50 Custom-Designed Five-Foot Golf Balls Displayed On Michigan Avenue In Celebration Of 39th Ryder Cup At Medinah Country Club
OAK BROOK, Ill. (Sept. 13, 2012) – One of the great avenues of the world, Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, is now home to the “Tartan Art on the Avenue” public art exhibit, featuring 50 uniquely decorated giant golf balls located along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and throughout the Chicagoland area.
The exhibit is part of Magnificent Moments, an officially sanctioned charitable fundraising campaign of the upcoming 39th Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 25-30 at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. The campaign is raising money for two local charities – Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and The Illinois PGA Foundation – by hosting a series of “Magnificent Moments” in Chicago.
“We are very excited to roll out this wonderful exhibit in celebration of the Ryder Cup matches,” said Doug Porter, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. “The Magnificent Moments team has worked very hard to develop this unique collection of golf balls to raise awareness and important funds for the ongoing works of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and the Illinois PGA Foundation.”
About “Tartan Art on the Avenue”
The “Tartan Art on the Avenue” exhibit will be on display from September 13 to October 10, and features five-foot golf balls designed exclusively for many Chicago businesses and organizations, along with golf balls with sponsorship from around the world. Additionally, there are several celebrity golf balls, including designs representing most of Chicago’s professional sports teams, and golf balls signed by Chicago notables including actress Jenny McCarthy, American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III and European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal will also have golf balls on display at Medinah Country Club during the Ryder Cup.
American icon and Official Ryder Cup artist LeRoy Neiman was the honorary Chairman of “Tartan Art on the Avenue” until his death in June. His last brilliantly-colored work of art is one of the golf ball masterpieces and will be on display at Medinah Country Club during the Ryder Cup. This one-of-a-kind golf ball, as well as several of the celebrity golf balls, will be auctioned off at the conclusion of the Ryder Cup. Auction information will be available on the official Website for the Ryder Cup: www.rydercup.com.
“Bagpipes & Blues” International Pep Rally
The Magnificent Moments campaign will also be hosting the “Bagpipes & Blues” International Pep Rally event on September 27, the eve of the opening day of Ryder Cup match play. Blending the cultures of Europe and Chicago, this event at the Field Museum will provide a spectacular evening set against Chicago’s stunning skyline, and will allow attendees the opportunity to indulge in elegant dishes celebrating the Ryder Cup and Chicago culinary favorites, while enjoying music ranging from Chicago Blues to Scottish Bagpipes. A premium bar and a world-class auction supporting the campaign’s two magnificent charities will round out the festivities.
The “Bagpipes & Blues” event will be open to the public, with tickets available for purchase. In addition, a limited number of Ryder Cup daily tickets are available through the Magnificent Moments campaign. For tickets or information about Magnificent Moments, visit www.magnificentmoments.org.
