February 3, 2017 by Steve Hill in News with 0 comments
Adidas Terrex — Adidas’ recently re-named outdoor brand — will sponsor a course at this month’s Gentlemen’s Club Challenge, tournament organizers announced this week.
The move is another expansion of Adidas’ interest in disc golf and brings it to a more visible level, as the tournament serves as the kickoff to the 2017 PDGA National Tour. The German brand first stepped into the sport last season with grassroots sponsorships of several Innova Discs players, including Paul McBeth. That relationship has continued to flourish, with five more players – including Philo Brathwaite, Madison Walker, and Eagle McMahon – being added to the roster in the last month.
Adidas Terrex Marketing Manager Diane Kay said the company was excited to be involved with the Gentlemen’s Club Challenge – it will be her first time attending a disc golf event – and that it would serve as a proving ground for future involvement in the sport.
“We are going to try it out and see where we go from here for the rest of the year,” Kay said. “We will have some involvement in other challenges, but nothing in stone yet…We are going to wait to see how this one goes. “
Gentlemen’s Club Tournament Director Jeff Jacquart said he was grateful for the partnership and hoped it would pave the way for additional prominent brands to recognize the sport.
“The GCC has been fortunate to have several great sponsors over the years, and having Adidas Terrex join that list is incredible,” Jacquart said. “They’re not only contributing financially, but they’ll also have a physical presence at the event, which says a lot about how we’ve grown as a sport. Having a major global brand on board can only help attract other big sponsors as they start to understand what disc golf has to offer.”
He also highlighted the growing relationship between Innova and Adidas and how it played an instrumental part in the sponsorship.
“I have to thank Innova Disc Golf for delivering Adidas Terrex to us,” Jacquart said. “None of this would’ve happened without their continued support. They do more behind the scenes to grow the sport than most people realize.”
PDGA Events Manager Mike Downes said he appreciated Adidas’ involvement and hoped it would result in continued opportunities for growth.
“We are thrilled to have Adidas Outdoor on board as a sponsor of the GCC, and in the larger picture, disc golf in general,” Downes said. “This is a huge step forward in terms of a greater exposure of the sport and our athletes, and we are confident that it is a trend that will continue to evolve over the coming years.”
The Gentlemen’s Club Challenge takes place from February 23-26 in Henderson, Nevada.
