New Owner Hits the Ground Running, Signing Jim Furyk to Endorsement Deal for ProQuip Rain Apparel
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (January 16, 2008) – Within just hours of inking the agreement to acquire majority ownership of ProQuip USA last Friday, Florida-based businessman Gary Markel kept the ink flowing by signing the #4 men’s golfer in the world to a multi-year endorsement deal.
The signing of Jim Furyk to represent ProQuip on the PGA TOUR is the first manifestation of the new ownership’s commitment to “fortifying the premier brand in golf weatherwear,” according to Markel.
Markel is president of Clearwater, Florida-based Gary Markel Companies, which focuses on the insurance and real estate industries. Markel also is a limited partner in the area’s Major League Baseball franchise, the Tampa Bay Rays.
While Markel assumes the title of chief executive officer of ProQuip USA, day-to-day functions will continue to be directed by company president Randy Payne and director of operations Michael Miller.
Says Markel, “Randy and Michael have been instrumental in the resurgence of the ProQuip brand in the United States over the last two years. My role is simply to support their tireless efforts with the proper resources.”
ProQuip, founded in 1981 and based in the historic golfing town of North Berwick in Scotland, is synonymous with ultra-lightweight and supremely soft waterproof- breathable golf clothing. ProQuip USA is the company’s North American distributor and is based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Furyk will wear ProQuip’s Silk Touch rainsuit on Tour. The breakthrough Silk Touch fabric, developed exclusively by ProQuip, features a silky soft and virtually silent outer fabric, plus unique stretchy lining for ultimate playing performance and comfort.
Furyk also will be featured in ProQuip print and broadcast advertising in 2008.
“It’s great to finally have a rain suit that I have the confidence to wear in competition,” says Furyk. The company is just minutes from my home in Ponte Vedra Beach, so I have had a chance to do a lot of testing of their technical rainwear. To me it’s the very best in the world.”
“We are truly fortunate to forge a partnership with such a high quality individual as Jim Furyk,” says Markel. He will be a consummate ambassador for the company, and certainly punctuates our commitment to positioning ProQuip as the world leader in golf rainwear.”
About ProQuip
ProQuip is the fastest growing weatherwear on tour. Over 50 PGA TOUR and Champions Tour professionals, including 10 major championship winners, carry ProQuip rainsuits into competition. ProQuip is an official supplier to the PGA TOUR and PGA European Tour, plus it is the official supplier to the South African Tour, and the Dutch and French Golf Federations
ProQuip has a quarter-century history of outfitting international team golf competitions, tracing back to the victorious 1981 United States Ryder Cup Team. Most recently the company was the preferred weatherwear supplier to the victorious 2007 United States Solheim Cup Team in Halmstad, Sweden and the 2006 European Ryder Cup Team at The K Club in Dublin. ProQuip has been selected by more Ryder Cup captains, European and American, than any other weatherwear brand in the match’s history.
For further information on the ProQuip product line call 800-322-9939. ProQuip USA, 3201 Sawgrass Village Circle, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 or visit online at www.proquipusa.net.
Contact:
Warren Grant, Windfall
404-266-2351
Windfall72@aol.com
