THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola enriches fans’ tournament experience with Community Day, new services for spectators

 

 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola has announced a fun-filled Community Day on the first day of tournament week, Sept. 23, as well as several new services for fans to enjoy throughout the tournament, Sept. 24-27, at historic East Lake Golf Club.

 

Tickets for Community Day are $20, and 100 percent of the net sales directly benefit the East Lake Foundation. For every Community Day ticket purchased, the fan receives a $20 voucher redeemable at any merchandise tent at THE TOUR Championship. This ticket allows access to player practice rounds and clinics, including a youth clinic featuring Dennis Walters for The First Tee that is open to the public.

        Fan enhancements include personal mobile TVs to see every shot with TOUR View presented by MasterCard®; free admission for active, reserve and retired military and their dependents and a home base on the course in an exclusive hospitality tent; and free admission for youth 16 and under with a ticketed adult.

        “Our goal is to enrich the fan experience and make THE TOUR Championship even more enjoyable for spectators,” said Todd Rhinehart, executive director of THE TOUR Championship. “We have the best in golf competing for the FedExCup, and we believe that adding value to the fan experience will help us stand out as Atlanta’s only premier golf event.”

THE TOUR Championship will be held Sept. 23-27, 2009, at East Lake Golf Club as the finale to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Spectators will be able to enjoy:

 

Community Day – Watch the top-30 during their practice rounds. Catch the Stewart Cink clinic with The First Tee of East Lake at 2 p.m.; the Wounded Warrior Clinic at 3 p.m. on the Practice Tee; and The First Tee Youth Clinic featuring Dennis Walters at 4:30 p.m. The First Tee Youth Clinic is open to the public, and kids 16 and under are admitted free to the tournament with a ticketed adult.

• Youth Policy – Children 16 and under are allowed free grounds access with a ticketed adult, compliments of Southern Company, and children 6 and under are allowed access to hospitality venues with a credentialed adult.

• PGA TOUR Pavilion powered by Southern Company – Spectators will have the opportunity to visit expos by ACCUSPLIT, Bridgestone Golf, Canongate Golf Clubs, Charles Schwab, DePuy Mitek, Nature Valley, PGA TOUR Superstores and Southern Company, which highlights the Payne Stewart Award’s 10-year anniversary.

• TOUR View presented by MasterCard® – Lightweight, mobile TVs allow fans to watch follow all of THE TOUR Championship action from anywhere on the course. Content includes the main TV broadcast on GOLF CHANNEL or NBC Sports, additional live video channels and features, course maps, individual hole layouts and tournament information. Rentals are available with use of a MasterCard card for the advance price of $20 per day or $60 per week. On-site pricing is $25 per day, $45 for two days or $75 for the week.

• MasterCard® Championship Club- The most economical way for a company to entertain a large number of clients, the Championship Club has two venuesstrategically located along the course. Weekly tickets costs $235 and provide access to indoor seating, outdoor patio seating and a full food menu and premium bar available for purchase. Spectators who have purchased their tickets to the MasterCard Championship Club with their MasterCard card will have a chance to receive a courtesy TOUR View presented by MasterCard while supplies last

• Opening Ceremony- “Where Tradition and Hope Come Together” celebrates the past history of East Lake Golf Club and the future promise of the East Lake community. At 11:15 on the No. 1 tee, ceremonial tee shots will be hit by Georgia Golf Hall of Fame member P. Dan Yates, Jr (representing “tradition”) and Tyler Lawrence (from The First Tee of East Lake, representing “hope”). A choir from the Drew Charter School will sing the National Anthem, followed by a military flyover by F-5s.Yates is a native of Atlanta, and was born in 1918. He grew at East Lake Country Club, tagging along with his older brother, Charles, and with the great Bobby Jones. From 1938 to 1941, Mr. Yates was a member of the Georgia Tech golf team, serving as captain for three years. A scholar as well as an athlete, Lawrence is a senior at Atlanta’s Grady High School. One of the nation’s top minority junior golfers, she competed this summer in the prestigious Bill Dickey Invitational. She also represented The First Tee of East Lake during a trip to Scotland last month, where she played in tournaments with other junior golfers and attended the Women’s British Open.

• Military Appreciation Day – Thursday, Sept. 24, is Military Appreciation Day, and THE TOUR Championship’s Opening Ceremony on No. 1 tee will feature an increased military presence, including a color guard and military flyover. All active, reserve and retired military and their dependents are admitted free all week with valid picture ID.

• Birdies for the Brave Patriots’ Outpost presented by Rockwell Collins– Open Thursday through Sunday, all military will have a “home base” on the golf course. The Patriots’ Outpost is a hospitality venue on the 16th green exclusively for the military offering free food and drinks throughout tournament week.

• Club Ketel One– Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23, any tournament patron 21 years of age or older may enter Club Ketel One for a $5 fee.  All proceeds will benefit the East Lake Foundation, an organization developing community programs that help Atlanta’s East Lake families succeed.  In addition to a live feed of tournament play, Club Ketel One will offer signature cocktails and food for purchase from 11 a.m. until approximately 30 minutes after play concludes.  Club Ketel One can be found on the back nine of East Lake Golf Club near the 13thtee and behind the 17th green.

After 33 weeks and three Playoff events, it all comes down to this – THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the 2009 PGA TOUR Playoff Finale. With a new points system this year, each of the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR will have a chance to claim victory at THE TOUR Championship and determine the 2009 winner of the FedExCup. To order tickets by phone using a major credit card, please call (888) TOUR-TIX (868-7849), visit  www.PGATOUR.COM/tourchampionship or any metro-Atlanta Kroger grocery store.

 

ABOUT THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, POWERADE, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our Web site at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

 

ABOUT EAST LAKE

East Lake Golf Club (www.eastlakegolfclub.com) is the home course of legendary amateur golfer Bobby Jones and permanent home to THE TOUR Championship. East Lake, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004, is not only a historic golf club, but a philanthropic one as well. The golf club’s founding corporate members have contributed over $20 million to the East Lake Foundation to help revitalize the surrounding community. Net proceeds from golf club operations and THE TOUR Championship support East Lake programs that help families build a better future through education, excellent affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community. Additional support is provided by foundations, government entities and individuals.

CONTACTS:

Ada Barber, Hope-Beckham, Inc., 404-604-2609, abarber@hopebeckham.com

Todd Rhinehart, Executive Director, PGA TOUR, 404.378.8678, Todd.Rhinehart@pgatourhq.com

Chris Reimer, Communications Manager, PGA TOUR, 904.273.3286, creimer@pgatourhq.com