LPGA Partners with Buffalo Communications

Strategic PR Program to Broadly Promote Player Personalities
(DAYTONA BEACH, FL)—The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has partnered with Buffalo Communications (Buffalo) to turnkey a new public relations program showcasing the world’s premier women’s professional sports organization.

Engineered to grow awareness through non-golf media, Buffalo’s strategy focuses on promoting the LPGA Tour’s remarkable collection of exciting, outside-the-ropes stories. These include exceptional young stars, working mothers, style leaders, philanthropists, fitness devotees, adventurists, and the LPGA’s unique global business model.

“Golf media is tremendously supportive of the LPGA, but there’s a wider audience yet to experience why it’s different out here,” says Kraig Kann, Chief Communications Officer of the LPGA. “There are a million stories to tell, and we’re relying on Buffalo to help with lifestyle, fashion, travel and business journalists.”

Boasting an unrivalled global presence, the LPGA Tour features nearly 125 active international players from 25 nations and a 2011 schedule that included events in 13 countries. Last season was marked by the historic rise of Yani Tseng, a breakout win by teen phenom Lexi Thompson and remarkable play by the Tour’s growing cast of stars, including Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi, Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome and Cristie Kerr.

“The LPGA offers fans and sponsors incomparable experiences consistent with its mission to inspire, empower, educate and entertain,” says Rich Katz, Managing Director of Buffalo. “Mike Whan’s dynamic leadership and Tour players’ diverse interests away from the course make for compelling editorial coverage.”

Riding a wave of momentum into the new year, the LPGA Tour recently announced its 2012 schedule featuring five new events among 27 tournaments and an increase of roughly $7 million in prize money. This follows a 2011 season that delivered a 29 percent increase in television viewership, a 17 percent jump in digital audience and a social media reach that eclipsed one million fans. A new Japanese television rights partnership with WOWOW was recently announced, as was the launch of Korean and Chinese language LPGA websites and Weebo, the Chinese social media network.

For more information: http://www.lpga.com, 386.274.6200.

About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 1,700 members representing 29 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage.

The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: http://www.LPGA.com, http://www.facebook.com/lpga.official, twitter.com/lpga, and http://www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.

About Buffalo Communications

Headquartered outside Washington, DC, Buffalo is a global golf-lifestyle public relations, branding and marketing-communications firm with clients operating in 40-plus countries. Buffalo employs its longstanding network of media and industry contacts to help clients grow awareness, popularity and revenues. Its roster of domestic and international category leaders include ECCO, Adams Golf, PGA National Resort & Spa, Fila Golf, Castle & Cooke, Arnie, Kaua’i Visitors Bureau (golf co-op), Club Glove, The Sea Pines Resort and The St. Joe Company.

GOLF Magazine’s 2nd Annual No.1 Issue Unveils
The Fab Foursome As Voted On By The Fans
After More Than 300,000 Votes:
Nicklaus, Clinton, Jordan, Murray
GOLF Magazine’s No.1’s Issues Features The Best of Everything in Golf; Interviews With Michael Douglas, Rickie Fowler and More
New York, NY (September 8, 2011) – The October 2011 issue of Golf Magazine, on newsstands September 9, celebrates the publications 2nd annual No.1’s Issue—a cover-to-cover celebration of golf excellence, including the first reveal of Golf Magazine’s Fab Foursome Bracket Challenge, a March Madness style showdown featuring 64 of the biggest names who love golf, including everyone from US Open winners to Oscar winners. After receiving over 300,000 votes from fans far and wide, the foursome people would love to play with the most included legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, former United States President Bill Clinton, 6-time NBA champion Michael Jordan and actor/comedian Bill Murray.
“I’m honored to be part of this group,” said Nicklaus. “What would our round be like? Murray would have us all laughing so hard that President Clinton would have time to take as many mulligan’s as he wants. Jordan, being the competitor he is, would work hard to beat me, which means he’d have a lot of fun.”
THE NO.1 ISSUE PEOPLE PORTFOLIO – INTERVIEWS BY CONNELL BARRETT
Golf Magazine No. 1 Issue includes 19-pages of candid one-on-one interviews with an eclectic collection of high-profile celebrities. Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Rickie Fowler and Ivanka Trump, are joined by musicians, athletes, actors, comedians and journalists in sharing stories of their shared passion for the game.
·      Michael Douglas (No.1 Comeback Player) recounted a day on the course with his dad: “My father got divorced when I was young, so I would go visit him. He took me out on the course. One day something happened that put a crimp in my game and his. I was about15. I hit an iron, and I him right in the nuts. I mean, direct hit! He dropped to his knees trying to shake it off. All I could say was, ‘There lies Spartacus.’”
·      Rickie Fowler (Future No.1) on high expectations: “It’s a good warm-up for where I want to be: the best player in the world. Obviously, if I was No.1, I’d have to deal with hype or pressure every week. I want to be in a position where I’m dealing with pressure and expectation all the time.”
·      Mike Dikta (No.1 Swing Coach) describing a great day on the course: “It’s about laughing, having a few beers, and betting a little. I’ll probably need a shoulder replaced, but as long as I can play golf, I’m OK.”
·      Ivanka Trump (No.1 Heiress Apparent) on playing her father Donald: “Beating my father in a match? I’m on that. I figured I’ve got age on my side.”
·      Sugar Ray Leonard (No.1 Hard Hitter) on facing fears: “Golf makes you face fears. Marvin Hagler wasn’t scary. A downhill 3-footer? That’s scary.”
·      Robert Duvall (No.1 Stroke Shaver) on advice Tom Hagen (The Godfather) would give Tiger Woods: “Keep your legs crossed.”
·      Steve Kroft (No.1 Inquisitor) on his first days at 60 Minutes: “When I first got here, Mike Wallace, EP Dan Hewitt and Morley Safer all played tennis. They out I played golf and said, ‘Maybe we made a big mistake. Who let the golfer on the floor?’”
PGA TOUR NO.1 OF EVERYING IN GOLF
Golf Magazine spoke with dozens of golf experts including Rickie Fowler, Tom Doak and Billy Casper to compile a comprehensive listing of the Best of Everything in Golf.
When asked which United States city provided the best golf atmosphere, GOLF Magazine’s senior editor Joe Passov, aka “Travelin’ Joe”, gave the nod to Austin, Texas. Passov said, “The Lone Star state’s capital has the best combination of weather, quality courses and affordable golf.”
On the political front, Condoleeza Rice was named the No.1 choice for “Augusta National’s First Female Member” while Dwight Eisenhower was named the No.1 “Presidential Golfer” of all-time.
“This is a correlation of random, interesting and most of all, entertaining tidbits about the game of golf,” said David Clarke, Editor of GOLF Magazine. “Too many times, we get caught up in the game itself and don’t look at the big picture this game has to offer.”
Others receiving accolades include:
§  No.1 Most Unheralded Golfer: Larry Nelson – A great Ryder Cup player—he won five matched on the 1979 team.
§  No.1 Golf Feud: Ian Poulter vs. Johnny Miller – Golf’s unstoppable force vs. its immovable ego.
§  No.1 Best 19th Hole: Nefyn & District – The Ty Coch Inn at Wales’s glorious golf course is a few paces off the 12th green, with killer views of the Irish Sea.
§  No.1 Wise-Beyond-Their-Years Showings: Rory McIlroy – After his collapse at the 2011 Masters, McIlroy decided to participate in a UNICEF mission to Haiti.
§  No.1 Underrated Golf Movie: Pat and Mike – “It’s well-written,” Tin Cup director Ron Shelton says of the 1952 comedy starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
For more from this poll, please check the October issue of Golf Magazine or visit http://www.golf.com
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About the SI Golf Group
Golf Magazine is at the core of the most powerful media company in the game, the SI Golf Group. The magazine, which delivers a circulation of 1.4 million golf enthusiasts with a readership of 6.1 Million, us golf’s most widely read publication and provides the best instruction, equipment reviews and travel coverage in the category. With the combined resources of Golf, SI Golf Plus (the No. 1 golf weekly publication) and Golf.com (the highest trafficked golf website). The SI Golf Group delivers a monthly audience of 12.6 million avid golfers and fans.