The Golf Club of New England to host the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur
In July 2012, The Golf Club of New England will host the first ever United States Golf Association championship in the State of New Hampshire’s history. The club has been chosen by the USGA as the site of the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The dates for the championship are July 16-21, 2012.
“Earning the opportunity to host the U.S. Junior Amateur is a major triumph for the state and the club,” said Craig Benson, former Governor of the State of New Hampshire and current Honorary Chairman of The Golf Club of New England. “The first USGA championship was held in 1895. With the work we’ve done here at The Golf Club of New England, we finally have a venue worthy of joining the 47 other states that have shared the honor of hosting such an event. We look forward to hosting golf’s rising stars and hope to continue to be a part of the USGA’s rich heritage.”
Benson also announced an unprecedented effort to follow these rising stars as they embark on their golf careers. The Golf Club of New England will incorporate into its website “The Drive to New Hampshire,” a social media forum in which aspiring golfers who plan to compete in the 2012 Junior Amateur championship can post their profiles. “This is a great way for young golfers to share their progress and growth in the sport,” said Benson. For more information on “The Drive to New Hampshire,” visit www.golfclubne.com/nh.
The course opened in 2003 and was designed by the Arnold Palmer Course Design Company.
“We’re one of only two Arnold Palmer designed courses in New England,” said club chairperson Joseph Kane. “It’s a beautiful setting and will be a fitting challenge for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, an event that has helped launched the careers of golf greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.”
First held in 1948, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship has showcased many of the sport’s greats at the start of their careers. Other notable participants in U.S. Junior Amateur Championships include Ben Crenshaw, David Duval, Jim Furyk, Lee Janzen, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Davis Love, Bill Mayfair, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman, Curtis Strange and Ken Venturi. The 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion was Jordan Spieth; he was 15 years old when he won the event, held at Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
In the tradition of the USGA Junior Amateur, the championship is open to the public at no charge. Spectators are encouraged to attend.
The Golf Club of New England
Located in Stratham, New Hampshire, The Golf Club of New England is a short distance from the Massachusetts and Maine state borders, less than an hour drive from Boston and Portland. Over 7,500 yards long, this championship course is an imaginative blend of lush fairways, greens, and natural waterways designed by Arnold Palmer Course Design Company. The course opened in 2003. It is scheduled to host the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2012. It has been the site of qualifiers for the 2004 U.S. Amateur, 2004 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 2005, 2006 and 2009 USGA Senior Amateur. For more information, visit www.golfclubne.com.
Atlanta teen, the Next Tiger Woods, gets dream shot to compete against the world’s best female golfers
MARIAH STACKHOUSE, GEORGIA WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPION, TO PLAY AGAINST TOP LPGA PLAYERS AT THE MOJO 6 TOURNAMENT IN JAMAICA
Atlanta teen golf prodigy, Mariah Stackhouse, can now say sometimes dreams do come true. The 15-year-old golf phenom was surprised today by her favorite golfer, top LPGA player, Christina Kim, who showed up at her North Clayton High School to personally invite her to compete in the first-ever Mojo 6 (www.themojo6.com), a unique golf tournament being held in Jamaica, April 15-16, 2010. Stackhouse, believed to be the youngest player ever to win the Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship in its 80-year history, will compete against the world’s leading female golfers, including Christina Kim, Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer.
Stackhouse, who has been playing golf since she was two, has already been compared by many familiar with the game as being the “next Tiger Woods.” Stackhouse also was the 2007 Atlanta Junior Golf Grand Champion and won the 2007 Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) Girls Championship; and two years ago, scored a 65 in a Southeastern Junior Tour event.
“I’m thrilled to surprise Mariah with the invitation to compete against the world’s best female golfers at The Mojo 6,” said Christina Kim. “The Mojo 6 is poised to start a new era in golf. It was already exciting to participate because of the new format being unveiled. Now, with the addition of Mariah, it’ll truly be a special event. She’s already quite a golfing talent, and is a fantastic representative of the future of women’s golf. I’m sure she has a long career ahead of her, and I can’t wait to see her in action at The Mojo 6.”
Creators of The Mojo 6, Joy Stephenson & Olympic champion Ed Moses offered Stackhouse one of the tournaments highly coveted sixteen (16) spots, stating “When we launched Mojo last year, we wanted it to be about more than creating compelling content, we wanted to create a platform to inspire people to reach for their dreams, and help others do the same. Inviting Mariah to join The Mojo 6 is certainly part of that mission, and we can’t wait to see her play Raceway Golf.”
Stackhouse and 15 top LPGA golfers will be the first to play Raceway Golf (TM) airing on CBS on May 1st and 2nd. Raceway Golf is a new, innovative golf format introduced by Mojo designed to draw out the competitive personalities of LPGA pros through intense showdowns. At The Mojo 6 this spring, the participants will battle Raceway Golf style as they try to knock each other out of the running for the $1 million purse. (*note: Ms. Stackhouse’s winnings, as an amateur, will be donated to charity).
“It’s an honor for Mariah to be invited to compete against some of the world’s top female golfers,” said Ken Stackhouse, Ms. Stackhouse’s father and primary coach. “When the Mojo team contacted us with this idea, the hardest part was not to tell Mariah before the surprise! We just always tell her to do the best she can, and we’re looking forward to going to Jamaica this spring to give Mariah the opportunity to play with the sport’s best athletes.”
Played over two days, this LPGA sanctioned tournament pits 16 players against each other to battle out a series of six-hole matches to crown a winner. “Mojo is working closely with the government of Jamaica, through its Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, and Ministry of Tourism, as well as with the LPGA, to make Raceway Golf exciting for the golfing world as well as those who may not have watched golf in the past,” noted Mojo co-founder and president, Joy Stephenson.
Mojo will package The Mojo 6 in Jamaica for broadcast with additional original content that is not typically aired in conjunction with a professional sporting event. Additional coverage is set to include in-depth interviews with players highlighting what it takes to be among the world’s best female athletes, performances by some of Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s best-known entertainers, and exclusive “behind the scenes” footage of what it takes to stage an international golf event.
As with all Mojo Marketing & Media properties, The Mojo 6 in Jamaica, and all future The Mojo 6 tournaments, will include activities designed to increase awareness about the importance of charitable giving. Since no two markets are identical, this element of each The Mojo 6 tournament will reflect the unique character, needs and opportunities for charity involvement of its host market.
Additional footage and information about The Mojo 6 is available at www.themojo6.com including a roundtable discussion about the event featuring Paula Creamer, Christina Kim and Suzann Pettersen.
Odyssey introduces new Black Series Tour Designs putters
The Number One Putter in Golf Presents Precision-Crafted Milled Putters Inspired by Tour Feedback
Callaway Golf Company announced the January 15th retail availability of their new Odyssey® Black Series® Tour Designs line of milled putters. The latest innovation from The Number One Putter in Golf®, Black Series Tour Designs were crafted through extensive work between the Odyssey design team and professional golfers across the world’s major tours.
With a new black look, the precision-crafted milled putters in Odyssey’s Black Series Tour Designs line feature updated shapes and more head options, all designed to offer elite performance at the highest levels of the game. Each putter is milled from 1025 carbon steel for the soft feel demanded by the best players in the world.
“In creating the Black Series Tour Designs putters, we consulted with some of the greatest players in the game, including Phil Mickelson,” said Austie Rollinson, Principal Designer for Odyssey Golf. “We incorporated this Tour player feedback into the design of these precision-crafted milled putters. The result is updated shapes and more head options preferred by better players, all delivering the truest roll possible in a premium look.”
Black Series Tour Designs putters feature Advanced Roll Technology (A.R.T.) for precise response and the truest roll possible. A.R.T. is achieved through multi-material construction using tungsten weighting, which creates a quicker, more favorable roll by moving the center of gravity back and lower in the putterhead. A urethane dampening layer is subtly placed between the carbon steel putter head and the tungsten flange, which enhances the feel at impact.
The TD Milled Face has a precise, deep milling pattern that generates consistent impact performance across the face, resulting in better feel, distance control and a smooth roll. Each putter is finished with a Deep Black PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating, producing a durable, glare-free look that was added specifically in response to feedback received from the world’s best golfers.
Black Series Tour Designs putters are available in several core models, including the #2, #4, #6 and #9. The new product introduction retail price for Odyssey’s new Black Series Tour Designs putters is $269.
For more information on these products and Odyssey’s complete lineup, visit www.odysseygolf.com.
Johnnie Walker challenges US Open golfers to break record on Fathers Day for charity
Besting Record US Open Score of 272 Will Net Winner a $27,200 Donation to Charity in Their Father’s Name
There’s always a lot at stake when the world’s best professional golfers step to the tee for the final round of the US Open on Father’s Day. But now, the Johnnie Walker Collection has put one more prize on the table in honor of fathers everywhere and US Open record-holder Jim Furyk who shares the tournament’s record low net score of 272.
If the winning golfer sets a new all-time record for lowest 72-hole total, the Johnnie Walker Collection, a Furyk sponsor since 2007, will make a donation of $27,200 (100 times the current record) to the charity of their choice in their father’s name.
“My father has been one of the most important people in my life, both professionally and personally, so it’s always a joy to spend Father’s Day with him on the golf course competing in one of the biggest tournaments in the world,” admitted Furyk. “This course proved in 2002 that it will present a true challenge to golfers looking to set the low mark.”
The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, last hosted the US Open in 2002, when Tiger Woods’ score of (-3) 277 was the only score under par. To earn the charitable contribution, a golfer will need to tally a four-day score of 271, (-9) or less on the challenging course. If two golfers break the record and are forced into a playoff, the Johnnie Walker Collection will split the donation between each of the players’ charities.
Furyk, one of the most successful players in golf and a 13-time winner on the PGA Tour, currently ranks 4th on the Career Earnings list and 13th on the Official World Golf Rankings. His biggest win to date was the 2003 US Open when he joined Tiger Woods (2000), Lee Janzen (1998) and Jack Nicklaus (1980) as record holders for the lowest total 72-hole score in US Open history. In June of 2007, Furyk and the Johnnie Walker Collection announced a three-year sponsorship agreement, and together launched the Safe Drive Campaign, a national program to raise awareness of road safety. “When celebrating with friends and family this Father’s Day, remember to drink responsibly and designate a driver or take a taxi,” adds Furyk.
Golf and Scotch whisky are arguably two of Scotland’s greatest gifts to the world, and Johnnie Walker — the world’s leading Scotch whisky brand — has been linked with the sport since the mid-19th Century. Most notable associations include Asia Pacific’s premier golf event, the Johnnie Walker Classic and the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles Scotland.
Source: Diageo
Free Admission Announced for the 2009 3M Championship
Tournament officials with the 3M Championship, held July 10-12 in Blaine, Minn., announced that the 2009 Champions Tour event will be free for the public. The tournament is the first ever free Champions Tour event with free admission, parking and shuttles.
“Giving back is the right thing to do,” said Hollis Cavner, tournament director. “We’ve received such tremendous support from fans and corporate partners over the past 17 years. We are thrilled that we have an opportunity to say thank you and provide this free gift to golf fans.”
“3M and its employees are thrilled to be part of this first in golf,” said Bob MacDonald, senior vice president, marketing, 3M. “The 3M Championship has a long history of bringing firsts to the game of golf and today’s announcement is another example of the tournament’s continuing innovation.”
The 3M Championship is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour – a series of annual PGA TOUR golf events for golfers 50 years of age and older. The 3M Championship is played at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Twin Cities, a course designed by professional golfer and golf course designer, Arnold Palmer. Joining Palmer at the 2009 3M Championship will be some of golf’s greats including Fred Funk, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hal Sutton and more.
The 3M Championship consistently ranks as one of the top Champions Tour events for crowds and charitable giving. Last year, the 3M Championship was voted the No.1 event on the Champions Tour by the players, earning the coveted Champions Tour Players Award.
The purse for the 2009 3M Championship tournament is $1.75 million with $262,500 going to the winner. The tournament was founded in 1993 as the Burnet Senior Classic.
The first round of 2009 championship play begins Friday, July 10. On Saturday, July 11, the Greats of Golf Challenge begins along with the second round of championship play. The week concludes on Sunday, July 12, with the final round of the Greats of Golf Challenge and the final round of the 3M Championship.
More information about the 3M Championship is available at www.3MChampionship.com.