Golden Bear Tour Announces 2003 Schedule

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - The Golden Bear Tour is proud to announce its 2003 schedule, a season that will see the Tour visit numerous new venues, including the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, as well as Pointe West Golf Club and Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach.

Among the many outstanding returning event hosts are Loblolly Pines Golf Club (Hobe Sound), The Loxahatchee Club (Jupiter), Emerald Dunes (West Palm Beach), Ironhorse Country Club (West Palm Beach), Jonathan's Landing at Old Trail (Jupiter), Ibis Golf and Country Club (West Palm Beach) and PGA National (Palm Beach Gardens). The Champion Course at PGA National recently completed a $4.1 million dollar renovation in December 2002, with the assistance of Nicklaus Design. The Golden Bear Tour will kick off its eighth season June 4-6 at Loblolly Pines Golf Club and the Medalist Golf Club. The 15-event season will conclude with the Golden Bear Tour Championship Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at The Bear's Club, Jack Nicklaus' South Florida home club located in Jupiter.

The Golden Bear Tour's seventh year surpassed all expectations. The Tour has grown from 70 players in 1996 to a full field of 180 competitors. The 2002 participants represented 37 states and 12 countries, and competed for a total purse of $2.5 million.

Currently, 25 Golden Bear Tour graduates are competing on the PGA Tour and/or Nationwide Tour.

Former Golden Bear Tour players who earned their 2003 PGA Tour card: Briny Baird, Marco Dawson, Brian Gay, Andy Miller, Brenden Pappas, Tim Petrovic, Patrick Sheehan and Cameron Yancey.

Earning playing privileges on the 2003 Nationwide Tour are 17 former Golden Bear Tour members: John Curley, Jason Dufner, Ken Duke, Rafael Echnique, Eric Frishette, Bobby Gage, Stephen Gangluff, Ryan Hietala, Mayson Petty, Rick Price, Anthony Rodriguez, Steve Scott, Oscar Serna, Mike Sposa, Roland Thatcher, Tjaart VanDerWalt and Alan Zimmerman.

Jack Nicklaus launched the Golden Bear Tour in 1996 to create an arena in which players could come together to compete under tournament pressure while developing their mental skills and physical conditioning. The Tour was founded based on Jack Nicklaus' belief that aspiring Nationwide and PGA Tour players could benefit not only from keen competition on solid golf courses, but also from expert physical conditioning and sports psychology. Events are played within one hour driving distance of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Executive Sports International, LLC, an IGPGroup, LLC associate company, manages the Golden Bear Tour under the direction of Rick Whitfield and Cindy Pearce. Kenneth R. Kennerly, President and CEO of IGPGroup, LLC acquired Executive Sports International in 2001 and continues its 30-plus years of history and experience in this industry. Executive Sports currently manages and/or conducts operations for over 25 PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA events, including The Memorial Tournament, the Royal Caribbean Classic, the Honda Classic, and the McDonald's Championship. Other IGPGroup companies include International Golf Partners, a professional golfers representation firm, and Event Links International, a high-end corporate event and hospitality management company.

View 2003 Schedule