INNOVATIVE GOLF CONTESTS ARE A “HOLE-IN-ONE”

It’s the amateur golfers who sink the amazing shots to win SCA’s big money golf games. But, PGA Tour player Mike Weir was a big winner in November, thanks to Bell Canada and SCA.

Weir beat Lee Westwood and Vijay Singh at the American Express Championship earning the $1 million tournament prize, plus a $275,000 bonus from Bell Canada for breaking into the PGA’s “money list”. Weir moved from 27th to 6th place with his big win, earning him the bonus backed by SCA.

Of course, SCA is best known for backing “Hole-In-One” games and the contests are as hot today as they were when the company started more than 14 years ago. In the past year, the company introduced several innovative twists on the venerable game and initiated what just might be the world’s largest golf game.

SCA partnered with Chipshot.com, the Net’s top golf site, in the Ultimate Par-3 Course to raise money for The First Tee™ and Prevent Blindness America. The partners designed a 49-hole layout that covered every state in the continental U.S. and selected golfer Mike Langella, from Manasquan, N. J., to play the amazing course with prize winnings benefiting two charities.

The 26-year-old, two-handicapper began his 15-day sprint around America in Phoenix, Ariz. and played one par-3 hole in each state, covering 9,003 yards, four time zones and using only ground transportation. If Langella made a Hole-In-One, The First Tee and Prevent Blindness America would split $1 million. For each birdie the charities shared a $1,000 prize and for every par hole, Langella raised $250. Langella said, “It was a once-in-a-lifetime oppor- tunity to play across the country and help two charities with causes that are close to my heart.”

In another epic tournament, amateur golfer Larry A. Price won the $20,000 grand prize for his Hole-In-One shot during the U.S. Army Community & Family Support Center’s “Shot of the Century” contest. The Army-wide Hole-In-One contest, which was played at 52 military installations, offered up to 70 players per location the chance to win $20,000 for a Hole-In-One, and $1,000 for any golfer who could place their shot within six inches of the edge of the cup.

SCA offers numerous games in addition to the popular “Hole-in-One” contests. Other games include: