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WORLD GOLF TOUR™ PARTNERS WITH PGA.COM FOR CHARITY CHALLENGE
Proceeds Benefit Educational Charities
SAN FRANCISCO (May 22, 2007) – World Golf Tour, in collaboration with PGA.com, today introduced the Beta version of its new online golf game with the launch of the PGA.com Charity Challenge Tournament. For the first time ever, players can get a taste of the world’s most authentic online golf experience and help children in need. The month-long competition showcases World Golf Tour’s 3D photo technology, while benefiting three educational charities: Teach For America, Sheltering Arms and After-School All-Stars. Sponsors PGA.com, TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Walters Golf, Mandalay Bay, Hint Water, and Golfnow.com have teamed up with World Golf Tour to award $30,000 in prizes to participants of the challenge. Throughout the competition, 10 winners will receive prizes each day, including TaylorMade r7 Irons, TaylorMade Burner Drivers, adidas polo shirts, and a trip to Las Vegas with accommodations at Mandalay Bay – plus a round of golf at the Bali Hai Golf Club. The Grand Prize includes a trip for two to Hawaii, with four rounds of golf. Players can access the free game at http://pgacharitychallenge.worldgolftour.com “Everyone at World Golf Tour feels privileged to connect such generous sponsors with top educational charities through this tournament,” said YuChiang Cheng, CEO of World Golf Tour. “We’re excited to give people an early taste of the World Golf Tour golf experience. Our aim is to make golf accessible and rewarding for all, and with this Beta event, we are running an online charitable golf tournament on a scale never seen before.” “World Golf Tour allows viewers to use the same TaylorMade clubs that are #1 on tour and used by Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, John Daly, Natalie Gulbis and many more,” said Bob Maggiore, Senior Director of Brand Marketing of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. “World Golf Tour’s virtual golf game lets golfers hit the best performance golf products while playing some of the best courses in the world.” “Nine-year-olds growing up in low-income communities are already three grade levels behind their peers in more well off communities,” said Kevin Huffman, Chief Growth and Development Officer for Teach For America. “The contributions received for the Charity Challenge will help us expand educational opportunities to more children in rural and urban communities all over the nation.” The PGA.com Charity Challenge offers a Beta preview of World Golf Tour’s Version 1 edition, which is expected to launch in 2008. Version 1 will feature multi-player options on elite courses worldwide. The World Golf Tour experience will offer numerous monetization opportunities, and the company will work closely with sponsors looking to reach its audience. About World Golf TourSan Francisco-based World Golf Tour™ (WGT) offers the world’s most authentic online golf experience. WGT seeks to democratize the game of golf via the Web, making golf accessible and affordable for all, and to build an online community based on its engaging, interactive golf experience. WGT enables multiple players to explore famous courses simultaneously and sparks competition with tournament play and real-life prizes. For more information, please visit www.worldgolftour.com. About The CharitiesTeach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. This year, 4,400 corps members are teaching in over 1,000 schools in 25 regions across the country, and more than 12,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org. Sheltering Arms is Georgia's oldest nonprofit early childhood education program and one of its most respected, serving working families with high quality, affordable childcare, education and comprehensive support services, while providing professional development for early childhood educators and community outreach. Founded by Atlanta volunteers in 1888, Sheltering Arms annually serves more than 4,000 children and their families, in 16 centers in seven metro Atlanta counties. www.shelteringarmsforkids.com After-School All-Stars provides comprehensive out-of-school time programs that keep children safe and help them achieve in school and in life. ASAS envisions a world in which all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. ASAS sets the standards for comprehensive, state of the art after-school programs that can be replicated anywhere in America. www.afterschoolallstars.org About the SponsorsPGA.com is the production alliance of the PGA of America and managing partner Turner Sports New Media (TSNM). It is the official online destination for the PGA and home to the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, The PGA Grand Slam of Golf, The Ryder Cup, and The Open Championship. A leader and innovator in broadband golf coverage, the site successfully launched its PGA.com Pipeline broadband product in 2006, garnering nearly one million video streams over the course of the 2006 PGA Championship. TSNM and the PGA formed the 10-year alliance in June 2002 with a mission to serve the golfing public, PGA Professionals and golf trade with products and services, such as the PGA.com Value Guide, that inspire, direct and facilitate participation in the sport nationwide. Turner Sports New Media is the online production company of Turner Sports, Inc. Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on two networks – TBS and TNT - Turner Sports’ line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, Major League Baseball, college football, professional golf, www.PGA.com , www.PGATOUR.com , and ACCSelect.com. About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf CompanyTaylor Made Golf Company has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf footwear and apparel is the choice of hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (800) 888-CLUB or www.tmag.com, www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, and www.maxfli.com. The adidas Group is one of the global leaders in the sporting goods industry offering a wide range of products around the three core segments adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has approximately 25,000 employees worldwide and generates sales of about €9.5 billion (2005). Walters Golf owns and operates three premium golf courses in Las Vegas, NV including the Bali Hai Golf Club, the only championship course located right on the Las Vegas Strip. Bali Hai is a tropical golfer’s paradise, highlighted by seven acres of water features, a signature island green, more than 4,000 trees including 2,500 stands of towering palms and 100,000 tropical plants and flowers. Transition zones are accented with Augusta white sand and set off by black volcanic rock outcroppings. The par-71 course measures 7,002 yards from the tips and affords spectacular views of the Strip mega-resorts from the fairways. Recognized as one of "America's Top 40 Resort Courses" by GolfWeek Magazine and the "Best Course in Las Vegas" by VegasGolfer Magazine, Bali Hai is a truly unique experience and a must play for golfers of all abilities. For more information, please visit www.waltersgolf.com. Mandalay Bay – This AAA Four Diamond Award-winning tropical resort spans 60 acres along the Las Vegas Strip and serves as an enchanting escape from the mundane, boasting gourmet restaurants, blissful relaxation and exciting entertainment. The 11-acre Mandalay Beach offers an exotic retreat. This world-famous playground offers a wave pool, lazy river, three swimming pools, jogging track and 2,700 tons of real sand. Guests may enjoy shopping at the one-of-a-kind Mandalay Place or relaxing with a massage at Spa Mandalay. The resort’s newest addition, THEhotel, complements the already impressive property, offering a boutique-like option for guests seeking a cosmopolitan atmosphere - yet still mere steps away from the excitement of The Strip. From delectable dining to world-class entertainment, high-energy nightlife to relaxing rejuvenation, Mandalay Bay offers something for everyone. www.MandalayBay.com Hint Water: The idea behind Hint is simple: pure water, nature's original refreshment, accented with a hint of natural flavor. No sugar, no artificial sweeteners: Hint is a refreshing alternative to sodas, juice and other sweetened drinks and it tastes great. www.drinkhint.com Golfnow.com is the nation’s #1 tee time website. With community sites available at more than 40 markets throughout the U.S., Golfnow.com offers the best tee time deals at golf courses across the country. Signing up for their free e-mail club can provide visitors with up to 70 percent discounts on course fees. www.golfnow.com [ back to WGT news ] |
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