LAS VEGAS – Diamond Resorts International® brought the star power to Las Vegas during Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor fight weekend for a media day to announce the 2018 Diamond Resorts Invitational™ golf tournament. Guests included Major League Baseball pitching great “the Rocket” Roger Clemens, retired National Hockey League superstar Mike Modano, young country music superstar and Diamond Resorts Celebrity Ambassador Cole Swindell, celebrity golfer and Golf Channel personality Blair O’Neal, and country music artist, former pro golfer and Diamond Resorts Celebrity Ambassador Colt Ford.
The press conference, which was held over a delicious brunch at Planet Hollywood atop the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, began with Diamond Resorts International® Chief Executive Officer Mike Flaskey, who created the Diamond Resorts Invitational™, discussing the origin of the charity golf tournament.
“The Diamond Resorts Invitational started out as a weekend fundraiser called the Brian Gay invitational four years ago,” Flaskey said. “The reason we did it was we wanted to raise money for the local hospital in Orlando called the Florida Hospital for Children. And because of the great support we got from the celebrity community, it really took off like wildfire.”
Flaskey continued discussing the evolution of the tournament. “The event is now a PGA Champions Challenge Season event and the cool, unique nature of the event is that you have a celebrity division and you have a professional division and they each compete for their own separate purse,” said Flaskey.
After, Flaskey led a question and answer session with the talented group of five, one thing was consistent from everyone; the Diamond Resorts Invitational is a phenomenal event. Here is what the stars had to say about the tournament.
“I remember a couple of years ago you guys came to us and said ‘look we’re going to take this to a new level’, and that’s what you did at Diamonds Resort and it gets better and better each year,” Clemens said. “Thanks for the invite and I love it that all the fans come out.”
“Last year was my first time there,” Swindell said. “I even got up one of the nights and played some acoustic songs. It was kind of unannounced just because I was having such a good time and everybody with Diamond takes care of you how it should be.”
The talented country singer discussed the experience further. “When we get to use our talents for a good cause and to be around people that you admire, I mean I’m sitting up here with Roger Clemens, that’s unbelievable to me, I felt like a kid, Swindell said. “I remember walking up and seeing all of these professional athletes that I idolized and their all playing golf.” Cole also added that he is looking forward to headlining the event this year and he is bringing the entire band!
The tournament is so well run, it’s just a great experience and a blast. It’s one of the favorite weeks that I look forward to playing,” O’Neal said. “I’ve played on all the tours all around the world, really and playing in the Diamond Resorts Invitational has been an amazing experience for me.”
“As far as the overall experience, and now, having the senior tour players, having some of the LPGA players, it’s unbelievable the access that you have,” Fort said. “It’s a little more here at the Diamond Resorts than any of the other events. When you throw in the concerts and everything with it, honestly, I haven’t seen a better event ran anywhere than what goes on at the Diamond Resorts events. I haven’t seen one any better.”
Later that night, Diamond Resorts guests were treated to a very intimate concert with Cole Swindell. Fresh off a tour date in Phoenix, Arizona the night before, Swindell performed an acoustic set with a handful of bandmates and gave brief introductions to his seven-straight #1 hits to the people who may not have been familiar with his music. Some of the songs performed included “You Should Be Here”, and my new country music favorite “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey.”
https://youtu.be/87INg8Dj0xk
On a personal note, that memorable weekend in Las Vegas will be one I cherish forever. One the morning of Mayweather vs McGregor, I played golf for the first time on one of the Las Vegas courses with some of the Diamond Resorts family. After covering not only Mayweather vs McGregor but the championship game of Ice Cube’s BIG3 Basketball League, I woke up the next morning to attend the brunch. Finally, the intimate concert featuring Cole Swindell was my first country music concert that included an amazing dinner spread with cocktails flowing.
To inquire about one of the Diamond Resorts properties, like the cozy and convenient apartment-style Polo Towers in Las Vegas where I stayed, located across from T-Mobile Arena, visit https://www.diamondresorts.com/
The Diamond Resorts Invitational golf tournament, which has raised $2.3 million for Florida Hospital for Children since 2013, will take place from January 10 to January 13 and features many 50 and over players, LPGA stars, and celebrity golfers. Some of the stars confirmed for 2018 include National Football League legends Marcus Allen and Brian Urlacher, National Basketball Association legend Ray Allen, Major League Baseball legends Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Clemens, and dozens more.
If that wasn’t enough, the event will be featured on NBC Golf channel. the sizzle video https://youtu.be/nWF8Fk-vCIA that highlights the Diamond Resorts Invitational made it a no-brainer for me to make my way down to Orlando for 2018’s first major golf tournament. With the holiday season upon us, consider the 2018 Diamond Resorts Invitational for the golf lover in your life. It will be an experience that will last a lifetime! What are you waiting for? Visit http://www.diamondresortsinvitational.com so you can be a part of the 2018 Diamond Resorts Invitational. See you in Orlando in January!
Watch the press conference announcing the 2018 Diamond Resorts Invitational featuring Roger Clemens, Mike Modano, Cole Swindell, Blair O’Neal, and Colt Ford.