Troon Selected to Manage Alpine Country Club in Highland, Utah

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Troon, the leader in golf course management, development, and marketing, has been selected to manage Alpine Country Club in Highland, Utah. Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon, will manage the family-centric club located approximately 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Alpine Country Club sits at the base of American Fork Canyon and features beautiful views of the majestic Wasatch Mountains. The Club was organized and chartered in 1958. In 1959, the club’s 18-hole William Neff, Sr.-designed golf course opened for play. In recent years, the course has undergone numerous renovation and improvement projects to modernize and enhance the golf experience. The 7,031-yard, par-72 course is widely praised for its smooth, fast greens, superb conditioning, scenic beauty and quick pace of play. Over the club’s 58-year history, the course has hosted the prestigious Utah State Amateur tournament eight times, including most recently in 2016.

“With the Wasatch Mountains towering over the property, Alpine Country Club is a stunning course and club,” said Rob DeMore, president, Troon Privé. “Our team is thrilled to get started at Alpine and will look to further elevate the club and take it to the next level in terms of service, food and beverage offerings, experience and more.”

In addition to an award-winning golf course, Alpine Country Club also features a vibrant member social calendar as well as an 18,000 square-foot clubhouse with multiple dining options for members and guests. The club’s swimming complex includes an L-shaped six lane pool, three-meter springboard, a waterslide, an oval wading pool with frog slide, locker rooms and a bar and restaurant.

“We look forward to working with Troon in elevating the member and guest experience at Alpine Country Club,” said Kerry Jones, board president, Alpine Country Club. “I have been absolutely impressed with the professionalism and thoroughness of Troon throughout this process. Our members are looking forward to utilizing the benefits of the Troon Privé Privilege and Advantage programs as we travel and play at other Troon-managed clubs around the world.”

The Troon Privé Division currently manages nearly 70 private clubs, half of which are member owned. Members of Troon Privé-managed clubs have exclusive access to extraordinary golf and lifestyle benefits around the world. All members can choose to receive Troon Privé Connect, Troon’s digital magazine developed specifically for the private clubs, as well as access to experience packages through Privileged Connections and premium tickets to sporting and concert events at the best price. Qualified members receive reciprocal access to other private clubs in the portfolio at a preferred Privé Privilege rate, and up to 50 percent off at Troon Golf-managed resort and daily fee facilities around the world through the Troon Advantage program.

For more information on Alpine Country Club, visit www.alpinecountryclub.org or call (801) 226-1736.

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

Tiger Woods to Play New Bridgestone TOUR B XS Golf Ball at Hero World Challenge

(COVINGTON, GA) – Bridgestone Golf – innovator of premium golf balls, clubs and accessories – announces brand ambassador Tiger Woods will compete using the company’s new TOUR B XS golf ball during the 2017 Hero World Challenge, taking place November 30 through December 3 at the Albany resort on New Providence island in The Bahamas.

Woods had previously played the Tour B330-S and made the switch following rigorous testing, during which it was determined the XS provided optimal distance, control and consistency. These gains are the result of a softer urethane cover, enhanced aerodynamics and improved 330 Dual Dimple design.

“I am more confident in the performance of the TOUR B XS than any other ball I have ever played,” says Tiger Woods. “It is incredibly long off the tee, while offering excellent feel and spin around the green. The consistency it provides gives me complete confidence that I can hit any shot the situation calls for.”

“Tiger is easily one of the most discerning players in the world and only makes equipment changes when he sees a true performance benefit,” says Angel Ilagan, Bridgestone Golf President and CEO. “Just like Tiger went through the fitting process to find the ball that best suits his game, we strongly encourage amateurs to get fit and identify the Bridgestone model that will help them optimize their own performance.”

The TOUR B Series includes four models – X, XS, RX and RXS (each $44.99) – and represents Bridgestone’s most technologically advanced golf balls to date. Using data from more than 3 million in-person and online ball fittings, combined with insights from leading third-party industry sources, Bridgestone identified the needs of specific player types and drew on more than 1,000 golf ball patents to determine which of its proprietary technologies would most benefit each.

Each model features the proven characteristics that have made Bridgestone Golf among the most respected names in the industry. The benefits of these features include:
Accuracy – Gradational core provides optimal energy transfer to create low side-spin and high ball velocity for incredible distance and accuracy gains
Consistency – Seamless cover design utilizes injection molding technology to stabilize ball flight on all shots
Distance – Aerodynamically superior dimple profiles provide different player types with vastly enhanced length and control
Feel – SlipRes cover technology increases friction by creating more stability between the ball and club for enhanced control with irons and wedges

More information: bridgestonegolf.com.

United States Air Force Installs Power Tee at Chibana Golf Course, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan

Other military bases using Power Tee include Fort Sam Houston Golf Club in Texas and Bay Breeze Golf Course at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi

(Ponte Vedra, Fla.) – Golf-Tech, the world leader in golf range automation, has installed Power Tee at the United States Air Force Base at the Chibana Golf Course at the Kadena Air Force Base on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX and the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS have been enjoying using Power Tee for over a year now and many others are considering adding it to their facilities. Power Tee makes practicing golf more productive and enjoyable by allowing golfers to hit more quality shots per practice session in a controlled environment, thus building confidence in the mechanics of their game.

Endorsed by professionals like the 2018 Ryder Cup Captain, Jim Furyk, and elite golf instructor, Mitchell Spearman, Power Tee is credited with helping golfers get better faster because they practice with no interruptions such as re-gripping the club and the stance realignment that usually accompany the manual teeing up process. Golfers simply wait for the ball to automatically appear and then swing to develop a rhythm that increases muscle memory.

 According to Martin Wyeth, Golf-Tech founder, CEO and creator of Power Tee, there are so many benefits to the system. “It’s great for clubs and practice facilities to provide all golfers a means to perfect a swing in a consistent, fun and focused practice session,” he said. “It’s perfect for junior golfers who have a more difficult time concentrating and it’s ideal for our Wounded Warriors who may have restricted mobility as they can hit more balls.”

 Wyeth also noted more than 50 percent of the commercial golf ranges in the United Kingdom are currently automated with Power Tee. “Now we are eager for every golfer in USA to learn about Power Tee and how it can improve his or her game. And are extremely proud to be working with the United States Armed Forces supplying our servicemen here and overseas with something they will not only benefit from but enjoy.”  he added.

Colin Baesler, PGA professional and golf course manager at the Kadena Golf Complex noted customers are really enjoying the addition of Power Tee to the driving range. “Our entire membership, regardless of skill or fitness level is benefitting from the advantages Power Tee provides because it offers something for everyone,” said Baesler. “It’s especially beneficial for junior golfers since they can get through a lot more instruction in a lesson period when they don’t have to bother with teeing up golf balls. We are incredibly happy to have this available to our customers.”

For more information about Power Tee, call (877) 769-3781 or visit www.powertee.com.

Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus Design to Oversee 'Reno' of Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee

Work to Commence in June 2018 with Fall 2019 Re-Opening

(Greensboro, Georgia) – Great Waters, the highly-acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, will undergo a total renovation starting in June 2018, and will involve personal input from Mr. Nicklaus and oversight from his award-winning Nicklaus Design Team. The Great Waters renovation will be led by Design Associate Chad Goetz, who has been with Nicklaus Design for 18 years and is one of the few designers in the world who has earned membership into both the American Society of Golf Course Architects and European Institute of Golf Course Architects.

Perennially ranked among America’s Greatest 100 Public Courses by Golf Digest, Great Waters—which celebrates its 27th anniversary this year—will receive a total turf replacement, new greens, bunkers, tees, water features, and irrigation systems, as well as cart path replacement.  Drainage and other elements of the course’s infrastructure, plus an assessment of the trees, and the practice facility are included in this comprehensive reinvention of the community’s premier golf course. The Nicklaus layout has stood the test of time and will remain loyal to the original design.

Work is to begin in June 2018 with an expected re-opening in Fall 2019. This restoration is the latest in an ever-widening list of improvements made to the golf courses, clubhouses and other facilities since MetLife’s investment in Reynolds Lake Oconee in 2012.

“Our desire is to keep the course true to Mr. Nicklaus’s original vision while modernizing the course where appropriate - and prudent - and adding length where available,” said Rabun Neal, president of Reynolds Lake Oconee.

Great Waters is a dramatic layout that offers some of the most breathtaking golf scenery in the Southeast. The parkland-style front nine plays over rolling hills and through thick forest, with water in play on six holes, most notably the par-4 fifth, where a creek crisscrosses the fairway and cuts in front of the green; a stone wall and the Nicklaus Bridge add to the hole’s splendor. The gorgeous ninth is the first of the lake holes, the water edging in along the right side of the green.

The back nine is a completely different experience, as the final eight holes are on Lake Oconee. Playing on the lake-encircled peninsula, the back-nine holes include the short par-4 11th, where the green juts into the lake,  causing left-side hole locations to make the flagstick appear to be floating. The par-3 14th is one of the most photographed holes in the Southeast, its green sitting along the Lake Oconee shoreline.

“The first time I went to Reynolds, I knew we had the potential to have a great golf course,” says Nicklaus.  “I think we found it then, and now more than a quarter of a century later, a wonderful golf experience remains but is in need of a little updating. It’s one of the really great pieces of property with which I have ever had the experience to work.”

Already recognized among the “25 Best Golf Communities in North America” by GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Lake Oconee is not only fine-tuning one of its world-class golf courses, but is enhancing its long-established reputation as an outstanding place to live.

Reynolds Lake Oconee has 117 holes of golf, all designed by legendary golf architects, including Nicklaus, Rees Jones and Tom Fazio. In addition to golf, the Reynolds community offers a wide array of recreational opportunities along the more than 350 miles of Lake Oconee shoreline.

Vacation guests at Reynolds can choose from individual cottages within the private gates, while enjoying a variety of amenities. Accommodations also are available at The Ritz-Carlton. A variety of vacation packages are available.

For additional information contact Reynolds Plantation Properties at (800) 800-5250, or visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com.

Product Review TecTecTec VPRO500 Rangefinder

If you’re serious about improving your golf game, you need a rangefinder. That said, not every budget can easily absorb the cost. Enter TecTecTec - maker of the No. 1 budget-friendly rangefinder on the market.

Why spend $300 to $400 on a rangefinder when TecTecTec’s VPRO500 comes in at less than $150 and boasts all the bells and whistles?

In a nutshell, the VPR500 measures up 540 yards with a +/- 1 yard accuracy. Shoot anything - flags, trees, or hazards - and know your distance instantly.

One complaint I get with people unsure about using a rangefinder is target accuracy. They don’t know if they’re shooting the flag or a tree behind the green. That 10-20 yards can mean the difference in up to two clubs! The VPRO500 takes the guess work out with its clear 6x magnification.

Beautiful simplicity of the VPRO500

As someone who is on the verge of needing glasses for better vision, I was pleased to learn about TecTecTec’s diopter adjustment functionality, which delivers a clear view whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted. If you've "tuned in" binoculars, you know the function.

What I appreciated the most - beyond the accuracy - was the ease of use. The hardest thing for me, literally, was inserting the battery. It’s a little embarrassing to share that, but it makes my point ... The VPRO500 is easy to use, right out of the box - no tutorials necessary.

There are two buttons on the device - power and mode. Turn it on and choose one-of-three modes:
- Pinseeker mode lets you accurately measure overlapping targets, perfect for measuring the distance to the pin and wooded areas;
- First Target Priority mode displays the distance of the closest subject, helpful when measuring the distance to the flag on a green with woods in the background; and
- Scan mode is useful when checking the distance of various hazards.

The VPRO500 is lightweight, compact and has a waterproof body. No need to keep it in the bag if there’s a chance of rain.

The VPRO500 comes equipped with a protective case, free CR2 battery to get you started, a wrist strap (if you choose to attach), microfiber cleaning cloth and a quick-start guide for easy setup.

Check out the VPRO500 and another five models at us.tectectec.com. The company also sells a hunting rangefinder for the outdoorsman on your holiday list.

PGA National Resort & Spa Announces Cyber Week ‘Flash’ Sale

(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – PGA National Resort & Spa – South Florida’s world-class golf, vacation and spa destination – announces a “flash” sale with 25% off rooms or 10% off rates for golf and spa packages from Dec. 4 through May 31, 2018.

To receive the discount, book from 7 a.m. on Nov. 27 (Mon.) to 11:55 p.m. ET on Dec. 3 (Sun.) by calling 855.233.1444 or by clicking HERE.

PGA National is home to 90 holes of championship golf on five distinctly diverse courses including its famed Champion Course, former Ryder Cup host and current venue of the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic, headlined by its legendary “Bear Trap” three-hole stretch. The resort has the distinction of being home to both the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and Dave Pelz Scoring Game School.

Guests can also take advantage of the newly transformed Palmer Course, originally designed by legendary Arnold Palmer, which reopened on Nov. 10 after undergoing a comprehensive renovation. Most notably, golfers will discover all 62 bunkers have been modernized and reshaped to improve sight lines off the tee as well as on approach shots into the greens. All 18 fairways were re-turfed with scientifically-advanced Celebration grass which provides prime playing conditions year-round.

The resort’s newly revitalized 40,000-square-foot European Spa with 32 treatment areas is highlighted by the exclusive "Waters of the World" outdoor mineral pools. The outdoor resort pool is a tropical family-friendly oasis. The resort’s impressive 33,000-square-foot Sports & Racquet Club recently underwent a multimillion re-invention as well. Eight on-site restaurants and lounges cater to every culinary taste and need.

This offer is based on availability for new bookings only and not valid on existing reservations, group reservations, or with any other offer. A one-night, non-refundable deposit applies at the time of booking. For stays Dec. 23-31, 2017 and Feb. 17-24, 2018, a two-night, non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. Tax and resort fee not included.

More information: www.pgaresort.com, 855.233.1444.

Updated Tiger Prop Bets; Hero Odds to Win

(RELEASE) - Inside one month of releasing odds Tiger Woods’ future and return to professional golf, BookMaker.eu has taken significant action on the plethora of props.

Below, you will find opening and current odds for Tiger Woods props. Listed is a breakdown of where the action has gone since October 31.

Also included are odds to win the 2017 Hero World Challenge. Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are the favorites while Woods carries the longest odds at 45/1. He opened with 50/1 odds.

Bettors have wagered on Tiger Woods:
- Not retiring in 2018
- Playing in six or more events in 2018
- Playing in fewer than three majors in 2018
- Winning a PGA/Euro event in 2018
- Making three or more cuts in 2018
- Ranking higher than 1,180 by end of 2018
- Withdrawing from a tournament in 2018
- Not withdrawing from the Hero World Challenge
- Finishing in the top 5 at the Hero World Challenge
- Finishing last at the Hero World Challenge
- Carding three or more birdies during first round at the Hero World Challenge
- Carding four or more bogeys during first round at the Hero World Challenge
- Shooting 72 or under for first round at the Hero World Challenge

Odds to win 2017 Hero World Challenge
Justin Thomas +600
Jordan Spieth +600
Dustin Johnson +600
Rickie Fowler +800
Justin Rose +1000
Hideki Matsuyama +1100
Brooks Koepka +1100
Jason Day +1200
Marc Leishman +1600
Daniel Berger +1800
Patrick Reed +2000
Matt Kuchar +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +2000
Francesco Molinari +2800
Kevin Kisner +2800
Alexander Noren +2800
Charley Hoffman +3300
Tiger Woods +4500

Current odds:

Will Tiger Woods announce retirement from professional golf before January 1, 2019?
Yes +248
No -311

How many PGA Tour/European Tour events will Tiger Woods compete in during 2018 calendar year?
Over 5.5 (-193)
Under 5.5 (+144)

How many majors will Tiger Woods compete in during 2018 calendar year?
Over 2.5 (+118)
Under 2.5 (-143)

Will Tiger Woods win a PGA Tour/European Tour event prior to January 1, 2019?
Yes +300
No -2400

Tiger Woods best finish during 2018 calendar year (minimum playing field of 100)
Over 18.5 (-140)
Under 18.5 (+109)

How many cuts will Tiger Woods make during 2018 calendar year? (minimum playing field of 100)
Over 2.5 (-175)
Under 2.5 (+131)

Tiger Woods Official World Golf Ranking on January 1, 2019
Over 1180.5 (+130)
Under 1180.5 (-160)

Will Tiger Woods withdraw during any professional tournament prior to January 1, 2019?
Yes -615
No +408

Will Tiger Woods undergo back surgery in 2018?
Yes +130
No -160

Will Tiger Woods shoot 80 or worse in a round in 2018?
Yes -130
No +100

Will Tiger Woods withdraw during the 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Yes +287
No -360

Tiger Woods finishing position at 2017 Hero World Challenge
1st +2712
2nd +1584
3rd +1303
4th-10th +320
11th-17th -160
18th +281

Will Tiger Woods finish in the top 5 at the 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Yes +485
No -1035

Will Tiger Woods finish last (18th) at 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Yes +329
No -463

Will Tigers Woods hit fairway on first round tee shot on Hole No. 1 of 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Yes -160
No +130

Tiger Woods score on Hole No. 1 during first round of 2017 Hero World Challenge
Birdie +250
Par -120
Bogey or worse +160

How many birdies will Tiger Woods record in the first round of 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Over 2.5 (-226)
Under 2.5 (+174)

How many bogeys or worse will Tiger Woods record in the first round of 2017 Hero World Challenge?
Over 3.5 (-164)
Under 3.5 (+125)

Tiger Woods highest score on any hole during 2017 Hero World Challenge
Over 6.5 (-136)
Under 6.5 (+102)

Tiger Woods 18-hole score during first round of 2017 Hero World Challenge
Over 72.5  (+114)
Under 72.5  (-140)

Tiger Woods highest 18-hole score during any round of 2017 Hero World Challenge
Over 75.5 (-110)
Under 75.5 (-119)

Tiger Woods lowest 18-hole score during any round of 2017 Hero World Challenge
Over 69.5 (-107)
Under 69.5 (-123)