In the News

[Jeffrey Reed]

Wilson Golf Reed On The Greens, by Jeffrey Reed
June 17, 2011
Copyright 2011 London Ontario Golf

Fashionable apparel is just as much a part of the game of golf as is making birdie putts. From the cumbersome yet stylish tweed jacket of Old Tom Morris, to the florescent flavour of Rickie Fowler, looking good from tee to green – and at the 19th hole – has always gone hand-in-hand with choosing the right clubs and making the shots.

Gone are the days of soaking wet polo shirts and wrinkled khaki pants – remember Tom Lehman in the 1980s? High-performance apparel with moisture wicking properties and UV protection helps you look good even during a five-hour round during an Arizona afternoon.

We at London Ontario Golf are proud to have The Antigua Group on board as an official apparel partner. I wear a full line of Antigua clothing while taping my new weekly golf show, Forest City Fairways, on Rogers TV http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=9&sid=4282.

You’ll often see me wearing Antigua’s polo shirts with Desert Dry moisture management, which keeps me dry while challenging the local course pros to a signature hole, and when under the spotlight of the camera lights. I’m in good company, too. Headquartered in Peoria, Ariz., The Antigua Group, through its license sports division, holds license agreements with Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), along with numerous American universities and colleges for men's, women's and children's apparel, headwear and outerwear. Antigua additionally designs, produces and supplies product for corporate America and specialty retail managed under its corporate division. Its golf division also holds license agreements with the PGA TOUR, LPGA and the PGA of America.

Summer golf has just begun, but it’s never too early to look ahead at golf fashion. Antigua's fall based outerwear is created to function in various climates and incorporates the trend that focuses on layering. The current opinion is that as weather fluctuates throughout the day it is more desirable to take off-and-add on layers to adjust for comfort and function.
Antigua has the options to meet this demand.

To demonstrate, the Antigua layering line-up start as base layers that can be combined with wind resistant or water resistant wind shirts and jackets as well as worn with fuller weight outerwear pieces to function against more inclement weather. Antigua has an excellent base layer long sleeve mock called 'Hero'. Hero uses Antigua's proprietary Desert Dry moisture management technology and is constructed with a hyper-micro poly fleeced backing against a super soft interlock face which has enough weight to be worn alone and is light enough that it layers remarkably well. Add to that the next tier in style - 'Succeed', consisting of a contemporary color block stretch jersey half zip shell with a micro fleece brushed back which can be worn on its own, under a jacket, over a base layer - or both depending on climate and preference.

To round out Antigua's outerwear collection offering, styles are developed to function according to climate needs. Antigua has a great wind shirt and wind jacket in styles 'Rendition' and 'Highland'. Antigua's Desert Breeze wind block fabric serves as a guard against wind while offering warmth. Made with a four-way stretch laminated jersey bonded to a water resistant membrane, Rendition and Highland both offer water resistance as well as comfort against the wind and rain. Rendition, styled with contemporary color blocking details, is available as a traditional pullover wind shirt while Highland is designed as a full zip front wind jacket. The stretch aspect of these pieces allows them to be multi functional - on the course and off.

Antigua has a variety of great golf jackets. 'Style Motion' is a full zip jacket constructed with a stretch jersey face bonded against a high-low fleeced 'wave' pattern engineered for warmth while allowing breathability for comfort. 'Style Explorer' is built for warmth while being light weight and ideal for layering. With its water resistant woven shell bonded against a micro-fleece inner core Explorer wears and travels well and is well suited for both cold and precipitation alike. Antigua equally offers thin-layer micro fleece shells in both pullover as well as full zip styling as exceptional layering options in styles 'Frost' and 'Sleet' as well as traditional fleece hooded styles in both a pullover as well as full front zip styling. So, no need to let weather concerns factor into your round as Antigua has the right outerwear to get you into the clubhouse warm, comfortable and dry.

Antigua outerwear selections for 2011 include: Atlas Jacket - 100% polyester water proof and fully seamed sealed jacket with contrast bonding details. Removable ball cleaner cloth snapped in wearers front pocket, adjustable velcro cuffs, toggle bungee bottom and hidden inside left chest pocket with Antigua branding. Men's and Women's Traverse - 100% Polyester jersey bonded with a water resistant membrane to a fleece inner layer as a full zip jacket with adjustable velcro cuffs, chest and side pockets with Antigua branding at back neck.

Men's and Women's Succeed - 84% polyester/16% spandex jersey fleece long sleeve pullover with 3/4 zip placket, and contrast inset detail at shoulder. Antigua branding on right sleeve.
Viper - 100% polyester Desert Dry moisture management fleeced jersey full zip jacket with contrast color insets with Antigua branding on the right sleeve.

Rendition - 100% polyester Desert Dry Xtra-lite with Desert Breeze interlock with a water resistant inner membrane as a long sleeve pull over wind shirt with contrast color insets and Antigua branding on right sleeve.

Highland - 100% polyester Desert Dry Xtra-lite with Desert Breeze interlock with a water resistant inner membrane as a long sleeve full zip wind jacket with contrast color insets and Antigua branding on right sleeve.

Antigua & Tournament Sports Marketing Enter 20th Year of Partnership in Canada

Antigua is celebrating 20 years of partnership in the Canadian golf market with Tournament Sports Marketing of Waterloo, Ontario.

“Way back in 1991 when Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open wearing Antigua apparel, we began a fantastic relationship with Tournament Sports Marketing and its principal Mr. Kim Bauer in the Canadian golf market,” said Ron McPherson, president and CEO of the Antigua Group.
“Kim and his team have done a remarkable job in positioning Antigua as one of the top brands in Canada’s golf industry. Consistency, reliability, and longevity have prevailed in a golf market that is every bit as difficult as the U.S. market.”

PGA of America Extends Partnership With Antigua to Include Licensing for 2012 Ryder Cup and 2011-12 PGA Championships
The extension marks the 17th consecutive year that Antigua has sold merchandise at the PGA Championship. The company has also sold its apparel at every U.S.-based Ryder Cup since 1991.
Golf Retirement Plus™ Presenting Partnership is Also Renewed

Antigua has extended its partnership with The PGA of America to include licensing for the 2012 Ryder Cup and 2011-12 PGA Championships. The company also renewed its presenting sponsorship with Golf Retirement Plus™ for another three years.

Antigua will continue to serve as a non-exclusive licensee to sell men's and women's apparel onsite at the: 2011 PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga.; 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort; and the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. In addition, Antigua has retained rights to sell PGA of America event logoed apparel at golf facilities in the United States, as well as in The PGA's Corporate Merchandise Program.

The extension marks the 17th consecutive year that Antigua has sold merchandise at the PGA Championship. The company has also sold its apparel at every U.S.-based Ryder Cup since 1991.

"The Antiqua brand symbolizes excellence in apparel, which is a positive reflection of the high standing and regard The PGA of America and our 27,000 men and women professionals hold as the recognized experts in the game and business of golf," said PGA President Allen Wronowski. "We are thrilled by The Antigua Group's long-standing commitment to provide first-class logoed apparel at both the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, and are also greatly appreciative of Antigua's continued support of the financial goals and dreams of PGA members through Golf Retirement Plus."

With the company's roots in the golf market, Antigua features sports apparel for essentials, wovens, outerwear, accessories, performance and more. Antigua has served as a sponsor of the Golf Retirement Plus since 1998.

"All of us at Antigua are very proud of our long-lasting relationship with The PGA of America, and we look forward to continued, mutual success," said Ron McPherson, president and CEO of the Antigua Group.
Founded in 1997, Golf Retirement Plus™ is a supplemental retirement program for PGA Professionals and apprentices, GCSAA Superintendents, and CMAA Club Managers, which allows them to make their own contributions or have their employers contribute to their Golf Retirement Plus account on their behalf. PGA Professionals may also earn personal incentives by participating in the Golf Retirement Plus Sponsor Programs.

For more information on Antigua, visit the company websites www.antigua.com and www.shop.antigua.com.

One of my favourite golfers is Antigua playing pro and LPGA Tour star Brittany Lang (we used to play the same driver, fairway metal and hybrid lines), so I’m in good company. You can see me in action, wearing my Antigua apparel, at http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=9&gid=81980 .

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Wish to comment? E-mail jeff@londonontariogolf.com with the subject line, Letter To The Editor. Published responses will be posted at the 19th Hole section of the London Ontario Golf In the News Message Board.

About Wilson Golf
For nearly a century, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have won 61 Major championships, more than any other iron manufacturer in history. Wilson Staff's D-FY combo set, FG Tour irons, Conform glove and the distance D:25 golf ball were honored with Golf Digest's Hot List awards in 2010. Wilson Staff, Profile, ProStaff and Hope consumer brands continue that tradition today by delivering the highest quality golf equipment to all golfers to enhance performance on the course and overall enjoyment of the game.