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This post is about recent activities within the OCTO (Office of the Chief Technology Officer) organization of Kodak to recognize and promote the Kodak Challenge. The organization is made up of several hundred employees that work at various locations within Rochester, NY as well other locations around the world. This post focuses on the Rochester employees.
The golf tournament planning team earlier this year decided to align with the Kodak Challenge and add more fun and excitement for employees. The showing of a golf film earlier in the year kicked off the season and announced the golf tournament. A recent Putting Challenge kicked off registration for the golf tournament - more information will be shared about the tournament after the event in August.
An event almost did not occur due to obstacles beyond the team's control. However, the team re-focused and with additional help was able to hold an extremely successful event. Over 95 people participated during a lunch time event in a large room adjacent to the cafeteria. Many of the participants never touched a golf club before. The event generated so much talk within the organization that an additional event is being planned for another location within Rochester.
A three-hole mini golf layout was available for each player participant's enjoyment. Prizes were given out for high and low scores as well as many raffle prizes.
Everything had a Kodak Challenge theme from score cards to a scoring leader board, to rules, posters, and more.
Each participant received a score card like the one shown here.
The following is an example of the scoring leader board used during the event. This leader board kept participant's interest about who was winning and who beat whom.
The following are some of the pictures from the recent Putting Challenge event...
Yes - there were water and sand hazards as well. These added to the challenge and fun. Two members of the organization enjoyed watching the players use the putting holes that they made based on a designs they found in an old issue of Popular Mechanics (June 1950).
Special thanks goes out to the event planning team including the golf hole architects and designers as well as all that is made it possible. Stay tuned for information on our golf tournament which will feature "challenge" holes.
Tina Clark
Interactive Marketing and Brand Activation Manager
I had the opportunity to head down to NJ this weekend to see all the action around the Kodak Challenge at The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Course. Though the weather was rainy for some of the time, it was great golf and breathtaking views.
Along with the Kodak tent on hole #14 - the Kodak Challenge hole - we also had a Kodak Photo Zone where fans could get a souvenir picture taken with the Statue of Liberty in the background. On the days where it was raining, we used a greenscreen backdrop inside the tent and a little Kodak magic to continue to give fans a great picture that had them appear to be standing at hole #14, with that same beautiful lady in the background.
A photo taken from the Kodak Photo Zone on a rainy Friday
Over at the Kodak tent, some amazing golf was playing out on the par three Kodak Challenge hole. While it was great to watch Tiger, Padraig, Ernie and others get birdie - and very exciting to see Zach Johnson's tee shot hit the pin for a near Ace - the Kodak crowd was most excited to watch Kevin Streelman, the current leader, play the hole. Kevin hit a great tee shot that looked like it might go in - we were on the edge of our seats! Kevin didn't ace, but sank a short putt for his second birdie in a row on that hole (Kevin's birdies also helped me get a nice score on my Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick'em - as one of my team picks last week).
Kevin Streelman watches his tee shot almost go in at the Kodak Challenge hole
I also talked with fans and customers and asked them what makes them smile.
Along with the action on the course, I had the opportunity to meet Ian Poulter - a self proclaimed gadget geek - as we gave him a new Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. Ian has an amazing new website which he posts videos to daily. Ian was excited to have his new gadget and - as an avid user of Twitter - there was soon a tweet from @ianjamespoulter thanking Kodak.
Getting a new Zi8 Pocket Video camera made Ian Poulter smile!
Tina Clark
Interactive Marketing and Brand Activation Manager
The action in the Kodak Challenge is heating up and the players are really starting to be aware of the potential to win $1M. Nathan Green joined Kevin Streelman in a tie for the lead but many players are just a few off that -11 lead and still have 8 more holes they can add to their scorecard to work toward their best 18. Here's a interesting shot of last week's Kodak Challenge hole - the fan favorite hole #17 at the Buick Open.
Shot of Kodak Challenge hole #17 at Buick Open shot with an Infrared Camera
This week there are two tournaments with a Kodak Challenge hole - so it should be an interesting week! We have the Par 5 16th hole at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the Par 3 16th hole at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.
Players at the top of the Kodak Challenge leaderboard playing in WGC include Nathan Green, Scott Verplank, Lucas Glover, Chad Campbell and Zach Johnson. This Par 5 offers a potential eagle opportunity and a nice chance to jump up on the leaderboard. As the co-leader with Kevin Streelman - who is not playing this week - Nathan Green looks poised to take sole possession of the lead.
Over at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open Kodak Challenge hole, only an ace offers a two stroke jump - but don't put that option past any of the guys in the field this week. Maybe Dean Wilson will have a repeat of his Ace at Crowne Plaza Invitational! Other players at the top of the Kodak Challenge leaderboard playing in Legends Reno-Tahoe Open along with Dean include Nicholas Thompson, Chris DiMarco,Jason Gore, J.J. Henry, and Charley Hoffman.
Don't forget that the Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick'em Golf game is still going - and you can sign up any time to get in on the Grand Prize
drawing for a Disney Fantasy Golf Vacation for 4 (worth ~$7K!) Sign up and pick your favorite four pros at http://fantasy.kodakchallenge.com.
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