March 25, 2008
Media Contacts: Randy Stutzman, PGA of America (rstutzman@pgahq.com), 561-624-8438 Tammy Boclair, Alday Communications (tammy@aldaycommunications.com), 615-791-1535, x26 www.PlayGolfAmerica.com
PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month a Good Fit For New Golf Season
PGA/LPGA Professionals nationwide offer free, 15-minute expert club fittings and help golfers trade up to better technology, accuracy and more fun affordably
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Golfers looking for a way to ensure their equipment truly fits their needs for the upcoming golf season have an opportunity to receive free equipment fitting sessions throughout April during PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month. The fourth annual PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month gives players of all skill levels a chance to have their current clubs evaluated by the equipment and instructional experts of the game. PGA/LPGA Professionals provide consumers with a free 15-minute fitting session to evaluate the clubs they currently play with or plan to purchase and then help determine the right fit for their game so they can hit straighter and farther shots. Participating PGA/LPGA Professionals can be found at PlayGolfAmerica.com. In the three years of the promotion, more than 101,000 free club fittings, an average of 33,750 each year, have been given to golfers across the country. "Your golf club is the link between you and a good golf shot,” said Joe Hallett, General Manager of PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance. “Too often, golfers who have taken lessons and made improvements in their swing struggle with their game - a clear result of an improper fit. PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month offers a great chance to update this vitally important part of the equation of better golf. And, you never know, it just might be the club.” In addition to the complimentary equipment fitting sessions, golfers who are looking for more affordable ways to put better technology in their bags will also have the opportunity to trade in their current and unused clubs at fair market value and apply that credit towards new, properly fitted clubs through the PGA Trade-In Network. Statistics show about 60 percent of golfers clubs that have not been fitted for them, and leave unused sets sitting in a garage or closet. Utilizing PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month enables golfers to have the proper equipment for less money, improving their play and, consequently, their enjoyment of the game. “We started PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month four years ago so golfers of all levels could get expert advice on whether their current equipment truly fits their needs,” PGA of America President Jim Remy said. “In today’s challenging economic times, our goal is more relevant than ever because golfers still want to have the best equipment in their bag without spending a lot of money. The ability to trade up to new equipment is unique to our industry.” The PGA of America, in conjunction with Golf Digest, the PGA Trade-In Network and the PGA.com Value Guide, sponsor this equipment-themed consumer promotion during the month of April at golf facilities around the country. Most facilities are also authorized PGA Trade-In Network members, allowing golfers to trade-up to new, fitted golf clubs more affordably by accepting their used golf club trade-ins at fair market values based on the PGA.com Value Guide, the national standard for golf club values.
2009 PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month, page 2 of 2
As an added incentive, every golfer who opts for a free, custom-fitting session with a PGA/LPGA Professionals and sends in the “PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Card” included in the April issue of Golf Digest is entered for a chance to win sweepstakes prizes listed below:
Grand Prize Winner Ultimate Fitting Experience at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St.
Lucie, Fla.
Round-trip economy airfare to Port St. Lucie, Fla. Two-nights hotel accommodations Two day golf lesson at The PGA Learning Center with a PGA Professional One set of custom-fit golf clubs and golf bag
Eight Runners-up Prize Winners One set of custom-fit golf clubs and golf bag from one of the top brands in golf, including:
Adams Golf Callaway Golf Cleveland Golf Cobra Golf Mizuno Golf Nike Golf PING TaylorMade Golf Titleist
(NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: Sweepstakes begins 4/1/09 and ends 4/30/09. Entries must be received by 5/15/09) PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate participation in the game of golf under “Play Golf America,” a national marketing umbrella campaign that is supported by the golf industry. PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month targets golfers of all skill levels and seeks to increase their participation, performance and enjoyment of the game, while at the same time raising the awareness, relevance and competence of PGA Professionals in the eyes of consumers as equipment technology and fitting experts. All participating PGA/LPGA Professionals in Play Golf America programs can be found on the industry supported Web site at PlayGolfAmerica.com. Play Golf America, designed to increase participation among new and exiting golfers, was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of Allied Associations including: the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 conference. The program utilizes the PlayGolfAmerica.com Web site to serve as a link for consumers to access fun, affordable and informative programs in their area. Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf. Golf Digest is part of Condé Nast Publications and is the largest golf publication in the world. Condé Nast, a unit of Advance Publications, includes consumer magazines and their websites, Condé Nast Digital, the Fairchild Fashion Group, the Condé Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers. ###