Traveling Presidents Cup trophy hits New Zealand

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The Presidents Cup has spent time at various places in New Zealand.

Melbourne, Victoria, AUS -- The Presidents Cup trophy will be in New Zealand from Wednesday, July 20, to Friday, July 22, as part of a tour to reach golf fans in advance of the upcoming Presidents Cup, November 15-20 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia.

On Wednesday, the trophy will visit Ronald McDonald House Auckland. The Ronald McDonald House foundations in New Zealand, Australia and the United States have previously benefited from donations by The Presidents Cup. Unlike most sporting events, players do not receive prize money at The Presidents Cup. Instead, the PGA TOUR pledges to contribute to charities, which are nominated by the players, captains and captains' assistants from both teams. Players including Michael Campbell, Nick O'Hern and Chris DiMarco have selected Ronald McDonald Houses as the recipients of funds in previous years. Families staying in Ronald McDonald House will not only get a rare opportunity to have a photo with the trophy, but All Black Legend Grant Fox will also in attendance.

The traveling trophy will also visit local golf clubs Titirangi Golf Club and Royal Auckland Golf Club. The winning team from the Titirangi Golf Club mid-week men's field tournament will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with The Presidents Cup. Children participating in a school holiday clinic at Royal Auckland Golf Club will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with the trophy.

On Thursday, the trophy will make its way to Wellington, where it will visit Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, regarded by many as one of the greatest links courses in the Southern Hemisphere and 12 times the host of the New Zealand Open. A visit to Te Papa Cultural Centre in Wellington is also planned.

"Golf as a sport is growing not only in New Zealand, but also globally. We are well aware of the many golf fans in New Zealand, and that passion is evident in the numbers of New Zealanders who have made plans to attend The Presidents Cup in Melbourne in November," said The Presidents Cup Executive Director Matt Kamienski. "Having the travelling trophy in New Zealand next week gives all those avid golf fans a great opportunity to see it on their home soil."

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, site of the 1998 event, will host the 2011 event, November 15-20. Fred Couples and Greg Norman are returning to captain the United States and International Teams, respectively. New Zealander Frank Nobilo will serve as the Captain's Assistant for the International Team.

Nobilo, along with fellow New Zealander Greg Turner, played a significant role in the only International Team victory in 1998 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Michael Campbell formed part of the 2000 and 2005 teams.