John Deere Classic fans take a minute to get a photograph Thursday, July 4, in front of the giant golf ball and driver mounted to a John Deere 470 P-tier Large Excavator at TPC Deere Run, Silvis. The driver was built by Edwards Creative Services in Milan. It weighs nearly 1,500 pounds and is big as a small bus. CREDIT TODD WELVAERT
The golf clubs, even the huge one attached to the John Deere 470 P-tier Large Excavator, are being put away as the 2024 John Deere Classic is in the record books. But somewhere in the office of Edwards Creative Services, the ideas for next year’s classic are taking root. “The work starts in earnest at […]
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The golf clubs, even the huge one attached to the John Deere 470 P-tier Large Excavator, are being put away as the 2024 John Deere Classic is in the record books. But somewhere in the office of Edwards Creative Services, the ideas for next year’s classic are taking root. “The work starts in earnest at the turn of the calendar year,” President and CEO Cathy Edwards told the QCBJ during JDC tournament week. “But we are thinking about what we might do, probably the day after it’s over. That’s just how the ideas work.”Edwards Creative Services has been a part of the John Deere Classic since Ms. Edwards and her husband, Steve, started the business in 2008. “They were looking for a local company to take over the signage and the branding on the course,” she recalled. “And we’ve worked with them every year since.”The demands have also grown as Edwards Creative Services grew from a simple print and design shop into filling a unique niche that provides custom fabrications, interactive media and massive displays. The company is responsible for some of the most popular ‘selfie-spots’ at TPC Deere Run every year, be it the bigger than life golf balls, or the 1,500-pound, bus-sized golf driver mounted to a Deere excavator. The company also works on the 10-foot walls in the corporate venues, working alongside corporate branding experts and other stakeholders. They also work with the John Deere brand team and the PGA Tour’s tournament office. The company also does a lot of work in the always popular Fan Zone, including making the Plinko game. “It’s always fun to see how people interact with what we’ve done,” Ms. Edwards said. “We make the tee markers every year, we’re always super proud of those.” Ms. Edwards said their entire 40-person team is engaged in the process throughout the year, culminating in the weeks leading up to the tournament when the staff all pitch in and help put up and install the displays. “It takes four semis and 20 flatbed loads,” she said. “It’s an intense couple of weeks, but we have a lot of fun. My husband and I love golf, and this merging of what we do and golf, it’s such a passion. It’s incredible.” Ms. Edwards also serves as a board member with the JDC and takes great pride in the charitable work the tournament does in the community. “It’s such a great feeling to be a part of something that is so important to the community,” she said. “It’s something so amazing that benefits so many people in our community every year.” “I’d be remiss to not mention the volunteers, without them there really wouldn’t be a tournament,” she said. “They are the most important part every year. I really don’t think people realize the effort it takes to put this on. It is really an army of people who pitch in and help. At the end of the day, it’s all about being a part of something amazing that benefits so many people in our community.”
