The fourth annual Titleist Order of Merit (OOM), powered by HowDidiDo, the largest golf event of its kind in the country, got underway on March 30 – and saw more than 5,000 golfers sign up in the first week.
The competition, which runs from March 30 to September 30, 2014, was launched in 2011 and attracted an entry of nearly 11,000 golfers. In 2012 title sponsorship was taken up by Titleist and, with an increased number of outstanding prizes, entry numbers rose impressively. Last year’s competition saw nearly 21,000 golfers take part – making it one of the UK’s most subscribed sporting competitions, behind only events like the London Marathon and Great North Run.
The Titleist OOM is a virtual golf competition open to every golfer whose handicap is listed on HowDidiDo.com – Europe’s largest golfing community – and who participates in medal competitions at their home club.
Golfers are attracted to the competition because of its simplicity. Neither the player nor the club has to perform any additional entry of scores as all medal scores are automatically collated by HowDidiDo’s cutting-edge handicapping software. And, each week, the OOM leaderboard is updated with the latest scores. Placings in the OOM are determined by each player’s five best medal rounds at their own club, with the scores worked out on best net differential to ensure a level playing field, regardless of the difficulty of the individual courses.
The OOM gives golfers in seven categories – men’s scratch to 12 handicap, 13-21, and 22-28; ladies’ scratch to 16, and 17-36; junior (under-16); most improved (biggest reduction in playing handicap); plus an overall winner – the chance to win prizes for coming out on top, as well as monthly goodies provided by GolfBuddy, the leading golf GPS and laser rangefinder company.
The overall winner will not only receive a host of top-of-the-range golf gear from title sponsor Titleist – a full Titleist 714 iron fitting; a year’s supply of the best Titleist balls for their game; a personalised Titleist Staff bag; Titleist cap and – but will also be whisked away for a luxury golf break with three friends.
Meanwhile, each of the seven divisional winners will receive a dozen of the best Titleist balls for their game, a Titleist stand-bag, and a Titleist glove alongside a GolfBuddy.
And, for the first time, all OOM participants are automatically entered to the FJ Par-3 Championship, which runs alongside the main event. There will be a number of prizes up for grabs throughout the year, courtesy of FootJoy, and the winner will be treated to an exclusive money-can’t-buy experience.
Last year’s overall winner was 33-year-old Alan Russell, from Clydebank Overtoun GC, who began the season with a handicap of six and reduced it to two. He hopes to get down to scratch in 2014 and believes the OOM was a great motivator for him last year.
He said: “It’s enjoyable to try to better your counting scores and see how you’ve done against friends and club-mates.”
HowDidiDo Media’s managing director, Barry Dyett, said: “Every year the Titleist Order of Merit gets stronger and stronger – and we’re delighted to once again have Titleist as our title sponsor. This year there are extra prizes and we would expect to see an increase in the number of participants from last year. To have nearly 21,000 golfers competing sets this event apart from every other competition.
“As the number of participants increase so it becomes even more of an achievement to claim a prize – but there are monthly as well as annual awards up for grabs, and, as they always say, you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
HowDidiDo holds in excess of 21 million rounds of golf along with the handicaps, results and scores of more than 1,300,000 UK golf club members. More than 400,000 signed-up members utilise the golfing website regularly to check handicap lists or competition results and to receive special member-only offers from selected partners – yet it remains a free service.
HowDidiDo is also currently engaged in a widespread campaign with the BOSS Watches H1 Club to reward all its registered golfers with a luxury timepiece should they record a hole-in-one during an official club competition.
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