PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- For the ninth consecutive year, people across the United States have the opportunity to improve their golf game during the entire month of May by participating in Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month.

Play Golf America's PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to reach new golfers and help existing golfers improve their game with a free, 10-minute golf lesson conducted by PGA Professionals nationwide. It is a growth-of-the-game initiative between The PGA of America, Golf Digest, The Golf Channel and Golf For Women. Nike Golf is the official program sponsor.
PGA Free Lesson Month is one of the most successful growth-of-the-game campaigns in the golf industry. Last year, the program shattered its own eight-year growth record by a 32 percent margin. Almost 6,900 PGA Professionals from 5,572 facilities nationwide gave an estimated 122,160 free lessons to amateurs across the country. PGA Professionals indicated that 56 percent of the free lessons they conducted were with new customers. PGA Professionals each gave an average of 17 lessons with each lesson lasting more than 18 minutes. A total of 36,890 hours were dedicated to free lessons. The entire list of PGA Professionals and their respective facilities hosting free lessons this year is posted on the updated Web site, www.playgolfamerica.com.

“For the ninth consecutive year, PGA Free Lesson Month continues to impact The PGA of America's mission to increase golf participation among new and occasional golfers,” said The PGA of America President, Roger Warren. “With the support of Golf Digest, Golf For Women, The Golf Channel and Nike Golf, we look forward to continued growth and sharing the expertise of PGA Professionals with golfers of all skill levels,” Warren added.

“Total Improvement is the theme of our May issue and we’re challenging amateur golfers everywhere to make over every aspect of their games,” said Jerry Tarde, Chairman and Editorial Director of Golf Digest Publications. “Getting hands-on instruction from a PGA Professional through PGA Free Lesson Month is a perfect way for us all to jumpstart our makeover campaigns.”

GOLF DIGEST PUBLICATIONS:
Golf Digest Publications has teamed with The PGA of America since the campaign’s inception. The program is covered in Golf Digest, Golf World and Golf For Women to a combined audience of nearly 10 million readers. Golf Digest’s May issue will feature PGA Free lesson Month, along with a roster of PGA Professionals nationwide offering free 10-minute lessons. There will also be an insert sweepstakes card for readers to sign up for a free lesson and register to win a golf getaway vacation. In addition, the program will be featured in the May/June issue of Golf For Women, the April 7 issue of the weekly Golf World and on www.golfdigest.com. In addition to PGA Free Lesson Month, Golf Digest’s May “Total Improvement Issue” comprises features addressing every part of a golfer’s game, such as equipment, fitness, fashion and more.

THE GOLF CHANNEL:
The Golf Channel, in its fourth year as partner, will dedicate May as PGA Free Lesson Month on its instructional golf show, “Academy Live.” The PGA of America President Roger Warren will be the special guest on the first program scheduled for May 1. Three more specialty shows will feature PGA Professionals, including PGA Teacher of the Year Peter Krause and PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino, who will communicate the message of the program to nearly 70 million viewers. In addition, The Golf Channel will promote the program on-air in their nightly news program, “Golf Central,” and online at www.TheGolfChannel.com.

NIKE GOLF:
Nike Golf, in its capacity as the official sponsor for a fourth consecutive year, is supplying prizes for the Sweepstakes winners.
“We are delighted to serve as the official sponsor of this important initiative for the fourth consecutive year,” said Nike Golf’s U.S. General Manager, Cindy Davis. “We do so because we believe in it. Every free lesson provided by PGA Professionals is another step towards the industry’s goal of increasing golf participation.”

SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS:
Every golfer who takes a free lesson and sends in a free lesson card, will be entered to win a grand prize sweepstakes package. The amateur Grand Prize winner, picked at random, will win a four-day trip to the PGA Village that includes a three-and-a-half-day PGA Golf School in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The Grand Prize for the PGA Professional who gives the most lessons is an appearance on The Golf Channel’s “Academy Live.” Both the amateur and PGA Professional will receive a custom-fit set of Nike golf clubs, footwear and apparel. One hundred PGA First Swing Golfers Guide booklets and a dozen Nike Ignite golf balls or Leadbetter’s Quick Tips will also be awarded chosen at random.

PGA Free Lesson Month is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate participation in the game of golf under “Play Golf America,” a national marketing umbrella campaign that is supported by the golf industry. All participating PGA Professionals in the Free Lesson Month campaign can be found on the industry supported Web site www.playgolfamerica.com. Play Golf America was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of Allied Associations including: the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.