The Buzz

EVENTS

Generating "the buzz" is what we do best. GMS has created and staged some memorable publicity events in golf.

ING Industry Honors

The International Network of Golf was formed in 1990 and is a non-profit, media-based networking association whose mission is to improve and enhance communication and education throughout the golf industry. GMS's president, Holly G., is a founding member and an advisory board member. GMS has marketed numerous programs and sponsorships for ING since its inception. In an effort to elevate ING's visibility and recognition in the industry, GMS co-created the Industry Honors in 1994. The Industry Honors have been called "the Academy Awards" of golf and recognize outstanding achievements in a variety of business and marketing categories. Nominations are submitted from members and non-members of ING. Committee chairs along with their committee members select 3 final nominees which are then voted on by the ING membership. GMS' Holly G. is chairperson and coordinates the event held annually at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. The 13th annual Industry Honors were presented at the 2006 PGA Show. Retired PGA of America Executive Director Jim Awtrey was a top honoree recognizing "Play Golf America" - the PGA of America's nationwide initiative to promote player development and grow the game. Past winners represent a "Who's Who" in the golf biz.

Get Teezel-ed!

GMS is often contacted by small to midsized companies to generate the biggest buzz for the fewest bucks! It's a challenge for new companies to make noise when they are competing against big ad budgets of more established companies. GMS is one of the best at grassroots "gorilla" marketing. For Teezel, a tee-shaped pretzel snack food company, GMS was put to that test. GMS was hired to stage Teezel's product launch at the 2002 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. GMS combined a number of small, targeted and cost-effective ideas that made Teezel the "Oasis" for convention starved attendees during the four day trade show. Large crystalline golf ball snack bowls were placed in prime booth spaces throughout the convention floor. "Get Teezel-ed" models distributed snack bags everywhere. A "Count the Teezels" contest drove hundreds of new customers to Teezel's booth registering to win a free $1000 order. Teezel limousines circled outside the convention center creating eye-catching mobile billboards. Teezel provided 24/7 limo service for the media and sponsored a media cocktail party on Saturday night. In addition, Teezels were donated to the media center which kept hungry writers very happy and Teezels top of mind while munching and reporting on best new products at the show! Through contacts, creativity and gorilla ingenuity, GMS turned Teezel into a snack food giant overnight.

A Night of Golf Passion

If you remember watching the Super Bowl in 2000, the list of advertisers was a string of unknown "dot.com" companies spending millions to get noticed. The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando was no different that year. GMS brought together two emerging golf internet companies - LiquidGolf and Book4Golf - and presented "A Night of Golf Passion." A gala dinner featuring the ING Industry Honors was followed by a private VIP concert by the Grammy award winning musical group, Hootie and the Blowfish. The SRO crowd that packed the Peabody Hotel ballroom buzzed about the event for weeks, months, even years later.

The Great Shoe Swap

The place: Las Vegas. The venue: The 1998 PGA International Show. GMS staged a publicity event called "The Great Shoe Swap" for start-up footwear company, Bite Golf. Show attendees and members of the media were invited to trade their street shoes for a comfortable pair of Bite shoes. Hundreds of "BITE ME" hats and buttons were distributed. Attendees were walking billboards for Bite throughout the show floor. By the end of the three day event, shoes of all brands were piled mountain high in Bite's booth providing the perfect photo "opp" which appeared in numerous golf magazines articles following the show. The forfeited shoes were donated to a local charity. Bite hit the bulls-eye on the media's "new product" radar.

Tin Cup Movie Premier

In 1996, GMS' client, iGOLF, was selected as the "official golf web site" for the movie Tin Cup starring Kevin Costner. Cyberspace, Hollywood and golf were brought together when GMS coordinated the advance private screening of this highly anticipated golf flick in La Jolla, CA. iGOLF hosted over 200 VIPs from the golf industry including many of golf's top manufacturers. It was a red carpet event with many of golf's top "R & D" minds mingling in the crowd. The late Ely Callaway, president and CEO of Callaway Golf, noted that "no one had ever brought together the golf manufacturing community for such a fun event!"