2012 HONDA CLASSIC – LATEST NEWS
Source/Courtesy of: HondaClassic.com
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – The RBC Wine Garden has become a tradition now at The Honda Classic and will return for a third year to the 17th hole as a public hospitality option for spectators attending The Honda Classic.
The tournament will again partner with RBC to present the 2,000 square-foot hospitality area which will provide all spectators with sampling opportunities from a variety of winemakers along with covered seating with unobstructed sightlines to the most energetic location on the tournament grounds.
Wines from various parts of the world will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle in addition to wine labels owned or licensed by Honda Classic past champions Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els and Luke Donald. The covered casual seating area is open to the public as they sample the wines.
Read more »»
The 18th hole at The Honda Classic promises to be a can’t miss spot for spectators in 2012.
The tournament and the PGA TOUR will move up the tees at the finishing hole at PGA National Resort & Spa to make it a 556-yard reachable par-five with the chance to provide huge swings on the leaderboard coming down the stretch each day.
In the past, the 18th played at 604 yards, creating a routine three-shot par five.
“This change will challenge the pros to go for it,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. “Coming on the heels of The Bear Trap, we should have as exciting of a four-hole stretch of finishing holes as there is on the PGA TOUR.” Read more »»
The Honda Classic will pay tribute to South Florida active duty military personnel, reservists, dependents and veterans in 2012 with free admission throughout the PGA TOUR event and a new hospitality deck on the 17th hole dedicated to their private use.
The Military Appreciation Pavilion will be a 2,500 square-foot structure presented by Wells Fargo and Dazskal Bolton that will provide the reservists, dependents and veterans with covered seating, open sightlines to the action at The Honda Classic’s signature 17th hole, as well as food and beverage provided by Brio, The Bistro, Burger Bar, Joseph’s Classic Market and Nick’s Tomatoe Pie.
During the Kenny G Gold Pro-Am presented by Tire Kingdom on Wednesday February 29, wounded warriors will be caddying for the PGA TOUR pros on the 17th hole. Read more »»
The Honda Classic, which will be held February 27-March 4 at PGA National Resort & Spa, will again allow fans to carry and use mobile devices as an enhancement to the fan experience by giving them instant access to leaderboards and tournament information.
Fans will be allowed to use their cell phones to make calls only at designated areas of the facility, which will be identified as Verizon Wireless Phone Zones. The Zones will be located primarily at concession stand areas. Fans will be allowed to receive and send text messages and check data on the golf course. Photos using mobile devices will be allowed Monday-Wednesday only. No video recording is permitted at any time during the week.
“We were pleased with how this groundbreaking initiative went last year so we have brought it back in 2012,” Honda Classic Tournament Director Ed McEnroe said. “Our focus from day one has been to continue enhancing the on-site experience for our patrons year after year. Read more »»
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – Miami Dolphins players past and present will tee off at the 2012 edition of the Fins Cup Pro-Am, a celebrity-laden Monday prelude to The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa.
Eight former and present Dolphins players are scheduled to appear including kicker Dan Carpenter, tight end John Denney and former Dolphins Dick Anderson, Bob Brudzinski, Keith Byars, Bob Griese, Terry Kirby and Nat Moore.
The Pro-Am will tee off with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Each group will have a Miami Dolphin player and a PGA TOUR professional. Admission to the tournament on Monday is free. Read more »»
Keegan Bradley, a Jupiter resident who won the PGA Championship and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors in 2011, has committed to The Honda Classic, giving the PGA TOUR event commitments from the four Major winners from last season.
Bradley joins a star-studded field which includes Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy, the third-ranked player in the world, and British Open champion Darren Clarke. Lee Westwood, the World No. 2, also is committed to play along with Tiger Woods.
“Our community took great pride last summer when Keegan won the PGA Championship,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. “We are thrilled that he will be playing in The Honda Classic. He clearly is one of the rising young stars on the PGA TOUR and will bring a lot of additional excitement to our event alongside the other top players in the world.” Read more »»
A full-day series of events and impressive line-up of speakers will highlight the inaugural Executive Women’s Day at The Honda Classic, an event established to engage female business leaders with the tournament and the PGA TOUR.
The Executive Women’s Day will take place on Tuesday February 28 at PGA National Resort and Spa as the best golfers in the world play practice rounds in preparation for The Honda Classic, which will begin Thursday March 1.
Approximately 225 women are expected to participate in the leadership discussions and professional development networking opportunities. Executive Women’s events held on site during select PGA TOUR events provide female corporate leaders with valuable information on not only how a world-class PGA TOUR event is run and its unique model of charitable contributions, but also the “best practices” of how to entertain clients and use corporate hospitality as a business building tool. Read more »»
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – When the best golfers in the world get together for the 2012 edition of The Honda Classic February 27-March 4, the main focus will rightfully be on the golf. But there will be enough things for spectators to do before, during and after the competition to keep them entertained morning through night.
The Michelob Ultra Terrace, home of the After Play Concert Series, will once again be the place to end the day after the final putt drops, projected to be at around 6 p.m. The String Theory Band will perform Friday night and the Bryan Bobo Band will perform on Saturday. Each night, the concerts will be enhanced by fireworks shows sponsored by Tire Kingdom / Yokohama.
“The concerts always appeal to the diverse audience attending The Honda Classic,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said, “We have two fantastic groups to provide the soundtrack to the evenings. Many of our spectators love to stick around, sing along and enjoy the night sky while celebrating another great day of golf.”Read more »»
A full-day series of events and impressive line-up of speakers will highlight the inaugural Executive Women’s Day at The Honda Classic, an event established to engage female business leaders with the tournament and the PGA TOUR.
The Executive Women’s Day will take place on Tuesday February 28 at PGA National Resort and Spa as the best golfers in the world play practice rounds in preparation for The Honda Classic, which will begin Thursday March 1.
Approximately 225 women are expected to participate in the leadership discussions and professional development networking opportunities. Executive Women’s events held on site during select PGA TOUR events provide female corporate leaders with valuable information on not only how a world-class PGA TOUR event is run and its unique model of charitable contributions, but also the “best practices” of how to entertain clients and use corporate hospitality as a business building tool. Read more »»
Rory Sabbatini, who held off a late charge by 2009 champion Y.E. Yang to win the 2011 Honda Classic, will defend his title against a world class field February 27-March 4 in the 2012 edition of the PGA TOUR event at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens.
Sabbatini, returning to The Honda after a seven-year absence, equaled a PGA National course record in the second round with a 6-under 64 en route to his sixth career PGA TOUR win. He entered the final day five strokes ahead of Yang and Jerry Kelly and withstood a rally by both players to finish one ahead of Yang and two clear of Kelly with a final-round, even-par 70.
“Luckily I had enough of a cushion that I didn’t get too concerned,” Sabbatini said. “I knew going into the day that if I shot even par, it was going to be tough to catch.”Read more »»
Tiger Woods, a new resident of Martin County, has committed to compete in the 2012 Honda Classic, a PGA TOUR event that will be played February 27-March 4 just 20 minutes from his Jupiter Island home at PGA National Resort & Spa.
It will be Woods’ first appearance at The Honda since he competed in the event as an amateur in 1993 and his first professional appearance in the Palm Beach County / Treasure Coast area of Florida that he now calls home.
“I have heard great things about The Honda Classic,” Woods said. “Now that I live here, I want to play whenever possible. Jack’s involvement in the tournament and the benefits to the local community are also important.” Read more »»
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – Kenny G, one of the world’s most renowned saxophonists who is also an avid golfer, will once again serve as host of The Honda Classic’s Wednesday Pro-Am and will perform a benefit concert for the tournament charity on March 1 at Eissey Campus Theatre.
The Kenny G Gold Pro-Am will be played Wednesday February 29, as the traditional prelude to the Thursday start of the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic.
The next night, Kenny G will trade his clubs for his sax and perform at the intimate 750-seat venue located on the Palm Beach State College campus across from the Gardens Mall on PGA Blvd. Read more »»
