Al Morales is in the business of organizing sports events ”“ for corporations, that is.
As Yorktown Heights-based Yorkville Sports Association celebrates its 30th anniversary and new partnership with the Metropolitan Golf League, the company is gearing up for spring and summer golf matches at sites ranging from Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, Conn., to Garrison Golf Club.
Maria Sanyshyn, general manager at Richter Park, said “there is no question that business is done on the golf course. It certainly beats a conference room.”
Morales said golf is in demand even in a recession.Â
“A lot of companies cut different services, but if you keep employees going out and playing together, exercising, there are many benefits to that,” he said. “Good sportsmanship builds trust and respect among co-workers, management and potential new business partners.
“This particular golf league is geared toward business folk: CEOs, the self-employed and restaurant owners,” Morales said. “The main thing is to get out and to learn how to have fun together, which helps bond people together. This corporate league will bring in restaurant owners and corporate CEOs who obviously do a lot of wining and dining.”
Morales teamed up with now business partner Marty Mann after the duo met in 1985. Mann was commissioner of corporate softball leagues and activities in Central Park in New York City. When Mann retired from the world of softball leagues, he began working on restaurant golf leagues in 1993.
On the Yorkville side, Morales began with six community teams in adult softball.
Morales and Mann continued their friendship and decided to expand the golf league to include corporations.
“I think we offer a bang for the buck,” Mann said. “Most corporations might do big outings or travel to different parts of the world to do corporate events, but here, the league runs for about four months.”
Mann said corporations, organizations and restaurant owners are given the opportunity to get out and play with other companies, which builds camaraderie.
“Golf is a relaxing sport,” Mann said. “At the 19th hole, or however the course runs, there is usually a restaurant and the meeting continues after the match.”
The duo is in the process of getting the word out on their golf league, recruiting potential players and sending out some 2,000 invitations to corporations like Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. and Time-Warner.
The league schedules bi-weekly outings at tri-state area courses from April to August. Playoffs are scheduled for August and September. To register a six-player team, the cost is $1,650. Morales said it was reduced to $1,250 because of the economy.Â
The Yorkville Sports Association Web site is www.ysaleagues.com.
