How a lot does it price to play a spherical of golf with Illini athletes?
On this case, for a bunch of 4, $1,200.
That features inexperienced charges, golf cart use, a boxed lunch, course refreshments, a dinner meet-and-greet with gamers and a donation to the identify/picture/likeness liaison group Illini Guardians.
On Aug. 26, the Urbana Nation Membership will host the primary NIL Golf Open, that includes a number of big-name Illinois athletes and coaches. A ticket pays for 4 golfers, who will group up with one of many Illini.
“Any revenue from the occasion goes on to the Illini Guardians and their athletes,” mentioned Campus Ink gross sales director Jenna Koss. All gamers are compensated for displaying up.
Who would possibly a group be matched with? Certainly one of Illini basketball’s Luke Goode, Coleman Hawkins, Brandon Lieb, Skyy Clark, Matthew Mayer or coach Brad Underwood, or Illini golf’s Tommy Kuhl, TJ Barger and Jackson Buchanan. And there’s extra to observe, Koss mentioned.
The deadline to register and pay is Aug. 22. As of Thursday, there have been nonetheless a number of group spots left.
The occasion is offered by Campus Ink, a customized attire retailer with a reputation, picture, likeness footprint, and NIL fundraiser Illini Guardians, which compensates Illinois student-athletes by crowdfunded contracts.
“Golf is one thing we thought we may do that might assist group members have interaction with the athletes,” mentioned Lindsay Fast, who works group engagement for Campus Ink.
The attire retailer has solid a distinct segment within the native identify, picture and likeness scene, creating customized merchandise and managing the manufacturers of student-athletes. The enterprise teamed with Gameday Spirit to create and promote near-replica jerseys with gamers’ names on them, in shops and athletic venues like State Farm Heart.
On July 29, Campus Ink hosted a “birthday celebration” for Clark, a freshman guard who signed autographs for attending followers.
“NIL has fully reworked our enterprise, it’s a good way to indicate assist for student-athletes,” Koss mentioned. “We need to dive headfirst into it and get these athletes as a lot cash as we are able to.”
