New look, enhanced features and increased instructional offerings from PGA Professionals are among highlights of popular site
Turner Sports announced today the relaunch of PGA.com, the Official Site of The PGA of America. PGA.com will offer fans more comprehensive and exclusive golf content through a portfolio of innovative applications and offerings available on the newly redesigned site. The new offerings, which include the PGA Pro FinderT search function, a comprehensive instructional library, complete tournament coverage and exclusive video content, help to further position the site as the leading online authority in golf.
PGA.com also will continue to host its popular weekly contributions from PGA Professionals who offer their insights, lessons learned and advice to golf fans. The site’s redesign is in concert with The PGA of America’s rebranding initiatives which include a new logo and the enhanced status of PGA Professionals as the experts in the game and business of golf.
PGA.com saw substantial growth in 2007, receiving record-breaking traffic during the four days of the 2007 PGA Championship with more than 165 million page views, a 233 percent increase from 2006, during its four days of PGA Championship LIVE coverage which offered live video streaming of the Championship. This was the most traffic the site has experienced for any major championship. In addition to its four-day PGA Championship record page views, PGA.com experienced more than 2 million total streams, a 116 percent increase, which surpassed the top month in site history.
Follow the link for high-res screen grabs of PGA.com’s new home page:
http://i.pga.com/pga/images/marketing/2008/home.jpg
"We are pleased to unveil the new PGA.com redesign that offers golf fans and PGA Professionals an enhanced interactive outlet for golf information, instruction and coverage and complements the new branding efforts of The PGA of America," said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports senior vice president of new media. "PGA.com will continue to lead the way in innovation to bring fans inside the ropes of their favorite sport."
"This is a very special year for our Association as we enhance the connection between the PGA brand, the digital world and millions of golf enthusiasts everywhere," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "PGA.com is a 24/7 resource to the achievements of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals, who work to grow the game and the business of golf."
Returning to the site on a weekly basis are contributions from the base of 28,000 PGA Professionals across the country which include:
. A Lesson Learned – A top PGA Professional provides analysis of the week’s PGA Tour event along with an instructional for the golf consumer based on the events in that tournament.
. Local Knowledge – PGA.com interviews the host PGA Professional for the week’s PGA Tour event to provide insight into the tournament, course preparations, and inside knowledge of the venue in a way that no other source can match.
. Ask the Experts – An interactive feature allowing golf consumers to ask the top experts in the field questions that relate to their golf needs, the feature touches on everything from fitness to rules to equipment to instruction.
In addition to enhanced features, PGA.com is debuting the PGA Pro FinderT, an online search function, which will launch this spring and allow consumers to link to a wide variety of golf services in their communities such as golf courses, electronic tee times, clubfitting and golf instruction.
In 2007, PGA.com offered more than 45 hours of live PGA Championship coverage including four days of exclusive live golf coverage of Champion Tiger Woods and other notable golfers on Playercam, as well as a live simulcast of TNT coverage for the first two rounds. PGA.com earned a 2007 Emmy® nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for its unique PGA.com Pipeline coverage.
PGA.com is the production alliance of The PGA of America and managing partner Turner Sports. 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 1 million video streams over the course of the 2006 PGA Championship.
Turner Sports 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, Inc. presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball (MLB), professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America’s mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
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The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Contact:
Julius Mason, PGA of America
561/624-8444
jmason@pgahq.com
Megan Weems, Turner Sports
404/827-0297
megan.weems@turner.com
