Golfsmith Recommends Best Holiday Golf Gifts

(AUSTIN, Texas) - Golfsmith is making it easy to find the best gifts for golfers this holiday season. Starting today all Golfsmith stores will feature "18 Holes of Christmas" - 18 stations around the store with holiday gifts hand-picked by Golfsmith's product team.

Golfsmith.com has also launched an entire holiday gift center at www.golfsmith.com/gifts featuring golf gifts organized by price, gender and "top rated" items as ranked by customers, and items specifically recommended by category including new clubs, personalized golf balls, the best GPS devices and rangefinders and much more.

"We've organized our stores and our web site to make it very easy to find the perfect golf gifts for any type of golfer," said Martin Hanaka, president and CEO of Golfsmith. "We've got gifts under $30, $50 and $100 for the value seeker. We've got the latest new product launches from the best brands in golf and tennis. And we've personally selected gift ideas to make shopping for the best golf and tennis gifts easy and fun, only at Golfsmith."

Some of the top gift ideas include:
* Callaway uPro and uPro GO GPS Devices - two full color GPS devices pre-loaded with thousands of golf courses. The uPro adds aerial and satellite photography of the golf course, including a "fly over" feature from the tee box to the green. The uPro is $399.99 and comes with up to $125 in free gifts from Callaway. The uPro GO is $299.99.
* Personalized Golf Balls - put your golfer's name on a wide variety of the best brands including Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway and more.
* New Odyssey White Ice Putters - Odyssey's newest line of putters with their best ever, multi-layer insert technology and a rich dark finish. $129.99 - $179.99.
* New TaylorMade R9 Irons - the latest introduction in TaylorMade's highly successful R9 family combining optimal distance and control in a classic shape. $799.99 - $999.99.
* New Cleveland CG 15 Wedges - optimized grooves and laser-milled faces are key features in Cleveland's latest in wedge innovation. $119.99.
* Ping Men's Shirts - a variety of long-sleeve mocks, polos and fleece tops ranging from $29.99 to $39.99.
* Women's Maggie Lane Tops - variety of long-sleeve turtlenecks and sweaters on sale - buy one get the second at 50% off.
* Lynx Junior Golf Sets - the perfect starter sets for boys and girls ages 3 to 12 ranging from $59.98 to $199.99.
* Wilson Tennis Bundle - The perfect gift to introduce a new player to tennis. It includes a racquet, your choice of bag (backpack or triple), two cans of championship extra duty tennis balls, and a vibration dampener. $79.99 (save 25%, originally $108).

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Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Prepares for Opening

(MARANA, Ariz.) - The new Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain will open on December 18, 2009, debuting amid the scenic, high desert landscape northwest of Tucson.

Surrounded by thousands of majestic Saguaro cacti and diverse wildlife, guests can begin to explore an invigorating playground, while absorbing the many pleasures of a relaxed resort atmosphere.

Reflecting a "Spirit of Adventure," The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is ideal for those seeking private time, or play time - whether it's hiking, horseback riding, a cookout under the stars, mountain biking, cooling off in one of the three resort swimming pools, skimming down a 235-foot waterslide, or indulging in a passion for food at one of the resort's four dining venues.

"This is a place that will engage the adventurous, yet provide gracious hospitality, all within our 850 acres," said Stephen Deucker, director of sales and marketing of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, the 72nd Ritz-Carlton property to be opened. "We have a championship Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, cuisine prepared by world-class chefs and a destination spa that is remarkable."

Nestled in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, the resort offers 250 guest rooms and a cluster of secluded, multi-bedroom casitas ideally suited for families and friends.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain embodies the authentic Arizona experience. Just outside the doors of the resort, there are more than 20 miles of charted hiking and biking trails - specially commissioned by The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain ownership and clearly mapped by National Geographic - that that wind through dramatic mountain terrain. Bordering the resort, the Tortolita Mountain Park offers 3,000 undisturbed acres and some of the most soothing desert landscape in the Southwest.

For a vacation that has the best of both worlds, the resort's Sonoran Golf and Spa Adventure Package is being featured at opening. The package combines rounds on the course that challenges the golf world's legends during the Accenture Match Play Championship and soothing, signature spa treatments that reflects the enchanting high desert habitat.

The Sonoran Golf and Spa Adventure Package starts at $529 per night and includes:
* Overnight Deluxe Guest Room accommodations for two evenings
* Two 18-hole rounds of golf on our Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course
* Two 50-minute signature body treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa
* Overnight valet parking for two nights* American Breakfast for two each morning in Core Kitchen or through In-Room Dining

For reservation information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain or call 520-572-3000.

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Cape Fear National joins Carolinas' Brunswick Isles Golf Trail

(NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. ) - The Brunswick Isles Golf Trail, which stretches out along the coast of southern North Carolina and northern South Carolina, now offers 450 memorable holes of championship golf with the addition of Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest located just outside of Wilmington, N.C., north of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Managed by KemperSports, Cape Fear National will offer outstanding playing conditions. It is set to open in late November as a premium daily fee facility.

This 18 hole championship course by up-and-coming architect Tim Cate stretches out 7217 yards and features tees, fairways and primary rough grassed with Tifway 419 Bermuda. In addition to three giant waste bunkers that run tee to green, the course has more than 50 sculpted bunker complexes, and the bunkers are filled with brilliant white SP 55 sand, the same premium blend used by Augusta National. Heat tolerant A-1/A-4 bent grass covers the greens which average 8500 square feet.

Cate moved more than 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt to sculpt the coastal Carolinas' newest course. He created impressive elevated tee boxes, dramatic berms and meandering fairways among the trees.

"We're excited to have Cape Fear National join The Brunswick Isles Golf Trail," said Jack Himmelsbach of The Glens Golf Group which manages Trail courses Heather Glen and Glen Dornoch, as well as accommodations partner Village at the Glens. "With the addition of Cape Fear National, we continue to lead golfers along a Trail that offers the best of the coastal courses. We offer the best in the coastal Carolinas and golfers appreciate both our quality and affordability."

Stretching approximately 80 miles from Leland, N.C. to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Trail winds through the unspoiled coastal area known as the Brunswick Islands.

Trail courses have been honored with everything from "Best New Course in America" to four-star ratings in Golf Digest's "Places To Play" to rankings on the list of "America's Top 100 Greatest Public Courses."

Official Trail accommodations are available at Brunswick Plantation, Village at the Glens and Coastal Golfaway.

More information about the Trail and each of its courses is available at www.brunswickislesgolftrail.com.

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Mizuno Introduces MP T-10 Wedges

Wedges Feature High-Spin Quad Cut Grooves

(Norcross, GA) – Mizuno, maker of the world’s finest forged wedges, introduces the new MP T-10 Series of wedges featuring patented Quad Cut Groove Technology. These new wedges combine Mizuno’s patented Grain Flow Forged feel, a revolutionary groove design, and a Tour confirmed head shape and sole to provide unmatched spin and precision in the short game. The MP T-10 wedges are Grain Flow Forged from 1025E “Pure Select” mild carbon steel to provide the most soft, solid and consistent feel where you need it most, around the greens. Furthermore, an innovative 360-degree sole grind and thinner top line deliver maximum shot making versatility and control.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the MP T-10 wedges, outside of Mizuno’s unmatched solid feel, are their high-spin Quad Cut Grooves. Mizuno has patented a manufacturing process which allows for the precise control of the width, depth, draft angle and shoulder radius of each and every groove. The result is an extremely aggressive and consistent groove that provides maximum spin control and ball stopping power in all playing conditions.

“Like any good player knows, nowhere is feel and control more important than in your wedge game,” said Dick Lyons, Vice President and General Manager of Mizuno USA, Golf Division. “Every golfer is looking for superior touch, feel, and consistency on their chip, pitch, and sand shots which is why a forged wedge is far superior to an investment cast model. For years many of the best players in the game have relied on the legendary feel of Mizuno’s MP line of wedges, and now with the addition of these high spin Quad Cut Grooves, players of all levels will be able to make the ball spin, and stop in ways they never have before.”

The MP T-10 wedges feature a classic teardrop headshape and are available in both a durable Plated White Satin finish and a Raw Black Satin. Specifications for the MP T-10 Series wedges include a length of 35¼ inches (50°- white satin only, 52°, 54°, 56º, 58°) and 35 inches (60°, 64º- Black Satin only), and are available in a variety of bounce configurations. Standard shaft is the True Temper Dynamic Gold “Wedge” flex, and standard grip is the exclusive Mizuno/Golf Pride® M-21 58 Round. Other shafts and grips, as well as loft and lie adjustments are available through Mizuno’s industry leading Custom Club department.

Suggested retail price for the MP T-10 Series in both the Plated White Satin and Raw Black Satin finishes is $120.

For more information on the new MP T-10 wedges please visit www.mizunousa.com. The new MP T-10 Quad Cut grooves are designed to conform through 2024. However, beginning January 1, 2010 the MP T-10 wedges are non-conforming for professional tournaments with the Condition of Competition, and beginning 1/1/2014, they are non-conforming for elite amateur tournaments with the Condition of Competition.

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Firekeeper Golf Course Completes Six-Month Construction Phase

(ARLINGTON, Texas) - Despite an ongoing battle with Mother Nature, Firekeeper Golf Course has been completed in a six-month construction schedule by Landscapes Unlimited, Inc. The course should be ready for play in late summer 2010.

The 240-acre course is under development by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Mayetta, KS as an additional amenity to their Prairie Band Casino & Resort. Already one of the premier destination resorts in the Midwest, the new golf course across the street from the hotel will enhance the resort.

This is the first signature course of four-time PGA TOUR winner Notah Begay III, the only full-blooded Native American on the PGA TOUR. He has designed it in partnership with Jeffrey D. Brauer, ASGCA. It is one of the few golf courses under construction in the continental United States.

Firekeeper will be a very traditional golf course in both a playability and aesthetics. There is no surrounding housing, and there reasonable walks from green to tees and a low profile design that looks like it has been there for years, not months. The course will withstand technology with the back tees playing at more than 7,400 yards. There are five tee sets altogether, with the shortest tees playing only 4,500 yards - shorter than most resort courses. The designers believe the shorter yardage will encourage more play from women and local youth.

Before work began, the design team went through numerous routings to find the best possible 18-hole layout with minimal disturbance. "Keeping with Potawatomi traditions, we worked above and beyond to retain all of the land's natural elements with minimal disruption," said Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation tribal council chairman Steve Ortiz.

"We put a lot of time in walking the land, which is so important in golf course architecture and particularly in the Native American community," Brauer said. The process started from the moment the potential project was announced. "Chairman Ortiz said, 'You are the only ones who really knew our land. Everybody else talked about the best courses they had ever done. You spoke to how you would use our land."

The hard work in routing paid off. "We moved very little earth," Brauer said. "We also used the surrounding land forms as guides when we formed our own shaping, trying to match the rolling hills of Kansas.

"Modern architects as a group have gotten away from working with the land," Brauer added. "[Renowned course designer] Donald Ross couldn't move much earth 100 years ago, and this is just a great opportunity to build an old-fashioned golf course. The course looks great and respects the land and tribal traditions of environmental sensitivity."

The land has three distinctive zones of prairie, heavy woods and scattered trees. The early holes at Firekeeper are mostly on the prairie. The back nine offers more elevation changes and a wide variety of trees.

While all holes fit the topography snugly, the designers occasionally communicated in "shorthand" by referencing famous holes they were both familiar with. Both thought the ninth should be modeled after No. 18 at Augusta National. The fourth hole allowed creation of a very deep fairway bunker not dissimilar to the famous bunker at the fourth at Royal St. Georges off the tee and a green similar to the putting surface as No. 11 at Los Angeles Country Club.

While Notah Begay III is relatively new on the design scene, with Brauer on the team, Kansas golfers know they will get a quality course. Brauer already has designed three of the top courses in Kansas - Sand Creek Station in Newton, Eagle Bend in Lawrence and Colbert Hills in Manhattan. Brauer says golfers can expect some twists unique to Notah Begay III, but the overall quality will match or exceed the others.

The first shovel hit the ground for construction of the Firekeeper Golf Course on May 20 with shaping completed in the late summer, despite rains totaling 35 percent more than normal for the area. "The early catch is good, but Mother Nature will be in charge now," Brauer said. During the winter months, work will continue on the clubhouse and other structures, and workers will continue to clear brush, detail the course, and get ready for spring.

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Etonic Offers Perfect Fit Golf Glove When Buying Etonic Footwear

(WESTBOROUGH, Mass.) - If you are looking for a perfect fit, Etonic has the answer with its new footwear and glove promotion. Etonic will offer golfers an opportunity to try the new Perfect Fit golf glove free with a purchase of a pair of the new 2010 Etonic golf shoes.

Golfers who purchase a pair of Etonic shoes from its recently introduced line of footwear will receive a Perfect Fit golf glove. The glove features premium leather on the palm and index finger. Combined with a proprietary Dri-Lite™ microfiber back along with a patent-pending Stabilizer Island Thumb™, the glove provides an exceptional fit and precise grip. The suggested retail is $18.

"We receive outstanding feedback on our gloves from daily-fee golfers to tour players," said Tom Elwell, CEO Etonic Worldwide. "The glove has a unique island thumb technology that ensures the same fit as the first time it is worn. This promotion allows us to sample the glove among avid golfers. Once golfers try the glove, they are hooked."

Etonic footwear that qualifies under this promotion is Stablizer, Sof-Tech, Dri-Tech and Sport-Tech for men and Dri-Tech and Sport Tech for women. To receive the Perfect Fit glove, consumers simply complete an information card and send it in along with sales receipt and UPC label.

The Perfect Fit Glove and Shoe promotion runs through 2010.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Mystic Dunes Hosting Holiday Invitational to Benefit Toys for Tots

(CELEBRATION, FL) - Mystic Dunes would like to invite golfers to swing in to the holiday season at the Third Annual Holiday Invitational Dec. 6. In the spirit of holiday giving, the four-man team scramble golf tournament is again collecting unwrapped gifts for the Toys for Tots program.

Registration for the event will begin at 11 a.m. followed by a noon shotgun start. The tournament will be followed by an awards banquet and dinner. The cost is $60 per player, (if paying individually) or $210 per foursome (if one joint payment) plus tax. A $5 per player discount is being given to every player who brings an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program. The deadline for entry is Nov. 26.

For more information, or to register for the tournament, contact Keith Bielski at 407-787-5639 or visit the Mystic Dunes Web site at www.mysticdunesgolf.com/pdf/holiday_invitational_09.pdf.

About Toys for Tots
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. The objectives are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

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Wilson Golf Announces Innovative D-FY Iron and Hybrid Combo Set

(CHICAGO) - Wilson Golf announced its new D-FY iron combo set, a technology-driven iron and hybrid combination option for low- to mid-swing speed players looking to improve distance while maintaining performance and precision. The revolutionary new design features a patent-pending shaft technology, a propriety co-cured half steel and half graphite shaft. This unique combination is the first of its kind and combines the benefits of graphite and steel shafts into one powerful and precise iron.

The D-FY technology is a marriage between the distance iron technology at the heart of Wilson Staff's iron legacy and Wilson's successful FYbrid technology of precise distance gapping. The fully integrated eight-piece set is made up of a 19.5 degree FYbrid utility club and 4 hybrid, 5- and 6- super-wide sole mid irons with hollow core designs to hit the ball higher and longer, and 7i-PW perimeter-weighted cavity-back short irons which allow maximum forgiveness in scoring club range.

"The fastest growing style of golfer is a player who benefits from a combo/hybrid set in the super-game improvement category," said Bob Thurman, global director of R&D. "To meet the needs of this player style, the D-FY combo set marries our distance iron technology to our FYbrid technology. This was accomplished by combining it with an extremely durable Half-and-Half shaft that allows players to get the best of both worlds while maximizing performance."

As a division of Wilson Sporting Goods Co., one of the world's leading sporting equipment manufacturers, Wilson Golf is able to take advantage of resources outside of the golf world. Wilson Golf's Half-and-Half technology is a perfect example of this synergy, inspired by the DemariniTM baseball bat, a high-performance two-piece composite bat made of two fused materials to make the bat both lightweight and responsive.

The proprietary, co-cured Half-and-Half shaft design fuses the exceptionally low torque and response of steel with the light weight and vibration-dampening effects of graphite weighing in at only 76 grams.

The steel tip section provides bending stability and low torque at the hosel to deliver straighter shots on off-center hits. More than 30 grams are removed from the steel shaft and replaced by a high modulus graphite shaft. A strong and durable joint section also provides maximum vibration dampening at the junction of the two materials.

The suggested list price for the Wilson Staff D-FY iron set is $999.99 and includes a 19.5 degree FYbrid, 4H, 5-PW. D-FY irons will be available in fall 2009. Contact

All new Wilson Staff equipment introduced in 2010 will meet with the USGA and R&A's new groove standards which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010 for Conditions of Competition for Elite (Tour) Play.

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TaylorMade's Burner Iron Reaches No. 1 in U.S. Sales

Already No. 1 Driver, TaylorMade Golf Company Produces an Iron Model that Tops the Sales Charts in the U.S. for the First Time in Company History

(Carlsbad, Calif.) – For the first time ever, a TaylorMade iron ranks No. 1 in sales in the United States, as the TaylorMade Burner became the top-selling iron model in June, according to Golf Datatech.

Launched last January, Burner irons were developed differently than previous TaylorMade irons, with the long-irons, middle-irons and short-irons each created separately. The goal was to create easy-to-launch irons that deliver "meaningful distance," defined as longer distance that's consistent from club to club, so that every club is consistently longer than the club before it, and that the spaces in between each club are significant, even and predictable.

"The way we design, produce and manufacture irons today is very different from how we did it in the past because what was impossible five years ago is now possible," said Dr. Benoit Vincent, TaylorMade's chief technical officer. "What we've learned through years of golf club innovation has helped us to understand how to design an iron that delivers a new level of performance versus what we could imagine five years ago."

"The Burner's success in the marketplace confirms that this is no ordinary iron," said Harry Arnett, TaylorMade's senior category director of clubs and balls. "It's proof that we're much more than a metalwood company, and that we know how to make great irons, too. And more and more players are discovering that we also make the best wedges, putters and balls. Through the bag, nobody makes better-performing products than TaylorMade."

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Glove It Announces Hounds Tooth and Giraffe Collections

(TEMPE, Ariz.) - Two of Glove It's new prints for 2010 have received rave reviews from buyers. The Hounds Tooth and Giraffe collections, introduced in the fall, are bringing chic to the fairways.

The Hounds Tooth collection features dramatic black and white jagged checks and the Giraffe collection combines bronze metallic trims with various size brown spots on a sand background. Both prints are popular this year on the fashion runways and soon to turn heads on the fairways.

"The fashion world is showing a lot of animal prints for spring 2010," said Karen Lovcik, CEO of Glove IT. "Spots and stripes are always a fun item to have in your closet and for Glove It, our accessory line is a nice complement to an outfit, giving it a little more spark. The feedback from retailers has been very positive; they are excited to bring these patterns in their shop this year."

The Hounds Tooth and Giraffe collections consist of a glove with valuable pouch, visor, cap, accessory bag, tote bag, golf towel, golf bag and headcovers. The collections will be available next month in golf shops or online at www.gloveit.com. Nicole Miller Studio by Glove It will also offer a Tiger Paradise collection for 2010 that is brown and sand with red accent.

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Sweetgrass Golf Club Honored in Golfweek’s “Best-New” Issue

Heralded Amenity of the Island Resort & Casino Recognized for Strength of Routing, Memorability of Holes, Overall High Quality

(HARRIS, MI) – Sweetgrass Golf Club – one of many sparkling amenities of the Island Resort & Casino – today announces the course earned Golfweek’s prestigious “America’s Best New Courses” honor.

Sweetgrass – which enjoyed its first full season this year – was designed by Paul Albanese. The course is an 18-hole, par-72 masterpiece which stretches 7,300 yards from the tips. Owned and operated by the Hannahville Band of the Potawatomi Nation, it offers five sets of tees and the layout subtly pays homage to tribal and Native American lore. Historic bridges rescued from the region, intricate rockwork and a liberal sprinkling of the namesake Sweetgrass add to the course’s unique look and feel.

Golfweek’s rankings take into account overall strength of routing, feature shaping, natural setting, greens, variety and memorability of holes, conditioning, maintenance, landscape management and other criteria. Golfweek sends approximately 400 "America's Best" raters in search of the country's finest golf courses. Those raters submit ballots grading on a 10-point scale and the scores for each course are averaged to get the overall rating.

“Sweetgrass has been recognized with several major awards from influential publications lauding our design, creativity and landscape,” says Island Resort & Casino General Manager Tom McChesney. “We greatly value these honors as we’re committed to providing our guests with top-notch experiences.”

Sweetgrass was previously named an ”America’s Best Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek in its state-by-state rankings. Michigan boasts more than 800 courses and Sweetgrass debuted in the Top 20.

Boasting more than 1,400 slot machines and 24/7 Vegas-style gaming, the Island Resort & Casino offers Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Poker and more. The Island Showroom – another recent addition – hosts top musical acts from a variety of musical genres. Dining options include the Firekeeper’s Restaurant, Beachcomber Restaurant & Bar, Coral Reef Grille and Bingo Snack Bar. Live music in the lounge, the Club Four One nightclub, a swimming pool and conference center are other popular resort offerings.

Located in the unspoiled beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Island Resort & Casino and Sweetgrass Golf Club are easily accessible via a pair of regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette.

For more information on the Island Showroom, the casino or Sweetgrass Golf Club, please visit www.islandresortandcasino.com or call 800-682-6040, ext. 2252.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast to Host Champions TOUR Event in Biloxi next April;Enhances State’s Ascent as Rising Golf-and-Casino-Resort Destination

Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic will Benefit Habitat for Humanity; Likely Draw Players Such asFred Couples, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite

(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority today announces that a Champions TOUR event will be played on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at Biloxi’s Fallen Oak Golf Club, a Tom Fazio design and amenity of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, rated one of the world’s greatest courses. The event, named the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, will primarily benefit Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and will be played April 26-May 2, 2010.

The tournament would bring 78 senior players, possibly including Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller and other greats.

“The Gulf Coast Business Council has a vision of seeing the Mississippi Gulf Coast become a Tier One tourism destination. Achievement of such an ambitious goal requires that we have nationally recognized events and attractions,” explained Anthony Topazi, Chairman of the Gulf Coast Business Council. “The PGA Champions Tour is a signature event for any region of this country and is a significant step in becoming a Tier One destination. This Tournament will showcase the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s premier golf, fishing, and resort amenities on a national and world-wide basis.”

A coalition of area businesses spearheaded by the Gulf Coast Business Council secured the TOUR event by pledging the $2.5 million commitment required by the PGA TOUR, which operates the Champions and Nationwide tours under its umbrella. The Business Council estimates an economic impact of $22 million.

“Hosting the Champions TOUR event on the Gulf Coast – in addition to the PGA TOUR’s Viking Classic which is held in Madison each fall – underscores the high-quality of golf courses offered throughout our great state,” said D. Craig Ray, Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism Director. “Mississippi is the nation’s third-largest gaming destination after Vegas and Atlantic City. We have the hotels, resorts, condos, restaurants and other high-quality attractions and visitor infrastructure which make us an ideal venue to showcase the area and the game’s great players.”

The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic will be broadcast on the Golf Channel, which reports reaching more than 160 million estimated households globally.

Mississippi has established itself as the world’s best golf-and-gaming destination thanks to an abundance of highly decorated courses authored by some of the game’s greatest architects and an array of top-rated casino resorts.

In addition to great courses and casino resorts, visitors to Mississippi are enticed by the state’s many off-course attractions including the Blues Trail, five distinct regions ranging from the Delta to the Gulf Coast, its world-famous southern hospitality, and its chefs and gastronomic delights.

For more information about Mississippi call toll-free 866-801-8551, or go to http://www.visitmississippi.org/ and receive a free Golf Travel Guide, suggested play-and-stay itineraries and other attractions.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Palm Harbor Golf Club Re-Opens After Two-Year Renovation Project

City of Palm Coast Partners with KemperSports to Re-open and Manage Historic Facility

(PALM COAST, Fla.) - Palm Harbor Golf Club, an 18-hole championship layout located 35 miles north of Daytona Beach, Fla., has announced its grand re-opening plans after undergoing a two-year, $4.5 million renovation project. Purchased by the city of Palm Coast, Fla., in 2007, the public golf course will be operated by Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports, a premier golf facility management company, which joined the management team in May of this year.

Grand opening activities, which kick-off on Nov. 7, will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the striking of the first ball in a 21-ball salute. Lunch and golf for invited guests and media will follow.

Visitors to the golf course will see numerous changes to the historic layout including upgraded drainage and irrigation systems, reconstructed tees and greens, new bunker configurations, two new ponds, redistributed native trees, redesigned driving range with improved features and new cart paths along the entire course.

"The major difference golfers will notice is the movement through the fairways," said George Clifton from Clifton, Ezell and Clifton Golf Design, who was in charge of the renovation. "We raised the features more into view and lowered some areas in the fairway for basins, which accents these features. Visually, this offers a nice rolling appearance and adds some drama off the tee. The golf course is similar in length as before but should play a little more difficult with the addition of 20 bunkers."

Built in 1973 by William W. Amick, the golf course has enjoyed more than 30 years as the centerpiece for a master planned housing community. The course gained national recognition in 1979 as it hosted the Palm Coast Mixed Team Championships, which saw LPGA legend and Palm Coast resident, Nancy Lopez, team up with Lee Trevino, to win the pro-am tournament against ten other LPGA/PGA teams.

"We hope that local golfers are able to experience the golf course improvements that have been made and that they will return to enjoy this wonderful community amenity," said Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon. "KemperSports is the right partner to work with Palm Harbor Golf Club as they have developed a positive relationship with our local golfers based on the management of their golf course in Port Orange, Fla. (The Golf Club at Cypress Head)."

The Palm Harbor Golf Club will officially re-open for public play on Sunday, Nov. 8. Fees will start at $36.50 for Palm Coast residents with an introductory rate of $27 during the first month of operation.

"We look forward to the re-introduction of Palm Harbor Golf Club," said Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports. "The golf course has enjoyed a long and rich history and we are anxious to bring a great golf experience back to the local community."

To book a tee time or for more information on the golf club, visit www.palmharborgolfclub.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

The Effects of Vitamin D on Your Golf Game and Your Overall Health & Wellness

(Los Angeles, Calif.) - We've all learned that we need to apply sunscreen or sunblock to protect ourselves from the harmful UV rays of the sun when we hit the course or spend time outdoors. But along with shielding our body from harmful rays, we may also be blocking out a very important element that the human body needs to perform at maximum strength in the process; Vitamin D.

According to recent studies cited in US News and World Report, AOL, and other sources, millions of Americans have chosen to protect themselves from the sun's potential harm and the result is a Vitamin D deficiency because blocking the sun with SPF sunscreens also prevents us from absorbing the necessary amount of sunlight the body needs. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that three out of every four Americans now have vitamin D levels below what is necessary for optimal health. So what can golfers and everyday outdoor enthusiasts do to get additional Vitamin D?

Sport Specific Performance supplements have a number of different vitamins and minerals that increase stamina, strength, and focus as well as improve your overall well-being. One of the key ingredients in Sport Specific Performance's GOLF STRENGTH product, that has been the subject of much research and study over the past few years, is Vitamin D.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements a Vitamin D deficiency is usually the result of dietary inadequacy, impaired absorption and use, increased requirement, or increased excretion. A Vitamin D deficiency can occur when; usual intake is lower than recommended levels over time, exposure to sunlight is limited, the kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form, or absorption of vitamin D from the digestive tract is inadequate.

Vitamin D can affect many things and it is important to have the sufficient daily amount. The best-known benefit of vitamin D is its role in helping calcium build strong bones. But that's far from the whole story. Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and the neuromuscular system. Vitamin D also plays major roles in the life cycle of human cells.

A number of recent studies have also shown that, for athletes who train outside year-round, maximal oxygen intake tends to be at its highest in late summer. The athletes, in other words, are fittest in August, when ultraviolet radiation from the sun is near its zenith. They often then experience an abrupt drop in maximal oxygen intake, beginning as early as September, even though they continue to train just as hard. This decline coincides with the autumnal lengthening of the angle of sunlight. Less ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth and, apparently, sports performance suffers, which is a direct result of a lack of sunlight because certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light prompt our bodies to synthesize Vitamin D, eventually making a hormone called calcitriol that, among other things, controls how the body uses calcium and mineralizes bone.

Based on these results, there is no question that the correct amount of daily Vitamin D can increase an athlete's or a golfer's performance as well as improve their overall well being. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin of health. And Vitamin D is an essential part of Sport Specific Performance's GOLF STRENGTH so the solution is simple, use sunscreen and take Sport Specific Performance.

Sport Specific Performance, is a leader in all natural vitamin supplements. With a unique line of nutritional supplements that target the player's mind and body, Sport Specific Performance has created a product that will enable users to achieve better overall health, evolve their game further, and increase frequency of rounds played as a result of a better physical state.

ESPN Radio claims Sport Specific Performance is "the perfect supplement" and KABC states, "it's the first of its kind."

With more than 50 Tour Players and caddies on the PGA, Nationwide, LPGA and Champions Tour using GOLF FOCUS and GOLF STRENGTH every day, it's obvious that Sport Specific Performance is the brand of choice for both serious and casual golfers.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Canadian Rockies Golf-and-Resort Destination Caps Banner Debut with Panache

(ALBERTA, Calgary) – The Canadian Rockies golf-and-resort-lifestyle consortium – a collection of six world-class properties boasting 135 holes of scenic mountain golf – is celebrating the close of its debut season with ongoing achievements and acclaim.

In addition to member courses and resorts garnering many awards from celebrated publications, the CRG is establishing a global social networking presence and successfully launched an opt-in e-newsletter which is received by thousands.

CRG destination partners – The Fairmont Banff Springs, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Kananaskis County Golf Course, Silvertip Golf Resort, Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club and Canmore Golf & Curling Club – won honors from Golf Digest, SCORE Golf and Wine Spectator “best-of” lists, indicative of the high quality of the destination.

The Fairmont Banff Springs – with its iconic Stanley Thompson, 18-hole layout and castle-like hotel with regal ambiance – earned a top five ranking in Golf Digest’s “Top 75 Resorts in North America” list and was included in the publication’s “Best 25 International Golf Hotels.”

Joining The Fairmont Banff Springs on Digest’s “Best 100 Courses Outside the USA” list, is its sister property, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – also boasting a classic Stanley Thompson design – and Kananaskis Country Golf Course. All three were named to Digest’s “Best 20 Canadian Courses.”

Those courses – along with Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club – were named the first, second, fourth and fifth “Best Public Courses To Play” by SCORE Golf in 2009. Both of Kananaskis's Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs -- the Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette courses -- were noted. The Alberta PGA selected Kananaskis's golf professional Bob Paley as its Professional of the Year and the course as the section's Merchandiser of the Year.

Meanwhile, Silvertip Golf Resort – the home course of PGA Tour Professional Stephen Ames –received a Wine Spectator “List of Excellence” honor for its Rustica Steakhouse offerings. Golf Digest also acknowledged the breathtaking and challenging course – with 600 feet of elevation changes – for its environmental stewardship with the GCSAA / Golf Digest Environmental Leader Award, just one of four given worldwide.

“The awards earned this year are very gratifying and humbling,” says Gordon Schultz, spokesman for the consortium. “Our properties work hard to offer unique, high-end golf-and-resort-lifestyle experiences. We’re proud of our collective efforts and assets and we hope these honors inspire visitors to learn why our slogan is ‘Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed.’”

Creating the CRG Web site (www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca) led to the monthly e-newsletter, alerting followers to packages, events and options offered through the consortium. Subscribers were entered to win a 6-day, 5-night trip to the CRG with accommodations, rental cars, and 135 holes of golf.

Furthermore, the CRG has embraced social networking and created a Twitter site (www.twitter.com/CanRockies) which keeps followers apprised of CRG news and value-laden opportunities.

The Canadian Rockies is an ideal destination for outdoor lovers and those looking for unspoiled nature and tranquility amidst abundant natural beauty. Attractions and amenities include award- winning spas, helicopter tours, hiking, fishing, rafting, gourmet restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, horseback riding and many children’s programs.

To view the stunning topography, vacation options and learn more about the area visit www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca. Website visitors can view stay-and-play packages or request custom quotes for trips and packages or they may call 877.323.3633 for more information.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

The Territory Embraces Social Media for Members, Prospects

Oklahoma’s Premier Golf and Residential Community Utilizes Facebook, Twitter to Keep Followers Abreast of Daily Activities, Offers

(Southwest Oklahoma) – The Territory Golf and Country Club, an award-winning residential community near the town of Duncan, has embraced social media in an ongoing initiative to provide the latest news and information to current and prospective members.

Named a “Best New” and “Top 50 Residential Course” by Golfweek and designated as one of Oklahoma’s best courses by Golf Digest, The Territory is also a leader in the two-way communications sphere, using both Twitter and Facebook to engage and strengthen relationships with followers.

“Usage of outlets such as Twitter and Facebook has grown substantially over the last year and our members and guests enjoy the ‘instant’ information available via this forum,” says Rick Braught, who along with his wife Barbara, owns the club. “We’re constantly looking for ways to better serve our members and social media is the best way to supply everyone with up-to-the-minute updates.”

Via Twitter and Facebook, The Territory is able to promote a variety of initiatives and create an even greater sense of community by providing real-time details about upcoming events, tournament results, sales and much more.

To follow The Territory on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/territorygolf. To become a fan of The Territory on Facebook, log onto www.facebook.com/territorygolf.com.

The Territory is a modified target-style layout, which features multiple tees to accommodate any skill level. A state-of-the-art practice facility and three-hole short course where the teaching professionals conduct instruction for those looking to improve their game, also set The Territory apart.

In just its first five years of play, the Randy Heckenkemper design has hosted the Oklahoma State Amateur twice, Oklahoma Senior State Amateur, an NCAA Div. II Super Regional and a stop on the Adams Pro Golf Tour Series.

A private club with top-of-the-bell-curve amenities, The Territory has opened its fairways to all via popular stay-and-play packages. Guests can enjoy country club living while staying in the luxurious, graciously appointed homes that feature two-to-four spacious bedrooms, a living room, full kitchen and baths. Package pricing per person is:
* Single: $275 per night
* Double: $225 per night
* Triple: $195 per night
* Foursome: $175 per night

For more information on The Territory, call 580.475.0075 or visit www.territorygolf.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com