New Leupold GX-5i3 Golf Rangefinder at Top of Its Game

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) — Far more accurate than GPS and more customizable than any other golf rangefinder, the new GX-5i3 offers all of Leupold’s latest technology that enables golfers to sharpen their game and improve scores.

A recent update to Leupold’s high-performance DNA (Digitally eNhanced Accuracy) engine and an advanced infrared laser empower the GX-5i3 to deliver faster measurements with accuracy displayed to the nearest 1/10th of a yard. New PinHunter 3 Laser Technology increases the pulse rate and as a result, the rangefinder ignores user movement to quickly identify and lock onto the flag or pin for extremely precise and fast target acquisition.

“Our new GX-5i3 laser rangefinder is an all-in-one solution for golfers who want to shoot lower scores and get around the course faster,” said Rob Morrison, vice president, global marketing for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Why mess with GPS when you can have the accuracy and customization of GX-5i3?  It’s like having a personal caddie who really knows your game and can take the measure of any course.”

Tournament use of GX-5i3 is permitted under the Rules of Golf when a Local Rule is in effect (see USGA Decision 14-3/0.5) and the True Golf Range (TGR) and Club Selector features are disabled. Using a custom algorithm that no other rangefinder has, TGR allows golfers to compensate for uphill shots that play long and downhill shots that play short.

With the TGR and Club Selector features, GX-5i3 takes customization to an elite level by providing ranging information and club recommendations matched to the slope of the shot, atmospheric conditions and a golfer’s personal hitting strength. TGR displays the adjusted “plays like” range, calculated from the laser-measured line-of-sight distance, incline or decline, trajectory of the ball, current temperature, and specific altitude. Club Selector factors in the golfer’s specific hitting strength and TGR to the target, automatically recommending the proper club for each shot. Users simply input their personal striking distance for three specific clubs and the GX-5i3 does the rest, even indicating when the distance falls between clubs.

Other key features include audible Prism Lock Technology that allows golfers, including those with unsteady hands, to get their distances easily, quickly and with extreme accuracy when a course is outfitted with reflective prisms. Maximum ranging distance on prisms is 800 yards.

GX-5i3 also offers Fog Mode to cut through mist and provide fast, accurate distance measurements. The rangefinder has 6X magnification and a one-touch scan mode that allows users to sweep the landscape while continuously measuring distance. Golfers can select from three aiming reticles, choosing the one that works best for the intended target and usage. Distance can be displayed in yards or meters.

GX-5i3 is compact, weighing just 7.3 ounces, and measuring only 3.8 inches long, 3.0 inches high and 1.4 inches wide. Built to Leupold’s exacting standards for ruggedness and to withstand the typical rigors of golf, the rangefinder has a lightweight yet durable aluminum housing with rubber armor coating. Additional features include multi-coated lenses for a crystal-clear image, and a red, mirror-coated OLED display that is brighter and easier to read than traditional LCD displays. GX-5i3 is waterproof and covered by the Leupold Limited 5-Year Electronics Warranty.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $624.99. For more information, go to www.leupold.com/golf/rangefinders/gx-golf-rangefinders-accessories or call 1-800-LEUPOLD.

USGA Announces 2019, 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur Host Sites

Old Chatham Golf Club to host in 2019, The Honors Course in 2021

(FAR HILLS, N.J.) – The USGA has selected Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C., and The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., as the host sites for the 2019 and 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships, respectively. The 2019 Senior Amateur, to be contested Aug. 24-29, will be the first USGA championship at Old Chatham. The Honors Course will host its first Senior Amateur and sixth USGA championship Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 2021.

“We look forward to crowning the 65th and 67th U.S. Senior Amateur champions at Old Chatham and The Honors Course, clubs that have demonstrated deep commitments to amateur golf, and we are confident they will provide an excellent experience for all,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman. “The future slate of host sites for the Senior Amateur is a testament to the strength of this championship, its players and the history of the courses on which it has been conducted.”

The next two Senior Amateur Championships will be conducted at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn., from Aug. 26-31, 2017, and Eugene (Ore.) Country Club, from Aug. 25-30, 2018. The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass., will host the 2022 championship from Aug. 27-Sept. 1.

Designed in 2001 by Rees Jones, who has renovated seven U.S. Open courses, Old Chatham sits on 400 acres of protected pine woodlands on the northeast shore of Jordan Lake. Jones completed a course enhancement project in 2012 that added undulations to six greens, as well as nine new bunkers and 45,000 native North American grass plants.

“It is an honor to be selected to host the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Old Chatham Golf Club,” said Allen Wilson, club president. “It has been part of our mission to support amateur golf since our founding in 2001, and on behalf of our membership, we are excited to welcome these distinguished competitors.”

Founded by a small group of North Carolina businessmen that included former USGA president Jim Hyler and University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, Old Chatham has hosted several state and regional events, including the 2009 North Carolina Amateur and the 2014 North Carolina Mid-Amateur. The club is also a frequent host of USGA qualifying events.

Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1983, The Honors Course sits at the foot of White Oak Mountain, near Chattanooga. The 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur will be the sixth USGA championship conducted at The Honors Course, which previously hosted the 1991 U.S. Amateur, won by Mitch Voges; the 1994 Curtis Cup Match, which ended in a 9-9 tie; the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by Kevin Marsh; the 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, won by Terri Frohnmayer; and the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Min Woo Lee.

“The Honors Course is delighted to be selected to host the 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, as it will enable our club to continue to support our mission of honoring amateur golf,” said Joel W. Richardson Jr., club chairman. “We are particularly looking forward to hosting this demographic of players, many of whom have spent decades not only playing, but giving back to the game.”

The Honors Course was the site of the 1996 and 2010 NCAA Men’s Division I Championships, won by Tiger Woods and Scott Langley. It also hosted the 1986, 2004 and 2014 Southern Amateurs, several Tennessee Golf Association championships for men and women, as well as a number of USGA qualifiers. In September, it will host one of 10 regional qualifying events for the 2018 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.

The U.S. Senior Amateur is open to amateur golfers who have reached age 55 on or before the start of the championship and who have a Handicap Index not exceeding 7.4. The championship features 36 holes of stroke play before the field is cut to the low 64 scorers for match play.

To learn more, visit usga.org.

REKS Optics Expands Golf’s Footprint

Signs PGA Professional Michael Putnam as Its First Brand Ambassador

(Boca Raton, FLORIDA) - REKS Optics, an innovative line of sunglasses for golf, sports and leisure wear, combining the highest quality shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses with stylish, unbreakable frames all at affordable prices is pleased to announce that PGA Tour professional Michael Putnam has become its first brand ambassador.

“We are very excited to have Michael join the REKS family as a brand ambassador and this new relationship is another major step towards our strategy of making REKS the premier brand in the sunglass category,” stated REKS Optics founder and CEO George Granoff. "Michael is a rising star in professional golf and his endorsement of REKS is testament to the leading lens technology we have developed and the high quality sunglasses we offer. Michael is the ideal addition to our team as we continue our efforts to grow the REKS brand.”

“I’m excited to be working with such a pioneering sunglass company and the minute I put them on I was instantly impressed with REKS unique polarized lens technology, timeless style and unsurpassed comfort,” said Michael Putnam, the 2013 Web.com Tour Player of The Year. “REKS sunglasses, in my opinion, offer the best value in the sunglass market today by offering an unbreakable frame with an incomparable polarized lens for $50.”

“REKS lenses offer ultimate protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, and the anti-reflective coating reduces glare that can directly affect a golfer’s performance,” said Putnam. “The all-day comfort coupled with the visual advantage they provide make REKS a viable option for both sport and leisure. I am looking forward to playing my best golf knowing that REKS sunglasses will help me stay cool and focused from tee to green.”

To capitalize on its growing acceptance in the golf community, REKS will commence in the spring a major multi-media communications campaign targeting consumers and green grass accounts.

“Since we launched our innovative brand in the spring of 2016, the response from consumers, golf professionals and green grass accounts spanning from Golf Digest Top 100 Quaker Ridge Golf Club to Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia has been incredible,” said Granoff.  “We believe that this new campaign is the next logical step for REKS to educate the public about our industry leading sunglass technology. We are confident that our diverse product line will soon become the standard eyewear for those looking to achieve enhanced performance coupled with outstanding style and comfort.

Visit REKSOPTICS.com to learn more.

Foresight Sports’ New GCQuad Changes the Game for Fitting, Instruction, and Golf Simulation

Company’s new GCQuad packs complete ball and club analysis and state-of-the art features in a compact, indoor/outdoor device

(RELEASE) - Foresight Sports, the company that introduced the GC2 Smart Camera System to the golf industry in 2010, has announced its latest technological achievement – the world’s first quadrascopic launch monitor. Called the GCQuad, the new launch monitor delivers complete ball and club analysis in a single, indoor/outdoor device, and boasts a long list of industry-first features for fitters, instructors, and players alike.

“We designed the GCQuad from the ground up to repeat what we accomplished with the GC2 – deliver a new standard in accuracy, reliability, and usability,” says Foresight Sports President Scott Werbelow. “From the outdoor range to the indoor golf simulator, the GCQuad is a game changer.”

Employing four high-resolution, high speed optical sensors that work together to deliver “quadrascopic” image clarity, the GCQuad can capture both ball and club performance data in real-time and deliver it to either an integrated outdoor-readable display, or to other devices via WiFi, Ethernet, or USB. The device’s state-of-the art optics are built around a shock-mounted aluminum frame for even greater precision and durability.

The GCQuad also comes with a spectrum of new features designed for the outdoor user, including easy target adjustment via a provided alignment stick, a larger data display that can be read even in direct sunlight, all-weather durability, and a deployable kickstand for added stability on uneven ground. A built-in infrared light source requires no maintenance or replacement, and a swappable, long-life lithium-ion battery makes outdoor fitting or instruction sessions easier than ever. With an integrated handle and seven pound carrying weight, the device is also designed to easily pack and go.

Building on the GC2’s previous best-in-class performance for indoor golf simulation, the new GCQuad sets the bar even higher with a larger ball hitting zone–up to six times larger than its predecessor, greater accuracy, and more ways to connect thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Users can also power the unit via the new Ethernet port.

Advanced engineering and technology aside, Werbelow says the GCQuad’s design was largely driven by customer feedback. “The GC2 was nothing short of a revolution when we released it in 2010, but we knew there was room for improvement. With the GCQuad, we listened to our customers suggestions, and the result is a product that fuses our best ideas with theirs.”

Since its release six years ago, the company’s GC2 Smart Camera System has become the golf industry’s best-selling professional grade launch monitor, with more than 10,000 units in use in retail stores, driving ranges and courses, and commercial and residential golf simulators worldwide.

Foresight Sports unveiled the new GCQuad along with its full line of performance-focused solutions at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show. in Orlando, Florida.

For more information, please visit Foresight Sports online at www.foresightsports.com.

18th National Health Through Fitness Day 2017 Set for March 22 in Washington, D.C.

Industry Leaders Promote PHIT Act to Address U.S. Inactivity Pandemic

(SILVER SPRING, Md.) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) – the leading global trade representative for category manufacturers, retailers and marketers – today announces the 18th annual National Health Through Fitness Day will be held Wednesday, March 22 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

National Health Through Fitness Day brings together health and fitness leaders, celebrity athletes and experts from around the country to address the U.S. inactivity pandemic. Industry professionals will meet with members of Congress to discuss the importance of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The PHIT Act, if passed, would change current Federal tax law to allow consumers to use pre-tax medical accounts to pay for expenses related to sports, fitness and other qualified physical activities.

“Health and wellness is something that affects us all, now more than ever,” said Tom Cove, President and CEO of SFIA. “For the first time in 20 years, U.S. life expectancy has fallen. Over 35 percent of kids aged 5-17 are overweight or obese, and 30 percent of the population is inactive. Something must be done to promote living an active and healthy lifestyle, and the PHIT Act helps achieve that goal.”

Herschel Walker will serve as Honorary Chairman of National Health through Fitness Day, to be accompanied by a wide variety of professional and Olympic athletes. “I know the importance of physical fitness and remaining healthy — regardless of age,” says Walker, who has attended National Health Through Fitness Day for 17 consecutive years. “As a nation we must come together to stop sedentary habits and promote lowered fitness costs and eliminating barriers to physical activities. The PHIT Act is poised to positively impact millions of lives.”

A full list of celebrity brand ambassadors participating in National Health Through Fitness Day will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the American College of Sports Medicine, The National Recreation and Parks Association, Pop Warner Football, The American Council for Exercise, The Cooper Institute, The American League of Bicyclists, The Yoga Alliance, the Outdoor Industry Association and the National Council on Youth Sports will be among the organizations participating in National Health Through Fitness Day on March 22nd.

To attend National Health Through Fitness Day 2017, register here. If you are unable to attend, but would like to help pass the PHIT Act, click here to send a letter to your member of Congress. To join the conversation, visit the PHIT Act online hub. Use #PHITDay17 and @TheSFIA on Twitter to show your support for the PHIT Act.

For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.

Diablo Grande Golf & Country Club Named 'No. 1 Value Course in U.S.'

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – The Ranch Course at Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club has been named the “Number One Value Course in the U.S.” by Golf Advisor. The Dennis Griffiths-designed 18-hole course is managed by Troon Golf and is located in Patterson, Calif. about 80-miles from San Francisco.

According to Golf Advisor, they looked at 100,000-plus reviews submitted to GolfAdvisor.com by golfers over the past year to determine which facilities most consistently provided value according to their star ratings. The Ranch Course at Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club consistently receives five-star ratings for value and staff friendliness, while nearly 97 percent of reviewers would recommend the course to a friend.

“It’s quite an honor to be named the ‘Number One Value Course in the United States,’” said Howard Fujimoto, general manager, Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club. “The fact that this award is determined by the golfers who play here regularly is particularly gratifying. Our staff works hard to deliver an outstanding golf course, while being friendly and courteous to every guest.”

Golf Advisor is the leading source of golf course ratings and reviews by golfers, for golfers. Golf Advisor’s community of golfers share their first-hand experience at thousands of courses worldwide to help other golfers decide where to play their next round. To date, golfers have submitted over 500,000 reviews of golf courses all over the world.

For more information on Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club, visit www.golfdiablogrande.com.

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Visit Wilmington, N.C. - Host City of the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship

The PGA TOUR visits Wilmington, N.C. in May

(RELEASE) - The 2017 Wells Fargo Championship will be held in coastal Wilmington N.C., at Eagle Point Golf Club on May 1-7, 2017. Located just north of downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, several TOUR players are fans of the Tom Fazio-designed course that is currently ranked among the Top 100 Golf Digest courses in America. This marks the first time a PGA TOUR event has been played in Wilmington since the Azalea Open was held at Cape Fear Country Club from 1949 to 1971.

Visitors can get inspired by the pros and enjoy a golf getaway to Wilmington to enjoy several area golf courses, along with the gracious Southern charm of the city that was voted America¹s Best Riverfront. Centrally located on the East Coast, Wilmington is North Carolina's most accessible coastal destination, with easy access whether traveling by car or flying in and out of Wilmington International Airport (ILM). With one destination and four unique settings including three nearby beaches, golfers can choose from a variety of attractions, entertainment and a vibrant nightlife scene when they're off the links.

Tee Off
In addition to a number of private courses ­ including the exclusive Eagle Point Golf Club, host of the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship ­ there are five public courses in Wilmington. Porter's Neck Country Club boasts a Tom Fazio-designed course staffed by PGA professionals. The Wilmington Municipal Golf Course (known as "The Muni" by locals) offers a Donald Ross course that recently underwent a $1.5 million renovation. Echo Farms Golf Club has a Scottish-links feel, thanks to British architect Ian Scott Taylor's redesign. Beau Rivage Golf & Resort provides dramatic landscaping in a stay-and-play plantation-style setting. Masonboro Country Club features a beautifully manicured PGA Tour-caliber course (with five sets of tees on each hole) located on the southern Cape Fear peninsula. There are also more than 50 golf courses located within an hour's drive of Wilmington.

Discover History
Explore classic architecture in Wilmington's 230-plus block National Register Historic District by way of a horse-drawn carriage, trolley, Segway or walking tour. The nearly two-mile Riverwalk runs along the Cape Fear River and is lined with independently owned shops, boutiques and waterfront restaurants. Walk the decks of one of the state¹s most-visited attractions­ the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA­­ and imagine yourself at sea in 1942.

Shop Around
Shopping in Wilmington¹s historic district is as unique as the destination itself. Dating back to the 19th century, the Cotton Exchange's eight restored buildings with 30 specialty shops and restaurants are connected by open-air courtyards. The century-old Chandler's Wharf building is home to shops and galleries. There is also an eclectic mix of locally owned shops and boutiques lining Market and Front streets.

Dine Out
Indulge in cuisines ranging from traditional Southern fare to coastal fare, and even international flavors. Historic Wilmington was voted "Best Alfresco Dining Neighborhood" by USA TODAY thanks to the cafes and restaurants lining the Riverwalk. The area has also gained a reputation for being one of the country's fastest growing craft beer hot spots.

Beach It
Find a beach blast from the past with a family-friendly spin for today at nearby Carolina Beach. The recently renovated Carolina Beach Boardwalk was named one of America's Most Awesome Boardwalks by Budget Travel and is home to the famous Britt's Donuts. Relax and enjoy the small-town atmosphere and miles of undeveloped beach at neighboring Kure Beach. Located at the southern tip of Kure Beach, Fort Fisher is home to two of North Carolina¹s landmark attractions: the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher - named a top 20 aquarium in the U.S. - and Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Museum - a Confederate fort during the Civil War. Or visit Wrightsville Beach, a walkable island community known as one of the premier watersport destinations on the East Coast and the birthplace of surfing in N.C. With outdoor adventures, scenic cruises and a vibrant social scene, there is always something happening on the island.

Zero Friction’s New DistancePro GPS Glove Awarded the ING Industry Honors – Product Ingenuity Award

(OAK BROOK TERRACE, IL) – The Zero Friction DistancePro Golf Glove took top honors in the Product Ingenuity - Emerging Companies - Misc. Products category of the 24th Annual ING Industry Honors awards program at last week’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

Called by many the "Academy Awards of the Golf Industry," the ING Industry Honors program recognizes outstanding achievement in the golf business. The non-profit, media-based networking organization International Network of Golf conducts the awards program.

Nominees in 11 categories are submitted throughout the year from anyone in the golf industry. Sub-committees that include experts in each category then trim the entries to the top three in each category. ING members then vote electronically to determine the winners.

The Zero Friction DistancePro GPS Glove was on the ballot with Biion Golf Shoes and GolfBuddyLD2 GPS in the Product Ingenuity-Misc. Products category.

“What an honor for our company and our staff to receive this prestigious award from ING," said Zero Friction President John Iacono. “Zero Friction prides itself in creating technologically advanced products, and being recognized from others in the golf industry is incredible.”

The Zero Friction DistancePro GPS Glove is the ultimate in accuracy and convenience. Powered by Bluetooth, the device sits conveniently on the glove flap and weighs less than half an ounce. The readout gives distances to the front, center and back of the green on over 35,000 golf courses programmed worldwide. The DistancePro GPS battery provides over 400 hours of golf, and the GPS device is transferrable to replacement Zero Friction gloves.

Hall of Fame golfer and NBC commentator Johnny Miller is part owner of Zero Friction.

Frogger Golf’s New Latch-It Ecosystem Wins Best New Product At 2017 PGA Merchandise Show

Innovation Provides Golfers Secure and Easy Access to Their Gear Anywhere On the Course;

(Bend, Ore.) - Frogger Golf the leader in high performance, functional and fun golf accessories, on the heels of introducing Latch-It, a first of its kind solution designed to provide golfers with secure and easy access to their favorite accessories, anywhere on the course, has captured best new product at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Best New Product Winners are chose by a panel of award-winning PGA Professionals and top golf buyers attending the PGA Show.

Powered by Catch Latch Magnetic Fastening Technology, Frogger Golf’s Latch-It Ecosystem is a line of products that allow golfers to instantly “fasten, detach and reconnect” key accessories -- rangefinder, smart phone, towel or brush -- to a golf cart, golf bag or a belt.

“Response to our new Latch-It Ecosystem of products has been tremendous here at the PGA Show as the golf industry has embraced this technology in a big way,” said Jeremiah Bohannon, CEO, Frogger Golf. “Devices like a rangefinder and accessories such as a towel or brush are important to golfers, while phones have become commonplace on the range and golf course as players balance busy lives and work with playing the sport they love.”

Bohannon adds, “There has never been a secure solution for accessing essential gear during a round, whether riding or walking. Now, Latch-It provides golfers with easy access to accessories from a cart or bag, to their shot, to the green and back.”

Highlighting the Latch-It Ecosystem are the new Range Finder Latch-It and Phone Latch-It products. Range Finder Latch-It, which has a suggested retail price of $17.95, is a universal attachment solution designed specifically for golf carts. It features a Velcro dongle strap that adjusts to fit tightly around leading rangefinders, and a Velcro receiver strap that adjusts to fit around golf cart support bars. Powered by Catch Latch Magnetic Fastening Technology, the Latch-It receiver has a dynamic lock to keep the rangefinder device secure while in motion. Range Finder Latch-It’s dongle strap also works with Frogger Golf’s universal Bag Latch-It (sold separately) providing  a more efficient rangefinder solution for golfers that walk.

“No more searching through cart compartments, or bag pockets, or struggling with cases and clips” adds Bohannon. “Using Frogger Golf’s new Phone and Range Finder Latch-It is as easy as strap-latch-and-go. Golfers now have a convenient solution to keep their devices quickly accessible to help speed play.”

Phone Latch-It, which has a suggested retail price of $22.95, is a universal smart phone holder that allows golfers to easily affix their smart phone to a golf cart and eliminates the frustration of having to search their bag pockets or dig through the compartments in a golf cart to access their phone. The adjustable cradle fits tightly around leading smart phones, the Velcro receiver strap fits around golf cart support bars and features a non-slip pad to stay in place. The ultimate in secure convenience with powerful self-aligning magnets, a dynamic lock for motion and a roto lock for security, Phone Latch-It gives golfers one less thing to worry about. Phone Latch-It’s cradle works with Frogger Golf’s universal Bag Latch-It (sold separately) for golfers that walk and provides a great solution for golfers that want to mount their smart phone on their bag for the purpose of taking video of their swing.

Bag Latch-It, which has a suggested retail price of $12.95, is a versatile accessory attachment system. Powered by Catch Latch technology, the universal C-clamp receiver screws to the top of almost any golf bag. Accessories can be attached through their loops or grommets using the ring on the dongle. The Bag Latch-It receiver accepts the Range Finder Latch-It dongle strap and Phone Latch-It cradle.

Bohannon adds, “Latch-It products help golfers manage their gear and enjoy the game more. This is a high-tech, yet simple solution that offers secure, easy access to essential products anywhere on the course.”

For more information on products in the Frogger Golf Latch-It Ecosystem, including Range Finder Latch-It, Phone Latch-It, and Bag Latch-It visit www.froggergolf.com.

Jon Rahm Captures Farmers Insurance Open for First Career Victory on PGA TOUR

Rahm's Maiden Victory on the PGA TOUR Projected to Elevate Him to 7th in Early FedExCup Point Standings

(RELEASE) - The second event of the West Coast swing provided all the drama you'd expect with a field packed with the best players in the world. In the end, it was TaylorMade Tour staffer Jon Rahm who pulled away and emerged victorious on the South Course at picturesque Torrey Pines, carding two eagles on the back nine to claim the tournament title - his first on the PGA TOUR. With the win, the 22-year-old also punches his ticket to Augusta.

What You Need To Know:
- Rahm’s win is the 3rd worldwide and 2nd on the PGA Tour this year for TaylorMade's 2017 M drivers, joining Hudson Swafford, who won last week's Career Builder Championship.
- Rahm plays the 2017 M2 Driver set to 10.5* one click lower with an Aldila Tour Green TX 75 shaft. This is his second week with it in the bag, having added it last week at the CBC. His feedback to the Tour team was that he liked both the new M1 & M2, but benefited from the forgiveness and consistency of the M2.
- TaylorMade had 48.4% driver & 46% fairway wood counts at Torrey, both of which led all manufacturers by substantial margins.
- Rahm averaged 296.5 yards off the tee and led the field in strokes gained: off the tee for the tournament.
- Rahm also claimed the first global victory for the new TP5x golf ball, which he switched into at last week's Career Builder Challenge. TP5 and Tp5x golf balls are available on March 3.
- Rahm also played the new P750 Tour Proto irons, which he first added to his bag last week. He has Project X 6.5 shafts throughout the set.
- Rahm's short game brilliance this week was aided by the new yet-to-be-released Milled Grind wedges, which are also new to Rahm's bag.
- His setup is a traditional 52/56/60*, also with PX 6.5 shafts.

In Rahm's Bag at Torrey Pines
- '17 M2 Driver / 10.5* / Aldila Tour Green TX 75
- '17 M1 Fairway / 15* / Aldila Tour Green TX 75
- '17 M1 Fairway / 19* / Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8x
- P750 Tour Proto Irons / 5-9, PW / Project X 6.5
- RSi TP UDI #4 / Project X 6.5
- Milled Grind Wedges / 52, 56 & 60 / Project X 6.5
- Spider Tour Red Putter
- TP5x Golf Ball
- Tour Preferred Glove
- Tour New Era 9Fifty Headwear

Bobby Weed Golf Design Completes Bunker Renovation at the Slammer & Squire

(PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida) – Bobby Weed Golf Design (www.bobbyweed.com), commissioned to execute a renovation of the bunkers at the Slammer & Squire golf course at the World Golf Village, in St. Augustine, Fla., has completed the project with all the desired objectives. The 18-hole, par-72 championship resort course, which opened in 1998, was designed by Weed with the consultation of golf legends Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, for whom the layout was named.

“It was a great pleasure to be back working at the Slammer and Squire, nearly twenty years after its opening,” Weed said.

Weed’s goal in overseeing the bunker renovation at the Slammer & Squire was to enhance playability and aesthetics while easing maintenance requirements. Addressing the spiraling cost of bunker construction and maintenance has become an issue to which Weed is very sensitive. Bunker size reduction where applicable resulted in increased visibility and a more welcoming playing experience as well.

The course is known for its low-profile design, which showcases the unspoiled wetlands and wooded areas in which it is situated.

“The Slammer and Squire is one of the best playing golf courses in Florida,” said World Golf Hall of Fame member Lee Trevino in an interview during a Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match with Gary Player at the Slammer & Squire.

The six-week project was carried out by contractor MacCurrach Golf. Weed’s oversight also resulted in significant savings and a reduction in the overall budget – ultimately allowing for extras to be added to the project, thus enhancing its success even more. The non-bunker-related additions contributed to the final product and allowed a number of areas of the golf course to be rehabilitated that were not originally considered, including additional cart-path work, extra sod work on several holes, tree and brush removal, and cart-path edge regrading.

Weed and his team ensured that nine holes on the golf course remained open for play at all times during the bunker renovation project.

“I appreciate Bobby Weed’s support, dedication and outstanding work in overseeing this project,” said Bob Barrett, CEO of Honours Golf, which manages the world-famous facility. “He took one of his great designs from the late 90s and made it more player and maintenance friendly while improving its aesthetic beauty.” Honours Golf, which manages a collection of resort and private facilities mostly in the southeastern U.S., is a division of Troon Golf.

For more information on Bobby Weed Golf Design, see www.bobbyweed.com.

Cardinal & Gold Colors Could Be Prevalent at 2017 U.S. Amateur

Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club Will Host in August

(LOS ANGELES, Calif.) - There’s nothing better than home cooking and the University of Southern California Trojan golfers will certainly feel at home when the 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship, conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is held at Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club, Aug. 14-20.

Head coach Chris Zambri’s 11-man Trojans squad is currently ranked seventh in the nation and three team members are among the top 25 amateurs in the world according to the World Amateur Golf Rankings — freshman Cheng Jin, junior Sean Crocker and senior Rico Hoey.  Should they remain in the top 50 WAGR rankings as of the close of U.S. Amateur entries, they will become fully exempt into the field and join USC junior Jonah Texeira, who has already secured a spot in the championship having advanced to last year’s U.S. Amateur semifinals at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Freshman Cheng Jin, who hails from Beijing, China, is ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ and is the top-ranked amateur in his country. He certainly knows what it is like to be on the main stage as he played in the Masters Tournament last May after earning the spot by winning the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

Jin has his eyes set on being a part of the U.S. Amateur in August.

"I will definitely try my best to qualify for the greatest amateur event in the world, but hopefully I can get exempt through the qualifiers,” Jin said. "The U.S. Amateur always gathers the world's most elite players, thus it is a great honor just to be able to participle in it. I believe that having your name on the trophy would not only be meaningful and unforgettable to every player, it would also be a life-changing experience. However there will only be one winner. I will try to play my best, and learn from my fellow competitors and enjoy the opportunity the USGA and other sponsors have provided us.

"As a member of the USC men's golf team. I'm really lucky to say that Riviera is one of our home courses. Riviera is definitely one of the best golf courses I have ever played in my life. I enjoy my time playing and practicing there. Riviera can be really challenging if the greens are firm and the rough is long. I believe it will be an awesome venue for the 2017 U.S. Amateur."

Crocker, who is from Westlake Village, Calif., is an All-American and two-time All-Pac 12 selection, who is 13th in the current WAGR. He was quite successful and consistent for the Trojans in 2016 when he posted five top-10 and seven top-20 finishes.

Crocker was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and learned the game from his father, Gary, who played before becoming a professional cricket player.

Like his Trojan teammates, Crocker knows the Riviera layout very well plus he has had the most success in the U.S. Amateur.

"Playing the U.S. Amateur at Riviera would be an awesome experience because our team plays there often and it gives me a great opportunity to compete on a course I know really well,” Crocker said. “I feel like I know it like the back of my hand, which is a huge advantage in a big tournament like the U.S. Amateur.

"Playing in past U.S. Amateurs gives me the knowledge to understand that once you make match play, you are giving yourself a chance to win the tournament. So the main goal is just to make it to match play and then play your heart out."

Crocker played his heart out in the 2015 U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields Country Club. He tied for 14th in the 36-hole stroke play and made his way to the semifinals in match play before falling to eventual champion, Bryson DeChambeau, 4 and 3.

Another Trojan likely to be competing for the U.S. Amateur title is Hoey, who will be bidding for his fifth appearance. Currently No. 22 in the world, Hoey is one of two seniors on the USC team and hails from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Hoey led the Trojans in 2016 with a career-best 70.85 stroke average and topped the team with 14 rounds in the 60s and nine top 10s, while earning GCAA second-team All-American, GCAA All-West Region and first-team All-Pac 12 honors.

He capped the season off by placing second at the 2016 NCAA Championship, USC’s highest finish since Jamie Lovemark won the title in 2007.

During this past summer, Hoey represented the USA for a second time at the 2016 Palmer Cup, winning both of his singles matches and later winning the 117th annual SCGA Amateur Championship.

Hoey failed to qualify for match play in last year’s U.S. Amateur and lost a three-hole multi-player playoff for the right to advance to match-play bracket in 2015. He won the CIF Southern Section individual title as a member of the Rancho Cucamonga High team and later advanced to match play in the 2013 U.S Amateur.

"This would be my fifth consecutive U.S. Amateur if I were to make it,” Hoey said. “I wouldn't really do anything differently. I would just play my game. Since I go to USC, we get to play Riviera, so I have some experience, but it should be playing differently from what I'm used to. The course fits me well because it's a long course and I know it well enough to know the dangers of the course.

"If I were to win at Riviera it would mean the world to me because it's practically my backyard and since I'm so close it'll be special. It is very difficult to achieve because there are a lot of talented and great players and with match play anything can happen."

Texeira, who hails from Porter Ranch, Calif., earned GCAA All-West Region and second-team All-Pac 12 recognition last year. A graduate of Granada Hills Charter High School, Texeira reached the 2016 U.S. Amateur semifinals by defeating a pair of top-10 seeds in the bracket. He tied for fourth at last year’s Western Intercollegiate Championship and helped USC advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year.

Jin, Crocker, Hoey and Texeira hope to get the opportunity to have their hometown fans cheering them on as they take on the Riviera and Bel-Air courses. The goal is to land the most coveted prize in amateur golf - the U.S. Amateur Championship – and join many of golf’s greatest players, such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones, who have won the Havemeyer Trophy.

Riviera, the site of the 1948 U.S. Open, will host its first U.S. Amateur Championship. Bel-Air, which will serve as the stroke-play co-host course, held the 1976 U.S. Amateur, won by Bill Sander.

U.S. Amateur tickets are available online at www.usga.org/usam. Tickets are $20 (single-day grounds) and $75 for a weekly pass. Military personnel and students receive free admission with valid ID.

Milstein Family Invests in Miura Golf, The Premier Name in Hand-Crafted Forged Irons

Renowned in banking, development and branding circles, Milstein acquires global rights to distribute the pre-eminent family-owned equipment brand;

True Spec CEO Hoyt McGarity joins Miura Golf as President

(NEW YORK) - Howard Milstein and the Milstein family have partnered with Miura Golf, the Japanese manufacturer of the world's finest forged clubs. With the investment, the Milsteins acquire a majority interest in the rights to distribute the iconic equipment brand domestically and in key markets worldwide.

To help guide the new direction for Miura Golf, Milstein has brought on Hoyt McGarity, Founder and CEO of innovative club-fitting company True Spec, to serve as President.

The Milstein-Miura Golf announcement celebrates the union of two prominent and highly successful family-owned businesses.

Milstein is Chairman, President and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust—the nation's largest privately owned, family-run bank—and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank. He is also widely known for his success in real estate development, brand-building, and his strong commitment to philanthropic work. Milstein is also Co-Chairman of the privately held Nicklaus Companies, since entering into a partnership with golf icon Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family in 2007. In recent years, Milstein has invested in a range of businesses in various categories of the golf industry, from technology to equipment.

Miura long ago earned a lofty global reputation with golf clubs designed and manufactured by family patriarch Katsuhiro Miura, and a business largely supported by sons Yoshitaka and Shinei, and incorporating other Miura family members. Katsuhiro Miura began expertly hand-crafting and grinding irons in 1957, and his forged clubs—ranging from irons to wedges to putters—are still designed and forged in the company's factory located in the city of Himeji, Japan.

Moreover, the reputation of Miura equipment long ago crossed borders, and is now one of the most respected brands in the industry.

"We are excited to announce this new partnership and new chapter in Miura Golf's storied history," Howard Milstein said. "We believe that Miura, with its decades-old reputation as perhaps the world's finest designer and manufacturer of forged clubs, represents an ideal partner in the golf equipment category and is a tremendous fit with our company. History shows that some of golf's greatest major champions have used Miura irons and that it has been and remains a wonderful 'players' equipment brand. Additionally, we are expanding the line to serve players of all levels, and we are eager to introduce those offerings in the coming weeks and months.  We are excited about the opportunity to further grow this prestigious brand; enhance its awareness among consumers in domestic and international markets; increase the points of distribution; and make it available to more golf enthusiasts.

"Almost 10 years ago, I had the opportunity to partner with Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus Companies, with the mission to take an outstanding brand, shape its direction, institutionalize it, and create a lasting legacy for the Nicklaus name and brand," Milstein added. "Over the last decade, we have evolved the branded business from one with deep roots in golf into more of a life and lifestyle brand. But during that time, we never distanced ourselves from being arguably the most iconic name in golf. Instead, we focused on strategic opportunities and aligning ourselves with likeminded partners and companies that mirror the high standards long established by Jack and his company. Miura Golf is such a company, and we are pleased and proud to announce this partnership.

"We had a great first step nearly two years ago when Jack visited the Miura factory in Japan, met with the Miura family, and sat beside Miura-san as he grinded a customized wedge for Jack. In a wonderful moment, Jack then took the chair and showed his own penchant to hand-grind clubs," Milstein said.

McGarity Joins Miura as President
The new business strategy and direction for Miura Golf will be executed by McGarity, a former touring professional who has received industry-wide prominence for his innovative approach to custom-fitting—a key component for consumers who play Miura equipment.

"My history with Miura Golf stretches all the way back to high school when I bought my first set of Miura irons," McGarity explained. "I saved up for months to buy them, because I was determined to have the best forged irons available. Now, many years later, Miura Golf still has that same reputation in the equipment industry as it did when I purchased that first set.

"I have followed the Miura brand my whole golf career, so it is very meaningful for me to be able to take a leadership role in the future of the company. I look forward to working alongside Mr. Milstein and the Miura family in order to continue evolving the brand and share its history of high-quality products with future generations of golfers—the same performance and craftsmanship that originally led me to Miura."

McGarity attended and played golf at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, and then played competitively on several professional tours, including the Canadian Tour and European Challenge Tour. When his playing career ended, McGarity entered the club-fitting industry in 2012 as a founding partner of Modern Golf. In 2014, he founded True Spec Golf, a premium club-fitter, with 15 studios across the world. As CEO, McGarity has been instrumental in the expansion of True Spec into growing golf markets across Europe and Asia. McGarity also serves as the CEO of Club Conex, an international distributor and manufacturer of proprietary club-fitting components.

"A critical aspect to choosing and playing a premium golf club is to make sure you are properly fitted, and throughout the years that has been hallmark to Miura's success," Milstein said.

"Because of the importance we place on the element of quality fitting, we felt it was important to bring on someone with the knowledge and experience that Hoyt McGarity possesses to direct our business. Hoyt is an innovator in the fitting business, and he brings a proven, successful, and industry-changing philosophy on custom fitting to our Miura Golf business."

Golf Advisor’s List of Top 50 Courses in the United States Revealed on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive

List Features Golf Courses That Everyday Golfers Say are the Best to Play

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Golf Advisor today announced its anticipated, annual list of Top-50 golf courses in the United States, revealed from more than 100,000 authentic reviews posted in 2016 from golfers who use and depend on the world’s leading golf course ratings and review website.

“Other golf course ranking lists are great at showcasing courses many golfers aspire to play, but Golf Advisor's Top 50 and other ‘Best of’ lists, compiled by everyday golfers, help provide a new perspective to golfers looking to play the best courses,” said Golf Advisor Managing Editor Brandon Tucker. “They can book these courses with confidence, knowing other golfers like them found their experiences to be exceptional values. Our Top 50 includes a few bucket-list courses, but there are plenty more from coast-to-coast that golfers on a more limited budget can afford.”

Unlike rankings published by various golf publications, which normally are geared toward architecture or history and conducted by a panel of industry insiders, the Golf Advisor Top 50 is totally consumer-driven. Ages, handicaps and budgets of golfers using the site run the gamut, so the nearly 600,000 reviews Golf Advisor has accumulated showcase the golf course characteristics that are most important to avid golfers across the country. In addition to rating course layout, the Top 50 list also rates other subcategories like staff friendliness, pace of play, value and more. More than 2,000 U.S. golf courses were considered, having received the minimum 15 reviews to qualify for the Top 50.

Unlike other industry rankings, Golf Advisor's Top 50 has plenty of volatility year-to-year due to changes in consumer tastes. These swings can range anything from conditioning and weather the destination experienced to new pricing. The 2016 list includes eight new courses within the top 10 that were not included on the 2015 list and 36 new courses overall.

The current list includes heavily-publicized courses like Harbour Town Golf Links, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Bayonet Golf Course and French Lick Resort. But more often than not, the list includes many highly affordable and unknown courses.

Below is Golf Advisor’s list of Top 50 Courses.  An asterisk signifies a course new to the list; a 2015 ranking appears in parentheses. To read about the methodology behind the list, as well as see the review pages for each course included, click here:

1.  Ram’s Hill Golf Club – Borrego Springs, Calif. (#13)
2.  *The Georgia Club – Statham, Ga.
3.  *Harbour Town Golf Links – Hilton Head Island, S.C.
4.  *Kiva Dunes Golf Course – Gulf Shores, Ala.
5.  *Eagle Eye Golf Club – Bath Township, Mich. (#5 in 2014)
6.  *AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club – Maricopa, Ariz.
7.  FarmLinks Golf Club – Sylacauga, Ala. (#7)
8.  *Quintero Golf Club – Peoria, Ariz.
9.  *Glendarin Hills Golf Club – Angola, Ind.
10.  *Kelly Plantation Golf Club – Destin, Fla.
11.  *The Jewel Golf Club – Lake City, Minn.
12.  Yocha Dehe Golf Club – Brooks, Calif. (#1)
13.  Mission Inn Resort & Club (El Campeón Course) – Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. (#2)
14.  *Thistle Golf Club – Sunset Beach, N.C.
15.  *Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course at Lake Richard B. Russell – Elberton, Ga
16.  *Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club – McKinney, Texas
17.  *Woodstock Country Club – Woodstock, Vt. (#4 in 2014)
18.  Bayonet & Black Horse (Bayonet Course) – Seaside, Calif. (#45)
19.  *Classic Club – Palm Desert, Calif.
20.  *Chariot Run Golf Course – Laconia, Ind. (#3 in 2014)
21.  *Bowes Creek Country Club – Elgin, Ill.
22.  Cedarbrook Country Club – Elkin, N.C. (#15)
23.  *French Lick Resort (Dye Course) – French Lick, Ind.
24.  Royal Hylands Golf Club – Knightstown, Ind. (#12)
25.  Scotch Hall Preserve – Merry Hill, N.C. (#14)
26.  *Los Caballeros Golf Club – Wickenburg, Ariz.
27.  *Southern Hills Plantation Club – Brooksville, Fla.
28.  *Hiland Park Country Club – Queensboro, N.Y.
29.  Wilderness Golf Course – Lake Jackson, Texas (#41)
30.  *Wild Rock Golf Club (Championship Course) – Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. (#8 in 2014)
31.  *Tunica National – Tunica, Miss.
32.  *Crumpin-Fox Club – Bernardston, Mass.
33.  *Red Hawk Run Golf Course – Findlay, Ohio
34.  Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Sun Mountain Course) – Las Vegas, Nev. (#4)
35.  Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Snow Mountain Course) – Las Vegas, Nev. (#23)
36.  *Squaw Valley Golf Course (Apache Links Course) – Glen Rose, Texas
37.  *Harbor Links at Sagamore Resort – Liberty, Ind.
38.  *Edgewater Golf Club – Lancaster, S.C.
39.  Grand Bear Golf Course – Saucier, Miss. (#30)
40.  *PGA West (Greg Norman Resort Course – La Quinta, Calif.
41.  Ojai Valley Inn and Spa – Ojai, Calif. (#32)
42.  *Royal Manchester Golf Links – Mount Wolf, Penn.
43.  *Mirimichi Golf Course – Millington, Tenn.
44.  *Heritage Hill Golf Club – Shepherdsville, Ky.
45.  Waldorf Astoria Golf Club – Orlando, Fla. (#5)
46.  *Moody Gardens Golf Course – Galveston, Texas
47.  *Baywood Greens – Long Neck, Dele.
48.  *Sunriver Resort (Woodlands Course) – Bend, Ore.
49.  *Grand Cypress Golf Club (North/South Course) – Orlando, Fla.
50.  *TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley Course) – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Consistent, steady growth has been par for the course since Golf Advisor launched in early 2014. A 2016 summary of key measurement metrics showed that page views, unique visitors and visits all increased by more than 50 percent year over year.

Visit GolfAdvisor.com.

Tobie Hatfield on Working with Tiger Woods

Hatfield, Senior Director of Athlete Innovation, discusses working with Woods on the Nike TW ’17.

(RELEASE) - How is working with Tiger unique?
The thing about Tiger is he actually wants to learn the language of footwear design. He wants to use that same language because he knows that helps the design and development process. I can talk to him like I’m talking to another designer. I really like that about him and appreciate it because he wants to understand.

How was working on this shoe different than the previous shoes you’ve done with Tiger?
When I first started with him in the TW ‘13 he really wanted to start completely over with his shoes. He didn’t want the same spike placement; he didn’t want the same stiffness. So, when I brought him a prototype, he had to evaluate everything all at once. That makes it more difficult to understand it and judge it fairly … not easy to do for anyone. For example, when he’s swinging should he think about the upper, the traction or the spikes? Most of the time he’s trying to think about it all at once. Then he’ll say something about the upper and I’ll say ‘OK, great but what about the traction, because you’re evaluating that too. And what about the flexibility?’ And on top of that he was trying to play on Tour. It was really one of the most difficult and challenging things I’ve had to do here at Nike because it was a whole new approach to creating an entirely new shoe, all while the athlete is also competing.

Working on the TW ‘17 is the first time that we’ve been really been able to focus in on every single aspect in a singular fashion. Things are pretty much dialed in. It’s the first time we’ve come into the season as close to one hundred percent dialed on footwear since I’ve been working with him.

Carl Madore sketch of TW '17

How did you approach the creation process for this shoe?
First, we started with the upper, which most times we don’t. Then we dialed in the plate itself or the spikes and then we worked on its stiffness. This process allowed us to design the TW ‘17 one piece at a time.

At Nike WHQ, I worked with Carl Madore (Innovation Design Lead for Nike Golf Footwear) and Jenny Monnot in pattern engineering. I told them, ‘I didn’t know what the best configuration is going to be for golf but this is what we should do: Let’s make a blank upper with just simple white synthetic upper.’ That was our canvas. We made eight or nine of them, and then drew on them and came up with a few configurations that could work. Next we went back to Jenny and actually added the straps to that initial upper. That was our process. By the time we went back to Tiger, where he hit in the shoes, we had whittled down from eight configurations to five.

Once the upper was dialed, we started working on the bottom. A lot of times you want to start with the bottom. We did it backwards this time because the upper became the focal point after listening to Tiger.

Designing the plate is usually the longest process and can be the longest thing to get right. An upper you can cut in a couple days, but with the bottom you have 3D files on the plastic and midsoles and foams. It can easily take six weeks just to make!

Were there any big hurdles or challenges to overcome when creating this shoe?
The upper was the focal point because Tiger had his new swing that was now right-leg dominant. We needed something to help contain his feet as he was trying to be more explosive. That was our biggest hurdle. Then once we landed on the strap system, a major challenge was getting the angles for the straps correct and having them lay down flat was really difficult. Carl had the idea of attaching the lateral or outside strap to the section of the upper that covers the front part of the foot. That took care of a lot of the issues and just really cleaned it up too. And Tiger liked that a lot. It just felt better for him.

How did Tiger react when he first heard you explain the strapping system idea?
We were having dinner at Greenbier, and as we were talking about his new swing and his needs for the upcoming year I drew a tiny little sketch. When he was done talking, I turned my little black notebook over to show him the sketch. I had drawn an x-strap. He took a little bit of a pause and said, ‘I could see that.’ He totally understood it and was on board. ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘like anything, I’ll just have to try it to see if it does work.’

That’s what I love about Tiger. It was the simplest, easiest sketch that I could do but he truly does understand what it takes. He understands what it takes to be the best at what he does and he understands what it takes for the tools that he uses to be the very best and how good they need to be. And footwear is one of those tools.

The Nike TW '17 is available April 1 on nike.com and at select retailers. For more on the development of the TW '17 with Tiger Woods and Tobie Hatfield refer to news.nike.com.

Dean Snell, TaylorMade M2 Driver, Knuth Golf High Heat 3-Wood Among ING Industry Honors Winners

(ORLANDO, FL) – Dean Snell, Founder of Snell Golf and creator of many of the leading golf balls of the past 25 years, was among the winners in the 24th edition of the ING Industry Honors, announced at the PGA Merchandise Show.

Called by many the “Academy Awards of the Golf Industry,” the ING Industry Honors program recognizes outstanding achievement in the golf business. The non-profit, media-based networking organization International Network of Golf conducts the awards program.

Nominees in 11 categories are submitted throughout the year from anyone in the golf industry. Sub-committees that include experts in each category then trim the entries to the top three in each category. ING members then vote electronically to determine the winners, who are announced and recognized at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference. Holly Geoghegan of Golf Marketing Services is the committee chair.

In his long and storied career Snell has been involved in the creation of golf ball successes like Titleist Pro V1 and TaylorMade Tour Preferred. In 2014, Snell decided to inject innovation into golf balls in another way - by reducing costs and going to a direct-to-consumer sales model through Snell Golf that allows him to provide Tour-level performance at a fraction of the price. 2016 saw Snell Golf explode with record sales growth and amazing brand recognition among golfers.

The Product Ingenuity for Golf Equipment categories saw two companies top the voting in back-to-back years. The TaylorMade M2 driver won in the Market Leaders division following the M1 victory a year ago. And Knuth Golf took top honors in the Emerging Companies division with its High Heat 3-Wood after winning the category last year with its High Heat driver.

The Player Development category winner was Topgolf, the highly successful global sports entertainment community with 30 venues serving 12.2 million guests annually and introducing new golfers to the game.

A complete list of winners is below. The presentation took place Thursday in the ING Hospitality Room, and was sponsored by PGA Golf Exhibitions. For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.

WINNERS & NOMINEES – 2016 ING INDUSTRY HONORS
Business Achievement
- Winner: Dean Snell, Founder and CEO of Snell Golf, Inc.
- Other Finalists: Chip Brewer, CEO, Callaway Golf; PGA of America

Digital/Video Marketing
- Winner: Frogger/Revolution Golf
- Other Finalists: Power Package/Golf Pulp Media; Tathata Golf

Player Development
- Winner: Topgolf
- Other Finalists: International Women’s Golf Day; Youth On Course

Print Advertising – Products & Services
- Winner: Callaway – “A Champion Is Born”
- Other Finalists: True Temper Project X; TaylorMade Golf

Print Advertising – Travel & Real Estate
- Winner: Bandon Dunes – “Golf As It Was Meant To Be.”
- Other Finalists: Golf Cape Breton; Turning Stone Resort

Product Ingenuity – Emerging Companies-Golf Equipment
- Winner: Knuth Golf High Heat 3-Wood
- Other Finalists: Golphin Clubs; Snell Golf Balls

Product Ingenuity – Emerging Companies-Misc. Products
- Winner: Zero Friction DistancePro GPS Glove
- Other Finalists: Biion Golf Shoes; GolfBuddyLD2 GPS Watch

Product Ingenuity – Emerging Companies-Technology
- Winner: Arccos 360 Shot Tracker
- Other Finalists: 18Birdies; Golf GameBook

Product Ingenuity – Emerging Companies-Training Products
- Winner: Swingclick PLUS
- Other Finalists: Laser Putt; Swing Wizzard

Product Ingenuity – Market Leaders
- Winner: TaylorMade M2 Driver
- Other Finalists: Cleveland Smart Sole 2.0 Wedges; PING Crossover

TV Commercial
- Winner: PGA Tour Superstores: “Just Another Sunday” – with Jason Day
- Other Finalists: AT&T; Puma

Ten Troon Facilities To Host Drive, Chip & Putt Championship Events

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Troon, the leader in golf course management, development, and marketing, is pleased to announce that ten of its affiliated facilities were selected to host local or sub-regional qualifying events for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.

Sarah Lydic

Conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), Masters Tournament and the PGA of America, the 2018 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a complimentary youth golf development initiative that welcomes boys and girls ages 7-15 in four separate age categories. Juniors compete in all three skills (Drive, Chip & Putt), earning points within each skill with the overall champion determined from the highest number of accumulated points.

Local qualifying will take place throughout all 50 states from May – August, 2017. Top performers at the local level advance through sub-regional and regional qualifiers. The top 80 performers (40 boys and 40 girls) will earn an invitation to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 1, on the eve of the 2018 Masters Tournament.

In recent years, a number of finalists have either come through qualifiers at Troon locations or call Troon-managed facilities their home clubs. Grant Herrenbruck and Tate Herrenbruck from Salina Country Club in Salina, Kans. both made it to the finals in 2015 and 2016 in Augusta.  In 2014, Raina Ports who plays and practices out of El Conquistador Golf & Tennis in Oro Valley, Ariz., made it to the finals and placed second overall.

Through the 2016 Drive, Chip & Putt competition, 9-year-old Sarah Lydic of Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club, a Troon-managed facility in Ocean View, Delaware, outperformed all of her competitors in regional qualifying to earn one of 80 spots in the finals. On April 2nd Lydic will compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The Finals will be broadcast live on Golf Channel. In addition, Golf Channel will be sending a crew to Bear Trap Dunes on April 2nd to show the club’s viewing party as members and guests cheer Lydic on.

Troon host locations in 2017 include:
Arizona
The Golf Club of Estrella, Goodyear – Local Qualifying, Monday, May 20
The Phoenician, Scottsdale – Local Qualifying, Tuesday, June 13
Troon North Golf Club, Scottsdale – Local Qualifying, Tuesday, June 27
California
Marin Country Club, Novato – Local Qualifying, Tuesday, July 11
Colorado
The Ridge, Castle Pines – Local Qualifying, Monday, June 5
Florida
Tiburón Golf Club, Naples – Local Qualifying, Saturday, July 15
Slammer & Squire at World Golf Village Resort, Saint Augustine – Local Qualifying, Saturday, July 22 and Sub-regional, Saturday, August 26
Mississippi
Reunion Golf & Country Club, Madison – Local Qualifying, Tuesday, June 27
New York
Knollwood Country Club, Elmsford – Local Qualifying, Monday, July 24
Wyoming
The Powder Horn Golf Club, Sheridan – Local Qualifying, Sunday, June 18

Online registration for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championships begin Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at www.DriveChipandPutt.com.

“We are excited to have 10 Troon affiliated facilities host qualifying for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championships and see a number of finalists from Troon-managed facilities make it to Augusta for Finals,” said John Easterbrook, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Troon. “The USGA, The Masters Tournament and the PGA of America have done an outstanding job of growing this event. We encourage families to get involved and participate in this fun and free national event.”

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Traveling Golfer a Repeat Winner as No. 1 Golf Television Show in America

(PHILADELPHIA, Pa.) - The Traveling Golfer television show - hosted by Tony Leodora, with producer Jamie McWilliams and associate producer Eddie Caiazzo - once again is sitting atop the golf television world. The show continued its fast rise to the top of the golf television industry by becoming a repeat winner of the No. 1 Golf Television Show in America award, presented by the International Network of Golf at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

In a packed ING meeting room at the PGA Show, the Traveling Golfer show emerged atop a record number of entries in the golf television category. In only its third year on air, the Traveling Golfer show prevailed after submitting the show it did from Quivira, the upscale golf and residential community at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

"We had an exotic location and a spectacular new Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course to use as a backdrop to the show," explained Leodora, who accepted the award on behalf of the entire Traveling Golfer team. "Add in the festive Los Cabos area and the exciting culinary and entertainment scene, and you had all of the ingredients for a compelling golf and lifestyle show."

While the Quivira show was the one submitted to the panel of judges for this year's award, Leodora is quick to point out that any number of shows from 2016 could have been judged as winners.

"We did shows from places like Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, Frederick (Md.), French Lick (Ind.), PGA Village, Crystal Springs, PGA National, the World Golf Hall of Fame, Orlando and Heber Valley (Utah)," said Leodora. "The variety of host venues is a key contributor to the success of the show."

The Traveling Golfer show runs monthly on the Traveling Golfer network of websites ... including The Golf Director Network (see full list of sites on travelinggolfervideo.com). It also airs each month as part of the Press Box television show in Myrtle Beach, 5 to 7 p.m. on HTC Ch. 4.

The main television exposure for the Traveling Golfer comes from its scheduled weekly feature show on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Comcast SportsNet airings are 10:30 a.m. Sundays and 4:30 p.m. Thursdays. The Comcast Network airs the show at 6 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

As part of every Traveling Golfer show there is the additional feature, "Tech Talk", hosted by Tour Edge Golf experts, such as President Dave Glod. With years of experience as a club maker, Glod presents an inside look at the research and development of high-quality golf equipment.

Responding to golfers' never-ending demands to learn more about interesting golf courses and golf resorts across the country and around the world, well-traveled host Tony Leodora created the Traveling Golfer in February of 2013 so he could take viewers on video trips to some of the most exciting golf locations.

The Traveling Golfer is a series of monthly shows hosted by Leodora, who has 16 years of experience in televised golf. The featured destination stays on the website for one month, before being replaced by a new show. The old shows are archived for continued viewing on home website, www.travelinggolfervideo.com.

2017 World Long Drive Schedule Announced; Three Events to Air Live on Golf Channel

Women’s Division in 2017 to be Seen Live on TV for First Time, and be Represented at Sanctioned Events for First Time in 13 years

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The sport of Long Drive will expand its presence on television in 2017 with three televised events on Golf Channel, including the season-culminating World Long Drive Championship over two nights in primetime in September, and two additional televised events airing on Golf Channel in June and July. For the first time ever, the Women’s Division will be live on TV, airing on Golf Channel at each of the three televised events, and it marks the first time in 13 years that the Women’s Division will be represented at scheduled Long Drive sanctioned events.

“The increased television exposure for Long Drive speaks to the investment from sponsors helping to fuel its momentum, coupled with Golf Channel’s belief in the long-term potential for this unique aspect of golf and its athletes,” said Phil Piazza, senior vice president, programming for Golf Channel. “Last year the World Long Drive Championship was distributed in 62 countries across the globe, and by tripling the number of televised events in 2017, and showcasing the Women’s Division live on Golf Channel for the first time, viewers will have more opportunities than ever to engage with one of the most electrifying segments of the sport.”

The 2017 Open (Men’s) Division schedule consists of eight qualifying events, with four competitors from each event advancing to the World Championship, which will feature a 96-man field competing for a $270,000 purse. The World Championship will return to WinStar World Casino & Resort (Thackerville, Okla.) for a third consecutive year, following a multi-year extension as the World Championship host site.

“We are thrilled to have the World Long Drive Championship and Golf Channel return to WinStar for a third consecutive year," said Wayne McCormick, WinStar's general manager. "At WinStar, we strive to provide a memorable experience for our loyal patrons and the World Long Drive Championship offers just that. Golf fans from all over the country can come out and enjoy a unique televised event that showcases phenomenal athletes."

2017 WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE:
March 24-27 - Endless Summer Invitational - Huntington Beach, Calif.
April 21-23 - East Coast Classic - West Columbia, S.C.
May 18-19 - WinStar Classic - Thackerville, Okla.
June 3-6 - TBA (*Golf Channel*) - TBA
June 23-25 - Bluff City Shootout - Memphis, Tenn.
July 6-8 - Rockwell Blast - West Bountiful, Utah
July 22-25 - Mile High Shootout (*Golf Channel*) - Denver, Colo.
Aug. 4-6 - Catawba Classic - Hickory, N.C.
Aug. 31-Sept. 6 - World Long Drive Championship (*Golf Channel*) - Thackerville, Okla.

Points System used to Determine Ranking
All WLDA sanctioned events for the Open Division in 2017 will utilize the Official World Long Drive rankings, with competitors earning an opportunity to accumulate points toward their ranking at each event they play. Events will feature a 32-person field based on the current world ranking.

The eight sanctioned events will award point totals toward official rankings, and those advancing to the World Long Drive Championship will compete under a format that can be viewed by visiting http://www.worldlongdrive.com/2017-world-long-drive-championship/

Rule Change for All Sanctioned Events in 2017
Recently, the WLDA announced a rule change as it relates to club length for all sanctioned events, which states that all clubs used in competition must conform with the USGA Rules of Golf (Appendix II, 1c) which limits club length to a maximum of 48 inches. The rule will be upheld at all sanctioned events through the use of a CLUBLENGTH Ruler Measuring Tool that conforms to the USGA method for measuring club length. The rule in effect was implemented to allow Long Drive competitors to be held to the same standard of competition as Tour professionals in accordance with the USGA.

The Met Golfer, Golf.Com Lead the Way in 24th Annual ING Media Awards

(ORLANDO, FL) – Winners in 11 categories were announced Wednesday in the 24th Annual ING Media Awards program at the PGA Merchandise Show.

The International Network of Golf, a non-profit, media-based networking organization, conducts the awards program for its members. ING membership is open to anyone in the golf industry and media.

A total of 42 First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference conducted in ClubING at the PGA Show. Total entries increased again for the sixth straight year.

Media Awards sponsors this year were Zero Friction Golf, Chase 54 apparel company, Nexbelt and PGA Golf Exhibitions. TV personality Mitch Laurance served as Emcee.

The Met Golfer and Golf.Com led the way with five awards each. The Met Golfer had four First-Place Winners, including being named the Top Publication of 2016. Other First-Place Winners from the New York-based magazine were: Jeff Neuman in the Opinion/Editorial category, Ken Van Vechten in the Equipment & Apparel Writing category and Ray Tennenbaum in the Profile Writing category. Golf.Com had one First-Place Winner, Jeff Ritter in the Competition Writing category.
First Place in the Radio Show category went to Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori, and the top TV Show honor went to The Traveling Golfer and host Tony Leodora.

There were several other multiple award winners (either First Place or Outstanding Achiever). They included freelance writer Tony Dear, freelancer Elisa Gaudet, Kevin Kane from Virginia Golf Report, Mike Kern of the Philadelphia Daily News, Jeff Neuman of The Met Golfer, Jeff Ritter of Sports Illustrated, Jon Rizzi of Colorado Avid Golfer, John Steinbreder of Global Golf Post, Rich Styles of The Back 9 Boys radio show and Gary Van Sickle of Golf.Com.

An independent panel of three judges in each category determines first-Place Winners and Outstanding Achievers.  Judges use a point system with several criteria. Determinations are made by judges when possible without knowledge of the person responsible for the work, or of the other judges in the category. The number of Outstanding Achievers in a category is determined by total entries and scoring range in the category.

Each category is coordinated by a category chairperson, who is responsible for securing the three judges. Media Awards Committee chair is Cody Law of Golf Mesquite Nevada. For more information, visit.inggolf.com.

COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVERS

BOOK AUTHOR  
1st Place: Joann Dost (“The Ultimate Round: Pebble Beach Golf Links”)
Outstanding Achiever: Taba Dale (“A Stroll On The Old Lady”).

BUSINESS WRITING 
1st Place: Kevin Kane, Virginia Golf Report (“All Dried Up”).
Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, TheGolfNewsNet.com (“As Golf Envisions Recovery”); Elisa Gaudet, New England Golf Monthly (“Combining Modern Celebrity with Classic Concepts”); Sally J. Sportsman, Golf Range Magazine (“A Practice Made for Olympians”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Herb Kohler - At Home in the Home of Golf”).

COMPETITION WRITING 
1st Place: Jeff Ritter, Golf.com (“Beef Johnston: A Star is Born at British Open”)
Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, TheGolfNewsNet.com (”The Bullets the USGA Dodged at Oakmont”); Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News (“Amateur Golfer with Major Drive”).

EQUIPMENT & APPAREL WRITING  
1st Place: Ken Van Vechten, The Met Golfer (“Go Ahead, Have A Fit”).
Outstanding Achievers: Jeff Ritter, Golf.com (“So long, Sasquatch: An Ode to Nike's Greatest Driver”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“PING Anser Anniversary”); Ed Travis, Golf Oklahoma (“Fiddling With Lofts”).

OPINION/EDITORIAL  
1st Place: Jeff Neuman, The Met Golfer (“In The Loop”).
Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, GolfChat.com (“For the Love of God, Hurry Up Will You!“); Kevin Kane, Virginia Golf Report (“Bulldog or Quiet Assassin”); Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News (“USGA Shows Poor Timing”); Les Schupak, Met Golfer (“Book Reviews”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Slamming Trunk Lids with Anchored Putters”); Gary Van Sickle, Golf.Com (“Golf’s Real Problem: We Stink At It”).

PROFILE WRITING
1st Place: Ray Tennenbaum, The Met Golfer (“Lost in the Sands of Time”).
Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear,  Pacific NW Golfer (“Kidd Living La Dolce Vita”); Hank Gola, The Met Golfer (“Our Man in Rio “); Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“Nancy Lopez Feature”); Jeff Ritter, Sports Illustrated (“The Bookie, the Barber and David Duval: A Scottish Love Story”); Jon Rizzi, Colorado Avid Golfer (“Living Large to Evergreen”).

PUBLICATIONS
1st Place: The Met Golfer-Feb/March 2016 Issue (Jeff Neuman, Editor).
Outstanding Achievers: Colorado Avid Golfer, June 2016 Issue; Golf Oklahoma, Oct/Nov 2015 Issue (Ken MacLeod, Publisher).

RADIO SHOW
1st Place: Sports Innerview, With Ann Liguori on NPR's WPPB Public Radio.
Outstanding Achievers: Back9Boys Golf Show, ESPN Coastal, Rich Styles Host; Golf.Com Radio, Jeff Ritter and Sean Zak, Hosts.

RADIO SEGMENT
1st Place: Rich Styles, Back 9 Boys, ESPN Radio, (“Ted Bishop Interview”).
Outstanding Achiever: Eddie Caiazzo, Golf Talk Live (“Producer’s Revenge”); Holly Geoghegan, The Golf Insiders, iHeart Radio, Orlando. (“Sean Foley Interview”).

TELEVISION SHOW
1st Place: Tony Leodora, The Traveling Golfer (“Quivira Los Cabos”).
Outstanding Achiever: Fred Greene, Golf Smarter TV (“Your Divot Doesn’t Lie”).

TRAVEL WRITING
1st Place: John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Exotic and Intriguing Morocco”).
Outstanding Achievers: Elisa Gaudet, New England Golf Monthly ("Par Presidents, Keswick Hall's Full Cry and the Allure of Virginia”); Jon Rizzi, Colorado Avid Golfers (“A Flood of Opportunity); Gary Van Sickle, Golf.Com (“Sand Valley: Lost In Wisconsin”); Len Ziehm, Daily Herald (“Maybe it's time to think 'golf' at Mackinac Island”).