Online Game Isn’t Par For The Course

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following June’s successful CBS Network Television broadcast of its second annual tournament, the World Series of Golf is going global with bold future plans that include online business ventures, high-stakes international tournaments, and more.

“Soon, playing tournament style golf on some of the world’s finest golf courses will be just a few keystrokes away.”

The company is developing an online gaming platform based on the play of the World Series Of Golf® event, a patent-pending format that combines the wagering format of Texas Hold ‘Em with the skill of golf. The Internet-based program provides users with photo-realistic golf courses and allows “gamers” to make wagers using Texas Hold ‘Em style betting on the game.

“Capitalizing on the popularity of the World Series of Poker and Internet-based gaming, the World Series of Golf is launching an international online platform,” says Terry Leiweke, president and CEO of the World Series of Golf. “Soon, playing tournament style golf on some of the world’s finest golf courses will be just a few keystrokes away.”

The game is currently under development in conjunction with World Series of Golf’s strategic partner World Golf Tour (WGT). WGT brings its patent pending broadcast quality virtual golf game to the joint venture, a format that enables players to compete in contests on some of the world’s most venerable golf courses. Several of the key WGT developers previously worked for gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA) and were directly responsible for EA’s successful Tiger Woods PGA Tour® line of online games. A nine-hole demo version of the WGT game is currently available in beta form at www.worldgolftour.com.

Plans are also afoot to rollout the World Series of Golf tournament format internationally, with a high-stakes $200,000 buy-in event scheduled for 2009, and a series of smaller events open to amateurs from around the world. The company’s proprietary land-based golf event, “The World Series of Golf,” is held annually at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and the company has engaged in a multi-year domestic U.S. broadcast partnership with network television’s sports leader, CBS Sports.

“World Series of Golf promises to create an entirely new mode of play that is unlike anything currently available in either competing sports or gambling oriented games,” says Mr. Leiweke. “For golf, Texas Hold ‘Em, and online enthusiasts, it’s a hole new world.”

For additional information or to register for an event visit www.worldseriesofgolf.com.