Palmer Private at PGA West’s 5th hole is the spotlight for the Sentient Jet Hole-In-One Contest; first to make a hole-in-one on No. 5 earns $50,000 in flight credits from Sentient Jet Membership, with the other $50,000 to be donated to Bob Hope Classic charities
LA QUINTA, Calif. – The Palmer and Nicklaus Private courses at PGA WEST yielded a whopping eight holes-in-one to professionals and amateurs at last year’s Bob Hope Classic, a tournament record which gives the impression that it is likely that one lucky golfer with one magical swing on the 233-yard 5th hole at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST will reap the rewards of flying in rarified air with free private jet travel from Sentient Jet.
The $100,000 Sentient Jet Hole-In-One contest returns to the 51st Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 18-24. The first amateur player to ace the 5th hole at the Palmer Private course will win the contest and receive $50,000 in flight credits from Sentient Jet, with the other $50,000 serving as a cash donation to Desert Classic Charities, the chief beneficiary of the Bob Hope Classic.
“We are thrilled to partner for the fifth consecutive year with the PGA TOUR and the Bob Hope Classic, two world-class organizations that have helped Sentient build a thriving business,” said Steven Hankin, Sentient’s chief executive officer. “More importantly, Sentient Jet Membership is especially pleased to make a $50,000 contribution to Desert Classic Charities in support of their efforts to assist charities in the Coachella Valley.”
Last year, amateur Andrew Goldfarb of Sherman Oaks, Calif., aced the 156-yard par-3 15th hole with a 51-degree sand wedge during the first round of Bob Hope Classic play at the Palmer Private Course to win the prize (to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sG7BPNNiew). Those following Goldfarb with holes-in-one in 2009 were professionals Briny Baird, John Senden and John Mallinger, celebrity Michael Pena, and amateurs Gary Levine, Miklos Kohary and Dick Ziegler.
Defending champion Pat Perez and past champions Mark Brooks, Chad Campbell, Joe Durant, David Duval, Charley Hoffman, Justin Leonard, Jesper Parnevik, D.J. Trahan and Mike Weir are among the other early pro entries for the 2010 Classic. Famed musician Kenny G, future baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, actor/game show host John O’Hurley and actor Kurt Russell are among the celebrity athletes and entertainers set to participate.
Other early pro entries include Michael Bradley, Tim Clark, Brian Gay, Nathan Green, Paul Goydos, Jerry Kelly, Matt Kuchar, Martin Laird, La Quinta resident Scott McCarron, Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, John Senden, Michael Sim, Heath Slocum, Brandt Snedeker, David Toms and Bo Van Pelt. Gay, Toms, Na, Kelly, Kuchar, Weir, Senden, Clark and Leonard were in the top 30 on the PGA TOUR money list in 2009. Bradley, Gay, Green, Kelly, Kuchar, Laird, Moore, Perez, Slocum and Van Pelt won in 2009 on the PGA TOUR.
Bob Hope Classic sponsor’s exemptions were awarded to Murrieta, Calif. native Rickie Fowler, Sam Saunders (Arnold Palmer’s grandson), Duval, the 1999 Bob Hope Classic champion on the strength of his closing-round 59, Rocco Mediate, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. native and USC product Jamie Lovemark, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Elkington and Billy Mayfair.
Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra has been named the first-ever “Classic Ambassador.” Berra, who played in the Classic 15 times from 1995-2009, will perform a wide variety of duties on behalf of the 2010 Classic.
Other early celebrity participants for the 2010 Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include: musicians Steve Azar, Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Tommy Thayer (KISS), singers Josh Kelley and Clay Walker, actors Anthony Anderson (Law and Order), William Devane (24, The West Wing), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Joel Gretsch (V), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles), Michael Pena (Crash, Million dollar Baby), who had a hole in one during last year’s Classic, Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld), actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, comedian Tom Dreesen, Grammy Award-nominated stand-up comic Ron White, television show personality and author Dr. Phil McGraw, former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick, former Buffalo Bills outstanding wide receiver Andre Reed, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe, NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, and six-time Pro Bowl selection and “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up Jason Taylor. The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 20, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 21, La Quinta Country Club; Friday, Jan. 22, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST; Saturday, Jan. 23, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.
Practice rounds for the 2010 Classic at all four courses 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. 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).
About Sentient Jet Membership
The Sentient Jet Membership Program is the most flexible and economically sound approach to private aviation. Members enjoy access to premium executive-class aircraft with a guaranteed response time of as little as ten hours anywhere in the continental United States. The program features guaranteed availability as well as both one-way and round-trip pricing at fixed hourly rates.
Sentient Jet Membership arranges flights on behalf of clients through access to a strong network of certified operators and aircraft. Flights are conducted by FAR certified air carriers that exercise full operational control at all times. Operators approved to provide service for Sentient must meet all FAA safety standards and additional safety standards established by Sentient. More information is available at www.sentient.com.
Contact:
Sentient Jet Membership
Anton Nicholas
(917) 679-8622
anicholas@sentientflight.com
Toby Zwikel
(818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett
(760) 346-8184
