LAKE MARY, FL (January 9, 2012) – An inventor, an entrepreneur and a Hall of Fame golfer turned business executive make up the business category of the final ballot of the 19th Annual ING Industry Honors.
Jim Flood, Jeff Herold and Annika Sorenstam 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 27 at 1 p.m. at the PGA Merchandise Show in ClubING, Room 309.
A Q&A with LPGA Tour star Paula Creamer follows the presentation. The ING Industry Honors committee chair is Holly Geoghegan of Golf Marketing Services.
Here are summaries of the three finalists in business achievement:
Jim Flood – Often referred to as the Thomas Edison of modern golf, Flood’s list of inventions include the Odyssey putters, the Ernie Els Training System and the SKLZ Power sleeve. He has developed more than 50 golf products in the past 35 years. Flood’s work with the graphite shaft led to the founding of the Aldila shaft company in 1972. His next notable innovation was the Basakwerd putter. The unique design positioned the shaft on the opposite end of the putter blade, thus having the blade closer to the golfer than the shaft. Another of Flood’s inventions was the Orizaba Power Pod driver, the first anti-slice driver in the market and the forerunner of closed face technology in drivers. Flood later teamed with Brad Adams, son of TaylorMade founder Gary Adams, to start the Odyssey Golf Company and designed the putters that grew the company into the leading putter company in the industry.
Jeff Herold, President, West Coast Trends, Makers of Club Glove – Herold, an entrepreneur, avid surfer, golfer and pilot founded West Coast Trends, Inc in 1990. While surfing, he wanted to fill a void in the golf marketplace and envisioned transforming his wetsuit into head covers. Soon after he introduced a line of premium neoprene head covers – aptly named The Club Glove. Realizing a need for a quality golf travel bag, he spent nearly a year designing the sturdy “Last Bag” – aptly named, promoted and guaranteed as the “last bag” you ever have to buy for travel. It is currently used by more than 90 percent of PGA Tour players, and was named one of the top 10 innovations in golf in the last 20 years by Golf Digest. In 2009, Jeff launched Train Reaction Luggage to target general consumers, manufacturing dozens of travel bags, clothing organizers and accessory kits.
Annika Sorenstam – Possibly the greatest female golfer of all-time, Sorenstam has been equally as successful in business since retiring from competitive golf in 2008. She now focuses on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, including the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel with Cutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards and an online retail shop, shopannika.com. In 2008, Annika joined Arnold Palmer as only the second Ambassador of the USGA, and in 2009, along with Jack Nicklaus, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation and aided in the successful bid for golf in the 2016 Olympic Games. The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.
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 22nd year in the golf industry 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 2012 for ING is the 22nd Annual ING Spring Conference set for May 20-24, 2012 at Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort in Greenville, SC.
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
