944

One man's adventures at Playboy Golf's 10th Anniversary

About two weeks ago I was introduced with an opportunity that, well, was something that will probably only happen once in my lifetime — an invite to cover the 10-year anniversary of Playboy Golf and attend the famous Pajama Party at the Playboy Mansion. Needless to say, I didn't hesitate to say yes. In fact, I even convinced my editor to let me write about the experience while mocking him for not also receiving an invite. And, a week later, I’m back home wearing a new pair of pj’s, battling April print week at 944, and trying to wrap my mind around my trip through a world only a privileged few ever get to experience.

(Before recounting my adventures, it's important to understand what this world is like. Did you ever go to camp when you were a kid? Remember when it was time to go home how you had made all these new friends? Everyone slept in the cabins, ate the same food, and tipped their canoe in the same lake. Well, returning home from my weekend inside Hef’s world felt like coming home from camp — except at this camp there wasn’t a lake, there was a pool filled with naked women.)

My trip begins on Wednesday night when I arrive at the Hyatt Century Plaza in Los Angeles, ground zero for the next four days and nights. This is where everyone is staying, all the Playboy Girls of Golf, all the famous athletes and celebrities, everyone. After checking in, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and trying not to break my neck every time a perfect 10 walks past me, I head over to the Hyatt’s X Bar for a little mingling. It doesn't take long to realize the hotel has cranked its aroma therapy levels up as high as they could go. Tonight’s scent: “Anticipation.” You could see it on everyone’s faces, this was the calm before the storm.

I wake up Thursday morning and meet Jay Jay Nesheim, the senior director of communications and marketing for Playboy Golf. She gives me my press credentials and lets me know the shuttles to the Mansion Tee Party will be leaving in about an hour. While I snap a few pictures of the Playboy girls waiting in line to receive their entry wristbands (security for this event is unprecedented) I run into Ajay Pathak, the president of Playboy Golf, to chat about the brand behind the event.

"The original concept of Playboy Golf was to have a grass roots tournament with 300-plus events (similar to the Oldsmobile/Buick Scramble, and playing off their tagline  'We’re not your father’s Oldsmobile,' replacing it with 'We’re not your father’s golf tournament.') Instead of ending up in Disney World, participants would end up at the Playboy Mansion.”

Pathak goes on to say that when he came on board he saw a need for change. “We had to change the concept of Playboy Golf to represent the Playboy brand at the highest level. We scaled the number of events down to 30. And instead of the boring Pairings Party, we created the V.I.P. Player’s Party with Playmate hostesses … and introduced the concept of the Girls of Playboy Golf, where local girls (the girl next door) could also participate in both the party and the golf course [experience].”

While talking with Pathak he’s being pulled a million different directions. He’s finally dragged away by some Playboy staffer as I shout out, “What should I expect?” He says, “A good time! Expect to have a freaking good time!”

(Read the full interview with Ajay Pathak, president of Playboy Golf, here: www.944.com/articles/the-good-life-944-contributor-ryan-johnson-interviews-playboy-golfs-ajay-pathak/) 

Let’s go to the Tee Party…

The shuttle from the Hyatt to the Mansion is only about a 15 minute ride. I sit next to a sweet young lady named Brittany, she was voted a Girl of Golf back where she’s from in British Columbia. This is Brittany’s first trip to the Playboy Mansion just like the many others on the shuttle. The atmosphere is jovial, you’ve got groups of buddies flirting with groups of Playboy girls and the air is loud with excitement. Everyone has a perma-grin on their face.

When we arrive at the mansion we are met with perfect landscaping, peacocks roaming the property, and open bars full of bartenders assuring there is never a wait. Oh, need I mention the woman? Easily a 10:1 ratio, some are in the pool and some are feeding monkeys. Yeah, there’s a zoo on the property, too.

I spend the first half of the Tee Party talking with some of players from the Dallas Cowboys, including wide receiver Miles Austin and cornerback Terrence Newman -- most of which stays off the record. I rounded out the afternoon by perusing the immaculate grounds of the mansion and getting to know some of the Girls of Golf. You see, there were girls all over the place, around every corner. (Personally, my favorites were the Aussies. Note to self: Book trip to Australia before getting married.)

At the end of the day there is only one way out of the Playboy Mansion and that’s the way you got in -- a shuttle. As the day draws near the shuttles start showing up. When you think you're ready, simply head towards the pick up area and slide on to a shuttle …either there’s no lines or I didn’t mind waiting in them -- I don’t remember. One thing I won't forget though, is my candid-pre-shuttle-boarding-video-interview with the infamous Ron Jeremy before heading back to the hotel. He taught me his Five Point Program … (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs2CDWoiCSE)

You haven’t played golf like this -- I promise

Friday morning I arrive early to the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms. Playboy Golf has been putting these championships on for 10 years now and I’m ready to soak it all in. I’m an avid golfer back home, so I feel right at home smelling a hint of freshly cut grass in the crisp morning air. At about 10:30 a.m., though, all things familiar to me disappear.

After taking photos of celebrities like Patrick Warburton (“Rules of Engagement” and “Seinfeld”) and Bode Miller (Olympic gold medalist) as they filled their Playboy gift bags with bottles of Ed Hardy Vodka and Big Feet Pajamas (adult-sized, one-piece pajamas, some with a flap in the back), I grab a golf cart and head out to the greens. Picture a golf course turned into a spring break trip to heaven. (Actually, this is probably exactly what heaven looks like -- a perfectly manicured golf course with perfectly manicured woman everywhere.) While out taking pictures and talking to people on the golf course I roll up on hole four, probably my favorite hole of the day. It has a live DJ spinning everything from house to Hova, hosted cocktails from Dos Lunes tequila and Warren Moon. Yes, THE NFL Hall of Fame AND Canadian Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. While Mr. Moon didn’t want to talk on camera because he was enjoying a beverage, he did make a point of telling me the meaning behind the name of the tequila we both were drinking, “You know what Dos Lunas means don’t ya?” He grins and says, “Two Moons.”

Also on hole four I got to meet Warren Moon's best friend, Sean Hobday from Seattle. This was Sean's fifth year attending the Playboy Golf Event with Warren. “Warren and I always have a good time here ... This is the best party in California today ... And tomorrow night will be the best party in California, too.” Yeah, Hobday's life isn't bad. These two play the course a bit different than some of the other players, “The only exception with us is that we don’t play golf,” Hobday says. “We find the holes we like the most and just relax.” It’s a safe bet to say the “Two Moons” hole was their favorite.

Best golf swing I saw all day? Chelsea Coburn from Austin, Texas. This first-year Girl of Golf certainly knew how to handle the course. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDc9iAXjM1g)

Pajama Time

I find myself stressing quite a bit during the days leading up to my departure for Los Angeles, mainly because of the Playboy Golf Pajama Party on Saturday night -- what the hell am I going to wear? My definition of pajamas are a pair of white Calvin Klein boxer briefs and my chiseled six-pac abs (well, close enough), but there’s no way I’m rocking that to this party. A new set of Ralph Lauren PJs would have to do, besides I was kind of holding out to get my hands on one of those famous smoking jackets I kept hearing about. But I was repeatedly told they cost $5,000 so keep dreaming.

Leaving the hotel, I get on one of the first shuttles to the Pajama Party. I jumped on with some of Da’boys. (Dallas Cowboys -- I went to high school in the big D, that’s how you refer to them.) Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin was in rare form ( “The whole week leads up to this boys,” he says on the ride up.)

Upon arrival I hang out on the red carpet and shoot photos of all the happy people. One of my favorites was of Baltimore Ravens star linebacker, Terrell Suggs. I got him to throw up a pitch fork for me -- we’re both Sun Devil alums. After the carpet I venture inside and time stands still as I take pictures of everything from naked woman to exotic parrots.

Throughout the night I witness celebs, athletes and average joe’s having the time of their lives. At one point I'm taking pictures and b.s.-ing with Craig Robinson, best known for “The Office” and his new movie “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Just another laid-back guy having a good’ol time like the rest of us.

And that will be how I remember the Playboy Golf weekend as a whole. Like an adult trip to camp, where upon leaving we all wear a badge of membership and have memories to last a lifetime.

You may have noticed I didn’t mention anything of the Grotto. Well, Ajay Pathak put it best: “You know the rules, what happens in the grotto stays in the grotto -- and really if you saw what happens, you would say it, too.”

Bring It On Home

The next morning, after the party has ended and the hangovers have kicked in, I head to the elevator to go down and check out of the hotel. On the way a stranger stops me in the hall. He was holding a Playboy shopping bag. He says, “Here, man, I can’t take this home with me.”

He hands me the bag and gets on the elevator. Guess what was inside? 

Share

  Add to Faves