(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Pacific Links International, one of the world’s foremost golf course owners and operators, and LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam have agreed to a three-year partnership.
Annika, winner of 89 professional events during her Hall-of-Fame career, will serve as an International Ambassador. In this role, she will promote Pacific Links’ membership programs at a variety of global engagements. Her initial duties took her to China earlier this month where she headlined several events with fellow International Ambassador Greg Norman in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Founded in 2009 by Canadian citizen and Chinese entrepreneur Du Sha, Pacific Links International owns and operates golf courses in Hawaii, Nevada, California, West Virginia and China. It also has an affiliation with the PGA TOUR whereby members of Pacific Links’ clubs enjoy reciprocal access to the TOUR’s 23 TPC Network properties. This TPC Passport program includes TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP.
“We’re delighted to formally announce this association with Annika, the greatest female golfer of her generation,” says Bruce Simmonds, Pacific Links International, Chief Executive Officer. “Her global brand and universal appeal to golfers of all ages, genders and abilities makes her an ideal spokesperson for our burgeoning business.”
“I am very impressed with Mr. Du’s plans for the future and excited to be affiliated with Pacific Links,” says Annika, the first and only LPGA player to shoot 59 in competition. “I am always interested in growing the game and giving people opportunities to play and that is one of the many positives of the Pacific Links reciprocal membership platform.”
Since stepping away from competitive golf in 2008, Annika has turned her attention to raising her two young children and building her ANNIKA-branded businesses. They include the ANNIKA Foundation, ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Course Design and more.
About Pacific Links International
Pacific Links International (www.pacificlinks.com) offers a unique membership structure whose main feature is reciprocal access to multiple clubs worldwide that are well-designed, possess strong character and deliver a memorable golf experience in a desirable location. Founded in 2009, Pacific Links owns and operates courses in Hawaii, California, Nevada and West Virginia in the United States, and in China.
Pacific Links strategy is to steadily enhance the variety of golf experiences enjoyed by our Members by continuing to acquire leading golf properties in targeted markets. We are also increasing the number of our affiliations with select golf clubs and golf ownership groups in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
The Affiliate and Reciprocal Club Program provides all Pacific Links members with special access to select Affiliate and Reciprocal Access clubs in North America, and select locations throughout the world. Through Pacific Links relationship with the PGA TOUR, Pacific Links Members have reciprocal access to all 23 clubs in the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network through the TPC Passport program and more than a dozen clubs in the Heritage Golf Group in the United States.
The company is wholly owned by Du Sha, a Canadian citizen and one of China’s most respected entrepreneurs. The founder of the 97-store Home World Group, Mr. Du is Chairman of Pacific Links. Bruce Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Links, founded and grew ClubLink Corporation into Canada’s largest owner and operator of golf clubs.
In Hawaii, Pacific Links International operates Kapolei, Royal Hawaiian, Makaha West, Makaha Valley, and Olomana. Kapolei plays host to the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship, a Champions Tour event held each year in September. The company’s holdings in Las Vegas, Nevada include Southern Highlands as well as SouthShore and its sister property, The Lake Club. Pacific Links also owns Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia and has just proudly announced the addition of Dove Canyon Country Club in Orange County, California.
Pacific Links is transforming its existing 36-hole golf facility in Tianjin, China into The 27 Club, designed by 27 prominent major golf champions such as Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Fred Couples. The 27 Club will be the anchor amenity of a six -star international golf resort and residential community.
About the ANNIKA Academy
The ANNIKA Academy (www.theannikaacademy.com) is a state-of-the-art, “boutique” golf school at Reunion Resort, near Orlando, Fla. It opened in 2007 as a way to share Annika’s passion for golf, fitness and nutrition, along with her personal team of coaches. Their simple techniques allow players of any age, gender or skill level to reach their potential by transferring more energy and power from the gym to the course. The Academy is a Certified Callaway Performance Center with two spacious hitting booths that offer custom club fitting and video swing analysis. Complete with a modern fitness facility, conference room, and full-service locker rooms, the Academy provides individualized golf instruction, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and custom corporate packages. Guests can play with Annika or learn the proven winning approach she established with her world renowned team of instructors.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikafoundation.org) as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with key organizations to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, Florida Hospital for Children in support of its Healthy 100 Kids initiative and The First Tee in development of the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children.
It annually conducts four major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including an award-winning AJGA tournament, ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla.; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, the first all-girls junior tournament in China; the ANNIKA Invitational in Europe; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors.
About ANNIKA Course Design
Annika’s course design philosophy is shaped by more than 20 years of international travel and competition on the world’s best golf courses. Capturing the landscape’s natural character and crafting an environmentally-friendly layout is paramount. She has received acclaim for a global menu of designs in the U.S., China, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada, Korea and the Philippines. Learn more at www.annikasorenstam.com/Course_design.htm.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381 (cell)
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
buffalocommunications.com
twitter.com/buffalocomm
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
