Golfballs.com Announces Free Personalization and Special Gift Sets for Father's Day

Order Customized Balls by June 10 to Ensure Father's Day Delivery

(LAFAYETTE, LA) – Golfballs.com – the world leader in golf customization – announces Father’s Day specials, including FREE personalization on golf’s top brands, a variety of pre-packaged gift boxes, and ideas for avid and casual players. Personalized orders placed by June 10th are guaranteed to arrive by Father’s Day.

Customized golf balls are a great gift for dads – and this June, the company is offering its popular photo balls with no upcharge on most brands and models (some exclusions apply). Customers simply upload a picture through the online store and it is printed directly on the ball before shipping. Other personalization choices include text, monogram, logo, a library of images and the AlignXL alignment aid that helps to improve accuracy on the green.

“Golf balls and accessories have become a classic Father’s Day gift, but what turns them from something cliché into a memory are the personal touches that we can help provide,” says Tom Cox, CEO of Golfballs.com. “We’ve removed as many hurdles as possible to ensure shopping for the perfect golf gift is easy, affordable and sure to leave an impression on the recipient.”

In addition to golf balls, a variety of gift packages are available, including six-ball boxed sets that feature customizable accessories – Bottle Opener, Poker Chip Set, Classic Divot Tool and more. Single pieces of gear can also be customized, such as bags, towels, hats, accessories, and more.

Visit the Golfballs.com Gift Center here: www.golfballs.com/Golf-Gifting-Guide.html

More information: Golfballs.com

PING Signs Jennifer Kupcho, Former World #1 Amateur

(PHOENIX) – Less than two months after her impressive and historic win at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Jennifer Kupcho, the most recent world #1 female amateur, has signed an equipment contract with PING, the company announced today. Kupcho will make her debut as a PING staff pro at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Among her many achievements, Kupcho earned medalist honors in 2018 at the NCAA Division I Golf Championships and was the national collegiate Player of the Year. Last summer, she was a member of the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup, Palmer Cup, and World Amateur teams. A four-time All-American, she set numerous scoring records during her four years at Wake Forest University and this season helped the Demon Deacons reach the NCAA finals for the first time in school history. The 22-year-old is a native of Colorado, where she was a decorated junior player.    

“We’re excited to welcome a player of Jennifer’s incredible talent to PING,” said John K. Solheim, PING President. “We’ve worked with her since her junior golf days and have long admired her ability and passion for the game. Her performance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur caught the public’s attention and proved her ability to excel under pressure on a global stage. To shoot a final-round 67 and win by four strokes was an amazing accomplishment. She’s a player who fits the PING brand in every way.”

Kupcho, who earned 2019 LPGA membership through last fall’s Q Series, said joining PING brings her confidence as she prepares to test her game at the highest level.

“I’m really happy to be with PING. They’ve been tremendous supporters of women’s golf throughout their history. I’m looking forward to representing them as a professional,” she said. “PING clubs have been in my bag for my greatest accomplishments in golf, so I have complete confidence in the equipment. It’s custom-built to fit my game and their team of experts brings me comfort knowing they’re committed to helping me bring out the best in my game.”

As part of a multi-year agreement, Kupcho will play a minimum of 11 PING clubs, including a driver and putter. Her headwear will display PING and she’ll carry a PING Tour staff bag. She tees off this week playing a G400 Max driver, G410 3 wood, G400 hybrids, i210 irons, Glide 2.0 wedges, and a Sigma G Darby putter.

Financial terms and the length of the agreement were not disclosed.

GOLFBUDDY to be a Sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer

(SANTA FE SPRINGS, California) – GOLFBUDDY (Golfbuddy.com), one of the leading innovators in the golf rangefinder industry, will be a sponsor of the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, an LPGA Tour event to be competed June 7-9 at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club – Bay Course, in Galloway, N.J. Players will compete over 54 holes for a share of the $1,750,000 purse. The defending champion is Annie Park.

The sponsorship is part of a partnership between GOLFBUDDY and the LPGA Tour.

“We are proud to be a sponsor of this fine event,” said Timothy Chae, CEO of GBA (Golf Buddy America). “More than 100 PGA/LPGA Tour players and caddies have incorporated GOLFBUDDY into their practice regimens, with appreciation for its technical precision and reliability, and that list continues to grow.”

Attendees at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer will have the opportunity to discover the quality and performance that GOLFBUDDY provides to dedicated professional and amateur players.

GOLFBUDDY products will be on display and available for purchase in the GOLFBUDDY exhibit space in the main spectator village at the tournament, including the GOLFUBDDY aim L10 and W10 models, as well as the GOLFBUDDY Voice 2 and VTX.

For more information, see Golfbuddy.com.

Puma Golf Adds Amateur Golf Sensation Justin Suh to Its World-Class Roster of Athletes

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) — PUMA Golf, leader in innovation, design and style, announced today that it has added the former #1 amateur in the world in 2018 and 2019, Justin Suh, to its team of world-class athletes. Per the multi-year agreement, Suh will wear PUMA Golf apparel, footwear and headwear in all professional events, in which he competes. Suh is set to make his professional debut this week at the 2019 Memorial Tournament, donning items from PUMA Golf’s SS19 collection of apparel, accessories and footwear.

“Showcasing a game that can compete with the best in the world, combined with his authentic, easy-going personality and athletic style, Justin is the total package and we couldn’t be prouder that he chose to partner with us,” said Dan Ladd, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing – COBRA PUMA Golf. “Beyond what we know he’ll achieve on the course, Justin is a perfect fit with the culture of PUMA Golf and will help us further our efforts in promoting game enjoyment. He is an elite athlete that knows how to have fun while performing at the highest level, rocking a style that is all his own.  In short, he is a tremendous fit for our brand, and he will represent the game in tremendous fashion.”

Suh, a 4-year member of the University of Southern California Trojans’ golf team, amassed an incredible amateur career that saw him achieve the top world ranking among amateurs and earn PING NCAA All-American honors in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, including 1st Team All-American status in 2018 and 2019. Over the course of his storied career, Suh set the record for individual tournament wins at Southern Cal, recording 8 victories in total. After a record-breaking junior year where he was named PAC 12 Player of the Year, was a finalist for both the Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus awards (collegiate golf’s two highest honors), earned the Arnold Palmer Award and represented the U.S. in the 2018 Palmer Cup, Suh kept his momentum going, winning twice in his senior year. To culminate his collegiate career, Suh finished 4th for the individual competition in the 2019 Men’s Division I Championship this past week.

“After my incredible experience being part of the USC Trojans athletic tradition the last four years, I am looking forward to taking my game to the PGA TOUR this week. Doing so in partnership with a great company like PUMA Golf makes it all the more special,” said Suh.  “As a Cali-guy, I have long admired how PUMA Golf marches to the beat of its own drum, offering golfers unmistakably fun style combined with the highest level of performance in its shoes, apparel and accessories. I can’t tell you how excited I am to walk the fairways of Muirfield Village in my first pro event wearing PUMA.”

Suh will be decked out from head-to-toe, in PUMA Golf gear this week, including apparel from the SS19 collection, IGNITE PWRADAPT shoes and the iconic P Cap in a variety of eye-catching hues.

For more information on the apparel being worn by Justin Suh this week, or to see the entire PUMA Golf SS19 apparel collection, visit www.pumagolf.com.

Giants Ridge’s The Quarry Named No. 1 in Minnesota on Golfweek’s ‘Courses You Can Play’ List

(BIWABIK, Minn.) – Giants Ridge – Minnesota’s leading golf resort set in the rugged beauty of the Mesabi Iron Range – announces The Quarry received top billing in Golfweek’s “Best: State-By-State Courses You Can Play” rankings for the fifth consecutive year.

Solidifying its position as the best public course in the Gopher State, The Quarry is built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine. Dramatically raised tees and hazards forged from reclaimed and repurposed mine land set this Jeff Brauer design apart from other courses and provide dramatic Iron Range vistas.

The Legend at Giants Ridge also placed 10th in the annual Golfweek rankings. Carved out of the Superior National Forest, The Legend is a true “northwoods” course featuring towering pines, giant fairways and majestic views of the Wynne and Sabin Lakes.

Golfweek’s ranking panel consists of 675 voters from seven countries who rely on 10 criteria to rate a golf course, including overall land plan; variety and memorability of golf holes; conditioning and ecology; and the “walk in the park test,” which determines if the course is worthy of spending four hours on it. The number of courses per state varies based on course supply, population and level of play. The Golfweek rankings include daily-fee layouts and golf courses accessible via resorts.

An easy drive from the Twin Cities, Giants Ridge was the only resort in Minnesota to boast multiple courses in the top-10 of Golfweek’s “Best: State-By-State Courses You Can Play” rankings.

“We’re thrilled Golfweek positioned both of our courses among the best in Minnesota golfers can play,” says Giants Ridge Director of Golf John Kendall. “The recognition of having both The Quarry and The Legend in the top-10 symbolizes the incredible work our team has done to provide guests with a truly memorable golf experience.”

The Quarry was also listed in two other Golfweek’s Best rankings – it ranked 63rd among the Top 100 Courses You Can Play and made the “Next 100” among modern courses in the country.

The Golfweek honors are the latest accolades bestowed to Giants Ridge in 2019. Earlier this year, Giants Ridge received the “Editor’s Choice Award” from Golf Digest in the “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest” category. The publication also ranked The Quarry No. 31 in its biennial rankings of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. In addition to the Golfweek and Golf Digest honors, Giants Ridge and its courses have received accolades from My Golf Spy, WorldGolf.com and Golf Advisor.

Currently, Giants Ridge is offering value-laden stay-and-play packages to kick off its 2019 golf season. The Villas at Giants Ridge package includes one round of golf with cart on either of the resort’s two courses (through October 15), range balls, a yardage book and accommodations for 10% off the regular price. The GreenGate Guest Houses package includes a round of golf on either The Quarry or The Legend, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book, and starts at $232 per person / per night. Early and late season packages at the Lodge at Giants Ridge start at $249 per person / per night and includes a two-night stay in a two-bedroom condo, discounts at the Sleeping Giant Grill and Bar, a round of golf per person/per day on either course, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book.

For more information: www.giantsridge.com, 1.800.688.7669

This Father’s Day Hide Dad’s Sweaty Backside with Camouflage SwampButt Underwear

Butt stains known as dari-angels can be a thing of the past …

(RELEASE) – Father’s Day is Sunday June 16, 2019, the heart of summer vacation time, which is also the hottest, most humid season of the year. The people at SwampButt Underwear (www.swampbutt.com) know all too well that families from all over the USA will pack the car/truck/suv/van/leaf and visit one or several of the country’s many places to take it easy for a week or two. But even the best planned and executed family outing can be marred when dad’s wet bottom sticks to the car seat, restaurant booth seat, bar stool, amusement park ride, public bench or the ‘dad chair’ at the bargain mall. Worse still, those wet butts leave stains in the shape of your father’s buttocks. Known as ‘dari-angels’ these stains brand the seat, sitter, and his relatives as yucky to be around. No one needs that, but help is available.

Discounted Dryness

The makers of SwampButt Underwear realize that 1) most men are blissfully unaware of their swamp butt, 2) those who are aware seem not to care, 3) the other members of the family or anyone in the travel party care deeply and prefer not to attract this type of negative attention.

This is why SwampButt Underwear is offering a 25% discount on all sizes of its camouflage men’s underwear just in time for Father’s Day. With the discount, family members and concerned friends can give a garment that quickly wicks away and helps dry sweat before it has a chance to soak through those khaki shorts that are part of the official ‘dad wardrobe’ every summer.

Use the coupon code dad to realize the discount. The discount is only available for the camouflage SwampButt Underwear and good through June 16, 2019.

Camouflage Wetness with Camouflage Underwear

The idea of hiding an otherwise soaking wet man-butt with sweat wicking underwear that was made with camouflage fabric seemed like the makings of a really amusing promotion. “Everyone thought that ‘camouflage with camouflage’ was the start of a pretty funny bit,” said corporate spokesman and frequent vacationer Nick Heraldson. “We envisioned a way to really use language and plays on words to help us make the point about what we were offering and for whom. But like so many ‘good ideas’, there was not much substance left after the idea was accepted. We had a deadline though so we went with what we had and went home.”

How It Works

SwampButt Underwear Made in the USA garments are made from 83% polyester and 17% Spandex. The leg openings and waist bands are larger and more forgiving than the original offering the company made. “More Spandex means more stretchier,” Heraldson pointed out. The fabric is also made to prevent odors accompanied by the overheated butt-crack.

Bad-odors tend to get into fabrics and stay there. No amount of washing, scrubbing or beating underpants on rocks will remove the stench born of butt sweat and worse. To combat the presence of this bouquet of stink, the new SwampButt Performance Made in the USA garments are also made with ‘Microblok’ technology to prevent stinky drawers, or from the latin; ubi foetidum.

MicroBlok inhibits the growth of bacteria on treated surfaces of products, greatly reducing stains, odors, and product deterioration. According to the people who make it, ‘the MicroBlok product line inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, molds, yeasts and other microbes on treated surfaces of products, greatly reducing stains, odors and product deterioration. MicroBlok has undergone rigorous laboratory testing. These tests measure the inhibition of bacteria, fungi, molds and other microbes on the tested plastic substrates. It’s an ideal inhibitor for use in products subject to high humidity such as those intended for kitchen and bath environments as well as outdoor uses including furniture, decking and yes underwear. Additional product uses include sponges, bath mats, wire and cable insulation, plastic gloves, scrub brushes and footwear.’ “if there is a warmer or more humid place than a fat guys’ butt crack, I don’t want to know about it,” Heraldson declared.

Mystic Creek Golf Club Named No.1 Golf Course You Can Play In Arkansas By Golfweek

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Arkansas has been recognized as the No. 1 Golf Course You Can Play in Arkansas by Golfweek in the publication’s "2019 Best Courses You Can Play in Each State" list. Managed by Troon’s Honours Golf division, Mystic Creek is an 18-hole, Kenneth Dye, Jr-designed course.

Open since May 2013, Mystic Creek Golf Club is nestled among the cathedral pines of southern central Arkansas. Just after opening in 2013, the semi-private course was named one of the “Best New Courses” by Golf Digest. With impeccable course conditions and outstanding service, Mystic Creek continues to be recognized as the regions premier course. A new clubhouse will open at Mystic Creek in 2020 adding high-quality food, beverage and function options for a multitude of events to the already remarkable property. The facility proudly hosts the Symetra Tour’s Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout as well as the Duck Commander’s NCAA Intercollegiate Championship.

Among the criteria used by Golfweek's panel of course raters include:
- Ease and intimacy of routing - The extent to which the sequence of holes follows natural contours and unfolds in an unforced manner.
- Variety and memorability of par 3s, 4s and 5s - Different clubs hit; extent to which the angles of play create interesting and varied playing options; and extent to which holes offer variety of options from the tee and on the second shot.
- Basic quality of conditioning - Variety of playing textures; extent of turf coverage; consistency and quality of bunker sand.
- Walk in the park test - Degree to which the course ultimately is worth spending a half-day on.

For more information on Mystic Creek Golf Club visit www.mysticcreekgolf.com or call (870) 312-0723

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

Adventure Week at Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at The Islands of Loreto

Ocean sports, wildlife discoveries, golf, fishing add excitement along the Sea of Cortez

(LORETO, Baja California Sur, Mexico) —Adventure Week is coming to  Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at The Islands of Loreto, July 15-20, 2019. Guests may participate in a wide array of activities, including paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, wildlife discovery, nature hikes, mini-golf, beach games and more – all offered as part of a special package. Details about activities and a complete schedule may be found on this link.

Throughout Adventure Week guests also will experience the accommodations and friendly staff of Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa, named “Leading Resort in Mexico and Central America” by the World Travel Awards.

The Adventure Week package is $1,053 USD per person, for 5 nights and 6 days (based on double occupancy in a deluxe suite), specified meals, and a wide array of land and sea adventures including paddle boarding, kayaking and hiking.  

Guests are afforded a wonderful opportunity to explore this unique and beautiful setting, which is flanked by the rugged Sierra de La Giganta Mountains and the Sea of Cortez. This stretch of sprawling, quiet beaches, scenic vistas, and astounding natural habitat in coastal waters off Loreto, Baja California was declared a World Heritage Site and is known for 900 species of fish.

Reservations for Adventure Week can be made by calling (800) 790-4187 from the United States, (855) 440-5590 from Canada, or (800) 838-2662 from Mexico.

The Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and luxury lifestyle community is also home of the highly-regarded TPC Danzante Bay, where 18 distinctive holes of golf weave through desert, canyon, and oceanside environments.

The resort is just a two-hour flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via Alaska Airlines. It’s accessible seasonally with direct WestJet flights from Calgary and from destinations within Mexico via Calafia and Volaris Airlines.

For additional information on TPC Danzante Bay visit www.tpcdanzantebay.com. For more lodging and package details, visit www.villadelpalmarloreto.com, call (800) 790-4187, or e-mail reservaciones.vdpl@vgloreto.com.

Foursome of 'Best You Can Play' Golf Courses Awaits at Reynolds Lake Oconee

(Greensboro, Ga.) – Reynolds Lake Oconee is in elite company as one of only three destination golf communities in the United States with four courses named to its state list of “Best Courses You Can Play” in Golfweek magazine’s annual “Ultimate Guide” that recognizes the most prestigious venues in the game.

Reynolds Lake Oconee’s “Fab Four” on the “Best Courses You Can Play” list for Georgia – No.2 Great Waters, No. 4 Oconee, No. 8 National and No. 10 The Landing – make Reynolds Lake Oconee the only “Fab Four” experience on the East Coast. The others are in Oregon (Bandon Dunes) and Wisconsin (Kohler).

“We are home to must-play, top caliber golf courses that have made Reynolds Lake Oconee the golf mecca in the Southeast,” said Mike Scully, general manager of The Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee. “The diverse collection of golf designs at Reynolds Lake Oconee – by four of the game’s greatest golf course architects – offers a choice of completely different experiences.”

Overall, Reynolds Lake Oconee features six golf course designs by five designers: Great Waters by Jack Nicklaus, The Oconee by Rees Jones, National by Tom Fazio, The Landing and The Preserve by Bob Cupp, The Creek Club by Jim Engh.

The “Best Courses You Can Play” is a compilation of golf courses accessible to guest and/or resort play in the United States. This year Golfweek’s select team of more than 850 course raters surveyed 3,972 courses, grading each based on Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation. Collectively, these knowledgeable raters have turned in more than 75,000 votes to compile “Golfweek’s Best” courses lists. To see the complete lists in the Ultimate Guide, visit www.golfweek.com.

“It is an honor for Reynolds Lake Oconee to have our courses included on Golfweek’s highly regarded national rankings,” says Rabun Neal, president. “Recognition at this high level continues to enrich the reputation of Reynolds Lake Oconee as one of the most impressive golf communities and golf destinations in the world. Members of Reynolds enjoy a caliber of golf excellence that few communities can match.”

The Landing pioneered the golf industry on Lake Oconee when it opened in 1986 (originally as Port Armor Golf Club), the first course along the lake. Great Waters, which debuted in 1992, will unveil its comprehensive, Nicklaus-directed renovation this fall. The Oconee (2002) provides a pure, undisturbed setting for an authentic golf experience. The National (1997) is a 27-hole complex winding through thick pine forests, rolling landscape and dramatic lakefront settings.

Located halfway between Atlanta and Augusta, the serene Lake Oconee destination also is home to The Reynolds Kingdom of Golf presented by TaylorMade – one of the only facilities in the country where recreational golfers can receive professional instruction, be fit for new equipment in the same elite environment used by Tour professionals, and have their equipment built same-day, on the spot.

Besides golf, 19,000 acres of water on Lake Oconee provide some of the state's best fishing, along with swimming, boating, water skiing, four full-service marinas, and Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds, making Reynolds Lake Oconee a popular destination.

Reynolds Lake Oconee offers a resort quality community with quiet, comfortable lakeside living at its best. Guest lodging includes well-appointed cottages, condominiums and hotel style club rooms throughout the property, as well as The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee.

For additional information, access www.reynoldslakeoconee.com.

Circling Raven Earns Idaho’s Top Spot in ‘Golfweek’s Best 2019 – Best Courses You Can Play by State’ List

(Worley, Idaho) – Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel today announces that Circling Raven Golf Club, the resort’s acclaimed championship course designed by Gene Bates, has garnered Idaho’s No. 1 ranking in “Golfweek’s Best 2019 – Best Courses You Can Play by State,” the media company’s annual compendium of America’s finest playing venues.

Every year, Golfweek’s elite team of course raters, which currently boasts more than 850 evaluators, surveys more than 3,600 courses – grading each nominated course on Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation.

Owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Circling Raven sprawls expansively across 620 acres of gorgeous Palouse Region topography, part of the Tribe’s ancient ancestral homelands in the Idaho Panhandle. It is one of many highly regarded amenities of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel.

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is proud to hold this honor; we strive to exceed our guests’ expectations on and off the course,” said Francis SiJohn, CDA Casino Resort Hotel CEO and Tribal member. “Circling Raven is celebrating its 15th Anniversary season this year with special offers and events, and we hope this acclaim inspires players to visit and experience all that we have to offer.”

Located approximately 55 minutes from Spokane International Airport (GEG), Circling Raven measures 7,189 yards from the rear tees. The Tribe recently announced that it has commissioned Bates to draft a Master Plan for course enhancements that are intended to ensure the golf club shines as brightly in the next 15 years as it has since its inception.

Many who play Circling Raven, which includes a nationally honored retail shop and the excellent Twisted Earth restaurant with bar, claim it as an immediate member of their all-time best golf experiences. Other Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort amenities and activities include the full-service Spa Ssakwa’q’n; a variety of hotel rooms and suites; bars, restaurants, lounges, and eateries; cultural immersion options, and more. The casino is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation with a planned Spring 2019 unveiling.

Traveling golfers often play Circling Raven and Coeur d’Alene Resort Course, located roughly 45 minutes apart. CDA Resort Course was ranked No. 4 in Idaho by Golfweek.

Circling Raven has garnered numerous best-in-kind honors since opening, including being rated as a Top 100 Resort Course, Best in State, and a Top U.S. Casino Course. Its golf shop has won national and regional awards for its excellence and its variety of products, displays, and performance.

For more information, visit www.cdacasino.com or 800-523-2464.

Daytona Beach Golf Community Enjoys a Fast Start to 2019

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) — Buoyed by good weather and a resurgent reputation as a go-to spot for golf travelers, the Daytona Beach golf community enjoyed a strong first quarter to open 2019.

With its idyllic winter weather, Daytona Beach is a 12-month destination, but the golf season peaks from January through April when locals, snowbirds and golf groups take advantage great conditions and temperatures in the mid-70s.

“It was a very strong spring - the best we've had since 2013," said Ryan Meyers, the general manager of Riviera Country Club. “We enjoyed improved weather, and we saw new faces for sure.”

Meyers said Riviera was up 15 to 20 percent, and the semi-private club was far from alone in enjoying a strong start to the year.

The reasons for Daytona Beach’s increasing popularity with golfers are three-fold: the area is home to nearly 30 outstanding public courses, the value is tremendous, and the location ensures a good time on and off the course.

Golf course options are a driving force behind every trip and the Daytona Beach area offers some of Central Florida’s premier layouts, including LPGA International, home of the acclaimed Jones and Hills courses.

Off the course, Daytona Beach, home of the “World’s Most Famous Beach,” always delivers a good time whether you’re traveling with family or as part of a group. From the Daytona Beach Ale Trail to waterfront dining, the area has something for every golfer.

For more information, visit www.daytonabeach.golf.

Bag Boy’s Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag Makes Golf Digest’s Hot List of ‘Best Golf Bags’ for 2019

Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag Wins Gold Award

(Richmond, VA) – The Bag Boy Company, a leader in the golf industry, is excited to announce that while up against 93 other golf bags for review, their Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag has received a Gold Award in the Hybrid Bags category. The bag is no stranger to this honor; in 2017, the Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag won the award for Best Hybrid Golf Bag. Golf Digest’s aim is to enhance the enjoyment of all facets of the game, making its readers better players and smarter consumers. The Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag is a cross between a stand bag and a cart bag. The added amenity of featuring a removable insulated cooler bag that holds four 12-ounce cans definitely sets this bag apart from the rest.

“We don’t usually play where the carts come with fully stocked ice chests,” read the Golf Digest article. “Sure, this bag’s 10 pockets, 14-way dividers and tuck-away strap provide easy access, but mostly we love the attached cooler that stores up to four drinks.”

The Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag’s appeal comes from the advantage of having padded hip protection for ease of carrying, while still being a full-sized stand bag equipped with a 14-way organizer top with full-length individual dividers and lockable stand legs with slide-resistant feet. It has the storage and versatility of a cart bag while still maintaining the flexibility and portability of a stand bag.

For more details or to see the full line of Bag Boy products, visit www.bagboycompany.com.

Callaway Scripts U.S Women’s Open Apparel for Emma Talley, Georgia Hall

(Miami, FL) — Callaway Apparel staffers and LPGA stars Georgia Hall and Emma Talley highlight Callaway® Apparel’s scripting for the U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston, May 30th -June 2nd.

EMMA TALLEY

For Talley, this year’s U.S. Open is very special, having won the 2013 U.S. Amateur at the same course. Not only is Talley looking capture her first career major this week  in Charleston, she is looking to rewrite history. With a victory at the U.S. Open, Talley will join the elite company in becoming only the third golfer ever (male or female) to win the NCAA Individual Championship, U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open. Talley’s looks for the week feature a mixture of vibrant colors along with all-over geometrics and bold prints that are contrasted with black and white to create a sophisticated early summer look.

Thursday
Chevron Polka Dot Polo - Amparo Blue
17” Fast Track Skort - Bright White

Friday
Women’s Micro Hex Polo - Caviar Black
18” Floral Printed Skort - Amparo Blue

Saturday
Mini Geo Print Mock Polo - Brilliant White
17” Fast Track Skort - Caviar

Sunday
Women’s Sleeveless Printed Polo - Brilliant White
18” Printed Stretch Skort - Brilliant White

GEORGIA HALL

Hall had a breakthrough year in 2018 where she captured her first major at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. The two-time reigning Ladies European Tour Order of Merit Winner and current #20 in the Rolex Rankings will look to capture her second career major in these classic styles and colors which represent the tournament, location and playing at one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf:

Thursday
Chevron Polka Dot Polo - Caviar
17” Fast Track Skort - Bright White

Friday
Women’s Swing Tech ¾ Sleeve Polo - Amparo Blue
17” Fast Track Skort - Caviar

Saturday
Women’s Swing Tech ¾ Sleeve Polo - Peacoat Navy
17” Fast Track Skort - Bright White

Sunday
Women’s Short Sleeve Essential Polo - Red
17” Fast Track Skort - Caviar

Learn more about Callaway Apparel at www.callawayapparel.com.

TaylorMade Golf Company Announces Collaboration with Peter Millar

(CARLSBAD, CALIF.) – TaylorMade Golf Company, an industry leader in product innovation and technology, announced today a collaboration with luxury apparel brand Peter Millar. By way of the collaboration, the popular apparel brand has developed a new line of performance golf apparel designed specifically for TaylorMade — the TaylorMade Designed by Peter Millar collection. The collection reflects the essence of both brands; delivering performance, style and comfort that golfers demand in each piece.

The TaylorMade Designed by Peter Millar collection features sophisticated styling combined with performance-enhancing benefits including premium moisture-wicking fabrics with four-way stretch, odor control, shape retention, wrinkle resistance, UPF 50+ sun protection and easy-care.
Available starting today exclusively via TaylorMadeGolf.com (U.S. only), the collection is comprised of golf shirts, pullovers and sweaters that range from $84 to $198 USD.

Polos

Print Stretch Jersey Polo
Dual Color Stripe Stretch Jersey Polo (3 colors)
Multi-Stripe Stretch Jersey Polo (2 colors)
Double Stripe Stretch Jersey Polo (3 colors)
Solid Stretch Jersey Polo (5 colors)
Double Stripe 2 Stretch Jersey Polo (3 colors)

Pullovers
Perth Stretch Loop Quarter-Zip (3 colors)

Sweaters
Crown Soft V-Neck Sweater (3 colors)
Crown Soft Quarter-Zip Sweater (3 colors)

Enjoy an Active Father's Day Celebration at Mission Inn Resort

Trap and Skeet or Golf Await

(HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla.) – Dad deserves a multi-day Father’s Day celebration. Why not?  Start the festivities a day early and meet dad on the range at Mission Inn Resort & Club—on the El Cazador Trap and Skeet Range.

On Saturday, June 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 am guests can participate in trap and skeet on a range that offers guests a unique opportunity to participate in clay sports with an experienced instructor.  In trap, a single machine throws as the competitor moves through five different stations.  In skeet, two machines throw targets while participants advance around stations arranged in a semi-circle pattern on the range.

This pre-Father’s Day trap and skeet outing will be followed by lunch at Nickers for only $50 plus tax per person. Children 12 to 18 are permitted to shoot and dine for a cost of $40 per person.  The package includes one round of 25 clay shots, lunch at Nickers in the golf clubhouse, and a domestic beer or soft drink following shooting.

In need of more activity after lunch?  Make a tee time at one of the Mission Inn Resort’s two highly-regarded golf courses.  El Campeón (The Champion), one of the oldest courses in the South and a member of the Florida Historic Golf Trail is a design classic as well as a legendary championship test. Las Colinas (The Hills) is a longer, modern concept, with rolling fairways that create its own set of challenges.

Reservations are required for either the shooting and lunch package, or for afternoon golf.  To book the trap and skeet outing call (866) 276-2854. For tee times call (800) 874-9053 toll-free or (352) 324-3101 direct, or visit www.missioninnresort.com.

For more information about the resort, including overnight stays, visit www.missioninnresort.com or send an inquiry to reservations@missioninnresort.com.

Mission Inn Resort & Club is situated amid citrus groves and rolling hills. Surrounded by lakes, the picturesque location features classic Spanish Colonial style architecture throughout the property; 176 graciously appointed guestrooms, suites, and villas; as well as three restaurants and two lounges. Besides golf and shooting, other amenities include tennis, pickleball, lakefront marina, fishing, and miles of nature trails.

OnCore Launches Additional Avant and ELIXR Colors and Finishes

Golf Digest Hot List Award Winning Balls Now Even More Visible

(Buffalo, NY) — OnCore Golf Technology Inc, is excited to announce the launch of its Lime Green Matte ELIXR and AVANT 55 golf balls.   The new Lime Green Matte line offers added visibility, a new finish on the ball and an additional color option to the already popular line of yellow and white versions of both golf balls.

This particular green color was devised after the company reviewed information by experts who study the way images are formed on the human retina and how rods and cones in the eye are affected by different wavelengths of light. The human eye is most sensitive to light at a wavelength of 555 nanometers—a bright green – making this golf ball one that should be highly visible.

“You’re definitely going to want to try this lime green ball so that you don’t lose sight of it given the combination of high velocity and exceptional distance you’ll achieve off the tee!” offered VP of Sales and co-founder, Steve Coulton.  

OnCore’s tour ball the ELIXR recently won a gold rating by Golf Digest’s Hot List and golf legend, Gary Player, recently joined the company’s list of shareholders and endorsers as he began playing the ball at this year’s Masters.  The AVANT 55 ball, designed to be soft and long off the tee, won Silver on the recent Hot List awards.

“We have seen increased demand for more color and finish options and will continue to dialogue with our customers to develop additional options as appropriate,” offered Coulton.

Visit www.oncoregolf.com to learn more, join the company’s loyalty program, and check out other great products including towels, bags, and hats.

STITCH Golf Continues to Dominate Professional Golf—Captures 101st PGA Championship

(CARY, N.C.) — STITCH Golf, known for designing handcrafted premium leather and knit headcovers, continued its domination of professional golf by being in the winner’s bag of the 101st PGA Championship.

By being in the bag of the PGA Champion, STITCH Golf has reaffirmed its position as the winningest and most popular headcover in professional golf.  “With an unprecedented seven wins in the last ten Major Championships, STITCH products have proven once again to be the preferred choice by the world’s best players and their caddies,” said Brad King, CEO of STITCH Golf.  “We congratulate the winner of the PGA Championship for his outstanding performance in the year’s strongest field and his fourth major championship.”

As seen on all professional tours, STITCH premium leather headcovers embody timeless designs and are handcrafted, water and stain- resistant with an engineered fit to ensure a consistent and snug clubhead fit.

STITCH Golf has solidified its position as the industry standard while being recognized by Golf Digest’s Editor’s Choice Awards for “Best Headcover-Knit” for the second year in a row. “With over 120 PGA and LPGA professionals, including Major winners, using STITCH gear on tour, STITCH has confirmed itself as the leading provider of golf products for the world’s best golfers,” added King.    

STITCH products are available at leading golf, country clubs and select retailers around the world and at: www.stitchgolf.com.

Bay Harbor, Heather at Boyne Highlands Layouts Ranked Among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses

(Petoskey, MI) – BOYNE Golf, one of the largest and most-lauded golf resort companies in the U.S. is pleased to announce that two of its acclaimed resort golf courses have been ranked on Golf Digest’s 2019 - 2020 list of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Heather at Boyne Highlands Resort joins the distinguished roster for the first time while the 18-hole Links/Quarry pairing at Bay Harbor Golf Club has been a staple on the list since 2003.

The publication's biennial review of America's top public courses can also be found on Golfdigest.com. Golf Digest uses nearly 1,000 low-handicap male and female golfers on its Course Ranking Panel and asked each to submit ballots based on eight criteria including shot options, challenge, layout variety, distinctiveness, aesthetics, conditioning, character, and fun.

The Heather, the 2019 National Golf Course Owner’s Association Course of the Year, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and was one of the courses that put northern Michigan on the map as a premier travel destination. The Arthur Hills-designed Bay Harbor Golf Club opened in 1999 and, according to Golf Digest, was praised as one of the “New Pebble Beaches” along with Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits. Both properties are must-plays on a northern Michigan golf trip.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized again by Golf Digest,” Bernie Friedrich, Boyne Resort’s Senior Vice President of Golf Operations, said. “The Heather and the Links/Quarry combo are two very different courses, but the fantastic variety of unique golf offerings has been our calling card at our Boyne properties, so we’re extremely pleased the Digest panel agrees.”

Boyne Highlands Resort, rated the No. 1 Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com, features 72 holes of premier golf design, including The Heather and Arthur Hills courses (crafted by Arthur Hills). In addition, the resort features the Donald Ross Memorial, which is a rendition of the legendary architect’s great holes from around the country, and the always-fun Moor course. The Highlands is the perfect buddy trip destination for golfers who like to play as many holes as they can during the long summer daylight hours northern Michigan features.

The scenic Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club, located along a five-mile stretch of Lake Michigan in northern Michigan, was recognized by the editors as one of the best resorts in the Midwest region.

Complementing the beautiful Inn at Bay Harbor are 45 scenic golf holes overlooking Lake Michigan. Bay Harbor Golf Club (Golf Digest Top 100 Public Course) features 27 holes designed by Arthur Hills, which plays as three different course combinations.  The (Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, Preserve/Links) combinations meander along the bluffs of Lake Michigan, trek through a rugged old limestone quarry, and wander through beautiful northern Michigan hardwoods. Crooked Tree Golf Club is perched on bluffs high above Bay Harbor. The course was sculpted through century-old hardwoods and the back nine opens to breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan.

Named a “Top Resort” and “Top Spa” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, the Inn at Bay Harbor has been a must-experience destination since opening in 1998. It became a member of Marriott's Autograph Collection Hotels in 2016.

Beyond the world-class golf Boyne Resorts’ Michigan properties are centered amid one of America’s most beautiful vacation spots. The scenic Lake Michigan beach towns of Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Petoskey are minutes away, and a side trip to Mackinac Island is easily managed. Guests can enjoy award-winning spas, waterfront dining, sandy beaches, watersports, gaming, microbreweries, wineries, hiking, biking, tennis, ziplining, shopping and more capped by the spectacular northern Michigan sunsets.

For more information, visit BOYNEGolf.com.

Three Branson-Area Courses Earn Top Spots in Golfweek’s ‘Best Courses You Can Play by State” List

Buffalo Ridge Springs Named No. 1 in Missouri; Also Garners Top 100 Status Nationally

(Branson, Missouri) – Buffalo Ridge Springs (No. 1), Branson Hills (No. 2), and LedgeStone (No. 6) were named to Golfweek Magazine’s annual “best-in-state” list, and Buffalo Ridge Springs, an amenity of Big Cedar Lodge, also earned to the publication’s “Top Courses You Can Play in America” list, ranking No. 89.

Golfweek’s team of course raters, which currently counts more than 850 evaluators, surveys more than 3,600 courses annually – grading each nominated course on 10 proprietary standards of evaluation.

“The Branson area has welcomed several new courses in the past few years, joining our wonderful collection of existing courses,” says Lynn Berry, Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau Director of Communications. “We hope this distinct honor from Golfweek will inspire people to visit our growing golf destination and experience our top-rated courses.”

Buffalo Ridge Springs was designed by Tom Fazio in tandem with Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops Founder. The course winds throughout the beautiful Missouri Ozarks landscape, with the brilliant golf holes complemented by the area’s extreme natural beauty. It is one of four Big Cedar Lodge courses currently open, with a fifth – Payne’s Valley, a Tiger Woods’ golf course architecture firm design – currently under construction.

Branson Hills was designed by Chuck Smith with input by erstwhile PGA TOUR player Bobby Clampett. It has hosted state amateur championships and has a clubhouse motif honoring the state’s greatest players, including Payne Stewart and Tom Watson. The course is known for its combination of diverse and creative golf holes that infuse each round with exciting shots and inspiring Ozarks scenery.

LedgeStone is a joyful golf experience thanks to the rolling hills and dales that have been masterfully integrated into the 18-hole layout. With hole names including “Temptation,” “The Mermaid,” and “Deception,” the course never disappoints with hole variety, high-quality course conditions, and country club style clubhouse.

As a bonus, all three of these honored courses can be played as part of the “Branson Invitational,” a two-person, three-round competition set for next month. For more information, visit www.bransoninvitational.com.
 
See more at: www.explorebranson.com

Product Review: Lamkin Grips

I vaguely remember a commercial from my youth stressing the importance of replacing grips on your golf clubs. If memory serves, the math behind the advertisement was alarming … If your grip slips even a fraction of an inch, your ball could easily fly 20+ yards off line. That quote was butchered, I’m sure, but the message resonates with me to this day.

Sonar Tour

Three words: Change. Your. Grips. 

When Lamkin sent a sampling to the office, we hosted (and posted) an unboxing video. Check it out HERE.

Lamkin offers a complete line of grips – for every club in your bag. We checked out the Sonar Tour and Sonar Wrap grips for irons and woods, as well as several putter grips.

The Sonar Tour ($8.99) boasts Lamkin’s Fingerprint Technology and feature a consistent micro-texture pattern that provides slip-resistant control and omni-directional grip traction. The GENESIS material has a slightly firmer durometer (hardness scale) for enhanced torsion control. The Sonar Tour grips offer a classic taper shape — providing a more traditional feel and the finishing process preserves the grip's super tacky surface, which extends the life.

The Sonar Wrap ($7.99) also offer Lamkin’s Fingerprint Technology and a consistent micro-texture pattern. The GENESIS material that is slightly softer than traditional rubbers, but with exceptional durability. Progressive skive dimensions (splitting or cutting, as leather, into layers or slices) based on grip size provides improved feed and fit versus traditional wrap-style grips. Unlike the Tour version, the Wrap features a straighter reduced-taper profile with a slightly larger lower hand, which promotes lighter grip pressure for greater consistency and control.

Sonar Wrap

Personally, I’m a traditionalist. I prefer blades over mallets and can’t fathom the thought of single-length irons. That said, there’s something unique about the reduced-taper grips that really appeals to me. The greater the taper, the greater chance your lower hand becomes dominant. I’ve pulled enough iron shots to know how bad that can be.

When it comes to putter grips, Lamkin has a wide variety from which to choose. There’s the traditional Deep-Etched ($8.99) and Deep-Etched Full-Cord ($9.99) putter grips, followed by the more modern SINK Fit Skinny Pistol Rubber ($17.99) and SINK Fit Pistol Polyurethane ($19.99) putter grips. Rounding out the options are the SINK Fit Straight Rubber ($19.99) and SINK Fit Straight Polyurethane ($19.99). Pick your poison and start making putts!

Like everything else in golf, grips are very personal. One thing that can’t be dismissed as subjective, however, is the importance of playing with “fresh” grips. Worn grips aren’t good for any golfer and any time. Log onto lamkingrips.com and take the test to determine which grip is best for you.

Blair O’Neal, Chad Pfeifer Join Diamond Resorts CEO Mike Flaskey for Special Memorial Day Video Series

A wounded Army veteran, Pfeifer shared tips for those transitioning out of the military and how golf has helped in his personal recovery

(Las Vegas, NV) – Diamond Resorts, a global leader in the hospitality, vacation ownership and entertainment industries, today launched a new video series with a special Memorial Day segment to highlight the importance of the holiday.

The segment, set at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando – home of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions – features Mike Flaskey, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Resorts, with two special Diamond Celebrity guests:
- Chad Pfeifer, U.S. Army veteran and professional golfer
- Blair O’Neal, Golf Channel personality, professional golfer and model

In April 2007, Pfeifer was in Iraq when his truck was hit with a pressure plate IED that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above his knee. In this first segment, the trio talks about their personal experiences with golf, including how the game helped Pfeifer work through his rehabilitation.

“Because this holiday is so special, we knew we had to launch the series with Chad, who graciously spoke about how he used golf to overcome many challenges,” said Flaskey. “It was an honor to sit down and speak with both Chad and Blair for the first part of this exciting series.”

In the video, Pfeifer also discusses tips for veterans transitioning out of the armed forces and shared some of his personal goals as a professional golfer. O’Neal, who regularly hosts Golf Channel’s “School of Golf,” shared her personal golf story and out-drove both men in a friendly competition on the range.

“We had a lot of fun shooting this segment and are excited for the rest of the series,” said Flaskey. “We have several additional special guests lined up in exciting destinations.”

The series, titled “Moments with Diamond,” will provide members, owners, guests and team members a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s innovative experiential vacation platform. Other special guests may include celebrities from Diamond’s roster of ambassadors.

To learn more about Diamond Resorts, visit DiamondResorts.com.

Chicago's First Topgolf Swing Suite Opens This Summer at Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

Topgolf Swing Suite at the Chicago Athletic Association to feature most advanced golf & interactive gaming simulator, available to rent for social gatherings & private practice 

(CHICAGO, IL) — Opening this July on the hotel’s ground floor, the Chicago Athletic Association hotel (12 S. Michigan Ave.) announces Chicago’s first Topgolf Swing Suite. Rooted in the building’s rich history of athletics and spirited play, the hotel becomes the only Chicagoland area hotel to offer the most advanced indoor golf and interactive gaming simulators, available for its hotel guests and local neighbors alike.

GAME ROOM GREENS & CHERRY CIRCLE LINKS

The Topgolf Swing Suite will feature a variety of virtual games in two simulator bays, named Game Room Greens and Cherry Circle Links in homage to the club’s early 20th century addition of three indoor golf “links,” originally constructed on the building’s ninth floor. Each Topgolf Swing Suite simulator bay accommodates up to eight people for active play and features a variety of virtual games – including the popular Topgolf target game, Zombie Dodgeball, Hockey Shots, Baseball Pitching, Carnival Classic, and more – paired with comfortable lounge seating, HDTVs and food and beverage service. Private event rentals of the bays are also available for viewing parties, meetings, karaoke, and more, for up to 20.

FOOD & BEVERAGE 

Game Room, located on the hotel’s second floor and operated by acclaimed Chicago-based restaurant group Land and Sea Dept., will offer a full food and beverage menu available for order from the Topgolf Swing Suite, ranging from playful takes on street food favorites to new, high-end offerings. As enhancements for those looking to elevate their Topgolf Swing Suite experience, special packages are available for order, featuring offerings from Land and Sea Dept.’s additional spaces in the hotel, including fine dining concept Cherry Circle Room and rare spirits bar Milk Room.

The Topgolf Swing Suite at the Chicago Athletic Association will open July 2019. For updates and reservations, visit www.chicagoathletichotel.com/topgolfswingsuite.

Ohio Golfer Playing 50 Courses in 50 States in 50 Days

Fifty for Father Campaign to Raise Funds, Awareness for Diabetes Research

(Columbus, Ohio) – Pete Crozier, an Ohio-based golfer, is embarking on a 50-day journey where he will play 50 golf courses across all 50 states to raise $50,000 for type 1 diabetes research, benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In honor of his late father, Crozier is taking his fond memories of golfing with his father and putting them into action. His journey will begin May 27 at The Founder’s Club at St. James Plantation in Southport, NC.

“As my 50th birthday approached, I wanted to memorialize my father and his battle with diabetes by taking on a difficult and exhausting journey of my own,” says Crozier. “I think he would be so proud of the idea, especially how Fifty for Father is already bringing people together toward a common cause to help others.”

A cause close to his family, Crozier’s 15-year-old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four, while his father succumbed to a stroke resulting from complications of the disease 20 years ago. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), type 1 diabetes inflicts approximately 1.25 million Americans, with an estimated 40,000 new diagnoses each year and no known cure.

“As a son and a father of loved ones with diabetes, I deeply empathize with families who are struggling, physically and emotionally, with this devastating disease,” says Crozier. “While type 1 diabetes is currently unpreventable, I believe donations from Fifty for Father can provide hope of someday finding a cure.”

Joining Crozier on his mission, official partners whom have pledged financial or in-kind donations and more include: Avis, Billy Casper Golf, Buffalo Agency, Creative Mobile Interiors, ECCO Golf, KemperSports, Linksoul, Masterman’s, Nike, Starbucks of Central Ohio, Titleist, TPC® Network, Troon Golf and 50 golf courses across the country.

Fifty for Father concludes July 15 at Green Hill Golf Course in Worcester, MA, on the same course where Crozier’s father learned to play golf.

For more information on Fifty for Father or to donate visit fiftyforfather.com and to follow Crozier on his journey Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Coore and Crenshaw's Favorite Children

Renowned golf course architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw take pride in their designs that now adorn Dormie Network.

(RELEASE) — In under four years, Nebraska-based Dormie Network has purchased six golf clubs around the country featuring courses sculpted by some of the world’s most highly regarded architects.

The end goal is to create a network of as many as a dozen destination private golf clubs focused purely on the game and aimed at golf traditionalists.

Dormie Network includes two layouts by the design duo Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Dormie Club in Pinehurst, N.C., and Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), as well as two from Tom Fazio (Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Tex., and Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind.). Dormie Network also owns courses designed by Arnold Palmer (ArborLinks in Nebraska City, Neb.) and Lester George (Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Va.).

“We met with Zach (Peed, president of Dormie Network) at Dormie Club about two years ago for a couple days,” said Coore. “He described his vision and what he hoped to do, not just with the golf course at Dormie, but with the entire network.”

Offering regional, national, and corporate memberships, Dormie Network's full-service accommodations, premium amenities, and renowned courses provide best-in-class golf with an intimate and casual retreat experience.

Close proximity to cities like Atlantic City, Austin, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Omaha, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Richmond, Roanoke, St. Louis, and San Antonio makes Dormie Network clubs easy to travel to and ideal for weekend getaways, client meetings, off-site planning, and corporate retreats.

At each of its clubs, Dormie Network has invested millions of dollars in capital improvement projects, currently at various stages of planning, execution, and completion. Construction on clubhouses, cottages, and maintenance facilities is underway; practice facilities are being redesigned and refreshed; bunker renovations are ongoing; and green complexes are undergoing complete restorations along with numerous other enhancements to play, aesthetics, and amenities.

Coore and Crenshaw’s Dormie Club is a walking golf course north of the Village of Pinehurst. The course was crafted into more than 300 rolling acres of land, and features 100-foot elevation changes, two natural lakes, and hardwood and pine forests. Dormie Club was the first new golf course opened in the Pinehurst area since 1996.

Golf’s most acclaimed architectural duo incorporated numerous old-school design features such as reachable par-4s, wind tunnels, and a 241-yard reverse Redan par-3, as well as an impressive collection of natural-looking green complexes and bunkers that are remarkably varied in size and shape.

When it opened, Dormie Club was ranked No. 3 in the United States among Golfweek's best new courses.

This summer, Dormie Club will undergo substantial bunker and cart path work. The club will also see the addition of a full-service clubhouse and a new maintenance facility. Given the network’s value to traveling executives, overnight accommodations are a key component of its business model, ensuring that members and guests have the opportunity to relax, retreat, golf, and entertain colleagues and clients at clubs all over the country. Dormie Club is no exception, with the construction of on-site accommodations slated for the upcoming year.

“Dormie opened during the (economic) fluctuations that were occurring around 2007 through 2009,” Coore said. “So it had a sort of fitful life right to that time. We were always so proud of the golf course and so happy with it, but there were parts of the golf course that were never quite finished.

“Most people would not recognize that — they’d go out there, see it was a nice piece of property and a nice golf course, and they’d have a good time. But (Dormie Network) knew that we thought there were a few refinements that could be made and some polishing touches — things that we had hoped to do initially — none of it major, just a list of some refinements and things we hoped to do and they wanted us to do.”

Dormie Network’s other Coore & Crenshaw course is another of its designer’s favorites. Located just outside Atlantic City and a short drive from Philadelphia, Hidden Creek Golf Club opened to widespread critical acclaim in 2002 — ranking No. 72 among Golf Magazine’s top 100 courses in the U.S.

“Ben and I are a little prejudiced, but we think (Hidden Creek) is a wonderful golf course, absolutely wonderful,” Coore said. “I think of that course with such positive feelings. We did Hidden Creek the same time as Friar’s Head on Long Island in New York. They were completely different properties and different everything else, but we thought both turned out to be really fine golf courses.

“When it comes to the feel and the whole personality and character of everything, from our perspective, Hidden Creek is a perfect complement to that area of New Jersey. Hidden Creek’s greens are very low-profile, with an old, almost Heathland-outside-of-London feel to them.

“It’s a subtle site, but it's a wonderful site for golf, with pine trees and subtle contours, yet big enough to be interesting,” Coore said. “(Hidden Creek’s previous owner) allowed us to build a golf course and situate it so the golf came first, so the home sites or anything like that would never be intrusive on the golf.

“The golf course has been very highly received around the country. They played a United States Senior Amateur there several years ago, so it was very highly regarded by the USGA.”

Coore said Hidden Creek’s previous owner talked to him before he elected to sell the club to Dormie Network.

“Other people had offered to buy it, because it was a very attractive property and it was successful in terms of its membership and its operations,” Coore said. “They were looking very quietly, patiently for someone who might want to buy the club. But it needed to be someone they thought would treat it with respect, and carry on the tradition and the understanding of what Hidden Creek was created to be.

Coore said that in Dormie Network, they found the right steward.

“The (Dormie Network) vision is obviously very ambitious,” Coore said. “They are certainly putting together an impressive portfolio of courses, and the products they are putting forth are very, very good.

“Golf course owners and operations managers are all trying to navigate these uncertain waters and determine the best approach and product offering to make their version of the golf industry viable. Dormie Network is an extremely desirable concept.”

Learn more at www.DormieNetwork.com, or contact Dave Plaster at 402.416.1106.

Three Sides Share Medalist Honors at 13 Under Par in U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

Matthew McCarty (right) and partner Derek Ackerman (red shirt) are pumped after posting 128 to share medalist honors. (USGA/Steven Gibbons)

(RELEASE) — Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for three sides on Sunday in the 5th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

Texans Derek Abel and Christopher Wheeler joined New Jersey residents Troy Vannucci and Vince Kwon, and former Santa Clara University teammates Derek Ackerman and Matthew McCarty as co-medalists after posting 36-hole stroke-play totals of 13-under-par 128.

Abel, 36, of Dallas, and Wheeler, 36, of Addison, matched the championship 18-hole record with a 62 on stroke-play co-host Pacific Dunes after shooting a 5-under 66 on Old Macdonald on Saturday. Vannucci, 27, and Kwon, 25, both of Marlton, posted a second consecutive 64, this time on Pacific Dunes, while Ackerman, 22, of Santa Clara, Calif., and McCarty, 21, of Scottsdale, Ariz., followed up Saturday’s 63 on Old Macdonald with a 65 on Pacific Dunes.

Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald, two of the 18-hole layouts at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, were used for the stroke-play portion of the competition. The field of 128 sides will be trimmed to 32 for match play, all on Old Macdonald. The cut for match play came at 6-under 135, with seven sides playing off for the final four spots in the draw Monday morning at 7 a.m. PDT on Old Macdonald.

Conditions changed drastically from Saturday to Sunday, with overcast skies and intermittent rain being replaced by sunshine and stronger breezes. Temperatures also got into the upper 50s from just barely cracking 50 during Round 1.

“It was a lot breezier today,” said Ackerman, who will graduate from Santa Clara in two weeks. “Yesterday, it was about as easy conditions as you can have, other than the rain.”

Abel and Wheeler, former mini-tour players who regained their amateur status in 2016 and 2012, respectively, certainly enjoyed the conditions, registering five birdies over their first six holes, including four in a row from No. 1. None of the converted birdie putts were more than 10 feet. At that point, both players knew they were all but into match play, which eased any tension.

 “We really didn’t have a number in mind, but we got to a point where we didn’t have to worry about the cut or anything like that,” said Wheeler. “We were just having fun, basically.”

Abel and Wheeler have known each other for 20-plus years, having grown up together in junior golf and then traveling the mini-tour circuit for four years.

“We kind of know each other’s game really, really well, so … we’ll start to forget it’s a tournament and play like we do on the weekends [back home],” said Abel.

Kwon, a caddie at Philadelphia Cricket Club, site of the 2020 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, and Merion Golf Club (2022 Curtis Cup and 2026 U.S. Amateur), and Vannucci also got off to a hot start on Sunday with three consecutive birdies. They had a similar streak Saturday, making four birdies in a row from the 14th hole on Old Macdonald. The side added birdies on Nos. 14, 17 and 18, with Vannucci punctuating the day with a 10-footer on the closing hole. Kwon stuffed a 52-degree wedge to 7 feet on the par-4 opening hole and flopped a wedge shot to 3 feet from behind the green on the par-5 third. Vannucci’s wedge approach from 63 yards on the second hole stopped 8 feet from the flagstick.

“We’ve been playing well coming in,” said Vannucci, who didn’t play college golf after graduating from First Assembly Christian School in Memphis, Tenn. He now works for American Athletic Track and Turf in Southampton Township, N.J. “We were just trying to get settled in, calm the nerves and just hit shots. That’s all you’ve got to do. Play golf.”

Ackerman and McCarty, a left-hander, played mistake-free golf for the first 14 holes. After a birdie on No. 5, McCarty kept the momentum going with a clutch 15-foot par putt on the sixth green. They made their lone bogey on the 515-yard, par-4 15th to fall back to 12 under, but McCarty coolly converted a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to pull the team into a three-way tie for medalist.

“I knew [Derek] was in with 5, so I just figured I’d hit it to the back of the cup,” said McCarty, a rising senior at Santa Clara. “We were definitely thinking about [being medalist] it a little after [Saturday’s 63]. I don’t think that was our main goal coming out here today.”

By Sunday night, it was official.

NOTABLE

The 7-for-4 playoff for the final match-play spots will be conducted on Nos. 5, 6 and 7 on Old Macdonald. The holes will continue in that loop until the playoff is completed. Among the sides in the playoff are 2018 semifinalists Sam Tidd, of Meridian, Idaho, and Carson Barry, of Eagle, Idaho. Tidd just completed his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma. Barry finished his freshman year at Oregon State.

The youngest and oldest competitors in the field each qualified for match play with their partner. Aidan Tran, 15, of Fresno, Calif., a rising high school sophomore who is planning to play at Georgia Tech in 2022, shot 9-under 132 with Jackson Lake, of Clovis, Calif. And John Sajevic, 63, of Fremont, Neb., advanced with his son, Andrew, after the duo also finished at 132. They were the only father-son tandem to qualify from the three in the field.

Long Beach, Calif., residents Hunter and Ryder Epson were the only brother-brother tandem to advance (132). Brothers-in-law Tyler Cooke, of Warwick, R.I., and Bobby Leopold, of Coventry, R.I., also qualified (131).

Ex-NFL defensive tackle Kyle Williams, of Ruston, La., and partner Greg Berthelot, of Baton Rouge, La., qualified for match play at 10-under 131, thanks to an eagle on the 379-yard, par-4 third hole on Old Macdonald. It was the only eagle on a par 4 during stroke play. Berthelot drove the green and made the 15-foot putt. “I hit a little left of the line,” said Berthelot. “Once I hit it, I knew it had a chance, but I didn’t think it was going to get there. I hit the putt to the right and let the wind take it in. It was a great [putt], it got us going.” Williams played 13 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, making six Pro Bowls, before retiring last December.

2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, of Newport Beach, Calif., and partner Derek Busby, of Ruston, La., carded a 6-under 64 on Pacific Dunes to qualify for match play at 11-under 130.

2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale, of Brockton, Mass., and his partner, Herbie Aikens, of Kingston, Mass., fired a 65 Sunday on Pacific Dunes to qualify for match play at 7-under 134. Parziale also shared low-amateur honors in last year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Nathan Smith, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Todd White, of Spartanburg, S.C., the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champions in 2015, failed to qualify for match play after posting a 36-hole total of 1-under 140.

Another USGA champion, Michael McCoy (2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur), of Norwalk, Iowa, and partner Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, Iowa, also failed to qualify after shooting 2-under 139.

Supported by the largest gallery of the day, Bandon Dunes caddies Kevin Rei, of Bandon, Ore., and Kyle Crawford, of Coos Bay, Ore., came up one stroke short of the playoff. In front of at least 50 caddies and other employees, Rei and Crawford needed a birdie on Pacific Dunes’ par-5 closing hole but made par to post 5-under 136.

QUOTABLE

“We had prime scoring conditions at Pacific [Dunes] coming out at 7 o’clock in the morning. No wind. You can get after it a little bit. We just played solid golf. Our putters went cold [in the middle of the round], but we were still giving ourselves looks [at birdie]. Fairways and greens and we snuck a few [birdies] coming in down the stretch [on Nos. 14, 17 and 18]. It was fun. – Troy Vannucci after shooting a 6-under 64 on Pacific Dunes with partner Vince Kwon

“Any time you can play 36 holes and not make a bogey is fantastic.” – Todd Mitchell after posting 10-under 131 with partner Scott Harvey.

“We were definitely leaking oil and I had to make a decent par putt on 14. The goal was to just get one and get back in the right direction. It totally changed the momentum because we were reeling a little bit.” – Marc Dull on making a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th hole on Old Macdonald en route to a 4-under 67 with partner Chip Brooke

“It’s different. It is nothing close to what we have in [New Jersey]. [My partner] hit a tee shot on 17 [on Old Macdonald] that ended up in the fairway. At home it would have been 20 yards OB (out of bounds).” – Brendan Hansen on playing Old Macdonald. He and partner Jack Wall shot an 8-under 63 in Sunday’s second round to post 10-under 131 in stroke play

“We did a good job of managing the wind. We gave ourselves two looks on every hole.” – Andrew Medley after he and his partner, Taylor Wood, shot 7-under 64 on Old Macdonald to finish stroke play at 12-under 129

“We both thought, not to say in a cocky way or anything, that if we do our thing, we’re a good team and tough to beat. I have a lot of faith in [Derek] where if I put myself out of it, he’s going to step up to the plate and hit a few good ones. I just think there’s a lot of trust. We played really hard [Saturday on Old Macdonald] and well today, so just looking forward to tomorrow.” – 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad after posting 11-under 130 with partner Derek Busby.

Major Dan Rooney and Jack Nicklaus Announce American Dunes Golf Club

“The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” —Former U.S. Representative Jeff Miller, Florida

(GRAND HAVEN, Mich.) —As we gather this weekend with family and friends to celebrate Memorial Day, we pause to remember, honor and pay tribute to those who have died for our freedoms while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is with that same spirit in which Folds of Honor was founded, and what inspired Folds of Honor Founder Dan Rooney to collaborate with icon Jack Nicklaus and Nicklaus Design to create American Dunes Golf Club.

Located near the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, Grand Haven Golf Club hosted the first golf tournament that would inspire the formation of Folds of Honor and Patriot Golf Day. Now, the original layout is being totally redesigned and reimagined by Nicklaus and Nicklaus Design, and rebranded as American Dunes. A Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, American Dunes will pay tribute to the United States Military and is a reminder to all that Freedom is not free.

"I love the game of golf," Jack Nicklaus said, "but I love my country even more."

Grand Haven first opened in 1965 and was designed by Michigan architects Bruce Matthews and his son Jerry Matthews. In 1998, Dr. John Rooney—father of Major Dan Rooney—bought the club. It was 20 years later, when Dan sat down with Nicklaus on the back patio of The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, and told him of his vision to transform Grand Haven and preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor. The Golden Bear quickly agreed to come on board and bring with him the world’s leading golf course design firm.

"American Dunes represents a collaboration of countless like-minded patriots, who want this golf course to forever stand as a tribute to the men and women of our military, a safe haven for veterans who find rehabilitation through the recreation of the game, and a backdrop to celebrate our country and those who fought for its freedom,” said Major Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot in the USAFR and PGA Professional who founded Folds of Honor in 2007. “To fund the construction of American Dunes there are 18 individual hole sponsors and a small group of investors. This group of Patriots is allowing our dream to take flight. With a target opening date of Memorial Day 2020, American Dunes will proudly stand as a vessel to raise awareness and donations for Folds of Honor, while recognizing the legacy of Barbara and Jack’s contributions to our military.”

A significant legacy such as this is born out of the effort of selfless individuals and companies who have donated their time and resources. This includes the work of Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus Design’s Senior Designer Chris Cochran, Superior Golf Concepts, Jon Scott Agronomic Consulting, and dozens of other donors.

“The Nicklaus Companies has a long history of giving back in its products or services, whether the beneficiary is junior golf or pediatric healthcare,” said Howard Milstein, Executive Chairman of the Nicklaus Companies. “But one of the important pillars of philanthropy, and something very dear to the hearts of Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, is to give back to the military men and women who have sacrificed limb and life for our country’s freedom. That’s why our company donated design services to American Lake Veterans Golf Course outside Tacoma, Washington; why we have consulted on a number of other veteran projects to provide recreation and rehabilitation for our heroes; and why we are in full support of American Dunes.”

The site is an ideal blend of sandy soil, mature trees, elevation change and rolling terrain about 200 to 300 yards off Lake Michigan. Work is well underway at American Dunes, and the Golden Bear and Cochran have made several trips to the site, and are unlocking its potential.

“The property is basically sand underneath,” Nicklaus explained. “It had magnificent trees that had grown up over time, but is that really what this golf course is or should be with the dunes off the lake? What we are trying to do is create a golf course that will open up that feeling of coming off Lake Michigan, having the dunes, and then incorporating that into some of the inland areas that have the beautiful trees. The combination of the two—being able to play through and around exposed dunes as well as tree-lined holes in some places—really creates a golf course that is rather unique. If we can do that, and at the same time honor our military and raise money for the education of the families of our fallen soldiers, this is going to be something very unique and very special in the game of golf.

“We will do our part. I know Dan will do his part. But we’re going to need help. A lot of help from a lot of good people to really carry out Dan’s vision, mission and goal. We’re very proud at the Nicklaus organization to be a part of this, very proud to be part of Folds of Honor’s past, and very proud to be a part of its future.”

For more information on Nicklaus Design and the Nicklaus Companies, visit nicklaus.com.

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and platinum on Guide Star, that provides educational scholarships to the families of military men and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States armed forces. Folds of Honor educational scholarships support private educational tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents. Founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and F-16 fighter pilot in the Air Force Reserves who served three tours of duty in Iraq, Folds of Honor is proud to have awarded more than 20,000 scholarships in all 50 states and some US territories, including approximately 4,100 in 2018 alone.
For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship, visit foldsofhonor.org.