LAKE MARY, FL (January 6, 2011) – Three individuals with ties to three different organizations in the golf industry make up the business category of the final ballot of the 18th Annual ING Industry Honors.
National Golf Foundation CEO Joe Beditz, Emmy Moore Minister who works with the PGA of America in California, and Dan Rooney, a golf course owner, are the three finalists in the business category of what some call “the Academy Awards of the golf industry.” The ING Industry Honors program is conducted by the non-profit International Network Of Golf to recognize outstanding achievement in the golf industry.
Hundreds of nominations from across the golf industry have been trimmed by sub-committees to three nominees in each category in the ING Industry Honors awards program. Winners in a dozen categories are currently being decided by an electronic vote of the ING membership. Nominees will be acknowledged and winners announced at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference January 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the PGA Merchandise Show in ClubING, Room 309. The ING Industry Honors committee chair is Holly Geoghegan of Golf Marketing Services.
Here are summaries of the three finalists in business achievement:
Joe Beditz
Beditz has led the NGF since 1989, most recently as CEO. He has transformed it in recent years from a member-based data collection and analysis company into a consulting services-driven business. This year he led the launch of the “American Golf Census,” hoping to glean more information from America’s golfers. The NGF hopes to use the data to improve the industry’s marketing and promotional capabilities and equipment sales.
Emmy Moore Minister
Moore’s contributions to the betterment of golf span long-and-wide. She is Founder of Doctor’s Orders: Play Golf, an initiative that encourages better health and wellness through the game of golf. The alliance is designed to also help grow the game of golf by introducing player development programs to individuals. Additionally, Moore has provided volunteer support to the California Alliance for Golf for more than a decade, aiding in such causes as the fight against unfair taxation.
Dan Rooney
Rooney founded in 2007 the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for the children and spouses of military men and women disabled or killed while serving. He is a former F-16 pilot who served three combat tours in Iraq. He created the Patriot Golf Day, the flagship fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation. He also collaborated with Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Jay Blasi to build The Patriot, a private golf club in Oklahoma and headquarters for Folds of Honor.
About The ING
The International Network Of Golf is a 21-year-old, non-profit organization whose membership is open to anyone in the golf industry, related industries and media. ING’s mission is to enhance and promote communication and education in golf.
ING is kicking off its Third Decade Celebration at the PGA Merchandise Show with many activities. ClubING (Room 309) will be open all day for members and their guests, with morning coffee, Happy Hour cocktail parties, education speakers, product displays, celebrity guests and entertainment, and prizes and giveaways.
Highlight of the year 2011 for ING is the 21st Annual ING Spring Conference set for May 22-26 at beautiful Innisbrook Resort, a PGA Tour site in Florida.
ING exists to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication.
For more information regarding ING, call 407-328-0500 or visit www.inggof.com.
Contact:
Michael W. Jamison
mike@jamisongolf.com
407-328-0500, ext. 1
