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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Tee-Time Auction Raises Funds for Penn State Turf Center

Golf courses around Pennsylvania and throughout the country are lining up in support of a Tee-Time Auction that has been introduced by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Inc. (PTRI) as a new phase of the Growing the Game campaign. Over the long-term, the campaign will enable PTRI to establish a multi-million dollar endowment that will provide a stable, reliable source of income to support Penn State’s Center for Turfgrass Science for expanded turfgrass research and scholarship support.

The concept of the auction is simple and the entire bidding process is being conducted online at www.paturf.org. Over the next few months, various tee-times will be submitted for this online auction. Some will offer golfers the chance to play at courses rated in the top 100 world-class private golf courses in this country -- former U.S. Open or PGA Championship sites.

The list of available tee-times will vary according to when people log on to the website, so golfers are advised to check back frequently for new tee-time locations and new auction times. If people provide their name and email address, the website also offers automatic notification when new courses are added and as auctions begin. Visitors to the website may be surprised at some of the fabled courses that have agreed to participate.

Campaign leaders have worked for months on the start-up of the Tee-Time Auction and now the emphasis is on getting golfers around the country involved in the fun of bidding. In addition to offering tee-times for auction, golf superintendents are assisting PTRI in promoting the event by placing posters in their clubs, distributing flyers at tournaments, and using their club newsletters to spread the word. A third of the country’s top 100 Golf courses employ Penn State graduates and Penn State – bred turfgrass varieties are used on 90 percent of all golf courses around the world.

Growing the Game campaign leaders have set an initial goal to raise $1,000,000 over five-years toward the endowment fund. The Auction will augment the fund drive, which has won the support of hundreds of donors including Philmont Country Club, E.H. Griffith, Finch Golf and Turf, Lawn and Golf Supply Company, and Philadelphia Turf Company, who are members of the Chairman’s Club in recognition of donations of $25,000 or more.

PTRI is associated with the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC), in support of the Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science, a national leader in the field and a vital resource. Since 1955, PTC has made yearly contributions totally more than $2,000,000 to support Penn State’s research.

Copies of the Auction poster area available by contacting PTRI at info@paturf.org.