CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 21, 2011) – TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company and the San Diego Padres today unveiled an 80-foot tall R11™ driver foul pole in right field at PETCO Park as part of an innovative partnership agreement to extend through the 2013 season.
Already the number one driver brand on the PGA Tour, TaylorMade’s game-changing new white R11 driver will now rule at PETCO Park – standing nearly nine stories tall (80 feet) – as it makes its season debut tonight. Specially designed by TaylorMade’s in-house design team, the R11 structure is affixed to the current foul pole and is considered “fair territory” by the PETCO Park and Major League Baseball ground rules.
“The launch of the R11 driver has become larger than life for our industry, so we wanted to continue the momentum with a larger than life integration with the San Diego Padres,” said Mark King, president and CEO of TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company. “This idea captures the magnitude of what has been the most historic driver launch in the golf industry. We hope the site of the world’s largest R11 driver here at PETCO Park will be a compelling reminder of TaylorMade innovation.”
“TaylorMade is a leading national brand – a thought leader based right here in San Diego,” said Padres Vice Chairman & CEO Jeff Moorad. “The Padres are proud to partner with yet another strong local company and we are excited to showcase its presence at PETCO Park in such an innovative way.”
About the Construction
The R11 foul pole structure is the first of its kind in Major League Baseball. The design and construction required significant collaboration between various groups to bring to life the authenticity of the R11 driver. Weighing 950 pounds, the 80-foot all-aluminum structure runs parallel with the existing foul pole structure, while the 14-foot wide by 8-foot tall image of the R11 clubhead is positioned on the fence in the corner of right field. The weather- and impact-resistant grip was custom rolled out of .90″ aluminum, welded into a taper shaping and then given a vehicle, textured, bed lining coating to give it a rubber look. The installation, which began Monday morning and was finished Wednesday, required a total 250 man hours to complete. Click image below to view time lapse footage of the installation of the structure.
Each “Drive” Out of the Park to Benefit San Diego-Based Charity
The R11 driver foul pole also also symbolizes TaylorMade’s support of a “Solutions for Change,” a 501c3 organization in North County San Diego committed to eliminating family homelessness in the county. TaylorMade will donate $600 to Solutions for Change for every “drive” a Padres player sends over the left, center or right field fence for a homerun. Learn more about Solutions for Change.
Introduced earlier this year, the TaylorMade R11 driver is the No.1 played driver on the PGA Tour so far in 2011. The R11’s distinctive combination of white crown and black clubface makes it significantly easier to aim and dramatically reducing glare, while its 3D tuning technologies allows players to independently tune loft, face angle and flight path to maximize distance and accuracy. Learn more about the R11.
To help unveil the foul pole, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professional Natalie Gulbis will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of tonight’s Padres-Philadelphia Phillies game.
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About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf creates high-performance, technology-infused golf apparel and footwear worn by hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Ashworth, which became a brand of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company in 2008, creates relaxed, lifestyle-oriented golf apparel synonymous with authenticity and quality. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, www.ashworthgolf.com, and www.tmag.com.
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the core brands adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade, Rockport and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 42,000 employees and generated sales of Ì¢?å 12 billion in 2010.
Contact:
TaylorMade Golf
Public Relations Department
Christa McNamara
Tel: (760) 918.6466
christa.mcnamara@tmag.com
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