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The Grand Prize-winning ticket from Titleist's 2000 U.S. Open sweepstakes promotion.1/2
Some amazing news was revealed when Steve Shannon scratched his sweeps ticket twenty-two years after first receiving a promotional Titleist dozen as a 40th birthday gift.2/2
Hey, Team Titleist!
We'd like to share a fun story with you. Joe Gomes, our Director of Communications, recently received an email from Elaine Shannon of Stratham, NH. Elaine had uncovered something long forgotten that turned out to be something truly remarkable. From Elaine's note to Joe:
Twenty-two years ago our four young children gave their dad (my husband, Steve) a box of Titleist golf balls for his birthday. Inside was a “Collectors Edition” booklet for the 100th US Open being held June 15-18, 2000 at Pebble Beach. Because it was a collectors edition and was so nicely wrapped in cellophane, I suggested putting it away in our desk for the time being.
Fast forward to today. I was recently cleaning out that same desk and came upon the booklet. Given all the time that had passed I gave it to my husband to open. He found an Instant Win Game Piece enclosed and even though so many years had passed, he scratched off where directed to do so to see what he would have won. To both of our surprise, it was the winning Grand Prize game piece!
As you can imagine, I felt terrible for not having Steve open the booklet when he first received it. My husband LOVES the game of golf and having been able to attend a US Open tournament would have crossed off one of the top items on his bucket list a long time ago!
To try and make up for the incident, I thought I’d surprise Steve with 2 tickets to the upcoming 2022 US Open in Brookline, MA. However, it appears there are a limited number of tickets available and those that are available are quite pricey.
Joe ran Elaine's news up the flagpole at Titleist headquarters and Elaine's account was confirmed. Yes, we had run a U.S. Open contest back in 2000 and no, no one had ever stepped forward with the Grand Prize-winning ticket. What to do next was a no-brainer. Steve would be going to the U.S. Open. It was just a question of how to add some excitement to the surprise.
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Steve and his wife, Elaine and their son, Steve, Jr., visited Titleist's Ball Plant 3 facility, where Steve shared the story on Michael Breed's "A New Breed of Golf" Sirius/XM radio show.1/2
Steve was joined on the show by Jeremy Stone, Titleist's Director of Golf Ball Marketing.2/2
Enter Michael Breed. Joe had reached out to Michael to broadcast his Sirius/XM “New Breed of Golf” radio program from Titleist Ball Plant 3, as he does a few times per year. Working with Elaine and their son, Steve Shannon, Jr., a videographer for NBC 10, they hatched a plan to get Steve Sr. down to Ball Plant 3. Steve Jr. told his father about an assignment shooting a U.S. Open feature for NBC/Golf Channel and asked if he’d like to accompany him. An avid golfer, Steve Sr. jumped at the opportunity. Once the task of getting Steve there was accomplished, the idea was to have Steve, Sr. be a surprise guest on Michael's program. Michael would get him to share the story of the missing ticket – which Elaine brought with her - and Titleist’s Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing, Jeremy Stone, would provide the Shannon family a tour of Ball Plant 3 as a "consolation prize".
It was during the broadcast that Jeremy sprung the real surprise. He presented Steve with a bound folder and inside was a certificate announcing that Titleist was making good on Steve's 22-year-old golden ticket win. He was presented 2022 U.S. Open tickets for both Wednesday and Thursday, as well as accommodations in downtown Boston. They also received a VIP tour of Ball Plant 3, as promised, and a gift bag that will make him the envy of his golf buddies."I am so looking forward to it," Steve said as the shock began to wear off. "This is wonderful. I thought I blew my chance, but there is a second chance in life. Thanks to my wonderful wife and thank you, everyone at Titleist."
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During their visit, the Shannons were given a VIP tour of Ball Plant 3. Here, Steve, Elaine and Steve, Jr. visit clear coat paint operations, where the final glossy touch is applied to Pro V1, Pro V1x, AVX and Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls.1/1
As the segment came to a close, Michael asked Jeremy how he felt bringing this story to a happy end.
"We had this cool opportunity to do something fun and it's an easy decision for us. Seeing the joy on Steve's face and his wife's and son's faces - that just means the world to us. It brings joy to us to know that there's a dedicated golfer who is going to have some fun at the U.S. Open."
Wishing the Shannon family and all of Team Titleist many great memories this U.S. Open week. Thank you for supporting Titleist!
UPDATE
The Shannons have been spotted at The Country Club!