Mistwood Golf Club Partners with Vienna Beef to Take Back World Hot Dog Record on Independence Day

July 4: Mistwood Golf Club Will Line Up 2000+ Hot Dogs From Tee to Green

(Chicago, IL) - Mistwood Golf Club, one of the nation’s premiere public courses located in Chicago, has hosted a hyper-patriotic “Stars & Stripes” tournament on the 4th of July for 20 years. The event features costumed golfers, fireworks and otherwise zany entertainment on most holes all in the spirit of celebration for America’s birthday.  This year, however, the course management will up the ante by seeking to reclaim a Guinness Book of World Records feat: the longest continuous line of cooked hot dogs, a record which currently stands at 1157 feet and is held by Nakakyushu Kubota of Japan.

“When we learned that there was an official world record for lining up hot dogs, our first thought was, “Wow, that’s awesome, of course there should be a record for that human achievement,” said Jim Koklas, Food & Beverage Director at Mistwood Golf Club. “There are few things more American than the hot dog, and we decided it is time to bring this record home. As a nation founded on ingenuity and industriousness, we’re also very good at lining things up.  On behalf of all Americans we are going to reclaim this title on July 4th, guaranteed.”

Mistwood will partner with Vienna Beef on the world record attempt as the Chicago-based company celebrates its 125th anniversary and the kick-off to national hot dog month (July).

The World Record attempt is open to the public and is free to attend. Staff and volunteers will begin lining-up hot dogs on tables that stretch from tee to the green on the 3rd hole, a spectacular par 5 measuring over 550 yards at the award-winning course. The event will also feature live entertainment and American-themed activities. Additionally, as the world record specifies that the hot dogs must be cooked and consumable, guests at the event will have a chance to indulge in the history-making moment.

EVENT DETAILS
July 4th -- Approximately 2PM
Mistwood Golf Club, 1700 W. Renwick Road, Romeoville, IL 60446

Visit www.mistwoodgc.com.

Nexbelt Introduces New Folds Of Honor Foundation Belts for 2018

(RANCHO CUCAMONGA) - Nexbelt, "The Fastest Growing Belt in Golf," has introduced several new belt and buckle combinations as part of their Folds of Honor Foundation Series.

The Folds of Honor Foundation is rallying a nation to ensure no family is left behind in the fight to preserve American freedom. Through scholarships and other assistance, they give back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country. The Folds of Honor Foundation provides healing, hope and an opportunity for dreams to be realized.

Nexbelt first partnered with FOH in 2014 and custom FOH belts are sold at fund raising golf tournaments and other events throughout the year. Nexbelt donates 20% of all FOH belt sales directly to the Folds of Honor Foundation.

New for this year is the FOH Foundation logo on Nexbelt's ASTON buckle. The ASTON is a slightly over-sized rectangular shaped buckle and is available in Pewter, Black or White Swatch. On the new White Swatch Buckle, the Folds of Honor Logo is color printed on a White swatch of leather.

Belt Strap options for the FOH Foundation Series include: Smooth Black Leather, Smooth White Leather, Carbon White, Tan Canvas, Black Canvas and Green Canvas.

FOH custom belts are available for purchase at: https://www.nexbelt.com/collections/folds-of-honor.

"We've partnered with foundations in the past," said Nexbelt Owner Eddie Rowland, "but never with a foundation as important and meaningful as this one. The men and women who put their lives on the line every day to ensure our freedom here in the U.S. deserve our utmost respect and support. We are honored to be working with The Folds Of Honor Foundation and we encourage everyone out there to support this great cause."

Known for its innovative technology, Nexbelt's Go In! Golf Series of belts feature a unique ratcheting system called PreciseFit that allows the wearer to adjust his or her belt in quarter-inch increments, providing the best fit, feel and fashion available.

ABOUT THE FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION (FOH)
The Folds of Honor Foundation was founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, a former F-16 pilot, golf course owner, PGA Professional and USGA member. A Major in the Air National Guard and a decorated military aviator, Rooney has served three combat tours in Iraq. After returning from his second tour, Major Rooney witnessed a profound situation that drove him to create the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Over 700,000 soldiers have been killed or disabled in the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan--Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. These service members' families exceed the national average of 2.5 dependents per household. As of January 1, 2014, over 1.4 million dependents have been adversely affected by multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 87% of the dependents affected by the recent wars do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance. While the federal government provides some support for these families, it cannot succeed alone without proactive civilian organizations to assist.

Nexbelt is 100% committed to offering its customers superior customer service and the most innovative and technologically advanced products available.

Nexbelt's DRIVE Vision ...
Deliver what we Promise with Integrity.
Retain the Human touch
Invest in Good People generously.
Value our Customers Unconditionally.
Embrace Change with Innovation.

For more information about Nexbelt, visit www.Nexbelt.com.

This Summer, Lodging is Included with Marriott Golf Academy's Multi-Day Golf Schools in Orlando and Palm Desert

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Summertime is the right time for golfers to enjoy their stay while improving their play at Marriott Golf Academy in Orlando, Florida or Palm Desert, California.

During the summer, multi-day golf schools include lodging at Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando or Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert. Rates start at $959 for a two-day school and $1,359 for the three-day school.

To book a Marriott Golf Academy golf school package with lodging included, go to MarriottGolfAcademy.com or call 855.642.2369.

Golfers of all skill levels can benefit from Marriott Golf Academy’s proven instructional expertise, personalized training approach, superior technology and custom club fitting programs. Each are designed to help golfers reach their full potential.

In addition to lodging, multi-day golf schools also include complimentary rounds of golf, state-of-the-art video swing analysis and full access to renowned practice facilities. Use of the latest equipment from TaylorMade and daily lunch with the golf instructor are also included with each package.

Orlando - Marriott’s Grande Vista resort is a vacation hideaway where golfers can discover first-class amenities and family-friendly features that make every day of an Orlando golfcation a truly magical experience. It’s hard to believe that the world's most exhilarating theme parks and family attractions are just a short distance away.

Marriott Golf Academy’s multi-day golf school is held on-site at Marriott’s Grande Vista Golf Club and its 35-acre practice area. While possessing an element of challenge for the avid golfer, this stunning design by Ron Garl is surrounded by towering pines, magnificent oaks and beautiful cypress trees and was created with the family in mind to encourage learning and development.  

Palm Desert - At Marriott’s Shadow Ridge resort, golfers enjoy a desert oasis of infinite beauty and opportunity. Located at the desert's edge with spectacular views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains, this sophisticated golf destination delivers a stylish and serene Palm Desert vacation.

Here, students attend Marriott Golf Academy’s school at the world-class, Nick Faldo-designed Shadow Ridge Golf Club, where each hole boasts an unforgettable scene of the snow-capped desert mountains. Faldo's vast international experience and passion for detail is clearly evident on every spectacular hole. Shadow Ridge Golf Club has been named the No. 1 resort course in the Coachella Valley and one of the top resort courses in the country.

To find out more about Marriott Golf Academy’s learn-and-stay offer, go to MarriottGolfAcademy.com or call 855.642.2369.

Follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/MarriottVacClub and on Facebook at Facebook.com/marriottvacationclub.

Experience Optimized Speed and Performance with the IC-601

(Scottsdale, AZ) - Using the latest advancements in club design and manufacturing, Miura has launched the IC-601 irons. This new model improves on the highly successful ICL-601 Driving Iron.

"We are very proud of this iron, especially because it was created by Miura's founder Katsuhiro Miura," says Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura. "He's integrated innovative technology with traditional design and the outcome is an iron that is higher, longer, and more forgiving than any other in the Miura lineup."

Recommended for mid- to high-handicap golfers, the IC-601's face is made of 455 Carpenter Steel as found in the ICL and Genesis PP-9005. Carpenter Steel is used in aerospace applications because it offers a unique combination of high strength, light weight and durability. This enabled Miura to produce an iron with a high Coefficient of Restitution (COR). It also allows more weight to be moved farther back in the club head. This strategic placement of weight allows players to launch the ball higher with increased ball speeds.

In addition to a low center of gravity, the IC-601 has a unique inner cavity design with a wide sole that creates more forgiveness and a large sweet spot. Finished in satin chrome and available in 4-PW, expect to experience optimized speed and performance with the new Miura IC-601.

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

Devant Sport Towels Presents New Americana Towel Series

(Richmond, VA) –  Devant Sport Towels, a Dynamic Brands company, is excited to continue its role as the #1 towel in golf by presenting the new Americana Towel Series. “The new Americana microfiber towels were designed and decorated at our manufacturing facility in North Carolina,” said Jason Bonenberger, Devant Brand Manager. “This was a way to display our patriotic pride for our customers.”

The Americana Towel Series features six unique patriotic artwork designs. All 16” x 32” Ultimate Microfiber towels are decorated using Hi-Def Sublimation, a process that consists of applying the designs to create high definition in full color. The Ultimate Microfiber is a high-quality towel consisting of super absorbent microfiber to hold seven times its weight in water. It offers superior cleaning strength as the microfiber strands trap more dirt and dust than a standard cotton towel. The towels are finished with a web strap handle for easy placement over a golf club head.

Devant Sport Towels, located in Monroe, North Carolina, had its humble beginnings as a family run business in 1976. Ever since, Devant has blossomed into the industry leader in sport towels by producing over one million towels a year. Devant employees are still guided by the three principles of high quality, low minimums and outstanding service to ensure every towel that comes out of Monroe is a piece of art. “We have seen multiple uses for our microfiber towels, including for the kitchen and bar,” said Bonenberger. There’s no better way to show off American pride and celebrate summer than with these new Americana Towels. Americana Series microfiber towels by Devant are available for $19.95/each through your local golf pro shop or direct at here.

For information on Devant visit www.devantsporttowels.com.

Ben Hogan Apparel Brand Ambassador Stewart Cink T-2 At The Travelers Championship

(Miami, FL) — Ben Hogan Apparel would like to congratulate brand ambassador Stewart Cink on his T-2 finish at the Travelers Championship.

“Stewart is a proven PGA TOUR and major championship winner and we are excited to have him as a member of the Perry Ellis International family,” stated Jack Voith, president of the Golf  Division at Perry Ellis International. “We are thrilled for Stewart’s exceptional play, with back to back top five finishes, and look forward to his continued success as we work with him to further grow the Ben Hogan Apparel brand.”

A six time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 2009 Open Championship, member of multiple U.S. Ryder and President’s Cup teams, and winner of the 2017 Payne Stewart Award, Stewart is committed to growing the game of golf in a professional manner that reflects the values of Perry Ellis International.  “Ben Hogan was someone I looked up to as an aspiring young professional and I am humbled and honored to wear apparel that bears his legendary name,” said Cink.  “Ben Hogan will always be associated with exceptional style and performance and the latest Ben Hogan collection lives up this and more.”

Additional information on the company is available at www.pery.com.

"Go Down Swinging" to Recount Golf's Most Epic Collapse; Monday, July 9 at 9 p.m. ET

Stylized Documentary Goes Shot-by-Shot Revisiting 72nd Hole via First-Hand Witnesses, Including Van de Velde

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – As sports fans prepare to watch NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the world’s best golfers taking on Carnoustie Golf Links at The Open next month, Golf Channel will showcase its latest Golf Films project, Go Down Swinging: ’99 Open at Carnoustie, highlighting one of the most unforgettable collapses ever in major championship golf. The film will revisit the memorable misfortune and theatrics of The 1999 Open, when Jean van de Velde surrendered what seemed like inevitable victory with a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole of golf’s original championship.

First-hand accounts – including Van de Velde’s – reflecting on the outcome nearly 20 years later will lead viewers through the stylized documentary, going shot-by-shot to recap the unfathomable developments that played out on the 18th hole during Sunday’s final round. Go Down Swinging will premiere on Monday, July 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, presented by Loch Lomond single malt scotch whisky with limited commercial interruption.

“I aimed three yards right of the flag and thought if you’re in the bunker, the game is over. Even if you miss in the grand stand, the game is over. How often do you see a ball [bounce off the railing and] do what it did?” – Jean van de Velde on his 2nd shot on the 72nd hole

The film blends the original broadcast footage and blunt commentary reacting to the meltdown (ESPN’s Tirico, Curtis Strange, Bob Rosburg, Steve Melnyk, and the BBC’s Peter Alliss, Alex Hay) with retrospect interviews recounting in vivid detail how improbable a finish it was, and how unbelievable it still remains. In addition to Van de Velde, other subjects interviewed for Go Down Swinging include Van de Velde’s caddie, Christophe Angiolini, along with eventual winner Paul Lawrie, Justin Leonard (T-2nd), Alliss, Tirico, and on-site golf media.

Throughout the film, stylized transitions from one Van de Velde shot to the next feature Go Down Swinging’s acting narrator – comedian Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me) – who portrays a bartender serving a customer unfamiliar with The 1999 Open, which is re-airing on the TV behind the bar. The film also offers greater context on Carnoustie’s brutally difficult conditions in ‘99, Van de Velde’s standing as a relative unknown entering the week, and Lawrie’s improbable comeback despite facing a 10-shot deficit going into the final round.

“1999 was the first Open I’d ever covered and I’ve been fascinated by it ever since,” said Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner, a co-producer and writer of the film. “It was sad and funny and heroic and still to this day, hard to fathom.”

Go Down Swinging is being produced by Golf Films, led by 13-time Emmy Award-winning coordinating producer Israel DeHerrera, who has served as the lead producer for several critically acclaimed projects, including the three-part Arnie (2014) and Jack (2017) films on Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Lerner returns as a co-producer and writer alongside DeHerrera following his contributions in the same role for Summer of ’76 (2017), recounting The 1976 Open at Royal Birkdale. Other award-winning projects produced by Golf Films include Driven: Oklahoma State Cowboys, executive produced by Rickie Fowler; the Emmy-nominated Payne (2014), on the late Payne Stewart; Arnie & Me (2015), a follow-up, fourth installment of Arnie; ’86 (2016), a chronicle of Nicklaus’ final major championship win at the 1986 Masters that aired to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his iconic win; and Ben Crenshaw: A Walk Through Augusta (2015), on the two-time Masters champion’s special relationship with the tournament.

VOICES CONTRIBUTING TO GO DOWN SWINGING:          
INSIDE THE ROPES
Jean van de Velde
· “If I had one shot to do different, it would be the third one.”
Christophe Angiolini, Van de Velde’s caddie at ’99 Open
· “If I were in the same situation again, I would tell him to hit an iron off the tee.”
Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open champion
· “No matter what happened, and the way it happened, my name is on [the Claret Jug].”
Justin Leonard, T-2nd at ’99 Open
· “When he [got to the tee to start the playoff] I just wanted to give the guy a hug.”
John Philp, former greenskeeper at Carnoustie Golf Links
· “The course was the same for everybody, but I admit it was very tough.”
Jesper Parnevik, T-10th at ’99 Open
· “1999 was set up like the toughest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Lee Janzen, 70th at ’99 Open
· “If you could go without making double in a practice round it was $100. Nobody did it.”

OUTSIDE THE ROPES
Peter Alliss, play-by-play host on BBC live broadcast at ’99 Open
· “I didn’t know what to say. Wipe him down, give him a large brandy for goodness sake.”
Mike Tirico, play-by-play host on ABC/ESPN live broadcast at ’99 Open (NBC Sports)
· “I was more honest than I’d ever been on the air, and I think it’s because I felt his pain.”
Jimmy Roberts, reporter on ABC/ESPN live broadcast at ’99 Open (NBC Sports)
· “It was a complete cataclysmic disaster.”
John Hopkins, former golf correspondent, The Times – U.K. (Global Golf Post)
· “He was doing something that would be described forever more as that of a showman.”
Jaime Diaz, former editor-in-chief, Golf World (Golf Channel)
· “I don’t think he choked. I think he got one of the worst breaks in the history of golf.”
Jack Graham, producer on ABC/ESPN live broadcast at ’99 Open (Golf Channel)
· “That 40 minutes was about as stunning as anything I have ever been a part of.”
Bill Fields, former senior editor, Golf World
· “Most people, they want to look at the wreck. They want to see what happened.”
Lenny Clarke, (comedian), acting narrator of Go Down Swinging
· “He’s probably more famous for losing than if he had won. He handled it like a champ.”
Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post
· “I didn’t write Lawrie’s name down once the entire week, or look at him on a tee sheet.”
Iain Carter, golf correspondent, BBC
· “Jean van de Velde blew up on the last, but Paul Lawrie won that Open.”
Rich Lerner, host, Golf Channel
· “As Lawrie put the finishing touches on his brilliant round, he was an afterthought.”
Ron Sirak, former senior writer, Golf Digest
· “Lawrie’s round that day was like shooting 60 at Oakmont.”

Banyan Cay Development, Noble House Hotels & Resorts Close on Construction Loan

Loan for Expansive Banyan Cay Lifestyle Community

(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – Banyan Cay Development, together with Noble House Hotels & Resorts, are moving full speed ahead at Banyan Cay with the recent announcement of a construction loan from Calmwater Capital for a substantial development project. The funds will dramatically accelerate the construction of the Banyan Cay luxury hotel and conference center, spa, and real estate development. The existing Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and soon-to-be completed clubhouse are nestled within the resort development, offering even more amenities and member access to the exclusive Banyan Cay Golf Club.

“Destination, lifestyle resort communities are increasingly sought after by the active affluent family,” says Owner and Developer, Domenic Gatto. “Banyan Cay is at the forefront of replacing the ‘traditional’ golf club communities of the past.  This project will be a disruptor to the preconceived notion of such - an environment where multi-generational families and great friends can come together in a relaxed, fun environment to create moments and memories while enjoying world-class facilities. This has already translated into great sales success for the golf club exceeding our expectations to date.”

With the construction loan from Calmwater Capital, and project management of Banyan Cay from Jacob Companies, the 150-room luxury resort with a conference center will be completed in late 2019.

“We’re pleased with the continued growth and longstanding relationship with our project partners Calmwater Capital and Jacob Companies, and excited for the future of Banyan Cay and West Palm Beach,” Gatto added. “The local community and the city officials have been tremendously supportive.”

Greg Lewis, Managing Director of Leisure Financial, secured the financing for Banyan Cay with Calmwater. Eric Jordan spearheaded the effort for Calmwater, commenting, “We’re very excited to be a part of this project which we believe is uniquely positioned to offer today’s affluent customer the refreshing golf and community club concept they’ve been waiting for.”

“Banyan Cay’s layered components, ranging from the Banyan Cay Golf Club and Banyan Cay Resort to the varied selection of residences is the only destination resort in Palm Beach County to truly match the modern, luxury-seeking customer’s needs,” said Sean Mullen, President, Acquisitions for Noble House Hotels & Resorts. “This makes it completely unique in the United States.  In this day and age, it’s simply unrealistic to create a community with all the amenities that Banyan Cay offers.  We’re the only new resort destination that combines resort-style living with proximity to everything that matters, with an attitude that makes you feel right at home.”

Each homeowner will have access to all the amenities available at the luxury hotel and have options to include a non-equity Golf Membership. Homeowners may also enroll their home in the Vacation Rental program through Noble House Hotels & Resorts.

To date plans include:
• Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course opened in November 2017 and managed by Noble House Hotels & Resorts
• 150-room luxury hotel and over 15,000 square-feet of conference facilities by Noble House Hotels & Resorts
• 94 single family homes by SobelCo
• 52 custom-built homes by Banyan Cay Development
• 22 luxury resort villas by Banyan Cay Development
• 179-unit high rise condominiums by Banyan Cay Development
• A vacation rental community managed by Noble House Hotels & Resorts

Banyan Cay Dev, LLC. has partnered with Noble House Hotels & Resorts to create Banyan Cay Resort & Golf, LLC.  This entity is tasked with the development of all Community Amenities as well as programming its social aspects.

About Banyan Cay

The development of an extraordinary resort is well underway in West Palm Beach. Every aspect of this 250-acre wonder is designed for a casual luxury experience that no other resort can offer. The centerpieces include a 150-room lifestyle hotel and a 130-acre Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which are highlighted by Clubhouse and Resort Dining, a 5000 square-foot Signature Spa and Fitness Center, Tennis Pavilion, pool, and over 15,000 square-feet of meeting facilities.  Members are offered an even wider array of amenities and privileges, including early opportunities to be a part of this extraordinary resort. In total, 94 single family home lots, 52 custom home lots plus an additional 179 luxury condominiums, and 22 resort villas will live within the new community.

For more information on Banyan Cay Resort & Golf and the charitable foundation, Banyan Cay Cares, visit www.banyancayresort.com or call 561-557-5840.

For more information, visit www.NobleHouseHotels.com or call Noble House Hotels & Resorts at 877.NOBLE.TRIP.  

StrackaLine Scans Kentucky Course for PGA Tour Qualifier

Boone's Trace Will Offer Professional Greens Guides to Barbasol Championship Hopefuls

(SAN DIEGO, Calif.) – StrackaLine has scanned Boone’s Trace National Golf Club in advance of the course hosting a qualifier for the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.

The 18-hole qualifier will be held Monday, July 16 at Boone’s Trace with the four lowest scores advancing to the PGA Tour event held later that week. BTNGC is located in Richmond, Kent., the heart of the Bluegrass State’s famed horse country.

Using its state-of-the-art laser scanner, StrackaLine’s team collected millions of data points on each of BTNGC’s bentgrass greens and is producing the game’s most detailed greens guides for the club. StrackaLine Greens Guides will allow Barbasol Championship hopefuls the opportunity to use the same greens maps their peers on the PGA Tour use.

“Players at Boone’s Trace National Golf Club qualifier will be competing for the right to play in the Barbasol Championship, and our StrackaLine Greens Guides could be the difference in helping someone fulfill their dream of playing in a PGA Tour event,” said Jim Stracka, president of StrackaLine. “We look forward to serving not only aspiring professionals but  also public players at Boone’s Trace, a course we are very excited to be working with.”

StrackaLine’s quality and accuracy have led to widespread adoption on the PGA, LPGA and Web.com tours, in addition to their use by more than 300 Division I college teams.

StrackaLine scans courses for $1,500 and that includes 100 greens guides for resale. The scanning process takes five hours to complete and is unobtrusive to the golfer experience.

StrackaLine now has 700+ courses scanned, including some of the nation's most prominent layouts. Use of the greens guides at the highest levels of the game surged throughout 2017, and the company now counts nearly every Division I golf program, including last year’s national champions, among its users.

The greens maps, which feature easy to read arrows, allow players to view contour and fall lines, in addition to slope percentage, anywhere on the green.

Professional usage has helped drive interest in StrackaLine Greens Guides, and the technology is just as valuable to "regular" amateur golfers hoping to improve their score.

For golf course owners and operators, the technology can be used to improve pace of play and help ensure quality course conditions. StrackaLine offers hole location software that allows superintendents to utilize a proprietary algorithm to help set hole locations.

StrackaLine will continue to add to its library of golf courses throughout 2018. It takes just eight minutes to scan and capture an entire green and the StrackaLine team can complete an 18-hole course and practice green in five hours without disrupting play.

For more information on how to order a greens guide or have a course scanned, go to www.StrackaLine.com.

KemperSports to Manage Heath Golf & Yacht Club

(Northbrook, Ill.) – KemperSports has been selected by ownership to manage Heath Golf & Yacht Club. KemperSports will oversee all operations of the club.

The Heath Golf & Yacht Club is located in the affluent city of Heath, Texas. This 787-acre lakefront, master-planned, resort-style community will offer residents more than 1,200 luxury style homes, a 27-hole championship golf course, private country club, pool, tennis courts, hotel, retail stores, hiking and biking trails, parks and an elementary school in the highly-regarded Rockwall Independent School District - all nestled on Lake Ray Hubbard.

Just minutes from the excitement of The Harbor in Rockwall and with easy access to I-30 and Hwy 80 to downtown Dallas, Heath Golf & Yacht Club is perfect for anyone looking to be near big-city amenities while living in a lakefront community.  

KemperSports will utilize the company's more than 35 years of experience operating private clubs to guide Heath Golf & Yacht Club through the construction process as well as membership growth and engagement initiatives while implementing KemperSports' proprietary TrueService training program.

The 27-hole championship golf course, designed by golf course architect Roy Bechtol, adds to KemperSports' portfolio of more than 130 public, private and resort golf courses from across the U.S. and Latin America. Bechtol most recently collaborated with Jordan Spieth to design the University of Texas Short Game course that opened in 2017. Heath Golf & Yacht Club represents the company’s sixth property in the state of Texas.

The Heath Golf & Yacht Club clubhouse will open Summer 2018, with the golf course opening for play in Fall 2019.

For more information about Heath Golf & Yacht Club, visit www.heathgolfandyachtclub.com.

For more information about KemperSports, visit www.kempersports.com.

Classic Major: Belvedere Golf Club Selected as Host of 2019 U.S. Hickory Open

(CHARLEVOIX, MI) – Historic Belvedere Golf Club, which has hosted an annual Society of Hickory Golfers major championship since 2006, has been selected to host the major among hickory majors – the U.S. Hickory Open in 2019. The tournament is being planned for June 20-22 of 2019.

“Belvedere is a classic, classic course,” said Rick Meyer, the club’s president. “It is old-school in small town America. When dry and firm, it plays fast and requires a hickory style ground game. Our club and the Charlevoix community are committed to and will host a great championship.”

Meyer lends a unique perspective at Belvedere. The St. Louis resident and entrepreneur is a former board member and green committee chairman at Bellerive Country Club, which in August this year will host the world’s top golfers in the 100th PGA Championship. He has also been part of five championships, including three major championships at Bellerive in the 20-plus years he chaired the Future Championship Committee.

He said the U.S. Hickory Open next year at his summer club will be a “classic final major for me.”

The U.S. Hickory Open annually attracts an international field of golfers who play with authentic pre-1935 hickory shafted golf clubs or can also play replica hickory clubs. Belvedere is the only club in the U.S. to have 44 authentic hickory club players that will participate in the championship. Competitors also dress in period appropriate apparel, including knickers, ties and jackets. The Society of Hickory Golfers celebrates and promotes the hickory game of the 1910s – 1930s.

“The club is very excited about it,” said Dennis “Marty” Joy II, the head golf professional at Belvedere and a competitor in society tournaments.

“Here at Belvedere we have the most hickory society golfers of any club in the country. We have 44 men and women who are members here who play with authentic hickory golf clubs. They are very excited we are hosting the U.S. Hickory Open and a lot of our members will be playing in it.”

The Belvedere Hickory Open has been played 12 times at the course and is considered one of the four major championships by the Society of Hickory Golfers. It will not be presented in 2019 because the Open is coming to Belvedere but will be presented again this year June 14-16.

“I think it was just a matter of time for Belvedere to host the U.S. Hickory Open,” Joy said. “Having our restoration finished last year when a lot of the golfers came for the Belvedere Hickory Open allowed them to see some of the changes. Also, Belvedere takes care of the players and I think they feel like members for the weekend.”

Meyer, 70, said he is honored to be involved in both “majors.”

“The 100th PGA Championship is the culmination event in 25 years of working with the leaders of the USGA, PGA and the Tour,” he said. “Our pro Marty Joy got me interested in hickory golf. My fellow members urged me to try it. Once they hooked me, it seemed like a natural extension of giving back to the game to respond to the desire to host something big at Belvedere, and 18 months later we received the invitation.

“It is not the same challenge of all the work at Bellerive but rewarding just the same. Our respective budgets are just a little different. I already know Bellerive will break many PGA records. I am certain Belvedere and the Hickory Open will also. And on the last day of both Championships, coming down the stretch, the players will care just as much.”

Belvedere’s course, which allows some public play during the golf season, was established in 1925 and designed by renowned golf course architect William Watson. It has been recognized as one of the best golf courses in the Midwest and is best known for hosting 40 Michigan Amateur Championships. It will also host the 2025 Michigan Amateur during Belvedere’s centennial year.

In 2016, the original hand-drawn architectural plans by William Watson were discovered and a two-year restoration plan returned the golf course greens, fairways and many of its tees to the original design of 1925. The changes were completed with architect Bruce Hepner’s help in time for the 2017 Belvedere Hickory Open.

“The changes in just a year of maturity are now really making a difference with the way the course is played, and by the time we host the U.S. Hickory Open it should be fully mature and playing like it did in 1925 for the hickory players,” Joy said.

Meyer’s roots in golf go back to his childhood when his father was an accomplished local amateur in St. Louis, and his work with major championship golf goes back over 50 years.

“I worked for the 1965 U.S. Open (at Bellerive), and I was involved in the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur hosted by Bellerive,” he said. “I have been a member of the Executive Committee of St Louis’ Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association for almost 30 years. I’ve officiated at numerous USGA qualifiers.”

He said he has never satisfied his desire to improve his game but continues to try. He has read and studied the game and read about the variety of golf course design philosophies, which led him to be involved in the 2005-06 retrofit at Bellerive. It also led him with then-president Jeffrey Buntin’s support, to be involved in bringing Belvedere back to its classic design roots.

“Bruce Hepner is an accomplished student of minimalist design,” he said. “He has been a great partner who carefully and with great sensitivity to our budget coordinated the project with our indefatigable superintendent, Rick Grunch. I have been fortunate to be involved in all these championships and projects – a true labor of love!”

The Society of Hickory Golfers is currently planning for the 2018 U.S. Hickory Open in September in Greensboro, N.C. at Sedgefield Country Club.

For information about Belvedere, visit www.belvederegolfclub.com or call 231-547-2611

For information about the Society of Hickory Golfers, visit www.hickorygolfers.com

Zero Friction Signs U.K. Distribution Agreement with ProQuip

(OAK BROOK TERRACE, IL) – Zero Friction, maker of high-quality, technologically advanced products for golfers worldwide, has named U.K. apparel company ProQuip as its exclusive distributor of products in the U.K. and Ireland.

ProQuip will stock Zero Friction’s full range of innovative high-performance accessories including the patented Zero Friction Tee, the #1 performance tee on the PGA TOUR - with over 70 PGA TOUR victories. Also included in the agreement are Zero Friction’s award-winning compression-fit golf gloves, and the recently introduced Spectra high-matte finish color golf balls.

Founded in 1981, ProQuip is one of the UK’s best-selling golf outerwear and apparel brands, with distribution agreements in place across the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Continental Europe.

Since 2015, ProQuip has engineered the resurgence of the Greg Norman Collection clothing label in the UK market and now aims to drive further growth through a partnership with American sports technology company Zero Friction.

“ProQuip has a solid reputation in the industry, backed up by the company’s consistent performance throughout its 37-year history,” said Zero Friction President and Founder John Iacono. “We are thrilled to have such an outstanding partner for our quality products in the U.K.”

Zero Friction established itself in the golf industry with the sport’s first performance golf tee, and its success continues today, reflected by its usage on the professional golf tours. The company’s most recent success has centered on its colorful line of one-size compression-fit golf gloves, addressing an inventory issue faced by every pro shop and retail outlet that carries gloves. Having to carry only one size, retailers can offer a variety of colors.

Two years ago Zero Friction launched a true breakthrough product, the GPS Distance Pro glove, which comes with a lightweight GPS device on the flap, providing accurate distances for over 35,000 golf courses worldwide.

This year the company introduced two new products that received rave reviews at the PGA Merchandise Show. The Cabretta Elite golf glove is an upgrade to the original Cabretta glove released three years ago. The Cabretta leather provides a solid grip in wet or humid weather. The reinforced Lycra throughout fingers, back of hand and palm allow for maximum strength, durability, and enhanced breathability.

Also new are the Spectra matte finish golf balls.

“Matte finish golf balls are the hottest product in golf right now, as they are easier to see in the air and on the ground, so they speed up play and prevent lost balls,” said Zero Friction’s Director of Business Development Dan Pady. “Plus they are introducing more fun to the game, and are very appealing to the Top Golf type consumer. They also fit in very well with the color story element of our brand.”

A selection of Zero Friction accessories is available in blister pack Super Tubes that include performance tees, compression gloves and Spectra balls.

Russell Brooks, general manager at ProQuip Golf, said: “Zero-Friction is best known worldwide for establishing the performance golf tee market and delivering real benefits to golfers through game-changing technologies. Today, this ethos carries through its entire product range and represents an exciting opportunity for ProQuip and our customers.”

For more information, visit www.zerofriction.com, or call 630-317-7700.

From Donald Ross to America’s Longest Running Mini-Tour Event, Daytona Beach Has a Rich Golf History

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) - Daytona Beach is a national destination, attracting vacationers from across the country to attend NASCAR races and take a drive on the area’s famed beaches. What people are less familiar with is Daytona Beach’s rich golf history.

Golfers know the area as the home of the LPGA’s headquarters and, of course, LPGA International, a highly acclaimed 36-hole facility, but Daytona Beach has been attracting players for more than 100 years.

Here are three things you likely didn’t know about Daytona Beach’s long-standing ties to the game.

- Donald Ross, who was born in Scotland before later becoming an American citizen, is widely regarded as America’s most important golf course architect. He designed Pinehurst No. 2, Oakland Hills, East Lake Golf Club and Seminole Golf Club, among many other high profile layouts. Ross also left his mark in Volusia County, designing the South Course at Daytona Beach Golf Club and New Smyrna Golf Club. Like many Ross designs, the challenge at the South Course lies in the greens complexes. New Smyrna, which opened in 1953, is the “new” Ross course. Boasting outstanding year-round conditions, it is one of the area’s hidden gems.

- When it comes to competitive golf, Daytona Beach is, understandably, closely associated with the LPGA Tour, but did you know the area is home to golf’s longest running mini-tour event - the Riviera Open? Riviera Country Club has hosted the tournament since 1960 and future PGA Tour champions are among the event’s past champions, including 7-time Tour winner Bert Yancey, Morris Hatalsky, and Billy Hurley III.

- Spruce Creek Country Club isn’t just a quality William Amick designed golf course, it’s the centerpiece of America’s largest fly-in community. That’s right, Spruce Creek is built around what used to be a U.S. Navy landing strip during World War II. Playing the eighth and ninth holes you might have a plane just a couple hundred feet over your head, adding an adrenaline rush to your quest to make birdie.

The Great American Race and the World’s Most Famous Beach are Daytona Beach’s calling cards, but the area has plenty to offer golfers in search of a memorable of trip.

For more information, go to DaytonaBeach.golf.

Twin Dolphin Los Cabos to Unveil Fred Couples Signature Golf Course Fall 2018

Club and Course to Open at Premier Master-Planned Community

(REDWOOD CITY, CALIF.) - Ohana Real Estate Investors, LLC (Ohana) is gearing up to introduce its highly-anticipated Fred Couples Signature Golf Course in Los Cabos, Mexico. Slated to open in November 2018, the golf course is set within Twin Dolphin Los Cabos, a 1,400-acre master-planned community that encompasses the new Montage Los Cabos Resort & Residences, and Maravilla Los Cabos, a private residential community, as well as future retail shops and restaurants.

“We are thrilled with Fred’s genuine passion and unprecedented involvement in Twin Dolphin,” said Neil Johnson, managing director, Ohana Real Estate Investors. “He has been instrumental in the development of the course and the forthcoming Twin Dolphin Golf Club. We are confident that Fred will be an excellent representative for Twin Dolphin as a brand and a community. It is an honor and a privilege to work with a champion in the field.”

The Twin Dolphin golf course will be the first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course in Mexico. The course will be exclusively available to Twin Dolphin homeowners who are members of Twin Dolphin Golf Club. Montage Los Cabos resort guests will also have limited access to the signature course. Couples’ overall vision for the course is underscored by his continuous and energetic immersion in the project. Thoughtfully designed, the course features desert and ocean views from every hole, as well as canyon-like arroyos and local flora that pays tribute to the land and location. His enthusiasm has driven him to visit the site numerous times since its inception. Beyond his role as designer and ambassador, Couples will be a part of the Twin Dolphin community as a resident and member, utilizing the course to prepare for upcoming golf tournaments and events.

“Collaborating with Twin Dolphin on the new course has been an absolute pleasure, and I am very happy with its progress,” said Fred Couples. “We want this to be a course that all players enjoy.”

Guests will enjoy highly personalized service, a full practice range, short-game practice chipping areas, practice putting greens, a full-service clubhouse, on-course amenities, caddies and on- course service staff, and a state-of-the-art maintenance facility. Practice facilities will include individual hitting stations with personalized laser-measured yardages to target greens. Each hitting station will be equipped with player amenities, and state- of-the-art instruction video and computer systems will be available to guests as part of the instructional program.

For more information, please visit www.twindolphinloscabos.com and www.ohanare.com.

Exclusively @9 Renewing Vigor in Game of Golf through an Exclusive Player Experience

Company awarding limited-edition Breitling Navitimer watches for hole-in-ones, attracting new players and group outings to partner courses

(INDIANAPOLIS) – An Indianapolis-based company is changing expectations in the game of golf by creating truly unforgettable experiences on the course. Exclusively @9 is now offering players at select courses a daily opportunity to win a limited-edition Breitling Navitimer watch any time they score a hole-in-one on designated par-3s. The company’s first partner is The Fort Golf Resort in Indianapolis.

As the only company offering season-long, daily opportunities for golfers to win an exclusive product, @9 is helping to attract new players and more group outings to partner courses. To be eligible, players simply book their tee times through the Exclusively @9 website. No memberships, outside sponsorships, insurance or additional cost is required by individuals or participating groups when booked through @9.

“Exclusively @9 is helping to attract new players to the game of golf and increase excitement during every round that’s played,” said Eric Wynne, president and CEO of The Global Collaboration Group, parent company of Exclusively @9. “Courses have the opportunity to implement our program for the same amount of money third-party vendors charge for only booking tee times. Increased demand reduces inventory, resulting in price increases and greater price stability per round for the course.”

PGA-caliber video equipment is installed by @9 on the designated holes to record and collect data from participating players and provide complete reliability in hole-in-one verification. Using solar energy to power the cameras and recording equipment, @9 can set up multiple holes without laying wires or causing damage to the course. All equipment is installed within a week without disruption of play and eliminates the need for a course representative to be present to verify a hole-in-one.

There is no up-front cost for installation of the program or proprietary, non-intrusive video cameras. Exclusively @9 also offers seasonal courses the opportunity to pre-book rounds during the off-season.

As a report from the National Golf Foundation depicts a decline in on-course participation, Exclusively @9 is helping courses differentiate themselves from competitors by offering a unique player experience and opportunity to win an exclusive product for no added cost. The company plans to expand its product offerings and course partners throughout 2018.

“Exclusively @9 is bringing an exciting new element to the game of golf that the industry has never seen before,” said John Swan, PGA director of golf at The Fort Golf Resort. “There are typically about 10 hole-in-ones hit each season at The Fort, and with this one-of-a-kind opportunity from @9, we’re hoping to see even more this year.”

Exclusively @9 is founded by Eric Wynne and Michael Reid who have 50 years of combined experience working for a Fortune 500 insurance and financial services company, including as owners and operators of their own agencies. The duo, along with other business partners, first brought the Exclusively @9 experience to a Web.com Tour tournament in 2017 where a spectator sunk a putt during a putting contest to win the first @9 Breitling limited-edition watch.

The company has formed partnerships with leading organizations in their respective industries, including Breitling, a Swiss watchmaker and Reis-Nichols, a premier Indianapolis jeweler, to offer the highest-quality experiences, products and services. Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. The Swiss watchmaker has agreed to manufacture 1,000 limited-edition Navitimer watches that are available through Exclusively @9.

For more information on Exclusively @9, visit www.exclusivelyat9.com.

Former Winners Highlight Thursday’s ESPN+ PGA TOUR Featured Group Coverage

Four Days of Live Action from Tiger Woods’ Quicken Loans National on ESPN+

(RELEASE) - Three former winners will highlight featured group coverage airing on ESPN+ Thursday morning from the Quicken Loans National, the first of four days of live action from the PGA TOUR tournament on ESPN+. The event is hosted by Tiger Woods at Washington, D.C., area TPC Potomac Avenel Farm.

ESPN+ is the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer premium subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment and ESPN.

Kyle Stanley, winner of last year’s Quicken Loans National, and D.C.-area native Billy Hurley III, winner of the event in 2016, will tee off at 8:08 a.m. ET Thursday with 2011 winner Nick Watney. Fans can follow their full round on ESPN+.

Jimmy Walker, winner of the PGA Championship in 2016, former Open Championship winner Stewart Cink and PGA TOUR veteran Billy Horschel also will be featured with their round beginning at 8:20 a.m. Featured group coverage begins at 7 a.m.

ESPN+ viewers also will be able to watch featured hole coverage from the Par 4 No. 14, as well as the Par 3 No. 17, beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Weekend featured hole coverage also will include the Par 4 first hole.

ESPN+ offers golf fans 50 days of coverage from 20 PGA TOUR events, including the RBC Heritage, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the FedExCup Playoffs and more.

Finesse Fitness Introduces Complete, Portable Total Body Workout System

Kickstarter Campaign Launches Today to Finalize Production of Backpack and Duffel Bundles Featuring Content & Community-Driven App

(Los Angeles, CA) – Finesse Fitness today introduced their line of portable, total body workout bundles housed in a custom-designed backpack or duffel. Built to fit anyone’s lifestyle or fitness level, the bundles consist of meticulously designed equipment created with high-quality and durable materials. The Kickstarter campaign launches today to start production and has a funding goal of $30,000. It features limited Super Early Bird Specials of $149, and a number of other great rewards including three (3) 30-minute* shoot-around sessions with NBA legend, Metta World Peace.

To provide the full workout experience, Finesse Fitness bundles come with a mobile app platform where users can download or stream workouts, connect with their trainer, plan workouts, and give and receive support from the community. The app is free to use with advanced features available for $6.99/month. All Kickstarter rewards will include at least one month of Premium content access for free.

For trainers, Finesse Fitness offers access to its mobile app platform to build instructional training and workout videos, to connect and interact with clients, to recommend workouts with confidence and to track their clients’ progress.

The equipment within each bundle can be used alone or mix-and-matched to create a completely customized workout system for the user. The systems created can be used for both training and recovery, and help create results in areas such as weight loss, dynamic activation, performance preparation, stretching, pilates and yoga movements, and corrective exercise and rehabilitation.

What’s Included Inside Each Bundle:
Backpack:
SomaSole Foot Harnesses (2)
Link Resistance Bands (2 SHORT, 1 LONG)
FreeWheel Instability Sliders (1)
FitStrap Bodyweight Trainers (2)
Adjustable Handles (2)
Single Point Anchor (1)
Massage Ball (1)

Duffel:
SomaSoleFoot Harnesses (2)
Link Resistance Bands (2 SHORT, 1 LONG)
Stem Dynamic Workout Bar (1)
FreeWheel Instability Sliders (2)
FitStrap Bodyweight Trainers (2)
Adjustable Handles (2)
Full-Door Anchor (1)
Single Point Anchor (1)
Foam Roller (1)
Massage Ball (1)

“After playing football at Stanford and traveling around the world for the sport, I realized there was a huge gap in the fitness world for an easy-to-use, customizable and portable fitness system that targets the whole body,” said Matt Kasner, co-founder of Finesse Fitness. “We’ve made it our mission to provide workout and fitness tools and knowledge to anyone - from a busy stay-at-home parent to a traveling professional athlete to help them get and stay fit.”

All equipment is housed in a meticulously designed duffel and backpack to ensure that all of the Finesse Fitness products stay organized in their own unique pockets and are ready to use at a moment’s notice. There is also enough room to store other fitness accessories, personal items or even a tablet.

For more information, visit finesse.life.

Linda Hartough Completes First Painting in RSM Classic Series

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Linda Hartough, a world-renowned golf-landscape artist (www.hartough.com) and a 2017 inductee into the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame, has completed her original oil painting of the 4th Hole at the Seaside Golf Course at Sea Island Golf Club, in honor of the 2017 RSM Classic. This is the first in Hartough’s series of three works as commissioned by RSM US LLP (“RSM”), sponsor of The RSM Classic, an official PGA Tour event. Three different holes of the Seaside Course will be depicted in Hartough’s series, commemorating the 2017. 2018 and 2019 tournaments.

“The fourth hole at the Seaside Course is memorable not only for the Tour players competing in The RSM Classic, but also for every golfer who ever plays it,” said Hartough, who did an original oil painting of the 13th Hole at Sea Island Golf Club, Seaside Course, in 2001. “It was a pleasure to paint this spectacular hole at Seaside.

“Sea Island Club is a magnificent setting for golf.”

A small number of limited-edition commemorative prints of Hartough’s painting of the Fourth Hole at the Seaside Course have been created, signed and numbered by the artist, for distribution to sponsors and special guests of the tournament. Some of the prints will be given to the Davis Love Foundation, established by Love in 2005 to support national and community-based programs focusing on children and their families. In 2010, the Davis Love Foundation partnered with the PGA Tour to become the Host Organization of The RSM Classic.

For more information, visit www.hartough.com.

Weatherman Partners with Folds of Honor on Special Edition Umbrella Honoring Veterans and their Families

Five dollars from the sale of each state-of-the-art umbrella will support the foundation’s educational scholarship efforts

(NEW YORK, NY) – In time for Independence Day, Weatherman is launching a partnership with Folds of Honor, releasing a special edition umbrella inspired by our nation’s flag. The Weatherman x Folds of Honor collection will be available in four styles: collapsible ($59), stick ($65), 62” golf ($89), and 68” golf ($95). Five dollars from the sale of each umbrella will be donated to the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Since 2007, the Folds of Honor Foundation has been committed to a singular, noble mission: to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Its logo of the folded flag is a reminder of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. In partnership with Weatherman, this collection of umbrellas honors those men, women and their families.


“We started Folds of Honor ten years ago, and this year, we will award our 20,000th scholarship,” said Major Dan Rooney, Founder & CEO of Folds of Honor. “That wouldn’t be possible without great partners like Weatherman, who are committed to helping us make a difference in the lives of our military families.”

“I’m proud that Weatherman can join with Folds of Honor to recognize the personal sacrifice that members of our military make every day. We are privileged to play a small part in helping the foundation with its mission to provide families with the resources to continue their education,” said Rick Reichmuth, Weatherman Founder & CEO.

Weatherman is the only umbrella on the market to blend unmatched quality with smart technology and ingenious, meteorologist-led design. Industrial-strength fiberglass prevents breaking and inverting, and vented canopies withstand winds up to 55 mph. The Weatherman app provides comprehensive weather forecasts for multiple, customizable locations and allows you to locate your umbrella if you ever leave it behind, via a Bluetooth tracker included in every package. Weatherman golf umbrellas include exclusive features such as a UPF 50+ barrier for optimal sun protection, a large mesh pocket on the inside of the canopy that offers dry storage for gloves and a scorecard, and a silicone-coated, non-slip rib to hang your towel on. Weatherman’s unique features led Golf Digest to name it “Best Umbrella” for 2018 in its third annual Editor’s Choice Awards.

The Folds of Honor for Weatherman umbrella collection is available now at weathermanumbrella.com/foldsofhonor.

GolfLogix App Enhances Putt Breaks with 3D Greens Maps, One-Touch Putt Reading

GolfLogix introduces free 30-day trial of Putt Breaks, a feature that shows golfers how their putts will break on 8,000+ courses

(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) - GolfLogix, the most downloaded app in golf, is introducing its innovative Putt Breaks feature, bringing an entirely new level of advanced 3D mapping that allows golfers to see exactly how their putts will break. With Putt Breaks, GolfLogix continues to change the way amateur golfers play golf. With one touch, Putt Breaks instantly provides a precise green read in full-color 3D, with detailed maps that auto-orient based on the golfer's position.

"When you see professionals on TV get to the green, they take a notepad out of their back pocket that tells them the contours of the green and how their putt will break," says Howard Milstein, Chairman of GolfLogix. "Now for the first time amateur players can get the same info on their phone-if you want to putt like the pros, you need to start with the same information the pros have. It's also vital information for approach shots and chips. It answers the question, 'Where do I want to land my ball?'"

Putt Breaks gives users a bird's-eye view of the green's contours with the ability to zoom and pan to better understand the green. Golfers can easily plan their approach, chart out chip shots, and determine how their putts will break on every green at more than 8,000 courses and counting.

"Putt Breaks is intuitive and immediately gives users an accurate read down to the centimeter," says Pete Charleston, President of GolfLogix. "You can't put a price on the confidence you feel when you're standing behind the ball and know exactly how the putt will break. It's truly revolutionary and one of the biggest advancements in on-course technology in years."

PLAY LIKE THE PROS
From tee to green, GolfLogix provides the information you need to reduce strokes and Play Smarter. GolfLogix is so confident that Putt Breaks will change the way millions of golfers putt that it is offering a free 30-day, no strings attached trial to anyone who downloads the GolfLogix app.

More information: www.GolfLogix.com

NBC Sports Group Announces Comprehensive Coverage Plans Surrounding 147th Open

NBC Sports’ Emmy-Nominated Tournament Coverage to Feature Nearly 50 Live Hours from Carnoustie, the Most Annually from Any Golf Event

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – NBC Sports Group – in partnership with The R&A – has announced its comprehensive coverage plans for The 147th Open, taking place July 19-22 at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Across NBC Sports, 182 hours of programming will showcase the third men’s major championship of the year, including nearly 50 live hours of the network’s Emmy-nominated tournament coverage – annually the most live hours of coverage from any golf event – spanning from Thursday’s opening tee shot to Sunday’s final putt. NBC Sports’ storytelling will be led by the deepest and most-experienced roster of analysts, hosts, reporters and personalities in golf, who will share their expertise surrounding golf’s original major championship.

“The Open is unique. Golf’s original championship isn’t just steeped in nearly 150 years of tradition – it features a multitude of storylines that fuel our comprehensive coverage plan,” said Mike McCarley, president, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “Fans look forward to the best players in the world facing off against nature’s elements – this year at iconic Carnoustie Golf Links – in their quest to become the Champion Golfer of the Year. Our extensive approach utilizes our deep roster of commentators to set the stage leading up to our unprecedented coverage from the first tee shot early Thursday morning through the last putt on Sunday evening.”

Highlights of NBC Sports’ 182 Hours of Coverage Surrounding The 147th Open:
· “Playing Through” Returns: Enhancing both the viewership and commercial experience, NBC Sports’ popular “Playing Through” split-screen commercial format returns for The Open, ensuring viewers don’t miss key stretches of the action during commercial breaks. During NBC Sports’ coverage of The Open at Royal Birkdale last year, an additional 200 shots of live golf were shown via “Playing Through.”
· Comprehensive News Coverage All Week: Called “the best 19th hole in television golf” by Golf Digest, Golf Central’s Live From The Open platform will headline nearly 60 hours of comprehensive news coverage from Carnoustie, beginning Monday, July 16 at 9 a.m. ET. Morning Drive will complement the network’s news presence, including Midnight Drive, the show’s special 90-minute live pre-game show (Midnight-1:30 a.m. ET) that leads directly into the opening tee shot of The 147th Open with Golf Channel’s live coverage kicking off  at 1:30 a.m. ET on Thursday morning.
· Mike Tirico Hosting New Special, Vantage Point, on Tuesday, July 17: To help set the table ahead of The Open, Golf Channel will premiere Vantage Point with Mike Tirico on Tuesday, July 17 at 9 p.m. ET. An extension of the network’s week-long Golf Central Live From platform, Vantage Point will feature an in-depth interview conducted by Tirico with a prominent figure in golf, revisit landmark moments in The Open’s history, and uncover personal stories relevant to the fabric of the event. Additionally, Tirico will lead a roundtable discussion with some of golf’s premier storytellers from Carnoustie. This will mark Tirico’s 22nd consecutive year covering The Open.

“It’s a thrill to be going back to The Open again this year, which is a fitting setting to launch this new opportunity,” said Tirico. “I love being a part of the Golf Channel team during golf’s biggest weeks, and anticipate extending that commitment to great storytelling with Vantage Point.”

· Golf Films’ Go Down Swinging Revisits Golf’s Most-Epic Collapse: Premiering on Monday, July 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, Go Down Swinging will recount the unforgettable conclusion to The 1999 Open at Carnoustie. The film will include intimate interviews with Jean van de Velde and his caddie, Christophe Angiolini, along with eventual winner Paul Lawrie and dozens of additional witnesses – including Tirico and Peter Alliss – recalling the unbelievable sequence of events on the 72nd hole. Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner joins 13-time Emmy award-winner Israel DeHerrara to co-produce this latest Golf Films project.
· The Men in Blazers to Debut Nightly Show on NBCSN from Carnoustie, July 18-22: NBC Sports’ critically-acclaimed The Men in Blazers – Roger Bennett and Michael Davies – will leave behind their Panic Room studio in the “crap part of SoHo” in Manhattan to host a nightly show originating from Carnoustie, starting Wednesday, July 18 and airing on NBCSN. The duo’s signature, unconventional style of covering soccer will pivot to their unique takes on The Open, once again delivering a series of features for NBC Sports’ overarching coverage. The new nightly NBCSN show will expand that coverage with daily highlights, non-traditional stories and cultural elements from The Open as only they can.

“Both Davo and I grew up with The Open being the heartbeat of our sporting year,” said Bennett. “To cover it from that beautiful monster that is Carnoustie is the honor of a lifetime. We look forward to savoring every attempt to tame Hogan’s Alley, the futile battle between man and nature, and all those ‘subtle’ Ian Poulter wardrobe changes, in equal measure.”

· David Feherty’s Theory of Fehertivity Vignettes Highlight Unique Aspects of The Open: David Feherty will deliver a series of his signature Theory of Fehertivity vignettes to highlight the quirky, mysterious and distinctive aspects of The Open from his unique perspective. Excursions for Feherty will include an examination of Frank Sinatra’s visit to The 1953 Open at Carnoustie; a culinary attempt at making a batch of smoked haddock; uncovering how Carnoustie’s 10th hole earned the nickname “South America”; and a tongue-in-cheek analysis of the psychological phenomenon known as the “Carnoustie Effect.”
· Chronicles of a Champion Golfer: Golf Channel will premiere three new episodes of Chronicles of a Champion Golfer, a compelling series featuring first-person narratives of past Open champions. Airing on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET, new episodes include Paul Lawrie (June 26 – 1999 champion), Nick Price (July 3 – 1994 champion), and Phil Mickelson (July 10 – 2013 champion).
· Golf’s Greatest Rounds: Golf Channel will travel back in time with a collection of memorable Open Championships. Beginning Wednesday, June 27, Golf’s Greatest Rounds will relive the signature moments that led to Jordan Spieth (June 27 – 2017 at Royal Birkdale), Padraig Harrington (July 4 – 2007 at Carnoustie), and Paul Lawrie (July 11 – 1999 at Carnoustie) being named the Champion Golfer of the Year and raising the Claret Jug.

JULY PROFILES THE BEST OF LINKS GOLF ACROSS NBC SPORTS:
NBC Sports’ coverage of The 147th Open will highlight a month of coverage from predominantly links-style golf courses. Coverage will kick off with the European Tour’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (July 5-8, Ballyliffin Golf Club) and Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 12-15, Gullane Golf Club). Following The Open at Carnoustie, The Senior Open will be staged from the Old Course at St Andrews (July 26-29) and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open (July 26-29) from Gullane Golf Club. The month will culminate with the Ricoh Women’s British Open (August 2-5) from Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Links in England.

BIG MAX BLADE IP Hits the U.S. Market

With its fourth generation of Fold Flat push cart technology, BIG MAX stays ahead of the imitators with the remarkable BLADE IP

(RELEASE) - They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so innovators like BIG MAX have to keep moving to stay ahead of the game. With its 4th generation of Fold Flat technology, BIG MAX has done just that, literally flattening the competition with the new, 3-wheel, BLADE IP.

The IP, stands for Intellectual Property, a cheeky reminder for the chasing pack, but the BLADE IP is such a standout product that it will be a hard act to follow. At a folded size of 34 ½” x 24 ½“ and an incredible depth of less than 5” the BLADE IP is hands down, the most easily stored and transported push cart on the market.  In its folded state it fits in virtually any car’s trunk with a full golf bag placed on top. If space is truly an issue then the IP will slide neatly behind the front seats with its carry case (sold separately) keeping everything clean.

While the BLADE IP matches the flattest of BIG MAX’s carts, the real step forward for the IP is the folding mechanism. Once the height adjustable handle is folded down, simply fold the cart flat and lift the BLADE IP to see the back wheels automatically flip under the body. With a push of a button on the front wheel, the whole cart folds flat and is ready to be packed away.

Aside from its unique folding and storage qualities, the BLADE IP stands out for its robust, stable construction, that is backed up by a 5 year warranty, and its ease of use on the fairways. Adjustable bag brackets accommodate even the largest Tour bags and the double foot brake keeps the BLADE IP in place even on the hilliest courses. Integrated drink holder, storage compartment in the handle, ball, tee and double scorecard holder keep all your necessities close to hand and multiple Quick Lok and Quick Fix bases are ready to clip in BIG MAX accessories such as an umbrella holder, GPS holder, sand bottle holder, BIG MAX Super Net and BIG MAX Drop Stop Rain system.

Available in Black, Black/Lime, White, White/Lime, Phantom/Red, the BLADE IP retails at $349.99 and will be in stores from the end of June 2018. For more information, visit www.us.bigmaxgolf.co.uk.

Scott McCarron Wins American Family Insurance Championship Playing Tour Edge Exotics CBX Hybrid

Exotics CBX Hybrid Staff Collects 2nd Victory in a Row on PGA Tour Champions

(RELEASE) - Exotics CBX hybrid staff player Scott McCarron won the 2018 American Family Insurance Championship on the PGA Tour Champions Sunday playing a Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrid; a 19-degree with a Fujikura Atmos 8X shaft.

The win is the second in a row for an Exotics CBX hybrid staff player after Tom Lehman won the Principal Charity Classic last week with two Exotics CBX hybrids in play.

“First off, congratulations to Scotty McCarron,” of David Glod, President and designer of the Exotics CBX hybrid McCarron plays. “He played some grinding golf in some wet conditions and pulled off eight birdies for a 64 on Sunday. It is tough conditions that the Exotics CBX line of metalwoods was designed for. You want low spin and more penetrating ball flight that doesn’t die into the wind. From what I’ve seen, we are helping the tour players that are playing the clubs due to these reasons and we are very proud to keep adding so many wins and top finishes to the Exotics trophy case.”

McCarron shot 15-under at the University Ridge golf course in Madison, Wisconsin with a total of 16 birdies and one bogey. The 52-year-old Californian birdied Holes 14, 15 and 16 to secure his first victory of the season and his seventh win in three years on the PGA Tour Champions.
"All week, I drove the ball really well and I was hitting a lot of good iron shots," McCarron said. "I hit a lot of greens. I think I made one bogey all week and that was early on Friday. Just missed a short putt, one of the par 3s and made bogey. Other than that, I really didn't have any other opportunities to make bogeys. I just kept putting myself in play."

McCarron has collected seven Top 10 finishes this season, including four Top 5 finishes.

"Obviously, my game's pretty good, just won this week, so I'm pretty happy the way I'm hitting it." McCarron said. "I started putting better this week. I've got to work on my wedge game. I've got to wedge it closer. I have a lot of wedges out here."

The win is the third on the PGA Tour Champions and the fourth on the PGA Tours this year for a player with Exotics CBX metalwoods in the bag.

McCarron jumped from 8th to 3rd on the current Charles Schwab money list. Nine players playing Tour Edge are currently ranked in the Top 40 in the 2018 Charles Schwab Cup standings: #3 Scott McCarron,  #7 Non-Contracted Player, #8 Scott McCarron, #10 Tim Petrovic, #11 Tom Lehman,  #21 Rocco Mediate, #27 Scott Dunlap, #29 Non-Contracted Player, #31 Duffy Waldorf and #38 Bart Bryant.

With eight hybrid staff players and 26 additional players choosing to play Exotics CBX metalwoods since they were launched to the PGA Tour Champions, Tour Edge has experienced a remarkable run of three victories and seven runner-up finishes in the first 13 events of the season.

“What a streak we are on!” said Executive Vice President of Tour Edge, John Craig. “I am not sure if I have ever seen anything quite like it, to have a new line of products come out to a professional tour and to have already seen over 35 players using the product and to watch them play the CBX quite a lot en route to winning three times with seven runner-ups and 19 Top 5’s in only 13 events played. That’s a serious hot streak if I’ve ever seen one.”

Fifteen total Exotics CBX clubs were in play in Madison: nine Exotics CBX hybrids, four Exotics CBX fairway woods and two Exotics CBX Iron-Woods.

The Exotics CBX hybrid ranked as the #2 most played hybrid model at the event, where they have ranked all season long except when Exotics CBX finished as the #1 hybrid model at the 2018 Senior PGA Championship.

To find a Tour Edge retailer near you, call (800) 515-3343 or visit touredge.com.

Reserva Conchal Beach Resort, Golf & Spa to Host U.S. Kids Golf Latin American Championship

Elite Tournament June 28-30 Spotlights Top Juniors on Famed Robert Trent Jones II Layout

(PLAYA CONCHAL, Costa Rica) – Reserva Conchal Beach Resort, Golf & Spa – the luxury resort on Costa Rica’s scenic northwestern Pacific coast – will once again host the U.S. Kids Golf Latin American Championship June 28-30 on its award-winning Robert Trent Jones II golf course.

The tournament, which debuted a year ago, will showcase more than 110 elite junior golfers from around the world, ages­­ six and under to 18. Players’ families can also vacation at one of the premier destinations in Central America.

“We are thrilled to once again host the U.S. Kids Golf Latin American Championship, and offer players and their families a fantastic opportunity to experience the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica,” says Carlos Rojas Soto, Director of Golf of Reserva Conchal. “Last year’s tournament attracted a tremendous field of outstanding young golfers, and was a resounding success in introducing golf to children in our region.”

Reserva Conchal’s dynamic, par-71 golf course will be set up to play at yardages ranging from 1,300 to 6,900 yards, depending on age group. Jones II’s exceptional routing meanders between the azure Pacific Ocean waters and lush greens of the neighboring “dry” tropical forest, exposing players to myriad elements. The returning nines feature ocean vistas with unforgettable holes winding through lakes, rugged ravines and rolling hills.

Earlier this May, Reserva Conchal was the site of the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica’s Essential Costa Rica Classic. Reserva Conchal hosted the inaugural tournament in 2017, which was Costa Rica’s first PGA TOUR event in more than 30 years. Many players in the field raved about the golf course for its playability, scenery and conditions.

Golfweek and Golf Digest Magazines recently named Reserva Conchal the top golf course in Costa Rica. Reserva Conchal also was the first course in Costa Rica bestowed certification by Audubon International. It boasts a world-class practice facility and learning center with four green complexes, bunkers, chipping and approach areas, and an expansive practice tee. Single- and multi-day golf clinics are offered, including the PGA TOUR Academy featuring certified instructors from famed TPC Sawgrass.

Guests have access to a wide spectrum of premium vacation residences at Reserva Conchal, with a variety of floorplans, bedrooms, amenities and settings. The luxurious, all-inclusive Westin Golf Resort & Spa Playa Conchal is nestled along a pristine stretch of white sand beach. The ultimate in elegance, the Westin features numerous restaurants, pools, fitness center and personal concierge services at the Royal Beach Club.

For more information about the U.S. Kids Golf Latin American Championship, email golf@reservaconchal.com or call (506) 2654-3031. For more information about Reserva Conchal, visit www.reservaconchal.com or call 855.851.5000.