Poll Question: Does The Constant Playing Of Omega's HOF Ad...

Make you want to jump out of a helicopter without a parachute? Want to have a mute button chip embedded in your brain? Want to go buy a luxury time piece that your kids will sell on ebay?

These are the kind of important questions that must be posed as we move into a Weather Warning mode and, inevitably, soak up Omega's ad created for last year's PGA Championship. But for reasons only the Madison Avnue minds can explain, the piece featuring the screaching sounds of will.i.am singing to The Script's music is making an ubiquitous return across all major media platforms. Constantly.

In case you've been in a coma and have not seen this wonderful product as it nears its one millionth running, here is the only ad Omega feels that golf fans can handle. And here is the story behind this masterpiece of marketing.

Please, your votes...

Does Omega's "Hall of Fame" ad...

Make you totally likely to never buy their excessively priced piece of men's jewelry

Make you really likely to totally hate them for not filming a new ad this year

Make you somewhat likely to hold them accountable for all world problems

Make you want to vote for all of the above and more

 

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Trump! What Will The Golf Bodies Do Next?

Brendan Prunty's New York Times story quotes The Donald, who is not backing down in the face of losing the Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National. 

From Tuesday's story:

 “I’ve been very loyal to golf,” Trump said Tuesday in a telephone interview. “I own 17 clubs. They all do great. We will see whether or not golf is loyal to me.”

Former PGA President Ted Bishop noted his lack of surprise that the PGA stopped at the Grand Slam.

“I think a lot of people are surprised that it wasn’t all or nothing,” said the former P.G.A. of America president Ted Bishop. “I don’t know what kind of statement the P.G.A. of America makes by saying, ‘We’re not going to do this for one year, but we’re going to go back for all these others.’ ”

Which leaves us with the future and also questions now about why golf got so heavily invested in Trump properties knowing the man's proclivity to generate controversy.

Alex Miceli reveals in Golfweek that the previous PGA of America regime was not interested in working with Trump, but that changed with the Bevacqua and Bishop.

“When Pete came to me about Trump, I was 100 percent in favor of working with him,” said Bishop, recalling the beginnings of the relationship. “Under former CEO Joe Steranka, the PGA was not interested in working with Trump. It was just a non-starter with Joe.”

For his part, Steranka, who retired in 2012 and now leads the charitable arm of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, was unwilling to discuss his dealings with Trump.

“I’m not going to comment on that,” Steranka said from his office in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. "The PGA is sorting through this, and looking back about what was going on when I was there doesn’t address today’s things they have to focus on.”

Up next and much grander on the big ticket item list: what happens to the 2017 U.S. Women's Open at Trump Bedminster, the 2022 PGA at the same venue, and of course, rumored Scottish Open's at Trump International or Open Championship at Turnberry.

PGA's Grand Slam Moving To Trump National L.A.

With a major international airport just twenty-minutes away maybe the PGA of America's Grand Slam of Golf stands a better chance of luring the major winners to the toughest ticket to punch in golf. Most exciting of all is the showcasing of the PGA Junior League Championship on the same course the weekend prior.

Golf Channel replaces TNT a year before the contract expired, offering some hope that the annual telecast of the PGA Championship might get moved away from Turner's properties sooner than later.

For Immediate Release:

33^rd PGA Grand Slam of Golf to be hosted by Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles

Showcase of Major Champions Week to also feature PGA Junior League Golf Championship

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (March 10, 2015) – Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles, one of the most spectacular golf courses in the country, will host the 33rd PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Oct. 19-21, 2015. The showcase of major champions is part of a multi-year agreement between the PGA of America and the Trump Organization.

It marks the event’s first return to the U.S. mainland since 1993. Golf Channel will televise the event beginning this year.

In addition, PGA Grand Slam week at Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles will feature the 2015 PGA Junior League Golf Championship, Oct. 17-19.

“The  PGA of America begins a new chapter in celebrating the winners of the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship through an exciting partnership with The Trump Organization, the owner and operator of a large portfolio of exceptional golf properties,” said PGA of America President Derek Sprague. “The PGA Grand Slam of Golf has always been a showcase for the best in our game. We are pleased that Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles will provide a great challenge to the game’s finest players.” 

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf features the most difficult qualification requirement in the game – a major championship.

“We are thrilled to welcome the PGA to Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles--- the perfect location for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf,” said Donald Trump, Chairman and President of the Trump Organization. “It’s an incredible course situated on dramatic bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and will be a challenging and exciting test for the best players in the world. The combination of the course itself and stunning location will no doubt be a major draw for spectators and television viewers alike.”

Golf Channel’s coverage of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf will air live on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET and include primetime replays. Golf Channel’s coverage will be led by 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy. Additionally, Golf Channel will cover Monday’s Pro-Am, as well as live news coverage on Morning Drive and Golf Central for both the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and PGA Junior League Golf Championships.

I'll be reporting both developments on Golf Channel's Golf Central at 6 pm ET.

Update on 2015-03-11 03:53 by Geoff

**Golf Central's report on the move to Los Angeles, which gives players from around the world one less reason to skip. There was no word on the purse today but the event figures to see an increase there as well to help lure the major winners.

My take on the news, which was really more exciting in (A) bringing an event to the LA area where spectators can walk with the major winners (even The Donald found that cool) and (B) the PGA Junior Golf League getting some great exposure potentially.

Update on 2015-03-11 04:34 by Geoff

**The replacement of TNT by Golf Channel does not mean a similar move is pending for the PGA Championship, controlled by Turner currently, writes Doug Ferguson:

Golf Channel will televise the event for the first time. It previously was broadcast by TNT Sports.
PGA chief executive Pete Bevacqua said Turner Sports will continue its relationship with the PGA of America and that both sides are committed to TNT showing the opening two rounds and early weekend coverage of the PGA Championship. Turner also manages the PGA of America website.

PGA CEO Bevacqua addressed the change in today's press conference from Trump National Los Angeles:

And I would also say, great partnerships and great relationships are what allow you to achieve great things in golf.  And we have very good partners in Golf Channel and our friends at Turner Sports and TNT.  And when we all sat down in a room, we understood what each entity was trying to do:  A change in direction for TNT and Turner in the fall months really gear towards entertainment and original programming that made sense for them and for us, and it allowed us the opportunity to join forces with a great partner in Golf Channel and NBC.

So Golf Channel will be televising the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, they will be building really a week‑long programming around this event, drawing more attention to PGA Junior League Golf, as well, extended coverage, coverage of the Pro‑Am.  We think that's another element, another ingredient in this recipe for great success for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.