ORLANDO (Sept. 22, 2006) – Rosen Shingle Creek scored a huge knockout on September 15 when it hosted the First Annual Shaquille O’Neal-led "Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out" Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament.
The star-studded outing was one of the highlights of a series of events celebrating the opening of Rosen Shingle Creek’s magnificent 1,500-room hotel, which officially debuted September 9. Like the hotel – and Shaquille O’Neal’s favorite shot – the Charity Golf Tournament was one huge SLAM DUNK!
Shaq Daddy himself — Shaquille O’Neal – along with his "mama" Lucille, led the list of all-star list of celebrities, including many from the world of sports, who participated in the tournament. They included two other NBA legends named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History – Charles Barkley and Julius "Dr. J" Erving — as well as former Orlando Magic star and Atlanta Hawks radio announcer Dennis Scott. Other shining luminaries included Tampa Bay Bucs NFL Hall of Famer LeRoy Selmon; Alonzo Mourning, Shaq’s teammate on the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat; pop star Joey Fatone; Matt Geiger, former Philadelphia 76er NBA Star; Andia Winslow, LPGA Golfer; Dakoda Dowd, up and coming golfer; and William Floyd, former SF 49er and Carolina Panther of the NFL.
The celebrities joined the golf tournament as well as an evening gala to raise funds for the Odessa Chambliss "Quality of Life Fund" to provide nursing scholarships. The Fund is named in honor of Lucille O’Neal’s mother and Shaquille O’Neal’s grandmother, Odessa Chambliss, who worked for over 16 years in the nursing profession and who passed away in 1996.
"We are delighted with the success of the ‘Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out’ Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament and Gala," says Lucille O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal’s mother and the tournament’s organizer. "Our goal to ‘knock out’ our guests comedy, music and laughter to raise money for scholarships. The turnout was outstanding, the golf course and gala were magnificent. We thank everyone for their support – the Orlando community, our incredible sponsors and our family and friends."
"We are honored to be the first golf event at Rosen Shingle Creek and to be part of its opening celebration," adds Lucille O’Neal. "All of our guests and patrons enjoyed being here and we look forward to coming back next year and in years beyond that."
Event sponsors included ACI, WLOQ 103.1, Steve and Ellen Jackson Foundation, 24 Hour Fitness, Mine O’ Mine, Inc., Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Universal Studios, NGI, Celebrity Fight Night, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, Mercedes Benz of Orlando, Bethune Cookman-College, Turner Construction, and Friedman’s Shoes.
"It’s a privilege to be associated with Shaquille O’Neal and the Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament," says Dave Scott, Director of Golf at Shingle Creek Golf Club. "Shaq was a monument — both in social stature and physical size — when he played for the Orlando Magic. We think it says a lot that he and his mother chose to have the event here. Our facility has already established a reputation for excellence and we intend for that to continue as more and more people get to know about Rosen Shingle Creek."
While eyes naturally focused on the 7-foot-1 Shaq, as well as his friends and guests, they were also focused on Shingle Creek’s magnificent 1,500-room luxury hotel that is the centerpiece of the opening celebration. The hotel is not only perfect for a fine stay in the entertainment-laden Orlando area, but also for business meetings and the like. It’s the crowning addition to a complex that has garnered many accolades since it opened less than three years ago.
Shingle Creek Golf Club was recently named one of the top 100 golf shops in the U.S. by Golf Shop magazine. In June 2005, Shingle Creek was named a "Top 40 Best New Course" by Golfweek magazine, followed a month later by being named one of the "Top 10 Toughest Courses" by the Orlando Business Journal. Shingle Creek has received the prestigious "Greens of Distinction" from Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine.
The 230-acre Rosen Shingle Creek offers 1,500 guest rooms including 139 suites, and 445,000 square feet of dedicated, state-of-the-art meeting/event space including a 95,000-square-foot column-free ballroom. The resort offers an array of amenities such as a full-service 13,000-square-foot Spa at Shingle Creek with nine treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, nine restaurants and lounges, four outdoor pools, seasonal canoeing, hiking, tennis, volleyball and more. Shingle Creek Golf Club features a state-of-the-art practice facility, the Brad Brewer Golf Academy, aworld-class clubhouse, golf carts with UpLink GPS yardage system, complimentary valet parking, full-service golf shop, and club and shoe rentals.
Shingle Creek Golf Club and Rosen Shingle Creek hotel are located at 9939 Universal Blvd., just off exit 2 of the Bee Line Expressway (S.R. 528).
For information about the Odessa Quality of Life Fund and nursing scholarships, please visit www.ocqualityoflifefund.com. For more information about the Shingle Creek Golf Club and the Brad Brewer Golf Academy, please visit www.shinglecreekgolf.com or call (866) 996-9933. For more information about Rosen Shingle Creek, please visit www.rosenshinglecreek or call (866) 996-6338.
Contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
(407) 332-5212
mary@deatrickpr.com