PGA of America Sets Up Shop in the 'Big Apple'


The PGA of America is establishing a New York office that will serve as a footprint in the region that gave what is now the world's largest sports organization its birth in 1916. The office will be established within the "Golf Central" site of the headquarters of both the Metropolitan PGA Section and the Metropolitan Golf Association, in Elmsford, N.Y.

The PGA New York Office will be led by the organization's chief marketing officer Kevin Ring, who will relocate to the area, for a planned fall opening. The space will be used by the PGA's officers, leadership team and staff, as it prepares for its Centennial Celebration in 2016; the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in nearby Springfield, N.J., in 2016; and to foster deeper marketing, broadcasting, public relations and communications relationships in the world's largest media capital.

The PGA of America was founded at the Hotel Martinique on April 10, 1916 (now the Radisson Martinique on Broadway), after an exploratory meeting at the then nearby Taplow Club called by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker - the namesake donator of the Wanamaker Trophy, which is annually awarded to the PGA champion. Among those attending the exploratory meeting were Walter Hagen, Francis Ouimet, A.W. Tillinghast and several prominent golf officials. The inaugural PGA Championship was also played that year in Bronxville, N.Y. (located just miles from the new PGA New York Office), and won by Jim Barnes.

"We are very excited about establishing a foothold in the New York Metropolitan Area, near the birthplace of the PGA of America," said PGA chief executive officer Pete Bevacqua. "New York holds a key to our future and a special link to our storied past. As we drive forward towards our centennial in 2016, the region will play a major role in telling the story of the first 100 years of the PGA and what the next 100 have in store for our association.

"We now join other major sports entities that have a vital presence in the region, including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and our friends at the PGA Tour," said Bevacqua. "Many of our key corporate relationships are centered in or around the New York metropolitan area, and I know that our chief business officer, Kevin Carter, and his team are planning to utilize the space extensively. In addition, our domestic broadcast partners, including CBS, NBC and Turner, all have a headquarters or an extensive presence in the region and this will only help to deepen our relationships with them all. Of course, Palm Beach Gardens is our home, but a New York presence is an essential move, as we head toward our very promising future."

As part of a developing relationship with the Empire State, the PGA of America also recently announced a partnership with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to promote the first-ever "Taste NY" Experience at the 95th PGA Championship in Rochester, August 5-11. This summer, the state of New York will host a PGA Championship for a record 12th time, more than any other state in the country.

"The MGA and Metropolitan New York golf community are thrilled to have the PGA of America return to its roots and join us at Golf Central," said Jay Mottola, executive director of the Metropolitan Golf Association. "We look forward to working alongside them as they drive forward towards another 100 years in golf."

In addition to steering the New York Office, Kevin Ring will continue to oversee the Marketing, Creative Resources, Research and Communications departments at PGA Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where he develops and manages integrated marketing plans for the PGA that are designed to grow the association's assets. As well, Ring is responsible for strategically positioning the PGA's commercial assets, including its championships, meetings and ancillary events, to market the organization and its brand globally.

"It is a historic accomplishment to open an office in the area the PGA of America first called home nearly a century ago," said Ring. "This strategic move will enable the PGA to have faster access to our partners, sponsors, licensees and fellow sports entities than ever before, in order to take the business of the PGA to a higher level of investment and awareness worldwide."

The address of the PGA New York Office will be: 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, N.Y. 10523. PGA Headquarters will continue to remain in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.