Ernie Els Group Newsletter – September 2017

01 Sep

All the latest news and stories from the world of golf, Ernie Els Design, Ernie Els Wines and across Ernie’s various philanthropic interests.

1. Ernie selected as 2017 Heisman Humanitarian
The Heisman Trophy Trust has announced that Ernie Els will be awarded the 12th annual Heisman Humanitarian Award by the Heisman Trophy Trust in recognition of his diligent efforts in assisting those with Autism. The announcement took place at Liberty National Golf Club on August 28th, in conjunction with an Els for Autism 2017 Golf Challenge event. Heisman Trustee Sanford Wurmfeld made the announcement to the guests gathered at the event. Ernie was on hand along with fellow South African Branden Grace, a former member of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation.

“We are proud to name Ernie Els the recipient of our 2017 Heisman Humanitarian Award” said Heisman Trustee, Sanford Wurmfeld. “Mr. Els is a living testament to everything the Heisman Trophy Trust represents: athleticism and a spirit of giving to others. His work with the Autism community is quite admirable. We hope that other athletes will follow in Ernie’s footsteps and consider helping those less fortunate. We look forward to honoring Ernie at our Heisman Dinner Gala this December.”

The Heisman Trust honors the most outstanding college football player each year with the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The Trust has a mission to support amateur athletics and provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. The Heisman Humanitarian Award was created as an extension to the Heisman Trophy’s greater outreach to athletes who are providing opportunities to those less fortunate.

Since his son’s autism diagnosis, Els and his wife, Leizl, have been active in charities devoted to assisting those with Autism. Through the Els for Autism Foundation and the Els Center of Excellence, he has provided invaluable resources for others to realize the programs and therapies that can help an individual diagnosed with Autism. Furthermore, Els has helped raise considerable awareness for the Autism community.

“When my wife Liezl and I started the Foundation back in 2009, our son Ben had just been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,” stated Els. “From the beginning our goal has been to create The Center of Excellence which would be an example of what can be available to individuals on the spectrum. The Center has all the essential components on one campus, which makes it easier for families. It’s a game changer for the local and international autism community. I’m honored to receive this year’s Heisman Humanitarian Award recognizing my work with the autism community. Along with Liezl we will continue to devote our time to this important cause.”

Els joins the company of eleven other extraordinary Heisman Humanitarians including: Joey Cheek, Olympic speed skating gold medalist, for his dedication and service to the children of Darfur; George Martin, former defensive end of the New York Giants, who walked across America to raise funds for rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero after 9/11; Pat LaFontaine, former NHL star who, through his Companions in Courage Foundation, builds interactive playrooms in children’s hospitals to keep young patients connected to their families and friends; Mia Hamm, world-renowned soccer player, who raises funds and awareness for families needing marrow or cord blood transplants and continues to build opportunities for young women in sports; Warrick Dunn, former NFL running back, who has provided homes for single parent families to honor his mother’s memory; Marty Lyons, University of Alabama and New York Jet defensive tackle, whose foundation fulfils special wishes of children with terminal or life threatening illness; Jeff Gordon, four time NASCAR Cup Series champion and founder of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, which supports children battling cancer; David Robinson, former San Antonio Spurs center, who has dedicated himself to helping children and families in need in the San Antonio community; Joe Torre, legendary baseball player/manager who created the Joe Torre Safe at Home foundation that works to end the cycle of domestic violence; Boomer Esiason, All-Pro Quarterback whose Boomer Esiason Foundation fights cystic fibrosis; and Alan Page who assists students of color achieve their dreams in furthering their education.

The Heisman Trophy Trust is delighted to welcome Ernie Els into the Heisman family as the 2017 Heisman Humanitarian Winner. Els will receive his award at the 83rd Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Gala on Sunday, December 10th, in New York City. Tickets to the dinner gala are available online at www.Heisman.com.

About the Heisman Trophy Trust: The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.

About Els for Autism: The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by PGA Tour golfer Ernie Els and his wife Liezl (residents of Jupiter, FL), shortly after their son Ben was diagnosed with autism. The Foundation’s mission is to help people on the autism spectrum fulfil their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives. Els for Autism has offices in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the UK. To help fulfil its mission, Els for Autism is building a state-of-the-art Center of Excellence in Jupiter, FL, with a local, national and global reach. Donations can be made online at www.e4aannualgiving.org and by check (made payable to ‘Els for Autism’) and addressed to: Els for Autism Foundation, The Els Center of Excellence, 18370 Limestone Creek Road, Jupiter, FL 33458.

2. Ernie plays his 100th career major championship
Ernie’s Major Championship story began as a willowy, blonde-haired amateur in the 1989 Open at Royal Troon. At last month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, he achieved the rare feat of playing the 100th Major of his career. Only 12 other golfers in history had previously reached the same milestone.

The occasion was marked with a press conference and cake-cutting ceremony on the Tuesday of the PGA Championship, alongside Phil Mickelson who was also celebrating 100 Majors in the same week. “We had a bit of fun, kind of reminiscing about where it all started for us and how we’ve done this journey together,” commented Ernie. “It’s fair to say we both feel blessed to have had the success we’ve had. Of course, it was a proud moment, especially when you see the other golfers on the 100 Majors list already.”

Masters
Appearances: 23
Top-10s: 6
1994 (T8th), 2000 (2nd), 2001 (T6th), 2002 (T5th), 2003 (T6th), 2004 (2nd)

US Open
Appearances: 25
Top-10s: 10
1993 (T7th), 1994 (Won), 1996 (T5th), 1997 (Won), 2000 (T2nd), 2004 (T9th) 2005 (T5th), 2010 (3rd), 2012 (9th), 2013 (T4th)

Open Championship
Appearances: 27
Top-10s: 13
1992 (T5th), 1993 (T6th), 1996 (T2nd), 1997 (T10th), 2000 (T2nd), 2003 (T3rd), 2002 (Won), 2004 (2nd), 2006 (3rd), 2007 (T4th), 2008 (T7th), 2009 (T8th), 2012 (Won)

USPGA Championship
Appearances: 25
Top-10s: 6
1995 (T3rd), 2003 (T5th), 2004 (T4th), 2007 (3rd), 2009 (T6th), 2014 (T7th)

The 100 Majors Club
1. Jack Nicklaus – 164 majors
2. Gary Player – 150 majors
3. Tom Watson – 145 majors
4. Arnold Palmer – 142 majors
5. Raymond Floyd – 127 majors
6. Sam Snead – 119 majors
7. Ben Crenshaw – 118 majors
8. Gene Sarazen – 112 majors
9. Tom Kite – 109 majors
10. Mark O’Meara – 109 majors
11. Bernhard Langer – 104 majors
12. Sir Nick Faldo – 100 majors
13. Ernie Els – 100 majors
14. Phil Mickelson – 100 majors

3. Ernie Els announces investment & partnership in 18Birdies
Ernie Els recently announced his investment and partnership with mobile golf technology startup, 18Birdies. In his new role, Ernie will advise in connection with the company’s innovative mobile app technology, which is designed to expand golf participation and inspire positivity on the course. In addition, 18Birdies’ cloud-based tournament management software will provide live scoring for the 2017 Els for Autism Golf Challenge, the largest charity-driven amateur tournament in the world and now in its seventh year.

“Too often, players lose the joy of the game in the number on a scorecard,” said Els. “The 18Birdies team uses technology not only to improve game performance, but to inspire the mental approach to the game and ultimately help people enjoy their golf more. I applaud that. I’ve seen what their technology can do and really believe in the continued innovation they are bringing to the golf experience. You know, if we’re going to get more young people playing golf, which we have to, then we need technology like this.”

Els is no stranger to entrepreneurship, as he has a number of successful ventures including a full-service golf course design company, Ernie Els Design, The Els Club Resorts, Els Performance Golf Academy, Ernie Els Wines, and an ever-growing number of Big Easy Winebar & Grills located around the world.

“We’re very honored that Ernie has chosen to support us with his time, golf wisdom, and investment,” said 18Birdies Founder and CEO, Eddy Lui. “Not only is Els one of the most storied players in PGA TOUR history, he is an accomplished business owner and will provide invaluable insight as we continue to develop our platform for novice and experienced golfers alike.”

18Birdies latest innovation in golf is its recently introduced DreamGames campaign, which aims to increase golf participation by rewarding users for simply playing golf, no matter how good or bad they play. The more golf a user plays, the more chances they have to win daily prizes such as premium drivers, wedges, golf balls and cash. Other major prizes include a group trip to play golf with professional golfer and social media sensation, Paige Spiranac; or the chance to win one of 12 grand prize dream golf experiences playing in the Wednesday Pro-Am at the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational. 18Birdies has seen a positive impact on participation, as DreamGames users are playing 42 per cent more rounds than the average app user.

About 18Birdies
18Birdies is reimagining the world of golf through technology.  Our mobile app leverages the power of gamification and social communities to make golf a more fun, exciting and connected experience. We offer features that inspire golfers of all generations to enhance their game, share their experiences, play more and increase their enjoyment of golf. For more information, visit www.18Birdies.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Anish Patel, 18Birdies, telephone 510.396.7527 or email anish.patel@18birdies.com.

4. Ernie partners with leading sport scholarship agency Athletes-USA
Ernie Els has partnered with reputable scholarship agency, Athletes-USA to recruit worldwide student-athletes from various sports into American universities within the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. Founded in 2008, Athletes-USA is comprised of former college athletes, coaches and scouts working together to market and manage scholarships to some of the world’s best known universities. With their network of over 20,000 American college coaches Athletes-USA has helped to deliver scholarships to over 54 countries globally and growing.

“I am delighted to partner with Athletes-USA,” said Ernie. As many know, I’m very passionate about cultivating new talents and helping young players get to the next level. The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation was founded in 1999 specifically for this purpose; to produce successful young leaders and to help develop them to their fullest potential. But scholarships to universities aren’t as common as they are in America. This is where Athletes-USA steps in. They take a look at you, your talent, your grades, and the overall picture to match and place you into the best university. I think that this is a great opportunity for young junior golfers and all student-athletes who are looking to come to America and attend university on scholarship. This is a game-changer for anyone looking to go further.”

Athletes-USA is able to place student-athletes, from start to finish, in twenty-seven different sports and offers two programs as part of their service, which includes an individual profile on the website and database accessible to their network of coaches and universities. Applicants are also provided with a personal recruiting mentor to help guide them through the process along with providing valuable support during their college careers.

Watch the video “Welcome to the Family”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF4UZ0mxh2U

“Athletes-USA is excited to announce our new partnership with Ernie Els and The Ernie Els Group,” said Athletes-USA Founder, Chris Vidal. “We welcome this relationship with such a well-respected name in the world of golf and sports. With their help we will further the emphasis of education in sports and focus on helping top level student athletes become champions in the world of academia and sports.”

Contacts
Chris Vidal, Athletes-USA LLC T: +1 561 543 1505 E: chris@athletes-usa.com
Piet Pieters, The Ernie Els Group T: +1 561 315 3069 E: piet.pieters@ernieels.com

Connect with Athletes-USA social media platforms
Website: www.athletes-usa.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/athletesusa/
Instagram – @athletesusa
Twitter  – @AthletesUSA
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRWd7nQdxyuUDCwSEStYmMw

5. Els Iced Coffee…the story so far!
Those with a keen eye for detail will have noticed a new logo on the back of Ernie’s golf cap, Els Iced Coffee. This exciting venture is fast gathering momentum in the US, where it is being launched on a region-by-region basis. The new Els Iced Coffee website has also gone live.

Here we have the story so far…

Cayce Kerr, businessman and founder of Els Iced Coffee, first met Ernie Els on the range at Royal Birkdale in 1989, just before Ernie turned professional. They’ve been friends ever since, often paired together on the golf course during Cayce’s tenure on the bag with other top players. Then, in the spring of 2016, Cayce began caddying for Ernie. It was this latest chapter in their friendship that provided the catalyst for Els Iced Coffee.

“Ernie was in a meeting in Florida with his management team at the start of 2017,” recalls Cayce. “I’d already got to the stage where we’d created samples of the iced coffee and I was excited about the product, so I brought a few bottles into the office for everyone to try. They all loved it. In fact, Ernie loved it so much that he said he wanted to put his name to it. That’s how Els Iced Coffee was born and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Ernie himself has, of course, proved in recent years that his entrepreneurial skills are as potent as his silky-smooth golf swing. He is the figure-head and driving force behind a diverse range of endeavours such as international golf course design, wines, restaurants, residential property, golf academies and a partnership in an athletic scholarship agency. In particular, Ernie’s knowledge of wine production and international sales and distribution, will have many shared synergies in terms of growing the Els Iced Coffee brand.

Indeed, building a successful business from scratch is a well-trodden path for Ernie. When discussing the commonalities of high-achievement in business and in sport, he believes there are a lot of parallels. “You need to be dedicated, you have to work hard and be extremely focused on your goals,” says Ernie. “You can’t live a regular 9-5 life if you want to get to the top either in sport or in business. You have to make sacrifices and that was something that I learnt at the start of my career. I’ve also since learnt that you need to surround yourself with a great team. And obviously you need a great product.”

On that criteria, Els Iced Coffee has all the right ingredients for success!

What is it?
The key ingredients of Els Iced Coffee are fresh cream from a dairy in Wisconsin, a blend of coffee flavours and, of course, alcohol. Indeed, it is the first such product available in the US with a 12.5% ABV content, which partly helps explain its unique taste.

“In that sense, we’re first to the market with this product,” explains Cayce, “and that’s obviously very exciting for us. The taste profile is extremely distinctive and it has tested favourably against a number of competitor products. We’ve had very positive responses; people describing it as light, clean, refreshing, smooth and well-balanced. It’s extremely drinkable and there’s really no ambiguity; we find people tend to love it straight away.”

Els Iced Coffee is currently available only in certain states in the US (see below) but distribution is likely to expand soon into new regions. Ultimately, it is anticipated the product will have a global reach. Two additional new flavours, chocolate and mint chocolate, have also recently been introduced to the Els Iced Coffee range.

For more information
Telephone Cayce Kerr, (001) 714 612 3204, or email caycekerr@yahoo.com.
Visit the website: www.elsicedcoffee.com.

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