LA QUINTA, Calif. – As it enters its second half century, the 51st Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 18-24, will launch an innovative, fun fan experience called “Hope Square.”
Located between the Nicklaus Private Course and the Palmer Private Course, directly behind the practice facilities at PGA WEST, Hope Square includes some 16 attractions, making it the penultimate fan experience at the Bob Hope Classic.
Hope Square includes interactive golf activities for golfers of every age, video screens to monitor on-course action, a musical entertainment stage, a food court and many other unique opportunities. A complete list of attractions at Hope Square may be found at the end of this article.
“We are striving to make our patron experience as exceptional as possible,” said Bob Hope Classic Tournament Director Michael Milthorpe. “With the launch of Hope Square, we feel we are taking a major step in enhancing the enjoyment of our loyal supporters.”
Pat Perez is defending champion of the Classic. Practice rounds for the 2010 Classic at all four courses – SilverRock Resort, La Quinta Country Club, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST, Palmer Private at PGA WEST – will be conducted Monday, Jan. 18 and Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 20 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST. The five-day Classic features 128 top PGA TOUR professionals and 384 amateur contestants, including 30 celebrities. All five days of the Classic will be televised on Golf Channel. At stake is a purse of $5 million – $900,000 to the winner.
The Classic has taken its fan-friendly experience to a new level in another area. Its new Web site, www.bobhopeclassic.com, is one of many platforms by which fans can more easily gain information about, and purchase tickets for, the 2010 Classic.
Along with the new Web site, fans can follow pre-tournament and tournament-week action on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BobHopeClassic) and on Twitter (@bobhopeclassic). There, fans can not only catch up on Classic news and see exclusive celebrity photos and quotes from the always-popular Pro-Am, but enter a variety of contests for the chance to win Bob Hope Classic tickets and other tournament prizes. From a haiku contest to photo caption contests to trivia, fans have a multitude of chances to win.
In 50 years, the Classic has donated more than $47 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley. For more information, go to www.bobhopeclassic.com or call 1.888.MRBHOPE (672.4673).
Hope Square
Located between the Nicklaus Private Course and the Palmer Private Course directly behind the practice facilities at PGA WEST, Hope Square includes:
• Entertainment Wednesday through Sunday on the Michelob Ultra Music Stage, featuring John Stanley King and other top local performers.
• A massive video wall where fans can catch all the golf highlights plus watch some of their other favorite sports.
• Both an electronic scoreboard and a more traditional calligraphy scoreboard to keep track of all of the professional, celebrity and amateur action
• A great new food court featuring some of La Quinta’s favorite spots: The Beer Hunter Sports Bar and Pub, Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill, and Viva Mexican Cantina
• World famous Bar B Q prepared by 10-time National Bar B Q Cook Off Champion Big Bob Gibson’s Bar B Q from Alabama
• Two bars: Old Town Wine Cellars and Crater Lake Vodka’s Lindsey’s Lounge
• A long-drive competition at the Konica Minolta Swing Simulator featuring a daily giveaway of a brand new driver
• Spectators will enjoy the fun and opportunity of hitting a very short hole in one chip shot and win a Can-Am motorsport All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Spectators will hit a whiffle golf ball with a variety of short irons. A select number of contestants who hit a shot closest to the pin will return for a Sunday afternoon final contest
• Test your putting skills and win prizes on the Back Nine Greens Putting Green
• A world-class Bar B Q cooking lesson and demonstration on Sunday morning by 10-time World Bar B Q Champion Chris Lily of Big Bob Gibson’s Bar B Q
• The GEICO Fan Experience Center where spectators of all ages can test all of their golf skills and win loads of prizes and visit with the Gecko himself
• A huge merchandise tent featuring one-of-a-kind Bob Hope Classic clothing and memorabilia
• A Classic and Exotic Car Show, highlighted by cars from the Concours d’Elegance and Coastal Classics
• A three-hole pitch and putt for kids
• A kids’ golf clinic on Sunday at 11 a.m., hosted by Bill Harmon
• Dozens of exhibitors featuring artists, resorts, memorabilia and more
Contact:
Toby Zwikel
(818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett
(760) 346-8184
