John Deere Classic earns “Best Of” award at PGA TOUR Tournament Advisory Council Meetings
The John Deere Classic (Silvis, IL) was honored by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR's Tournament Advisory Council (TAC) Meetings this week.
Celebrating its 40-year anniversary, the John Deere Classic earned an award for "Best Use of Players" during the 2010 tournament at TPC Deere Run.
"On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the outstanding job and special recognition the John Deere Classic has earned for its efforts," said PGA TOUR EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder. "The tournament committee should be extremely proud for being acknowledged as the best among its peers on TOUR."
In what typically incorporates a celebrity, the event instead welcomed nine past champions of the John Deere Classic for the "Salute to Champions" dinner, with proceeds being donated to charity. Each player volunteered their time and involvement. Among those past champions were Deane Beman and Steve Stricker, the tournament's first winner and defending champion, respectively.
The John Deere Classic procured taped messages from 28 TOUR players at the Transitions Championship, which resulted in more than 100 radio/television promotional spots for the 2010 John Deere Classic.
Twelve players visited six John Deere plants for a "Brown Bag Lunch" session. With 90 minutes being the typical time period for a meet-and-greet session such as the one at the John Deere Classic, a number of players opted to stay for nearly three hours.
Another way the John Deere Classic engaged the community was through its military appreciation clinic of tournament week. Shaun Micheel and Billy Mayfair traveled to the nearby Rock Island Arsenal where they provided hands-on tips and instruction.
"With the help of the players in the John Deere Classic field, we had a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the event," said Clair Peterson, John Deere Classic tournament director. "We tried to find creative ways that would help support the event, and we were fortunate to find success across many platforms."
The 2011 John Deere Classic, captured in 2010 by Steve Stricker, will be held July 7-10 at TPC Deere Run.
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