Goals of the Michigan Player's Tour
The Michigan Player’s Tour has established the following goals:
1. The Development of Players
The first and most important goal of the Michigan Player’s Tour is to create an environment in the Great Lakes region conducive to the development of professional players. This will extend to players of both sexes and to all age groups, and will include not only training in the advanced competitive skills necessary for success but also an appreciation of the true spirit of the game.
2. Facilitating The Growth Of The Game
The Michigan Player’s Tour seeks to aid the growth of golf in the Great Lakes region by promoting and rewarding improvement in golf skills both in players competing in Tour events and in the general public. The Tour will establish several programs designed to involve amateur golfers in Tour events, thereby providing the incentive for increased participation in the sport at all levels.
3. Generating Increased Business For the Golf Industry
By promoting the game and providing incentives for golfers of all abilities to practice and play more often, the Michigan Player’s Tour seeks to improve business for all golf facilities and companies in the region.
4. Generating Greater Publicity for Developmental Tour Golf
Since the future stars of the game are the developmental tour players of today, the Michigan Player’s Tour is committed to generating increased interest in developmental tour golf by the general public. In order to accomplish this, the Tour will encourage and seek regional and national media coverage of Tour events both in print as well as on television.
5. Partnership With Prestigious Sponsors
In order to conduct championship caliber events and to attract the highest quality fields, the Michigan Player’s Tour will seek sponsorship from only the most prestigious corporations and businesses in the Great Lakes region and the United States. Once the Tour has secured these sponsorships, it will work tirelessly to promote the products and / or services of its sponsors in all contact with the media before, during, and after Tour events.
6. Promotion of Business and Commerce in the Surrounding Communities
The Michigan Player’s Tour is dedicated to the enhancement of economic activity and tourism in the state of Michigan and in the communities in which Michigan Player’s Tour events take place.
7. Generating Funds For Charity
The Michigan Player’s Tour is committed to generating a significant contribution to local and regional charities.
Growing the Game -- A New Perspective
As most people in the golf industry know, the game of golf is in the midst of a general slowdown. Although the recent downturn in the economy is part of the reason, the game has not been attracting new participants at the rate projected just a few years ago during the golf course construction boom of the 1990's. There are various theories why this is true, and there are several initiatives now in place to address this shortfall. Among these initiatives are:
1. The First Tee Program -- an initiative cosponsored by the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to provide young golfers in disadvantaged areas of the country a place to play, and
2. The Play Golf America campaign -- an initiative designed by the PGA to encourage existing golfers to get out and play more often.
While these initiatives are needed and are producing positive results, it is the view of the Michigan Player's Tour more is needed.
In the opinion of the Tour, one solution generally overlooked by the custodians of the game is to promote competition and to create locally-based outlets for every player dedicated to improvement and developing their game to compete.
Golf is a wonderful game in that a golfer can play alone and enjoy the great outdoors in a totally non-competitive environment. But at its core, golf is a competitive sport, and those who play the game soon realize the greatest enjoyment in the game comes from competition, whether by competing against oneself to improve scores or by competing against others in leagues or tournaments.
Although it is true programs such as the First Tee and Play Golf America are attracting new players to the game, it is to be noted there are few programs in place to inspire existing golfers to take the next step and improve their games to a level where they are competitive in tournaments. In the opinion of the Tour, it is the kindling of this desire -- the desire to improve one's game to true competitiveness -- which will prove to be the ultimate key to building the game.
How many times have you played with your friends, and when someone hits a great shot, he is asked, "So when are you going to turn pro?" The adrenaline rush of a perfectly executed golf shot is addictive, and once experienced, becomes such a powerful motivator a person will stop at nothing to experience it again and again. This is where the desire to improve is created, and it is this desire which the golf industry must encourage in its efforts to grow the game.
With this perspective in mind, the Michigan Player's Tour has been developed to create an environment in the Great Lakes region where golfers living here can take their game to the next level, without being forced to move to another part of the country. It is hoped the Tour will provide, at long last, motivation for them to work on their games, play more often, take lessons, and upgrade their equipment.
The Michigan Player's Tour will work tirelessly to continue in this effort.
-- Ken Carter, Director of the Michigan Player's Tour, August 30, 2007
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