April 1, 2007 - Private Escapes Destination Clubs has a long-standing relationship with Travel + Leisure Golf, a magazine published by American Express, and as part of a new advertising contract, PEDC was gifted a foursome at the companys “2007 U.S. Open Preview Day” at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Private Escapes held a lottery for the two spots and the lucky winners were Tom Porth of Waterloo, Iowa and Curtis Chin of Kaneohe, Hawaii (on Oahu). Porth and Chin were each allowed to bring a guest to complete the foursome.

At the opening of Preview Day, Monday, April 23, the sun was shining and a perfect day of golf unfolded. Porth, Chin and their guests were picked up at the Omni Hotel in Pittsburgh at 6:00am, treated to breakfast and then had an hour to warm up before teeing off at 8am on this years U.S. Open course. Walking this incredibly difficult course with their own caddie (each caddie has his players name on his back), it was a picture perfect golf experience. Little did Porth and Chin know, it was about to get even better.

After finishing up 18 holes, the group of 82 people attending Preview Day gathered for lunch where a seminar on how to
prepare for the U.S. Open was on tap. Instead, the hosts said they had a little surprise for them—they would be walking the
course with a very special guest… Tiger Woods.

“At one oclock we were all sitting there thinking we were having the best day of our golf lives,” said Porth. “And then Tiger Woods walks in. It felt like a dream.”  Tiger entered from a back door to complete silence and shock, followed by high-fives
and a standing ovation. “I hope you guys didnt get slaughtered out there,” Woods said before inviting the group to follow him as he played his third and final practice round for the U.S. Open to be played June 14 through 17.

Woods allowed unlimited questions as he walked the course, at one point even asking the security to drop the hand-held ropes so the golfers could get closer. Giving the ultimate seminar on how to prepare for the U.S. Open, Woods explained each shot and why he was taking it and even posed for pictures in the “Church Pew” bunkers.

“We had amazing access and watched him hit some unbelievable shots,” said Porth. “I have had a number of experiences as a member of Private Escapes that will last a lifetime, but this was almost surreal. I wish every Private Escapes member could have been there with me and tasted what I was able to taste.”