Golf Channel's Big Break Reality Series Returns for 13th Season at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas
Series Premieres June 21 Featuring an All-Female Cast and a Guest Appearance by Greg Norman
(February 24, 2010) - Golf Channel's popular Big Break series will return for its 13th season in June, featuring an all-female cast competing on the championship course designed by Greg Norman at the Caribbean's newest luxury golf resort - Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas.
Big Break Sandals Resorts, scheduled to premiere June 21, will feature 11 women competing against each other in an attempt to make their lifelong dream of playing alongside the world's top golfers a reality. In addition to other prizes, the winning contestant will earn a sponsor's exemption to a 2010 LPGA Tour event and a Ladies European Tour event.
The Big Break show concept pits highly skilled golfers against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness. During Big Break Sandals Resorts, one contestant will be eliminated each week, with the last player standing awarded her Big Break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in select professional tour events with some of the best players in the world.
"Big Break is a tremendously popular and successful franchise for the Golf Channel, and we couldn't be more excited about our partnership with Sandals Resorts for the series' 13th season," said Tom Stathakes, Golf Channel senior vice president of programming, production and operations.
The 10-episode series will unfold on one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world, Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club at Sandals Emerald Bay. A Greg Norman design, Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club is a 7,200 yard, par 72 oceanside golf course that features six signature holes hugging the perimeter of Emerald Bay's scenic peninsula overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
"We are thrilled to now include a Greg Norman designed golf course in our Luxury-Included® portfolio and we are privileged to be working with Mr. Norman to ensure that our guests are absolutely satisfied with the course," said Mr. Gordon "Butch" Stewart, founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts. "Hosting the 13th season of Big Break will allow us to show off the beauty and complexity of the Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club to one of the most important audiences for this sport."
Filmed on location in February, Golf Channel cameras rolled not only on the golf course but also from sunrise until well after sunset each evening at the contestants' Oceanside villa. The series also will feature new challenges, twists and special surprise guest appearances, including Greg Norman himself.
"These young ladies have incredible talent, and I enjoyed visiting with them during the filming of the series," said Norman. "I look forward to watching the series unfold along with everyone else this summer on the Golf Channel."
Past Big Break champions have won tournament exemptions to compete on some of the world's top professional circuits, such as the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Canadian Tour. Several previous female contestants have gone on to compete on the LPGA Tour, including Kristy McPherson, a member of the 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
Sandals Resorts' newest gem, Sandals Emerald Bay, officially opened its doors Feb. 4. The 500-acre luxury resort features 183 beachfront rooms and suites all equipped with professionally trained butlers, five a-la-carte gourmet restaurants, a world-class marina, an exclusive 16,000 square foot Red Lane® Spa, an array of land sports including six illuminated Har-tru tennis courts and a host of watersports including scuba diving for certified divers.