ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2010) – Golf Channel announced a multiyear agreement with PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties that provides the golf course management division of the PGA TOUR the ability to leverage the full range of assets under the Golf Channel brand, including GolfNow, TravelGolf and the Golf Channel Am Tour.
David Pillsbury, president of the PGA TOUR Golf Properties, said the management firm will add TPC resort and daily fee courses to the GolfNow online tee-time marketing service, begin an advertising schedule on TravelGolf.com and, in September, host the Golf Channel Am Tour National Championship at TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS Championship and flagship of the TPC Network of Clubs.
“The TPC Network is excited about the new partnership with GolfNow and looks forward to continuing to build upon its relationship with the Golf Channel through the utilization of its extensive online travel and events platforms,” said Pillsbury. “We are always looking for ways to enhance the services we provide TPC members, guests and tournament fans, and GolfNow.com’s emergence as a leader in the online tee time industry will allow us to do just that.”
“We are very excited to have a management company as respected as PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties recognize how it can benefit from a partnership with these brands,” said Gene Pizzolato, chief revenue and marketing officer, New Media Ventures, Golf Channel.
PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties owns and/or operates facilities that are part of the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network of private and destination golf clubs throughout the United States. A number of facilities in the group host PGA TOUR, Champions Tour or Nationwide Tour events in addition to providing superior golf experiences to members and guests.
“GolfNow has been a very important part of our marketing strategy since we began working with the Golf Channel team over a year ago,” said Bill Grove, general manager of TPC Scottsdale. “The power of its reach, the flexibility of posting rates we choose for our marketing programs and the ease of operation makes it a very efficient tool for us. The ability to make last-minute changes to our promotions and the advertising power that Golf Channel brings to its viewer base just add to the value.”
A service of Golf Channel, GolfNow markets tee times for golf courses across the United States, helping golfers search for courses and available tee times and make reservations that fit their schedules and budgets. In 2009, golfers booked 3.8 million rounds through the GolfNow.com site, generating more than $121 million in incremental revenues for partner courses. TravelGolf.com attracts more than 1 million unique visitors each month who are searching for travel information and promotions.
About Golf Channel
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. Exclusive partnerships with the world’s top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf’s best news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel’s digital platform of businesses is led by www.GolfChannel.com, the number-one golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.
About the TPC Network
Licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network is comprised of 30 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Twenty of the clubs are operated by affiliates of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc., including three that are currently under construction. Each TPC has hosted or has been designed to host TOUR-sponsored golf tournaments. Since TPC Sawgrass first opened its world renowned PLAYERS Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete. Distinctive in character but consistent in quality, TPCs are known for their outstanding conditioning and amenities, as well as a commitment to environmental excellence. To date, nearly all TPCs are certified as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Systems by Audubon International. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its unwavering commitment to further the PGA TOUR’s “Together, anything’s possible” giving back mission through support of charitable and community-based programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com.
Together, anything’s possible
As announced in 2009, the PGA TOUR has created an elevated charity platform that aims to energize the charity efforts of all of our constituents. This platform, entitled “Together, anything’s possible,” will bring together tournaments and sponsors, players, charities, fans, and volunteers through a collective desire to aid those in need by sharing ideas, developing programs and dedicating resources. To bring this new platform to life, a logo has been developed that incorporates the Charity logo of the TOUR with the message of the new platform. This logo serves to remind us all of our responsibility to assist and the realization that we can always do more. It can be incorporated into communications with messaging that highlights TOUR-related charitable efforts.
Contact:
Dan Higgins
407-355-4018
dhiggins@golfchannel.com
Bill Bryant
Bryant Marketing Communications
bbryant@bryantmarcomm.com
678-366-3232
Brian Kemp
Golf Channel Solutions
bkemp@golfchannel.com
407-355-4288
