Pinehurst Press Releases

PINEHURST ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. KIDS GOLF

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. (March 17, 2009)

Pinehurst Resort has signed an official partnership agreement with U.S. Kids Golf that will extend through 2013. The agreement will enable the continuation of the successful U.S. Kids Golf World Championship that has been held at Pinehurst, and adds a series of events and programs over the next four years.

"Pinehurst is reinforcing its commitment to grow the game of golf internationally through this partnership," said Pinehurst Business Development Director Peter Stilwell.  "It not only extends our championship tradition, but allows Pinehurst to play an active role in encouraging golfers at every age and level to enjoy the game."

Included in the agreement is the siting of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at Pinehurst Resort and area courses through 2013.  The event has been held at Pinehurst and the region for the last three years, welcoming over 1,000 junior golfers ages 6-12 from over 40 countries.   This year's Championship is scheduled for August 6-9, 2009.

The U.S. Kids Golf Teen Championship for ages 13-17 will also be sited at Pinehurst Resort and Pine Needles through the length of the agreement, beginning with the 2009 event to be staged July 30 - August 2.

The partnership also includes the development of a new Parent/Child Championship to begin in 2010, a new U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour, and the creation of a new U.S. Kids Golf Learning Center, all of which will be exclusively located at Pinehurst Resort. Co-branded activities include the renaming of Pinehurst's summer family golf program as the U.S. Kids Golf Family Fairways program on No. 8, and new custom markers for Pinehurst's family-friendly tees on seven of its eight golf courses.

"We are pleased to partner with Pinehurst Resort and their championship courses for our tournaments," said Dan Van Horn, founder of U.S. Kids Golf. "From past events, we know the excellent caliber of players that earn the right to compete, and we are excited about the new tournaments that we have planned with Pinehurst."

The Pinehurst Local Tour will consist of eight events which will be held exclusively on the Pinehurst courses; it will be one of 44 Local Tours that U.S. Kids Golf hosts across the country.  The Family Tee markers are a part of the U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program that shortens a course that is aimed to make golf a more enjoyable experience for young and beginning golfers alike.  The Learning Center will operate June through August and will feature the expertise of the Pinehurst golf teachers and the Learning Curriculum developed by U.S. Kids Golf.

Don Padgett, President of Pinehurst Resort, is enthusiastic about the partnership and those future events.

"We are extremely proud of this U.S. Kids Golf partnership and what we've accomplished in the last three years," he stated. "This opportunity is a once in a lifetime chance for these kids to get the feel of a "Tour" golf tournament. We are pleased that our courses will host this new golf test for the players of tomorrow."

U.S. Kids Golf joins a prominent list of partnerships formed between Pinehurst and leading organizations, including Acura, Pepsi, Visa Signature and Titleist.

About Pinehurst

Located in the North Carolina heartland, world-renowned Pinehurst Resort is a 2,000-acre historic property featuring spa, golf, tennis, family, events and leisure recreation.  Widely known as the cradle of American golf, it has hosted more single golf championships than any other site in America, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches, PGA Tour Championship and many others. In 2008 it became the only resort to top the coveted Travel +Leisure Golf Best Golf Resort list for an unprecedented third time, as chosen by its readers.  Pinehurst is a registered trademark of Pinehurst, LLC. See pinehurst.com or call 800-487-4653 for a complete list of events and activities.

About U.S. Kids Golf

U.S. Kids Golf, LLC is based in Norcross, Ga., and manufactures equipment and related golf products made especially for kids. In addition to more than 4,000 golf shops and retail locations in the U.S., the company's products also are available in over 50 countries worldwide.

The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia non-profit recognized as a 501 c (3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The Foundation organizes more than 400 golf tournaments for kids each year, including more than 60 Local Tours, three Regional Championships, a European Championship and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, which are held each year at Pinehurst Resort.  In partnership with the PGA of America, the Foundation also supports the U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program, which provides guidelines that help courses make the game easier to learn and more fun for kids and their families.  For more information, call 1-888-3 US KIDS or visit http://www.uskidsgolf.com/.

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