By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

HANK HANEY & JIM FURYK JOIN SKYCADDIE TEAM

The makers of SkyCaddie – the number one rangefinder in golf – have signed world-renowned golf coach Hank Haney and PGA Tour star Jim Furyk to the panel of players, coaches and caddies who champion the use of the market-leading GPS devices around the world.

As new members of the SkyGolf Advisory Panel, Haney and Ryder Cup star Furyk will be extolling the course management and performance benefits of SkyCaddie – which provides Tour caddie standard information to golfers.

They join LPGA winner Natalie Gulbis; 7-times PGA Tour winner and Champions Tour Major winner Peter Jacobsen, and veteran PGA Tour caddie Mark Long (bagman for Fred Funk) who was instrumental in helping develop SkyCaddie’s outstanding golf course mapping methodology.

SkyCaddie UK managing director, Jackie Hitchcock, said today: “This is a major announcement. Hank Haney is one of the world’s top golf coaches and Jim Furyk is one of the most instantly recognisable – and successful – golfers in the world.

“They will be instrumental in communicating to golfers the most effective ways to use SkyCaddie in developing great golf course management.”

“Both truly understand how valuable it is for amateur golfers to have trusted course information at their fingertips, especially Jim who is renowned for his accuracy1.

“The quality of SkyCaddie’s course mapping sets us apart in an increasingly competitive marketplace and having a Tour player like Jim and a coach of Hank’s stature to communicate the benefits of reliable course information is a major coup.”

SkyCaddie is the industry’s only Gold recipient in the 2009 Golf Digest “Hot List” for GPS rangefinders and the clear market leader.

Announcing his association with SkyGolf, Haney said: “Backed by a good caddie, the game’s best players execute a solid game plan on the course every time they play.

“With SkyCaddie, golfers are provided with the same reliable course information and distances as Tour players, and I am excited to be working to educate amateur golfers on how best to utilise SkyCaddie in managing their on-course strategy.”

Furyk, a US Open Champion and 13-time Tour winner, said: “As a Tour player, I count on my caddie, Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan, each week to provide me with accurate course information and distances so that I can manage my game, and enhance my shot making.”

” Most recreational golfers will never experience the benefits of having a ‘Fluff’ on their bag. SkyCaddie, however, is almost the same, because it offers amateurs the same information based upon the same reliable methods used at the professional level.”

Only SkyCaddie, after getting permission, walks every one of its golf course partners with skilled golfers using survey grade equipment to record precise distance information – the only method trusted by Tour caddies to get information for their Tour player.

As a result, golfers can be sure of having the most up-to-date and reliable course maps in the game today.

SkyGolf’s patented IntelliGreen technology automatically rotates the true shape of the green to match a golfer’s angle of approach from anywhere on the course. It not only provides the front carry and back distances, but the depth of the green from any line of approach, just like a Tour caddie.

From the tee, SkyCaddie gives precise carry distances to hazards and also recommends ‘safe’ lay-up zones. All have been identified by the company’s expert ‘course mappers’.

SkyCaddie conforms to USGA/R&A rulings and golfers are able to download the courses they want to play via a range of annual SkyPlayer Membership schemes.

” Having U.S. Ryder Cup star Jim Furyk join our team of professional advisors makes a significant statement about the growth of this new market we have pioneered and the importance of our products to the game of golf and the business of golf today,” said Richard Edmonson, CEO, SkyGolf.

” The relationship between player and caddie is critical in the success of professional golfers. As an accomplished Tour player who knows first-hand the value of a professional caddie, Jim Furyk understands just how much SkyCaddie, as the closest thing to actually having a Tour caddie, can contribute to improving play of today’s amateur golfers.”

As part of the working relationship between Hank Haney and SkyGolf, and in support of Haney’s contribution to the SkyGolf advisory team, Haney’s exclusive single strategy DVD, along with the Essentials DVD Collection, will be available to golfers on the SkyGolf website at www.skygolf.com.

For more information golfers can call SkyCaddie in the UK on 0870 112 0513 or visit the web site: www.skycaddiegps.co.uk
  
     
Company Contact: Jackie Hitchcock, SkyCaddie
Tel: +44 (0)1865 876469, Email: jackie@skycaddiegps.co.uk
Web: www.skycaddiegps.co.uk

  
     
Media Contact: Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners
Tel: +44 (0)1780 757461, Email: andy@hiseman.com
 

By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

ST MELLION INTERNATIONAL NAMED IN ‘UK TOP 100 COURSES’ GUIDE

St Mellion International Resort has been named one of the best 100 golf courses in the UK, just five months ahead of its official reopening following a £20m redevelopment by owners Crown Golf.

The new hotel at the famous resort in Saltash, Cornwall, will open its doors in June after the multi-million pound golf course, clubhouse and hotel redevelopment – a fact recognised in its inclusion in the ‘Golf World Top 100′, one of the most widely regarded course guides in golf.

The venue is home to the highly-regarded Nicklaus Signature Course, the first to be built in the UK by 18-times major winner Jack Nicklaus, which has been extensively upgraded; and also the remodelled and extended Kernow Course.

“We are delighted that the Nicklaus Signature Course at St Mellion International Resort is back in the Golf World Top 100 UK Courses guide,” Crown Golf CEO, Stephen Lewis said today.

“To feature alongside legendary courses like St Andrews and The Belfry shows just how highly St Mellion is rated as a tour-quality venue by the golf industry and reflects the enormous amount of work that is going into making it the most prestigious golf resort in the South West.”

Major upgrades have been made to the Nicklaus Signature Course and Kernow Course; a new four-star standard hotel has been built, equipped with leisure and spa facilities; while dining, hospitality and function facilities have all been significantly upgraded.

This extensive redevelopment of St Mellion International Resort, combined with its inclusion in the Golf World Top 100, is set to further establish Cornwall as a golf hotspot with both UK golfers and overseas tourists.

Despite the announcement today of the postponement the English Open, due to be held at St Mellion International resort in August, until 2011, Crown Golf remains positive that their redevelopment of the venue will be a major boost to the region.

Added Mr Lewis: “We are delighted that Crown Golf’s own £20 million rebuilding and refurbishing hotel and course renovation project is progressing well, and that the landmark hotel with 80 rooms will officially open in June.

“We have a long term agreement with The European Tour to host The English Open but unfortunately like many companies the credit crunch has created additional challenges for the third party developers engaged in developing the non-hotel golfers’ accommodation at St Mellion.

“A two year postponement provides a good time frame for all work to be completed and we have reiterated our commitment to The European Tour to host The English Open from 2011. We appreciate The European Tour’s assistance in working with us.”

The English Open will return to The European Tour International Schedule in 2011.

Keith Waters, Director of International Policy of The European Tour, said: “The two year lead-up will enable Crown Golf to progress the project to the high standard both they and us demand for our players.”

St Mellion International Resort is ranked #100 in the Golf World Top 100 Golf Courses in the UK, returning after a six year absence.
  
     
Company Contact: Stephen Lewis, CEO, Crown Golf
Tel: +44 1344 383975
Email: s.lewis@crown-golf.co.uk

  
     
Crown Golf
Media Contact: Andy Hiseman /John Kelly, Hiseman Partners
Tel: 01780 757537. Email: andy@hiseman.com / john@hiseman.com