Don't just take my word,

Michael Bruns and Advantage Sports Inc. have played a critical role in our fundraising efforts at Faithful Shepherd. He provides unique sports packages that your donors will want to see in raffles and auction items. Faithful Shepherd Catholic School has marketed The Masters tournament, Packer/Vikings football tickets and Pebble Beach packages. All have been a great success for the school and the winner of each event.

We highly recommend Advantage Sports, Inc. to any organization interested in fundraising. Michael Bruns will help you increase the net profits at your next event.

December 12, 2008

To Whom It May Concern,

With the increasing popularity of auctions (both in the non-profit and public school sectors) out school continually seeks unique, desirable offerings to keep our auction fresh and profitable.

Michael Bruns of Advantage Sports, Inc. has been invaluable to our most recent fundraising efforts, making the Masters Tournament trip available to our school. The opportunity to offer such a unique "once in a lifetime" trip experience has certainly set us apart from neighboring auctions. The attention to detail Advantage Sports has provided our auction winners at the Masters Tournament, is second to none.

I highly recommend the services Michael Bruns provides. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions stenersonm@hfchs.org

May 5, 2009

Dear Mike,

I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for your efforts toward coordinating a fabulous trip to the 2009 Masters Golf Tournament. Like most people, we simply purchased a few raffle tickets to support Faithful Shepherd’s fund raising goals. As a result, we had no idea what the Masters package consisted of or the extent to which we would be treated to an incredible event. 

It was great having someone else coordinate all of the arrangements for flights, tickets, lodging and food. While we had heard great things from previous winners, we were not prepared for the surprises in store for us. As we drove up to the home you had arranged, we needed to check the address several times to confirm we were at the right place. The home was an incredible masterpiece complete with an indoor pool and more bedrooms than we had people staying with us. 

Upon arriving at the Masters, we had hassle free parking and a great breakfast at your hospitality suite “Magnolia Manor”. The staff there really made us feel welcome and offered us a quick shuttle ride to the entrance to the event.

While entering Augusta National I felt like a kid in a candy store. The course is even more beautiful than what you see on TV. The course design maximizes the spectator’s viewing experience. We were able to walk the entire course and whether we were standing next to the tee box or greenside, we felt like we were always within a short distance of the pros. Because the design of the course is geared toward spectators, it did not matter if you were in the front row or the 15th; you always felt like you were looking down onto a stage with all the action within reach. 

Our traveling partners chose to grab 2nd row seats at the 18th green for the final day while I followed the leaders around the back nine. Because Tiger and Phil were paired up that day, most of the crowd followed that rivalry, while I simply walked just off the fairways along side of the leaders with no crowd. 

Jaclyn, who might golf a couple times per year and has never turned on the TV to watch golf, was a bit apprehensive about how much she would enjoy 2 days of watching golf. She was blown away by the experience. The trip was a real treat filled with wonderful surprises. The house was way over the top, and the course was more than we expected. The Masters was definitely the best spectator sporting event we have ever attended.

Thanks for your professionalism and for helping our school raise thousands of dollars.

May 15th, 2009

Mr. Michael Bruns
President
Advantage Sports

Dear Mike;  

It has been said that The Masters experience is truly unlike any other.  My personal experience at this year’s Masters was unlike any other spectator sport or event I have ever attended thanks to you and your staff at Advantage Sports. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your support and effort in making my experience at Augusta this year such a memorable event.  

As impeccable as the landscape of the golf course is so was the service and attention I received during my stay.  To say that the home provided for me was impressive would be an understatement.  The availability and quality of the cuisine and beverages provided were wonderful and the home itself was absolutely beautiful.  Magnolia Manor and the services and amenities provided overwhelmingly exceeded my expectations.  The staff there made me feel as if I was a true member and went out of their way to do whatever they could to accommodate any request or service I needed.  It was the perfect place to start the day and was a welcome resting spot after a long day of walking around the course.  

Witnessing the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club was like crossing over to the Promised Land.  It is amazing given the number of people in attendance how civil and orderly the event truly is.  I love the fact that visitors there are called patrons not spectators and how purposeful but unhurried people are.  The course itself was as reverent as I imagined.  I could  feel the history and loved the fact that I could actually walk the fairways during the practice rounds and take in every nook and cranny of every hole and get the opportunity to really appreciate the greatness and beauty of what I can only describe as the best real estate in America.

Witnessing the Masters tournament at Augusta National and the overall service I received from you and your organization was priceless.  It was an incredible opportunity and one that I will cherish for a lifetime.  I think the greatest testament I can give to your program is that one does not have to be a die-hard golf fan to enjoy this experience.  You act with the customer/guest in mind, assume the responsibility for solving every need, identify what needs to be done and do it before being asked and are dedicated to exceeding everyone’s expectations.

Mike, thank you again for your gracious hospitality and commitment to providing such a positive and memorable experience.  Please feel free to call on me should you ever need a recommendation for your Masters program.  You have my total support and effort.  

May 7, 2009

There are a few sport venues that inspire awe. If you were ever lucky enough to walk through the tunnel at old Yankee Stadium or trotted near the parquet floor at the Boston Gardens you know what I mean.

Well, nothing compares to the thrill of the Augusta National Golf Club during the Masters. From the stately grounds to Amen Corner to the finishing hole it will send shivers up your spine. One of my favorite features is the “Eisenhower Tree” on the 17th hole, so named because the sitting President of the United States campaigned in 1956 to have it removed as he was so bewitched by it. The cosmic irony that a pine could haunt the most powerful man in the world is sublime.

In 2008, my wife and I were fortunate to attend the Masters in a trip planned by Michael Bruns at Advantage Sports. It was superb. Every conceivable detail was covered and handled to perfection. The lodging, amenities (including a stellar hospitality house), transportation and food were all superb. Michael has a lot of experience and it shows. The pampering made you want to never leave. Michael really made us feel as if we owned some green jackets.

Put your next trip in the hands of Michael Bruns and Advantage Sports. I am sure you will be glad you did.

Dear Mike,

We are writing to relate to you what a fantastic trip we had to the Masters golf tournament last year, and how much we appreciate your hospitality and flawless coordination of our entire weekend. We feel so fortunate, not only to have experienced the greatest weekend of golf of the year, but also to have been able to enjoy the comforts of a private home and personal chef while we were in Augusta.
 

We cannot imagine how we could’ve made this trip more enjoyable, neither from the perspective of the golf nor the amenities and hospitality shown to us throughout the trip. It was truly a first class experience from start to finish. Thank you again for putting together a trip that neither of us will ever forget! 

Dear Mike,

What a great trip we had at the 2009 Masters. Not having been to the Masters before, much less to win a package like we did, we didn’t know what to expect. We had a lot of questions in the weeks leading up to the Masters and you provided prompt replies as well as good information on what to expect.

Once we got to Augusta everyone treated us very well. There must be something to that “southern hospitality”. The chef was very friendly and told us many things about Augusta as well. It was so nice to be pampered like that. Being pampered in such a nice home was even more special.

The amenities at Magnolia Manor…WOW! That was fabulous. The food and the drink were fantastic. The service was excellent, very friendly, made you feel at home.

The golf…what can we say…the weather was fantastic, the course truly beautiful, (nothing can compare now). We truly feel lucky to have been part of the 2009 Masters where the “roar” was restored to the Masters. The Sunday round with Tiger and Phil paired together, and to hear the roars at virtually every hole on the front nine was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

It was very nice to meet you. Thank you for your availability, hospitality and thank you for putting this trip together for us and making us feel special. It is something we will never forget! 

 May, 2008

We were fortunate enough to win a trip to the Masters Golf Tournament and all we can say is, “Wow!” It really was a trip to be remembered! Michael Bruns put the package together, and we quickly learned that our trip was going to be first class all the way. Going to the golf tournament was certainly a thrill, but Mike’s attention to detail left no stone unturned.

From the beautiful private house in a gated community in Augusta to the personal chef waiting for us upon arrival with hors d'oeuvres on the veranda, we were taken care of from start to finish. Our package also included passes to a fantastic hospitality house just outside Augusta National’s main entrance where we enjoyed complimentary breakfast and a bloody mary each morning to charge up our batteries for the long day of walking the course. Mike even gave us directions via the “back way” to the Masters to avoid the horrendous Masters’ traffic we had heard about.

Throughout the weekend, Mike was there to address any questions or concerns we had or to simply swap stories and share a laugh. Every detail was attended to, and all we had to do was enjoy the experience. Looking back, we can truly say it was the trip of a lifetime, thanks in great part to Mike.

 May 6, 2009

Dear Mike,

Winning the trip to the 2009 Masters was a great adventure that I will always remember. The time spent with friends enjoying a wonderful golf adventure is an experience that will not soon be forgotten by any of my guests. Thank you for the helpful binder you put together with all the details for our trip. It made finding our way around Augusta very easy. The hospitality by everyone in Augusta was above par. The chef was very friendly and her meals were delicious. It was nice relaxing on the deck with drinks and a nice dinner each evening after watching a great day of golf at the Masters.

Magnolia Manor was outstanding! The food and the drinks were great, the staff provided excellent service and the other guests were friendly. We met a lot of interesting people. The weather for the golf could not have been better…sunny and low 70’s. We have played several courses throughout the country and this course was incredible.

Mike, thank you again for putting the 2009 Masters Package together for us. It was a great trip and everyone really enjoyed the relaxing time in Augusta. We will now have the summer to work on our own golf game. Thanks again for everything.