LAKE MARY, FL (Jan. 8, 2014) – The Final Ballot is set in the Business Achievement Category of the 21st Annual ING Industry Honors awards program.
Called by some 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 12 categories of the golf business. Holly Geoghegan of The Golf Insiders radio show is the committee chair.
Nearly two-dozen nominations in this category were submitted to ING from all across the golf industry. Sub-committees for each category voted to narrow the list to the final three.
Winners in this and 11 other categories are being decided by a vote of the ING membership. Results will be announced at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference January 23 at 12:30 p.m. at Orlando’s PGA Merchandise Show in ClubING, Room 309.
The International Network Of Golf is a non-profit, media-based networking organization whose mission since 1990 has been to enhance and promote communication and education in golf. Membership is open to anyone in the golf industry, related industries and media. “ING is where media and the golf industry connect.” The 24th Annual ING Spring Conference is set for June 1-4 in Atlantic City.
Here are descriptions of the three finalists in the Business Achievement Category:
Eric Affeldt, CEO, ClubCorp – The world’s largest private club operator put together the most significant golf industry IPO since the 1990s, taking the company public and making owner KSL Capital Partners’ investors happy with the cash infusion. Even ClubCorp’s industry competitors have to be happy that Wall Street and the SEC found enough merit in a golf-related company to support an IPO. ClubCorp has raised revenue consistently in the last three years, with a 10 percent growth from 2010 to 2012, topping $754 million.
Pam Swensen, CEO Executive Women’s Golf Association – Through Swensen’s leadership, the EWGA is leveraging the power of its 14,000+ members and their $66M impact on the game to create new opportunities for existing members and welcome new ones with 125 EWGA Chapters in nearly every U.S. major market and internationally. EWGA provides a community for women by offering affordable, organized golf, networking, success insights from accomplished executives, travel and equipment discounts and a wide range of local and national events and benefits. The Commonwealth Institute has twice recognized her as one of the top 10 female CEO’s leading a not-for-profit business in Florida.
Frank Thomas, Founder, Frankly Golf – Thomas invented the graphite shaft for Shakespeare Sporting Goods in 1969. As USGA Technical Director for 26 years, he developed the GHIN Handicap System, introduced the Stimpmeter and wrote, re-wrote and monitored all equipment standards and rules. In 2000 he founded of Frankly Golf, dedicated to helping golfers through www.franklygolf.com. He conducted the largest Growing the Game Study, has spent the last 12 years researching putting and directs a putting academy. He created the Certified Putting Instructor Course, adopted by 8 PGA’s worldwide to educate professionals. Thomas is a Technical Advisor to Golf Digest and Golf Channel.
ING exists to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication. The group, which was formed in 1990, will conduct the 24th Annual ING Spring Conference June 1-4, 2014, at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. Educational seminars, product testing, an appointment show and networking opportunities highlight the schedule.
The next gathering for ING is at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando Jan. 22-24 2014. ClubING (Room 309) will be open all day for members and their guests, with morning coffee, Happy Hour cocktail parties with celebrity guests and entertainment, and prizes and giveaways.
For more information regarding ING, call 407-328-0500, or visit www.inggof.com.
Contact:
Michael Jamison
mike@jamisongolf.com
407-328-0500, ext. 1
