Ted Rhodes Classic Committee selects St. Andrews Golf & CC in West Chicago, IL as 2008 Site for the Annual Golf Classic

The Partnership with International Players Tour will benefit the Ted Rhodes Foundation and Junior Golf.

Saginaw, TX,March,29,2008 — Chicagoland St. Andrews venue – clearly the choice by the Ted Rhodes Classic Committee of St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in West Chicago, IL will bring history, prestige and tradition to the 2008 Ted Rhodes Classic on September 6-7, 2008. Since 1926, the renowned Jemsek-Hinckley facility has hosted many landmark events, including selection as the first public course to host a US Open Qualifying round in 1947. So the facility provides an ideal 36-hole venue for the inaugural Ted Rhodes Classic – bringing together amateurs and professionals from the Ted Rhodes Legends Tour and the International Players Tour. Peggy Rhodes-White, President of the Ted Rhodes Foundation explained, “We’re proud and excited to bring our event to St. Andrews. During the selection process, Ron and his team at St. Andrews have been very responsive and accommodating, and we’re looking forward to an outstanding weekend in September for players, guests, and sponsors.” Ron Skubisz, General Manager at St. Andrews, also added, “St. Andrews is proud to be the host of this historic event which honors the traditions that Ted Rhodes exemplified, and we will strive to do everything we can to make St. Andrews the permanent home for the Ted Rhodes Classic.”

Since 1994, The Ted Rhodes Legends Tour (TRLT) has held an annual 36-hole Pro-Am Classic event the weekend after Labor Day to benefit The Ted Rhodes Foundation, which supports junior golf programs throughout the country. The Foundation was established by Peggy Rhodes-White in honor of her father, Ted Rhodes, one of the pioneers of African American golf in the United States. Beginning in 2008, the International Players Tour (IPT) will join TRLT in the annual event as part of their regular schedule to support junior golf programs, as well as to honor one of the true legends of the game – Ted Rhodes. The two organizations have signed a multi-year Strategic Partnership Agreement to work together on several initiatives. “We’re truly honored to be working with Peggy and the TRLT on this project,” stated Ron Beaman, Founder and President of the IPT, “and the benefits that will accrue to junior golfers across the nation as a result of our joint efforts will certainly be gratifying.”

The combined TRLT-IPT event will be held on both courses at St. Andrews on September 6-7, 2008 weekend, and will consist of three divisions of play with different entry fees and purse levels. The event will be open to the public, and registration will start soon on several different websites to be announced. For additional information, please contact Peggy Rhodes-White or Bill Conwell with contact info below.

About Ted Rhodes Foundation

Since taking the reigns of the foundation in 1994 Peggy Rhodes White has worked tireless to fulfill the mission statement of the foundation, which is to paraphrase “To provide opportunities for professional and amateurs of all ages to play golf at its highest level and to educate the public as well as the entire golfing community of Ted Rhodes accomplishments as an African-American golfer as well as his many contributions to the community and the game of golf.

The foundation accomplishes these goals by several means. Yearly, since 1994, we have presented a PGA quality event where golfers from all over the USA come to play. The event has drawn golfers from as far away as Australia. There are a number of golfers participating in PGA Events and The Nationwide Tour who honed there skills by playing in the Ted Rhodes tournament. Recently we have provided opportunities for junior golfers to compete with other golfers as well as given scholarships to various junior golf programs throughout the USA. The foundation has been fortunate enough to receive a lot of media support such as Golf Digest, Golf World, PGA Golf.com, and Local Newspapers throughout the country. Fox 32(Chicago) aired a ten minute segment on Ted Rhodes with interviews of Peggy and others who knew Ted Rhodes. Check out Uneven Lies by Pete McDaniel (Senior Writer for Golf Digest) for some little known information on the foundation and Ted Rhodes. ABC recently aired a documentary “Rainbow on the Green” that is part of the American Legacy Series that was created by noted actor & director Tim Reid (WKRP in Cincinnati) with commentary by Pete McDaniel. There were some great pictures which were provided by the Foundation on Ted Rhodes. The documentary also provided some exciting information about Ted Rhodes struggles as well as his accomplishments.

About International Players Tour (IPT):

International Players Tour (operated by prior management of Champions Golf Tour (CGT), was launched in January 2008 for the purpose of bringing PGA style competition to avid golfers everywhere. Operations began in April 2002 under the banner of the Champions Golf Tour, which was founded by Ron Beaman in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. Ron developed a business model that would provide avid recreational golfers a chance to play in an environment similar to major tour events – “inside the ropes” for significant prize money – utilizing a proprietary handicap system.

After conducting its first event in June, 2002, CGT followed with 17 tournaments in 2002 and awarded nearly $60,000 in prize money. Significant and sustained growth has occurred in subsequent years in player participation, number of events, and prize money. With over 1200 players in their system, IPT management conducted over 150 events in 2007 within ten state and twelve metropolitan city areas with payouts exceeding $570,000. In 2008, the IPT will conduct 200+ events in fifteen different metro areas, culminating in the Tour Championship at the Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort in Texas, with the winner taking home $20,000 in GUARANTEED first place prize money!

“The Model that Works” is now being adopted effectively and implemented successfully in multiple cities, with projected expansion into 5-10 new markets each year – including international locations – through a unique licensing rights program.

In addition, IPT has expanded its 2008 Senior Tour Division schedule to include 10-12 new 54-hole events across the USA. The Senior Tour Division provides playing opportunities for seniors with competitive aspirations on the PGA Champions Tour or maintaining their level of competition for significant purses. See www.ipgtour.com for further details.
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For Information Contact:

Peggy Rhodes-White
Ted Rhodes Foundation
(773) 785-9009
[email protected]

Contact Information:

Bill Conwell
International Players Tour
Saginaw, TX
(704) 366-2047
[email protected]
http://www.ipgtour.com