PGA TOUR HONORS BOTH ILLINOIS TOUR EVENTS
THE 2011 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP WAS HONORED BY THE PGA TOUR FOR
"BEST TITLE SPONSOR INTEGRATION"
The PGA Tour recently handed out it's year end "Best Of Awards" and
both Illinois PGA Tour stops were winners. The BMW Championship
was named the winner of the "Best Title Sponsor Integration Award."
Down in the Quad Cities the John Deere Classic earned the PGA
Tour's "Most Engaged Community Award."
"On behalf of the PGA Tour, I am very pleased to congratulate the
BMW Championship for being named to the best among it's peers
on tour,"said PGA Tour EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder.
"The tournament committee should be proud of the special
recognition the event has earned for it's efforts."
Some of the highlights of BMW's integration include the following:
Creative on-course signage with a golf/driving theme;
BMW provided a full four-year Evans Scholarship in the name of
the first player to record a hole-in-one during the tournament.
A BMW Experience pavillion allowed fans to test putting skills
while checking out BMW automobiles.
BMW honored it's German roots with Bavarian-style biergartens
near the BMW Experience area and Pork Chop Hill.
BMW car owners received special parking in a BMW owners lot
along with a free car wash.
"On behalf of our partner, BMW, and the Western Golf Association,
the BMW Championship is honored to be recognized for our efforts
in working with BMW to enhance the tournament experience for
everyone involved-the players, spectators, volunteers and our sole
charitable beneficiary, the Evans Scholars Foundation," said Vince
Pellegrino, WGA Vice President of Tournaments. "BMW is committed
to making our golf championship a world-class event at every level,
and each year we find new ways to extend and build on that very
committment."
The 2011 BMW Championship was won by Justin Rose, the 2012
BMW Championship will be played Spet. 3-9 at the Pete Dye
designed Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana.
CLAIR PETERSON IS THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OF THE JOHN
DEERE CLASSIC IN THE QUAD CITIES. THE JDC WON THE 2011
PGA TOUR AWARD FOR "MOST ENGAGED COMMUNITY."
The John Deere Classic has always done a lot with a little, and this
longtime PGA Tour event came through again in 2011. Over 100,000
spectators from an area of only 375,000 people attended the event
won for the third straight time by Steve Stricker.
"On behalf of the PGA Tour, I am pleased to congratulate the John
Deere Classic for being named the best among it's peers on TOUR,"
said PGA TOUR EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder. "The
tournament committee should be proud of the special recognition
the event has earned for it's efforts."
The John Deere Classic's charity arm "Birdies for Charity" is one
of the strongest of any event on the PGA Tour. Birdies for Charity
allows people to pledge an amount they will donate per birdies made
during tournament week. Over 22,000 made pledges this year.
"The John Deere Classic is honored once again to have been
recognized as the Most Engaged Community on the PGA TOUR,"
said John Deere Classic Tournament Director Clair Peterson. "This
award is recognition for what has been going on for with this event
for the last 41 years in terms of community involvement. In a
community of 375,000 people, we have over 20,000 donors to our
Birdies for Charity program; we have attracted over 90,000 to 100,000
fans to the tournament every year,more than 70 local corporations
entertain clients and employees, and we have an incredible group of
over 1,200 volunteers who make it all happen. Moreover we raised $5.3
million for charity in 2011 and in this community that makes an impact."
The 2012 John Deere Classic will be held July 9-15 at the TPC Deere
Run Golf Club.
THREE TIME JDC CHAMPION STEVE STRICKER WAS HONORED FOR
SECOND BEST SHOT OF THE YEAR ON THE PGA TOUR.
The PGA Tour recently named the top 10 shots of 2011 on the PGA Tour,
and JDC champion Steve Stricker's bunker shot on the 18th hole during
the final round was voted # 2 shot of the year. Stricker had an awkward
stance in a leftside fairway bunker. Having to hit with one foot out of the
bunker, Stricker blasted a six-iron to the back right fringe. That set up the
birdie putt that won him the championship.
THE GOG BLOG CONGRATULATES BOTH ILLINOIS PGA TOUR EVENTS
ON WINNING THESE AWARDS.
Comments