Visitors attending meetings, reunions, events and/or sporting events in the Augusta area will generate at least $664,095.60 in Direct Visitor Spending over the month of January.

The Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) and the Augusta Sports Council (ASC) are pleased to announce the following meetings, reunions, and events arriving in Augusta. Although these groups are meeting this month, the ACVB As the official Destination Marketing Organization for Augusta, and the ASC have worked over the last several months to help these events select Augusta and have a positive experience while here. 

The groups listed below represent just a portion of the groups in Augusta this month.

For the Month of January:

Club Car 2012 International Sales Conference
January 8-13
Attendees: 175
Visitor Spending: $242,086.60

National Association of Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club
2012 Soldier Ride
January 13-15
Attendance: 250
Visitor Spending: $126,350.00

2012 Dasani Mayor's Cup Junior Championships
January 14-16
Attendance: 300
Visitor Spending: $240,065.00

First Assembly of God 2012 Point Hope from Alaska Ministries
January 19-21
Attendance: 100
Visitor Spending: $25.270.00

2012 Georgia Coroners Association Training Symposium
January 21-28
Attendance: 49
Visitor Spending: $30,324

On Thursday, December 8, the Augusta Sports Council presented the 2011 Ray Guy Award for College Punter of the Year to Louisiana Tech’s Ryan Allen. The award was presented during The Home Depot College Football Awards. The Bulldog sophomore beat out Auburn’s Steven Clark, and Jackson Rice of Oregon to take the honor.

The award caps a remarkable year for Allen, a junior from Salem, Ore. He helped lead his team to the 2011 WAC Championship, with a 41.95 net average and 37 punts inside the 20-yard line. He ranked #1 in the country in punts inside the 20 and had only 33% of his punts returned. Allen averaged 47 or more yards per punt in two games, including four 50+ yarders at Nevada. His 72-yard punt at Mississippi State is the fourth in school history, and this year five of his punts rank in the top 10 in school history. Louisiana Tech’s 2011 season will end on December 21 when the Bulldogs take on No. 15 TCU in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.

Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the
winner are net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

National College Football Awards Association
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.

The Augusta Sports Council has announced three finalists for the 2011 Ray Guy Award. The finalists were selected by a national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former Ray Guy Award winners.  The voting body will cast a second round of ballots to decide the winner.

2011 Ray Guy Award Semi-Finalists
Ryan Allen (Jr.) – Louisiana Tech
Steven Clark (So.) – Auburn
Jackson Rice (Jr.) – Oregon

The candidates were evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team.  Particular emphasis was placed on the punter’s net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.

The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. Fans can visit the show’s dedicated web site at www.espncollegefootballawards.com to find the latest college football awards news, including show details, previous winners, fan voting, a photo gallery and video highlights.

Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the
winner are net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

National College Football Awards Association
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.

The Augusta Sports Council has announced the ten semi-finalists for the 2011 Ray Guy Award. The semi-finalists were chosen from a field of 54 nominees for the award, which recognizes the most outstanding punter in college football.

The candidates were evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team.  Particular emphasis was placed on the punter’s net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.  A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) coaches, sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists, who will be announced on November 21.  Voters will then cast a second round of ballots to decide the winner.

2011 Ray Guy Award Semi-Finalists

Ryan Allen (Jr.) – Louisiana Tech

Ian Campbell (Jr.) – UTEP

Steven Clark (So.) – Auburn

Bobby Cowan (Jr.) – Idaho

Scott Kovanda (Jr.) – Ball State

Richie Leone (So.) – Houston

Pat O’Donnell (Jr.) – Cincinnati

Jackson Rice (Jr.) – Oregon

Brian Schmiedebusch (So.) – Bowling Green

Brad Wing (Fr.) - LSU

The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. Fans can visit the show’s dedicated web site at www.espncollegefootballawards.com to find the latest college football awards news, including show details, previous winners, fan voting, a photo gallery and video highlights.

Ray Guy Award

The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the winner are net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

Augusta Sports Council

The Augusta Sports Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20^th anniversary in 2011. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

National College Football Awards Association

The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.

The Augusta Sports Council has announced the nominees for the 2011 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. Among the 54 candidates are 2009 winner and 2010 finalist, Drew Butler of Georgia. Candidates were nominated for the award by their school’s sports information department.

The list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists to be announced on November 11. Following the semi-finalists announcement, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists, who will be identified on November 21.  The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner.

The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corson, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. Fans can visit the show’s dedicated web site at www.espncollegefootballawards.com to find the latest college football awards news, including show details, previous winners, fan voting, a photo gallery and video highlights.

Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

National College Football Awards Association
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.

The First Annual Disc Golf for Kids’ Sake Halloween Bash will be held at the International Disc Golf Center at Wildwood Park in Appling, GA on Saturday, October 29th, 2011. Disc Golf for Kids' Sake is a joint fundraising effort between Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia, the Professional Disc Golf Association and Disc Golf for Kids’ Sake founder Brent Walton. Registration is $35 and will be open from 8:00-9:30 am on the day of the event at the International Disc Golf Center. Participants may also register online.

There will be an opportunity drawing at 9:30 am and the tournament starts at 10:00 am. The 36 hole tournament will end at approximately 5:00 pm. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia.

Event details:
• Free admission for spectators!
• All kids’ activities are FREE!!! Bring the family and have a blast!
• Learn how to play disc golf for free.
• Incredible disc golf at the IDGC for those participating in the tournament.
• Opportunity Drawing for prizes including skydiving, hotel stays, disc golf equipment galore, gift certificates to many local eateries, and so much more!
• Lunch for participants and volunteers from New Moon Café!
• FREE Zipfizz, Krispy Kreme donuts, Starbucks, Einstein bagels, and more!
• Music provided by B & M Sound DJ’s
• ASU Cheerleaders
• Face Painting
• Bounce House
• Halloween costumes are encouraged
• Multiple Mascots including Cow, Red, Al E Cat, and Lewis the Duck!

For more information, please visit DiscGolfForKidsSake.org or call (706) 261-6342.

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and Augusta Sports Council (ASC) have announced the venues for the 2012 GHSA Golf State Championships. Earlier this year it was announced that the GHSA would bring the ten state golf championships to the CSRA in 2012. The Championships for A–AAAAA boys and girls will be held at ten area golf courses on Monday, May 7, 2012.  Combined, the tournaments will draw 880 golfers, plus coaches and fans.

This is the first time a single community has been selected to host all ten tournaments. Burke County High School golf coach and athletic director, Wade Marchman will serve as the overall tournament director.  The Augusta Sports Council will provide tournament support.

The 2012 tournament venues are as follows:

A
Boys – Forest Hills Golf Club
Girls – Pointe South Golf Club

AA
Boys - Waynesboro Country Club
Girls – Goshen Plantation Golf Club

AAA
Boys – Augusta Country Club
Girls – Applewood Golf Course

AAAA
Boys – Jones Creek Golf Club
Girls – Bartram Trail Golf Club

AAAAA
Boys – Champions Retreat Golf Club
Girls – The River Golf Club

Golfing for G.A.M.E.S. Tournament to benefit Augusta Sports Council Scholarship Program

The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) will host the second annual Golfing for G.A.M.E.S. Scholarship Tournament on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 12:30 pm at Forest Hills Golf Club. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ASC’s Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports (G.A.M.E.S.) Awards program.

Since 1992, more than 2,000 area high school and adult athletes in have been recognized for their accomplishments on and off the field through the G.A.M.E.S. Awards program. The awards are presented each May during the Augusta Sports Awards banquet.
 
Tournament entry fees are $125/player or $450/team for ASC members and $150/player and $$575/team for non-members. The tournament package includes lunch, range balls, cart, tournament contest, dinner and awards. Hole sponsorships are also available. For more information, please contact the Augusta Sports Council at 706.722.8326 ext. 231 or download a registration form below.

Golfing for GAMES Entry Form.pdf (697.21 kb)

The Augusta Sports Council and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) today announced a three-year extension of the 2009 agreement to continue the ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta competition through 2014.  Billed as the “World’s Largest Ironman Event,” the race has generated nearly $10-million in economic impact in its first two years. A sell-out field of 3,000+ is expected once again for the 2011 race, scheduled for Sunday, September 25.

Introduced in 2006, the Ironman 70.3 Series has grown to include more than 50 events, offering exciting races around the world that qualify athletes for the Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Henderson, Nev. Ironman 70.3 races consist of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile (half marathon) run, which adds up to 70.3 miles of total racing. The ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta field of athletes is made up of elite-level amateurs, beginners and world class professional triathletes who will compete for a share of a $15,000 prize purse.

The Augusta Sports Council will host the event, and race management will be provided by the World Triathlon Corporation. “Hosting the ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta has been a historic benchmark for the Augusta Sports Council” said Chief Executive Director Brinsley Thigpen. “On behalf of our many community partners and 900+ volunteers, we look forward to continuing our partnership with such a well-known elite sports brand.”

“Augusta has proven to be an ideal destination for Ironman 70.3,” said Steve Meckfessel, chief operations officer for WTC. “We’re excited to extend the contract through 2014 and expect continued success in the coming years.”

Race registration for the 2011 ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta is still open for participants and a volunteer recruitment effort is underway. For additional information, visit www.ironmanaugusta.com or contact the Augusta Sports Council at 706.722.8326.

The Board of Directors of the Augusta Sports Council is pleased to announce that after an extensive search, Brinsley Thigpen has been named Chief Executive Officer. Thigpen replaces Tammy Stout, who led the organization since 1995.   

For the past five years, Thigpen was the Program Director for Atlanta-based Camp Sunshine where she planned year-round events for children and teens with cancer and their families throughout the state.

“Building a company which provides a strong tourism impact for the city has been an honor and very gratifying,” said Stout. “I know the Sports Council will continue to build beneficial programs and events under Brinsley’s leadership.”

An Atlanta native, Thigpen graduated from the University of Georgia in 1999, and then worked as a script coordinator for Sesame Street and a senior production coordinator for Major League Baseball in New York City. Her prior experience also includes a stint as a lobbyist at the Georgia state capitol and two seasons with the Atlanta Braves. She and her husband, Beau moved to Augusta in 2009.