Interview With Dave Hallenbeck, Grand Geneva Resort

Below is an interview with Dave Hallenbeck, Director of Golf at Grand Geneva Resort. Dave is celebrating his 34th season in the golf industry and has worked at Grand Geneva when it was the Playboy Club.


The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
I started in college and did it on my own. After playing baseball, I wanted to keep active in competitive sports.

What is your current home course?
Grand Geneva Resort

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
Raising over $10,000,000 for charities through golf - which I have personally been involved with during my 33 years career.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Not respecting others or a property. Just because you pay a green fee, doesn't give you the right to do what ever you feel. Golf is the only true gentleman's game left - respect it.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Scottsdale

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Augusta National

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Dessert Mountain - Any of them

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Make the hole bigger - Everyone that has missed a putt on the lip will agree! The game is so very difficult for 95% of all golfers, so why not give some relief for the mass majority. By increasing the hole slightly, would not only offer some additional relief. But scores would decrease and the pace of play as a result. Everyone wins.

Dream foursome (living)?
Palmer - Nicklaus - George Bush - my Dad

Dream foursome (dead)?
Hogan - Nelson - Snead - my Mom
I am the 5th in both

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Drive

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of life which include a HIO

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight - Nothing better than a great sunset!

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Fade

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Bev. Cart - for obvious reasons

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
What ever is the closest

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Green

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Both

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
5 par

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Pants

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
The King - Mr. Palmer

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
For fun

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Still haven't perfected the flop - Bump it up

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Always go for it!!!

18) 18 holes OR 36?
If the time would allow - 36.