Promoters of the Amata Friendship Cup have announced the appointment of Performance54 (P54), a specialist global golf marketing agency, to manage and promote the
unique mixed team event to be contested between teams of the leading Professional and Amateur players from Thailand and Japan, at Amata Spring Country Club between 21-23 December 2018.
The event was officially announced in Bangkok, where Team Captains, Boonchu Ruangkit and Virada Nirapathpongporn of Thailand and Joe Ozaki and Miho Koga of Japan were introduced.
The first members of each team were also announced and include a host of global stars, such as World #33 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who made an appearance at the press conference in Bangkok in a show of his support, European Tour and Asian Tour star Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand’s first Major Champion and Women’s World #2, Ariya Jutanugarn, recent runner-up at the Women’s British Open, Pornanong Phatlum and Thai amateur sensation, Atthaya Thitikul. The first players making up Team Japan were also announced, including World #40, Satoshi Kodaira, women’s World #15 Nasa Hataoka, #1 and #4 players on the Japan Tour, Ryuko Tokimatsu and Kodai Ichihara, and PGA and European Tour regular Hideto Tanihara.
“When it comes to creative event management and marketing, P54’s approach stands out,” commented David Townend, General Manager, Amata Spring Country Club. “We are excited to work alongside their team of local and international experts, who have been given the responsibility for building the foundations of the inaugural Amata Friendship Cup, and establishing its place on the global golfing calendar in the years to come.”
Performance54 is a global golf and destination sales and marketing agency, that has built up a distinguished roster of clients, specialising exclusively in golf. The group will take on the responsibility of staging, managing and marketing the event.
“Golf is experiencing a transition with more unique concepts coming to the fore,” commented Jed Moore, Managing Director, Performance54. “To partner with Amata Spring Country Club is something we are all especially proud of. The club has a rich heritage of tournament golf, and alongside the vision for this new event concept and some fantastic player rosters already confirmed, we have all of the ingredients to quickly establish this mixed team event as one of the most compelling in the world of golf.”
Among Performance54’s early responsibilities was to introduce the event concept to over 100 members of the world’s media at the event launch press conference, which took place at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. There, tournament organisers outlined its Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup-inspired format and announced the event partners, headlined by presenting partner, Toyota. They also unveiled one of the event’s most striking features; its mixed format whereby top amateurs will be given the chance to compete alongside their professional countrymen and women.
The event has been founded on a vision to celebrate the unique and long-standing relationship between Thailand and Japan, whilst demonstrating golf’s unique ability to bring together different cultures and positively impact society, business development and strategic marketing.
“Golf’s unmatched ability to unite communities is an often-unsung trait of the sport. With the format of the Amata Friendship Cup, teamwork and unity between the players from Thailand and Japan, as well as the amateurs and professionals, will showcase so many of the game’s positive attributes. The role of the golf club in the local community and its positive work with partner and neighbouring organisations will also be central in bringing this occasion to life,” concluded Moore.
The event will be broadcast live throughout Asia from December 21st – 23rd 2018.
Pictured top: The Amata Friendship Cup presented by Toyota, is to be hosted at Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand
Amata Friendship Cup www.amatafriendshipcup.com
Amata Spring Golf Club www.amataspring.co.th
Performance54 www.Performance54.com