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fall 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
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Tiger Woods celebrates another
benchmark victory: The 2007 BMW championship, the 60th of his 11-year
professional career. |
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Tiger wins sixth of the year
and 60th of his career |
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Ames loving his new SUMO²
5900 driver |
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SQ SUMO² driver a turning
point in club design |
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Vitalis Gomes: A force for
Nike Golf Canada |
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Cooling Down with Nike
Sphere Macro React |
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Angus Glen GC a great
partner with Nike Golf |
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Nike Golf Canada
Establishes Advisory Board |
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There are thousands of words written about Nike
Golf’s Tiger Woods during every tournament that he graces.
But it’s the big numbers that help us to appreciate that we’re witnessing one of
the greatest athletes of all time.
Consider these benchmarks: Only 13 months ago, Tiger won his 50th career victory
at the Buick Open.
On Sunday, Tiger captured the BMW Championship for his 60th career victory in
his 11 years as a professional. It was his sixth PGA Tour event of 2007 and gave
him the lead in the FedEx Cup points race going into the last event.
In the span between the Buick and the BMW, it took Tiger only 19 starts to win
10 more events.
With complete confidence in his Nike Golf equipment, Tiger matched the lowest
final round of his career with an 8-under 63 Sunday to finish at 22-under 262,
breaking by five shots the record he set four years ago at Cog Hill Golf &
Country Club.
Nike Golf and Tiger have been a dominant combination for more than a decade, but
no golfer in the history of the game has reached 60 wins so quickly. Tiger is
31. Jack Nicklaus was 35 and in his 14th season when he reached his 60th
Tour victory.
The Tour Championship will be his final official start of 2007. Therefore, Tiger
will have to wait until 2008 to attempt to pass Arnold Palmer with 62 and Ben
Hogan with 64 victories.
The other two big numbers are Snead’s record of 82 victories and Nicklaus'’
record of 18 professional majors.
There’s plenty more history for Tiger to write with Nike Golf.
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Stephen Ames put the new Nike Golf SUMO²
5900 driver in his bag at the BMW Championship for the second straight
tournament. Here’s what he wrote on his blog on www.nikegolf.ca about it:
I’m hitting it really well, especially with the new SUMO² 5900 driver. Boy, does
it go! I gained 20 yards. That was awesome!
It gives me everything you want: Higher launch, less spin, it carries farther in
the air and runs farther on the ground. And the sound is good. It sounds like
the SUMO driver.
I got over the square look quickly. I got results right away. I can shape the
ball nicely with it too. I was surprised by that. When I did miss the sweet
spot, it drew off the toe and faded off the heel.
I played for two days with Ernie Els and I was hitting it with him and past him.
I don’t think there’s much better than this.
The new Nike Golf SUMO² 5900 driver will be available on February 1, 2008.
To read Stephen’s weekly blog, visit
www.nikegolf.ca.
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In February, TaylorMade CEO Mark King said
square drivers were a “90-day phenomenon.”
Well, Nike Golf’s SUMO² driver enjoyed an incredible spring and summer, winning
two PGA Tour events and becoming one of golf’s hottest selling products.
The
geometry-based principles behind the SUMO² represent a milestone in the
evolution of golf club design. Much like the move from wood to metal and the
integration of titanium into oversize drivers, the arrival of the SUMO² was a
benchmark moment in modern golf. “One of
the things that I’m most proud of in my career is how we at Nike Golf led the
charge into geometrical shapes as a way of improving golf club performance for
professionals and consumers,” says Tom Stites, Nike Golf’s Director of Product
Creation.
“With SUMO², I believe that we’ve changed the paradigm of golf club design.
We’ve raised the bar. I think it’s intuitively obvious to anyone with knowledge
and skill in the art of club design that geometry—particularly the geometry of
the square—is the next frontier.
“With the power of Nike Golf geometrics, we’ve evolved the possibilities and
benefits of a square-shaped driver into a performance enhancing reality for
golfers.”
With its high Moment of Inertia—resistance to twisting—SUMO² delivers golf’s
highest MOI at 5,300. Because it twists less on miss hits, the SUMO² maintains
its energy so that the ball goes farther and straighter.
Nike Golf staff member K.J. Choi has won three PGA Tour events with the SUMO²:
The Tiger Woods-hosted AT&T in July and the Memorial tournament in May, and the
2006 Chrysler Championship.
The SUMO² driver has the highest
MOI
in golf, which means
longer and straighter
drives, even on off-centre hits. |
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To know Vitalis Gomes is to understand his passion for the game and for Nike
Golf.
As Marketing Manager for Nike Golf Canada since 2003, Gomes has cemented
relationships across the country and pushed the brand and its attributes into
the hearts and minds of green grass professionals, off-course retailers and
consumers coast-to-coast.
“To be part of this since its inception has been very rewarding and, of
course, we’ve been blessed to have a team of dedicated individuals who are
committed to making a difference,” said Gomes, who was also instrumental helping
establish Nike Golf Canada as an autonomous business unit from Nike Canada Inc.
in 2004.
“Where we’ve come since 2003 to today is a testament to our team and to our
tremendous partners and great friends who have helped us establish our brand and
made it such a success.”
Now in his 11th year with Nike, Gomes began his career by launching the Nike
brand into the hockey industry in 1996. One of his early initiatives was a
partnership with Hockey Canada and the implementation of the Nike Skills
Development Program.
A graduate of sports administration, he was well suited to ply his trade in the
hockey industry. Growing up in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Gomes was a goaltender
with the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Prior to joining Nike, he spent almost five years working at Branada Sports
Communications, a sports marketing agency owned by the legendary Bobby Orr, Bill
Waters and John Wintermeyer.
Gomes brought his sports marketing and administrative background to Nike Canada
where he negotiated a number of partnerships with various NHL & CFL Athletes,
the National Hockey League, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Football League.
Although experienced in a variety of sports, Gomes sought to immerse himself in
golf.
“I’m passionate for the game,” he says. “I knew Nike Golf was going to be a
force in the sport when Bob Wood and his senior management team made a
commitment to the business and established the strategy. To be part of the
growth of Nike Golf and to see everything come to fruition has been extremely
rewarding. ”
 Gomes’s
relationship with Canadian golf media is one of the best in the industry. In
March, he led a press trip to the company’s R&D facility in Fort Worth, Texas to
show Canada’s key golf media members the quality and craftsmanship which goes
into Nike Golf products. One of his proudest accomplishments was organizing the
Tiger Woods Invitational at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., in 2005.
Gomes is pleased about improvements to service and enhanced marketing support
for Nike Golf products in Canada. He’s particularly excited about increasing the
company’s outreach to consumers through the launch of
www.nikegolf.ca.
The site is home to the recently opened “Clubhouse” which includes a weekly blog
by PGA Tour player Stephen Ames, contests, surveys, sneak peaks at new products
and much more.
“Indeed, we want to be successful with the Nike Golf brand in Canada, but we’re
also focused on growing the game here,” he says.
“Golf is a great family sport that promotes a healthy lifestyle and its core
values of integrity and fair play provide a solid foundation for life off the
course as well.”
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Nike Sphere Macro React continues to impress
the trade and consumers this season with its fabrication and technological
advancements for breathability and moisture management.
“There is a centre panel down the back of Nike Sphere Macro React products which
has laser cut vents that open as you perspire and close as you cool down,” says
Kim D’Oliveira, Apparel Manager for Nike Golf Canada.
“For this summer we even changed the channels to follow a golfer’s range of
motion. The laser channels are cut up-and-down as well as left-to-right to
better match the movement of the golf swing.”
According to Nike Golf research in other sports, the back and spine is the most
efficient area for bringing down the temperature of the entire body.
“It’s definitely a cooling story and a ventilation story,” says D’Oliveira.
“Nike Macro Sphere React continues to be one of our best selling product lines.
We’re very proud of it.”
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When you walk into the golf shop at Angus Glen
Golf Club in Markham, Ont., one is immediately struck by the large and vibrant
presence of Nike Golf at the home course of the 2007 Canadian Open.
“Angus Glen was one of the first golf shops we did business with in Canada,”
says Vitalis Gomes, Marketing Manager for Nike Golf Canada.
“Obviously the relationship and partnership we’ve established with them and with
(President) Kevin Thistle has been mutually beneficial for both sides. It’s one
we see continuing for a long time.” For
2007, Thistle doubled the square footage of Nike Golf in his shop from 200 to
400 square feet.
“The Nike Golf brand has been beyond a success for us and certainly warrants the
extra space allocation in the shop,” Thistle says.
“I’ve had a great relationship with Nike Golf for the past six years. Product
wise, they’ve made incredible leaps but they’ve also increased their service
levels and improved delivery times. It’s been fun watching the company grow from
where it was in the beginning to one of the industry’s most successful brands.”
Currently, Nike Golf is Angus Glen’s No. 1 supplier in soft goods, No. 1 in
footwear, No. 2 in balls and No. 3 in clubs.
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Subscribing to the corporate philosophy of being
‘in a marathon and not a sprint,’ Nike Golf Canada has turned to eight
noteworthy Canadian Professional Golfers Association members to comprise its
newly established Advisory Board.
The panel of renowned Canadian professionals includes:
• Warren Crosbie of Bayview Country Club in Thornhill, Ontario
• Kevin Thistle of Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario
• Rob Roxborough of Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario
• Carlo Blanchard of Saint-Raphael Golf Club in Rosemere, Quebec
• Anne Rogerson of Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec
• Norm Jackson of Cowichan Golf and Country Club in Duncan, British Columbia
• Andrew Davis of Vernon Golf & Country Club in Vernon, British Columbia
“In forming an Advisory Board of esteemed Canadian PGA members, Nike Golf Canada
is seeking to tap into the massive wealth of industry knowledge and experience
that has brought these people to the top of their profession,” said Vitalis
Gomes, Marketing Manager for Nike Golf Canada.
“As some of Canada’s most respected and successful golf professionals, they will
bring us valuable insights into the Canadian market, help us to improve our
business practices and enhance our partnerships with key professionals and
retailers across the country,” Gomes said.
In their role, Advisory Board members will advise Nike Golf Canada on service
standards, distribution, the brand’s development across Canada and much more.
They will also be provided with early access to Nike Golf products for testing
and research.
The members of the Advisory Board include:
Warren Crosbie
Head Golf Professional at Bayview Country Club, Warren Crosbie is the current
President of the Canadian PGA, a fellow member of the British PGA, and an
Honourary Director of the PGA. A renowned merchandiser, Crosbie’s numerous
awards include the 1990 Ontario PGA Club Professional of the Year, and the 1997
CPGA Merchandiser of the Year Award.
Kevin Thistle
One of the best-known personalities in Canadian
golf, Kevin Thistle has advanced his profession through progressive marketing
and business practices and by forging strong relationships throughout the
industry. Since opening Angus Glen as Head Professional in 1993 to his current
role as President, Thistle has established the facility as one of the most
recognized names in Canadian golf. Thistle was host professional of the 2002 and
2007 Canadian Opens.
Robert Roxborough
As Director of Golf and General Manager at Magna Golf Club, one of Canada’s most
prestigious clubs, Roxborough is renowned for his high standards of service and
operations. A fine player and instructor in his own right, Roxborough was host
professional of the Tiger Woods Invitational presented by Nike Golf Canada at
Magna in 2005.
Carlo Blanchard
The Director of Golf and Head Golf Professional at Saint-Raphael Golf Club is
highly regarded for his operations prowess and playing ability. He is also one
of Quebec’s most recognized professionals through his work as an analyst on PGA
Tour events for the RDS sports television network, and as a journalist for a
variety of publications.
Anne Rogerson
One of Canada’s most respected instructors, Anne Rogerson has vast national and
international playing experience and a wealth of administrative and service
knowledge. Rogerson is the Associate Golf Professional at Summerlea Golf &
Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec.
Andrew Davis
Davis brings a valued perspective to the Advisory Board as an Associate Golf
Professional at Vernon Golf & Country Club. Drawn to the industry by Tiger
Woods' memorable 1997 Masters victory, Davis aspires to be a full- time
teaching professional.
Norm Jackson
Head Professional at Cowichan Golf & Country Club for the past 18 years, Norm
Jackson has received numerous honours, including the 1993 PGA of B.C. Head
Professional of the Year and 1997 PGA of B.C. Merchandiser of the Year. Jackson
is also General Manager of the golf and repair shop at Cowichan.
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For more information on Nike Golf, visit our web site at
www.nikegolf.ca. Editors and journalists seeking editorial
information and downloadable
images, visit
www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.
For more information on Nike Golf Canada, please contact: |
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Vitalis Gomes
Nike Golf Canada
905.771.2058
vitalis.gomes@nike.com |
Tim O’Connor
O’Connor Golf Communications
519.856.9421
tim@oconnorgolf.ca |
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