“UniMedia together with the co-operation of all sectors promoting the game are slowly closing the gap between corporate engagement and women’s golf tournament accessibility, viability and lifestyle branding.”

The debate of how much money is awarded towards women’s professional golf in South Africa, has shown very little return for the player and for the cities in which it has been hosted.

While the pro men circuit enjoy up to 22pro tournaments per year, the women only 10 tournaments. For ladies, this works out to a limited 3 months of competitive golf, and the rest of the year it’s basically scraping together to get to tournaments abroad or as many have opted to do private golf coaching lessons to supplement their income.

This does present SA Pro golf with several challenges:

1. Is women’s golf not one of the priorities in South Africa when globally it’s like a tsunami hitting the golfing world?
2. Is there not enough corporate interest as is the case globally, particularly as we see the dominance of Asian women golfers on the LPGA, LET and the KLPGA tours?
3. Is there no case for live broadcasting of women’s golf as is the case with the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour?
4. Is the talent on the SA ladies golfing circuitnot enough to attract public viewing and support as what we witnessed at the Olympics 2016?

These are some of the challenges UniMedia are addressing through the PinkStig brand and movement.

UniMedia has begun to attract sponsors such as Sun International and luxury Italian car brand, Maserati as these companies see the value and potential in the relationship of the sport and the brand appeal to the viewer.

Additional to that, the company’s vision is to encourage the economic contribution that women’s golf can yield through its tournaments. Furthermore UniMedia through its PinkStig brand show that more tournaments will result in higher earnings and longer play time.

UniMedia has recently launched its first WPGA sanctioned and co sanctioned by the Sunshine Ladies Tour, ‘The Sun PinkStig Series’.

The event took place on the 17 and 18^th October at Parkview Golf Course in Johannesburg. The 20 pro players competed for a purse of R100 000 and by the end of day two Nicole Garcia, was crowned the winner and Nobuhle Dlamini clinched a strong second place.

“Our vision, with our PinkStig movement is to celebrate leading young aspiring female golfers, in both playing the game and inspiring other young female golfer amateurs to become professionals. It is through our competitive initiatives that we will be able to close the gap between corporate engagement and the pro players, providing accessibility and growth into a new lifestyle brand.” Says Zahira Hansa CEO UniMedia

Zahira Hansa adds that: “We are committed to the following intervention and to work hand in hand with stakeholders to further invest in women’s golf through additional PinkStig Tournaments to create more competition to the professional golfer’s calendar.

1. Using the cities as hosts and attach with it the element of local and international tourism
2. Attracting more international players to participate in tours to create a more competitive environment, thus preparing our pro players for international tournaments.
3. Ensuring we have more players on the courses that are from the previously disadvantaged communities through our PinkStig Friendship Classic events that take place monthly.
4. Exposing the PinkStig Cubs (youth) to our events with the pro golfers engaging and coaching to allow for mentorship and role modelling”

The Sun PinkStig Series Finale takes place on the 4^th - 6th December at Sun City which will be played at the Gary Player and Lost City golf Courses. UniMedia invited 30 players to competing for a purse of R250 000.

UniMedia would have paid out R350 000 over three months and projects having additional tournaments following the Sunshine Ladies Tour Season 2018/19.

Follow the Sun PinkStig Series on UniMedia Social Media Platforms

www.pinkstig.com

www.pinkstigclassic.com

www.unimediaweb.net

Facebook: @unimediapro / @pinkstigsa

Twitter: @unimediapro / @pinkstig

Instagram: @Unimedia_

YouTube: UnimediaPro

Contact: info@unimediapro.com

Tel: 0762547502/ 0825687757

#sunpinkstig and #livingthedream

For media queries, interview requests and access to high-resolution pictures and music contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or 011 788 7632.

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of UniMedia Pro

Notes to Editor

PinkStig has passionately created platforms for dialogue, collaboration and participation to appease the growing interest of corporate investment into women’s golf.

At our forefront strategy, we intend to make the game more accessible to young women who show natural talent and demonstrate their appetite to be champions. The “adopt a pro” programme, currently in its infancy stage, is designed by UniMedia to support players financially, professionally and to develop and groom their talent further whilst providing opportunities to compete.