LPGA Tour Commissioner Michael Whan, Tour Edge Exotics’ CB Pro Fairway Woods and the Alphard Golf Duo Cart Bag were among the winners in the 22nd edition of the ING Industry Honors, announced at the PGA Merchandise Show.
Called by many the “Academy Awards of the Golf Industry,” the ING Industry Honors program recognizes outstanding achievement in the golf business. The non-profit, media-based networking organization International Network of Golf conducts the awards program. Master of Ceremonies was former LPGA Tour star Jan Stephenson.
Tournament Service category
TV Commercial Series category
Nominees in a dozen categories are submitted throughout the year from anyone in the golf industry. Sub-committees that include experts in each category then trim the entries to the top three in each category. ING members then vote electronically to determine the winners, who are announced and recognized at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference. Holly Geoghegan of Golf Marketing Services is the committee chair.
During Whan’s five-year tenure as LPGA Commissioner, the schedule has grown from 23 to 33 events, TV coverage has climbed to over 400 hours with ratings soaring, and purses have broken through the $60 million level.
The Tour Edge Exotic’s CB Pro fairways woods feature the unique Slip Stream sole, resembling ribbons or waves. The Slip Stream sole glides through turf dramatically minimizing contact for maximum speed through impact.
The Alphard Golf Duo Cart DX is an all-in-one pushcart and golf bag combination that fits easily in the trunk of your car, and takes just seconds to set up. The Duo Cart features four large wheels that can be removed from the anodized aluminum frame in just seconds and converted into a cart bag.
In a new category this year, Digital Marketing, Golfweek’s Under Armour campaign took top honors.
A complete list of winners is below. The presentation took place Thursday in the ING Hospitality Room, and was sponsored by PGA Golf Exhibitions. For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.
WINNERS & NOMINEES – 2014 ING INDUSTRY HONORS
BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT
Winner: Michael Whan, Commissioner, LPGA Tour
Also Nominated: Chip Brewer, CEO, Callaway; Joe Gibbs & Arnold Palmer, Founders, The Golf Channel
DIGITAL MARKETING
Winner: Golfweek
Also Nominated: Golf Coast Magazine; Golf Pup Media
GOLF COURSE DESIGN
Winner: Notah Begay/Ty Butler for Sewailo Golf Club
Also Nominated: Tom Doak for Dismal River GC; David MacLay Kidd for Gable Sands
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Winner: Drive, Chip & Putt
Also Nominated: Freedom Golf Association; PGA Junior League Golf
PRINT ADVERTISEMENT – Products & Services
Winner: Cobra Bio Cell Drivers – “Meet Your Match”
Also Nominated: Trojan Battery Company – “No Boundaries”; Winn Grips – “X Marks The Spot”
PRINT ADVERTISEMENT – Travel & Real Estate
Winner: Casa De Campo – “This Course Chooses Its Golfers”
Also Nominated: The Broadmoor – “Welcome To 3,000 Magnificent Acres”; Edgewood Tahoe – “Authentic. Relaxed. Inspiring.”
PRODUCT INGENUITY – Emerging Companies
Winner: Alphard Golf Duo Cart Bag
Also Nominated: GAME GOLF; OnCore Golf Ball
PRODUCT INGENUITY – Market Leading Companies
Winner: Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro Fairway Woods
Also Nominated: Bridgestone True Balance Putter; SuperStroke Putter Grips
PUBLIC RELATIONS/PROMOTIONS
Winner: TaylorMade Golf’s Distance For All Campaign
Also Nominated: Bionic Gloves’ PGA Championship Media Event; Callaway Golf’s Big Big Bertha Payday
TOURNAMENT SERVICE
Winner: Wegmans LPGA Championship
Also Nominated: The Legends Tour; World Golfers Championship
TV INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL
Winner: Aflac – “Bad Golfer”
Also Nominated: PGATour.com – “Off The Chain”; TaylorMade Golf – “Power In Numbers”
TV COMMERCIAL SERIES
Winner: Bridgestone Golf – “Made In America”
Also Nominated: FedEx Cup – “These Guys Are Good”; LPGA Tour – “See Why It’s Different Out Here”
