Monday, January 12, 2015

USGA ANNOUNCES PREMIERE OF “NICKLAUS: 

THE MAKING OF A CHAMPION” 
 
NEWS RELEASE
FAR HILLS, New Jersey – The United States Golf Association, in partnership with Rolex, has announced the premiere date of “Nicklaus: The Making of a Champion,” a one-hour documentary produced by the USGA and Ross Greenburg Productions. 

“Nicklaus: The Making of a Champion” will debut in the United States at noon EST, Sunday, January 18, on the Fox Broadcast Network  prior to its pre-game coverage of the National Football League’s NFC Championship game. 
The film’s release also honours Nicklaus’ upcoming 75th birthday on January 21

“We’re proud to celebrate Jack’s legacy as the ‘Golden Bear’ approaches a milestone birthday,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., USGA president. “His influence on golf can be seen in every player who followed him and every fan who enjoys playing and watching the game. This film tells the story of one of the game’s greats. It was our privilege to work with Ross Greenburg and Rolex to tell his story.”

The documentary chronicles the life, career and legacy of Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 professional major championships, including four U.S. Opens, tied for the most all-time. His eight USGA championships include two U.S. Amateurs and two U.S. Senior Opens.

The film explores the completeness of Nicklaus’ storied career, emphasising the values he formed growing up in Columbus, Ohio, and continues to embody. 

“I believe a hallmark of my career is that I always tried to look ahead, be it the next tournament, next championship or next mountain to climb,” Nicklaus said.
 “But through the lens of my career-long association with the USGA, and the creative vision of Ross Greenburg and his team, I allowed myself the opportunity to reflect on some very special times in my life and share some wonderful moments and memories that I will forever cherish. 
!I don’t think my career, my life, would be the same were it not for the USGA championships that helped shape me as a golfer and person, and I thank the USGA for wanting to share those stories.”

Produced in partnership with 52-time Sports Emmy Award winner Ross Greenburg, “Nicklaus: The Making of a Champion” is narrated by accomplished actor and Emmy Award-winning narrator Peter Coyote.

“It is once again an honour to work with the USGA and Jack Nicklaus on a film that looks at the many reasons why Jack has won more major championships than any golfer in history,” Greenburg said.
“This film also tries to capture the words and values that Jack lives by, as he continues to impact the game of golf around the world today. There are many icons, and then there is Jack Nicklaus.”  

“Nicklaus: The Making of a Champion” features archival footage and interviews with family, friends and golf icons. The film’s list of interviewees includes his wife Barbara, son Jack II, and daughter Nan, as well as golf legends Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods. Prominent golf journalist Mark Mulvoy and USGA Senior Historian Michael Trostel are also featured. 

“Jack’s competitive spirit, integrity, self-belief, vision, commitment and perseverance gave him the foundation to turn his unquestioned talent into unmatched success, and helped make him golf’s greatest major champion,” Trostel said.
 “His achievements on the course were earned through a combination of skill, hard work and determination, but through it all, he always put his family first.” 

The USGA will continue to celebrate Nicklaus’ career later this year with the May 27 opening of the Jack Nicklaus Room at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, New Jersey 

A preview trailer of the documentary film is available at: http://bit.ly/nicklausfilm

Exclusive content, including photographs and video clips, will be available on the USGA’s social channels, @USGA and facebook.com/USGA. Twitter followers are encouraged to use #RiseOfJack to enhance the viewing experience.

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MITCHELL PLATTS (66) RETIRES AS EUROPEAN 

TOUR DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Mitchell Platts, the European Tour’s Director of Corporate Affairs and PR for the past two decades, has announced his retirement from The European Tour.
Before joining The European Tour in 1993, the 66 year old, pictured, was  the golf correspondent of The Times newspaper in London, a position which allowed him access to not only the top players in the world, but also the game’s leading administrators.

He put both these traits to full use during his time at Wentworth, utilising the professionalism of his writing alongside his ability to forge relationships not only with the media, but also with many people involved in the golfing and sponsorship industries.

He has written a number of golf books including the celebrated ‘Illustrated History of Golf’ which was published in September 2000; a 256 page look at the history of his beloved sport, from its beginnings in the 15th century to today, paying special focus on American golf legends such as Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

Naturally, there was a European flavour to much of Platts’ writing too and he produced several books in association with Sir Nick Faldo including ‘The Rough With The Smooth’ which was published in 1980 and which charted the fledgling professional career of the man who would go on to become Britain’s greatest golfer.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, paid tribute to Platts, saying: “Mitchell has had an outstanding career with The European Tour ever since he was persuaded to leave The Times newspaper 22 years ago. He leaves a legacy of books, articles, writing, commitment, and friendship, that has helped enormously the growth and success of the Tour. We wish him and his wife Hillie all the very best for his retirement.”

O’Grady’s predecessor Ken Schofield, who recruited Mitchell during his tenure as Executive Director of The European Tour, added: "The recruitment in 1992 of Mitchell Platts as Director of Communications and Public Relations from The Times of London was one of a number of vitally important appointments by The PGA European Tour.  

"Platts was a member of a peer-group of English-language writers, whom at a period of print ascendancy, had reported the rise of The European Tour and its champion members virtually from the outset in the early 1970s. 
"Mitchell's unique talent was such that he could immediately reflect and articulate the Tour's direction and position in the emerging sporting world.  His contribution was immense and together with Mark Wilson's original inspiration built a Communications Department that today remains the envy of every mainstream sport."

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HOLES NINE TO 11 TO GET A NEW LOOK

'Great surprises' planned for Turnberry 

redesign, says Donald Trump



FROM GOLF CHANNEL
By RYAN LAVNER
Donald Trump is optimistic that Turnberry will soon land another Open Championship after changes are made to a critical three-hole stretch at the famed Scottish links.
Appearing Monday on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive,” Trump said that his team has “incredible” designs for Nos. 9-11 that he believes will position Turnberry to host another Open.
The next "open" date for the Open is 2021, with St. Andrews (2015), Royal Troon (2016), Royal Birkdale (2017), Carnoustie (2018), Royal Portrush (2019) and St. Andrews (2020) on the docket.
“I think we’re going to have some great surprises,” Trump said. “Turnberry is a very special place.” 
Trump said that his design team, led by course architect Martin Ebert, has been working with the R and A over the past several months. Their primary focus is redesigning the ninth, 10th and 11th holes.
Currently, the ninth hole is a 454yd par 4 that hugs the cliffs but features a humpback fairway that is very difficult to hit. It was reported last fall that Trump plans to turn this hole into a 245-yard par 3 over rocks and water, then transform Turnberry’s signature lighthouse into a world-class halfway house.
As for the 10th hole, the tee box will be pushed back with a 260-yard carry, while the par-3 11th will receive an aesthetic upgrade. 
The redesign will begin this fall, after Turnberry hosts the Women’s British Open for the first time since 2002.
“For many, many years they’ve wanted to redesign certain holes at Turnberry,” Trump said. “Many people think it’s the greatest course in the world. Peter Dawson and the whole group from the R and A have been working with us, and we have designs that are just incredible.
“Obviously we’re not going to touch too much. But there are certain holes that for 30, 40 years they’ve wanted redesigned.” 
Trump purchased Turnberry last April for a reported $35 million. The Ailsa course has hosted the Open three times since 1977, most recently in 2009, but it traditionally attracts the smallest crowds – and thus offers the R and A the least amount of income – because of its remote location in southern Ayrshire. 


   The iconic Turnberry lighthouse and Ailsa Craig out to sea.
                                  Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c)

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CRAW'S NEST TASSIE'S FIELD OF 333 FILLED IN 5mins!               



NEWS RELEASE
Carnoustie’s annual Craw’s Nest Tassie tournament has sold out in just 5 minutes; with amateurs snapping up all 333 places after the competition’s online application system had gone live.

The tournament, which was first played in 1927, will be played from September 6 to 12, 2015 and will be staged across the town’s Championship and Buddon courses.

“We are extremely proud that the Tassie continues to prove popular among amateurs and this year’s sell-out time reaffirms the tournament’s status as one of the most prestigious amateur golf competitions in the UK,” said Colin McLeod, Golf Services Manager at the Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee.

“As in years gone by, we have been inundated with applications from across the globe with entries coming in from America, Sweden, Holland and Spain, as well as from across Britain,” McLeod added.

The Craw’s Nest Tassie, or Tassie as it is known by locals and regular competitors, is one of the most popular week-long amateur events in the UK, with this year’s tournament being staged 88 years after the competitions inception.

The inaugural tournament was set up by a group of influential local golfers who commissioned a tassie, or solid silver drinking bowl, from local jewellers Messrs Crabbe and McKenzie. To this day, the winner is still presented with the original trophy that was used in 1927.

For the first four years, the Tassie was held in June but this switched to a September date in 1931 with a view to increasing the number of entries from England. In 1935, entry numbers toppled 200 for the first time and continued to rise year-on-year with the figure hitting 454 by 1969.

The Tassie begins with two qualifying rounds, one over the Championship course and the other over the Buddon.  The 64 competitors with the best scratch scores are drawn to play over the Championship for the Tassie, while the 64 competitors with the best nett scores compete for the Maulesbank Trophy in a match play event over the Buddon.  Consolation events are organised on the following days for players who do not qualify for either.

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CHALLENGE TOUR

SCHEDULE 2015

DATES
TOURNAMENT
VENUE
PRIZE FUND
19 – 22 MARCH
Madeira Island Open

Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra, Santo António da Serra, Madeira, Portugal
€600,000    #
26 – 29 



02 – 05 APRIL



09 – 12
The Barclays Kenya Open
Karen CC, Nairobi , Kenya
€200,000
16 – 19



22 – 25
(Wed to Sat)
 
Challenge de Madrid

El Encin Golf Hotel, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain

€160,000

30 – 03 MAY
TBC


07 – 10
Turkish Airlines Challenge
Gloria GC, Old Course, Belek-Antalya, Turkey
€175,000
14 – 17
TBC


21 – 24
Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda
Golfclub Schloss Finkenstein, Gödersdorf, Austria
€180,000
28 – 31
D+D REAL Czech Challenge
Golf and Spa Kunětická Hora, Dřiteč, Czech Republic
€170,000

04 – 07 JUNE
Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf
Golf Sempachersee, Lucerne, Switzerland

€160,000
11 - 14
KPMG Trophy
Golf de Pierpont, Les Bons Villers, Belgium
€160,000
18 - 21
Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open
Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club, Lumbres, France
€200,000
25 - 28
Scottish Hydro Challenge  hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts
Macdonald Spey Valley GC, Aviemore


€250,000


02 – 05 JULY
AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort
Hartl Resort, Bad Griesbach, Germany

€170,000

09 – 12
D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge
Penati Golf Resort, Senica, Slovakia
€165,000
16 – 19
Challenge de España
 TBC
 TBC
23 – 26
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
€200,000
30 – 02 AUGUST
Azerbaijan Challenge Open
National Azerbaijan GC, Quba, Azerbaijan
€300,000
06 – 09
Northern Ireland Open Challenge
Galgorm Castle, Northern Ireland

€170,000

13 – 16
GANT Open
Aura GC, Turku, Finland
€170,000
19 – 22
(Wed to Sat)
Rolex Trophy
Golf Club de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
€228,000
27 – 30
TBC


03 – 06 SEPTEMBER
Open Blue Green Côtes d'Armor Bretagne
Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André, Pléneuf, France

€200,000

10 – 13
Kazakhstan Open
Almaty, Kazakhstan
€450,000
17 – 20
TBC


24 – 27
TBC


01 – 04 OCTOBER
EMC Challenge Open
Olgiata GC, Rome, Italy
€180,000
08 – 11  



15 – 18
Shankai China Classic
TBC
TBC
22 – 25
The Foshan Open

Foshan GC, Shishan Town, Nanhai District Foshan City, Guangzhou, China
TBC
29 – 01 NOVEMBER
National Bank of Oman Golf Classic
Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat, Oman
$350,000
04 – 07
(Wed to Sat)

Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club
Al Badia GC by Intercontinental, Dubai , U.A.E



€375,000


c




).
Please note all details in
blue are TBC
08/01/2015

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