PHOENIX – Shane Bacon, respected golf announcer, journalist, podcaster and recent children’s book author, has signed on as a PING Brand Ambassador, PING CEO & President John K. Solheim announced today.
Under the multi-year agreement, Bacon, a native of Texas, will co-host the PING Proving Grounds Podcast with PING’s Vice President of Fitting & Performance Marty Jertson, in addition to appearing in other influencer and social media content for the company. The first episode of the podcast will be released on Thursday of this week and will be available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever golfers get their podcasts.
“We’ve had a close relationship with Shane since he broke into the golf business more than 15 years ago as a golf writer,” Solheim said. “His ability as a player and his love for equipment created an instant connection with us and we’ve been great friends ever since. During that time, we’ve admired his professional growth from afar within golf’s broadcasting circles and watched him develop into one of the top up-and-coming personalities and influencers in his field.”
“His experience in golf as both a player and media personality covering the game provides a perspective few others can offer,” Solheim said. “He’s well connected throughout the sport and his appeal is wide ranging. As a competitive player, he brings instant credibility to any conversation whether he’s talking tour, equipment technology, club fitting or the history of the sport. Shane brings an energy and enthusiasm that will greatly help us share the PING story with a wider and younger audience. We’re excited to pair him with Marty Jertson on the podcast as we continue to educate golfers on what goes on behind the scenes at the PING Proving Grounds and how that leads to helping golfers play better and enjoy the game more.”
Bacon, who attended the University of Arizona, works for all the major television networks, providing announcing duties at all four major championships. He also hosts Get A Grip, a weekly podcast he founded three years ago that covers golf from every angle. Late last year, he authored a children’s golf book, The Golfer’s Zoo, which was inspired by his two young children’s curiosity about golf. He’s active on social media, where his loyal followers enjoy his engaging and refreshing commentary and insights.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to make my living in golf,” Bacon said. “To be able to join PING in this new role adds a whole new dynamic to my career. I’ve been a big fan of PING and the Solheim family dating back to my days as a high school golfer in Texas and I’ve admired everything about the company since my first visit to the facility more than 15 years ago. They’re highly respected throughout the industry for always doing the right thing, and the Solheim family has created a culture that would be the envy of any business, not just in golf. I’ve made a lot of great friends there over the years. The talent, loyalty and passion of their employees is remarkable. You can feel it when you step on the campus that’s home to the PING Proving Grounds. Most would agree PING has the most compelling and inspiring brand story in the game and I look forward to sharing it through the podcast and my other interactions with golfers around the world.”
For additional information, contact Pete Samuels (602) 687-5487.
PING and PING Proving Grounds are trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
