Sponsor Development & Relationship

Understanding the importance of Sponsors for Professional Athletes and tips to keeping Sponsors

Sponsors: Recognizing the importance
When you become a professional golfer there isn’t an instructional booklet out there that you can refer to if you have any questions. There isn’t a ‘Professional Golf for Dummies’ book or a predetermined series of steps that you should make your checklist to be the best pro golfer you can be. Instead, you are thrust into a world of sponsors, mass media, renowned Hall of Fame players, upscale pro-am parties, difficult courses, weekly international travel, professional golf caddies, and tons and tons of fans. To say that you can feel overwhelmed is an understatement. And the whole time you are trying to adjust, you are fighting for your survival weekly on tour in tournaments trying to keep or improve your current status.

PGA and LPGA Veterans aren’t lying when they say that rookie year is the hardest and if you can survive, the following years should be a piece of cake. This is to serve as a guide to all first year professional golfers and to help with the transition from amateur to professional golf.

In my opinion, the most important factor in professional golf is the sponsors. These individuals or companies are the main reason why I have a job. They can come in the form of tournament sponsors or individual sponsors both the individuals that pay to play in pro-am’s (before the tournament) and sponsors of a professional tour player, and let’s not forget the fans that ‘pay’ to come watch you play!

Sponsors: Tips for keeping Sponsors and showing your on-going gratitude
The best advice I can give you is to recognize the importance of these people and thank them whenever possible.  The first and most important thing you can do is to handwrite thank you notes on personal stationary to golf tour sponsors of the event and amateurs that you play with in the pro-am. Do it quickly and promptly after you play with them in a pro-am or when you finish a golf tournament.

Always remember Gratitude Not Attitude

The key sponsors are the ‘official’ tournament sponsors. The LPGA, for example, has a ‘Partner Profile Sheet’ which highlights the official golf tournament sponsors that they put into everyone’s lockers at each tournament to inform us of who the sponsors are for the week. It includes pictures of the CEO, CFO, etc. and important details about the sponsoring company. Take the time to read this, even google them on the internet, and become educated about the people who are supporting the LPGA, and essentially your career.

Next are the individual sponsors of a tournament and you will most likely play with some of them in a pro-am.  Be sure to get their names and business cards (with email addresses) whenever possible.  In addition, go to the sponsor pro-am parties, be able to identify them in a crowd and go up to them and personally thank them. It is good to build personal relationships with these sponsors because one day they could potentially sponsor you. Always remember that a small gesture can go a long way.

Always take time to talk to the Fans.  They have taken time out of their day to come watch you play.  They are the reason why official tournament sponsors are hosting the tournament.  Try to remember when you were young all you wanted was a quick ‘hello’ or a simple smile.  It will make someone’s day and it takes very little time and effort.

Take personal photos and put them up on your Facebook FAN PAGE (not your personal account).  Tell them (fans and sponsors) to come to the FP that evening as they will be posted there.  When you post the photos write a quick note about how much fun you had and maybe something funny that happened that day.

After the season, one of the unique things that you can do is to setup an email database (never use your personal email for spam and blocking reasons) with an on-line mailing system.  I use Constant Contact.  Then I write a yearly ‘thank you’ email and send out a massive email at the beginning of the year.  I include everyone in that email blast and I recognize all the people that have contributed to my success.

Lastly, take care of your sponsors.  This includes your equipment vendors, clothing vendors, sunglass, shoe or hat vendors and most importantly your family, golf coach, agent, caddie and manager.  Send them a handwritten Christmas or Happy New Year’s card with a gift card from a national food, beverage or book company.  Personally I love Starbucks!

Next in the Sponsor series – finding sponsors:
If you enjoyed reading this blog, follow me on my Facebook fan page to receive a notice when the next part of the series on ‘Sponsors – How to find key sponsors for a professional athlete’ will be published.  Here is an excerpt from that article:
A major question I asked tour veterans this year, and now I am getting asked, is “how do I go about finding sponsors”? It all comes down to who you know and meet and if there is a connection between the sponsor and yourself.  Finding key sponsors is easy if you know where to look but it will take some work……

I hope this blog answers some of your initial questions about sponsors on the professional golf tour.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheAmeliaLewis & twitter at www.twitter.com/TheAmeliaLewis and watch for the next blog in this series!

God Bless,
Amelia Lewis

Living the Dream as a Professional Golfer !

Living My Dream On The LPGA!

Published June 22, 2011
LPGA Rookie Blog 2

It is so amazing to watch my dreams start to take shape and to be competing at the highest level of women’s golf. Two months ago I played in my first LPGA tournament, the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. This charity tournament was formed by Commissioner Mike Whan and Mr. Tom Quinlan, with the purse not going to the pros, but instead to the charity of their choice. However, unlike everyone in the field except one other player, I had to prove myself and sink pressure putts before the tournament even started. You see, I had to Monday qualify.

My family and I knew the risk; if I didn’t qualify, the cost would be out of our pocket and we would have to fly home and wait for another opportunity. With my mom on the bag, Oakleys on my cap and Titleist Pro V1 in hand, and playing with the typical nerves a Monday qualifier brings, I tied for the second spot. There were only two qualifying spots available, so I had to go into a sudden-death playoff. We ended up having to play four holes to determine a winner – as if I hadn’t already had enough knee-knocker putts for the day! I went on to win the playoff and qualify for my first LPGA event!

After that final playoff hole, life seemed to speed up. Suddenly I felt like a little kid at Disney World taking in all the new sights and enormous crowds. There was an exciting buzz about the atmosphere. Everyone had big smiles on their faces, the volunteers were extra generous with their time, the golf course was in pristine condition, and the JW Marriott Resort was absolutely gorgeous!

I was meeting new players – some rookies like me and some Hall of Fame legends that I have been watching on television since I first took up the game. The fondest memory I have from that week is when Christina Kim came up to me on the driving range, introduced herself, congratulated me on my play so far, and welcomed me to the tour. I will never forget the kindness multiple players and caddies showed to a new face on tour that week.

I finished at 1-under-par in my first LPGA tournament and tied for 29th with two Hall of Fame players. That finish moved me up in the rankings, and I should get into the LPGA June events without having to Monday qualify! I cannot wait because this gives me more opportunities to play on the LPGA Tour and to live my dream.

All of this would not have been possible without two individuals that I am so grateful to, Mr. Mike Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA Tour and Mr. Tom Quinlan, President of RR Donnelley.

Everyone knows the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup tournament provided several charities with donations that will change lives forever. What people don’t know is that this one tournament has changed my life forever. It has given me hope that my dream can become a reality and it has allowed me the opportunity of a life time!

Wish me luck this summer and God Bless,

Amelia

P.S. Support me by liking my facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/TheAmeliaLewis

LPGA Rookie Blog 1

HOME SWEET HOME! Time at home has never felt better than it does right now! I just got back to the States after a five week stretch of tournament play in Australia and New Zealand and I can honestly say there is no place like home

Don’t get me wrong, Australia and New Zealand were both incredibly gorgeous countries filled with the most hospitable people I have ever met. The first couple weeks were a blast traveling with my mom (& caddie), touring places that I had heard about but never actually thought I would visit. I was able to see the Sydney Opera House, the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes in Melbourne, and some kangaroos on the golf course in Canberra! I even tried the well know Australian food ‘vegemite’ at the urging of one of my Australian host families……let us just say one bite was enough for me. I had a great time and it was definitely a trip I will remember all my life. I cannot wait to go back next year.

Towards the latter part of our trip I started to miss the simple conveniences of home. I missed my lucky charms cereal in the morning, Panera Bread lunches, not having to concentrate on driving on the ‘right’ side of the road, my bed, cable television with the shows I watch, unlimited internet access, and of course (being a typical teenage girl) texting & talking on my phone. And obviously I missed my dad and three younger siblings as well. So it was nice to come home and enjoy the things I had always taken for granted. And what made the trip home even sweeter was that I arrived home the day before my 20th birthday! I was able to spend my birthday at home with family and friends, a great present in itself.

Despite getting the homesick bug, I am so glad I went and played well in my first golf trip overseas. I matured as a player and learned a ton about international travel that will help me be more prepared in the future. I also got to play and test my game against some of the best players in the world. And OK, I just gotta get this out there, Yani Tseng is playing some stellar golf and whatever she is eating for breakfast …. make mine a double order! Like seriously, the girl can play and it is so great to have joined the top level in women’s professional golf.

If these past five weeks give any indication to how this season on tour is going to be then I am so excited to get my LPGA rookie season started!

God Bless,
Amelia

P.S. Support me by liking my facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/TheAmeliaLewis

Quick 18 with Amelia Lewis

1. Tell me something most people don’t know about you? 
I was a competitive swimmer for five years.

2. What would you like to do for a living if you were not a pro golfer?
Be a chef.

3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Santa Claus.

4. Is there anything you’re addicted to? Or can’t live without?
Um obviously golf. And music.

5. Is there anything you won’t eat?
Raw fish.

6. What is one thing you have done and would never want to do again?
Q-School in freezing hurricane weather.

7. Who would be in your dream foursome?
Jesus Christ, Payne Stewart, Tim Tebow, and me.

8. What is your favorite activity you do when you want to relax?
Sleep, go to the spa, read, or look up funny youtube videos.

9. What is your favorite time of year?
Christmas time or any day when it is perfect 70º light sweater vest weather.

10. Favorite quote or saying?
“Sometimes being fearless is having fears but jumping anyway” – Taylor Swift.

11. What beauty product can you not live without?
Toothbrush.

12. What is your favorite store to shop in and why?
Either Sephora because they do your makeup and I feel like I am in girl heaven or Publix because I get free food samples.

13. Do you have a favorite TV commercial?
The Geico commercial with Elmer Fudd having trouble saying the letter R.

14. What is one item of clothing you couldn’t live without?
My sunglasses.

15. Name one thing you always keep stocked in your refrigerator?
Milk.

16. What invention do you wish you had thought of?
Post-it Notes.

17. What chore are you great at or enjoy doing the most?
Washing the car in the summertime – a sibling water fight usually breaks out.

18. If you could possess any super human power what would it be?
The ability to turn back time (this would be really beneficial in a golf round) or teleportation.

Golf Fitness – Training & Conditioning for Professional Golfers