DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 30, 2007 – SkyGolf continues to broaden their presence within the Ladies Professional Golf Association with their title sponsorship of the SkyCaddie® LPGA T&CP National Championship. Through their designation as the official rangefinder of the LPGA, Championship participants will utilize the SkyCaddie® during competition and highlight its pace-of-play and game improvement benefits. SkyGolf will also have a noted and visible presence at other LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) events.
"The opportunity to partner with SkyGolf through their sponsorship of the SkyCaddie® LPGA T&CP National Championship is a unique and exciting venture," said LPGA T&CP Executive Director Nancy Henderson. "To have our LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals, who are the best instructors around, be able to utilize SkyCaddie technology will enhance not only their experience and performance on the course but, also in each lesson they give."
The 2007 SkyCaddie® LPGA T&CP National Championship is set for Aug. 11-15 at Pinehurst No. 8. A field of the top 144 LPGA T&CP golfers in the United States will compete for their share of the $110,000 purse. Last year, Karen Davies defeated Charlaine Hirst on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to take top honors.
"We are very excited to expand our partnership with the LPGA and attach the SkyCaddie® name to the prestigious LPGA T&CP National Championship," said Richard Edmonson, SkyGolf CEO. "As SkyCaddie’s GPS technology greatly enhances the fan’s viewing experience, this partnership is a terrific way for us to continue positively impacting the game of golf."
In 2006, the United States Golf Association (USGA) made the decision to allow rangefinders in competition, under local tournament rule and LPGA officials have utilized that rule to provide golfers exclusive access to the device. Pro-am participants will also have the opportunity to experience first-hand the unique benefits of the product. Recognizing the significant influence LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals have within the golf industry, SkyGolf will play a leading role in the five annual LPGA T&CP Section Championships by sharing SkyCaddie® technology with LPGA T&CP members, which will, in turn, be shared with students and members at their home facilities.
The multi-faceted partnership, initially announced in January, has already impacted LPGA fans via a SkyCaddie® presence in LPGA tournament telecasts on the Golf Channel and ESPN2. On-course analysts and reporters are equipped with the SkyCaddie® GPS rangefinder, providing the viewing audience with unprecedented real-time performance data. Multiple grassroots initiatives and mainstream media beyond television and including on LPGA.com, highlight its pace-of-play and game improvement benefits.
About SkyGolf
SkyGolf is a solutions integrator that leverages the convergence of proven technologies, including GPS, Internet, mobile handsets and proprietary content to provide an instant answer to the oldest question in golf, "How far?" While respecting the game’s traditions and history, SkyGolf is committed to using its advanced technology responsibly to improve pace-of-play, enhance golfers’ enjoyment of the game and ultimately increase participation for the good of the game.
The SkyCaddie®, developed by SkyGolf, is used on over 15,000 golf courses in 45 countries around the world. Weighing less than 5 ounces, the SkyCaddie® utilizes the same global positioning system used by the U.S. military, but in a highly portable handheld device, about the size of a cell phone, to compute distances to any point on a golf course. SkyGolf uses professional, high-performance GPS engines, satellite-based accuracy augmentation, plus proprietary accuracy enhancements to provide golfers with the distances needed to play smarter, faster and have more fun!
The proven reliability and accuracy of the SkyCaddie® handheld, combined with the precision of SkyGolf’s vast course library, gives golfers the trust and confidence they need to play their best golf. For more information, visit www.skygolf.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Dana Gross-Rhode, LPGA, 386.274.6200, dana.grossrhode@lpga.com
Glenn Mastro, Mastro Communications, Inc.; 732.469.5700, gmastro@mastrocomm.com
