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Coming this summer – PowerPlay Golf
More gender equity
By ED TRAVIS
More gender equity
By ED TRAVIS
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Some say what golf needs is more gender equity, i.e.,
evening the playing field between men and women to
create more fun and competition plus attracting new
players to the game. To that end a new golf format is
being introduced this summer called PowerPlay Golf,
a novel short-form scoring format offering two pin
placements on each green.
We will get our first look at this interesting idea during
a made-for-TV 12-player field event on Memorial Day
over the Celtic Manor Resort course between top lady
linksters Paula Creamer and Helen Alfedsson and
male stars including Hall of Fame member Gary
Player, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell
and John Daly. This is being billed as the first in a
series of events to be held worldwide to publicize
PowerPlay.
Live broadcast will be on Golf Channel at noon EDT
May 30 with re-broadcast on May 31 at 8:00 pm EDT.
Creamer said, “I am really looking forward to taking
part in PowerPlay Golf. It is wonderful that the event
has such a great mix of players from the different
tours. Golf needs something different and the
PowerPlay Golf live TV events are certainly going to put
our sport in the spotlight.”
evening the playing field between men and women to
create more fun and competition plus attracting new
players to the game. To that end a new golf format is
being introduced this summer called PowerPlay Golf,
a novel short-form scoring format offering two pin
placements on each green.
We will get our first look at this interesting idea during
a made-for-TV 12-player field event on Memorial Day
over the Celtic Manor Resort course between top lady
linksters Paula Creamer and Helen Alfedsson and
male stars including Hall of Fame member Gary
Player, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell
and John Daly. This is being billed as the first in a
series of events to be held worldwide to publicize
PowerPlay.
Live broadcast will be on Golf Channel at noon EDT
May 30 with re-broadcast on May 31 at 8:00 pm EDT.
Creamer said, “I am really looking forward to taking
part in PowerPlay Golf. It is wonderful that the event
has such a great mix of players from the different
tours. Golf needs something different and the
PowerPlay Golf live TV events are certainly going to put
our sport in the spotlight.”
Sponsored by Swedish car company Saab, the event
will be televised by live broadcast on Golf Channel and
Sky Sports, to ensure the event will reach millions of
homes worldwide. It marks the first stage of
PowerPlay golf’s strategy to launch its innovative nine-
hole, two-flag golf format, which is to debut in the
United States this summer.
“Competing against the men will be tough but a lot of
fun,” said Alfredsson, an LPGA Tour and Solheim Cup
winner and captain, who has competed against men
pros in non-tour events. “It is fantastic that PowerPlay
Golf is so keen to promote a mixed format. That can
only be good for the future of the women’s game at all
levels.”
The appearance of Creamer alongside McDowell
represents the first time that the reigning men’s and
women’s U.S. Open Champions have competed
against each other in a professional golf tournament
of this caliber.
PowerPlay Golf creates an exciting new strategic spin
on scoring and it allows viewers to strategize and
second-guess the players’ choices on every hole.
will be televised by live broadcast on Golf Channel and
Sky Sports, to ensure the event will reach millions of
homes worldwide. It marks the first stage of
PowerPlay golf’s strategy to launch its innovative nine-
hole, two-flag golf format, which is to debut in the
United States this summer.
“Competing against the men will be tough but a lot of
fun,” said Alfredsson, an LPGA Tour and Solheim Cup
winner and captain, who has competed against men
pros in non-tour events. “It is fantastic that PowerPlay
Golf is so keen to promote a mixed format. That can
only be good for the future of the women’s game at all
levels.”
The appearance of Creamer alongside McDowell
represents the first time that the reigning men’s and
women’s U.S. Open Champions have competed
against each other in a professional golf tournament
of this caliber.
PowerPlay Golf creates an exciting new strategic spin
on scoring and it allows viewers to strategize and
second-guess the players’ choices on every hole.
PowerPlay Golf competition is designed for nine
holes, featuring two flagsticks on every green. There
is a risk-and-reward decision to be made on each
hole, as golfers choose to play to the regulation hole
placement, designated by a White Flag, or try to score
extra points by playing to the more difficult placement
or Black Flag.
Opting for the Black Flag is called a “PowerPlay,” with
each player required to designate three “PowerPlays”
for the first eight holes. The ninth hole provides the
chance to score bonus points, but also to lose more
points than on previous holes.
Market research suggests that “PowerPlay Golf will be
extremely popular among women golfers,” said Peter
McEvoy, PowerPlay Golf’s Executive Director. “We are
committed to including women tour players in future
televised events and firmly believe the format will be a
real hit with women golfers around the world.”
holes, featuring two flagsticks on every green. There
is a risk-and-reward decision to be made on each
hole, as golfers choose to play to the regulation hole
placement, designated by a White Flag, or try to score
extra points by playing to the more difficult placement
or Black Flag.
Opting for the Black Flag is called a “PowerPlay,” with
each player required to designate three “PowerPlays”
for the first eight holes. The ninth hole provides the
chance to score bonus points, but also to lose more
points than on previous holes.
Market research suggests that “PowerPlay Golf will be
extremely popular among women golfers,” said Peter
McEvoy, PowerPlay Golf’s Executive Director. “We are
committed to including women tour players in future
televised events and firmly believe the format will be a
real hit with women golfers around the world.”