The Pellucid Perspective - January 2015 - (Page 7)

Player development Hack Golf initiative dormant, but not dead, TaylorMade says PGA Junior League thriving, USRGA still hopeful By Jim Dunlap O ne year after a much-ballyhooed announcement of the Hack Golf initiative to generate a crowd sourcing forum for new ideas to revitalize golf participation, there have been few meaningful results, but primary sponsor TaylorMade Golf is poised to announce at next week's PGA Merchandise Show plans for support, financial and otherwise, of at least two new ideas suggested by participants on the Hack Golf site. The Hack Golf initiative, announced at last year's PGA Show by TaylorMade's then-CEO Mark King, with endorsement but no financial support from the PGA of America via its then-President Ted Bishop, was designed, according to its web site (www. hackgolf.org), as an open invitation and collaborative platform for passionate golfers, interested non-golfers and industry leaders to contribute ideas for increasing the fun factor in golf. Today, while nearly 3,000 people have signed onto the site as participants, and approximately 1,650 "ideas" have been submitted, the proposals which TaylorMade plans to announce support for at this year's PGA Show will be the first demonstrable results of the crowd sourcing initiative. Hack Golf 's two most vocal advocates, King and Bishop, are no longer directly involved, King having moved upstairs to TaylorMade parent company adidas and Bishop having been unceremoniously removed as PGA of America President for, among other things, his ill-conceived use of social media to insult Ian Poulter. Current TaylorMade CEO Ben Sharpe is apparently willing to take up the Hack Golf torch in some degree, although company spokespeople acknowledge that Hack Golf needs to be something more than a one man, one company project, and was never designed to be a TaylorMade marketing initiative in the first place, although some people perceived it that way due to King's vocal leader- WE'RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US. Follow us on Twitter @BayerGolf The BackedbyBayer app is available for download at the iTunes store. When you partner with Bayer, you're getting more than just our products. You're getting the Backed by Bayer™ satisfaction guarantee and more. Because we are committed to your peace of mind, all of our research, technical support and training is available for you, when you need it. Rest assured that we stand by our products and the science that created them. (See Hispanic Golf on page 14) Bayer CropScience LP, Environmental Science Division, 2 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. 1-800-331-2867. www.BackedbyBayer.com. Bayer and the Bayer Cross are registered trademarks of Bayer. Backed by Bayer is a trademark of Bayer. Not all products are registered in all states. Always read and follow label directions. ©2015 Bayer CropScience LP. www.PellucidCorp.com The Pellucid Perspective 7 http://www.hackgolf.org http://www.hackgolf.org http://www.backedbybayer.com/ https://www.twitter.com/bayergolf http://www.BackedbyBayer.com http://www.PellucidcorP.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - January 2015

TOC
The FootGolf faceoff
What do GoDaddy.com and golf have in common? Now, Bob Parsons
Hack Golf initiative dormant, but not dead, TaylorMade says
Industry shows registering exhibitor upticks
State of the Industry preview: It’s not all bad news
Andrew Wood: Legendary indeed
December golf weather impact: Santa Claus came to town
Operators find hearts in San Francisco
Pebble Beach Resort adds TaylorMade as brand partner
WHIP it good?

The Pellucid Perspective - January 2015