2009 World Am to be Held August 31 – September 4 on 51 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Courses
August 10, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Author D.J. Gregory, whose inspirational story has been featured on GOLF CHANNEL and ESPN, will be a featured guest at the 26thannual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Gregory will participate in roundtable discussions and autograph copies of his book, “Walking With Friends – An Inspirational Year on the PGA TOUR.”
In his book, Gregory, who was told he would never walk after being born with cerebral palsy, recounts his journey walking all 3,256 holes of the 2008 PGA Tour season. Gregory traversed more than 988 miles from Maui to Orlando, developed lasting friendships and inspired the world’s best golfers with his determination.
Gregory endures feet that curl towards the instep (which he compares to a cramp in his book) and big toes that stack on top of his other toes. In order to walk any distance, much less navigate the frequently hilly topography on some golf courses, Gregory had to bandage each big toe and frequently wore five or six bandages at a time to cover the blisters and corns.
“Having D.J. Gregory visit the World Am will be a tremendous inspiration to our participants,” said Dave Macpherson, tournament director. “Walking four rounds each week for a 45-week season is tiring for any PGA TOUR golfer but D.J. saw this opportunity as the chance of a lifetime. He is a true golf fanatic and we welcome him as a new member of our avid golf family at the World Am.”
Gregory will appear at the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” on the nights of Monday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 2 at the 19th Hole. Also known as the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the 19th Hole is the gathering spot after golf for World Am participants and features an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, concerts, prize drawings and food from 20 of Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.
Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament with participants competing for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion.” The world’s largest single-site amateur golf tournament attracts 3,000 golfers from 45 states and more than 20 foreign countries.Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
For more information or to register, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit WorldAmGolf.com.
ABOUT PGA TOUR SUPERSTORES
PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing.
Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Other Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead), two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area and two stores operate in Chandler and Scottsdale, Ariz. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address iswww.pgatoursuperstore.com.
About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.
Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world’s largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.
Contact:
Cheryl Harden or Erin Barrett, Brandon Advertising and Public Relations, (843) 916-2000
charden@brandonadvertising.com; ebarrett@brandonadvertising.com;
or visit brandonpr.com
