ORLANDO, FL (January 27, 2011) – TaylorMade-adidas Golf took home two first-place finishes, and Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam was honored for her business acumen in the 19th edition of the ING Industry Honors, announced at the PGA Merchandise Show.
Called by some the “Academy Awards of the Golf Industry,” the ING Industry Honors program recognizes outstanding achievement in the golf business.
Nominees in a dozen categories are submitted throughout the year from anyone in the golf industry. Sub-committees that include experts in each category then trim the entries to the top three in each category. ING members then vote electronically to determine the winners, who are announced and recognized at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference.
The TaylorMade R11 Driver was a runaway winner in the Product Ingenuity-Market Leading Companies. The white headed metal woods changed the golf industry capturing over 50% of the market share in drivers and continued its success into fairways and hybrids. The new and unique ASP plug allows golfers to perfectly tune-in their driver to match their individual swing.
Capturing the Product Ingenuity-Emerging Companies category was Tour Links, the innovator of the first ever modular putting green system that lets you experience the realism of professionally installed backyard golf green, indoors or outdoors, without all the mess and hassle normally associated with the old outdated construction methods like rock and gravel. The patented, all-weather, portable design makes installation easy in any climate or environment.
Another big winner in the ING Industry Honors was Sorenstam, who retired from competitive golf in 2008 as one of the all-time great LPGA Tour stars. She led the voting in the Business Achievement category. Sorenstam 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.
A complete list of winners is below. The presentation took place Friday in the ING Hospitality Room, and was followed by a Q&A with Paula Creamer.
THE 2011 INDUSTRY HONORS RESULTS
WINNERS LISTED FIRST IN EACH CATEGORY
BBUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Winner: Annika Sorenstam; Other Nominees: Jim Flood; Jeff Herold.
GOLF COURSE DESIGN: Winner: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw – Pinehurst No. 2 Restoration; Other Nominees: Gene Bates – Salish Cliffs; Robert Trent Jones Jr. – The Patriot
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Winner: Executive Women’s Golf Association; Other Nominees: Tradition Golf Club; Virginia State Golf Association Foundation
PRINT ADVERTISING-Product & Services: Winner: Celebration Golf Management – Kids Play Free; Other Nominees: Adams Golf – Options: Work It, Bomb It, Play It; Ashworth – The Course Never Leaves You, with Fred Couples
PRINT ADVERTISING-Trade: Winner: Golfweek – Now That’s Serious; Other Nominees: Redexim – There’s Only One Original; Howard Fertilizer Company – What’s Your Handicap
PRINT ADVERTISING-Travel & Real Estate: Winner: Pinehurst – They Say You Can Feel The Spirit Of Donald Ross; Other Nominees: Circling Raven – Not All Versions Of Heaven; We-Ko-Pa – Escape, Relax, Enjoy, Repeat
PRODUCT INGENUITY-Emerging Companies: Winner: Tour Links; Other Nominees: CertiFresh Cigar; Herbie’s One-Putt Wedge
PRODUCT INGENUITY-Market Leaders: Winner: TaylorMade R11 Driver; Other Nominees: adidas TOUR360 ATV; PowerBilt Air Foil N7 Irons
PUBLIC RELATIONS/PROMOTIONS: Winner: TaylorMade Golf White Out; Other Nominees: Harmon’s Heroes For A Cause – Winn Grips; TaylorMade Adidas & Ashworth Village, 2011 PGA Show
TELEVISION – INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL: Winner: FedEx – Club shipping (“How did you get so dirty?”); Other Nominees: Kia – With Michelle Wie; McGladrey – Lighten The Load
TELEVISION – COMMERCIAL SERIES: Winner: Master Card 4somes on various golf trips – Priceless; Other Nominees: Dove Men Care – Comfortable In My Skin; LPGA – See Why It Is Different Out Here
TOURNAMENT SERVICE: Winner: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; Other Nominees: HP Byron Nelson / Salesmanship Club of Dallas; Michael J Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-328-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
