IMMEDIATE RELEASE



PGA News

The Professional Golfers’ Association of America

100 Avenue of the Champions

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

Tel: 561-624-8400

Fax: 561-624-8448

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie Carbone

September 27, 2005 561/624-8446

jcarbone@

PGA PROFESSIONAL TERRY HARLOW CONDUCTS 537 FREE LESSONS TO TAKE FIRST PLACE IN 2005 PGA FREE LESSON MONTH PROMOTION

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Terry Harlow, of Louisville, Ky., who led more than 6,889 PGA Professionals as he gave 537 free lessons, was selected as one of three grand prize winners in the 2005 PGA Play Golf America Free Lesson Month Sweepstakes.

The PGA head professional at Wildwood Country Club in Louisville and a member of the Kentucky PGA Section, Harlow will be joined by an amateur, Mike Raleigh, of North Street, Mich., and fellow PGA Professional Norris Denno of Black River Country Club in Port Huron, Mich., for a three-day vacation in Orlando, Fla. Raleigh and Denno were the winners in a nationwide drawing among participants in PGA Free Lesson Month.

PGA Free Lesson Month, a Play Golf America initiative between The PGA of America and Golf Digest, The Golf Channel, Golf World, and Golf Digest’s sister publication, Golf For Women, surpassed its own eight-year growth records by a 32 percent margin.

Looking to reach new golfers and improve the game of amateur players, 6,889 PGA Professionals from 5,572 facilities nationwide dedicated themselves to giving free 10-minute lessons. Participating golfers received an estimated 122,160 free lessons totaling 36,890 total hours. Nike Golf, the official program sponsor, provided sweepstakes prizes to help promote the program.

The winners will receive a guest appearance on The Golf Channel’s “Your Game Night.” In addition, each Grand Prize winner will receive round-trip airfare, ground transportation, three days/two nights accommodations, one round of golf, custom-fitted Nike Golf Clubs, and $1,000 worth of Nike golf footwear, apparel or bags.

Golf Digest devoted its May cover story to the program and listed participating PGA Professionals in the issue, while The Golf Channel dedicated its “Academy Live” show to the promotion.

“The object is to promote golf to as many as you possibly can -- there can’t be any slackers,” said Harlow, in his third season at Wildwood Country Club in Louisville. “I began by contacting a former sports director at WAVE-TV, Bob Dominie. He helped get me one minute and 20 seconds for Free Lesson Month on television a week at the (Kentucky) Derby. We had two Demo Days, sold equipment, and just promoted golf.”

Harlow said that he collected 550 cards from golfers who registered for lessons during the PGA Free Lesson Month promotion in May. The 10-minute free lessons, Harlow said, “grew into 20 minutes per person.”

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“I have a practice range near my home, Different Strokes,” added Harlow. “What began with 10 to 12 people began to grow. I think the Play Golf America theme is great, and you can do so much in adding programs and ideas to help bring more people into golf.”

PGA Free Lesson Month, conducted every May, is designed to help amateur golfers improve their skills and attract new players to the game. Throughout May, PGA Professionals, recognized as the experts in instruction, offer free 10-minute lessons to amateur golfers of any skill level from coast-to-coast.

Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization composed of more than 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

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