“The Pro Cup”

Ever heard of it?

The Professional Event that has created a distinctive league of their own in Golf

Story and Photos by: Beverly and Greg Wise

Well… when the email came in that the “Media Credential Portal” was now open for “The Pro Cup” at Innisbrook, with the dates of December 12-14… I admit it… I was sort of surprised by what I was reading.

Members of Team Baseball, Football, Hockey and Basketball… playing in an all-professional golf event – on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort where they play the VALSPAR in the Spring.

The mind began to wonder… Do these guys have game?

So, we submitted our credentials and planned accordingly to see what this event was all about. Since no one we knew had any knowledge of it. I guess we were all going to learn together.

After the first round we started talking about: what we had seen, what we had heard, what we had experienced, and now – we were thinking about The Pro Cup in an entirely different way.

Standing at the first tee and listening to the introductions… Names like the Boston Celtics… the Yankees, The Boston Bruins… and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And you hear phrases like: Played in 4 World Series… 3-time Stanley Cup Participant… or Superbowl kicker… and then you realize… THESE GUYS ARE NOW PLAYING GOLF?

John Smoltz – Captain of Team Baseball
Jerome Bettis – Team Football
Guess who she is her to see?
Terrell Buckley
Dan Quinn and David Booth

Approachable

Having time for the Fan Experience. These guys had time for followers during the day.

Tyler Clippard
Ray Allen
Justin Williams
James Wisiewski – Wait… which way does this go?

The Champions of The Pro Cup – Team Baseball with Team Captain – John Smotlz

Team Baseball, led by Team Captain – John Smoltz – Photo provided by The Pro Cup.

Tom Etzel, the founder and owner of ETZEL Agency,
which manages and operates THE PRO CUP. Well Done… Mr. Etzel!

The plan for the Future

The Pro Cup was the first event in a series the promoter is calling “The Pro Rivalry.”

The plans are to have 4 specific professional events for Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Hockey, all ending with the combined competition called “The Pro Cup” again in 2025, back at Innisbrook in December.

I must admit… for an “Inaugural” event, you go into these events expecting to see marginal… everything, but Etzel Productions had everything as if this was a well-established event on the PGA or LPGA Tour. They really didn’t miss a beat. From the look of an established tour event to communications, it was ALL so well done.

Here’s to the “The Pro Rivalry” series in 2025!

ETZEL Agency is a respected leader in the live event and experiential marketing space, dedicated to crafting memorable moments. Our expertise includes Live Events, Digital Experiences, Creative Services, VIP Environments, Talent Procurement/Management, Sponsorship Sales, and Strategic Consulting. We are committed to partnering with brands and properties to deliver outstanding service and innovative solutions. ETZEL’s competitive yet collaborative mentality combined with its vast relationships creates partnership that produces success. Together with our clients we are relentless in our pursuit of the desired outcome while also enjoying the process. Visit us at etzelagency.com to learn more about our extraordinary team.

Greg and Beverly Wise have been traveling the world, playing and writing about their golf experiences as “Golf the Wise Way,” and submitting to numerous publications.

Greg has played golf for more than 60 years and truly believes that “a picture is worth a thousand words…” so, Beverly and Greg both excel in getting the right photos to enhance their stories.