PGA goes interactive with the Pick the Hole Challenge (press release)

‘PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PICK THE HOLE LOCATION CHALLENGE HOSTED BY JACK NICKLAUS’ TO OFFER UNPRECEDENTED GOLF FAN ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION

 

PGA.com Fan Voting to Determine Specific Location of Hole No. 15 During

95^th PGA Championship Final Round

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (July 23, 2013) – For the first time ever, golf fans worldwide will be able to have a direct impact on the hole location of a major championship, through the newly created “PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge Hosted by Jack Nicklaus.” The Challenge will be conducted in conjunction with the 95^th PGA Championship, the Season’s Final Major, at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., Aug. 5-11.

A collaborative learning experience between The PGA of America and record-tying, five-time PGA Champion Jack Nicklaus, the “PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge” is designed to educate fans on how course setup impacts a golfer’s strategy in playing a hole; attract more people to the game; and help explain what hole location information players are provided each day.

As a result, fans are encouraged to visit PGA.com from July 23-Aug. 10, in order to vote for one of four exciting and challenging final-round hole locations for the par-3, 181-yard 15^th hole at Oak Hill. Nicklaus, whose final PGA Championship victory occurred at Oak Hill in 1980, collaborated with PGA Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh to select the picturesque 15^th hole due to the impact it will likely have on the PGA Championship’s outcome. As a result, Haigh has identified and selected each of these four distinct Championship hole locations for fans to vote. On August 11, during Sunday’s final round coverage on TNT and CBS, fans will be able to see the winning hole position that will be used on the 15^th green.

“The opportunity for fans to take part in the interactive ‘PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge’ is part of a new era in engagement that connects golf fans with the Season’s Final Major in a fun and dramatic way,” said PGA President Ted Bishop. “The PGA of America is delighted to present this innovative opportunity, as we believe this is the first time that consumers have been able to make a direct and significant impact on a global sports arena. We are honored that the legendary Jack Nicklaus will lead fans as their host and teacher in understanding the nuances that the greatest players in golf consider and think about regarding course setup and hole locations—and the effect their selection will have on the eventual outcome of the 95^th PGA Championship.”

PGA.com, the Official Website of The PGA of America which is managed by Turner Sports, will also offer video vignettes from Nicklaus that will educate golfers on how course setup impacts a golfer’s strategy in playing a hole.  Fans are also encouraged to follow the conversation via #pgachamp #YouPick.

“The chance for golf fans to interact with the PGA Championship and play a role in shaping the outcome of the final round fascinates me,” Nicklaus said. “It’s like being able to call the shots during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. In addition to playing a key role in the outcome of the Championship, golf fans can learn many aspects of on-course strategy, as The PGA of America and I present educational videos to enhance their golf experience. I believe this new concept will serve as an exciting hands-on learning experience for golf fans and I’m happy to be involved.”

Haigh, who has set up PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and PGA Grand Slam of Golf courses since 1989, is excited about the possibilities of the Challenge. “Now, golf fans will experience what is involved with the selection of hole locations, as well as the dramatic effect that this placement has on the game plans of the world’s best players. Accordingly, golf enthusiasts can then turn to the legendary Jack Nicklaus for his exclusive insight on golf course management.”

A sweepstakes will also be held on PGA.com in conjunction with the “PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge,” with entrants having an opportunity to win a behind-the-scenes experience for two during the 2014 PGA Championship at Nicklaus-designed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. You can visit www.PGA.com/pickthehole to cast their vote, and have an impact on the final round at the PGA Championship.

The PGA Championship perennially features the strongest field in golf and is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy, with a list of champions that includes: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen and Nicklaus.

About The PGA of America

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

            About PGA.com

                  PGA.com is the official online destination for The PGA of America and is home to the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, The PGA Grand Slam of Golf and The Ryder Cup. Beginning in 2002, Turner Sports and the PGA formed a multi-year alliance with a mission to serve the golfing public, PGA Professionals and the golf industry with products and services to grow the game of golf.  The two organizations recently expanded the deal through 2019 to include licensing with Turner’s Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) serving as the PGA’s licensing agent in the youth marketplace.

   As a leader and innovator in broadband golf coverage, PGA.com continues to gain success for its PGA.com LIVE video presentation of PGA’s premier events. In 2012, PGA.com’s PGA Championship LIVE received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding New Approaches in Sports; in 2010, PGA.com garnered a Webby Award for Best Interactive Video for its 2010 Ryder Cup LIVE coverage. In 2009, PGA.com’s on air, online and mobile coverage of the PGA Championship was nominated for an Emmy® by the National Television Academy and was awarded a CommArts Interactive award for the PGA Championship LIVE video and the PGA Championship iPhone app.

 

Think you're Hollywood material?

Hello,

My name is Gaby Wilson. I'm a Casting Producer for ABC's Primetime show; "Wife Swap."
We're currently into our fourth season at the moment and we're looking for one-of-a-kind families with plenty of personality.
Specifically, we're looking for families that love the game of golf! If your life revolves around getting to a tee time, golf lesson, or driving range and sharing golf with your family, and you've always thought your family was meant for TV, I want to hear from you! In addition, please feel free to forward this to any families you think would be interested in taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life.

Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Wednesdays at 8 pm- the family hour!

Requirements: Each family must consist of two parents and at least one child between 7 and 17 and should reside in the continental U.S. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)
Participating in the show is a very unique experience that can be life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives $20,000 as compensation for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1000 as a 'thank you' from us.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! If you're interested in learning more, please include your contact information.

Gaby WilsonCasting ProducerWife Swap
gaby.wifeswap@gmail.com


Good luck to any takers out there!

JFB

Think pink this week

Starting May 10th, CHAMP Spikes, the number one brand on Tour, has expanded its highly successful Pink on the Links™ program for 2008 by adding an eBay charity auction and increasing player participation across all tours.

Pros will be asked to wear CHAMP’s commemorative pink and white spikes during Mother’s Day weekend tournaments across the globe and CHAMP will make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) on their behalf.

The Pink on the Links program also includes a charity eBay auction which is new for 2008 where items up for bid include:

- Autographed shoes from Tiger Woods
- Autographed shoes from Lorena Ochoa
- Autographed shoes from Padraig Harrington
- An autographed golf bag from Paul Casey
- Autographed shoes from Se Ri Pak
- Golf foursome with winner’s choice of FUTURES Tour player (conditions apply)


In addition to CHAMP’s donation on behalf of Tour players wearing the pink and white spikes, 100% of proceeds from the Pink on the Links auction items will benefit the BCRF.

Auction starts May 10th.

Please visit the auction through the CHAMP website, http://www.champspikes.com/ or directly at www.stores.ebay.com/pinkonthelinks, . The auction runs until May 20th.

The fist pump

Tiger has become a verb in our society...a car salesman, making a sale, goes to the bosses office...punches his fist into the air and says: "I Tiger-ed him". Golfers of every walk, live for the moment on the golf course when they can sink that putt and do the 'Tiger fist-pump'.

Now kids have a chance to pump their fists.

The Tiger Woods Foundation has a contest for kids 13-18 to submit a short video, or text essay for the Fist Pump Challenge. The foundation is giving away great kid-rated loot (for those that can put their stories of attaining goals on video or text) by selecting a few of them on the last day of every month all this year, and if you live in Orange County or Washington DC...soon, you may be eligible for an Earl Woods Foundation Scholarship.

The Tiger Woods Foundation has been instrumental in helping millions of kids across the country define and reach their goals through scholarships, grants and other golf related activities...

...now that's worthy of a fist pump!


Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Whether you are looking for tennis or lacrosse equipment, make sure you get the top of the line. From the golf carts to the golf clubs, you golf vacations should go perfect. You can also throw in a bit of basketball equipment for some variation.

If you win...should you be clean-shaven?

It's good to be a golf-fan...that shaves.

Gillette...maker of the Gillette Fusion Razor has the latest entrant of what is a killer sweepstakes!
I'm sure you've seen the Gillette Champion's commercial's on TV featuring Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Theirry Henry...well, now these well-shaven boys are part of the razors' online push with interviews (scroll to the bottom of my site to see Tigers' interview), downloads, and more.

The sweepstakes ends February 29th 2008. Grand prize is (and this is from the contest rules section): a 3-day/2-night trip for 2 to a sponsor-specified location (within the contiguous 48 United States) for a golf lesson with legendary golf coach, Hank Haney. Prize includes round-trip coach air transportation for winner and guest from major airport nearest winner’s home, hotel accommodations (one room, double occupancy), airport and hotel room taxes, a $300 stipend towards ground transportation, and 1 golf lesson with Hank Haney (subject to his availability).

If you don't win the big one...there are 2,357 instant win prizes so you might get lucky.

While you're on the site, you might check out the how-to's on shaving. Tiger says the #1 rule is to soak...

...but is he talking about shaving or Woody Austin?

Good luck!

JFB