The Toro Company Provides Young Golfers in The First Tee Program With Exciting Close-Up Look at PGA Golf at the Memorial Tournament

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (June 26, 2009) - Young golf enthusiasts participating in The First Tee program in Ohio enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when The Toro Company hosted them in a hospitality area overlooking the 14th green during the Memorial Tournament in early June at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Students in attendance represented chapters including The First Tee of Columbus, The First Tee of Cooks Creek, and The First Tee of the Greater Miami Valley.

“Our kids had a blast!” said Bob Hayden, executive director of The First Tee of Greater Miami [OH] Valley.

The young people, who ranged in age from 6 to 18, watched the Memorial from the Toro hospitality area and various vantage points around the course and near the practice green.

“Tiger Woods walked past several of the kids as he was coming off the putting green, and one of our girls got to see Camilo Villegas up close and she hasn't been the same since,” Hayden laughed. “We gave our kids the option of choosing where they wanted to go and they picked the 11th green. We were there for Tiger's chip in and it was phenomenal! The young golfers will remember the experience the rest of their lives.

“I got a call the next day from a father who said that his son would never forget this day,” Hayden said. “All in all, it was a super experience for our kids. Thank you so much for the opportunity!”

Philip Burkart, vice president of Toro’s Irrigation Businesses, said the company wanted The First Tee participants to enjoy a special experience at a PGA TOUR event. "Toro is a longtime partner with The First Tee program and we felt this was a great opportunity to provide the young golfers with a memorable view of the game’s best players. They got to see exceptional golf skills as well as how the game of golf involves a mix of decorum and enthusiasm.”  Toro is also proud to be the supplier of equipment and irrigation that maintains the prestigious, Nicklaus designed, Muirfield Village Golf Club where the Memorial Tournament is played each year.

Dan Brady, network operations specialist for The First Tee, agreed, noting that the program “is really based on life skills…We do get some opportunities to attend special events, but not very many as exciting as this opportunity provided by Toro.”

Toro also hosted students and faculty from the Ohio State University’s Turfgrass Science and Professional Golf Management programs at the Memorial.

Toro has been a preferred supplier of golf course maintenance and irrigation equipment to The First Tee since 1998, and for each of the past six years Toro has donated equipment valued at more than $20,000 to a deserving Chapter of The First Tee. Toro also partners with The First Tee each year to host the Future Leaders Forum, a three-day immersion in the sport, business and science of golf for 50 high school students.

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, which is based in St. Augustine, Florida, at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The First Tee’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The organization was founded in 1997 and has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.9 million participants in 49 states and five international locations (Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore).

About The Toro Company
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of turf and landscape maintenance equipment, and precision irrigation systems. With sales of nearly $1.9 billion in fiscal 2008, Toro’s global presence extends to more than 140 countries through its reputation of world-class service, innovation and turf expertise. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands to help customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, and agricultural fields. More information is available at www.toro.com.