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Department of Parks
Pros Tee Up for Kentucky State Parks Golf Trail
FRANKFORT, Ky--Kentucky State Parks made a hole-in-one by asking Kentucky’s nationally-ranked, professional golfers to appear in television commercials that begin airing on April 12, as part of a golf promotional package.
Ryder Cup heroes J. B. Holmes and Kenny Perry, who played on the American team that won the international title in 2008, and four-time winner on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour, Steve Flesch donated their time to appear in the spots. The three pros got together in February at a tournament and taped ads that can be seen on six networks over a two-week period.
All three golf stars were reared in Kentucky. Holmes hails from Campbellsville, Perry was born in Elizabethtown and grew up in Franklin and Flesh is from Union.
Governor Steve Beshear said that it’s incredibly good fortune to have three Kentuckians competing simultaneously on the PGA tour circuit. “We are so appreciative that these guys got together and contributed precious time from hectic schedules to promote state park golf courses. Their support is worth its weight in gold,” Beshear said. “Air time with these outstanding, native son golfers is priceless, particularly at a time when budgets are incredibly lean and the golf season is heating up. We can’t thank them enough for pitching their support to Kentucky State Parks’ golf trail.”
Viewers in the greater Lexington and Louisville areas can look for the spots of the Kentucky natives on ESPN, Spike, the History Channel, Comedy Central, the Travel Channel and the Golf Channel. The campaign will run for two weeks and the videos will also be posted on YouTube, the video sharing web site owned by Google and the Kentucky State Parks’ Web site. The Department of Parks will also run a golf-related contest on their Facebook page.
Scheduling production was simplified because the three were participating in a tournament in the Phoenix area. Steve Brooks, the deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Parks, flew to Arizona with a state videographer to do the taping which, according to Brooks, went off without a hitch. “These guys were great to work with,” he said. “Who could be better to send the message that Kentucky State Parks have quality, affordable courses located in every area of the Commonwealth?”
Expenses were kept to a minimum with editing and production processes handled in-house by Creative Services, a division in the state Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
Kentucky State Parks feature six nine-hole and 13 18-hole courses throughout state resort and recreational parks, a number of which have been listed as “bests” by the national publication Golf Digest. Resort parks include a lodge, cottages, restaurants and other amenities that are included in the Tee’s and Zzz’s and Chip Shot golf packages. Parks also offers an annual trail card that includes unlimited access to all park’s courses for a year, available at www.parks.ky.gov/golftrail. The “Unbridled Spirit” gift card, which can be purchased on line as well as at park’s pro and gift shops; in Frankfort at the Kentucky History Center; Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park gift shop and Berea at the Kentucky Artisan Center, can be redeemed for golf reservations at participating parks.
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