TOUR employees walking toward a healthier lifestyle

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR kicked-off an eight-week "Walk-2-Win" fitness program today, aimed at raising awareness for the positive fitness attributes of golf as well as improving overall employee health and wellness. As part of its existing corporate wellness program, the PGA TOUR Human Resources partnered with ACCUSPLIT, the Official Pedometer of the PGA TOUR, and a local YMCA to facilitate the company-wide initiative which incorporates weekly health tips, team walks and step calculations with ACCUSPLIT pedometers.

"Health and fitness is a top priority for the PGA TOUR, both on and off the golf course," said avid fitness enthusiast Tom Wade, the PGA TOUR's Chief Marketing Officer. "We are pleased to team up with official marketing partner ACCUSPLIT to express this commitment and lead by example." To kick off the program, Wade will lead a gallery of staff in a group exercise walk, along with Ron Sutton (aka "Mr. Pedometer"), President of ACCUSPLIT, and local YMCA fitness trainers.

"We want to improve the overall wellness of our employees for a more viable, healthy work force," said Tom Perry, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President of Human Resources. The ongoing PGA TOUR wellness program includes a health fair, free exercise classes, blood donation drives, WeightWatchers at Work, Lunch and Learn lecture series, bike to work program, employee discounts for health and wellness oriented services and products, and monthly health communications.

For the participants, the goal is to walk 10,000 steps per day over the program period and draw inspiration from the important training regimens of elite golfers such as diet, regular exercise, flexibility, mental preparation, and determination. Familiar PGA TOUR values are woven into the program -- such as leadership, team work, integrity and commitment -- and reinforced with weekly team meetings and inspirational messages.

Each participant pledges a small participation fee, which includes a walking guide, a "step tracker" sheet and an ACCUSPLIT pedometer to count the number of steps, Perry said. Employees are grouped into teams of five participants with assigned team leaders. Individuals and teams are eligible for incentive prizes throughout the program. Once the pilot event concludes, the TOUR intends to replicate the program two more times this year. Future goals are to broaden participation by including staff at all Tournament Players Clubs (TPC) locations across the country.

"We encourage everyone to walk more at home or wherever they are, and to set a goal of attaining 10,000 steps per day," says Sutton. "All the results will come from hard work, dedication and team work."

In addition, to continue the PGA TOUR's commitment to charitable giving, a portion of the participation fees will be donated to the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.