2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry Joins Season 10 Finale of "Feherty," Tonight at 9 P.M. ET

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry will join David Feherty on the season 10 finale of his self-titled Emmy-nominated original series, Feherty presented by Farmers Insurance, tonight at 9 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Filmed in West Palm Beach earlier this year, the Irishman discusses several topics with Feherty, including:
- Recounting his memorable week at Royal Portrush, winning his first major at the 2019 Open
- Reflecting on his improbable win at the 2009 Irish Open, as a 22-year-old amateur
- Surrendering a four-shot lead at the 2016 U.S. Open, and how it impacted his confidence

Feherty Episodes Available on NBCUniversal’s “Peacock”: Archived episodes of Feherty also are available to watch on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service featuring a world-class slate of exclusive originals, on-demand libraries of hit TV shows, plus critically acclaimed films. Currently, 23 episodes of Feherty are available to watch for free on Peacock.

A two-time Emmy-nominated host (Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Host), Feherty’s series initially debuted in June 2011, and has welcomed nearly 150 guests since the show’s inaugural episode.

Described as “equal parts wit and wisecracks” by Forbes and “a healthy dose of humor and self-deprecation” by Sports Business Journal, Feherty’s all-star lineup of golf-enthused and culturally relevant guests feature celebrities from across entertainment, sports and politics. To date, Feherty has sat down with four U.S. Presidents (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump); sports legends Charles Barkley, Stephen Curry and Nick Saban; Hollywood icons Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Hart and Larry David; World Golf of Fame members including Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Nancy Lopez, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson; and a host of current golf superstars led by Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.

Cleveland Country Club Completes Dining Area Renovations and Amenity Updates

Shelby’s Only Private Country Club Completes a $1.5 Million Renovation to Enhanced Dining Offerings and Upgrade Amenities for Members

(SHELBY, N.C.) — Shelby’s only private golf club, Cleveland Country Club, is excited to announce the completion of the $1.5 million renovations to the indoor and outdoor dining areas, course bunkers and upgraded club amenities. The newly renovated dining space will welcome members with reservations beginning on September 28th.

JPS Building and Lawler Design Studios were contracted to oversee the renovation and design of the enhanced dining facilities. The redesigned dining area now features a large outdoor courtyard with fire pits and couches to encourage communal dining and create a friendly atmosphere where members can stop in for quick libations following an afternoon on the course, or enjoy a sit-down dinner with guests. Guests who prefer inside dining will be able to enjoy café style seating and a large winding bar available for both drinking and dining.

In addition to the elevated dining space, Cleveland Country Club will debut revitalized lunch and dinner menus crafted by newly appointed Executive Chef, Zach Anderson. The new menus feature locally sourced proteins and produce, fresh seasonal ingredients and house-made sauces and dry rubs. Highlights of the new dinner menu include Shrimp Mac & Cheese with smoked Gouda cheese sauce, spinach, and mushrooms, as well as a Cornmeal Dusted Mountain Trout served with lemon dill cream sauce. The menu also features vegan and vegetarian options. The new lunch menu includes salads, sandwiches, starters and craft burgers.

“I am thrilled to join the Cleveland Country Club team and to partake in enhancing Shelby’s evolving dining scene,” said Executive Chef Zach Anderson. “I look forward to introducing new flavors and elevating seasonal menu selections through our new dining concept.”

The renovations to the dining space are only part of the $1.5 million dollar renovation that has taken place at the Cleveland Country Club. In the last twelve months, significant strides have been made to improve the club, such as repainting the tennis courts, repairing the parking lot, resurfacing all clay tennis courts, and renovating the bunkers on the golf course. The Cleveland Country Club has remained operational during the renovations, which has allowed members to experience some of the enhanced features. Members can also look forward to a resort-style pool that will be completed in the next phase of renovations to the club.

The Cleveland Country Club will be celebrating this new milestone with a diverse offering of membership options, including Equity, Non-Equity, Young Executive, and the new Out of County membership classification for those who live more than 50 miles away from the club and includes full access to all amenities and services.

“We welcome the Shelby community to meet the revitalized Cleveland Country Club,” said General Manager, Allyson Darling. “We are so pleased to have served our community for the past 93 years and look forward to continuing to enhance the membership experience with new offerings at our historic club.”

Cleveland Country Club is managed by Bobby Jones Links, based in Alpharetta, GA. For additional information on the community and membership opportunities, visit www.clevelandcountryclub.net.

Jon Rahm Wins The BMW Championship with Full Bag of TaylorMade

Team TaylorMade's Jon Rahm collected his second win in 2020 in dramatic fashion following a playoff with fellow TaylorMade athlete Dustin Johnson

(Carlsbad, Calif.) — TaylorMade's Jon Rahm wins his 5th PGA TOUR title at Olympia Fields CC following a dominant weekend shooting 66-64 to get into a playoff with Dustin Johnson.

Jon's playoff winning putt on 18 with his Spider X chalk was 66ft - his longest on the PGA TOUR this season. The other thirteen clubs in his bag are his SIM driver, SIM fairways, P750 irons and MG2 wedges.

Recently and just prior to his win at Memorial last month, Jon weakened the lofts on his P750 irons to adjust for a slight reduction in iron spin rates from his swing following the break in the PGA TOUR season.

NEED TO KNOW

- Rahm made 297ft in putts with his Spider X chalk over the four rounds and gained +0.970 in SG: putting
- Rahm was ranked 6th in Driving distance (331.2 yards)
- This is Rahm's 5th PGA TOUR victory since turning professional in June 2016
- Rahm led the field in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, Approach the Green and Proximity to the Hole
- Jon switched into TP5 from the TP5X earlier this year for more spin and control with his irons and wedges
- Rahm weakened the lofts in his irons slightly as he was hitting them further since the break and wanted to better manage his trajectory and descent angle
- Rahm's opening 36 holes (146) was the highest 36 hole score by a winner on the PGA TOUR since the 1999 Open Championship
- It was the first time the world no.1 and no.2 have met in a playoff since 1995 World Series of Golf
- Rahm bettered his opening 36 holes (146) by 16 shots shooting 130 on the weekend. This is the largest weekend improvement by a PGA Tour winner since fellow Team TaylorMade athlete Rory McIlroy shot 126 over the weekend at Quail Hollow in 2010 (17 strokes; 145-128)

JON RAHM WITB

SIM 10.5 driver Aldila Tour X
SIM 15.0 fairway Aldila Tour X
SIM 19.0 fairway Graphite Design Tour AD X
P750 4-PW
MG Hi Toe 52°
MG2 56° and 60°
Spider X chalk
TP5 #10

The Road Back: Changing Jobs “Mid-Pandemic” and Adopting New Practices

In this episode, we get insights from Sean Moennich, Director of Golf for Mallard Creek Golf Club in Columbia Station, Ohio. Moennich, who was at sister course Pine Brook before taking over at Mallard Creek, discusses the challenges he’s faced while changing positions during the COVID-19 pandemic and what policies he thinks will carry over once the coronavirus crisis is behind us. “A good thing that came out of this is making tee times,” he says. “We were able to manage our tee sheets a lot better, and I feel like our pace of play is a lot better.” The remote-payment option may also be carried over post-pandemic. “It gets guys to the tee box a lot quicker,” Moennich says.

AHEAD is Official Merchandise Partner of Women’s Golf Day 2020

Headwear, Apparel, Accessories to Celebrate Live Global Events

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) – AHEAD is an official merchandise partner supporting Women’s Golf Day (WGD) for the live version on September 1.

AHEAD joins more than 50,000 women and girls, 1,000 golf courses and 66 countries around the world unifying and participating in these international events, which were created to engage, empower, and support women and girls through golf.

Promising to be the largest single-day celebration of women’s golf, WGD is buoyed by a partnership with the ANNIKA Foundation, the charitable foundation of Annika Sörenstam, who also has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with AHEAD.

“AHEAD is especially proud to join thousands of women and girls in many countries by supporting this initiative,” said Anne Broholm, CEO, AHEAD. “And, we applaud WGD founder Elisa Gaudet for partnering with our long-time friend Annika Sorenstam to increase the event’s exposure to help impact more women and girls through the game of golf.”

AHEAD’s official WGD merchandise includes several styles of headwear, all with the WGD logo and available on the Women’s Golf Day official site.

Gaudet says, “Women’s Golf Day is an amazing community of people, brands and organizations whose passion is golf. The new VIP (Very Inspired Player) membership will allow us to connect them to the companies who are prioritizing the women’s game, offering amazing female products and ultimately enhance their experience of the sport.”

In addition to its relationship with Women’s Golf Day, AHEAD has forged many other key partnerships, including with the Kentucky Derby, Westminster Dog Show, and the United States Tennis Association, as well as numerous golf partnerships, including the USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, Nicklaus Companies, Arnold Palmer Enterprises, and ANNIKA Foundation. For a complete list of AHEAD’s partnerships, visit aheadweb.com/partners-affiliations.

For more information about AHEAD, visit aheadweb.com. To access the company’s online shop page, visit aheadusashop.com.

Seven Amateurs Added to Field for 120th U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot

Exemptions Based on Current World Amateur Golf Ranking / WAGR

(LIBERTY CORNER, N.J.) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced that seven amateurs have earned entry into the 120th U.S. Open Championship, which will be hosted by Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), in Mamaroneck, N.Y., on Sept. 17-20, 2020.

As previously announced, the 144-player field for the championship will be entirely comprised of exempt players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The seven amateurs earned exemptions based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking / WAGR as of Aug. 19.

Those exempt are in the top seven of the WAGR: No. 1 Takumi Kanaya, of Japan; No. 2 Ricky Castillo, of Yorba Linda, Calif.; No. 3 Chun An Yu, of Chinese Taipei; No. 4 Davis Thompson, of Saint Simons Island, Ga.; No. 5 Eduard Rousaud, of Spain, No. 6 Sandy Scott, of Scotland and No. 7 John Pak, of Scotch Plains, N.J.

Kanaya, 22, will compete in his first U.S. Open. He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2018 and was the runner-up last year. Kanaya also tied for third in last December’s Australian Open. Castillo, 19, earned first-team All-America recognition as a freshman at the University of Florida in 2019-20.

Yu, 22, who is a fifth-year senior at Arizona State University, will play in his third consecutive U.S. Open. He was a quarterfinalist in the 2017 U.S. Amateur. Thompson, 21, was chosen first-team All-America as a junior at the University of Georgia and advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2020 Western Amateur. Rousaud, 20, won two tournaments this year in Spain and reached the Round of 32 in the 2019 U.S. Amateur.

Scott, 22, and Pak, 21, both competed in the 2019 Walker Cup Match at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England. Scott, a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Team, earned second-team All-America recognition as a senior at Texas Tech University in 2019-20. Pak, who is entering his senior year at Florida State University, won all three of his matches as a member of the victorious USA Team. He is a three-time All-American and All-South Region selection.

With the addition of these players, 13 amateurs are currently in the 2020 U.S. Open field. Andy Ogletree and John Augenstein earned exemptions as last year’s U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up, respectively, at Pinehurst No. 2. In 2019, Preston Summerhays (U.S. Junior Amateur) and Lukas Michel (U.S. Mid-Amateur) won USGA championships. Cole Hammer was last year’s Mark H. McCormack Medal recipient as the world’s top-ranked amateur, while James Sugrue won the 2019 Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A.

To learn more, visit usga.org.

Golf Heritage Society Announces Commemorative Edition of The Golf, Honoring Bobby Jones’s Grand Slam Anniversary

(LEBANON, Ohio) – The Golf Heritage Society (GolfHeritage.org),  a nonprofit organization celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, announces a commemorative edition of The Golf, the Society’s members-only journal. The special edition will include a supplement celebrating the 90th anniversary of Bobby Jones’s 1930 Grand Slam, written by world-renowned Jones expert Sidney Matthew.

“We are pleased to offer this unique edition of The Golf, the first of its kind in GHS history,” said Dr. Bern Bernacki, president of the Society. “It certainly will be a keepsake.”

Jones completed his conquest of the “Impregnable Quadrilateral” on September 27, 1930, by winning the U.S. Amateur at Merion Cricket Club (now Merion Golf Club), in Ardmore, Pa. The 16-page supplement will include historic photos and highlights from each leg of the Grand Slam. No other golfer has won all four majors in the same calendar year.

"Bobby Jones's first USGA event was the 1916 US Amateur at Merion and his last was at Merion when he completed the Grand Slam in 1930,” said John G. Capers, III, Merion Golf Club Historian. “Our club is honored to have played such an important role in Mr. Jones's pursuit of his ‘Major’ accomplishments.”

The membership fee to join the GHS is just $25 for the remainder of 2020. New members who join by Sept. 30 will receive the commemorative Bobby Jones edition of The Golf.

For information or to join the Golf Heritage Society, visit GolfHeritage.org or contact Pete Georgiady, executive director, at 567-303-5584 or pgeorgiady@golfheritage.org.

Green Books Gaining Popularity in Club Competitions

Club professionals can get three sample Green Books to try for free; With detailed maps of 14,000 courses nationwide, Green Books are perfect for tournament play and to help increase pro shops sales

(Scottsdale, AZ) — With many club competitions back in full swing across the country, PGA professionals are bringing the value of Green Books by GolfLogix to their membership. Green Books merge traditional yardage guides with state-of-the-art green contour data for a rules-compliant tool that has become a staple of regular play, member-member tournaments, and member-guest events this summer.

Since their release in April, customers have purchased Green Books for more than 4,300 U.S. courses-and head pros are taking notice. In July alone, the number of courses stocking Green Books grew by 300 percent. The detailed 3-D imagery in the rules-compliant Green Books are a unique asset for members, helping golfers to better read the greens, especially under the tough tournament conditions found in club competitions.

To bring further value, PGA Pros can e-mail reseller@golflogix.com to receive three free Green Books by GolfLogix, so both the pros themselves and influential club members can try them. With detailed mapping of more than 14,000 courses available, PGA pros around the country are sure to find an incredible teaching tool for members at all levels.

"We've launched an aggressive marketing plan to introduce Green Books to golfers everywhere, which includes shipping three free books to each golf course for pros to try along with their members, and it's really paying off," Pete Charleston, President of GolfLogix, said. "The customer demand has really made it a no-brainer for every public or private golf course to provide Green Books for their next tournament. We are even starting to see a trend where golf courses are reordering after only a few weeks."

For wholesale orders, GolfLogix will include a custom-designed cover with the club logo, a plastic water-proof sleeve and a counter display that will make an impressive addition to any pro shop. Green Books retail for $40 but resellers can purchase a minimum order of twelve for only $300.

"I was mailed a few free samples of the new GolfLogix Green Book and decided to give it a try in my pro shop," Sean Dolan, Head Professional of Piedmont Club in Haymarket, VA, said. "The Green Books are really helping my members read the greens, so they are scoring lower and having more fun. The customer service has been flawless and getting product in the shop and in front of the members has been incredibly efficient."

Every Green Book comes with 3D yardage book fairway imagery of each hole on the golf course, with two different views of the greens. One angle of the green is the quick-view heat map, offering hot and cold areas of the green to detail undulation and break with large easy to see arrows. Another close-up view provides more precise details of break and speed on the green so that golfers will never 3-Putt again.

Each 3D fairway image is broken down into 50 yard grids and also displays distances to the green from 200, 150, 125, and 100 yards helping golfers strategically play to their strengths and more informatively weigh their club selection options. The printed Green Book mirrors the Approach Mode feature in the GolfLogix app, helping golfers target the ideal position on the green for sinking their following putt.

Pros can learn more about launching a reseller program at no upfront cost at store.golflogix.com.

Woods, Thomas, McIlroy and Rose Headline 'Payne’s Valley Cup,' Celebrating Grand Opening of Woods' First Public Course Design

18-Hole Match for Charity will be Televised Live on GOLF Channel Tuesday, Sept. 22; Encore on NBC, Dec. 26-27; Also Streaming on Select NBC Sports apps and GolfPass

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – NBC Sports and Excel Sports Management announced today the Payne’s Valley Cup, a special 18-hole charity team exhibition match headlined by four of the world’s top golfers to commemorate the grand opening of Payne’s Valley Golf Course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo. Payne’s Valley represents the first public golf course design for 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods, who will team up with World No. 3 Justin Thomas (Team United States) to take on major champions Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose (Team Europe) in the Payne’s Valley Cup.

Airing live on GOLF Channel on Tuesday, Sept. 22 (3-7 p.m. ET), the Payne’s Valley Cup will feature an entertaining mix of some of the best competition formats seen during Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups: Fourball, Foursomes and Singles matches. NBC will televise a special encore as two separate telecasts on Dec. 26 and 27 from 4-6 pm ET. The four players competing in the Payne’s Valley Cup have an eclectic resume: all four have been World No. 1; are major champions, all have won the FedExCup and have been part of victorious Ryder Cup teams.

The made-for-television exhibition match will be produced by NBC Sports, featuring all four players mic’d up during competition while showcasing Woods’ new golf course that pays tribute to Ozarks-native and World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Payne Stewart.

“Payne’s Valley is the first public golf course that I have designed. I couldn’t be prouder of how it turned out,” said Woods. “It was an honor for me and my TGR Design team to work with Johnny Morris and Big Cedar Lodge on this spectacular golf course. I am thrilled that it will be featured during the Payne’s Valley Cup.”

“The breathtaking beauty and pure majesty of my native Ozarks is something you have to see to believe. To be able to harness this unique landscape and make it come alive through our golf courses has been an honor that has been driven by passion,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops and Big Cedar Lodge. “Tiger and I have a twenty-year friendship that started through fishing and has evolved into a great partnership. We look forward to showcasing this destination to the world through the Payne’s Valley Cup and truly believe we are creating ‘America’s Next Great Golf Destination.”

Through a partnership between Morris and Woods, the 18-hole layout of Payne’s Valley, named in honor of golf legend, Ozarks native and dear Morris friend Payne Stewart, was created with the intent to foster a deeper connection to nature through the game of golf. Being celebrated as one of the most remarkable golf holes in the world, the course features an unforgettable par-3, 19th bonus hole designed by Morris to celebrate the nature and beauty of the Ozarks. After the final hole, golfers traverse a breathtaking, cliff hanger nature trail and journey through a beautiful nature cave system to return to the clubhouse.

FUNDRAISING - PAYNE STEWART FAMILY FOUNDATION: To honor the namesake of the golf course and one of Missouri’s all-time great sports legends, the Payne’s Valley Cup will raise funds for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation – a foundation that supports beneficiaries that were vitally important to the late Stewart, including Kids Across America, the AJGA and The First Tee.

ON-SITE EVENT AND SAFETY INFORMATION: The match will be closed to the public, with a select group hosted by Big Cedar Lodge granted access on-site to preview the amenities at Payne’s Valley Golf Course and walk the course for the exhibition match. The Payne’s Valley Cup will implement a comprehensive health and safety play that will follow all recommended protocols put in place by the PGA TOUR and local government, utilizing testing measures to help protect the health and safety of the players, officials, the production team and others on-site.

DIGITAL/STREAMING COVERAGE: In addition to live coverage on GOLF Channel, the Payne’s Valley Cup will stream live via GOLF Channel and NBC Sports mobile apps, GolfChannel.com and on GolfPass.

Learn more at www.bigcedar.com and tgr.design.

Shot Scope Smart Watch Intelligence Reports Massive Worldwide Spike In “Year-Over-Year”

From July 2018-‘20,  and through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Shot Scope’s 50,000+ Worldwide Customers Dramatically Increased Rounds Played, Led by U.K. Growth at 39.7% & U.S. at 34.9%

(Edinburgh, Scotland) — Shot Scope (www.shotscope.com), a leading international manufacturer of GPS-based golf management systems, backed by over 50,000 worldwide golfing customers and 65 million shots tracked, today reported a massive spike in year-over-year July rounds played, from 2018 through the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, over a three-year period, Shot Scope data reveals U.K. golfers played 39.7% more rounds in July, with significant upticks in the U.S. at 34.9%, Europe at 27.9%, Canada at 12.7% and the rest of the world at 7.5%.

“On the heels of the COVID-19 lockdowns and closed courses around the world, golfers everywhere jumped at the opportunity to play in 2020, and among our more than 50,000 golfers, July rounds played skyrocketed,” said David Hunter, CEO, Shot Scope.  “With the U.K. and U.S. markets recording nearly 40% and 35% growth respectively, and as golf is the perfect outdoor social distancing activity, it is clear that the game is thriving right now.”

Hunter adds, “To add even greater perspective to the popularity of golf, we launched the Shot Scope V3, the game’s first GPS Smart Golf Watch to feature artificial intelligence, in July and it is already being used in 102 countries. This shows how dedicated golfers are to not only playing more, but to improving their game.”

By tracking the Company’s more than 50,000 smart watch users, who have combined played for more than 65 million shots and counting, Shot Scope continuously measures the play and performance of golfers around the world.  Among its key findings, specific to the July 2020 golf spike, Shot Scope users increased their total holes played from 75.9 in 2018 to 96.1 in 2020, and rounds played from 5.2 in 2018 to 6.2 in 2020.

Leading Shot Scope’s data capture technology is the V3 Smart Golf Watch, the first multi-function watch to feature artificial intelligence and offer golfers real-time on-course performance tracking capabilities. V3’s patented Power-Sense AI strap technology captures data on every shot, delivering golfers instant feedback to better understand their swing and reach optimal performance.
             
The V3’s Power-Sense AI strap technology works automatically in the background to continuously scan the golfer’s swing settings to optimize performance tracking. The technology creates an ever-increasing volume and accuracy of data collected from the golfer during play, leading to more insights and statistics that help the player understand their game better, improve on-course strategy and shoot lower scores. The more rounds the golfer plays with V3 the smarter the AI technology becomes, eventually producing highly refined settings that are personal to that individual.

“Artificial Intelligence in a smart golf watch is a game-changer, as the V3 provides golfers with real-time game tracking data like never before,” said David Hunter, CEO, Shot Scope. “It not only allows our golfers to improve their game, but it enables Shot Scope to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry and how the game is trending around the world.”

The Shot Scope V3 Smart Golf Watch, which is available immediately, includes 16 pre-labeled Club ID tags and comes in five stylish watch strap options, including black, blue, red, gray and purple. Suggested retail price for the Shot Scope V3 is $219 and can be purchased at Dicks Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, PGA Superstores, TGW.com, golf specialty stores or online at www.shotscope.com.

MindTRAK Golf, Stockton Golf Enter Brand Ambassador Relationship to Amplify Game Improvement

(KELOWNA, B.C., CANADA) – MindTRAK Golf Inc., a comprehensive mental-game training system for golfers, is pleased to announce a Brand Ambassador relationship with renowned golf instruction brand Stockton Golf. This strategic relationship was forged to offer more golfers a solution to some of golf’s biggest challenges, improving mental performance to optimize performance.

By combining the exemplary game improvement methods of Stockton Golf’s “Signature Approach” with MindTRAK Golf’s mental-fitness platform, golfers have the ability to transform their putting skills in a one-of-a-kind way. When students learn this combination of expert techniques, they advance their perception and perspective while strengthening their mindset to optimize performance on the greens.

“Dave Stockton and I became good friends while playing on the PGA Tour in the latter stage of my playing career, when Dave was preparing for the Champion’s Tour,” said Richard (Dick) Zokol, former PGA TOUR player and Founder of MindTRAK Golf. “I was struggling with my putting when I approached Dave to help me. He did and it was amazing. Stockton Golf’s “Signature Approach®” along with MindTRAK Golf’s mental protocol allowed me to improve my putting fundamentals and detach emotionally from my results. My putting improved to a point where I led the PGA TOUR in GIR-Putting – 10 to 15 ft, in my final playing year.”

The MindTRAK Golf mobile app, designed to help users’ access and remain “in this moment” on every shot, was recently launched in the IOS App Store. Developed and tested in competition by Zokol, and a team of business, IT and golf experts, MindTRAK Golf ingrains techniques that strengthen attentional-focus to optimize performance on the golf course. Using the MindTRAK Golf mobile app during each round will help the golfer tune out negativity and play the game “freed up” to perform instinctively.

Similarly, the Stockton “Signature Approach” is focused on making the game simple, so golfers are confident to swing and putt with “uncluttered” confidence. “I want a player to feel free to let the ball do something, versus trying to keep it from doing something.  You can't control the ball until you can control yourself. Putting is the easiest thing you get to do on a golf course, but the Signature Approach is meant to be effective in every aspect of the game,” says Ron Stockton, co-founder of Stockton Golf.

MindTRAK Golf is designed to replace golfers’ problematic “result-oriented” mindsets with a process that keeps them “in the now” as they play. “The mental game process on the course can be simplified down to controlling two important factors. One is the ability to assess the shot and the other is how well that shot is executed,” he says. “There’s an inherent relationship with assessing and executing each golf shot in any given situation. You have to choose to make your score on each hole less relevant.”

While MindTRAK teaches players to focus on the task at hand and not the resulting score, it also provides feedback on a player’s performance deficiencies and tendencies. MindTRAK is a distinct tool for golf coaches to actually see how well their students perform on the golf course.

As part of the MindTRAK Golf app launch, the company is offering the first 500 players who download the app and record 10 rounds of data on it MindTRAK Golf Founding Member status. Founding Members will enjoy free usage of the MindTRAK app for as long as they choose to remain active members. For all other players who download and activate the app, MindTRAK Golf is pleased to offer the benefits of the game-changing mental game system for free until the start of the 2021 golf season.“MindTRAK trains golfers’ minds to get past the distractions in their heads and helps them build the processes and pathways it takes to free up, commit to shots and swing with the athleticism they crave,” Stockton says. “I look forward to working with the MindTRAK and bringing much-needed attention to the mental side of the game.”

Download the MindTRAK Golf mobile app for free from the iOS App Store and discover your personal golf freedom. For more information, visit www.MindTRAKGolf.com.

Golf Pride Grips Are Trusted by 84% of Field at The Northern Trust

(PINEHURST, N.C.) — Golf Pride, a division of power management company Eaton and an industry leader in grip innovation, today announced that it was the leading grip brand in play during the first round of the 2020 FedEx Cup Playoffs, with 84% of the 122-player field trusting Golf Pride grips.

100% of players who finished in the Top 10 chose Golf Pride at TPC Boston. The Tour Velvet not only was trusted to victory, but it was also the choice for the record-setting 59 during the week.

Players using Golf Pride grips swept the 2019 FedEx Cup playoff events and with the victory on Sunday, the #1 Grip in Golf has started the 2020 postseason right where it left off in 2019.  

“We enjoyed seeing that so many of the world’s best players continued to rely on Golf Pride grips during the first round of the 2020 FedEx Cup Playoffs,” stated Brandon Sowell, global director of sales and marketing for Golf Pride. “In addition to seeing another win added to our Tour Velvet grip’s long history of excellence, we were also excited to see so many of our newest performance technologies like ALIGN (runner-up) and Plus4 in the mix, as well. Whether these guys choose grips they grew up playing or some of our cutting-edge innovations, they know they’re getting confidence on every swing.”

Each week, Golf Pride is the leading grip played from tee-to-green on the PGA TOUR with an average of 80% of pros choosing Golf Pride swing grips in each event, without any paid endorsements.

For more information on Golf Pride’s 2020 product offering, visit www.golfpride.com.

Srixon Introduces the Latest Soft Feel

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) — SRIXON, a global leader in golf ball performance, announces the launch of the next generation of SOFT FEEL and SOFT FEEL LADY golf balls. Building upon Srixon’s continued success in the golf ball market – with more than 30% growth in market share year-to-date versus last year – the new SOFT FEEL and SOFT FEEL LADY golf balls are now available in North America.

“This is our 12th generation SOFT FEEL golf ball, putting us at the forefront of the low-compression distance ball category,” said Brian Schielke, Marketing Director at Srixon. “With this new model, we’re excited to give golfers our longest SOFT FEEL to date, in a ball that maintains the signature feel golfers expect from a SOFT FEEL.”

The all-new SOFT FEEL features Srixon’s softest FastLayer Core. Yet this softer core is more resilient, snapping back into shape more quickly after impact for added ball speed, while dramatically reducing long game sidespin for increased accuracy.

SOFT FEEL’s low compression design and soft, thin cover provides all-around performance with distance off the tee, and increased greenside spin that all players crave. With the 338 Speed Dimple Pattern, the new SOFT FEEL cuts through the wind for longer, straighter shots from tee to green.

For the player that values feel most of all, the all-new SOFT FEEL from Srixon delivers on its namesake.

Key Technologies:
- FastLayer Core: With a soft center that gradually transitions to a firm outer edge, the FastLayer Core gives Soft Feel incredible feel and great distance off the tee.
- 338 Speed Dimple Pattern: Speed Dimples reduce drag at launch and increase lift during descent to deliver better overall distance, especially in windy conditions.
- Soft Thin Cover: Provides that pure, soft feel that defines SOFT FEEL, while adding enhanced greenside spin on those tough pitches and chips.

The Srixon SOFT FEEL, offered in Soft White and Tour Yellow, and SOFT FEEL LADY, offered in Soft White and Passion Pink, are now available in North America at a MAP of $21.99.

TaylorMade Signs Brendan Lawlor to Endorsement Deal

Brendan Lawlor has put his trust in TaylorMade by choosing TaylorMade’s Industry-Leading Products in his quest to top the World Ranking for Golf Disabilities (WR4GD).

(Carlsbad, Calif.) – Current World #4 on the WR4GD Brendan Lawlor has been making his mark around the world for several years with high-profile wins on the EDGA Tour (European Disabled Golf Association) while showcasing disability golf to a wider audience.

Brendan has been a driving force in bringing disability golf into the mainstream and will become the first disabled golfer to compete on the European Tour since Ced Lescut in 2015 when he tees it up this week at the UK Championship, before then playing in the Northern Ireland Open on the Challenge Tour a week later.

“To sign with TaylorMade, a brand I have watched my idols play with all my life is simply a dream come true. I cannot thank TaylorMade enough for all they are doing to support all areas of the game including disability golf. TaylorMade really are leading the way in promoting inclusivity in golf and I could not be prouder to be a part of that movement.” -Brendan Lawlor

Lawlor has collected victories at the German Disabled Open, the G-Golf Knockout and the EDGA Scottish Open. He also became the first disability golfer to compete in a European Challenge Tour event, the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in 2019.

“We are delighted to have Brendan sign with TaylorMade. The TaylorMade team have been a massive part of what we have been doing at Modest! Golf over the last few years. They have always supported inclusivity in golf and taking on Brendan, they show that yet again. Brendan is an incredible man and TaylorMade is a great brand, this should be fun.” -Niall Horan, Founder of Modest! Golf Management

Brendan joins Team TaylorMade and will play a bag full of TaylorMade equipment and golf ball as he continues his pursuit to climb to the top of the World Rankings. Brendan opts to play SIM Max metalwoods and P790 irons as he prefers the increased forgiveness they offer whilst maximizing his distance, the profile on the P790 also suits his eye and promotes confidence in his ball striking.

“Our entire team at TaylorMade is excited to work closely with Brendan. He has high expectations of himself and goals that we believe are more than achievable given his work ethic and talent. My thanks go out to Brendan, and Modest! Golf’s Mark McDonnell and Niall Horan for all the work put in to add Brendon to an already world class group of players who represent Team TaylorMade. We are very proud of the fact that all our players are hand selected to fit with our brand and culture. Brendan is without a doubt a player who will add value to who we are and what we stand for. I want to take this opportunity to wish Brendan only the best of success as he competes on the European Tour for the first time. This is without a doubt an historic achievement.” -Adrian Rietveld, Senior Manager, Global Sports Marketing, TaylorMade Golf

BRENDAN LAWLOR WITB
- SIM Max 10.5 Driver | HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.0
- SIM Max 15.0 Fairway | HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.0
- SIM Max 19.0 Rescue | Ventus Blue 70 S
- P790 4-PW | Nippon 850 GH
- MG2 48°, 54° and 58° | Nippon 850 GH
- Spider X Copper
- TP5 Golf Ball

Desert Mountain Names New Director of Racket Sports

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Ryan Johnson has been named Director of Racket Sports at Desert Mountain, it was announced by Damon DiOrio, CEO, Desert Mountain Club.

Ryan Johnson

Formerly the Director of Tennis at Camelback Village Racquet and Health Club in Phoenix, Johnson’s new responsibilities will include all tennis and pickleball programming, managing the professional staff, and overseeing member clinics, leagues, social events, and activities.

“We are thrilled to have Ryan join our Desert Mountain family,” said Arnaldo Cocuzza, Director of Athletics and the Sonoran Clubhouse.  “His experience and tennis abilities are perfectly suited to take our program to a world class level, engaging with all racquet sports.”  Desert Mountain has nine tennis courts and three different playing surfaces (grass, clay, and hard court), as well as 6 pickleball courts.

Johnson has also worked at the Seattle Tennis Club and the Olde Providence Racquet Club. He also served as graduate assistant coach of the men’s tennis team at the University of Arizona (Tucson).

He is a member of the United State Professional Tennis Association, Professional Tennis Registry and USA Pickleball Association.  He is a New Balance Ambassador and part of the Wilson Advisory staff team.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Johnson was a scholarship tennis player and team captain.  He remains in the top 10 in program history for most single season double wins.  Additionally, Johnson holds a law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and has worked as an attorney in both Seattle and Charlotte.

For additional information on the Desert Mountain community, visit www.desertmountain.com.

Apple Valley Golf Course at Rumbling Bald Reopens with New Champion Bermuda Greens

Western North Carolina’s 36-Hole Golf Destination Welcomes Golfers for Spectacular Fall Season

(LAKE LURE, N.C.) – Apple Valley Golf Course at Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf resort on stunning Lake Lure, officially reopened on Aug. 24 with new Champion Bermuda greens on all 18 holes.

With the National Weather Service predicting a warm fall season across much of the Eastern U.S., golfers have plenty of time to enjoy prime golf weather on the resort’s two 18-hole layouts, Bald Mountain and Apple Valley.

“With everything that’s happened this year, we feel incredibly fortunate that Apple Valley is reopening ahead of schedule,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler. “We now have the entire fall golf season ahead of us with 36 holes available, and we look forward to safely welcoming golfers from around the region.”

The course’s transition from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda began in June, as play was shifted to Bald Mountain. Ample rain and sunshine throughout the summer, coupled with the agronomic expertise of Director of Golf Course Maintenance Matt Lovell, allowed the popular Southern turfgrass to flourish out of the gates and quickly take root.

“Champion Bermuda is naturally heat tolerant, easier to maintain in this climate than bentgrass and has speeds up to two feet faster than other ultradwarf turf cultivars as measured by a stimpmeter,” says Lovell. “Golfers are going to love putting on it and will appreciate the speed and consistency it provides.”

Rumbling Bald has completed several golf-focused enhancements across both courses over the past two years, including tree removal and replanting, upgraded landscape, and new E-Z-GO golf carts with USB ports, complimentary coolers and bottled water.

The resort offers golf packages combining rounds at both courses with 150 sparkling clean vacation rental homes, condos and studios. Ideal for social distancing, they feature golf course and mountain views. Golfers can grab to-go meals from Legends on the Lake, the resort’s casual dining restaurant on Lake Lure. And once Apple Valley reopens, so will Pinnacle Southern Kitchen, serving up comfort food favorites.

To learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www.rumblingbald.com, or email jdoran@rumblingbald.com. To book packages directly, or to speak with a golf vacation planner, call (828) 694.3072.

Audubon Country Club Unveils New Lifestyle Center

(Naples, Florida) – Audubon Country Club in Naples, Fla. recently unveiled its new 19,000 square-foot Lifestyle Center. The two-story Lifestyle Center both modernizes and expands the club’s fitness and tennis offerings, while also providing members with a new casual indoor/outdoor dining experience. Peacock + Lewis Architecture and Interior Design of North Palm Beach designed the facility, while Gates Construction was the contractor.

The focal point of the new Lifestyle Center is the new and improved Courtside Café which is substantially larger and features an indoor/outdoor bar, display kitchen, poolside dining, and increased outdoor lounging areas with cozy fire pit tables. Executive Chef Richard Nielsen, CEC, PCIII, oversees the culinary experience which features a menu that will enhance a healthy lifestyle.

The new fitness center, located on the building’s second floor, features a state-of-the-art weight studio and cardio room, two exercise rooms for fitness classes, a massage lounge, two treatment rooms, and men’s and ladies’ day use locker rooms. The second-floor balcony can be used for outdoor fitness classes such as tai chi and yoga or to accommodate seating for social gatherings.

The new building is located adjacent to the Club’s seven Har-Tru tennis courts and two bocce courts. A new HydroGrid exhibition tennis court and two gel surface pickleball courts were also added as part of the project.

 “The Lifestyle Center puts us at the forefront of facilities in terms of fitness,” said Michael Rodriguez, PGA, general manager, Audubon Country Club.  “It’s also a place in the community that members can drive their golf cart to, sit by the fire pits and have a craft beverage – and never have to leave the gates. That’s really important, especially in this day and age, that we have something like this that members can enjoy.

“The Lifestyle Center is going to be a terrific gathering spot for members. Real estate sales are strong in the community and this building is a big reason for the surge in home sales.”

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

Unboxing Products from Chil Wellness

We unboxed a package from Chil Wellness, including a Sports Balm—formulated with 500mg of full-spectrum hemp CBD—perfect for after working out to provide cool, soothing relief on muscles.

There’s also an Energy Drink Mix and Hydration Drink Mix. The former provides the energy you need without the jitters or a crash that normal energy drinks give you. It’s formulated with 7.5mg of CBD, 30mg of green tea, and 125mg of caffeine with a light watermelon flavor to provide a refreshing taste. The Hydration Drink Mix allows you to work hard, recover faster. It has 10mg of broad-spectrum CBD and filled with electrolytes, 99mg potassium, and a lemon flavor.

Lastly, Aspen’s Maximum Relief Roll-On is ideal for soothing your achy joints, such as in your hands, shoulders, elbows and knees. It’s easy to use, soaks into your skin quickly and leaves no residue.

Learn more at chilwellness.com.

SQAIRZ Signs Multi-year Endorsement Deal with PGA Tour Golfer Sepp Straka

Breakthrough golf shoe also unveils two new colors

(WINDHAM, N.H.) – SQAIRZ, the performance golf shoe that’s shown to help golfers hit the ball farther, today announced a multi-year endorsement agreement with PGA Tour professional Sepp Straka to wear and promote the innovative shoes.

Straka, who first wore SQAIRZ at the 3M Open during which he shot a final-round 63, will wear the shoes this weekend at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the PGA Tour’s first playoff event. As part of the deal, he will have the SQAIRZ logo on the collar of his shirt and golf bag, and will be featured in the company’s upcoming marketing material.

“We are thrilled to team up with Sepp Straka, who is on a considerable upward trajectory,” said Robert Winskowicz, SQAIRZ founder and CEO. “We believe that SQAIRZ provides unparalleled performance for golfers, and we’re excited to have Sepp showcase that on the tour.”

This week, SQAIRZ also unveiled two new colors for its inaugural line: Navy with White and Gray with Gray. Both are available now on the website.

The first Austrian to earn a PGA Tour card, Straka is in his second year on the PGA Tour and has two top-10 finishes this season. Since turning professional in 2016, he has 25 total top-10 finishes and a victory at the 2018 KC Golf Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“Balance and stability are the keys to a great swing, and SQAIRZ provides a foundation that I’ve never had before,” Straka said. “I’m excited to work with the company to showcase the importance that shoes can have in any golfer’s performance.”

A big part of that performance equates to distance. A recent study, conducted by Golf Laboratories, Inc., revealed that amateur golfers wearing SQAIRZ, as compared with those wearing other shoes, gained an average of 2.2 miles per hour in swing speed and 8.8 yards in distance off the tee.

SQAIRZ’s professional staff also includes Sir Nick Faldo, who signed a long-term partnership agreement with the company in June.

We unboxed a pair on the Club + Resort Business YouTube channel. You can see that video HERE.

Arccos Golf Introduces the Game’s Most Advanced Personalized Strokes Gained Platform

Arccos Caddie Strokes Gained Analytics Harnesses A.I. Neural Net to Provide Personalized Benchmarks and Insights to Golfers for First Time Ever

(STAMFORD, Conn.) – Arccos – the pioneer of big data and artificial intelligence for golf – today announced the launch of Arccos Caddie Strokes Gained Analytics (SGA), a new feature in the Arccos Caddie app, providing players with the most advanced personalized insights in the game.

The simple way to improve faster, SGA is the first platform to allow a player to select any target handicap – from Tour player to 20 – and measure their performance versus that goal across every game facet. Arccos Caddie SGA shows a player’s overall game stats with trend and scoring analysis. In addition, SGA not only supports deep dives for all performance segments by each round or customizable periods, it automatically highlights a player’s top-3 strengths and weaknesses and provides tips from world-class instructors to help any golfer play smarter and shoot lower scores.

“This is a significant leap forward in golf analytics. Finally amateurs will have easy access to SGA insights that are better than what is available to most Tour pros. This is only possible due to the power of our custom A.I. neural network fueled by the largest on-course dataset in the world.” said Sal Syed, Arccos Co-Founder and CEO. “The beauty of our new SGA platform is we take complex data and simplify it. The result is unmatched personalized insights for golfers of all skill levels – as well as their coaches and clubfitters. With this information they will be on a clear path to improvement like never before.”

One of the many powerful features in the Arccos Caddie app at no additional cost to members, SGA segments include:
- Overall: Top 3 Insights, Trend Analysis, Scoring Analysis
- Driving: Overall, Distance, Accuracy, Hole Length, Hole Shape
- Approach: Overall, Pin Distance (50-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200+ yards), Terrain (Tee (Par 3), Fairway, Rough, Sand), Greens in Regulation (GIR %, Avg. Distance to Pin, Miss Tendencies)
- Short Game: Overall, Chip by Pin Distance (0-25, 25-50 yards), Chip Accuracy (Avg. Distance to Pin, Up & Down %), Sand by Pin Distance (0-25, 25-50 yards), Sand Accuracy (Avg. Distance to Pin, Up & Down %)
- Putting: Overall, Putting by Hole, Putting by Length (0-10, 10-25, 25-50, 50+ feet), Avg. Putts/Round, Putts/Hole, Putts/GIR

Available starting today in the Arccos Caddie app, SGA follows the recent launch of Arccos’ first wearable – Arccos Caddie Link. This small, ultralight device allows Arccos players to capture their shot data without having to carry a smartphone on the course. Compatible with iPhone and Android devices, Link seamlessly pairs with the Arccos Caddie app and sensors. Worn on a player’s belt, waistband or pocket, it tracks shots in real time – including the club used and precise location – and automatically transfers the data to a player’s smartphone via Bluetooth, either during or after the round. This allows golfers to play the game their way, freeing them to keep their phone in a cart, bag, back pocket or elsewhere.

Golf’s first Artificial Intelligence platform, the Arccos Caddie app syncs with Arccos Caddie sensors to automatically track your shots while delivering smart distance club averages and advanced analytics. The system includes an A.I. powered GPS rangefinder and caddie advice for any hole on earth to help golfers of all skill levels make smarter decisions, improve faster and shoot lower scores. In 2019, the average Arccos Caddie user who played at least 5 rounds lowered their handicap by a remarkable 4.2 strokes.

For more information, visit: www.arccosgolf.com.

Patriot Golf Day, PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor Join Forces over Labor Day Weekend to Serve Military Families

‘The most heroic round of golf you will ever play’ will benefit both Folds of Honor Scholarships and PGA HOPE Programs, Sept. 4-7

(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – Patriot Golf Day, a nationwide initiative to raise awareness and scholarship funds for the families of fallen and wounded Veterans, will take place over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4-7, to honor the sacrifice of America’s heroes.

Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled Veterans, and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) will host Patriot Golf Day. Beginning this year, the two organizations have joined together to expand and grow annual fundraising efforts for both Folds of Honor and PGA HOPE to better serve the needs of Veterans and their families through the game of golf. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of the PGA of America’s 501(c)(3) foundation, PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH.

“Patriot Golf Day is truly the most heroic round of golf you will ever play,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, CEO and Founder of Folds of Honor, and a PGA Member. “The academic scholarships provided by Folds of Honor through Patriot Golf Day benefit so many deserving people. Many recipients are first-generation college students who would not have the opportunity to attend school without the generosity of Patriot Golf Day participants. This is the 13th anniversary of Folds of Honor (August 26) and Patriot Golf Day, and while it’s been an unprecedented and difficult year, the commitment from our supporters has not waivered.”

The Patriot Golf Day campaign is backed by Jack Nicklaus, who annually serves as honorary chair of the event and is also a strong supporter of PGA HOPE. Mr. Nicklaus will continue to stay involved in both causes through this new partnership.

“I never had the privilege to serve our great nation, but I am passionate and committed to any initiative that allows us to recognize, assist and support the men and women of our military, who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Nicklaus, who is the first sportsman and fourth person in history to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Gold Medal and Lincoln Medal. “When we can use the game of golf as the vehicle to give back, it becomes even more meaningful to me. That’s why I feel blessed and honored to partner with great organizations like Folds of Honor and PGA REACH.”

Patriot Golf Day began as a grassroots fundraising initiative over Labor Day Weekend in 2007, with golfers nationwide encouraged to add an extra dollar to their green fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships. Over the last 13 years, the effort has grown to encompass onsite donation boxes, a variety of fundraising events, tournaments and golf marathons led by PGA Professionals and golfers across America, resulting in over 10,000 scholarships provided through Patriot Golf Day. Overall, Folds of Honor has distributed more than 28,000 scholarships in total within all 50 states and 41 PGA Sections.

PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a developmental six-to-eight-week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. In 2019, PGA HOPE programming impacted 2,500 Veterans nationwide.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the work that PGA Professionals have done through PGA HOPE, utilizing the game of golf as a form of therapy and rehabilitation for Veterans,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “By partnering with Folds of Honor on Patriot Golf Day, we can expand our footprint within the families of those we serve through golf. This partnership is a natural extension of our long-standing mission to support our nation’s heroes.”

If you can’t locate a participating course near you, you can still play golf during Patriot Golf Day Weekend and donate at FoldsofHonor.org or Venmo @PariotGolfDay.

For more information on Patriot Golf Day, visit FoldsofHonor.org. For more information on PGA HOPE, visit PGAREACH.org.

In 2021, Patriot Golf Day will move to Memorial Day Weekend.

PGA TOUR signs PointsBet as an Official Betting Operator

PointsBet’s impressive growth in golf set to build upon excitement of FedExCup Playoffs

(PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA) – The PGA TOUR and PointsBet, a premier global sportsbook operator, announced a multi-year content and marketing relationship designating PointsBet an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.

“We are thrilled to work with PointsBet, a world-class brand with an exciting vision for golf’s potential in the betting space,” said Norb Gambuzza, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Media and Gaming. “PointsBet has made a substantial commitment to golf through a deep and robust product offering and an emphasis on live, in-play betting, both of which will translate into greater audience development and fan engagement for the PGA TOUR. PointsBet’s golf products are experiencing incredible growth, which lays the foundation for a very successful relationship.”

By joining the TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program, PointsBet will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing PointsBet to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets. Additionally, the PGA TOUR and PointsBet will collaborate to deliver odds-based content to fans via TOUR Digital Platforms like PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app.

“The PointsBet team is thrilled to partner with the PGA TOUR and work closely with a forward-thinking group that also recognizes golf’s propensity to invest in sports betting innovation,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO. “PointsBet owns and operates its technology from end to end, meaning we possess full control over the product we offer. This allows us to introduce bet types that cannot be found elsewhere, offer a deeper slate of options both pre-tournament and in-play, and enhance the viewing experience via a faster and more seamless app. As golf betting continues to rise, we are positioned well to innovate and grow with the PGA TOUR.”

Since its U.S. launch in 2019, PointsBet has recorded impressive golf gaming growth:
- PointsBet offers 500% more bet types for PGA TOUR events vs. the industry average.
- In 2020, over half of PointsBet’s golf handle has been generated by in-play, live betting (e.g., hole-by-hole, etc.) vs. outright tournament/round bets. Compared to the same [June-July events] last year, in-play golf betting has seen a 65% increase in bet count, in unique bettors, and in total amount of money wagered.
- PointsBet’s exclusive “PointsBetting” product, which rewards bettors exponentially the more correct their wagers are, has seen a 100% increase in bets placed, money wagered, and unique bettors.

PointsBet is currently licensed for sports betting in three states: New Jersey, Indiana and Iowa. It will soon launch in Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. PointsBet has additional market access agreements in Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio and West Virginia subject to enabling legislation and regulatory approvals.

Following the Supreme Court’s repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, the TOUR instituted an integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports to protect its competitions from betting-related corruption. Later that year, the TOUR announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world.

The PGA TOUR is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices.

For more information, visit www.PointsBet.com and PGATOUR.COM.

Harbor Shores Resort Commemorates 10-Year Anniversary with New Digital Series

Four-part series highlights the story of communities working together in the development and revitalization along the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Great Southwest.

(BENTON HARBOR, Michigan) — This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the grand opening of the Harbor Shores Resort project. To help celebrate this important milestone, Whirlpool Corporation and Harbor Shores are releasing a four-part digital series that tells the story of how the community worked collaboratively on multiple projects, including the resort development, as part of a multifaceted transformation of the surrounding Southwest Michigan area.

A teaser trailer for the series was released, with four full videos to be released throughout the next several weeks. All videos will be housed on the Harbor Shores website as they go live, and viewers are encouraged to check back weekly for each installation of the series.

Harbor Shores Resort, which includes the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and The Inn at Harbor Shores, is the realization of a vision made possible by $900 million in strategic investments and a collective array of relationships and community partners, including Whirlpool Corp.

The Nicklaus Signature course sits on the same site where 6,000 manufacturing jobs were lost over an 18-month period in the 1980’s. These empty buildings sat on nearly three million square feet of industrial materials and contaminated soil. In 2008, that property had little state equalized value, and by 2017, the same land had a taxable value of nearly $74 million.

The 400 affordable homes in the Hope VI Project, the 120 homes made possible through Habitat for Humanity, the new Boys and Girls Clubs facilities, the City Center project in Benton Harbor and the vibrant Arts District are all a part of the more than $350 million of community projects and entrepreneurial endeavors that have been part of a cohesive and interdependent set of strategies to help grow this area.

“While we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the grand opening of the Harbor Shores Resort, the spotlight has shifted from the contrast of what once was and is today, to shine instead on the amazing spirit of countless people who have worked tirelessly together to make this vision a reality,” said Jeff Noel, managing director of Harbor Shores and vice president of communications and public affairs at Whirlpool Corp. “Harbor Shores is but one stone in the new foundation this community has been building for some time, and the indisputable proof of what happens when people come together for the greater good. This video series provides a chance to both pause and reflect on where we have been and most importantly, visualize the possibilities of what we have yet to accomplish.”

The digital series tells the story through multiple perspectives, highlighting leaders who have a unique personal connection to the area and have witnessed this transformation firsthand. The series also spotlights critical organizations and partnerships that have been part of the Harbor Shores journey, including local offices of The First Tee, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Boys & Girls Club, as well as the Cornerstone Foundation, Southwest Michigan Tourism Council, PGA of America and more.

To watch the digital series as it is released, or for more information on Harbor Shores Resort, visit harborshoresresort.com.

For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and their CSR initiatives, visit whirlpoolcorp.com/social-responsibility.

Two-for-One Airfare Offer and Unlimited Golf Sweetens A Trip to Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at The Islands of Loreto

(LORETO, Baja California Sur, Mexico) — A visit to The Islands of Loreto just got easier and more affordable, with two-for-one airfare and unlimited golf on TPC Danzante Bay, adding to the broad appeal of Villa del Palmar Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto.  This awe-inspiring destination resort is noted for its natural, unspoiled beauty and warm, welcoming staff.

A package is available now through November10, 2020 and includes the following:
- 2-for-1 flights on Alaska Airlines from LAX to Loreto
- Five-night stay in a deluxe suite
- Unlimited golf rounds with golf cart per adult, per day
- Daily Meals
- Tax and services

The package price starts from $2949 for two adults in a deluxe suite.  Meals include daily American breakfasts and lunches at the Market and dinner at Casa Mia.

TPC Danzant TPC Danzante Bay, the resort’s award-winning Rees Jones designed golf course, is a brilliant, multi-themed challenge accented by valleys, arroyos, dunes, and foothills. Holes feature panoramic views of Danzante Bay, the Sea of Cortez, the Islands of Loreto, and the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range.

The resort sits on a sprawling stretch of white-sand beach along Danzante Bay in the Islands of Loreto, where the natural habitat includes 900 species of fish and unspoiled, clear waters. Guests enjoy world-class sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and seasonal whale watching.

The property has six swimming pools, tennis courts, miles of well-marked hiking trails and plenty of open space for social distancing. There are four on-property restaurants, with abundant outdoor seating, in addition to a fully stocked grocery and sundries market.

This package can only be booked by calling 1-800-790-4187 and mentioning the promo code FLIGHT2X1GOLF.

Forsgate Country Club’s Frank A. Esposito Qualifies for the 2020 Senior PGA Professional Championship

(Monroe Township, N.J.) — Forsgate Country Club congratulates Frank Esposito, a member of its Teaching Professional staff, on qualifying for the 2020 Senior PGA Professional Championship that will be contested in Port St. Lucie, Florida, October 15-18.  Esposito earned a playing spot in the national tournament by finishing second at this week’s New Jersey Senior PGA Professional Championship at Navesink Country Club in Middletown.

In spite of this year’s shortened NJ PGA schedule of tournaments due to the pandemic, Esposito is having another strong season and currently is ranked the No. 1 NJ PGA Section Senior Player of the Year.

Esposito, 57, is considered by many as New Jersey’s best senior golfer.  He has played in PGA TOUR Champions Tour tournaments, competed in the U.S. Open and in two PGA Championships.  In 2014, he won the prestigious Senior PGA Professional National Championship.  Esposito has a stellar New Jersey golf resume.  He is a two-time NJ Open champion, a three-time NJ Senior Open Championship winner, and is a member of the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame.

For more information about Forsgate Country Club visit www.forsgatecc.com or call (732) 521-0070.

Breakthrough Golf Technology Stability Putter Shaft Captures a T-3 at the Wyndham Championship

(Richardson, TX) — Breakthrough Golf Technology announces that its Stability putter shaft finished in a tie for third place at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.  

The player using the BGT Stability putter shaft finished in a third place tie at 18-under par for the tournament held over the past weekend at Sedgefield Country Club.

"Congratulations on a great finish for the player using the BGT Stability putter shaft," says Breakthrough CEO and Founder Barney Adams. "Tour pros on multiple tours are using our Stability putter shaft and are beginning to realize that the BGT putter shaft can make a huge difference in their game."

BGT also had a second place finish over the weekend on the Korn Ferry Tour with Dan McCarthy using the Stability putter shaft.

For 50 years, the putter shaft has not changed. It was a simple steel pipe. But over the years, head designs for putters evolved and have gotten dramatically heavier. This has resulted in shafts that are not stable or strong enough to keep these heavier, advanced putter heads from oscillating. The Stability putter shaft delivers the face more squarely at impact, resulting in improved accuracy, solid feel, a lower launch for a predictable roll, and better distance control.

Breakthrough Golf Technology website: breakthroughgolftech.com.

PGA TOUR 2K21 Available Now

(New York, N.Y.) – For seasoned golf pros and rookies alike, your tee time has finally arrived: PGA TOUR 2K21 is available now for the PlayStation4 system, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch system* and Stadia. Developed by HB Studios, the team behind The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR 2K21 is a real-deal golf simulation experience featuring officially licensed PGA TOUR pros, courses, gear and apparel brands.

PGA TOUR 2K21 is built around the belief that golf is for everyone. Whether you’re a pro who’s no stranger to the dance floor or a weekend warrior looking to try your luck for the first time, there’s something here for you. Rookies can take advantage of real-time tutorials, tips and shot suggestions, while veterans can master their games with advanced features, including Pro Vision, Distance Control, Shot Shaper and Putt Preview. Tee it up solo or hit the links with friends by playing local and online matches, including Alt-Shot, Stroke Play, Skins and 4-Player Scramble. Taking the social experience to the next level, command your Clubhouse with Online Societies, where you can run full seasons and tournaments while earning bragging rights on the course. You can also create entry rules and requirements, as well as handicap and event settings, to challenge your crew.

The first step toward FedExCup glory is to create your own unique MyPLAYER by selecting from hundreds of customization options, including new licensed apparel and equipment from popular brands such as adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, Malbon Golf, Callaway Golf, Bridgestone Golf, TaylorMade Golf and more. From there, load up your golf bag with the 14 clubs of your choice and take on the PGA TOUR Career Mode. You’ll start off on the Korn Ferry Tour and go on to compete in over 30 events spanning multiple stages of your career. You’ll also take on a roster of 12 PGA TOUR pros, headlined by PGA TOUR 2K21 cover athlete Justin Thomas.

The PGA TOUR pro roster also includes:
- Cameron Champ;
- Bryson DeChambeau, a.k.a. “The Scientist”;
- Matt Kuchar, a.k.a. “Kuch”;
- Kevin Kisner, a.k.a. “Kiz”
- Gary Woodland, a.k.a. “G-Dub”;
- Billy Horschel, a.k.a. “Billy Ho”;
- Ian Poulter, a.k.a. “The Postman”;
- Tony Finau, a.k.a. “Big Tone”;
- Jim Furyk, a.k.a. “Mr. 58”;
- Sergio Garcia;
- Patrick Cantlay.

The PGA TOUR Career Mode is brought to life by a broadcast-style presentation with state-of-the-art graphics, dynamic cutscenes and a seamless replay system, all anchored by the play-by-play commentary of veteran golf and sports broadcaster Luke Elvy and three-time PGA TOUR winner turned golf analyst Rich Beem. Elvy and Beem provide analysis and insights, while also applauding your best shots and poking fun at your missteps.

PGA TOUR 2K21 includes the world famous TPC Sawgrass and 14 additional licensed PGA TOUR courses to challenge you, each of which was created using cutting-edge technology to capture nearly every real-life detail of these intricate courses down to one centimeter of accuracy. This process ensures that players feel every dogleg on the fairway and break in the green that PGA TOUR professionals face in real tournaments.

The 15 licensed courses include:
- Atlantic Beach Country Club;
- Copperhead Course;
- East Lake Golf Club;
- Quail Hollow Club;
- Riviera Country Club;
- TPC Boston;
- TPC Deere Run;
- TPC Louisiana;
- TPC River Highlands;
- TPC San Antonio;
- TPC Sawgrass;
- TPC Scottsdale;
- TPC Southwind;
- TPC Summerlin;
- TPC Twin Cities.

You can also trick out your own greens and fairways with thousands of custom options in the Course Designer** - powered by The Golf Club - where you can build the course of your dreams and challenge friends via cross-platform custom course sharing. Everything from clubhouses and skyscrapers to a wide variety of plants, animals and objects is available to bring your imagination to life.

In addition, players who purchase the PGA TOUR 2K21 Digital Deluxe Edition will receive the 2K/adidas CODECHAOS MyPLAYER Pack featuring adidas CODECHAOS BOA golf shoes and custom 2K/adidas gear, including a sport performance polo, Ultimate365 pants and tour hat, designed by adidas Golf exclusively for PGA TOUR 2K21, as well as the “Golden Touch” pack featuring a gold putter and driver, along with a 2300 VC pack, which can be used to unlock in-game cosmetic items***.

PGA TOUR 2K21 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information on PGA TOUR 2K21 and 2K, visit PGATOUR2K21.com.

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Announces Virtual Golf Shootout on YouTube

The Islands Of The Bahamas will welcome the best in women’s golf to participate in a one-of-a-kind online competition

(Paradise Island, Bahamas) – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism recently announced the launch of a first-of-its kind virtual closest-to-the-pin golf shootout - The Islands Of The Bahamas Virtual Shootout. This unique competition will feature LPGA Tour professionals and golf industry personalities going head-to-head live on YouTube.

The Islands Of The Bahamas Virtual Shootout will be held at 7 p.m. EDT Sept. 2 and will feature 16 contestants, among them two-time Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic Champion Brittany Lincicome, 2019 Bahamas Shootout Champion Alison Lee, long drive champion Troy Mullins, trick shot artist Tania Tare, as well as LPGA and Team Troon member Cheyenne Woods. The competition format will be one shot, survive and advance, in a March Madness style bracket configuration. Fans can tune-in to watch on the WGT Golf YouTube channel.  The livestream will benefit the Bahamas Red Cross, with a live call to action during the competition. Golf media personality and former host of Golf Channel’s “Round Trip”, Matt Ginella will moderate and provide color commentary during the WGT livestream (https://www.youtube.com/c/wgt/). Global Golf Management will executive produce the event.

“While the current environment has impacted the way golf players and fans enjoy the sport, The Islands Of The Bahamas remains a top golf destination, so we are thrilled that we are able to virtually bring fans to the course to watch the closest-to-the-pin golf shootout from the comfort of their own homes,” said Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation.

Beginning August 10, fans can participate in a sweepstakes promotion and register to remain informed about the Bahamas Virtual Shootout via www.bahamasgolfgetaway.com.   As part of the WGT livestream, Ginella will announce the grand prize winner – a trip for two to The Bahamas, with a stay at Atlantis, Paradise Island and golf at the famed The Ocean Club Golf Course. The Ocean Club Golf Course, a Troon-managed property, is an 18-hole, par-72, Tom Weiskopf-designed layout that stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis, Paradise Island resort’s ocean-side peninsula.

“We are proud to once again partner with Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Global Golf Management and a star-studded collection of LPGA professionals and influencers on this fun and unique event,” said Robbie Leming, general manager, The Ocean Club Golf Course. “This is a great opportunity to showcase our breathtakingly beautiful destination.”

The event underscores the unique ongoing relationship between Global Golf Management and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Previously, GGM and BMOT partnered with the LPGA Tour to conduct the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic at Ocean Club Golf Course. In 2019, the Bahamas White Sands Golf Series was launched. The series featured a Pro-Am event, custom television content, and a NCAA golf invitational that included top men’s and women’s teams. The Bahamas White Sands Series is scheduled to return in 2021.

“Global Golf has served as a conduit for the sport of professional golf for 28+ years and the Virtual Golf Shootout allowed us to develop a unique concept with existing and new partners,” said Jeff Raedle, principal at Global Golf Management. “Our goal was to pivot from some of the traditional golf activities and provide the golfers, fans and corporate partners like The Islands of the Bahamas, Atlantis, LPGA TOUR and WGT by Topgolf new opportunities to connect with each other.”

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

Arccos Golf Introduces the Game’s Most Advanced Personalized Strokes Gained Platform

Arccos Caddie Strokes Gained Analytics Harnesses A.I. Neural Net to Provide Personalized Benchmarks and Insights to Golfers for First Time Ever

(STAMFORD, Conn.) – Arccos – the pioneer of big data and artificial intelligence for golf – today announced the launch of Arccos Caddie Strokes Gained Analytics (SGA), a new feature in the Arccos Caddie app, providing players with the most advanced personalized insights in the game.

The simple way to improve faster, SGA is the first platform to allow a player to select any target handicap – from Tour player to 20 – and measure their performance versus that goal across every game facet. Arccos Caddie SGA shows a player’s overall game stats with trend and scoring analysis. In addition, SGA not only supports deep dives for all performance segments by each round or customizable periods, it automatically highlights a player’s top-3 strengths and weaknesses and provides tips from world-class instructors to help any golfer play smarter and shoot lower scores.

“This is a significant leap forward in golf analytics. Finally amateurs will have easy access to SGA insights that are better than what is available to most Tour pros. This is only possible due to the power of our custom A.I. neural network fueled by the largest on-course dataset in the world.” said Sal Syed, Arccos Co-Founder and CEO. “The beauty of our new SGA platform is we take complex data and simplify it. The result is unmatched personalized insights for golfers of all skill levels – as well as their coaches and clubfitters. With this information they will be on a clear path to improvement like never before.”

One of the many powerful features in the Arccos Caddie app at no additional cost to members, SGA segments include:
- Overall: Top 3 Insights, Trend Analysis, Scoring Analysis
- Driving: Overall, Distance, Accuracy, Hole Length, Hole Shape
- Approach: Overall, Pin Distance (50-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200+ yards), Terrain (Tee (Par 3), Fairway, Rough, Sand), Greens in Regulation (GIR %, Avg. Distance to Pin, Miss Tendencies)
- Short Game: Overall, Chip by Pin Distance (0-25, 25-50 yards), Chip Accuracy (Avg. Distance to Pin, Up & Down %), Sand by Pin Distance (0-25, 25-50 yards), Sand Accuracy (Avg. Distance to Pin, Up & Down %)
- Putting: Overall, Putting by Hole, Putting by Length (0-10, 10-25, 25-50, 50+ feet), Avg. Putts/Round, Putts/Hole, Putts/GIR

Available starting today in the Arccos Caddie app, SGA follows the recent launch of Arccos’ first wearable – Arccos Caddie Link. This small, ultralight device allows Arccos players to capture their shot data without having to carry a smartphone on the course. Compatible with iPhone and Android devices, Link seamlessly pairs with the Arccos Caddie app and sensors. Worn on a player’s belt, waistband or pocket, it tracks shots in real time – including the club used and precise location – and automatically transfers the data to a player’s smartphone via Bluetooth, either during or after the round. This allows golfers to play the game their way, freeing them to keep their phone in a cart, bag, back pocket or elsewhere.

Golf’s first Artificial Intelligence platform, the Arccos Caddie app syncs with Arccos Caddie sensors to automatically track your shots while delivering smart distance club averages and advanced analytics. The system includes an A.I. powered GPS rangefinder and caddie advice for any hole on earth to help golfers of all skill levels make smarter decisions, improve faster and shoot lower scores. In 2019, the average Arccos Caddie user who played at least 5 rounds lowered their handicap by a remarkable 4.2 strokes.

For more information, visit: www.arccosgolf.com.