Golf insurer happy with 'minimal' fine

A Norwalk company that insures hole-in-one contests managed to avoid the rough - that is about $80,000 in fines proposed by the state Insurance Department for allegedly operating without a license.

Instead, Golf Marketing Worldwide L.L.C. and its President Kevin Kolenda received fines of $7,000

"We're elated," said Kolenda. "We're really happy with the decision, especially considering at one point they were seeking close to $90,000 in fines and penalties. $9,000 is a minimal fine."

Golf Marketing's clients are typically organizers of promotional events such as hole-in-one contests and other sports challenges where large cash prizes or automobiles are at stake. The company charges a premium based on the number of players, the value of the promotional prize and the yardage to the hole. Should a participating golfer make a hole-in-one, Golf Marketing pays the value of the prize to the participant or the event sponsor.

Anthony Caporale, counsel for the state Insurance Department, said the agency started to investigate Golf Marketing after it received a consumer complaint and an alert from other states where Golf Marketing had done business.