PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Play Golf America continues to show increases in key areas following its fourth year of existence. Established as a comprehensive marketing campaign in 2004, Play Golf America has evolved into various programs, resources, and educational tools as well as a marketing campaign to increase participation among new and existing golfers.

With a record number of 7,000 facilities serving as host sites and registering its programs on PlayGolfAmerica.com, numbers indicate there were more than 803,000 participants in group lessons at these facilities, and a record 8.3 million total participants in organized play related to Play Golf America, announced Brian Whitcomb, president of The PGA of America.

"Our PGA Professionals are the leaders in stimulating golf participation with their innovative programs as is evident by the record number of facilities and consumers participating in Play Golf America programs last year," Whitcomb said. "With the extensive calendar of events that continues to grow each year, golfers of all ages and skill levels are participating in Play Golf America programs, leagues and outings, and in return, making a significant monetary impact to the golf industry."

The PGA of America has projected the financial impact of many Play Golf America programs. PGA Professionals report over $23 million dollars was generated last year from group lessons alone. In addition, Play Golf America national promotions, such as Free Lesson Month and Women's Golf Week, had a $16 million dollar impact on the golf industry.

In 2007, Play Golf America also had another strong year in terms of reaching consumers through public relations, advertising and promotions. During 2007, more than 1.8 billion impressions were made on consumers, bringing the total to nearly 5.8 billion since the program launched in 2004, with a total cumulative value of more than $85 million.

2007 Play Golf America Program Highlights and Record-Setting Numbers Follow:

PGA Play Golf America Days:

• A record 79 PGA Play Golf America Days were held nationwide, a 55 percent increase from last year's 51 events.

• A record 27,472 consumers attended PGA Play Golf America Days, up 44 percent from 2006 (19,025).

• More than 1,000 PGA Professionals, an average of 13 per event, gave instruction nationwide.

• PGA Play Golf America Days were held prior to The 89th PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla., and The Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, SC.

• The PGA of America partnered with the National Pan American Golf Association (NPAGA) to host a PGA "Dias Juego de Golf America" (Play Golf America Day) in Austin, Texas, to increase Hispanic participation and help drive membership to the NPAGA. The East Potomac Golf Club hosted a Play Golf America Day in Washington DC targeting African Americans and more than 1,200 people attended the event.

• Host facilities reported a median of $4,500 in equipment and merchandise revenues following its events.

Free Fitting & Trade Up Month (April):

• More than 3,100 PGA Professionals across the country provided free 15-minute expert equipment fitting sessions assisting 36,300 consumers (15 percent increase) in finding the appropriate equipment to help them improve their game during PGA Free Fitting & Trade Up Month. 38 percent of the fitting sessions were to new customers, and 16 percent of participants were women, up 11 percent from 2006.

• In only its second year of the promotion, equipment and merchandise revenues resulting following the fittings participating facilities totaled over $7.2 million dollars, including $2,500 per host facility.

• The PGA of America teamed with Golf Digest, the PGA Trade-In Network and the PGA.com Value Guide to sponsor this equipment-themed consumer promotion during the month of April at golf facilities around the country.

PGA Free Lesson Month (May):

• More than 6,630 PGA and LPGA Professionals gave 115,500 free lessons during PGA Free Lesson Month at 5,353 facilities nationwide in the 10th year of the program.

• Of the 115,500 consumers, 24 percent of participating golfers were new or beginners; 56 percent of the free lessons given were to new customers; 30 percent of participants were women and 12 percent of participants were juniors.

• PGA Free Lesson Month had a positive economic impact for both the golf industry and host facilities. The golf industry realized a financial impact of $6.1 million dollars with host facilities reporting a median of $2,472 in revenues generated from golfers following their participation in PGA Free Lesson Month.

• Golf Digest Publications has teamed with The PGA of America since the campaign's inception in 1998. PGA Free Lesson Month is covered in Golf Digest, Golf For Women, Golf World, and GolfDigest.com to a combined audience of nearly 10 million readers.

• The Golf Channel completed its fifth year as a partner communicating the PGA Free Lesson Month message to more than 75 million viewers.

• Nike Golf, in its capacity as the official sponsor for a fifth consecutive year, supplied prizes for the Sweepstakes winners

American Express"! Women's Golf Week presented by Golf For Women Magazine (June 2-9, 2007):

• In its third year, a record 1,358 facilities across the country hosted American Express Women's Golf Week presented by Golf For Women magazine, breaking its previous facility record by 132 percent (585 facilities in 2006).

• More than 34,200 women participated in American Express Women's Golf Week, a 39 percent increase from last year.

• Of the 34,200 women who attended Women's Golf Week events in 2007, 50 percent were new customers and 31 percent were new golfers.

• Women's Golf Week had a positive economic impact for both the golf industry and host facilities. The golf industry realized a financial impact of $2 million dollars, while host facilities reported a median of $2,150 in revenues generated from women following their participation in Women's Golf Week.

• More than 68,000 women across the country have been introduced or re-introduced to the game of golf over the past three years during American Express Women's Golf Week.

• Joining title sponsor American Express were presenting sponsor Golf For Women magazine and silver sponsor Cobra Golf. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) members Laura Diaz and Suzy Whaley, who is also a PGA Professional, served as spokespersons for the program.

July is Family Golf Month

Take Your Daughter to the Course Week (July 9-15)

Bring Your Kids to the Range (July)

• In its second year, 1,107 facilities hosted Family Golf Month events, an 823 percent increase from 2006.

• In August, the PGA Family Course Program was launched at facilities nationwide in partnership with U.S. Kids Golf and their Personal Tee Program. By years end, more than 300 golf courses participated in the program.

• Grammy Award winners Vince Gill and Amy Grant along with their seven-year old Corrina served as the program's spokesfamily.

• The PGA of America teams with the National Golf Course Owners Association to promote "Take Your Daughter to the Course Week" during Family Golf Month. 2007 was the second year the program was promoted under the Play Golf America marketing umbrella, and the program's eighth year overall. A total of 1,339 facilities participated in the promotion, an eight percent increase from 2006, with 84,500 consumers participating, a 13 percent increase from last year. Of the 84,500 who attended the promotion, 38 percent were new customers and 29 percent were new or beginner golfers.

• Take Your Daughter to the Course Week had a positive economic impact for both the host facilities and golf industry. Host facilities reported a median of $2,100 in revenues generated from golfers following their participation in the promotion, while the golf industry realized a financial impact of $1.4 million dollars.

• Bring Your Kids to the Golf Range was a new Golf Digest Publications and Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) initiative promoted under PGA Play Golf America's July is Family Golf Month. In its first year, 177 facilities participated in the program.

PGA Military Golf Programs

•Patriot Golf Day (Sept. 1, 2007): Patriot Golf Day, jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association, was held at over 3,200 facilities in its inaugural year raising more than $1.1 million to support the families of veterans who have been injured or perished in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

•PGA of America/Disabled Sports USA Military Golf Program: The PGA of America partnered with Disabled Sports USA and the Department of Defense to sponsor a golf program for severely wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. The PGA of America has trained PGA Professionals who serve as instructors for wounded warriors at sites near the nation's three primary military hospitals -- Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas; and Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego, Calif.

•Iowa PGA's GIVE Foundation and Veterans Administration Partnership: The GIVE (Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere) Foundation, administered by the Iowa PGA Section, is an ambitious program designed to train veterans in the fundamentals of golf. The Iowa PGA formed a partnership with the Veterans Administration and more than 62 veterans registered for the first class in 2007. More than 25 Iowa PGA Professionals participated in the first year of the program that raised $65,000 during a one-day fundraising event in August at the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort for the GIVE Foundation.

Play Golf America Web Site:

• The Play Golf America Web site exceeded its total traffic for 2006 by 46 percent, with 859,830 unique visitors in 2007. In August, there was a 181 percent increase in traffic versus the same month in 2006 with 176,846 unique visitors that set a record for most visitors ever in a month by 52 percent.

• A total of 4,426 facilities registered and posted Play Golf America events on the Web site, a 203 percent increase over last year's 1,461 facilities.

• More than 11,600 Play Golf America events were posted on the Web site compared to last year's total of 7,193, a 62 percent increase.

Other Play Golf America Highlights in 2007:

• The PGA expanded its relationship with the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) six years ago and has since provided $500,000 in grants to help support the growth of EWGA chapters and membership nationwide. More than 85,000 women have benefited from membership in the EWGA which is dedicated to providing women opportunities to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf for business and for life. The average EWGA Chapter generates more than $550,000 in annual golf related spending, based on a membership of 160 women per chapter.

• PGA Professionals continue to answer the call to increase golf participation with a total of 6,314 becoming eligible to join the prestigious President's Council on Growing the Game, a 3.5 increase from 2006.

• More than 1,700 free lessons were given by PGA Professionals, including PGA Officers and Board of Directors, at the first PGA Learning Center at The 89th PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla.

Since 1916, the PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, the PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.