MA-based Woolf Associates announced the creation of
Woolf Golf, a new division which will focus on corporate
golf marketing programs, event management, TV packaging, and
professional player representation. Phil Sloan will be the
Managing Dir of Woolf Golf and Diane Brickley, who most
recently served as VP/Sales at the FleetCenter, has been
named Exec Dir. Brickley will manage the day-to-day
operations of the new division (Woolf Associates).
TALK ABOUT CALLING EARLY: In anticipation of the '99
Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline (MA), BankBoston
has paid $500,000 "to reserve the entire" Charles River
Country Club golf course 20 months in advance of the event,
according to John Lauerman of the BOSTON GLOBE. The bank is
"just one of several" corporations trying to reserve courses
in the Boston area so that corporate guests at the matches
"can be assured of convenient tee times" when not watching
the event. In addition, Brookline is "trying to strike" a
$3M deal with The Country Club for use of land for parking/
hospitality tents during the Ryder Cup (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/18).
CHIP SHOTS: GOLFWEEK's James Achenbach reports that
Tiger Woods is now playing with his new Titleist irons. He
had been playing Mizunos. In other equipment news, Bernhard
Langer "is about to switch" from Wilson to Ping. Bob Tway
"also has returned" to Ping, while Cleveland Golf has
"picked up" Frank Nobilo, who played for Mizuno last year.
Callaway has renewed its deal with Colin Montgomerie and
Jesper Parnevik, and also signed Rocco Mediate, once a
"rising star" for Titleist. Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson,
who recently re-signed with Yonex, will now wear hats or
visors "when the television cameras are turned on."
Previously, "neither has been a headwear devotee." Taylor
Made, "standing pat" with its PGA Tour staff, has "added"
the LPGA's Michelle McGann (GOLFWEEK, 1/17). USA TODAY's
Jerry Potter adds that Taylor Made is "trying to fit" its
logo onto McGann's "trademark" hats (USA TODAY, 1/22).
