PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Bridgestone Golf, a leading manufacturer of golf balls, has signed an agreement to become the Official Golf Ball of the award-winning Traveling Golfer television show. This agreement marks a significant re-connection of the two companies – Bridgestone Golf and TL Golf Services, the parent company of the Traveling Golfer television show.
Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, has undergone major expansion in recent years … much like the Traveling Golfer television show. As a result of Bridgestone’s expansion, the company has increased production capacity by 30 percent to help satisfy the strong consumer demand for TOUR B golf balls as well as the new e12 CONTACT. Additionally, Bridgestone Golf has also increased its production staff by approximately 20 percent, the majority of which is drawn from the local community.
“The partnership seemed like a logical one,” remarked Tony Leodora, host of the eight-year-old television show. “Bridgestone has been on a fast track for a number of years and they continue to gain market share in the extremely competitive golf ball industry. At the same time, our Traveling Golfer show has expanded across the country and now around the world. It’s a perfect match.
“Plus, Bridgestone puts a lot of money into research and development and they manufacture all of their golf balls in the United States, in Covington, Georgia,” added Leodora. “That means a lot.”
Much of that research and development went into the release of their latest golf ball, the e12 CONTACT ball. That ball, added to their already successful TOUR B golf ball, gives Bridgestone an unbeatable one-two punch. That fact is substantiated by the latest expansion to meet increased demand.
“According to the NGF, rounds in 2020 were up over 13 percent, but our sales were up approximately 19 percent, so we were significantly ahead of the pace,” said Bridgestone Golf CEO and President, Dan Murphy. “We simply can’t meet consumer demand at our standard manufacturing rate so a major increase in our capacity was necessary. We’re very pleased to increase production while also adding a significant number of new employees.”
Bridgestone Golf’s commitment to the golf industry, in addition to American manufacturing, is being recognized by golfers everywhere. At the top, their balls are being played by Tiger Woods, Bryson deChambeau, and Fred Couples, plus many more top professionals. At the amateur level, Bridgestone is played by a wide range of golfers.
Bridgestone commercials will run in the weekly episodes of the Traveling Golfer. Also, Leodora, who hosts the shows from visually stunning golf venues around the world, will play the new Bridgestone golf balls on-air and in many events throughout the year.
In four of the last six years, the Traveling Golfer television show has been honored as the No. 1 Golf Television Show in America.
The Traveling Golfer airs as a scheduled weekly feature show on NBC Sports and NBC Sports + throughout four markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. The show also airs nationally, every day, on the Fun Roads Network (funroads.tv/schedule), which has undergone a major expansion recently. It can be seen in markets across the United States – including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Wichita, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington State, North Dakota, Raleigh, Orlando, San Jose, Albany and Boise. Additionally, national and international expansion has taken place via connected TV on Roku, Amazon Fire, SelectTV and GlewedTV.
Responding to golfers’ never-ending demands to learn more about interesting golf venues across the country and around the world, well-traveled host Tony Leodora created the Traveling Golfer in February of 2013 so he could take viewers to these locations.
The Traveling Golfer is a series of monthly shows hosted by Leodora, who has 20 years of experience in televised golf. New shows are featured for one month. After, they are archived for continued viewing on home website, www.travelinggolfervideo.com.
For more information about the Traveling Golfer, or to find out how your property can be featured on the show, call TL Golf Services at (610) 721-8186.
