them enjoy golf more and play better. In the afternoon pros and Special Olympic athletes join amateur teams in a scramble team format. The event is a big fundraiser, with Treasure Island Casino, the major tournament sponsor, donating over $50,000.

The 18th edition of the fundraiser was the best ever. The psychic along with other participants dressed in zany/exotic pants and shorts to match tournament host, Ian Leonard. The Psychic has always been a fan of style on his weather forecast each evening on Channel 9. With the MN State Fair a week ago, Leonard was feeling frisky sporting his variety of “bad pants.”

The Psychic loves Rush Creek Golf Club. His enjoyable tournament round made him want to return to Rush Creek this fall as the splendid colors descend on golf courses across Minnesota.

Like most charity events the Bad Pants Open has a variety of opportunities to raise additional dollars for charity on almost every hole. On the 12th hole, the beautiful little 3-par with an island green, was unique.

As his croup approached the tee, a member of his group asked, “What is SmartPin?”

The well-spoken rep on the tee quickly explained that SmartPin is a video recording device, contained in the flagstick, that records video of golf balls and rolls to a stop. The video from the flagstick is combined with a video shot from the tee, by the rep or golfers within the group on their iPhones, to produce a highlight video for each golfer in the event. The SmartPin is able to measure the distance from the hole. “SmartPin is a skills contest with fixed prizes related to the level of entry fee each golfer choses to pay,” explained the rep. “Special Olympics receives a percentage of each entry fee or 50% of a golfer’s winnings.

“SmartPin pays a fixed prize for a hole-in-one,” the rep explained. But the Psychic’s mind was ahead of him. “I could share my HIO video on social media to friends and family.” 

The rep went on to explain that a prize is also paid for balls that stop within “Gimme Range” (36 inches from the hole). In the video that each golfer receives a green circle is overlayed showing “Gimme Range”.

The Psychic felt pressure, like never he had felt before, as he took his waggle on the tee. Good pressure none-the-less. For his $20 entry fee he would win $2,100 for a Gimme. Special Olympics would get a $1,050 donation, his face smiled as he visualized, I would get $1,050. The amount would be over $6,000 each for an ace.

Driving home the Psychic reviewed memories of the day: The Special Olympics kid making the 20-footer on the tricky 17th green for a birdie. His wedge shot over the bunker that almost went in on #7. He felt the warmth from within knowing that he had been part of something special, helping those less fortunate than himself. But most of all he was thinking of the Gimme that a golfer hit on #12. That Gimme created an instant donation of $1,050 to MN Special Olympics. He knew that the Gimme winner was feeling even better and would for sure share his video.

The Psychic would share his video with a few golf buddies, but mostly to show that he had played Rush Creek in a worthwhile event and not that his ball had skipped across the green into the water behind the hole.

With his full concentration into the depth of the crystal ball the Psychic is visualizing SmartPin as the product has matured and been further refined.

Games of skill utilizing SmartPin as a fund-raising tool for a variety of charitable causes has expanded to a variety of single purpose events. Hole-In-One and Gimme games are being contested on driving ranges, football fields, fields filled with solar panels and even parking lots of major sporting venues. Participants come knowing that their chances of winning are slim, but the prizes are huge, and the cause is rewarding.

The Psychic pulls away from the crystal for a moment and ponders. A busy executive could stop by the venue over the lunch hour and make a donation, small or large, if this was his day and he hit the shot of a lifetime and make a huge contribution. But the value would be the video of his winning shot that will live forever in cyber space.

Back to the crystal orb. The Psychic sees golfers in New York hitting shots on SmartPin partner courses. The golfer is a participant in the Special Olympics fundraiser in Minnesota. The golfer earmarks his entry fee for the Special Olympics. A percentage of his entry fee or half of his winner’s prize is paid to the Minnesota Special Olympics. The Psychic shakes his head. The combination of a thrilling skills contest, large charity prizes and a TOUR quality video could be universal.

As he finally relaxes in his recliner, left hand holding his favorite beverage, Arnold Palmer with just a touch of Ketel One, he reruns his video from the Special Olympics event. He notices that his right elbow is out of position…. again. He notices the homes near the 12^th green. He even pauses the video to zoom in on a red-winged blackbird perched on a green-side cattail. A keepsake for sure!