TV-watching fans help CITI raise $17,600 for the First Tee of San Francisco at 2009 Presidents Cup

October 23, 4:49 PMSF Golf ExaminerGreg Quiroga

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Fans at the 2009 Presidents Cup took advantage of the TOUR View by CITI to get more out of the on-course experience, and to help raise over $17,000 for First Tee of San Francisco

Fans who attended the 2009 Presidents Cup in person were able to enjoy the action in a whole new way, thanks to the TOUR View presented by CITI. The TOUR View consisted of small portable LCD screen televisions that received a local-area broadcast of the current TV feed, as well as individual camera shots and live statistics on each match.

• Photo Gallery of TOUR View presented by CITI in use at Presidents Cup
  
• Photo Recap of the 2009 Presidents Cup
  

CITI offered access to the devices to fans for free at the gates upon entry, simply asking for a credit card deposit on the device. CITI offered users the opportunity to make a $5 donation to the First Tee of San Francisco with each rental. Furthermore, CITI automatically made a $5 donation on behalf of fans who utilized a CITI card for their deposit.

Over the course of the four days of competition a total of 9,789 fans checked out the devices, raising $17,600 for the First Tee of San Francisco. Making the situation a win-win for all involved.

Fans in attendance were rewarded for stopping at the CITI tent, as the TOUR View devices were invalauable out on the course. For all but one round, the Presidents Cup featured an extremely limited number of matches on the course at the same time. Fans who staked out a spot on a favorite hole often waited over an hour for groups to begin arriving, only to see all of the groups pass through in under two hours. During the wait time, fans could stay up on the action with their TOUR View TVs.

The devices also offered fans with an obstructed view of the green the chance to see whether or not a putt went in. There were many circumstances where a lone fan staring at his portable TV screen was celebrating before the rest of the crowd knew what happened - and they were all standing on the same hole.

Presenting TOUR View also offered CITI a chance to build significant in-roads with a fan base that embraced the technology and how it enhanced the on-course experience. The CITI representatives working the gate on Thursday told me that they had approximately 2,000 devices for use by attendees. The final numbers for usage show that many more devices went out each day, as CITI had to pull devices in from other areas of use. It remains to be seen whether or not CITI offers the promotion again at another upcoming event. If CITI does, make sure to stop and pick one up - they make the whole experience on-course much more immersive..