Golf Enthusiasts Nationwide Can Sharpen Skills During PGA Free Lesson Month in May

Golf Enthusiasts Nationwide Can Sharpen Skills During PGA Free Lesson Month in May

- The PGA of America Partners With Golf Digest, The Golf Channel and Golf For Women; Nike Golf is Official Sponsor -

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In the midst of an exciting start of the professional golf season, inspired golf enthusiasts across America have the opportunity to sharpen their golf skills by capitalizing on PGA Free Lesson Month in May. In its eighth consecutive year, PGA Free Lesson Month is a successful national growth of the game campaign that involves thousands of PGA Professionals at thousands of golf facilities offering free 10-minute golf lessons to golfers of all skill levels. The campaign is a result of a partnership between The PGA of America, Golf Digest, The Golf Channel, and Golf Digest's sister publication, Golf For Women. Nike Golf serves as the official sponsor for a third consecutive year.

PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to help amateur golfers improve their skills and attract new players to the game. Throughout May, a record-breaking number of more than 6,700 PGA Professionals will be offering free 10-minute golf lessons at more than 5,500 facilities nationwide. This year's PGA Professional participation surpasses the previous record set in 2004 of 4,993 PGA Professionals, who provided more than 92,000 free lessons. The entire roster of PGA Professionals and their respective facilities is posted on http://www.playgolfamerica.com/ , http://www.pga.com/ and http://www.golfdigest.com/ .

"PGA Free Lesson Month serves as a catalyst to motivate individuals to get out and play more golf," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "As evidenced by the continued increase in participation of the numerous PGA Professionals each year, this program has become a staple in the industry. PGA Free Lesson Month is an integral part of Play Golf America and its goal to increase golf participation nationwide."

The Golf Digest Companies will utilize its three leading publications, including Golf Digest, Golf World and Golf For Women, to promote PGA Free Lesson Month to a combined audience of nearly 10 million readers. Golf Digest has provided editorial coverage on PGA Free Lesson Month in its May issue and featured a roster of participating PGA Professionals who are at public facilities. The May issue includes an insert sweepstakes card giving readers a convenient way to sign up for a free lesson and register to win a golf getaway vacation. In addition, PGA Free Lesson Month is featured in Golf For Women's May/June issue, Golf World's April 8 issue, and promoted on http://www.golfdigest.com/ .

"The deep pool of instructional talent associated with Free Lesson Month is second to none," said Jerry Tarde, Editor-In-Chief of the Golf Digest Companies. "Fostering the growth of the game and helping people play better is central to the mission of Golf Digest and we're proud to be a partner in this hugely successful campaign."

The Golf Channel, in its third year as a partner, will dedicate May as PGA Free Lesson Month on its instructional golf show, "Academy Live," which will air on Mondays as part of "Your Game Night" on the network. Four specialty shows will feature PGA of America golf professionals communicating the message of the program to nearly 70 million viewers. In addition, The Golf Channel will promote the program on-air in their nightly news program, "Golf Central" and online at http://www.thegolfchannel.com/ .

"PGA Free Lesson Month is a great complement to the instructional programming we have offered our viewers both on the air and online for the past 10 years, and next month we are looking forward to supporting the program again," said Bob Greenway, The Golf Channel's senior vice president of programming and production. "The opportunity to learn hands-on from a certified PGA pro is invaluable, no matter the skill level of the golfer."

Nike Golf, in its capacity as the official sponsor for a third consecutive year, will provide a custom-fit set of Nike golf clubs, Nike golf footwear and apparel for the campaign's sweepstakes winners.

"Nike Golf is proud to be a part of this national program, which has been a resounding success year after year," said Nike Golf General Manager, Cindy Davis. "The initial golf experience for individuals is critical in retaining golfers for a lifetime. Free Lesson Month is a slam dunk in our mind and we are happy to enhance the campaign by outfitting the sweepstakes winners from head to toe and supplying them with our outstanding golf equipment."

Every golfer who takes a free lesson and sends in a Free Lesson Card, will be entered with his or her PGA Professional for a chance to win Nike Golf's Grand Prize sweepstakes package that includes a three-day golf getaway vacation to Orlando, Florida; an appearance on The Golf Channel; a custom-fit set of Nike Golf clubs and Nike Golf footwear and apparel. The sweepstakes winners will include an amateur golfer and the PGA professional who conducted the lesson, along with the PGA Professional who conducts the most free lessons. One hundred second-place finishers will receive a PGA First Swings Guide and either a dozen Nike Mojo golf balls or a Golf Digest "Breaking 100- 90-80" book.

PGA Free Lesson Month is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate participation in the game of golf under "Play Golf America," a national marketing campaign that is supported by the golf industry. All participating PGA Professionals in the Free Lesson campaign can be found on the industry supported website http://www.playgolfamerica.com/ .

The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

Source: The PGA of America

CONTACT: Jamie Carbone of The PGA of America, +1-561-624-8446, or jcarbone@pgahq.com; or Andrew Katcher of Golf Digest, +1-212-286-3874, or andrew.katcher@golfdigest.com; or Dan Higgins of The Golf Channel, +1-407-355-4018, or dhiggins@tgcinc.com; or Mike Alday of Alday Communications, +1-615-791-1535, or mike@aldaycommunications.com

Web site: http://www.pga.com/ http://www.playgolfamerica.com/ http://www.golfdigest.com/ http://www.playgolfamerica.com/

------- Profile: Ent