TaylorMade Golf Launches R1 Tuning App

Provides Step-by-Step Guide to Find Perfect Shot Shape for Company’s Revolutionary New Driver

(CARLSBAD, CA) – TaylorMade Golf Company, makers of the No. 1 driver in golf, announced the availability of its R1 Tuning App – a free and easy way to interact with the technology and benefits of the company’s latest driver.

The new R1 driver has 168 different launch conditions and is the most adjustable TaylorMade driver ever. This app will show users how to correct a slice or hook, alter trajectory and dial in the perfect shot shape. Search “R1 Tuning” in the app store.

“Our studies indicate that 80% of golfers are playing the wrong loft in their driver,” said Tom Kroll, Global Product Marketing Manager of Metalwoods for TaylorMade. “The availability of this app is yet another way for us to reach and educate more consumers on the benefits of proper driver fittings.”

Golfers can also get fit for their R1 driver with the help of a certified club fitter and launch monitor at either an off-course retailer or green grass shop. TaylorMade also has hundreds of demo days scheduled throughout the U.S. during the next few months.

The R1 is already the No. 1 driver model on the PGA Tour and has won four times (Dustin Johnson/Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Brian Gay/Humana Challenge, John Cook/Mitsubishi Electric Championship and Stephen Gallacher/Omega Dubai Desert Classic). Learn more about the R1 driver HERE.

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Santee, SC: Bang for the Buck

Convenient and affordable offering a host of distinctive layouts, Santee, S.C., has become a popular getaway for thrifty golf nuts

(SANTEE, S.C.) — Considering Santee, S.C., as a golf destination? The bottom line is this: Santee offers a wide selection of convenient, quality golf along with comfortable accommodations, a tasty variety of fixins’ and just the right amount of nightlife — all for very little damage to the checking account.

Indeed, Santee (population 800) has become popularly known as “America’s Value Golf Destination” through the years for good reason, as it has forged a reputation as a must-stop for value-conscious golf nuts.

Located just off Interstate 95 on the south shore of picturesque Lake Marion, where a number of world records have been set through the years for large-mouth catfish and sea bass, Santee offers in one exit three lakeside golf courses, with an additional 14 layouts all within a half-hour drive.

And while the Santee price tag may appear no frills, those hoping to enjoy scenic, unhurried golf without spending lots of money, nor time in the car, will have it made. In fact, the trio of courses located in town are less than a mile apart: Santee National, Santee Cooper Resort and Lake Marion offer wide fairways, challenging greens, water hazards and impeccable maintenance, and have all been upgraded through the years. “Country-club good looks and municipal-course pricing,” gushed a recent Canadian publication.

Meanwhile, five of the courses are a little more than a smooth 4-iron away on the north side of Lake Marion, (20 minutes), the must-plays headed by the Tom Jackson-designed Wyboo Golf Club and the Players Course at Wyboo Plantation. If those weren’t enough, with I-26 just a few more miles south down the road, golfers can make a short day trip to Charleston and play the likes of The Links at Stono Ferry, Legend Oaks, Westcott Plantation and Charleston National to name a few.

Clearly, Santee’s quality, value and convenience are a considerable part of the reason more than 50,000 golfers arrive from northern destinations each year. For as little as $55 daily (low season), they get a nice room, a round of golf with a cart on one of the area’s 17 courses — and for good measure a tasty, home-cooked breakfast to kick-start their day.

After the round — or rounds — golfers often stop by Santee Fine Wine, where they find as good a libation selection as most anywhere, along with a wide range of eclectic gifts; then back to the hotel or condo for a quick shower before heading back on the town to refuel their engines. Rest assured, they will find Santee offers a unique collection of dining and nightlife options that add plenty of small-town character.

There is Clark’s Inn and Restaurant, with its gingerbread appearance on the outside, and its classy, wood-grained bar on the inside — topped only by Clark’s famed fried chicken and cobbler specialties. Then there is Lone Star, which is more of a buffet-style eatery, while the Jack Daniels steak at Coasters Sports Bar will rival most cuts of meat along the east coast, and the fish and prime rib at Captain Kirk’s are equally tasty.

When it’s time to rest one’s head and dream of the next day’s round, Santee offers up approximately 1,200 hotel, motel and spacious villa style accommodations. A big reason why more golfers who wish to feel more appreciated on trips that are not as expensive are giving Santee a consideration — and, like many Santee visitors, returning year after year.

Find more info at www.SanteeTourism.com. Specific golf packages are available at www.GolfSantee.com and www.SanteeCooperGolf.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Professional Stephen Gallacher Wins Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Gallacher plays R1 driver, wears adidas Golf adizero Tour Footwear

(CARLSBAD, CA) – Donning a “YOUR1” hat to celebrate the launch of TaylorMade Golf’s latest and hotly anticipated R1, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher used his adjustable driver to win his second European Tour Title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

TaylorMade studies indicate that 80% of golfers are playing a driver with the wrong loft, costing them distance. “YOUR1” is what the R1 driver becomes after each golfer tunes and optimizes individual launch. Download the new R1 tuning app.

Gallacher also wore adidas Golf’s incredibly light adizero Tour footwear. Available in four colorways, adizero Tour touts adidas Golf’s thinnest outsole ever and is specially –designed with ultra-light materials to deliver tour-proven performance without sacrificing stability.

With the win, Gallacher is expected to move into the Top 60 of the Official World Golf Rankings, making him eligible for the WGC Match Play later this month.

TaylorMade was the No. 1 driver brand in play at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, including 33 R1 drivers (1 in 4 played an R1 driver). The Top 3 players in the field used an R1.

In the Bag:
* R1 Driver w/Project X, Black Graphite 7.0 shaft
* RBZ Tour 17.5° w/ Project X Blue Graphite 7A4 78-Mid shaft
* Adams, Idea Pro VST 21° w/Project X Blue Graphite HC1 95-S shaft
* Tour Preferred MB Irons (3-PW)
* TP xFT wedges 60
* adidas Golf adizero Tour footwear

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Golf Digest Ranks Branson Creek in State’s Top 10

Explore Branson Golf Destination Scores Sole Spot to Represent Missouri’s Public Courses

(BRANSON, MO.) – Branson Creek Golf Course, a member of the ExploreBransonGolf.com collection of premier public layouts, is the best public course in Missouri as listed by Golf Digest in its biennial Best-in-State rankings.

The Tom Fazio-designed facility was ranked tenth among all courses – both public and private - in the Midwest state, and was the only public course to make the list.  The complete ranking of America’s Best Courses appears in the February edition of the leading golf publication, on newsstands now.

A perpetual favorite among several regional courses, Branson Creek has topped the Missouri public courses list in both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine for 14 consecutive years, and is among the best courses in the state listed by Golfweek.  It is one of eight courses in the nature-rich Ozarks that are branded collectively under the Explore Branson Golf moniker, widely known for quality playing experiences.

“Branson Creek is indicative of the exceptional golf course options and values available in Branson, from player-friendly designs to championship-caliber tests of golf,” says Ross Summers, CEO and President of the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Combined with a plethora of affordable after-golf activities, we continue to draw golfers for buddy trips, couples’ weekend and corporate outings from across the country.”

Courses are rated by panelists based on seven criteria: shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambience.

Branson Creek is managed by Troon Golf. Tee times and golf packages can be booked through www.explorebransongolf.com via GolfNow.

All courses are open year-round in Branson and are accessible via the Branson Airport, which will welcome service by Southwest Airlines beginning on March 9, with direct flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Baltimore.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Golf Channel's Morning Drive Expands to 7 Days, Unveils New Format, New Co-Hosts, New Set

(ORLANDO, Fla.) - The list of reasons to wake up to television's only live morning golf show got longer with the announcement that Golf Channel's popular Morning Drive will re-launch on Feb. 4 with a new format, a new cast of co-hosts, state-of-the-art studio and an expanded, seven days a week schedule.

"If you love golf, Morning Drive has become the way to start your day," said Mike McCarley, President of Golf Channel. "In just two years, the show has become weekday appointment viewing for those who share a passion for the game and on the few weekends when Morning Drive has aired, Golf Channel has seen a three-fold increase in ratings. This move to seven days a week, with a new set and new additions to the cast will allow us to engage in a broader range of topics covering all aspects of the game and give viewers a reason to wake up with Morning Drive every day of the week."

NEW AND EXPANDED CO-HOST TEAM: By expanding to seven days each week, the new Morning Drive cast naturally is going to grow. Current Morning Drive co-hosts Gary Williams, Damon Hack and Holly Sonderswill be joined by Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer to form the on-air "foursome" typically covering Thursdays through Mondays. Williams, Hack and Sonders have been the regular co-host team of Morning Drive over the past few months and will build upon that camaraderie. Rymer will bring his exuberance for the game to the morning, in addition to his continued work as an analyst for Golf Central.

Longtime Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman will be a central figure mid-week on Morning Drive, typically on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tilghman will continue to be an anchor for Golf Central and a central figure of Golf Channel's Live From coverage of the biggest events in golf. Matt Ginella comes to Morning Drive after 11 years as the travel editor for Golf Digest. Ginella has garnered a keen sense for what makes a golf course a destination for golfers of all tastes and will be co-host throughout the week. And Lauren Thompson, who has been a regular contributor to the show, now will have a permanent role, providing news updates and reports for midweek shows.

Several regular contributors and guest hosts include:
* Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, Ahmad Rashad, headlines as a new guest host. A former All-Pro wide receiver, college football Hall of Famer and 25-year network veteran with ESPN, ABC, NBC and NBA TV - and a voracious golfer - Rashad will bring a unique perspective.
* John Cook is an 11-time PGA TOUR winner and recent champion of the 2013 Mitsubishi Electric Championship on the Champions Tour. The 1993 U.S. Ryder Cup team member will join the show during some of the biggest weeks on the golf calendar.
* Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam will continue to make weekly Morning Drive appearances, providing insight into the professional ranks to the amateurs, and sharing her passion on growing the game.
* Other Golf Channel analysts and reporters also will continue to contribute to Morning Drive on a daily basis, both in studio and on location at various tournaments. Golf World's Tim Rosaforte will continue to appear weekly on the show; analyst Brandel Chamblee will regularly set up that day's tournament action on weekends; and Golf Channel on NBC's Jimmy Roberts will be a frequent contributor in support of his new series, In Play with Jimmy Roberts.

NEW FORMAT: Since Morning Drive's debut in January 2011, the show has become appointment viewing for viewers seeking the latest golf news and information, as well as expert analysis and discussion about all things golf. The show's new format will continue to set the table for what's new each day in professional golf, while expanding its scope to cover the golfing lifestyle including how to play, what to play and where to play. Resident Golf Channel experts and show guests will cover such topics as trends in golf equipment, the hottest travel destinations for golf and the latest fashions turning heads on the course.

Morning Drive's daily polls and interaction with the show's loyal audience will be conducted through social media, as well as themed weeks exploring unique aspects of golf.

Viewers can take Morning Drive with them via a "Best of" highlight podcast hosted by Sonders available online each afternoon and the series' audio will continue to be streamed live at GolfChannel.com/MorningDrive.

NEW STUDIO: Morning Drive is moving into a new, state-of-the-art studio for the re-launch on Feb. 4. The studio features four dedicated sets: a main anchor desk, an interview area, a product demonstration area and a news update desk. The new home is nearly four times larger than the show's original studio.

Panoramic, high-definition video backdrops throughout the studio will make viewers feel like the Morning Drive cast is broadcasting from just inside the picture windows of their local clubhouse. This signature Morning Drive look is accomplished by linking 20 90-inch and 10 52-inch monitors to create golf course morning vistas.

Morning Drive's production team is led by coordinating producer Jeff Neubarth, producers Kyle Brown and Bill Hentschel, and directors Charlie Reynolds and Eric Rutledge. For Golf Channel, Molly Solomon is executive producer, Geoff Russell is executive editor and Mike McCarley is president.

Follow the Morning Drive talent: @johncookgolf, @Matt_Ginella, @DamonHackGC, @CharlieRymerGC, @HollySondersGC, @LThompsonGC, @KellyTilghmanGC and @GaryWilliamsGC.

Follow Morning Drive and Golf Channel on Twitter: @GCMorningDrive and @GolfChannel. Become a fan of Morning Drive and Golf Channel on Facebook at: Facebook.com/GCMorningDrive and Facebook.com/GolfChannel.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

New, Hotly Anticipated TaylorMade Products Hit Retail

(CARLSBAD, CA) – The wait is over as several highly anticipated TaylorMade products became available at retail today, including the R1 driver, RBZ Stage 2 driver, fairways and Rescue hybrids, and Lethal tour ball.

R1, the most adjustable TaylorMade driver ever, is already the No. 1 driver model on the PGA Tour and has won three times (Dustin Johnson/Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Brian Gay/Humana Challenge, John Cook/Mitsubishi Electric Championship).

TaylorMade studies indicate that 80% of golfers are playing a driver with the wrong loft, costing them distance. Fitting the R1 to your swing is critical to promoting maximum distance, thus we’re encouraging golfers to get fit with the help of a certified club fitter and launch monitor at either an off-course retailer or green grass shop. Consumers can also attend one of hundreds of demo days TaylorMade has scheduled throughout the U.S. during the next few months.

RBZ Stage 2 metalwoods are engineered to deliver even better performance than the already legendary RocketBallz metalwoods. The RBZ Stage 2 driver combines improved aerodynamics with a larger clubface. RBZ Stage 2 fairway woods and Rescue clubs each combine an improved Speed Pocket design with a new, ultra-fast face material called RocketSteel (created in cooperation with Carpenter, a global expert at the development of modern metal alloys) to promote 10 additional yards compared to the original RocketBallz fairways. RBZ Stage 2 fairways and Rescue hybrids have already been put in play by numerous PGA Tour pros including Dustin Johnson, who currently ranks No. 1 on the money list.

The new, tour-caliber Lethal ball introduces a new, seamless dimple pattern with 38 fewer dimples than the Penta TP5 (322 versus 360) that promotes a more penetrating flight and even better performance in the wind – an attribute that TaylorMade balls have been widely praised for by Tour pros and amateurs alike.

Lethal furthers TaylorMade’s expertise at five-layer construction, with each layer specifically engineered to promote improved shot-quality off the driver, long-irons, middle-irons, short-irons and around the greens.

And like TaylorMade’s previous five-layer balls, the Penta TP and Penta TP5, Lethal’s fastest layers are just inside the cover, making it possible for players with even slow swing speeds to activate them to promote fast ball speed for excellent distance.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Tungsten Amps Up Performance on Exotics XCG6 Irons

(Batavia, IL) ‐ Designed to make hitting great iron shots easy, the Exotics XCG6 iron features four tungsten sole weights in the heel and toe. Representing nearly 7‐12 grams each, the tungsten weights position the club’s center of gravity perfectly to deliver easy‐to‐hit shots even on off‐ center hits.

For added forgiveness, the deep undercut cavity and perimeter weighting moves weight away from the face to the perimeter of the club head. These two features, along with the tungsten weights, produce a higher ball flight and enhance the club’s moment of inertia to keep shots on target and online.

Tour Edge took the best from previous iron designs and made the XCG6 iron highly progressive. Each iron is engineered for its specific task and includes a unique center of gravity location, offset (progressive), face thickness, and topline thickness for a perfect blend of distance and accuracy. To give the Exotics XCG6 more power, the club boasts an ultra‐thin face design for an extremely hot launch and great feel.

Tour Edge’s Exotics XCG6 irons come with Tour Edge’s lifetime warranty and 30‐day play guarantee. It is available in the Exotics Matrix Ozik HD and Graphite Design Tour AD graphite shafts, True Temper X‐Lite 90, Project X Flighted Riffle, and KBS Tour steel for $499‐$699 (4‐ PW).

For more information, call (800) 515‐3343 or visit www.touredge.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com