Anna Davis Leans on Experience to Capture the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship

Davis’ summer of top competition pays off when it matters most

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Something big was on the horizon.

Anna Davis could feel it. After a summer filled with competition against top-flight, nationally renowned junior golfers, she knew her time was close. Her game was about to shine.

On Friday afternoon at Valhalla Golf Club, it was at its brightest. Davis, from the San Diego suburb of Spring Valley, California, marched to an emphatic seven-shot victory at the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship. She shot a final-round 6-under 67 (par is 73) to match the low round of the day.

“It feels so good to top off the summer this way with a big win at a tournament like this,” Davis said, minutes after being doused with bottles of water by some of her fellow competitors. “If I was put in this situation a year ago, I definitely would have struggled mentally. That’s for sure. But my mental game has improved so much, just keeping my head in the game, worrying about me and not what the other girls are doing.”

Through the three rounds she led, there were moments where Davis, 15, could have faltered. Like in Round 1 when she made three consecutive bogeys, or in Round 2 when she needed to lean heavily on her putter to save her scores, or in Round 3 when she started with three bogeys on the first five holes. 

Then, in the final round, Julia Misemer (Overland Park, Kansas) was looking to run down Davis on the back nine. But after a birdie on 13 closed the gap to two shots, Davis pounced on a couple of Misemer’s mistakes on 15. 

An errant tee shot eventually led to a chop out of the rough and Misemer’s ball trickling into the water. Davis then stuck her second shot to about 12 feet, and rolled in a left-to-right putt for birdie. Misemer made a triple bogey for a critical four-shot swing.

“It went from two to a six-shot lead in like minutes,” said Davis, a rising sophomore at Steele Canyon High School. “So I could relax a little bit after that, which was nice to not be super stressed going into the last few holes.”

Misemer, 17, played well until then. She mounted a run to close out the back nine, with back-to-back birdies, including on the 153-yard par-3 eighth on a tee shot she hit to 2 feet. But Davis matched with a birdie on nine, and both made the turn at 4 under for the round. Misemer finished solo second at 8 under, and Megha Ganne (Holmdel, New Jersey) was 7 under for solo third. 

“I’ve played so many tournaments this summer against so many well-known girls,” Davis said. “So that experience has definitely helped for times like this.”

Good Day for Goodyear

Two players from Goodyear, Arizona made two of the biggest runs up the leaderboard Friday. 

Abbey Schutte matched Davis with the round of the day with a 67 to jump 18 spots from where she was when the day started, and into a tie for 16th. Kendall Todd also shot a final-round 67 to move up 15 spots, tying her for fifth. 

College Coaches Aplenty

College golf coaches from around the country were here eyeing future recruits, getting a glimpse of the next up-and-comers on the junior circuit and checking in on commits this week. 

Coaches from NCAA Division I powerhouses Ole Miss, Stanford, Duke, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, LSU and Wake Forest, among many others, were at Valhalla following players. In total, 79 collegiate coaches were in attendance.

The 46th Girls Junior PGA Championship will be held at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois, Aug. 2-5, 2022. The Boys Junior PGA Championship will be held at Cog Hill during the same week.

SportsBetting.ag Sets Dave Portnoy as Big Underdog to Brooks Koepka in Golf Match

(WAGER) — Barstool founder Dave Portnoy and major champion golfer Brooks Koepka will compete in a charity golf match on September 7, and according to Vegas, El Presidente will walk away as the loser.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook SportsBetting.ag made Portnoy a 6/1 underdog versus Koepka, who will play the match left-handed instead of his dominant right side in order to somewhat even the playing field.

Koepka is a 1/12 (or -1200) favorite for the golf match, meaning a bettor would have to risk $1200 just to win a hundred on Koepka. A $100 wager on Portnoy would return $600 if he pulls off the upset.

Odds are subject to change and you can see current ones on this page: https://www.sportsbetting.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/golf---specials

Charity Golf Match Odds

Brooks Koepka   1/12   (-1200)

Dave Portnoy   6/1   (+600)

Circling Raven Sustains, Builds Upon Record Business Numbers in 2021 Season

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel Amenity Has Catapulted from Pandemic Driven Boosts to Achieve Financial Highs

(Worley, Idaho) – Circling Raven Golf Club is soaring yet again, achieving record numbers and financial performance this season as it comes through “The Year of the Pandemic,” something many industry watchdogs believed would bring the sport crashing back to Earth.

An amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in the Idaho panhandle 50 minutes east of Spokane (WA), Circling Raven realized two superb seasons in 2019 and 2020, the latter partially fueled by the COVID-19 phenomenon that saw golf courses thrive due to players flocking to the socially distant havens that are the sport’s vast landscapes and outdoor recreational venues.

“We believed that the additional players we hosted last year could be retained with first-class service, great course conditions, and creative event programs,” said David Christenson, PGA, Director of Golf.

The numbers speak for themselves:

Stay-and-play packages were up 25% for June 2021 over 2020 and are up 90% through June Year over Year (YoY)

Golf shop retail sales are up 45% June 2021 over June 2020 and are up 65% through June YoY

Total revenues have increased by 48% for June 2021 over June 2020 and are up 41% through June YoY 

“Our 2021 numbers are all the more meaningful as last year was a record-breaking year, the best we had had in the previous 12,” said Christenson.

Designed by Gene Bates, Circling Raven will be the host course for the Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour August 23-29, 2021, the first of a three-year run for the professional women’s tournament. Named the Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4 Now, the event will place some of the world’s rising star female players on the No. 1 rated public course in Idaho.

In addition to the “pure golf” that Circling Raven is known for thanks to its 620 pristine acres – more than four times the average number of acres allocated to golf course layouts worldwide – Head Golf Professional David Vonbrethorst has designed an array of programs that have resonated with people. These include competitive events, social events, couples events, equipment demo days, instructional programs, and more.

Contributing to Circling Raven’s record season is the Advantage Card, which was launched in 2019. It maximizes perks for regular patrons. It rewards cardholders with complimentary rounds, free entry into an Advantage Cardholder tournaments, discounts off the lowest greens fee for each round, supervised practice on the range or clinics with Circling Raven pros, and exclusive benefits throughout the year.

Visit www.cdacasino.com/golf for more information on golf and other resort options.

Buffalo Groupe, LLC Launches New Events Division, Moments Live

(RESTON, Va.) – Buffalo Groupe, LLC, a collection of agencies and media properties focused on golf and other “escape” industries, launches a new events division – Moments Live. The new division, led by industry veteran Jeff Foster, specializes in operating golf tours, tournaments, corporate offsites, golf societies and custom curated luxury experiences.  

“The last year has put a spotlight on the importance of taking time for the moments that matter in our lives, which often are experiences,” said Jeff Foster, president, Moments Live and Buffalo Media Network. “The time we spend recreationally or professionally escaping the everyday routine should be engaging and memorable. Moments Live was built on this foundation creating experiences our clients’ attendees will remember as a moment worth escaping to.”

In conjunction with the launch of Moments Live, Buffalo Groupe has become the majority stakeholder of The Friars Golf Club, a golf society offering unique experiences at the most desirable destinations around the world with others who share the same passion for golf and travel. With nearly 1,000 members, The Friars Golf Club joins Buffalo Groupe with a focus on continued growth, expanded experiences and more destination choices for its members. The Friars partnership provides the foundational infrastructure for Buffalo Groupe’s experiential offerings, which also includes high profile clients such as the NFL Alumni Association, MLB Players Alumni Association and GolfNow.  

“Events and experiences have always been a major component of Buffalo Groupe’s strategy,” said Kyle Ragsdale, CEO, Buffalo Groupe.  “Moments Live, under Jeff’s leadership, is a major milestone as we continue on our mission to serve the industries of ‘escape.’”

DriveForce’s DF-18 Is Now Informed Sport Certified

(BOSTON, MASS.) – DriveForce, a newly formed sports nutrition company specializing in functional health products, announced that its DF-18 premium pre-round performance blend has been designated an Informed Sport Certified product.

“We always intended DF-18 to reduce the physical stress of playing competitive golf and eliminate the drag players tend to experience on the back nine, but it was especially important to us that the product also meet professional standards,” says Zach Williams, co-founder of Drive Force. “This is why we took the time to become Informed Sport Certified, which marks us as worthy of the Olympic stage. If we were going to be the first on the market with a product like ours, then we needed to deliver on the promise -- and be safe for professionals to use in or prior to competition.”

Informed Sport is a quality assurance program for sports nutrition products, suppliers to the sports nutrition industry, and supplement manufacturing facilities. The program certifies that all nutritional supplements and/or ingredients that bear the Informed-Sport logo have been tested for banned substances by the world class sports anti-doping laboratory, LGC.

According to Williams, being Informed Sport Certified is about more than ensuring that the ingredients are not on the banned substance lists - it’s about confirming that, at no point in a complicated, multi-stage manufacturing process spanning multiple countries, did any contamination occur before the product was packaged and sealed.

“As far as we know, DF-18 is the only golf-specific sports performance product with an Informed Sport Certification,” says Williams. “Professional golfers deserve products that meet professional standards, especially now that golf is finally an Olympic sport. Getting certified by Informed Sport was mandatory for us to that end.”

A convenient sports nutrition solution, consumed daily or prior to a round, DF-18 sustains a golfer’s focus, hydration, and stamina for a complete 18 holes. The innovative powdered formula, available in single-serving packets, contains no added sugar or caffeine, but rather a multitude of health promoting ingredients designed to be mixed with a bottle of water and consumed before a round. It supports a healthy immune system, and by increasing the supply of nitric oxide in the body, may help regulate healthy blood flow and blood pressure, and a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.

LPGA pro Alison Walshe has been an early adopter of DF-18. This certification makes her even more confident in being able to recommend it to fellow players. “Nowadays, there are so many products in the fitness space with ingredients I’m not particularly familiar with,” she says. “For professionals like myself, knowing that you could innocently test positive because of an overlooked ingredient and cause irreparable damage to your career as an athlete is a frightening thought. Having DF-18 certified by Informed Sport is huge because that means it’s safe for all of us, no matter what level you play.”

DF-18 is available in Pineapple Passion Fruit, with more flavors to come, for $3.99 per 20-gram packet. To order DF-18 and see what customers are already saying about the new performance blend, visit https://driveforce.golf/product/df-18/.

Titleist Introduces New T-Series Irons

New Material and Processes Power Advanced Precision, Exacting Performance and Unrivaled Feel

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) - Revolutionary changes in the evolution of the Titleist T-Series advances the company’s mission of producing the world’s best irons. Titleist has been the most played iron on the PGA Tour for 16 of the last 17 years, including each of the last seven seasons. Not only is Titleist on pace to extend its favored status on the PGA Tour, the T100 continues to be most played iron model by the world’s best since its tour introduction at the 2019 U.S. Open. 

The new T-Series iron family features new materials, processes and refinements that power exacting precision, performance and unmatched feel. The new T-Series irons includes four models – T100, T100•S, T200 and T300 – which will be available for fittings starting today and available in golf shops globally beginning August 26.

“The new T-Series irons represent another step forward in Titleist iron design and technology,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “With these new irons, across the board, every detail matters. They provide the best precision and performance in their respective iron category with stunning aesthetics and feel. Golfers don’t buy an iron ‘line’, they want specialization, and that’s what each of these models offer.”

“T-Series irons are designed to provide precise control for any player who wants to score lower,” said Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development, Golf Club R&D. “From form to feel to function, every aspect of these irons is crafted towards the golfer being consistent from their first shot to their last throughout every round. Whether it is the T100, T100•S, T200 or T300, every iron is individually engineered to help the golfer deliver a strike where they can see and feel pure performance.”

T100 | THE MODERN TOUR IRON

For the better player who is looking for Precision Control and Unrivaled Feel

The refinements found in the new T100 model are the product of continuous feedback from some of the best iron players in the game, including Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris, Sungjae Im, Cameron Smith, Garrick Higgo and Jessica Korda, among many others. It is the most played iron model on the PGA Tour for a reason – and with tour-validated improvements - now has even more reasons to stay on top. A ‘player’s iron,’ the new T100 offers more precise flighting and control, fully forged feel, a more versatile sole design, and plays like the commanding and consistent field favorite it is on tour. The T100 irons are designed with a new Tour-preferred brushed chrome finish.

T100 | PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY

New Tour-Designed Sole: By working with select tour professionals and in collaboration with the Vokey Design wedge team, Titleist engineers developed a new variable bounce design - less bounce in the heel and more bounce in the toe - that provides better turf interaction and improved feel. The design has been overwhelmingly validated by some of the world’s best ball strikers.

Better Tungsten for Better Balance: Utilizing a denser version of tungsten (D18) weights in the heel and toe of the 3-7 irons for greater mass efficiency, and a brazing process used in aerospace construction, Titleist engineers were able to eliminate weld points and be even more precise with CG placement and produce high MOI in a ‘player’s iron.’

Refined for Greater Consistency: The new T100 face features a continuous cradle construction that creates a seamless striking surface and more uniform leading edge. A proven, fully forged, dual cavity supports the face construction. The 3 through 7-iron faces were redesigned to impart slightly more spin for improved shot-shaping and increased control. The 8-W are forged with one-piece 1025 carbon steel.

QUOTING MARNI INES: “What sets these irons apart from the competition is the precision and feel they provide the golfer. Irons are scoring clubs and it is important to the T100 player to hit their number and hit it more consistently. With that as a priority, we took the best performing iron in the game and made it better by adding high density tungsten, which is the engine of our iron designs. It allows us to put the CG where it needs to be, provides stability and builds up MOI. The way this new T100 is engineered also allows us to keep that blade-like profile these golfers desire which is so important for confidence when looking down at their club.”

STEEL FEATURED SHAFT: True Temper AMT Tour White

Ascending Mass Technology: 3g per club (106-130g)

Low launch, low spin

GRAPHITE FEATURED SHAFT: MCA Tensei White AM2

Ascending Mass Technology: 2g per club (94-108g)

Low launch, low spin

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 with white paint fill and black flat cap

PRICING: $186 MAP/club and $1,299 MAP/7-piece set (Steel)

T100•S | THE FASTER TOUR IRON

For the player who wants the exact look and feel of a Tour iron, but wants to hit it farther

The T100•S now boasts an even closer connection to everything the world’s best players prefer in the T100 – only more. Featuring a fully forged feel, Tour-shaping, a more versatile sole design, and precise flighting – the new T100s is engineered with 2* stronger lofts and a new Muscle Channel that produces enhanced ball speed and launch while preserving precise touch, control and stopping power. It’s the Faster Tour iron.

T100•S | PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Same Tour Shape. Only Faster: The new T100•S head dimensions exactly match the specs of the T100, with the exception of being engineered – not bent – 2* stronger. The T100•S features the same fully forged face, backed by an innovative Muscle Channel that adds both speed and launch. At impact, the T100s feels amazingly similar to the T100 with the only difference being added distance.

Better Tungsten for Better Performance: Utilizing denser D18 tungsten weights and a brazing process used in aerospace construction, the T100•S irons feature the same precise CG calibration as T100. Weight savings from the Muscle Channel are shifted to produce even lower CG and higher launch, resulting in outstanding MOI and increased ball speed from a solid, fully forged design.

Refined for Greater Consistency:  Like the T100, the new T100•S face features a continuous cradle construction that creates a seamless striking surface and more uniform leading edge. This small, but impactful shift, separates the precision of Titleist irons production from the competition. A proven, fully forged, dual cavity supports the face construction. The 3 through 7-iron faces were redesigned to impart slightly more spin for improved shot-shaping and increased control. The 8-W are forged with one-piece 1025 carbon steel.

QUOTING MARNI INES: “The uniqueness of the T100•S comes from the fact that we engineered the 2* stronger loft into the iron rather than just bend them. The reason for this is to keep the integrity of the sole and optimize its performance through the turf. That would be lost by simply bending a T100.  In addition, the ‘S’ represents ‘speed’ and the new Muscle Channel delivers it through the long and mid irons by providing longer distance, tighter dispersion and higher angle of descent for greater consistency and scoring opportunities. It has the same look and feel of the T100 but longer flight for those who want it.”

STEEL FEATURED SHAFT: Project X LZ

Loading Zone Technology: Allows the player to load the shaft more for increased energy transfer while also getting a unique feel

Low launch, low spin

GRAPHITE FEATURED SHAFT: MCA Tensei White AM2

Ascending Mass Technology: 2g per club (94-108g)

Low launch, low spin

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 with white paint fill and black flat cap

PRICING: $186 MAP/club and $1,299 MAP/7-piece set (Steel)

T200 | THE TOUR’S DISTANCE IRON

For the player who wants distance help, without sacrificing looks, forged feel, trajectory or stopping power

The T200 iron evolution represents the biggest shift within the T-Series family. With 10 different patents utilized in the new T200, it is Titleist’s most advanced iron ever. Titleist Golf Club Research and Development took all the best of the previous generation T200, then streamlined the Max Impact technology, utilized denser tungsten weighting, and updated the shape with reduced offset, a thinner topline and shorter blade profile. The result is a sleek look with stunning distance. Every element of the multi-material construction is engineered to create maximum speed with Tour-validated feel and distance control.

T200 | PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

Power Packed Design: Every component of the multi-material hollow body construction contributes to the long, consistent distance of the T200. The improved Max Impact Technology (Max Impact 2.0) now includes a core support design and an enhanced high resilience polymer core that improves both off-center speed and mass efficiency at impact across a forged, high COR SUP-10 L-Face Insert.

Multi-Material Body: An engineered muscle plate contributes to precision sound tuning and saves weight which is optimized in the new, streamlined 17-4 chassis. A shorter blade length, less offset (same as T100), narrower topline and thinner sole, provides a tour-inspired look and feel while delivering maximum speed and distance.

Better Tungsten for Better Progression:  Utilizing denser D18 tungsten weights in the 3-7 irons for greater mass efficiency, and a brazing process used in aerospace construction, Titleist engineers were able to position the CG more precisely for maximum benefit in every club – from fast, forgiving, high launching long and mid irons to accurate, precise short irons.

QUOTING MARNI INES: “Many golfers want the benefit of advanced technology in an iron – and the T200 is our most advanced iron yet - but they don’t necessarily want to see it. All of that ‘Max Impact’ technology - and more - is now ‘under the hood’ in the new T200, so it looks and feels like a Tour-played iron but has the game improvement qualities preferred or required by this golfer. With the evolution of Max Impact, we were able to include an Engineered Muscle Plate that allowed us to free up weight and add lightweight polymer and over 100g of high-density tungsten to the design. The result was extremely high MOI properties at Tour inspired blade lengths which allows the iron face to return more energy to the golf ball on off center shots and produce tighter dispersion and more consistent distance.”

STEEL FEATURED SHAFT: True Temper AMT Black

Ascending Mass Technology: 3g per club (95-116g)

Mid launch, mid spin

GRAPHITE FEATURED SHAFT: MCA Tensei Blue AM2

Ascending Mass Technology: 2g per club (74-88g)

Mid launch, mid spin

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 with white paint fill and black flat cap

PRICING: $186 MAP/club and $1,299 MAP/7-piece set (Steel)

T300 | THE ULTIMATE GAME IMPROVEMENT IRON

For the player who wants high launch, long distance, and forgiveness they can count on

The player’s game improvement iron, the new T300 continues to be powered by updated Max Impact technology that maximizes speed across a new variable face thickness (VFT) design.  The extremely forgiving mid-sized, fast, cavity-back design includes a 40 percent increase in tungsten that improves CG placement for optimal launch, spin and high MOI.  The size and shape of the T300 is designed to provide confidence, while a new chrome plated finish provides a premium look.

T300 | PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

Muscle Under the Hood: Locked behind the T300 badge lies a hidden power source - Max Impact 2.0. A Cantilever Core Support Structure features a new high resilience polymer core, delivering maximum speed and distance control.

Better Tungsten for Better Performance:  The high-density tungsten (D18) weights are utilized in the heel and toe of the 4-7 irons for greater mass efficiency. In addition, Titleist engineers were able to add 40 percent more tungsten than was in the previous generation T300 through a brazing process applied from aerospace construction usually reserved for Tour-played irons. This contributes to a solid-feeling, advanced design that produces the optimal balance of launch, distance and forgiveness.

Thinner Where it Counts: The T300 now employs a High COR Variable Face Design that is thinner towards the heel in the long and mid irons to improve performance at what is traditionally one of the least effective strike points.

QUOTING JOSH TALGE: “The T300 is the ultimate Titleist game improvement iron. It is for the golfer who wants high launch, long distance and forgiveness, and wants to see the technology they are using. This model utilizes the Max Impact 2.0 technology which is featured in a sleek, clean package at address for which Titleist irons are known. The design team retained the offset, shape and size, but was able to add 40 percent more tungsten to this iron, precisely lower the CG and meet the performance needs of this golfer.”

STEEL FEATURED SHAFT: True Temper AMT Red

Ascending Mass Technology: 3g per club (95-107g)

High launch, high spin

GRAPHITE FEATURED SHAFT: MCA Tensei Red AM2

Ascending Mass Technology: 2g per club (54-68g)

High launch, high spin

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 with white paint fill and black flat cap

PRICING: $143 MAP/club and $999 MAP/7-piece set (Steel)

T-SERIES ON TOUR: Many of the world’s best players – including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Cam Smith, Garrick Higgo and Jessica Korda – have added new T-Series irons to their bags since the new models debuted on tour in late June:

• Jordan Spieth put a full set of new T100’s (4-9) immediately in play at the Open Championship, his first start after the new models were introduced on tour. He promptly opened with a 5-under par 65 en route to four consecutive rounds in the 60’s and a runner-up finish.

Quoting Spieth: “The sole just glides through the ground so nicely. With the added bounce off the toe and the reduced bounce in the heel similar to the wedges that we have on those grinds, it just allows for some consistency when you get a little bit off. The idea that you can be on uneven lies and have it kind of make up for that, and then if you get in the rough and have it not drag as much, but instead slide through just as easily, that’s where we see the improvement in these irons.”

“I don’t understand why you’d play any other iron to be honest. I joke around, ‘I’m not good enough to play the blades,’ but in reality, I think we’re just being smarter. I think we’re just like, ‘Oh, we can actually hit every shot that a blade can hit.’ But that chance that we mishit them – which we’re going to mishit a few shots in a round, even in a great round, the idea that it does carry that bunker and you make birdie on a hole where someone has to get up and down for par – I mean, it could be the difference in a tournament.”

• Spieth, Justin Thomas, Charley Hoffman, Garrick Higgo, Adam Scott and Bernd Wiesberger were among several players who also added new T200 2-irons to their bag at Royal St. George’s.

• Jessica Korda was one of the first players to hit final T-Series prototypes during a trip to the Titleist Performance Institute in early 2021. She put her new T200 4-iron and T100 (5-9) irons right in the bag at the LPGA’s Marathon Classic.

Quoting Jessica Korda: “They’re just really pure. It’s like I’m hitting blades, but you’re not. I loved how solid they felt. The height on them is incredible. It’s exactly what I’m looking for, especially in the longer irons.

“The consistency is what I look for. Because when I’m standing over the ball and I need this thing to travel a number that I have in my head, and I can rely on that and just be like, just make a good swing, it takes so much of the guesswork out of it and it makes you commit to the shot more. I don't change often. It has to beat what I have, and this is really nice. To be even better, to help me hold greens like I need to with the longer irons, especially going into par fives, it's really, really nice.”

T-SERIES FITTINGS:  Titleist believes in a holistic approach to its irons which includes three key dimensions: Distance, Dispersion and Angle of Descent. Every T-Series iron is designed for maximum performance in these the (3) areas. An authorized Titleist fitter will help the golfer find the combination of T-Series models to unlock their ability to hit the golf ball longer and closer to the pin. Golfers can find a Titleist fitting location beginning today by visiting www.titleist.com

Titleist Introduces New U•505 Utility and T200 Long Irons

Designed for Golfers Seeking to Increase Launch and Speed from Long Irons

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – Titleist introduces seven new opportunities for golfers who are looking to increase launch and spin from their utility and long irons, including four options in the new U•505 model and three irons from the new T200 family. 

Titleist has been the overwhelming most played utility iron on the PGA Tour for several years running and the addition of the new U•505 and T200 long irons will contribute to its most played position.

The new U•505 utility iron and T200 long irons will be available for fittings starting today and available in golf shops globally beginning August 26.

“The new U•505 is the direct result of tour player feedback of the original U•500 and U•510 utility irons,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “The U•505 combines the best of both and the result is our highest performing and most playable utility iron yet. The new T200 long irons offer similar high launch and speed with the look and feel of an iron set at the top of the bag.” 

“With the U•505 and the T200 Long Irons, we have players covered regarding what they are seeking in launch, speed, feel and looks at the top of the bag,” said Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development, Golf Club R&D. “The immediate positive feedback we have received by players who have put these in play has been encouraging. They love the balance of the height advantage and control they are getting from a utility and long iron. That’s what these clubs give you. In addition, players love the look when they put it down at address. Even though they may play blades or T100’s in their regular set, they want the confidence and forgiveness these clubs provide irons when they set them down.”

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Charley Hoffman, Garrick Higgo, Adam Scott and Bernd Wiesberger were among several players who added new T200 2-irons to their bag at Royal St. George’s.

U•505 | THE PLAYERS UTILITY IRON

Improving upon the foundation of the previous generation U•510 and U•500, the new U•505 is a wide-soled, high-launching utility club. Designed for the player who is looking to increase launch and speed from their long irons with a faster face, the U•505 features evolved Max Impact 2.0 technology and new denser D18 tungsten weights, delivering improved sound and feel with outstanding versatility. The player’s shape provides confidence at address.

U•505 | PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Speed that Feels Amazing: With a thinner forged L-Face and the infusion of Max Impact Technology (Max Impact 2.0), the U•505 is Titleist’s highest COR utility iron ever.  A new reconfigured hollow body, core support structure, and enhanced high resilience polymer core, ensures that dynamic speed generation now comes with superior feel and sound.

Better Tungsten for Better Launch: Utilizing Denser D18 tungsten weights and a brazing process used in aerospace construction, Titleist engineers were able to concentrate weight more efficiently and be even more precise with CG placement. In the U•505 utility iron, that meant sliding it lower and towards the heel, where tour pros and better players felt it improved launch dynamics the most.

Looks Like an Iron: Based on U•510 player input, the U•505 was designed with a shorter blade and shallow face but kept the wide sole to maintain all of the performance advantages while moving towards a look that feels more in line with an irons set.

T200 LONG IRONS | THE TOUR’S DISTANCE IRON

The new T200 long irons are designed for the better player who is looking for long irons to increase launch and speed at the top of their bag. Tour players currently carrying T200 long irons include Jordan Spieth (2-iron), Justin Thomas (2-iron), Bern Wiesberger (2-iron) and Charley Hoffman (2-iron), among several others. The 2, 3 and 4 T200 long irons, with lofts of 17*, 20* and 22*, respectively, are the choice of those players who want maximum speed with their longest irons, but prefer compact player’s irons for looks versus a utility iron.

T200 LONG IRONS | PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

Power Packed Design: Every component of the multi-material hollow body construction contributes to the long, consistent distance of the T200 Long Irons. The improved Max Impact Technology includes a core support design and an enhanced high resilience polymer core that improves both off-center speed and mass efficiency at impact across a forged, high COR SUP-10 L-Face Insert.

Multi-Material Body: An engineered muscle plate contributes to precision sound tuning and saves weight which is optimized in a streamlined 17-4 chassis. A shorter blade length, less offset (same as T100), narrower topline and thinner sole, provides a tour-inspired look and feel while delivering maximum speed and distance.

Better Tungsten for Better Progression:  Utilizing denser D18 tungsten weights in the T200 long irons provides greater mass efficiency and allowed Titleist engineers to position the CG more precisely for maximum benefit, that is, fast, forgiving, and high launching long irons.

FEATURED SHAFT: U•505 Only

- HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX HYB (80, 90g)

- Hexcel HexTow IM carbon fiber in the tip for added stability and lower torque.

- Optimized material placement for improved feel and playability

- Low-mid launch, low-mid spin

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KemperSports Unveils Inaugural Golfer Insights Survey

Charting the Course: The KemperSports Golfer Insights Survey explores the changing golf landscape and what drives the modern-day player

(NORTHBROOK, Illinois) – The COVID-19 pandemic not only caused a resurgence in the game of golf, but it introduced a new kind of golfer to the game – one with different needs and priorities. New data from Charting the Course: The KemperSports Golfer Insights Survey, which queried 24,774 current, lapsed and new golfers, revealed that nearly half of new players are looking more for comfortable, social environments rather than keeping and improving their scores.

“There’s no doubt that the pandemic reshaped the game of golf in many ways,” said Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, a leading Chicago-based golf course management company and source of the Insights Survey. “We saw increased play and participation from people of all ages and walks of life, including many beginners and lapsed golfers who returned to the game. This survey data is an important tool to help us keep customers engaged and carry this momentum into the future. It allows us to tap into the changing needs and demands of the new player to deliver experiences that better serve our customers, members and guests.”

Key findings from the survey include:

- The new golfer is a social golfer – younger and female. Gen Z and younger Millennials are really getting into the game, with almost 27% of new golfers representing the 18-34 age group. In addition, women entered the game in a big way, representing almost 33% of new golfers surveyed, compared to the industry average of 24%.

- Once they played, they couldn’t stay away. Almost 60% of respondents played more than 25 rounds last year, including one-third of new golfers! And, about 30% of all respondents played between eight and 24 rounds. This means that more than half of surveyed golfers played more rounds than the industry average.

- 2021 intent to play is even higher than 2020. The majority of new golfers (58%) came to the game because of the pandemic. But, they plan to play even more golf in 2021 and intend to play just as much golf in the future as current golfers play, if they feel comfortable and confident. For the new golfer, 30% of those surveyed are more likely to come back if they can get instruction and social events.

- “Fun” will keep new players coming back for more. The fun factor is important to new golfers, with more than 40% saying fun events or activities combined with golf would motivate them to play more rounds in 2021. And lastly, scores aren’t everything. Only about 12% of new golfers said no improvement/lower scores would be a barrier to playing more in 2021.

“These findings point to an optimistic outlook for the game of golf,” Skinner said. “Now it’s on us, golf course operators, to ensure that we are delivering a welcoming, inclusive experience that golfers are so clearly craving. Even when the pandemic subsides, golf courses, clubs and resorts can still be a universal gathering space for people to make connections and have fun.”

KemperSports clients and properties across the country are implementing creative ways to attract and keep these new golfers. For example, the Social 6 series at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, host of the 2015 U.S. Open, gives players the chance to play casual, 6-hole rounds of golf that end in a social cocktail hour, while the popular Jack and Jill couples league at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas, provides a less intimidating approach to league play. Thornberry Creek at Oneida’s Five After Five initiative creates an opportunity for people to play a shorter round of five holes and is targeted towards those with a busy schedule or players who are new to the game or looking for a quick date night/social activity.

Outside of on-course play, properties are also shifting their physical spaces to accommodate socialization and gatherings. Timberlinks in Denton, Texas, is creating a fun patio space for people to gather after their rounds, an idea that came about specifically after witnessing an increase in younger golfers flooding to the course.

The company also promotes relationships with innovative partners in the game across its portfolio, such as DiscoverGolf and Spark Golf League to better serve the Gen Z and millennial audience. DiscoverGolf helps junior golfers learn golf fundamentals through entertaining and enriching games that establish an atmosphere conducive with exploring and understanding the game.

Additionally, Colwood Golf Center in Portland, Oregon, features a 9-hole, par-3 course designed with shorter rounds in mind that features a lively atmosphere with music and creative happy hour programming. Colwood also added indoor simulators for lessons and more social, casual play as well as a 7-hole pitch and putt course that was created from extra, unused green space – all to promote a welcoming atmosphere for new and experienced players alike.

This year, KemperSports launched its new All Welcome initiative designed to attract, welcome and retain new and diverse golfers at our properties. The playbook provides KemperSports’ clients and locations with research insights, property assessments, communication toolkits and event programming that invites new players to enjoy the game their way and helps them feel more welcome once they arrive. As part of the program, participating KemperSports properties offer complimentary 15-minute lessons, virtual/social instructional content and clinics as part of its player development initiatives. In conjunction with All Welcome and the need to grow and diversify the game beyond the pandemic surge, the company also signed on as the first golf course management company to help launch the golf industry’s new Make Golf Your Thing initiative alongside the PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Callaway, Titleist, and more. Through this movement, KemperSports will be offering a series of social and instructional events to create the welcoming atmosphere these new golfer’s desire, along with a supporting marketing campaign to attract new and diverse audiences to the game.

For more information on how KemperSports is harnessing the power of the changing industry, follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. For a complete list of KemperSports’ 100+ properties, visit KemperSports.com.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online by KemperSports from March 2-14, returning responses from 24,774 current, lapsed and new golfers based in the United States across its customer database.

NCR Country Club to Host 4th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship

Kettering, Ohio, course will host its fifth USGA championship in 2022 

(LIBERTY CORNER, N.J.) – The USGA announced NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, as the host site of the 4th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, to be contested Aug. 25-28, 2022.

“As we kick off the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open on Thursday, we couldn’t be more excited to announce that we are taking this championship to another venerable U.S. Women’s Open venue next year in NCR Country Club,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships. “The Senior Women’s Open continues to generate more and more buzz and excitement and has become a must-play event as the game’s greats turn 50. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to return to NCR and crown another worthy USGA champion.”

NCR’s South Course was designed by Dick Wilson and opened in 1954. It has previously hosted four USGA championships: the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Jane Geddes in a playoff over Sally Little; the 1998 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by John “Spider” Miller; the 2005 U.S. Senior Open, won by Allen Doyle; and the 2013 USGA Women’s State Team Championship, won by New Jersey. It also hosted the 1969 PGA Championship, won by Raymond Floyd.

“Our history with the USGA runs deep, and we cannot wait to welcome them back for another championship,” said Jeff Grant, chief operating officer of NCR Country Club. “The opportunity for us to share our world-class facility and golf course with some of the best players to have ever played the game is such a treat for all of us. We are honored and privileged to once again stage such a prestigious championship.”

Geddes is exempt into the 4th U.S. Senior Women’s Open from her victory in the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open, when she overcame a five-stroke deficit with seven holes to play in the final round to force a Monday playoff with Little, which she captured by two strokes. She is also in the field this week as the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open takes place at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., site of four previous USGA championships, including the 1979 U.S. Women’s Open.

The 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be the 41st USGA championship held in Ohio. The Buckeye State most recently hosted the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur at Inverness Club in Toledo, won by Preston Summerhays.

The U.S. Senior Women’s Open is open to professional females, and amateur females with a Handicap Index not exceeding 7.4, who have reached their 50th birthday as of the first day of the championship. The field will include 120 players, who will earn entry into the championship via qualifying at various sites nationwide or through an exemption category.

The format is a walking-only, 72-hole stroke play competition over four consecutive days with a 36-hole cut to the top 50 players, including ties. Laura Davies won the inaugural playing of the championship in July 2018 at Chicago Golf Club. In 2019, Helen Alfredsson hoisted the trophy at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. The 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open takes place this Thursday to Sunday at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., and the final two rounds can be seen live on Golf Channel.

Tickets for the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open are available for purchase at usseniorwomensopen.com.

2021 USA Curtis Cup Team Begins to Take Shape

Rose Zhang, Rachel Heck and Allisen Corpuz earn automatic selections based on World Amateur Golf Ranking

(LIBERTY CORNER, N.J.) — The United States Golf Association announced today that three players have earned places on the 2021 USA Curtis Cup Team as the top three Americans in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as of July 21. They are: Rose Zhang, 18, of Irvine, Calif. (first in WAGR); Rachel Heck, 19, of Memphis, Tenn. (second in WAGR); and Allisen Corpuz, 23, of Kapolei, Hawaii (12th in WAGR). The three will compete against Great Britain and Ireland in the 41st Curtis Cup Match on Aug. 26-28 at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales. 

The remaining five players will be chosen by the USGA’s International Team Selection working group prior to the three-day international competition. The winners of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship (Aug. 2-8 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y.) and the 2021 McCormack Medal will also receive automatic selections, if American.  

Sarah Ingram, a three-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion (1991, 1993, 1994) and a member of three USA Curtis Cup Teams (1992, 1994 and 1996), will serve as captain of the USA Team. A Duke University graduate, Ingram was a two-time All-American and four-year letter winner for the Blue Devils from 1985-1988. Ingram, who was the low amateur in the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open, is a member of the Duke University Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame. 

“The level of talent in the women's amateur game has never been stronger,” said Ingram. “Rose, Rachel and Allisen have all had unbelievably impressive years, with notable accomplishments at the junior, amateur and collegiate levels, and we're honored and fortunate to have them a part of the USA Team.” 

The Curtis Cup Match is contested by two teams of eight female amateur players, one from the United States of America and one from Great Britain and Ireland, which is composed of England, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The USGA’s International Team Selection working group selects the USA Team, while The R&A selects the GB&I Team. 

PLAYER PROFILES 

Allisen Corpuz, 23, of Kapolei, Hawaii, is a recent University of Southern California graduate who has competed in 16 USGA championships, including three U.S. Women’s Opens. In 2008, Corpuz surpassed fellow Hawaii native Michelle Wie as the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links history at 10 years, 3 months and 9 days. Last summer, Corpuz was the runner-up to Rachel Kuehn in the Women’s North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2, losing in 19 holes, and was a semifinalist in this year’s event earlier this month. Corpuz was named a first-team All-American by both Golfweek and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and led a talented USC team with a 71.57 stroke average. She plans to compete in the first stage of LPGA Q-school in August.  

Rachel Heck, 19, of Memphis, Tenn., is a rising sophomore at Stanford University who won the 2021 Annika Award as the top collegiate golfer. She became the third player in women’s college history to sweep conference (Pacific 12), regional (Stanford Regional) and national titles (NCAAs), joining USC's Annie Park and Arizona's Marisa Baena. At Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., Heck became the first Stanford woman to win an NCAA title, and the ninth freshman to achieve the feat. Heck's 69.72 scoring average over 25 rounds is the lowest in NCAA women's golf history. Last August, Heck was the stroke-play medalist in the U.S. Women’s Amateur before losing in the Round of 16. She also was a quarterfinalist in the 2020 North & South Women’s Amateur. Heck was a five-time AJGA All-American and a two-time USA Today Player of the Year. In 2017, she was the youngest competitor in the U.S. Women’s Open, tying for 33rd at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. 

Rose Zhang, 18, of Irvine, Calif., is the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, having defeated Gabriela Ruffels in a 38-hole final match last August in Maryland, and the reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior champion, having defeated Bailey Davis, 6 and 4, in Maryland earlier this month. She is currently No. 1 in the Women’s WAGR and won the 2020 McCormack Medal as the world’s leading amateur last September. Zhang has competed in four LPGA major championships, making the cut in three, including a T11 finish in the 2020 ANA Inspiration. She just competed in last week’s Evian Championship. She has represented the United States on both the Junior Solheim Cup and Junior Ryder Cup teams. In 2020, she won the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, the Ping Invitational and the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Zhang finished T3 at this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. 

To learn more, visit usga.org.

Breakthrough Golf Offers Custom Putter Shaft Options

Introducing golf’s first ever customized putter shaft – the new Stability Carbon

(Richardson, TX) — With the new Stability Carbon, you can customize to fit your game—length, connector color, even tip finish.

Stability Carbon is another product innovation from Breakthrough Golf’s premium putter assortment.

Barney Adams, CEO of Breakthrough Golf states, “There’s a reason why the #1 PGA putter in the world plays Stability and it’s simply because our technology works. Stability Carbon is just another superb offering and gives all golfers a choice in their putter shafts.” 

• Exclusive, Advanced Materials Integration; patented technology that delivers the face square at impact and is available only from BGT.

• Carbon weave for playability refinement and improved feel.

• Change your Loft, Lie, Length, Balance, Grip…even the site lines.

• Customize your shaft with 4 connector options and 2 tip finishes.

• Fits virtually all putters, regardless of brand or bend profile- straight, single or double bends and it’s easy to install.

• 1 degree of torque, so your putter face remains square at impact to deliver consistent, accurate putts that roll straight every time.

• 99% of golfers who play Stability prefer it over steel.

Discover why golfers of all abilities have switched to the patterned technology of Stability. Stability Carbon is available at golf shops now and will retail for $179.9. Each shaft is evadible with custom features that golfers can choice from.

Breakthrough Golf Technology website: breakthroughgolftech.com

Nicholas Dunlap Wins 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and Earns 2022 U.S. Open Exemption

(RELEASE) — Nick Dunlap is going to hate seeing the calendar flip from July to August. Not after the month the 17-year-old from Huntsville, Ala., just produced. Dunlap capped off a remarkable four weeks on Saturday by claiming the biggest prize in junior golf, the 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at The Country Club of North Carolina.

Combining prodigious power with masterful touch on the greens, Dunlap defeated Cohen Trolio, 18, of West Point, Miss., 3 and 2, in Saturday’s 36-hole championship match. Just the second player from his state to reach a U.S. Junior Amateur final, Dunlap becomes the first to put his name on the trophy. The late Bradley Johnson lost the first 36-hole final in Junior history 16 years ago to Kevin Tway at Longmeadow (Mass.) Country Club.

The victory earns Dunlap a spot in next year’s U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateurs.

“My heart is still beating 100 times fast,” said Dunlap after enjoying a congratulatory bear hug with his caddie, Jeff Curl, and his parents. “This is unbelievable. In junior golf, this is the big one, and to have my name on it, I can't even put it into words.”

A rising high school senior, Dunlap began July by winning the only match-play event on the American Junior Golf Association circuit, the Polo Junior Golf Classic at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. Last week he was the runner-up in the Junior PGA Championship at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky., and in between those events, he was the medalist in a U.S. Amateur qualifier on July 5 in Decatur, Ala.

And in May, he shot 62 to Monday-qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, before missing the cut with rounds of 75-74.

“It's my first major,” said Dunlap of the 2022 U.S. Open. “I'm sure I'm probably going to be this nervous or even more. It's just going to be a learning experience for me, and I'm going to go into it with as much confidence as I can and play my game.”

For Trolio, an incoming freshman at Louisiana State University, there was the disappointment of falling one match short. But it was another magical week in the Sandhills after he reached the semifinals of the 2019 U.S. Amateur at nearby Pinehurst No. 2 as a 16-year-old.

Dunlap seized control of a tight match with three consecutive wins from the 27th hole to take a 2-up lead. The momentum actually began on the par-3 26th hole, when he converted a 12-foot par putt to tie the hole and avoid going 2 down. He would tie the match on the ensuing par 5 by executing a pitch from rough left of the green and converting the 12-foot birdie putt. Dunlap grabbed the lead for good thanks to two consecutive three-putt bogeys by Trolio.

Trolio, whose short-game wizardry was on display all week, saw his deft touch briefly wane on the inward nine of the afternoon round. The son of Old Waverly Golf Club’s lead teaching professional lipped out a 4-foot birdie putt that would have won the par-5 30th hole and on the par-3 31st, Trolio made a poor pitch shot from greenside rough and failed to convert a 9-foot par putt to go 3 down.  

“He's a good player,” said Trolio. “Him making putts isn't weird. That's match play. That's how it goes, momentum swings and such.”

A wayward Dunlap tee shot on the 33rd hole allowed Trolio to get one hole back, but his tee shot on the 248-yard, par-3 34th missed right, leaving him a challenging recovery shot. Dunlap found the left-greenside bunker with his tee shot but had the easier of the two second shots. Trolio’s flop shot left him 12 feet for par, while Dunlap blasted to a foot for a conceded par.

When Trolio missed his par putt, Dunlap joined the likes of Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Johnny Miller as a U.S. Junior Amateur champion.

Dunlap took a slim 1-up lead into the lunch break on the strength of birdies on Nos. 10, 13 and 17 of 12, 17 and 15 feet, respectively. He lost the par-3 16th to Trolio after hitting his tee shot into the penalty area – his 5-iron slipped out of his hand – and Trolio closed the morning round with a 6-foot birdie on the par-5 18th.

“I've won tournaments in the past, but nothing like this,” said Dunlap. “To win this year in Pinehurst on this golf course, I'll remember it forever.”

What the Champion Receives

- A gold medal

- Custody of the U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy for one year

- If age-eligible, exemptions into future U.S. Junior Amateur Championships

- Exemption into the 2022 U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

- Exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateur Championships at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club (2021) and Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. (2022)

Notable

The 74th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be conducted July 25-30, 2022, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore.

Cohen Trolio was the first player from Mississippi to advance to a U.S. Junior Amateur final.

Former USGA Executive Committee member and general chairman of the 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Mark Reinemann, of Pinehurst, N.C., served as the referee for the morning round. USGA Executive Committee member Paul Brown, of Brookeville, Md., was the referee for the afternoon round.

When the 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior was contested at CCNC, it also ended on the par-3 16th hole, with Doris Chen defeating Katelyn Dambaugh, 3 and 2.

Nicholas Dunlap is a former national finalist in Punt, Pass & Kick, a football skills competition similar to Drive, Chip & Putt.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ first of three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur victories, at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. V.J. Trolio, Cohen’s father, took a Trailways Bus from Jackson, Miss., to compete in the championship, losing in the Round of 64 to current Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond, 1 up.

It is also the 10-year anniversary of the second U.S. Junior Amateur triumph for Jordan Spieth. Spieth and Woods are the only players to win multiple Junior titles.

Quotable

“I can't even tell you how many deep breaths I took. My hands – you can ask my caddie (Jeff Curl) – on 15 tee (33rd of match), I couldn't even stop shaking. You just have to go back and say you've done this so many times. Keep telling yourself that, a ton of deep breaths, and just trust it and hit it.” – Nicholas Dunlap on his emotions down the stretch

“More words than I could ever say to thank Jeff. He's been there through all my ups and downs. He's taught me so many things. He had, gosh, 20, 40 times this week he would either call me off, different club, different read on a putt, and without him this week there's no way I would be here.” – Dunlap on his relationship with his caddie, Jeff Curl, a former Korn Ferry Tour player whose father, Rod, became the first Native American to win on the PGA Tour

“I've always looked up to DJ (Dustin Johnson). I've played in his event a couple times. I feel like I can hit the ball a fairly good ways off the tee, and I'd like to try to center my game around his and try to mimic his mental game. I think it's unbelievable how he carries himself on the golf course and just meeting him would be awesome.” – Dunlap when asked which pro he would like to meet at next year’s U.S. Open

“My ball-striking was extremely good throughout. Heck, I don't even know how many rounds of golf I've played, and I've hit it darn straight for every single one of the holes. As far as that, it's all good. Putting is good, too. A couple didn't go my way, and that happens sometimes.” – Cohen Trolio summing up his run to the championship match

“Expectations are still the same. I mean, just play Cohen Trolio golf and see what I can make happen.” – Trolio when asked about how this run can give him momentum going into next month’s U.S. Amateur at Oakmont.

Arccos Golf Launches Arccos Caddie for Apple Watch with Phone-Free Automatic Shot Tracking

(STAMFORD, Conn.) – Arccos – the pioneer of big data and artificial intelligence for golf – today announced the official launch of its new app for Apple Watch, which allows Arccos Caddie players to record all of their shot data and access the game’s first A.I. rangefinder without having to carry a smartphone in play.

Previously in beta, the Arccos Caddie app for Apple Watch has received a major upgrade that leverages the latest enhancement to Apple Watch OS. Optimized for use with Apple Watch 6 and SE models, the golfer experience now includes extended battery life, an intuitive interface, A.I. rangefinder and caddie club recommendations, more accurate shot detection, seamless shot data syncing, improved hole switching and a one-touch function to mark hole locations. 

“Our goal is to give every golfer the freedom to ‘play the game your way,’ and this latest release for Apple Watch is a significant step in that direction,” said Steve Obsitnik, Arccos President and COO. “Along with the incredibly successful Arccos Caddie Link wearable, it allows players to harness the power of their on-course data to play smarter and shoot lower scores without having to carry a phone in their pocket.”

Golf’s first Artificial Intelligence platform, Arccos Caddie automatically tracks your shots while delivering in-round insights and post-round Strokes Gained Analytics. The system includes the world’s first A.I. powered rangefinder, smart distance club averages for each club and caddie advice for any hole on earth. These combine to help golfers of all skill levels make smarter decisions, improve faster and shoot lower scores.

Arccos members have recorded an astonishing 7 million rounds and over 460 million shots with the system while playing courses in 194 countries. This feeds the world’s largest on-course dataset, which now includes 31 billion separate data points that are analyzed to help golfers perform their best. In 2020, the average new Arccos member improved their handicap by 5.02 strokes.

The Arccos Caddie system and Arccos Caddie Link are Permitted under the Rules of Golf (USGA Decision Numbers 2018-0414 and 2020-0305).

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

The Summit Club at Armonk Celebrates Official Grand Opening of Its Rees Jones Renovated Course

(Armonk, N.Y.) — The Summit Club at Armonk celebrated the official grand opening of its Rees Jones renovated golf course with a ribbon cutting ceremony and inaugural tournament for members and invited guests. The course is phase one of a comprehensive master plan that will include extensive recreational and fitness amenities, a new clubhouse and 73 luxury condominium residences.

"We are pleased with the responses we have heard from the golfers and how much they are enjoying the changes and improvements to The Summit Club at Armonk,” remarked Rees Jones. “Our objective was to bring the golf experience to a level that complements the natural beauty of the site and stunning views of the countryside."

“The Summit Club at Armonk represents a visionary rebranding of the traditional country club and will appeal to new members as the golf lifestyle reimagined,” said Jeffrey B. Mendell, Managing Partner.  “The Summit Club will be a 21st century lifestyle community with golf, tennis, fitness and wellness within a resort-like environment.  Members will enjoy first class hospitality and services similar to being on a great vacation without leaving home.”

The most significant course improvements include three new holes on the back nine, the rebuilding of all fairway and greenside bunkers along with the adjustment of some bunker locations to give players additional shot options. Several greens complexes were added in order to provide new greenside chipping areas, and a number of landing zones were created on a few holes to improve their playability.   The golf range and practice facilities also were upgraded and a new short game area was added. 

For more information, visit www.thesummitclub.net or call (914) 273-9300.

'The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational' Presented by Rubicon Advisors' Benefits the Epilepsy Foundation

Hall-of-Famers, Actors, Music Artists, Entertainers and Athletes to Compete in Unique Celebrity-Am Tournament, Taking Place Oct. 24-25 at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Las Vegas

(LAS VEGAS, Nev.) — Award-winning actor, signer and author John O’Hurley and former Major League Baseball pitcher and 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett have joined forces to co-host The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational presented by Rubicon Advisors, a celebrity-am tournament benefitting the Epilepsy Foundation. The 2021 edition of the tournament will take place Oct. 24-25 at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Lake Las Vegas, Nev.

Born out of a vision shared by O’Hurley and Beckett to help the fight to end Epilepsy “Leap” forward, The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational presented by Rubicon Advisors helps to raise funds and awareness in support of the Epilepsy Foundation. The Leap has raised nearly $850,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation in the tournament’s first two years. The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational presented by Rubicon Advisors in 2021 will bring together 20 celebrities and athletes from the world of sports and entertainment, pairing them together with amateur foursomes.

Also announced today, Rubicon Advisors, a wealth management and financial services firm based in Roseville and Redding, Calif., has signed a multi-year partnership to become presenting sponsor of The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational.

Early celebrity commitments for the 2021 event include Hall-of-Famers Marcus Allen, Rollie Fingers, Grant Fuhr, Ozzie Smith, Willie Gault, Dan Jansen and Sterling Sharpe; actors Bruce Campbell, Richard Karn, Rob Riggle, Shep Rose and Kevin Sorbo; former Atlanta Braves pitcher Jose Alvarez; Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien; country music artist and former professional golfer Colt Ford; world champion wake skater and Red Bull athlete Brian Grubb, NFL Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson; NBC Sports analyst/professional golfer Peter Jacobsen and NBC Sports personality Jimmy Roberts; and former Pawn Stars television personality Rick Harrison.

O’Hurley, best known for his role as J. Peterman on the sit-com Seinfeld, has been an advocate for Epilepsy awareness for more than 25 years. His older sister, Carol, was diagnosed with Epilepsy as a teenager and tragically passed away at 17 years-of-age in 1970 due to SUDEP (sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy) after a nighttime seizure.

“My sister and I were extremely close,” said O’Hurley, who was 16 years-old when his sister passed away. “Her death took an enormous toll on myself and my family. That pain always has stayed with me. As I have grown in my entertainment career, I felt that if I could lend a voice and a helping hand to educating others about Epilepsy, I would.

“Partnering up with my good friend Josh Beckett to host The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational is rewarding and therapeutic for both of us,” continued O’Hurley. “Through personal experiences with Epilepsy in our families, being able to share our stories and raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation via The Leap is one small way to help honor my sister’s legacy.”

Beckett, a two-time World Series championship and three-time MLB All-Star who played for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, first spoke with O’Hurley about their shared experiences during The Leap’s inaugural year, when he was a celebrity participant. Beckett’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with Epilepsy three years ago.

“As a parent of a child with Epilepsy, it is extremely important that we have more education, awareness and medicine in treating this disorder,” said Beckett. “Talking to John about our stories and experiences and working with the Epilepsy Foundation done wonders for my daughter and our family. Co-hosting The Leap is the perfect opportunity to help educating others on Epilepsy and raising money for the foundation. This is an event that is near-and-dear to my entire family.”

“Having John and Josh co-host The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational and using their respective platforms to help drive awareness on Epilepsy and raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation is the perfect combination,” said Steve Sellery, executive director of The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational. “John, Josh and I are longtime friends, and I’m honored to be teaming up with them once again to elevate this great tournament and continuing the mission to find a cure for Epilepsy.”

The 2021 Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational presented by Rubicon Advisors will be a team match format with O’Hurley and Beckett serving as captains. The field will include a total of 20 groups playing in the tournament, each comprised of five players – four amateurs and one celebrity. O’Hurley and Beckett will each draw the 10 groups that will make up their teams during the pairings party on Oct. 24, with the tournament taking place on Oct. 25. The tournament will follow a Captain’s Choice format, with the group selecting the best drive on each hole and playing their own ball until holed.

For more information on The Leap Celebrity Golf Invitational presented by Rubicon Advisors, including information on registering to compete in the tournament, visit www.leapcelebrityinvitational.com.

Cog Hill Golf and Country Club to Host 2022 Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships

46th Boys & Girls Junior PGA Championships — Aug. 2-5, 2022

(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) — Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois, will host both the Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships in 2022. Both events will take place August 2-5, 2022. The 46th edition of each event will feature 156 players in a stroke play competition.

These Championships have been springboards for many of the PGA and LPGA Tours’ most accomplished players. Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson have competed on the Boys side, while the list of past Girls Junior PGA winners includes Major Champions Inbee Park, Yuka Saso and Lexi Thompson.

Owned and operated by Jemsek Golf since 1951, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club is home to four distinct golf courses near Chicago and within the Illinois PGA Section. The 2022 events will mark the first time the course will host either of the Junior PGA Championships. Cog Hill is well acquainted with notable professional golf championships, having hosted the PGA Tour's BMW Championship from 2009-2011. 

“Hosting both the Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships at the same venue during the same week means the excitement level for junior golf will be raised dramatically,” said PGA of America President Jim Richerson, who is also the Senior Vice President of Operations for Troon in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Showcasing these young players on one of America’s premier golf courses --  that has featured so many of the game’s top professionals -- will make these Championships a highlight of the summer.”

“Cog Hill Golf and Country Club is thrilled to be named the host for the 2022 Junior PGA Championships,” Cog Hill President Katherine Jemsek said. “Welcoming both the Boys and Girls Championships simultaneously fits precisely into Cog Hill's mission to provide access, entertainment and improvement opportunities to all golfers. We're looking forward to seeing all of the golfers and their supporters next summer!”

Earlier this month, the top boys junior golfers competed in the 2021 Boys Junior PGA Championship held at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky, with Caleb Surratt of Indian Trail, North Carolina, earning the victory. Meanwhile, Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville will host the 2021 Girls Junior PGA Championship, July 27-30. 

Last summer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2020 Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships were canceled. Despite the cancellations, all 41 PGA Sections had an opportunity to direct their own Section Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships.

For more information about the Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships, visit JuniorPGAChampionship.com and follow @JuniorPGAChamp on Twitter and Instagram. 

PGA Professional, Navy Veteran Angel Diaz Named Director of Project Golf

Angel Diaz, PGA

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) — Angel Diaz, a PGA professional and retired Navy veteran, has been named Director of Project Golf, a Myrtle Beach-based grow the game initiative.

Project Golf is dedicated to increasing access to the sport, including quality instruction, with an emphasis on junior golfers, military veterans and prospective players who previously may not have felt comfortable at a golf course. While raising interest and increasing play are Project Golf’s top priorities, they are not the organization’s only missions.

 

Project Golf has raised money to help members of the local golf community in need and is actively reaching out to disabled veterans, using golf as a means of therapy.

Diaz is an ideal candidate to run the ascending program, combining his background in the golf business with the organizational and leadership skills he developed during 22 years of service in the United States Navy.

“We are thrilled to have Angel join the Project Golf team,” said Bill Golden, CEO of Golf Tourism Solutions, the company that launched Project Golf. “As a PGA member and a retired Navy veteran, he is uniquely qualified to lead Project Golf forward. His understanding of the game, creativity and leadership skills will help us continue to expand the reach of Project Golf here in Myrtle Beach and beyond.”

“There is something for everyone in the Project Golf community,” Diaz said. “Learning and playing the game of golf parallels an individual’s life journey. One must have the motivation to start, and the desire to achieve. The rest falls into place when you have fun along the way. I look forward to growing the game of golf in the Myrtle Beach area.”  

After retiring from the Navy, Diaz, who also has a Bachelor’s degree, graduated from the Golf Academy of America and worked for eight years as a PGA professional in the Myrtle Beach area. Diaz worked at True Blue Golf Club, TPC Myrtle Beach and he was the lead assistant at Wachesaw Plantation Club, a private Tom Fazio design, just prior to joining the Project Golf team.

Project Golf provides new players a path to sustained enjoyment of the game, bringing people to the sport for a lifetime. Project Golf hosts clinics for juniors, military veterans, and anyone with an interest in taking up golf.

Each series of clinics lasts six weeks and helps introduce players to the game in a supportive environment that teaches participants everything from how to book a tee time to golf course etiquette and swing fundamentals. Most importantly, Project Golf connects new players with people of similar ability levels, allowing them to find playing partners they are immediately comfortable with. Crucially, the organization also follows up with players after their initial series of clinics are over, helping encourage them to stay connected to the game.

For more information, visit ProjectGolf.org.

Cherokee Valley Course and Club in Upstate, S.C., Announces Fall Golf Packages

Charming Onsite Cottages, Historic Westin Poinsett in Downtown Greenville Available for Stay-and-Plays 

(TRAVELERS REST, S.C.) — Cherokee Valley Course and Club, Upstate South Carolina’s member-focused family club and mountain golf destination, announces its fall golf packages with stay-and-plays at its charming onsite cottages and the historic Westin Poinsett in downtown Greenville.

Cherokee Valley’s cottage collection features three elegantly appointed homes along the golf course. Each is equipped with four bed-and-bath suites offering privacy and ample room. Rates start at $130 a night for one room with one bed, $600 for a four-bedroom cottage with two beds per room, and $1,000 for “Cottage Six,” a two-story home with four bedrooms upstairs and a king bed master suite, one bedroom with four queens, two bathrooms and a game / theater room downstairs.

A round of golf on Cherokee’s P.B. Dye-designed mountain-style layout can be added for $35 on weekdays (Mon. – Thurs.), $45 on weekends (Fri. – Sun.) or $60 for “all you can play,” subject to availability. For more information on cottage rates, configurations, availability or to book visit the course and club’s Accommodations Page. 

“The golf travel market in South Carolina has been amazing so far this year, and all indicators point to a busy fall season here at Cherokee Valley,” says Cherokee Valley Course and Club owner Matthew Jennings. “We look forward to welcoming golfers from all over the state, Southeast and beyond.”

Golfers enjoying a golf package at Cherokee Valley can now walk from their cottage to the course and club’s new full-service restaurant and gathering place, Core 450. Opening in May, Core 450 overlooks the ninth and 18th greens evoking memories of a classic mountain retreat. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and the expansive outdoor patio is the perfect place to dine or sip a drink while taking in the mountain air and Carolina sunshine.

“With the cottages, Core 450 and our P.B. Dye designed golf course, we can now offer a complete golf vacation experience for groups of all sizes,” adds Jennings. “Golfers also love our exciting Finn Cycle electric scooters and new E-Z-GO RXV carts equipped with high-resolution GPS screens and Bluetooth speakers.”  

Cherokee Valley has also partnered with the historic Westin Poinsett in beautiful downtown Greenville to offer value-laden packages. Located in the heart of one of America’s most acclaimed cities, the AAA Four Diamond hotel is an easy 30-minute drive from the course. Packages include a 350-square-foot guest room with one king or two queen beds, 42-inch flat screen, mini-fridge, 24-hour Westin Workout Fitness Studio and a round of golf with cart. Rates vary by season and can be obtained via our Partners Page.

For more information on golf packages and memberships, visit www.cherokeevalleyclub.com. 

Listening to the Tune Driver

Q: What could be better than music on the golf course? 

A: Listening the the Beastie Boys from a Tune Driver in the privacy of my golf room. 

Turn it up!

Unboxing Sunburn Relief from WILD Organic Skincare

More than 100 million Americans get sunburned every year and are seeking real relief. Despite myriad products available to treat sunburn, none of them are specifically made for the shower—until now. A new, all-natural product from WILD Organic Skincare, a woman-owned, American skincare company, can help sunburn sufferers feel better faster.

Get your members back on the golf course, on the tennis courts and in the clubhouse quicker by offering them a product that will help speed recovery from sunburn.

Learn more at www.wildorganicskincare.com

Putting Practice with the Bettinardi BB8

I'm sending my gamer away for a new shaft from Breaktrough Golf Technology, so I'm getting reacquainted with my old BB8 putter from Bettinardi Golf. I'm hoping there's still some magic left in this puppy. PS ... These Srixon Tour Divide balls are fun to putt with.

30 V1 Sports-Affiliated Instructors Honored on GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers List

(Novi, MI) — V1 Sports, developers of the leading video analysis, ground pressure, and stat tracking technologies for coaches and athletes congratulates nearly three dozen instructors who were recently named to GOLF Magazine’s list of Top 100 Teachers in America list for 2021 – 2022. In all, 30 distinguished instructors who use V1 Pro Studio software and V1 Pro mobile app were singled out on the prestigious list as the most innovative, committed, and accomplished teachers in the country. 

“We’re proud of the affiliations we have with the hard working teachers recognized on this prestigious list.” says V1 Sports CEO Bryan Finnerty. “It’s an honor that golf’s most influential instructors trust V1 Sports to power their lessons and help their students excel.”

The new list includes these V1 Sports users:

Cheryl Anderson, Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, Fla.

Todd Anderson, Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Mike Bender, Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, Fla.

Mark Blackburn, Greystone Golf & Country Club, Hoover, Ala.

Michael Breed, CBS Sports, Golf Digest

Chris Como, Dallas National Golf Club, Dallas, Texas

Tim Cusick, PGA of America Faculty, PGa. Frisco, Frisco, Texas

Dana Dahlquist, El Dorado Park Golf Club, Long Beach, Calif.

Debbie Doniger, Glenarbor GC, Bedford Hills, New York

Krista Dunton, Berkeley Hall Club, Bluffton, SC

Scott Hamilton, Cartersville Country Club, Cartersville, Ga.

Claude Harmon III, Butch Harmon Floridian, Palm City, Fla.

Sean Hogan, Leadbetter Golf Academy World Headquarters, Omni ChampionsGate Resort, Orlando, Fla.

Michael Jacobs, Jacobs 3D Golf at Rock Hill Country Club, Manorville, New York

Jerry King, Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Harrison, ID; Chileno Bay Club, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Kevin Kirk, The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands, The Woodlands, Texas

Cameron McCormick, Trinity Forest Golf Club, Dallas, Texas

Brian Mogg, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.

Scott Munroe, Nantucket Golf Club, Nantucket, Mass.; Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Fla.

Andrew Park, Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge, Winter Park, Fla.

Gale Peterson, Sea Island GC, St. Simons Island, Ga.

Dave Phillips, Titleist Performance Institute, Oceanside, Calif.

Carol Presinger, Kiawah Island Club, Johns Island, S.C.

Brady Riggs, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Michael Shannon, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

James Sieckmann, Shadow Ridge Country Club, Omaha, Neb.

Todd Sones, White Deer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills, Ill.

Drew Steckel, Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nev.

Tina Tombs, The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, Phoenix, Ariz.

Suzy Whaley, Country Club at Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Todd Anderson, renowned PGA Professional at Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Fla. has made the list every year since 2003. “To be included on this prestigious list with so many talented teachers is a tremendous honor,” he says. “It’s been and always is a goal of mine to continue to improve and be included. Trying to find new and better ways to help my students improve drives me. The student is always the focal point for me and helping them achieve their goals is always the main objective. That’s why I’ve been using V1 Sports on a daily basis for more than 20 years, and it continues to help me communicate with my students and help them improve. Using graphics to compare a student’s new swing to an old swing, or being able to use a Tour Player as a model is such an amazing teaching tool. The V1 Pro software gives me the ability to store a student’s swing and it’s fun to look back to see how their swing has progressed over the years.”

Carol Preisinger, Director of Instruction at Kiawah Island Club in Johns Island, S.C., considers it an honor to be recognized on the list -- some 16 years after she first made it. She acknowledges that working at one of the world’s most beautiful places gives her the resources to succeed, but today’s technology like V1 Pro Studio software and V1 Pressure Mat accelerates the learning process. “A lot of the old folklore about the golf swing has been proven inefficient,” she says. “Video is always going to be used, it's always going to be relevant. People love to see what they're doing. The best thing about V1 Pro Studio software is being able to show a student a true learning model, to compare their before and after swings.”

With more than two decades of experience developing the best golf instruction technologies, V1 Sports has become the preferred video analysis, ground pressure, and stat tracking solution by the best instructors and golf academies in the world.

Golf instructors can sign up for a 30-day trial of V1 Pro Complete by going to https://v1sports.com/coaches/v1-pro/ or contacting sales@v1sports.com.