June 8, 2005
Returning Service Men And Women Arrive Home to New Golf Equipment Thanks to Bridgestone And The American Legion
PGA TOUR Driving Distance Leader Hend To Earn Free Equipment for Military
Covington, Ga. — So that US soldiers returning from overseas can enjoy some of the very freedoms they have protected,
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is teaming up with The American Legion to provide free golf equipment to service men and women coming
home from the Middle East and Afghanistan, through an innovative program called "The Long Drive Home." The amount of free
golf gear to be donated—including Bridgestone clubs and balls—will be based on each week's impressive tee shots of current
PGA TOUR Driving Distance leader and Bridgestone Tour Team member Scott Hend. The longer Hend's driving distance, the sweeter
the 'drive home' for US service men and women.
Here is How It Works
For "The Long Drive Home," Bridgestone Golf will provide one SKU of golf equipment (drivers, fairway woods, sets of irons,
wedges, etc.) for every yard over 300 that Scott Hend averages per week that he competes on the PGA TOUR. Bridgestone will
provide the equipment on a weekly basis to The American Legion National Headquarters, where all products will be distributed
via local posts to predetermined Middle East and Afghanistan military returnees.
For example, if Scott Hend averages 320 yards at the Barclays Classic, Bridgestone would donate 20 Bridgestone Golf J33R
drivers, the same driver that Scott Hend uses, to randomly chosen active duty military returnees.
In addition, Bridgestone Golf will also donate one dozen TOUR B330 or TOUR B330-S golf balls for every yard Hend averages
over his nearest PGA TOUR competitor per week. Through the 2005 Memorial Tournament, Hend leads the Tour in driving distance,
averaging 319.2 yards per drive, which is nearly 12-yards more per drive than his nearest pursuer.
"We are very pleased about the opportunity to show our appreciation for the men and women who so valiantly serve the United
States abroad," said Dan Murphy, Director of Marketing, Bridgestone Golf "We realize that while overseas, golf may be the
farthest thing from soldiers' minds, but upon their return we think they'll yearn for life's pleasantries so many of us
take for granted on a daily basis, such as playing golf. I would also be remiss if I did not thank The American Legion.
Without them helping with much of the logistics of this program, it would have been difficult to bring 'The Long Drive Home'
to fruition."
"We are delighted to work with Bridgestone Golf in recognizing these outstanding men and women of our armed forces who have
served in harms way on our behalf," said Thomas P. Cadmus, national commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion.
"We are proud to facilitate the presentation of these welcome home gifts to America's newest veterans."
"The Long Drive Home" program commences at the Barclays Classic in Harrison, NY on June 20th and is scheduled to run through
the end of the 2005 official PGA TOUR season. For more information on "The Long Drive Home" presented by Bridgestone Golf
and the American Legion, to monitor the cash value of the equipment donated by Bridgestone Golf and to check out the Bridgestone
products Scott Hend relies on each week on Tour, visit the new Bridgestone Golf website, www.bridgestonegolf.com.
# # #
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium
golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brand names.
Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including
Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar,
Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker,
Paula Creamer, Nick Price,
and Lee Trevino.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.,
whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is proud to be the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf as the industry
leader in live launch monitor fittings. Bridgestone provides three ways for golfers
to find the ball that best fits their game: live fittings through the
Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge, live online
chats with ball fitting
experts through its B-FIT service, and an easily accessible
Online Ball Selection Guide. For more
information on ball fitting, including a complete schedule of Ball Fitting Challenge
events, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
