Loudmouth designed those Norwegian Curling Pants

YES! OF COURSE Loudmouth made those Norwegian Curling Pants!

But YOU, Loudmouth fans, knew that already.

A quick bit of info: According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules, neither NBC nor Loudmouth was allowed to mention any affiliation between Loudmouth and the curling team or risk disqualifying them from the games. Now the blackout is lifted and the company can TELL THE WORLD, “It was US!”

Now you can purchase a sartorial piece of curling history - the most talked about fashion statement of the games. Click HERE to pull the trigger.

Nike Golf Wants to Know: What’s Your RZN?

New Nike RZN Recommender tool helps golfers choose the best RZN golf ball for their game

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) – More distance, softer feel, less spin, more spin – there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to golf balls. That’s the idea behind the new Nike RZN Recommender, a digital tool that helps golfers find the RZN golf ball – Nike RZN Black, Nike RZN Platinum, Nike RZN Red or Nike RZN White – that best fits their specific needs.

The Nike Golf ball team tapped into feedback from in-person ball fittings to craft a range of simple questions for users to answer: What’s your average score? What is your club head speed? Stay within the fairway or slice and hook? What is your ball flight? What do you want out of your approach shots? Based on users’ responses, the tool doesn’t just tell golfers which Nike RZN ball is best for them -- it tells them why.

“Different golfers have different needs when it comes to the ball they should be playing,” says Mike Pai, Global Product Director, Golf Balls & Bags. “There’s a RZN for everybody – whether you’re a beginner or have been playing the sport your whole life, the RZN Recommender is a great tool that utilizes a strategic, streamlined approach to make sure you have the right ball in your bag, and help you understand why it will help your golf game.”

Users can purchase the ball recommended for them right on the spot. All four models are now available on Nike.com and at select retailers.

Every ball in Nike’s 2014 RZN line features Nike’s proprietary Speedlock RZN core technology, created with an interlocking core design that helps promote better energy transfer between the layers at impact for faster ball speed, longer distance and more stability into the wind.

A new spin-optimized coating on the outer surface of the ball helps grip the grooves for better control on wedge and iron shots. All four models feature a softer cover and softer compression in the core to help provide improved sound and feel, especially on off-center shots.

The 2014 Nike RZN line:
* RZN Platinum: Tour Performance control and moderate spin
* RZN Black: Tour Performance distance and lower spin
* RZN Red: Distance Performance, longer carry
* RZN White: Distance Performance and softer feel for a wide range of swing speeds

For more information on Nike Golf, visit www.nikegolf.com. To follow Nike Golf on Twitter visit www.twitter.com/nikegolf and to become a fan on facebook go to www.facebook.com/nikegolf. To view Nike Golf videos, subscribe at www.youtube.com/nikegolf.

Cordillera Ranch Grows Real Estate Team with Two New Hires

(BOERNE, Texas) – Cordillera Ranch – the Hill Country’s premier luxury community – has added associates Eric Metzger and Frank LeBlanc to its real estate sales team this month.

The news comes as the 8,700-acre property prepares for a busy 2014 selling season, following a banner year in home sales, construction starts and memberships recorded through December.

“We’ve added firepower to the team just in time to meet spring demand,” says Barry Denton, Director of Real Estate Sales for Cordillera Ranch.  “Inquiries for our three new enclaves, lots and existing homes have exceeded projections – and we’re preparing now.”

A 20-year veteran in luxury residential communities, Metzger joins the Boerne-based team from Sunburst Marketing Group, serving as principal for its world-wide portfolio. The company has represented several Texas-based properties, most notably Austin’s Spanish Oaks.

Metzger moved his family to the Ranch in January, citing the property’s stunning views, welcoming community and solid financial standing as its key selling features.

“This is a great opportunity,” says Metzger.  “I had several options at high-end properties across the country, but chose Cordillera Ranch for both my career and family. This place has an incredible energy that draws a unique following.”

LeBlanc, a ranch owner in Blanco, served in sales and management for the Phyllis Browning Company in San Antonio before joining the Cordillera Ranch team.  His career has been dedicated to the Texas Hill Country luxury home market.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous here,” says LeBlanc of Cordillera Ranch. “Its Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, breadth of member amenities and proximity to San Antonio and Austin clearly set it apart from its competition.”

The internal real estate team, comprised of six associates, delivers comprehensive insider knowledge of building, owning and enjoying real estate at Cordillera Ranch.

Hilltop, waterfront, and ranch-style lots with stunning views complement the property’s lock-and-leave villas located within walking distance of the expansive 40,000 sq. ft. clubhouse.  The vast portfolio features lots ranging from $80,000 to $600,000 and homes from $500,000.

Current releases include three new enclaves – the Di Lusso II villas, the active-lifestyle area of the Springs at Cordillera Ranch, and the Clubs Village home sites of Bears Ridge.  A limited number of golf course frontage lots will be released in March 2014.

More than 1,000 lots have been sold since the property broke ground in 1997.  Interest in home sales has risen consistently, most notably since the clubhouse was added in 2006.  The social heart of the property, it comprises the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, member dining facilities, a full fitness center, in-house spa, locker rooms, special event rooms, member lounge, four outdoor pools, and golf shop.

While membership is not required of homeowners, over 600 families currently enjoy a wealth of outdoor pursuits through its seven signature lifestyle clubs, including Golf, Rod & Gun, River, Equestrian, Spa/Athletic, Social/Dining and Tennis/Swim.

For more information: www.cordilleraranch.com, 888.66.RANCH.

Product Review: Big Balls Golf

When faced with a claustrophobic tee shot, do you still hit your driver? A pond separates you and the green on a reachable Par 5 - go for it instead of laying up? Are you the type of guy who takes the break out of a sidehill slider - electing to ram the putt into the back of the hole?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, Big Balls Golf has the products for you.

Based out of Olympia, Wash., Big Balls Golf was founded in 2009 to create a new trend in the men's golf market by offering different and inspiring products that would appeal to all golfers, at every level - Big Risk. Big Rewards.

Have you ever sat around the 19th hole bragging about the hybrid you hit to find a narrow fairway or laying up to manage par? Probably not. According to its website (www.bigballsgolf.com), “Big Balls Golf encourages golfers to step out of their comfort zone, go for the unsafe shots and take the chances that make the game memorable. [The] Big Balls Golf mission is to encourage players to reduce their inhibitions and take risks - allowing them to play to their maximum abilities, making the game more fun and competitive than it ever has been.

A little nervous about the impending shot? No worries ... dry your hands with a Big Balls Golf towel ($19.99). Don’t want your playing partners to see the fear in your eyes prior to cutting the corner on that difficult dogleg? Pull down the Big Balls Golf hat ($21.99) a bit lower to hide your feelings. Both come with the unforgettable Big Balls Golf logo ... as do the glove ($14.99), t-shirt ($24.99) and polo ($39.99).

The towel and t-shirt are made from 100% cotton, while the polyester polo features moisture-wicking properties. Like the shirts, the one-size-fits-all hat comes in black or white and the golf glove is polyurethane with a reinforced palm patch for a firm grip.

Knowing big risks often bring big rewards, it makes sense to spend a little time at www.bigballsgolf.com.

Tiger Woods Wears Winning TW ’14 NIKEiD Shoe Design

Woods laces up in the custom red, white and blue shoes for the first round of the Honda Classic

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) – Keep an eye on Tiger Woods’ feet today – he’s sporting something a little brighter than normal for the first round of the Honda Classic.

Woods will be walking the course in a pair of custom Nike TW ’14 shoes featuring the red, white and blue motif that the 14-time Major champion chose last month out of thousands of submissions as the winning design in the TW ’14 NIKEiD contest. The designer, Dane Thompson, was inspired to incorporate patriotic colors to cheer on team USA in the Winter Olympics and the 2014 Ryder Cup, as well as in support of Woods at the 2014 U.S Open.

Thompson’s design boasts a white leather upper, blue midsole and red Nike Swoosh, Nike Flywire and laces. In addition to seeing his design on the world's top-ranked player in competition, Thompson also received a pair of custom Nike TW’ 14 shoes signed by Woods.

The TW’14 is the first Nike Golf shoe to become available for customization on NIKEiD.

For more information on Nike Golf, visit www.nikegolf.com. To follow Nike Golf on Twitter visit www.twitter.com/nikegolf and to become a fan on facebook go to www.facebook.com/nikegolf. To view Nike Golf videos subscribe at www.youtube.com/nikegolf.

Hilton Head Golf Island Welcomes New JetBlue Direct Flights

Non-Stop Service to Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport from Boston, New York Now Available

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – a collection of 28 of the Lowcountry’s premier golf courses – welcomes new non-stop JetBlue flights from Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK) to Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport (SAV).

The inaugural flights took place Feb. 13 and are now available seven days a week. Duration from both BOS and JFK to SAV is about 2.5 hours. Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort County golf courses are an easy 40 minute ride from the airport.

With the worst Northeast winter in decades, the timing of the flight service is ideal for avid golfers looking to escape the snow. Average February and March temperatures in Hilton Head are in the 60s and 70s. Ranked top 10 in seven categories by Golf Digest including “Best Courses” and “Best Weather,” HHGI has a variety of seasonal vacation packages available, starting at $99 per person, per night.

“JetBlue’s investment in daily flight service from New York and Boston speaks volumes to the Lowcountry’s popularity as an elite golf destination,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association and Vice President of Sports and Operations at Sea Pines Resort. “Within a few hours, golfers can flee snow-covered driveways for lush Hilton Head fairways.”

As one of the nation’s foremost golf locales, Hilton Head is the preferred vacation spot of players seeking a high-concentration of world-class courses. Legendary designers like Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player and Davis Love III are represented. The region features an unspoiled natural environment, beautiful resorts and inns, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Coming soon, HHGI will be offering two family golf getaways from New York and Boston with more than $4,000 value for each in luxurious oceanfront accommodations, golf rounds, spa treatments, fine cuisine and daily activities (e.g. kayaking, bike rentals). Sweepstakes will launch in April 2014.

More info: www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com, 800.523.3373.

XGOLF Simulator Featured at XGOLF Alberta Retail Destination

(LOS ANGELES) – XGOLF Simulator (www.xgolfsimulator.com), a world-renowned technologically-advanced golf simulator, club-fitting and instructional system, is featured at XGOLF Alberta, a new retail golf destination in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. Having opened Jan. 25, the establishment is attracting golfers intrigued by XGOLF’s extraordinary attributes.

“We are pleased that XGOLF Alberta is leading the way for Canadian golfers to enjoy practice, play, instruction and club fitting on renowned worldwide courses with XGOLF,” said Joseph Huh, CEO of XGOLF.

XGOLF Alberta is part of Country Club Tour, which operates four semi-private golf courses in the vicinity. The building, owned by one of the golf-course owners, is a former movie theatre, constructed in the 1950s, refurbished to accommodate the new XGOLF establishment. John Wilson, a member of the PGA of Canada and the head golf professional at Montgomery Glen Golf Club in Wetaskiwin, manages XGOLF Alberta, assisted by two additional staff members. Two XGOLF simulators are available for customer use, and golf merchandise is sold on site. Limited food and beverage are offered, and management has applied for a liquor license.

Wilson and his staff stated they are very satisfied with the XGOLF simulators – that the accuracy is exceptional and the system represents a valuable teaching and learning tool, including the putting component.

“The customer experience here at XGOLF Alberta has been excellent,” Wilson said. “Generally our customers have played other simulators. The feedback we are getting has been very positive. We are being told that XGOLF is the best system the golfers have played.”

Cleveland Golf, Srixon, XXIO Partner with Desert Smash to Benefit Cancer for College

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA) – Cleveland Golf /Srixon / XXIO announced their partnership with the 2014 Desert Smash, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Desert Showdown Charity Golf and Tennis Event.

Hosted by Will Ferrell, and held at the world famous La Quinta Resort & Club, the event has expanded to two days this year to include “The Will Powered Golf Classic”, a golf tournament unlike any other, exclusive post-round cocktail reception and celebrity entertainment.

Leading into the neighboring BNP Paribas Open, the two-day event will benefit Cancer for College, a 501c3, non-profit organization that provides college scholarships for cancer survivors. Since 1993, the charity has granted nearly $2 million to more than 1,000 cancer survivors.

"We're thrilled to be participating in the 2014 Desert Smash benefiting the Cancer for College Foundation," said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland Golf /Srixon / XXIO - U.S.A. “Cancer has touched the lives of almost all those around us.  To have the opportunity to partner with Cancer for College and help youth achieve their educational goals is an absolute privilege.”

To kick off the event March 3, "The 21st Annual Will Powered Golf Classic" will take place at the renowned Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA. The tournament will be played in a shamble format with planned ceremonial tee off at noon featuring Ferrell and Cancer for College Founder Craig Pollard. Following the golf, there will be a private evening reception with hosted bar and hors d'oeuvres at the gorgeous Big Horn Golf Club pool area adjacent to the clubhouse.

March 4 marks Day 2 and the 10th Anniversary of the Desert Smash, and tennis portion of the Showdown. The day kicks off with The Desert Smash Pro/Celebrity-Am Tennis Tournament, where donating amateurs pay to play with celebrity players and WTA/ATP Tour Pros. Following the Pro/Celebrity-Am Tournament, the fan favorite, Pro-Tennis Exhibition will kick off at 2:15 p.m. on La Quinta’s intimate Stadium Court. This sell-out event, is notorious for bringing together some of the world's best professional tennis players with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars for fun, entertaining tennis in addition to several exciting live auction items auctioned off with the help of the players.

Early players scheduled to appear at this year’s exhibition include: loyal Desert Smasher’s ATP World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, and 2013 Australian Open Doubles Champions and ATP World No. 1 Doubles Team Bob & Mike Bryan. Star players that have participated in the past include: WTA World No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki, Andre Aggassi, Stefanie Graf, Marat Safin, Victoria Azarenka and Mardy Fish. Last year’s big celebrity battle with Novak Djokovic & Jeremy Piven vs. RedFoo and Mardy Fish was an entertaining, fun match that the crowd loved!

Ferrell’s reasoning for his involvement in the Smash: "Cancer for College is an amazing cause. To see these cancer survivors realize their dream of a college education is inspiring. You know what else is inspiring? Me embarrassing Kevin Spacey on a tennis court in front of a thousand people. Those Academy Awards aren't going to help him one bit when I'm raining fire on him from the baseline. It's going to be a sight to behold. If an exhibition of pure athletic prowess does not make you want to give to this great cause, I don't know what will."

Kevin Spacey will definitely be bringing the heat to the desert, having been training for months with premier coaches for his Pro/Celeb match against Ferrell. He sounds off taunting, "Will, I have long admired you, as I hope you know; but there will be no mercy in Palm Springs. I have taken this assignment like the greatest method actor who ever walked the face of the boards of the most inspired playhouse of all time... Za Actor's Studio (and not just Inside but Outside too!) I'm ready, excited and very, very pumped to head out on the court and KILL YOU AT THE NET!!!!!"

The Desert Smash Celebrity/Pro-Am Tournament is arguably one of the country's best, composed of currently ranked WTA and ATP Tour players and some of the best known celebrity players. Past participants include: Stan Wawrinka, Ivan Ljubicic, Dinara Safina, Ernests Gulbis, Daniela Hantuchova, Paul Henri Mathieu, Xavier Malisse, James Blake, Jack Sock and Grand Slam Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Each year, the Desert Smash attracts both celebrity and tennis fans who flock to La Quinta to rub elbows with the world’s best tennis players. Celebrities scheduled to appear this year include event host and “Anchorman” star Will Ferrell, two-time Oscar winner and current House of Cards star Kevin Spacey, Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids & Pitch Perfect), Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy), Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy, Brave), Timothy Olyphant (Justified, Live Free or Die Hard), RedFoo (LMFAO), Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Old School), Lance Bass and Boris Kodjoe.

Past celebrity attendees included: Michael B. Jordan, Christian Slater, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Ryan Kwanten, Joe Pesci, Justin Chambers, Timothy Olyphant, Boris Kodjoe, Michael Vartan, Lance Bass, Joanna Garcia, Eliza Dushku, Jennifer Morrison, and Kirk Fox.

Capping off an epic two days of fundraising and tennis, the celebration will continue into the night with the 10th Anniversary Desert Smash Player Party, which will give supporters and attendees the chance to rub elbows with both Hollywood celebrities and tennis stars while supporting Cancer for College through an exciting live auction all the while enjoying cocktails, a fun selection of food and a surprise live musical performance from award winning artist Nelly with special guests Boyz II Men. The concert will be held at the Agua Caliente Casino. Tickets are available through www.willferrelldesertshowdown.com.

Ferrell notes: "This event is going to be huge. I believe, between the golf and tennis alone, we're expecting over 12 million people at the Desert Showdown this year. It might be a record for attendance. It's gonna make Coachella look like a pancake breakfast. Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's going to be a lot of work, but there's nothing easy about cancer. It can devastate a family physically, emotionally and financially. It's what makes Cancer for College so important. They make a college education a reality for these survivors who have been through so much. Helping these families after all they have been through is the absolute least we can do.

For more event details, to participate, buy tickets or to make a donation, visit: www.willferrelldesertshowdown.com or call: 760-599-5096

ABOUT CANCER FOR COLLEGE
Since 1993, Cancer for College has been providing hope and inspiration to cancer survivors by providing college scholarships.  Founded by two-time cancer survivor and double amputee Craig Pollard, the charity has granted nearly $2 million in college scholarships to more than 1,000 survivors from around the country. To learn more about Cancer for College visit www.cancerforcollege.org.

For more information, visit us online at www.clevelandgolf.com, www.srixon.com, www.xxiousa.com and www.nevercompromise.com.

First Lady Michelle Obama Tries Her Hand at Golf with SNAG

Part of Let’s Move! to keep kids active

(Tahlequah, Okla.) – President Obama apparently isn’t the only golfer in the family. First Lady Michelle Obama was introduced to SNAG Golf Feb. 25 during her visit to the Gwen Cherry Park NFL/YET Center in Miami, Florida. The visit was part of a celebration around the fourth anniversary of Lets Move!, her initiative to ensure that all children grow up healthy and reach their full potential.

SNAG, a global leader in player development and grow-the-game initiatives with unique equipment and training tools, has partnered with Miami Parks and the National Recreation and Park Association in order to introduce golf to kids throughout south Florida.

SNAG is currently used in 42 countries and 15,000 schools around the world.  SNAG incorporates developmentally appropriate equipment and programming that allows golf to be learned and played in non-traditional venues, such as on a soccer field, in a gym, on the beach or any open space.  It can be taught and played anywhere with immediate, positive results.  This instant success keeps new learners wanting to be further involved with golf.

For more information about SNAG Golf, visit the website at www.snaggolf.com.

Marquee TaylorMade Golf Tour Staff Professionals and Speed Police Members in World’s Top 10

Jason Day joins his TaylorMade Speed Police Crew at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings after Match Play Win

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – With his win at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last week, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professional Jason Day (@JDayGolf) joined fellow TaylorMade staffers and Speed Police Members Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA), Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) and Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) in the Top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Day climbed to the No. 4 spot while Rose remains at No. 6, Garcia at No. 9 and Johnson at No. 10.

Day’s victory, his second on the PGA Tour, coincided with the launch of the Speed Police advertising campaign – which touts JetSpeed metalwoods whilst featuring overzealous, marionette-cops based on the four PGA Tour stars. The foursome patrols golf courses, shaking down unsuspecting golfers playing outdated equipment.

The Speed Police Members have more in common than a love for busting perps. All four play the SLDR driver, Tour Preferred X golf ball and a version on the new Tour Preferred irons. Both Day and Garcia carry the Tour Preferred MC model, which features the innovative Speed Pocket technology in 3-7 irons. Rose plays a combo set comprised of a Tour Preferred CB 3-iron, MC (4-6 iron) and MB (7-PW). Johnson, who prefers the traditional look and feel of pure blade, has a complete Tour Preferred MB set 3-PW.

Each Speed Police member has enjoyed a successful run on their way to the OWGR Top 10.
The Match Play win marked the second consecutive WGC event won by a Speed Police Member, as Dustin Johnson was victorious at the HSBC-WGC Championship last November in Shanghai, China.

Two wins in three starts catapulted Garcia into the Top-10. Garcia dueled with Justin Rose en route to victory at the 2013 Thailand Golf Championship last December before winning the Qatar Masters the following month.

Rose, the reigning U.S. Open Champion, returned from injury earlier this month at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Rose is playing his way back into form as the PGA Tour gets ready for the Florida Swing.

With Day’s victory, every member of the Speed Police has now claimed a WGC title in their careers.

TaylorMade Fun Facts
* Six of the top 10 golfers in the current Official World Golf Rankings have or currently do play the TaylorMade SLDR driver.
* SLDR has been the number one driver on the PGA Tour for 22 consecutive weeks.
* Jason Day has a stellar 14-3 career record in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
* Jason Day never trailed in the final 53 holes of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
* 23 combined career PGA Tour victories between the four Speed Police members.
* 13 combined career Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances between the four Speed Police members.
* Dustin Johnson is one of only two players to win once in each of their first seven PGA Tour seasons.

Miura Golf Reacts to High Demand for Passing Point 9003 Straight Neck Irons

(Vancouver, BC) - In response to golfer demand, Miura Golf has increased production of its special Passing Point 9003 Straight Neck iron. New sets are now in stock and on their way to Miura dealers worldwide.

The Passing Point 9003 Straight Neck, like its sister model, the "regular" Passing Point 9003, offers golfers forged feel - the famous Miura Purity of the Strike - plus the benefits of perimeter weighting and a slightly wider sole. The SN model has less offset, so the players who prefer that look, or who don't need substantial offset to get the flight they want, will have just enough and not too much.

"Initially, we weren't intending to make a straight-neck model," said Adam Barr, president of Miura. "But the 9003 was so popular with so many players because it's very easy to hit and has a great flight. When some of those new 9003 players talked with us about their flight preferences, we knew there was a class of 9003 lovers who didn't want or need all the offset of the original.  So we began to make a less-offset version, and that became the Passing Point 9003 Straight Neck.

"We sold out the initial run so quickly that we thought we'd better make more," Barr said.

Both models of Passing Point 9003s provide marvelous forged feel, thanks to Miura's insistence on fine-grain, void-free steel in its clubheads. The cavity in all 9003s is carefully engineered to put the mass in the right places so golfers can get the optimum contact - and forgiveness - from the club's perimeter weighting. And the sole of the 9003s, while never out of proportion, is somewhat larger than in more blade-like models, allowing for easier turf travel through impact and overall more consistent flight.

The difference comes with the offset. In the regular model, offset ranges between 5.6 mm in the 4-iron and 3.5 mm in the gap wedge. But in the Straight Neck model, the range is from just 3.8 mm in the 4-iron to 1.8 mm in the gap wedge - depending on the club, offset can be 50 percent to 70 percent less than in the regular 9003.

Both models of Passing Point 9003 are available in 4-PW plus gap wedge. The clubs can be tested by visiting www.MiuraGolf.com to locate an authorized Miura dealer/fitter. Price per club begins at $225; this can be higher depending on fitting options chosen, especially the shaft.

For more information, visit www.MiuraGolf.com. Follow Miura on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiuraGolf and on Twitter at @MiuraGolfInc.

SNAG Golf Comes to Fort Myers

New Family Golf Center in Fort Myers, Florida Includes Innovative SNAG Golf Play Area

(Tahlequah, Okla.) - SNAG Golf, a global leader in player development and grow-the-game initiatives with unique equipment and training tools, will be introduced to thousands of golfers in southwest Florida as part of the new Alico Family Golf Center in Fort Myers.

The impressive new 30 acre family golf facility celebrated its grand opening on January 11 and the SNAG practice area opened on February 7.  The short holes range in length from 45 yards to 60 yards, and the fairways and greens have been planted with Bermuda grass.  SNAG is fun for the entire family.

SNAG may be new to some but the equipment and curriculum is currently used in 42 countries and 15,000 schools around the world. SNAG incorporates developmentally appropriate equipment and programming that allows golf to be learned and played in non-traditional venues, such as on a soccer field, in a gym, on the beach or any open space.  It can be taught and played almost anywhere with immediate, positive results. This instant success keeps new learners wanting to be further involved with golf.

“I’m excited about the SNAG program at our new facility as there has already been a lot of interest from families, seniors, students and the School District of Lee County to come out and learn the game of golf using SNAG,” said Jack Feighery, co-owner of the Alico Family Golf Center.  “We are working with the local Florida Gulf Coast University in establishing a SNAG league, and we have PGA instructors with SNAG experience on staff. In addition, a First Touch Program has already begun with some clinics for youngsters scheduled on the weekends.”

Terry Anton, founder and CEO of SNAG Golf, has been hailed as one of the industry leaders in growing the game of golf.  “It is important for the future of the sport to capture interest in golf early so that youngsters will transition with confidence to play with actual golf equipment on a traditional golf course,” said Anton. “The more fun we make golf for children, the more chance they have to play the game for a lifetime.”

It is the SNAG philosophy that children should be given time to develop at their own pace and not be rushed to an on course experience where they will be met by failure. If children and adults are given time to develop properly and learn the fundamentals of the game in a non-threatening environment, they will want to enjoy the game for years to come.

For more information about the Alico Family Golf Center, visit www.alicofamilygolf.com. For individuals and groups that want to have fun learning golf, visit www.snaggolf.com.

A Start-Up, PunchbowlGolf.com Launches Golf Lesson Marketplace

Website connects golfers to professional instructors

(Las Vegas, NV) - An online marketplace launched for golf lessons at more than 600 locations in the United States. The website, PunchbowlGolf.com, is a start-up that connects beginner golfers to pro instructors for in-person lessons.

The golf lesson industry has traditionally been marked by little competition and high fees. PunchbowlGolf.com pulls the rates of local private instructors and displays the rates of instruction at several local courses. The result is a competitive marketplace where viewers can see all of their options.

In total, the site has more than 3,000 established partnerships with instructors, local driving ranges and golf courses. Instructors set their rates and availability and then are listed on the website for students to pick their favorite teacher. All instructors are trained and given a customized syllabus to instruct their students. Currently, the service utilizes more than 550 of 3,000 registered instructors in all 50 states.

Not all golf courses were thrilled about the service when it originally launched in 2011. It closed through 2013 due to legal problems with golf courses threatening to take action on outside instruction.

At that time, they had very few locations and experienced resistance from most courses. Punchbowl Golf's director of services, Jamie Savignon, says, "We experienced a lot of hostility. Fortunately, I think some of them realized that the volume of requests we were getting and eventually realized that it was better to partner with us than fight us.”

The company has reached out and now peacefully works with courses through a revenue share program.

PunchbowlGolf.com is owned by Lesson Pro LLC which was seen at the Empact Showcase in the United Nations. Lesson Pro has provided over 20,000 lessons through 10 web properties which feature private instruction marketplaces. Some of the other Lesson Pro sites include: Goskate.com and TennisProNow.com

Private golf instruction starts each student with the basics like; proper hand placement, getting the right footing, and upper-body technique. At more experienced levels, customized instruction starts at fixing a student’s bad habits and decreasing their scores.

To get started, visit Punchbowlgolf.com, enter your zip code, and choose from a list of nearby courses. You can select an individual pro or the service can match them to a pro. Lessons are offered seven days a week. Private lesson pricing starts at $47.50 per hour.

LINKS Magazine Picks Top 10 Golf Resorts in Florida

Golf’s most exciting magazine chooses the best of the Sunshine State, where there are 1,000 courses and dozens of great resorts

(Hilton Head Island, S.C.) -  As the PGA Tour begins its annual “Florida Swing,” LINKS Magazine—the freshest and most exciting magazine in golf—has named the Top 10 Golf Resorts in the Sunshine State.

The list—which appears on the LINKS website as of Feb. 28 —covers Florida from top to bottom. And there is a great deal to cover.

As the editors wrote, “With well over 1,000 courses stitched across its peninsula, Florida, the most golf-centric state in the nation, offers a diverse array of resort venues, from surprisingly hilly layouts to flatter tracks convenient to white sandy beaches on both coasts.”

The Top 10, in alphabetical order, are:
* Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando
* Hammock Beach Resort, Palm Coast
* Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort, Palm Harbor
* PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens
* Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Ponte Vedra Beach
* Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
* Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach
* Streamsong Resort, Streamsong
* Trump National Doral Miami, Miami
* Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Resort, Orlando

Four of the resorts—Bay Hill, Innisbrook, PGA National, and Trump National Doral—will host the PGA Tour over the next few weeks. Then the world’s best return to the resort closest to the Tour’s home office for the TOUR Championship at Sawgrass in May.

The newest resort on the list, Streamsong, was featured on the cover of the Winter 2014 issue of LINKS Magazine to illustrate a story entitled “The Five Floridas,” which divided the state’s thousands of golf offerings into five distinct geographic regions.

But to make it onto the LINKS list, great golf is not enough. The “best golf getaways offer superb creature comforts as well as a top-shelf, championship-caliber experience” reports the magazine. On the website, each resort is described in detail.

ClubCrown Launches Premier 'Ship Your Club To Us' Service

(NEW YORK CITY, NY) - ClubCrown by VIVE has launched their premier Ship Your Club To Us Service, partnering with UPS to provide installation accessibility to customers across the United States.

Consumers can go onto the ClubCrown website, www.clubcrown.com and pick from more than 600 crown graphics for their driver, fairway woods and hybrids.  Designs include collegiate, country flags, racing stripes, spiders, skulls, flames, training aids, animal prints and many more.  Much of the ClubCrown appeal is that they look as if they are painted on and maintain durability comparable to paint.  In addition, ClubCrowns can be removed and replaced as often as you would like.

The method behind the magical product is an incredible, patented installation process.  ClubCrown has highly trained professionals at their headquarters that ensure your ClubCrown is properly installed with no bubbles or ripples.

To service the installation, ClubCrown has partnered with UPS to provide free round-trip ground shipping and same day product installation.  Customers simply print out the free shipping label they are provided with upon checkout, pack up their club and drop if off at UPS.  Roughly a week later, their club is returned to them, completely transformed by the crown graphic technology.

"This is a big step for us in providing product accessibility to customers across the United States.  With recent features on CNBC, The Golf Channel, and many more, we are very excited for what the future holds.  In addition to free round-trip UPS shipping and same day installation, we are offering a 30-day no questions asked return policy.  Try it out, you won't be disappointed," said Brendan Doyle, President and CMO of ClubCrown.

All designs are available at www.ClubCrown.com.

NBC Sports Group Kicks Off the Florida Swing with 20+ Hours of Live Coverage of The Honda Classic

Golf Channel’s Expanded Weekend Spotlight Coverage of The Honda Classic to Focus on the Famed “Bear Trap” and Offer More Technology, Player Statistics

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Golf Channel and NBC Sports will begin its comprehensive coverage of the PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing this week (the first of six consecutive weeks of PGA TOUR coverage on Golf Channel / NBC) with more than 20 hours of live coverage of The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Seven of the top-10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the field, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.

While NBC delivers its coverage of The Honda Classic this weekend, Golf Channel also will feature its interactive spotlight coverage for the first time in 2014 on Saturday and Sunday.  Spotlight coverage will provide viewers an exclusive look at PGA National’s famed “Bear Trap” on holes 15,16 and 17, with an expanded focus on technology and player statistics.

Live coverage of the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s Champions from Singapore will begin on Wednesday and highlight Golf Channel’s late-night broadcast window, and early morning coverage of the Tshwane Open will give viewers a look at the Ernie Els’ designed Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate – the longest course in European Tour history at 7,964 yards.

PGA TOUR
The Honda Classic
Dates: February 27 – March 2
Venue: PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday: 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday: 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday: 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 p.m. (Live, Spotlight Coverage) / 6:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 p.m. (Live, Spotlight Coverage) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes On NBC (Eastern):
Saturday: 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Golf Channel / NBC Sports Kick Off Florida Swing: Golf Channel and NBC will broadcast more than 20 hours of live coverage of the Honda Classic to kick off the PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing. The Honda Classic is the first of six consecutive weeks of PGA TOUR coverage on Golf Channel / NBC.

Wednesday: Golf Channel will feature player press conference coverage of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy live from the media center tomorrow from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.

Golf Channel Spotlight Coverage to Offer More Technology, Player Statistics: Golf Channel’s tournament spotlight coverage returns for the first time in 2014 and will offer viewers an exclusive look at the famed “Bear Trap” on holes 15, 16 and 17 with a few new wrinkles including:
- A reverse-L on screen that will feature continuous stats and player updates
- Trackman technology providing player driving statistics
- Pro-Tracer technology that will key-in on the flight of the ball once it leaves the clubface.

Thompson Defends: Michael Thompson earned his first PGA TOUR victory last year, winning by two strokes over Geoff Ogilvy to become the first American winner of The Honda Classic since Mark Wilson in 2007.

Headlining The Field: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Zach Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Charl Schwartzel.

Golf Channel / NBC Sports Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)
Analyst: Frank Nobilo (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)
Tower: Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen
On Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing / Notah Begay
Interviews: Steve Sands

Golf Channel Spotlight Broadcast Team:
Host: Randy Moss
Analyst: Curt Byrum
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Phil Blackmar

LPGA TOUR
HSBC Women’s Champions
Dates: February 26 – March 1
Venue: Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong Course), Sentosa, Singapore

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday: 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Live)
Thursday: 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday: 10:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday: 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Live)
Sunday: Midnight-2:30 a.m. (Replay, final round)

Broadcast Notes:
Lewis Defends: Stacy Lewis won by one shot over Na Yeon Choi in last year’s event, earning her sixth career LPGA win.

Strong Field: Among the 63-players teeing it up this week are 19 of the top 20 players on the Official Rolex Rankings.

Headlining The Field: Stacy Lewis, Lydia Ko, Na Yeon Choi, Jessica Korda, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Shanshan Feng, Sandra Gal, Cristie Kerr and Karrie Webb.

Tournament Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Peter Donagan
Analyst: Sandy Mackenzie
Interviews: Kate Burton

EUROPEAN TOUR
Tshwane Open
Dates: February 27 – March 2
Venue: Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate, Centurion, South Africa

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Friday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Saturday: 5:30-9:30 a.m. (Live)
Sunday: 5:30-9:30 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Els’ Lengthy Test: Copperleaf is an Ernie Els design that was built on land once lived on by his grandfather. It is the longest course (7,964 yards) and contains the longest hole (685-yard 4th) in European Tour history.

Van Der Walt Defends: Dawie Van Der Walt picked up his first career European Tour win at last year’s event, winning by two shots over Darren Fichardt.

Headlining The Field: Thomas Aiken, Rafael Cabrera Bello, George Coetzee, Ross Fisher, David Howell, Edoardo Molinari, Robert Rock, Dawie Van Der Walt and Chris Wood.

Tournament Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Kim Thomas
Analyst: Denis Hutchinson / Warren Humphreys
On Course: Ken Brown

Product Review: TaylorMade Project (a) Ball

Somewhere between scratch golfers and those just beginning their love affair with the game, rests the vast majority of players. TaylorMade may have just captured this massive group with the introduction of its Project (a) ball.

We all want more length off the tee, but most distance balls provide yardage while failing miserably on much-needed spin into and around the greens. TaylorMade engineers have designed Project (a) to deliver that approach-shot spin. This game-changing spin comes from SOFT TECH - a new cast urethane cover that's specially formulated to be soft, durable and very responsive.

The first mass test of Project (a) came at this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, where more amateurs played it than any other ball. And the numbers weren’t even close ... 83 amateur golfers played Project (a), compared to 25 by its nearest competitor model.

Impressive distance off the tee, paired with increased spin around the greens is a winning combination. Stopping the ball closer to the pin for shorter putts leads to lower scores. Simple.

The three-piece Project (a) is an 86-compression ball - meaning you don’t have to own a 100-mph swing to enjoy its full benefits. Golfers with slower swing speeds are able to compress Project (a) with normal effort - achieving the max yardage that’s so desired.

If you’re playing a high-priced premium ball for the feel, but don’t believe you’re getting the distance you deserve off the tee, TaylorMade may have the ball for you. Easy to compress ... easy to spin ... easy to see that Project (a) could be the solution to lower scores.

For more information, visit www.taylormadegolf.com.

Wilson Staff naKed neXus: The Last Bags Standing

(CHICAGO) – The entry period for the Wilson Staff naKed neXus Custom Bag Contest, a global initiative allowing consumers to create their own neXus bag design, is now closed. Thousands of submissions have been reviewed by a panel of judges, and three designs (pictured above) were selected as the last bags standing, thanks to the efforts of:
A: Dan Mann from Vancouver, Canada
B: Gregg Strepp from Florida, USA
C: Brian Tracy from Hampshire, England

The winning bag will be left to the social media world. To vote, users need to log onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and post “A”, “B” or “C” in the designated space.

At the end of the week, the design with the most votes will be incorporated into the 2015 line, and the winning designer will receive his or her neXus golf bag.

The neXus, which released In October, received the “Best Overall” bag recognition in MyGolfSpy’s 2014 Carry/Stand Bag Guide.

Consumers can log onto wilsongolf.com for more information.

AHEAD becomes a Provider of Official Merchandise to The Open Championship

Massachusetts company to be primary headwear partner to golf’s oldest major for next 3 years

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) - AHEAD, the innovative headwear, apparel and accessories company, announced today that it has reached an agreement to be the primary headwear provider of The Open Champiosnhip for three years beginning in 2014.  The partnership also calls for AHEAD to be a non-exclusive apparel provider to The Open Championship for the same period.

“We are thrilled to forge this alliance with The R&A to supply this prestigious event with AHEAD headwear and apparel,” said Anne Broholm, CEO, AHEAD.  “Being named a licensee and supplier to The Open Championship is both an honor for our brand and a perfect complement to AHEAD’s involvement with other major golf events.”

This year’s Open Championship will be played from July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.  Future venues include St Andrews in 2015 and Royal Troon in 2016, both in Scotland.

“We are excited to work with AHEAD on our next three championships,” said Mike Tate, Executive Director – Business Affairs, The R&A.  “The breadth and creativity they bring to our headwear range, coupled with their extensive major event experience, make AHEAD an important partner for The Open Championship.”

AHEAD enjoys established partnerships with the USGA, PGA of America and Ryder Cup, as well as numerous PGA Tour events, PGA Retirement Plus and the ANNIKA Foundation.

For additional information on AHEAD, visit its website at www.Aheadweb.com.

Chasing the OBX Sun in North Carolina

Kilmarlic Golf Club

Following Mother Nature’s icy winter blast, golfers are eagerly turning to warm-weather getaways such as North Carolina’s storied Outer Banks to warm up their games

(OUTER BANKS, N.C.) — The Southeast’s winter of discontent has left residents and visitors weary of Mother Nature’s cold shoulder. Fortunately as it does every year, winter now gives way to spring. Those looking for an ideal golf escape should get ready to bask in Coastal Carolina warmth and sunshine — with a wee bit of influence from ocean breezes.

In recent years, North Carolina’s fabled Outer Banks (OBX) have begun to transform themselves into a true golf destination offering an array of courses more closely tied to nature’s coastal elements than most along the East Coast.

“The Outer Banks has everything a golfer is looking for when going on a golf vacation – well-manicured courses, great restaurants, a variety of housing options, and unique activities other than golf,” says long-time Kilmarlic Golf Club Director of Golf Bryan Sullivan, a former North-South Amateur champion and an All-American at the University of North Carolina.

Sullivan’s Kilmarlic Golf Club is a popular Tom Steele design nestled along the marshland of the Albemarle Sound and host course for both the 2004 and 2009 North Carolina Opens. The wonderful mainland course provides a pure OBX layout with water and wetlands virtually in play at all times.

Earning the No. 14 spot among Golfweek’s 2013 “Best Courses That You Can Play” in North Carolina and host to an annual autumn collegiate event, Kilmarlic is also ideally located just five miles west of the bridge that connects the mainland to the barrier island.

“In 10 minutes,” Sullivan likes to say, “I can have my feet in the Atlantic.”

As one of the most exposed golf facilities to the wind along the state’s coast in terms of its setting with several holes playing along a rugged coastline, Nags Head Golf Links is a Scottish-style course that is also considered one of the finest. The capricious breezes off sound-side waters create different challenges every time you play it.

Designed by Bob Moore — who clearly followed the adage “don’t mess with Mother Nature” when crafting this gem — the Nags Head layout incorporates the best of links-style golf against a backdrop as dramatic as you’ll find anywhere up and down the Atlantic Seaboard.

The front and back nine closing holes along the sound are particularly spectacular. Nags Head’s bar and restaurant, not surprisingly, is home to the most dramatic sunsets in town, with views not only across the immediate Roanoke Sound, but towards three other sounds (Albemarle, Croatan and Pamlico) that flow into it from the north, west and south as well.

Currituck Club is “sculpted on the type of land where golf began,” says its architect, the renowned Rees Jones, who designed a 6,800-yard masterpiece among 600 acres of dunes, wetlands, maritime forests and sound seascapes. There is, not surprisingly, plenty of water on the course, most of it on the front nine, but unlike Nags Head GL, most of the water at Currituck Club comes in the form of marsh and wetlands.

Jones is known for moving large amounts of dirt during construction, and it is part of the reason his finished product offers a true, championship feel. You won’t find a weak hole at Currituck, and the par-3s are particularly stunning, including two that play over water. The best is arguably the signature sixth, located at the hub of the front nine where four holes converge, which plays anywhere from 150 to 200 yards over water, with stunning views of the sound off in the background.

Currituck Club is demanding from tee to green, with undulating fairways that demand an accurate tee shot, and large, contoured greens that make lag putting among the most challenging elements of the design. Like its OBX brethren, Currituck Club plays longer than its yardage might indicate, as it is designed right at sea level and is bolstered by constant wind especially along the homeward stretch, where the breeze is almost always in the golfer’s face.

The Pointe Golf Club is located on the rural mainland side of OBX and across the four-lane highway from Kilmarlic. A traditional Russell Breeden design, the course is also said to be the first in the country to have the A-1 bentgrass — a dense, disease-resistant strain — installed across its corridors.

This, of course, is only natural seeing that the site is a former turf farm combined with rolling farmland. In addition, the management at The Pointe has always devoted itself to providing the finest course conditions imaginable.

The Pointe is also the area’s most player-friendly design and features a peaceful setting with no houses. In fact, it is the only course in the area that is not in a residential community. At a par of 71 with five par 3s, The Pointe can usually be played in 4 hours to 4:15, which means more time back at the beach.

Meanwhile, the seventh hole at The Carolina Club is one of the most memorable offerings along the entire North Carolina coast. An island green aged to perfection can create that kind of legend. The 166-yard one-shotter features a TPC Sawgrass-type island green with water, water everywhere. It’s truly an experience to be had.

Still, The Carolina Club is more than a one-hole wonder. As the longest OBX course, it will delight you with liquid challenges that are often compounded by ever-shifting ocean breezes. The Pointe’s sister course features a strong mix of holes with several scenic par 3s (in addition to its signature island green No. 7) and two good risk-reward par 5s to complete each nine.

The Carolina Club’s positioning as the first course heading into town from the north and last one on the way out makes it the ideal play on either side of your OBX golf vacation.

Additional 2014 Outer Banks golf package information is available at www.PlayOBXGolf.com or 800-916-6244.

Mizuno 'Play Famously' Announces First Two Team Members

Personal Stories of First Two Members of the 2014 Team JPX Lead National Advertising Campaign

(Norcross, Ga.) – For millions, golf serves as a sanctuary from life’s daily demands and pressures. However, the impact and influence of golf on two amateurs is literally life changing. Mizuno Golf announced the first two members of its 2014 “Team JPX” roster of inspirational, “game-improvement” amateur players, both of whom will be featured in national advertising in the second year of the popular Mizuno “Play Famously” campaign.

Jeremy Thee and Tony Taylor, from Denver, Colo. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. respectively, are the first two members of the 2014 “Team JPX” who were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 candidates within a “casting call” process led by Golf Digest via its popular GolfWRX online forum. The casting call was designed to identify the first two members of Mizuno’s 2014 “Team JPX.” The duo will also be the stories leading the campaign’s national advertising, designed to showcase the life-changing, transformative power of the game. The “Play Famously” experience began immediately for Thee and Taylor with a national advertising shoot experience to create campaign print and video elements for leading golf magazines and websites. The videos capturing Thee and Taylor’s personal stories were released in tandem with the formal announcement.

For Thee, who lives with paralysis in his right leg as a result of polio contracted as an infant, golf provides an invaluable physical and emotional outlet where he can experience the intensity of competition on a truly level playing field. The Denver resident found that much like life, golf provides several difficult challenges, but it’s overcoming those challenges that makes the game so great and the key reason his love for the game is unmatched by any other activity in his life. Thee is a husband and proud father of a seven-month-old daughter.

“Golf has provided me a physical and emotional sanctuary where everyone is judged on an equal playing field and my passion for the game shines through more than my physical limitations,” said Thee. “Mizuno has provided me with an unbelievable opportunity and I cannot believe I’ll be playing in the JPX Invitational in September.”

After three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Taylor faced high levels of anxiety causing undue stress on himself and his family. Golf became an island of solace for Taylor in coping with these issues brought on by his time at war. The game became therapeutic for Taylor, providing him camaraderie similar to the Marine Corps, while assimilating him back into everyday society. In Taylor’s eyes, golf is an art form that helped shape his career aspirations of working toward a degree in Turfgrass Management in hopes of one day becoming a golf-course superintendent.

“My involvement in the game of golf has provided a therapeutic outlet and a constructive obsession in my transition home from combat. The challenges of the game and the camaraderie amongst friends have been key tools in my recovery and my ability to become not only a better person but also a better husband and father as well,” said Taylor. “Mizuno’s appreciation for the average golfer and our inspiring reasons for playing the game really connected with me, I’m ecstatic to be apart of Team JPX.”

The initial members of “Team JPX” will be outfitted from head to toe with Mizuno gear and apparel, including the new JPX EZ irons, and will begin their personal game-improvement journeys in preparation for competition at the 2nd annual JPX Invitational in Atlanta in August.

"The stories of Jeremy and Tony are just the start of many stories of triumph to come with this year’s Play Famously campaign,” said Dick Lyons, Vice President and General Manager, Golf and Team Sports Division for Mizuno USA. “These stories of perseverance serve as inspiration for us and we are proud to call both men Mizuno Ambassadors and members of “Team JPX.” In the coming months, we are excited to watch their journey unfold as they hone their golf skills for the JPX Invitational later this year.”

The remaining 10 members of “Team JPX” will be selected through an online contest at www.playfamously.com where golfers are encouraged to try the new JPX EZ irons at a participating retailer and provide their feedback on the new game-improvement irons along with their submission of a short essay, photos and/or videos. The submissions should demonstrate their passion for golf and a specific challenge that golf has helped, or is helping them overcome in their lives. The next two coveted spots on “Team JPX” will be announced March 21.

Center of the Play Famously campaign is the newest addition to the JPX line of game-improvement irons, the JPX EZ. The line establishes an entirely new standard for forgiveness with proven sweet spot 83 percent bigger than TaylorMade Rocketbladez and more than 50 percent larger than Ping G25 and Callaway X-Hot. JPX EZ utilizes an ultra-thin, Hot Metal face that delivers an enhanced ‘trampoline effect’ for the extra distance all players desire.

To see how the JPX EZ irons stack up against the competition and submit to become one of the newest members of Team JPX, visit www.playfamously.com.

Connect with Mizuno on Facebook and Twitter @Golf_Mizuno to keep up with product news, Tour updates and custom content and fitting tools.

Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts Announces ‘Barefoot Free Round’ Spring Golf Package

(NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts (MBSR) – operator of the area’s premier oceanfront condo-hotel and vacation rental properties – announces the “Barefoot Free Round” stay-and-play package ideal for spring getaways to the “Golf Capital of the U.S.”

After a long winter with record-low temperatures and historic winter storms across much of North America, vacationers will savor the temperate climate of March and April in the coastal Carolinas.

Starting at $574 per person (based on four golfers), the offer features five nights of oceanfront accommodations in a two-bedroom Avista Resort condo, three rounds of golf on the heralded Barefoot Resort championship courses and an additional fourth round free (after 12 p.m.). Carts are included.

Located in the North Strand, Barefoot Resort features the acclaimed Dye, Fazio, Love and Norman Courses.

“The ‘Barefoot Free Round’ offer is the perfect ‘golf buddy’ package to experience exceptional golf courses designed by four legendary architects during the day and then recharge nightly in our deluxe beachfront lodging,” says Chris Vest, Director of Golf at Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts.

Avista Resort provides easy access to dining, shopping, sugar sand beaches and other area attractions including The Alabama Theatre, The House of Blues and Broadway at the Beach. Through its knowledgeable golf desk, MBSR is able to completely turnkey golf vacations for any size group to meet any budget.

Getting to Myrtle Beach has never been easier. Multiple airlines offer direct flights to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) from more than 20 cities from Canada to Florida. The Grand Strand is within a half day drive of Southeastern population centers like Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, and a day’s drive from Washington D.C., Philadelphia and other East Coast and Midwest cities.

To book or for more information on the “Barefoot Free Round” package, visit myrtlebeachseasideresorts.com or call (888) 571.4104. Prices include all taxes and resort fees. Some restrictions apply.

adidas Golf Introduces puremotion Tour Apparel Collection

Precision Fit Pieces Provide Enhanced Comfort and Minimal Restriction during Play

(Carlsbad, Calif.) – adidas Golf, an industry leader in innovation, technology and performance footwear and apparel, has announced the release of the new puremotion Tour apparel collection, designed with the golfer’s body in mind to deliver maximum performance with minimal restriction during the swing.

Reimagining the fit, feel and performance of tour-proven apparel, adidas Golf designers utilized high-performance, maximum-stretch, moisture-wicking fabrics developed to keep golfers cool in warmer conditions. adidas Golf Tour staff professional Dustin Johnson debuted the puremotion Tour collection at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January, and the rest of the adidas Golf tour stable will be outfitted in the collection throughout the 2014 PGA TOUR and LPGA season.

“During tournaments, I want apparel that’s not just comfortable, it also needs to work with my swing to allow my body to work the way I need,” said Dustin Johnson, eight-time PGA TOUR winner. “puremotion apparel is incredibly lightweight and fits great. It moves with my body and keeps me cool, and that allows me to concentrate on my game.”

Utilizing advanced engineering technologies throughout the development process, puremotion Tour polos provide a bonded, precision fit designed to keep athletes distraction-free and swinging to their fullest potential throughout the course of play.

“Everything we build is validated on the PGA TOUR by the best golf professionals in the world. If we can build product that performs to their exacting standards, we know amateurs around the world will see and feel the benefits,” said Davide Mattucci, Director, Global Apparel Product Marketing for adidas Golf. “We need to assure that the technology we build into all of our products enhances performance, but stays out of the way and allows our pros to focus on their swing and nothing else.”

The puremotion Tour collection includes four men’s polos and two women’s polos with an MSRP ranging from $70-$90. At retail now, visit adidasgolf.com to view the entire puremotion Tour collection and the rest of the adidas Golf range featuring puremotion technology.

PGA Golf Club Unveils Golfer-Friendly ‘Book Online and Save’ Program

Resort Golf Customers Can Now Book Tee Times Up to Six Months in Advance

(PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.) – PGA Golf Club today unveiled a friendly, yet sophisticated, state-of-the-art online reservation system, that enables golfers to easily “Book Online and Save” on advanced tee times via the web and mobile-phone applications. Resort golf customers are now able to reserve their rounds at the facility as much as six months in advance, a tremendous expansion from the previous 45-day booking window.

Designed by Golfswitch, the new yield management system is similar in its structure to what is used in both the hotel and airline industries, which will enable golfers instant access to discounts during times of excess supply. When offered, these discounts can vary depending on season, weather and even time of day. Rounds can be reserved either on PGAVillage.com or PGA Golf Club’s mobile app: https://mobile.golfhub.com/PVV/.​

“As a popular golf resort destination, we want to make it as easy as possible for golfers to reserve their rounds both online and by mobile phone, in order to have access to the widest pool of tee times available at a price that reflects supply and demand,” said PGA Golf Club General Manager Jimmy Terry. “PGA Golf Club’s new ‘Book Online and Save’ yield management system is dedicated to bringing you the best discount we offer for that round, should it be available. This also gives you the opportunity to reserve your rounds much sooner than before, as the booking engine now allows resort reservations 180 days in advance, so you can plan your trip to PGA Golf Club early and often.”

Located an hour north of West Palm Beach, PGA Golf Club at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is a pure golf resort destination that features three diverse, challenging layouts along Florida’s Treasure Coast by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Wanamaker Course by Fazio provides a stunning backdrop against breathtaking palm trees and palmettos. His distinct Carolina touch is also evident on the Ryder Course with rolling hills, majestic pines and challenging water hazards. Weaving through 100 acres of wetlands, the Dye Course is a links-style layout with pine straw rough, vast coquina waste bunkers and grass-based bunkers.

The nearby 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance provides the ultimate learning environment for players of all levels. With 100 swing stations and nine bunker types simulating play worldwide, the acclaimed facility is an ideal destination to tune up for the 2014 season. Also onsite is the PGA Museum of Golf, which features golf’s most storied trophies; Donald Ross’ workbench from circa 1900; vast Ryder Cup and PGA Championship memorabilia; a tribute to 2013 PGA Champion Jason Dufner; and the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame. Guests receive complimentary admission.

Discounts are not applicable for membership and frequent play programs through “Book Online and Save.” For more information visit PGAVillage.com; and to learn more about the PGA of America, PGAMediaCenter.com.

Country Club of South Carolina Opens Doors to Outside Play

(FLORENCE, S.C.) - The Country Club of South Carolina has opened its doors to outside golf play, according to the club's general manager, Fred Burnett.

Outside play will immediately be available Tuesday thru Sunday with a $45 greens fee that includes golf cart and range balls. The course will be open seven days a week beginning on March 9, the start of daylight saving time.

"We are very pleased to make this special golf course available to the people of Florence County and the surrounding area," says Burnett. "This will give us the opportunity to expose golfers to the southern charm of the club and the extensive recreational amenities and dining opportunities available to club members."

The Country Club of South Carolina golf course is the centerpiece of an award-winning 900-acre residential community conveniently located just two miles from Interstate 95 and less than 15 minutes from the shopping, cultural and medical centers of downtown Florence.

For further information or to book a tee-time at Country Club of South Carolina call the golf shop direct at 843-669-1838 or visit www.countryclubsc.com.

Opened in 1969, The Country Club of South Carolina's 7,150-yard championship course was designed by Ellis Maples, a protégé of Donald Ross and the patriarch of a renowned, Carolinas-based golf course architecture firm. In addition to championship golf, amenities at Country Club of South Carolina include a 30,000 square foot clubhouse, multiple dining venues, a fitness center, junior Olympic pool, lighted tennis complex and multi-station playground.

The Country Club of South Carolina is managed by Atlanta-based Mosaic Clubs & Resorts, one of the fastest-growing club management companies in the country. www.mosaicclubs.com.

Jason Day wins WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship with TaylorMade-adidas Gear

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – It began with 64 of the world’s best players. After 63 matches, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professional Jason Day (@JDayGolf) emerged on top, winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship after a 1 UP victory in 23 holes in the electrifying championship match.

Playing his best golf of the young season, Day attacked the 7,800+ yard layout with long drives off the tee with the SLDR Driver and was brilliant around the greens, making critical putts in pressure situations all week with his Ghost Tour Monte Carlo prototype putter. He also gamed the new Tour Preferred MC irons and Tour Preferred X golf ball while wearing adidas Golf puremotion apparel and the new adizero one footwear throughout the tournament. At 9.6 ounces, the adizero one is the lightest cleated performance golf shoe in the adidas Golf footwear collection.

Now owning an impressive 14-3 career match play record at the event, the win is Day’s second PGA TOUR victory and his 2nd worldwide win in the last 3 months, having previously won the 2013 ISPS Handa World Cup in November.

Also with the victory, Day improves to 11th in the FedExCup standings and 4th in the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest-ever ranking as a PGA TOUR professional.

In Day’s Bag:
* SLDR 460 driver (10.5°)
* RBZ Tour fairway (17.5°)
* Tour Preferred (2014) MC irons (3-PW)
* Tour Preferred (2011) MC 2-iron
* ATV wedges (52° & 60°)
* Ghost Monte Carlo prototype putter
* Tour Preferred X golf ball
* TP Glove & Tour Cage headwear
* adidas Golf puremotion apparel
* adidas Golf adizero one footwear

Anna Nordqvist Wins Honda LPGA Thailand Championship with TaylorMade-adidas Gear

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – Entering the final round with a four shot lead, recently-signed TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professional Anna Nordqvist (@ANordqvist) carded a final round 68 for a wire-to-wire win at the Honda LPGA Thailand Championship over a field filled with many of the world’s highest ranked players. The win is the 26-year-old Swede’s third career LPGA Tour victory and first since capturing the 2009 LPGA Tour Championship.

Nordqvist, who officially joined the TaylorMade-adidas Golf tour staff earlier this month, played the new JetSpeed Driver, Tour Preferred CB irons and the new Tour Preferred X golf ball in addition to wearing adidas Golf apparel and women’s adizero sport II footwear.

“It's been a while, but I'm just so happy to finally break through again,” said Nordqvist. “Just unbelievable to get that win again. You know, it was a grind this off‑season, but sitting here with the trophy it was well worth it.”

With the win, Nordqvist earned 500 points in the Race to the CME Globe standings and is projected to jump to 14th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
   
In Nordqvist’s Bag:
* JetSpeed driver 10.5°
* SLDR fairway 15.0°
* SLDR rescue 21.0°
* Tour Preferred CB irons (4-PW)
* Tour Preferred wedge (51.0°)
* ATV wedge (54° & 58°)
* Ghost DA-12 putter
* Tour Preferred X golf ball
* adidas Golf apparel
* adidas Golf women’s adizero Sport II footwear

Linda Hartough Continues Leadership Role in Academy of Golf Art

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Linda Hartough, a world-renowned golf-landscape artist (www.hartough.com), has been reelected as a Trustee of the Academy of Golf Art (www.academyofgolfart.com), continuing her leadership role in the organization she helped originate.

Linda Hartough

The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees took place Jan. 22 in Orlando, Fla., during the PGA Merchandise Show. Hartough, a Founding Trustee of the Academy, was reelected for another three-year term, to expire in 2017.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as a Trustee of the Academy of Golf Art,” said Hartough. “We believe golf art plays an important role in preserving the game’s history, and I am proud to be part of that legacy.”

The Academy of Golf Art (AGA) is a professional society of golf artists founded to create an awareness and appreciation of golf art as a valuable segment of fine art, expressing the game of golf and preserving the game’s traditions. Formed in 2004, the AGA, a not-for-profit organization, is headquartered in West Hampton Beach, N.Y. Recent AGA exhibitions have been held at the Cornell Museum of Art and American Culture in Delray Beach, Fla.; at the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum of Myrtle Beach, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and at Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, Mass.

Golf Superintendent, Environmental Champion Named to Audubon International Board of Directors

(Troy, NY) - Matt Ceplo, golf course superintendent at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, N.Y., has been elected as a member of the board of directors of Audubon International, a Troy-based not-for-profit organization currently working with over 3,200 organizations in 36 countries on environmental sustainability. He succeeds Dan Dinelli, superintendent at North Shore Country Club in northern Illinois. Dinelli continues to serve Audubon International in an advisory capacity.

Ceplo has spent most of his career at Rockland Country Club, which he guided through certification in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses in 2000. He expanded his involvement with Audubon International to become a member of the Audubon Steward Network and has been a tireless advocate for various environmental initiatives, especially among fellow members of the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) and the Metropolitan Golf Association. Under Ceplo’s leadership, Rockland Country Club earned the distinction of being a member of the New York State environmental leader’s program in 2013.

“I am thrilled that Matt Ceplo is joining our Board of Directors,” said Ryan Aylesworth, President & CEO of Audubon International. “Matt is well-respected throughout the golf industry and recognized by his peers as a leader in environmental sustainability on the golf course. As a superintendent, he was an early-adopter of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, and under his leadership the course earned certification over a decade and has been successfully re-certified seven times. Matt has also generously volunteered his time over the years to mentor other superintendents by serving as a member of the Audubon Steward Network. As a valued certified member of our program, Audubon Steward, and highly regarded golf industry professional, Audubon International has been benefiting from Matt’s knowledge and experience for years. It is very exciting to have him join our Board, and I am confident our organization will benefit considerably from the well-informed perspectives he offers in this new role.”

"We are delighted that Matt has agreed to serve on the Audubon International board," said Chuck Bassett, chairman of the AI board which voted on his selection at a meeting earlier this month in Orlando, FL. "He brings to the board a depth of knowledge about the golf industry as well as a sincere dedication to sound environmental management principles and should be very effective in helping us to encourage sustainable practices in the golf business as well as other industries."

A graduate of the State University of New York-Delhi's two-year associate's degree program in horticulture, Ceplo was an assistant superintendent at Ridgewood, (N.J.) Country Club and the superintendent at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains, N.Y., for eight years before going to Rockland Country Club in 1995. He is a 28-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and served on the MGCSA board for 18 years, including serving as president in 2008. He currently serves as president of the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Ceplo also currently chairs the Rockland Water Quality Committee and is a member of the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance.

In 2013, Ceplo was selected by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Board of Directors to receive the 2013 GCSAA President's Award for Environmental Stewardship. Ceplo has also been the recipient of several other environmental honors, including the MGA's 2012 Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leader in Golf Award and the Global Sports Alliance's 2011 New York Environmental Steward Award.

“I feel very fortunate and honored to be a member of the Audubon International’s Board of Directors,” said Ceplo. “I look forward to helping spread the organization’s message and promoting its programs. On both a personal and professional level, I can honestly say that I have gained so much from Audubon International that I will never be able to fully repay the organization.”