Appearances by LPGA legend Nancy Lopez and top-ranked instructor Hank Haney. plus two awards programs highlight a busy schedule in the ING Hospitality Room – ClubING – at the PGA Merchandise Show. ClubING is open to all ING members and guests throughout the show in Room 309A of the Orange County Convention Center, set for Jan. 22-24.
ClubING, located next door to the Media Center, opens on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. with Coffee Hour, and closes Wednesday with a Happy Hour Reception sponsored by iD Grips.
Lopez will appear at the 21st Annual ING Media Awards and Reception, Wednesday, 4:45-6:45. Writers , broadcasters and photographers in 13 categories will be honor.
The Hall Of Famer record 49 victories and 49 top 10 finishes in her career, with earnings of over $5.2 million. Her rookie season in 1978 remains one of the greatest individual seasons ever recorded. She won nine times, including five in a row. From that season she remains the only player to win Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors in the same season.
Since her playing days she has fashioned an outstanding and varied second career as a business owner Nancy Lopez Golf, top 50 instructor and contributor to various campaigns for the betterment of golf and of society in general. She is the mother of three daughters.
Lopez appears as a representative of iD GRIPS™, patent-pending clear grips for sports that provide athletes the ability to personalize their club, bat, stick, etc. Made from a proprietary blend of materials, iD GRIPS™ are available in traditional slip on and wrap styles. iD GRIPS™ are engineered to retain new grip feel, maintain tackiness for improved performance, prevent discoloring from UV rays, and will not stain or discolor gloves or hands. From the iD GRIPS™ website, customers have the ability to design their own labels, choose from stock or licensed league designs, and view step-by-step video installation instructions.
Haney has been near the top of all the major golf instructor lists for two decades. He has instructed over 200 golf tour professionals, including world No. 1 Tiger Woods. His students have won every major championship in professional golf, amateur golf and junior golf. He has authored four instructional books and 11 DVDs.
As host of Golf Channel’s hit show The Haney Project, Haney has worked with celebrity golfers like Charles Barkley, Ray Romano and Rush Limbaugh. His Hank Haney Golf Schools is headquartered in Lewisville, TX.
Haney’s presentation will be part of the ING Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference at Noon on Thursday. ING Industry Honors recognizes outstanding achievement in a dozen business-related categories. Nominations are collected throughout the year until October 10. Sub-committees trim the nominees to the top three in each category. Winners are then determined by vote of the ING membership. Nominees will be recognized and winners announced at the January 23rd presentation. The program will be emceed by LPGA legend Jan Stephenson.
Also scheduled on Thursday are two presentations of the Pellucid Corp. State of the Industry report. Pellucid President Jim Koppenhaver will be joined by Stuart Lindsay of Edgehill Golf Advisors to lead lively discussions about all aspects of golf course operations and the golf industry in general. Those programs start at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Throughout the first two days of the PGA Show, ING will conduct the RadiusRoll Putting Challenge, with the winner each day receiving a putter of their choice from RadiusRoll. What separates RadiusRoll from its competition is obvious with one glance: A 0.8400 radius face. This radius face creates perfect forward roll. RadiusRoll calls it PureStrike Instant Roll Technology™.
There will also be two raffle prize packages given away during the Wednesday night reception.
ING exists to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to introduce new products, discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication. The group, which was formed 23 years ago, hosts the 24th Annual ING Spring Conference, scheduled this year at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City June 1-4. Educational seminars, product testing, an appointment show and networking opportunities highlight schedule.
ClubING Schedule Of Events
WEDNESDAY
8am-10am Coffee With ING
9am-6:30pm ING RadiusRoll Putting Challenge
4:45pm 21st Annual ING Media Awards Presentation
5:15pm-7pm Reception & Happy Hour, with NANCY LOPEZ
6:30pm Raffle drawing and Putting Challenge Finals
THURSDAY
8am-10am Coffee With ING
9am-6:30pm ING RadiusRoll Putting Challenge
10:30am Pellucid State Of The Industry Presentation
12:00pm Q&A with HANK HANEY
12:30pm 21st Annual ING Industry Honors Presentation
3:30pm Pellucid State Of The Industry Presentation
5:30pm Putting Challenge Finals