Golflogic.ca

The Professional Golf Association (PGA) has appointed ScoreGolf as the Canadian advertising sales and sponsorship representative for its PGATour.com website.

The deal is the first of its kind in Canada for the PGA, which did not previously have a Canadian sales agent.

ScoreGolf’s responsibilities encompass ad and sponsorship sales for the Canadian market. While the PGA does not operate a separate website in Canada, visitors who enter the PGATour.com site from Canada are served geo-targeted advertisements.

Bob Weeks, vice-president, content for ScoreGolf, said the agreement adds to his company’s already formidable presence in the golf media and marketing world. The organization publishes ScoreGolf Magazine, operates the ScoreGolf.com website and produces the ScoreGolf TV magazine show for TSN, as well as the syndicated radio show ScoreGolf Radio.

“PGATour.com, in terms of viewers, is number one in Canada for golfers. It gets a million unique visitors and 17 million page views a month,” said Weeks. “We know where the golfers are, where the golf market is, so for us it seemed like a natural progression to go to the biggest website.

“We’re breaking new ground here. [The PGA] has similar deals for the U.K. and China, but no one’s done it in Canada before.”

ScoreGolf, which has a similar sales agreement with Canadian golfer Mike Weir’s website (MikeWeir.com), is owned by the sports media and marketing company CCMC Sports Group.

Great story from Mary Beth Lacey.  I have been a fan of using simulaters (mostly in the winter) to help track my ball flight, head speed and trajectory.  Good to see it helping out some fellow Canucks!

MAUMEE, OHIO — aboutGolf, the world leader in indoor golf simulator technology, was the “secret weapon” in the success of Canada’s University of Waterloo (UW) and its star player, Garrett Rank, during the 2010 spring season, the company announced today.

The University of Waterloo’s engineering school—widely regarded as Canada’s best—was the beneficiary of an aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator in November 2009 to allow collaboration between aboutGolf and UW golf equipment and biomechanics researchers.

While engineering students use the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator for research, including investigations into new shaft and clubhead designs, biomechanic modeling, motion capture and golf ball simulation and optimization, Waterloo’s men’s and women’s golf teams also use it to train. The simulator presents an opportunity to execute range practice with reliable data for analysis, prepare for difficult tournament holes with similar holes on the simulator and prepare for difficult weather conditions, such as high winds.

Waterloo’s men’s team benefited from its new “secret weapon” aboutGolf technology with a seventh place finish in the RCGA University/College Championships in New Brunswick. After a winter of indoor work the team finished as the top team from its league in the 20 team National Tournament, putting up the low team score over the last 30 holes.

More recently, on July 23, Waterloo second-year golfer Jack Gibson—after correcting a major swing flaw through hard work on the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator—posted a 10-under par, three-stroke victory in Canada’s Investors Group Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship. Gibson—who defeated a field that include five Division I scholarship players and the World University junior champion—will represent Ontario at the Canadian Boys Junior Championship in early August. 

Gibson used the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator last winter to completely revamp his swing, using the side spin and horizontal launch angle measurements of the simulator to implement corrections that turned his excessive hook into a lovely draw.

“aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulator played a substantial role in the improvement of our teams in 2010,” says Dave Hollinger, the Warriors’ men’s golf coach. “The biggest advantage of aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulator is that it is ‘right-on,’ so accurate. We can work on the swing, make adjustments, fine-tune and see results immediately. It’s a great environment to experiment in. Many of our students are golfers and engineers, so we do a lot of experimenting with and understanding ball-flight laws.”

In this year’s World Championships, Waterloo’s Garrett Rank was outstanding—qualifying for individual play thanks, in large part, to his dedicated work on aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulator. After 53 holes in Spain, Rank was the event’s individual leader, eventually finishing five strokes out of a medal, in 10th place. 

Entering the 2010 season, Rank’s biggest challenge was to raise his low ball flight and maximize his driver trajectory, Hollinger says. Mission accomplished, thanks to the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator.

“Garrett worked incredibly hard on the simulator during the winter,” Hollinger says. “He spent more time on it than anyone else on the team, and now he is a terrific driver and hits the ball much higher.”

Rank’s outstanding play this past spring qualified him for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, at which he advanced to the round of 16. He also made a hole-in-one during his Porter Cup qualifying round and was named a first team all Canadian as an athlete and an academic.

“This is yet another example of how the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator can help golfers of any skill level improve their performance and train for competition,” says Chuck Faust, President and COO of aboutGolf. “Congratulations to the Warriors and we know we will see continued improvement as they train in the ultimate learning and practice environment.”

aboutGolf is currently working with Waterloo to equip their system with technology updates and integrated performance tools including swing analysis and weight transfer analysis. 

Prior to the donation by aboutGolf, the Warrior’s golf team evaluated three simulator systems and rated aboutGolf as the top system.

 About University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located in Waterloo, Ontario at the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle, has become one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities with 28,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery.

About aboutGolf

aboutGolf, the world leader in indoor golf simulator technology, finalized a long-term licensing partnership agreement with the PGA TOUR in December 2008 for the development and execution of aboutGolf/PGA TOUR-branded simulator products. Thanks to the agreement, aboutGolf and the PGA TOUR have an exclusive, worldwide licensing partnership to manufacture PGA TOUR Simulators as well as an exclusive, worldwide licensing partnership to offer TPC courses on the PGA TOUR Simulators, including the TPC Sawgrass’ PLAYERS Stadium Course, site of THE PLAYERS Championship, which is considered professional golf’s “fifth major.” 

aboutGolf is a 20-year-old Maumee, Ohio-based company that has been dedicated to golf for its entire history. aboutGolf is the world leader in indoor golf simulator technology, producing PGA TOUR Simulators, aboutGolf Performance Products  and Henry-Griffitts Custom Fitting. Historically, aboutGolf also produced Microsoft Golf, Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf and World Tours, which is the world’s most-widely-distributed golf simulation. aboutGolf® is a registered trademark of aboutGolf Limited, Maumee, Ohio.

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For more information and product images contact:

Mary Beth Lacy at: 760-346-6942, email:   mb@mblacy.com

Out friends over at Ask.com sent over a list of their most asked golf questions.  It is a great list so here you go:

Top Ten Golf Questions on Ask.com

1. What does golf stand for?

2. How long does it take to play 18 holes of golf?

3. What Percentage of Golfers Shoot under 100?

4. What degree is a pitching wedge?

5. How many calories do I burn playing golf?

6. How do you fix a slice in golf?

7. How many golf clubs can you carry?

8. How do you calculate your golf handicap?

9. What is an albatross in Golf?

10. What does slope rating mean on a golf course?

Source: Ask.com

Answers:

1. The word golf likely originated from the Medieval Dutch word “kolf” or “kolve” which meant “club”.

2. Four hours is the estimate most people give for 18 holes.

3. There are 27 million golfers in America. Only 5 percent of them will ever break 100, and of that 5 percent only 2 percent of them will ever break 80.

4. A pitching wedge is set at a 45 degree angle.

5. How many calories a person burns while playing golf depends on three factors. One is body weight, as larger people burn more calories than their smaller counterparts. A second factor is how much time is spent playing golf, and the third aspect has to do with how active that person is on the range. A person who weighs 150 pounds and plays golf for two hours while he is carrying his clubs will burn 750 calories. A heavier person, weighing 200 pounds, will burn even more. During a two hour golf game, a 200-pound person carrying his golf clubs will burn 1,000 calories.

6. To fix a golf swing slice, it’s important to realize that a slice is caused by the club face being left open when you strike the ball. Discover how you can fix your slice with help from a professional golf…

7. The rules of golf allow you to carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add another iron or a specialty wood to the traditional set.

8. After figuring out a golf course’s rating, take the score and subtract it from the course rating before multiplying it times 113 and dividing this number by the slope of the course. Take five scores and multiply the lowest by .96 to get a handicap.

9. Albatross is another term for a double eagle, or 3-under par on any one hole.

10. Slope rating is a numerical index of difficulty for an average (bogey) golfer. The higher the slope number, the more difficult the course is for the bogey golfer.

Source: Ask.com

Never a bad thing to be reminded to stretch even in mid-season!

Republished from Health Media Today:

I received this press release from golf communications superstar Tim O’Connor and I couldnt be happier.  I was fortunate enough to have met Tom Jackson years ago when he was head of instruction for Clublink working out of Glen Abbey.  Tom is an outstanding guy and great educator.  I wish him nothing but the best.

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ORLANDO, Florida (June 22, 2010)–About 10 years ago, Tom Jackson had not one but two visions when he began laying the foundation for what would become the Core Golf Junior Academy.

 Jackson, one of Canada’s top instructors, saw the potential for a world-class golf academy in Orlando, Florida.

 And he saw the potential in Sean Foley and Dr. Craig Davies, both of whom have become stars on the PGA Tour.

 ”My feeling was that there was an opportunity for an academy that maintained a healthy ratio of coaches to students, and stressed improvement in all aspects of one’s golf life,” says Jackson, Director of Instruction at the Academy located at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge just west of Orlando.

 That vision has become a reality and a success: The Core Golf Junior Academy enters its fifth year of operations in September as a full-time golf development program offering high-school aged students from around the world comprehensive golf instruction and high quality private school with its education partner Windermere Preparatory School.

 For junior golfers looking to fulfill their golf dreams, it’s ideal. They live in Core Golf’s residences with other students and their house parents; they go to Windermere Preparatory School until mid-afternoon and then work with their golf coaches at the academy until dinner. On most weekends, they play in highly competitive junior tournaments scouted by NCAA coaches.

 Core Golf coaches places a major emphasis on taking their students` games to the next level, which is college golf, and guiding them through the scholarship process. Most graduating Core students receive scholarships. In 2010, Core started a scholarship consulting service called College Golf Connect to help more students obtain scholarships.

 Jackson’s original idea for an academy was hatched after one of his Canadian students was extremely disappointed by his experience at a major U.S. junior academy. The student found the academy overcrowded and the coaching inconsistent.

 Plan went into action in 2006

 In 2006, Jackson put his plan in motion and up-and-coming junior coach Foley and his wife Kate jetted to Orlando in 2006 to start the academy.

 Today, Foley is now regarded as one of the PGA Tour’s best swing coaches, with Stephen Ames, Hunter Mahan, Parker McLachlin, Sean O’Hair, Justin Rose (recent winner of the Memorial), and Canadians Lorie Kane and Lisa Meldrum on the LPGA Tour.

 ”I always thought Sean would get to where he is now, and I think his potential is unlimited,” says Jackson, who has more 25 years experience as a teacher, tour professional and golf administrator.

 Jackson also saw great potential in Dr. Craig Davies, Core’s Director of Fitness and Nutrition for the past four seasons. Along with coaching Core students, Dr. Davies works with Y.E. Yang, winner of the 2009 PGA Championship, and Ames, Mahan, John Rollins and Robert Allenby.

 This fall, Core Golf will introduce a more intensive mental performance program with mind coach Bob Skura, author of How Great Golfer’s Think. Jackson is confident the enhanced mental performance coaching will elevate the on-course performance of Core students.

 ”My goal was to surround myself with the best people in golf instruction, fitness and mental performance and provide them the facility and support to practice and perform what they do best,” says Jackson, who moved to Orlando in August 2009 to run the academy full-time. 

 The junior academy is part of the Core Golf Academy which provides high-quality instruction at Piper’s Heath GC in Milton, Ontario and Willow Valley GC in Hamilton, Ontario.

 As Core Golf continues to grow, Jackson and his colleagues are focused on making their pupils better, both on and off the golf course.

 ”Everyone involved with Core Golf is passionate about what we are doing. Most importantly, we care first and foremost about the kids, their well being and improvement.“

 For more information, visit www.coregolfacademy.com.

The Tiger Woods sex scandal keeps hitting people in the pocket books.  CNBC reported that IMG, the super agency who represents Woods, has claimed that losing major sponsors such as Accenture, Gatorade and AT&T has cost the golfer close to $30 million USD which translates to approximately $4.6 million USD in commissions and fees for IMG. 

That is a lot of money for an agency to lose in this economy.

So once in a while we like to step away from Golf and help a friend out.  A good friend has recently launched a new Health and Wellness focused web site and we thought we would give a little love so here it is, Health Media Today:

From our friends at Marketing Mag:

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After operating for 115 years as the Royal Canadian Golf Association, the organization is rebranding as Golf Canada after the expansion of its mandate.

RCGA’s rebranding began in 2005 when the federal government made it the official national sports organization for golf. 

Previously known mostly for its course ratings and rules management, its status as an official national sport organization (NSO) adds amateur training programs to its responsibilities, as well as preparing a national golf team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“We’ve joined a family of brands” such as Tennis Canada and Hockey Canada that are instantly recognizable as authoritative, said Peter Beresford, chief operating officer for Golf Canada.

TBWA\Toronto was hired last autumn to build a new brand framework that would represent the group’s expanded role. It was also put in charge of crafting a consumer-facing campaign that would both advertise the new brand and bring in new members.

The new branding will be unveiled tomorrow at a press event at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Print ads, online videos and televised PSAs will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Beresford hired TBWA without a formal review. As the former chairman and CEO of McDonald’s in the U.K. and Ireland, and senior vice-president, global brand development for McDonald’s Worldwide, Beresford worked extensively with TBWA\Toronto’s president Jay Bertram, who at the time worked at Cossette.

“I knew that Jay Bertram would be a great addition to the team,” Beresford said. “I also went straight to TBWA. I‘ve worked with TBWA around the world… It has tons of experience in working with multifaceted organizations.”

How do you go about finding the longest hitters in the world?  Simple, you partner with a major golf simulator company and create a global competiton with them.  That is the concept behind the partnership with Full Swing Golf Simulators and Thunderball, the newest and most exciting Long Drive Competition in the world.

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Global Indoor Qualifying At Full Swing Golf Simulators Worldwide

The entire globe is being scoured in a search for new Long-Driving talent with the top performers invited to compete for cash and the coveted THUNDERBALL! Diamond Tags.

“We’ve created a terrific partnership with Full Swing Golf Simulators who have over 200 active locations open to the public worldwide.” says Colin McDougall, creator and owner of THUNDERBALL!  “Guys can buy trial codes on our website (www.thunderball.net), enter them on the simulator touch screen and then give it their best shot under identical conditions worldwide.”

So far, the world has responded with hundreds of competitors visiting dozens of locations from as far away as Holland and England matching their best with players from the United States and Canada. 

“Indoor competition is just the vehicle we need to grow the sport of Long-Drive,” says McDougall “Currently, we have one major event annually and it simply doesn’t generate enough consistent TV exposure to allow it to grow.  With THUNDERBALL!,  the cost to participate is reduced dramatically while still allowing the players to compete at a high level.”

 About Long-Drive

‘Long-Drive’ is a sport in which players compete and succeed through driving a golf ball the farthest within a designated landing area called a ‘grid’.

Much like snowboarding is to skiing or MMA is to boxing, Long-drive is its own sport – it’s easier to learn, younger in appeal and far less complex to understand and appreciate than traditional golf.

 About THUNDERBALL!

THUNDERBALL! is an innovative approach to the sport of Long-Driving. Using a 16-Man Final Field, a Rock & Roll Stage, a shot clock and a “You’re Long Or You’re Gone” philosophy, a champion is crowned in 90 minutes! Toss in some trick shots, cheerleaders, loud music and you have the greatest new show in sport! Website: www.thunderball.net

IJGT Partners with CJGA to Benefit Members

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC—The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) is pleased to announce a partnership with The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) that will provide playing privileges to members of each organization, giving access to over 160 events across North America.

Full status members of the IJGT will receive a 2010 membership with the CJGA at no charge, giving juniors the opportunity to participate in all open CJGA events during the tournament season.  Along with the membership, all IJGT members that play in an event will receive the full membership benefits of a CJGA membership.

Along with the member benefits, the IJGT will receive 6 male and 4 female tournament exemptions into the Mizuno CJGA National Junior Golf Championship, which will be attached to various events and IJGT championships.

The IJGT and CJGA are no strangers to each other, forming a partnership 7 years ago to introduce the North America Cup, an event that includes 14 of each country’s best junior golfers in a Ryder Cup format. This year’s North America Cup will take place July 5-8, 2010 at May River Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.  The IJGT and CJGA also compete against each other in the annual Euro Junior Golf Cup hosted annually in St. Andrew’s, Scotland along with the Fife Golf Union (Scotland), which is now entering its 6^th year. The Euro Junior Golf Cup will take place July 28-30, 2010.