Golden Bear And Great White Shark To Prowl Fairmont Banff Springs At Telus Skins Game

Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman join three of the game’s stars of today in special tribute to golf history

April 13, 2006, The TELUS Skins Game will be visiting Alberta for the first time this summer, and to commemorate the occasion, it was announced today that the annual Canadian summer golf classic will feature five of the biggest names in the game, including the legendary Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, as a special tribute to the heritage of golf. It marks the first time in the event’s 14-year history that a fifth player will participate.

As part of this year’s celebration of the history of the game, each of the five players participating will represent a different decade. Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest player to have ever played the game, will represent players in their 60s with Greg Norman, nicknamed the ‘Great White Shark’, representing those in their 50s. Calgary’s Stephen Ames, recent winner of the prestigious Tournament Players Championship and defending TELUS Skins Game Champion, is in his 40s; fan favourite John Daly, who was also officially added to the field today, is in his 30s; and budding superstar Sergio Garcia is in his 20s.

“I am excited about returning to the TELUS Skins Game in the new format for this year’s event,” said Nicklaus. “I had such a good time last year that I told everyone I would like to come back and play again. The new format will be a good one, it has never been done before, so I think the fans will really enjoy it. As a player, it will be fun to play with a group of some of the great players in the game that I have played with over the years. I am sure that when Greg, Stephen, John, Sergio, and I get together, we are going to share some laughs for sure. And who knows, maybe you’ll see the senior man in the group give the young guys a run for the skins.”

“It really is an honour for everyone involved in the TELUS Skins Game, including myself, The Fairmont Banff Springs, and the fans, to get the chance to spend two days again with Jack Nicklaus,” said Ames. “In a year where the event is celebrating the history of the game, it is very fitting to have the man there who created so much of it.”

Tickets for the 2006 TELUS Skins Game go on sale Monday, May 8 at 9:00 a.m. (EST) through Ticketmaster and are available by calling 1-888-833-4447 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca. Tickets are priced at $150 for a two-day pass and $95 for a one-day pass for either Monday, August 7 or Tuesday, August 8. Prices do not include applicable taxes and service charges.

“The TELUS Skins Game is always a highlight of the Canadian sporting schedule, and this year’s event promises to be a perfect celebration of the game and its rich history,” said Joe Natale, president of TELUS Business Solutions. “We are thrilled about this year’s field, likely the best this event has ever seen, and we are especially pleased about bringing it to Alberta and a wonderful setting like Banff.”

As is the case each and every year, TELUS will conduct a number of promotional and fundraising initiatives for a local charity through the TELUS Skins Game. The company announced today that the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation would be the designated charity for the event in 2006. Last year, TELUS donated $125,000 to KidSport Canada through the ‘Charity on the Course’ program that sees donations made for every birdie and eagle made by the players during the two days of competition.

It’s no coincidence that this special tribute to the game’s heritage will take place on one of the country’s most historic golf courses, The Fairmont Banff Springs. Designed in 1928 by Canada’s world-renowned golf course architect, Stanley Thompson, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course is famous for its panoramic beauty and challenging layout set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

“The Fairmont Banff Springs has been a legend of Canadian golf for three quarters of a century and the 2006 TELUS Skins Game promises to be a highlight in the golf course’s long history,” said David Roberts, general manager of The Fairmont Banff Springs. “The Town of Banff looks forward to welcoming everyone involved with the event, including the players and golf fans from across the country, in August.”

The event’s theme will also include other historic elements, both on the course and on the television broadcast, to pay tribute to different eras in the history of the game.

The TELUS Skins Game is also sponsored by The Fairmont Banff Springs, Making The Connection, The Globe and Mail, WestJet, Husky, Travel Alberta, Corus, Alberta Golf Magazine, Alberta Professional Golf Association (APGA) and 80/20.

TELUS supporting our communities
In 2005, TELUS contributed more than $11 million in educational, health, arts and charitable organizations across Canada. Consistent with TELUS’ commitment to becoming Canada’s premier corporate citizen, over the last five years TELUS and its team members have contributed more than $62 million to a wide range of charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada. By focusing on the areas of health & wellness, education & sport and arts & culture, TELUS is committed to investing in opportunities that include the innovative use of technology and make the future friendly for Canada’s youth. To find out how TELUS is working hard in your community, visit us online at telus.com/community

About IMG
IMG is the world’s premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company. IMG is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media. IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries. Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004.

IMG Sports & Entertainment includes consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; golf course design; licensing; client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, baseball, hockey, football, European football, rugby, cricket, motorsports, coaching, Olympic sports and action sports. In addition, IMG Academies are the world’s largest and most successful, multi-sport training and education facilities.

IMG Media, which includes our TWI subsidiary, is recognized as a global leader in the delivery of new media services, with Internet, broadband and mobile expertise, transforming how audiences access and interact with content. In addition, IMG Media produces and distributes over 9,000 hours of content annually, including award winning television and radio programming, over multiple platforms across 200 countries and covering more than 240 sports. It also represents the broadcast rights to many of the world’s premier sporting events and has the world’s biggest sports archive with more than 200,000 hours of footage.

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Jim Johannsson

TELUS External Communications

TELUS

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