PGA Value Guide Launches Holiday Trade-In Promotion

(Raleigh, NC) – The PGA Value Guide – the national standard for golf club values – launched its second annual Holiday Trade-In Promotion for golfers to receive up to 30% extra value when they trade-in their golf clubs at valueguide.pga.com.

Golfers using the PGA Value Guide can select to receive either cash or PGA credit when trading in their clubs. This PGA credit can go towards the purchase of new golf equipment at one of over 5,000 local golf shops or online retailers, such as GlobalGolf.com, all of whom employ PGA Professionals.

“The PGA Value Guide has long been the most trusted resource to help millions of golfers receive fair value for their golf clubs,” says Doug Smith, Vice President of Business Development at Global Value Commerce, owner of the PGA Value Guide.­­­­­ “The Holiday Trade-In Promotion brings consumers even closer to that new set of clubs by putting some cash in their pockets for the holiday season.”

Golfers use the PGA Value Guide to research current trade-in and resale values for thousands of models and brand name golf clubs. Consumers can view current trade-in promotions, product information and find local PGA Professional-staffed golf shops where they can get properly fitted into the latest golf club technology.

A recent consumer survey shows a record high 75% of golfers are interested in trading in their golf clubs. The timing couldn’t be better as today’s high performance drivers, fairway woods, irons and putters generally realize a good return on investment in-trade. The PGA Value Guide has been recognized as the national standard for golf club values since its 2004 inception.

PGA Professionals who use the PGA Value Guide benefit from national trade-in promotions, periodic trade-in bonuses and free exposure for their courses to millions of purchase-minded golfers.

More information: globalvaluecommerce.com.

Cyber Monday Golf Deals

Here's a collection of Cyber Monday deals from across the golf industry. Check back throughout the day as we'll update when more are released.

us.loudmouthgolf.com

clevelandgolf.com

srixon.com

callawaygolf.com

dunninggolf.com

pgatoursuperstore.com

benhogangolf.com

Exploring Great Golf in Branson, Missouri

I recently made a trip to Branson, Mo., to experience some of the great golf this growing destination has to offer. In addition to the courses we played - Thousand Hills, Buffalo Ridge Springs, Top of the Rock, Branson Hills, Mountain Top and Pointe Royale - the area will welcome a new Coore-Crenshaw course in 2018 and two new Tiger Woods designs in the years to follow. Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be in great (designer) company.

Much of this growth can be credited to Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and the Big Cedar Lodge dynasty.

For those of you who only know the area as a country music hub and museum hot spot, it's time to Explore Branson and take in everything this Ozark Mountains oasis has to offer.

Check out the article at GolfWRX.

Actual buffaloes roam the grounds adjacent to Buffalo Ridge Springs

Buffalo Ridge unwinds with the Ozark Mountains as a background

Exposed limestone and waterfalls abound at Buffalo Ridge

Every hole (EVERY HOLE) is memorable at Buffalo Ridge

Crews work non-stop to discover unlimited beauty in this sinkhole

Hole No. 1 is a sample of amazing views at Top of the Rock

There's an island green at Top of the Rock (I carded a 2!)

Green surrounds are challenging and beautiful at Branson Hills

Mountain Top is a 13-hole, walking-only Gary Player gem

Exposed limestone is stunning at Mountain Top

Mountain Top allows golfers to create their own course throughout the round

KemperSports Partners with Tobacco Road Golf Club

(NORTHBROOK, Ill.) – KemperSports has been selected by the owners of Tobacco Road Golf Club to provide consulting services for the highly-acclaimed golf club. Widely considered one of the most ambitious golf course designs in the last 20 years, Tobacco Road will lean on KemperSports’ more than 35 years of industry expertise to further enhance the public golf experience.

“In today’s competitive golf market, we felt that KemperSports was the right partner to help propel Tobacco Road into the future,” said Tobacco Road co-owner Mark Stewart. “The company’s institutional knowledge, deep relationships, national buying power and best in class programs will help to ensure the long-term peak performance at our course.”

Located just over 20 miles from The Village of Pinehurst in Sanford, North Carolina, Tobacco Road was built on land that was previously used for tobacco farming until sand mining and excavation shaped the landscape into dynamic land forms. The “Golden Age Architecture” layout was designed by golf course architect Mike Strantz – whose innovative course designs include Caledonia Golf and Fish Club as well as the renovation of the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Because of the unique site and architectural quality, Tobacco Road is widely recognized by the golf cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in the Pinehurst area. 

In partnering with KemperSports, Tobacco Road will benefit from the company’s proven sales and marketing experience as well as gain access to KemperClub – an initiative that is designed to drive brand awareness and engage customers with special promotions and events at KemperSports golf courses.

KemperSports will work with Tobacco Road to integrate its proven best practices and programming, including True Service – the company’s proprietary customer service training program, which focuses on ensuring consistent delivery of genuine, helpful and friendly service to members and guests.

“Tobacco Road Golf Club is one of the most iconic golf course designs in the country, and we are privileged to help make this facility the best that it can be,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “We look forward to working with ownership to align goals and provide insight that will deliver positive results for the club.” 

Tobacco Road Golf Club adds to KemperSports’ portfolio of top-ranked courses as the club continues to receive high acclaim from national golf publications, including being ranked as the No. 6 Best Public Course in North Carolina by Golfweek Magazine and No. 88 on GOLF Magazine’s Top-100 Public Courses.

For more information on Tobacco Road Golf Club, visit www.tobaccoroadgolf.com.

PXG Deploys Limited Edition Bat Attack Darkness Putter

(Black) Darkness Friday 2017

(Scottsdale, Arizona) – PXG dubs Black Friday, “Darkness Friday,” with the release of its limited edition Bat Attack Darkness putter.

The limited edition Bat Attack Darkness features a milled skull insignia and the number 26, representing the 26th Marine Corps Regiment that PXG founder Bob Parsons served with during the Vietnam War. Each club is uniquely numbered according to the order it was milled and comes with an exclusive Darkness grip by Super Stroke and a signature PXG Darkness head cover.

“The Bat Attack offers an incredibly clean and efficient design,” Parsons shared. “And the new, limited edition finish is undeniably sexy.”

Part of the PXG milled insert line of putters, Bat Attack is a modified mallet-style design with a face-balanced hang angle. The putter uses a double-bend shaft that creates a half-shaft of offset and weighted alignment wings that provide a subtle visual aid to improve consistency.

The Bat Attack is played on tour by two-time major champion and 12-time LPGA Tour winner Lydia Ko. “I like how the Bat Attack sets-up, the style, and the feel,” Ko stated. “It gives me a lot of confidence when I’m standing over a shot.”

Only 1,200 Bat Attack Darkness putters are being made. To learn more or to purchase the limited edition design, visit www.pxg.com.

Product Review: Legendary Headwear with CLOUD-FIT Technology

If you’ve ever stayed at a luxurious hotel and had the pleasure of sleeping with a technologically advanced pillow, you know the joys of their cooling features. Legendary Headwear has now brought that comfort to their already-impressive hat collection.

Introducing CLOUD-FIT technology. The interior sweatband in this collection boasts memory foam that has been infused with temperature-regulating gel. The C200 mesh-back cap has instantly become one of my go-to hats on - and off - the golf course.

“Why this hat?” one may ask. Well, since getting serious about protecting myself from the damaging affects of the sun, I’ve given up the romanticized idea of bronze glow on my face and always don a cap. Problem is, I often overheat and spend half my time removing the hat and wiping sweat from my brow. Problem solved. The C200 with CLOUD-FIT tech is as functional as it is fashionable.

If you prefer fitted caps over “trucker caps,” Legendary Headwear also offers the Perfecto-C and Cloud Elite hats with CLOUD-FIT technology. Both are stretch fit (available in S/M and L/XL) and offer “half pipe” CLOUD-FIT. The Perfecto-C is constructed of cotton, while the Cloud Elite is made from Diamond Pro performance fabric, designed to wick away moisture.

Check out the entire catalog at legendaryheadwear.com.

Circling back to protection from the sun ... I recommend pairing the hat with a generous dose of sunscreen (minimum of SPF 30) and sunglasses for UV protection. Stay safe and look great for years to come.

Audemars Piguet invited an Impressive 'Dream Team' to Dubai for Second Golf Invitational of the Year

Dream team members (left to right): Tyrrell Hatton, Andy Sullivan, Branden Grace, Danny Willett, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Peter Uihlein, Darren Clarke, Bernd Wiesberger

(Dubai) – Swiss Haute Horlogerie brand Audemars Piguet invited an impressive team of golf ambassadors in Dubai for its second Golf Invitational of the year.

Nine pro golfers joined the Audemars Piguet family at the Els Club to celebrate the end of the season. This unique family reunion gathered 72 Audemars Piguet watch collectors from all around the world, former Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke, 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett, former world number one Lee Westwood, American pro Peter Uihlein, Englishman Andy Sullivan, 12-time European Tour winner Ian Poulter, Austrian player Bernd Wiesberger as well as last week-end’s champion Branden Grace and world number 16 Tyrrell Hatton as special guest.

Me and My Golf, the world number one golf Youtubers, acted as MC for the day, setting up a fun team challenge for the ambassadors on the driving range before sending them to captain their respective teams around the Els Club’s challenging 18 holes.

Through dedication and hard work, these athletes have constantly achieved the highest results and perfectly embody Audemars Piguet’s philosophy “To break the rules, you must first master them”. Bearing witness to its unfailing attachment to golf, Audemars Piguet has chosen to focus on this passion by effectively building one of the world’s finest team of golfers. Ben An, Bud Cauley, Paul Dunne, Emiliano Grillo, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Andrew Johnston, Romain Langasque, Renato Paratore, Xander Schauffele, Henrik Stenson and Vijay Singh complete the Audemars Piguet Golf Dream Team.

Join the #APGolf discussion @AudemarsPiguet on Twitter and @AudemarsPiguetExperience on Instagram. For more information, visit www.audemarspiguet.com.