PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL -- After a successful test period in 2002, the PGA TOUR's Champions Tour is gearing up for full implementation of its Fan Features program in 2003, beginning this week at the season-opening MasterCard Championship at Hualalai Golf Club on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Fan Features are designed to deliver fans and sponsors a unique new experience both on site and at home on television. The program seeks to create a distinct identity for the Champions Tour not only in golf, but throughout sports.
The Champions Tour's primary television partners, The Golf Channel and CNBC, have fully embraced the program and as a result, telecasts have been enhanced and new ground broken in the way golf is covered on television.
A series of new programs will complement the many fan-friendly initiatives that were implemented last year. The lineup of Fan Features in 2003 will include the following activities:
•Gallery in the fairway
•Honorary Observers
•Caddie for a day
•Player and fan Q&A sessions
•Junior pro-ams and clinics
•Lessons from the
Champions Tour
•On-Course TV interviews during play
(television application)
•The Learning Center
(television application)
•Viewer e-mails (television
application)
New Fan Features that will debut in 2003 include:
•Behind the scenes tours -- including the chance to observe
a TV director during a live telecast
•Equipment demo days
•Participation in a TV golf analyst screen test
•
Rules clinics with Champions Tour rules officials
•
Accompany a TV announcer during his pre-round preparation tour
•
Dave Pelz scoring game school clinics
•Visit to the player
equipment van to learn about on-site equipment needs and watch repairs
•Tour the HealthSouth Fitness Van to learn about fitness programs
"Fan Features were a big hit last year," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "The fans and viewers seemed to enjoy the 'inside the ropes' experience and tournaments benefited from them significantly. Player support, which is so critical, was phenomenal. They enjoyed making the personal connection with their fan base. We've indicated our goal is to make the Champions Tour the most accessible, approachable and fan-friendly of all major league sports. We feel we are making great strides in that regard."
"A year ago I was skeptical about our new initiatives," said three-time 2002 winner Tom Kite. "But it didn't take long for me to become a believer. I was happy to participate in the on-course interviews, honorary observers program, The Learning Center and the other activities. The fans I interacted with were great and really seemed to get a kick out of their 'inside the ropes' experience. I think these Fan Features will only get better in 2003."
Champions Tour tournaments will incorporate as many of the Fan Features as possible into their tournament week activities. Fan Features provide both "inside the ropes" and game-improvement platforms, the latter of which is intended to provide instruction and insight in order to make spectators and TV viewers better players.
Fan Features are structured to appeal to a broad audience -- children and adults, male and female, and golf fans and non-golf fans, alike. Most of the activities are free to ticketed spectators and are open to all attendees. Participation in certain activities is based on contest entries or sponsored-related affiliations.
wink91wink 
