Troon Selected to Manage Los Lagos and Ebony Hills Golf Courses in Edinburg, Texas

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage Los Lagos Golf Course and Ebony Hills Golf Course for the City of Edinburg, Texas. Indigo Sports, a Troon company, will oversee golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, as well as sales and marketing for the two municipal golf facilities. The strategic partnership aims to enhance the quality of life for local residents, boost municipal tourism, and stimulate economic growth across the Rio Grande Valley.

Los Lagos Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Von Hagge, opened in 2001. The par-72, 7,188-yard links-style layout features 11 acres of lakes, Bermuda grass tees and greens, and is recognized as one of the top public courses in the region. Additional amenities at Los Lagos include a lighted driving range, a short game area with a putting green, chipping area and practice bunker. The clubhouse is home to the Putter’s Grill and a golf shop.

Ebony Hills Golf Course, established in 1927, is a 9-hole course designed by John Bredemus. Spanning 3,022 yards with a par of 35, the course is named for the ebony trees lining its fairways and offers a shorter, more casual round. Crews are currently constructing a two-story building that will include a new golf operations hub on the first floor, a golf cart storage facility and a workforce resource center and conference spaces on the second floor. The building is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027.

"This partnership with Troon is a hole-in-one," said City of Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa. "The history of golf in Edinburg is very special, and there's a lot to it. It's more than recreation; it's family, it's community, and it's economic development. Golf in Edinburg is a pastime that's been woven through the fabric of our own history."

"We are equally as excited as the city to be involved in this partnership and to bring these golf courses to the level of quality that the residents deserve and expect," said Troon Vice President of Operations Jeff Thomasson. "Our sales and marketing mechanisms will be brought to bear. We will drive an immense amount of interest and participation at both facilities."

Troon is the largest operator of municipal golf facilities in the U.S., managing over 150 courses. The company's relationships with municipalities are structured through management agreements, lease agreements, or a combination of both, tailored to each municipality's needs. Troon is also the leading employer of PGA professionals.

For more information on Los Lagos and Ebony Hills Golf Courses, visit www.cityofedinburg.com/community/golf_course.

How This Public Golf Course Doubled Revenue With Dynamic Pricing, Cookies and Pancakes

Personal touches are key to standing out in today’s daily fee golf course market

With more people playing public golf than in previous generations, daily-fee golf courses have an opportunity to engender a unique kind of customer loyalty. While private clubs rely on familiar culture, member fees and dues to bolster revenue, public courses across the nation must employ programming and allegiance-driving techniques to keep their fair share of happy and engaged golfers.

Perched on Charleston Harbor's edge with views of Fort Sumter, Patriots Point Links might seem like a course that uses its visibility and prime waterfront location as its calling card, but growing its business requires more than a picturesque location. Managed by Bobby Jones Links, the facility has had its hurdles, and GM Brad Parker is tackling them head-on.

Parker, a Buffalo, New York native who has been at the helm for 14 years, sees the 1979 Willard Byrd design as a solid layout that a renovation could truly elevate. Currently, the strategy for driving revenue centers on aggressive pricing and unique amenities that distinguish the club from other daily-fee operations.

Since the pandemic, the club has leaned into dynamic pricing. While many courses rely on third-party algorithms like GolfNow, Parker prefers a more manual, intuitive approach to managing the tee sheet.

Everything is handled in-house. Parker, who also oversees regional operations for BJL, adjusts rates several times a week based on demand, local events, and the weather forecast. These aren't minor tweaks; he moves the needle by $15 to $20 at a time.

If play remains steady, Patriot’s Point holds steady. Post-COVID, the integrity of the rate has been remarkable. Growth over the last three years has been significant.

Retaining loyal customers, though, has never been an exact science. Parker and his team have employed some distinctive personal touches to stand out in the hearts and minds of golfers. He says the feel of the club is enhanced by offerings like warm cookies in the winter and pancakes that Parker flips himself on a Blackstone griddle outside the clubhouse. Since the facility lacks a full kitchen, they've had to use some creativity with the local menu.

Without a hood for cooking, the snack bar now uses air fryers and hot boxes to serve fried chicken sandwiches. They've also found a winner in a frozen Transfusion machine that serves up a local rarity that moves quickly during sunny rounds.

The results are tangible and well worth noting: roughly $450,000 in annual snack bar revenue against 38,000 rounds. That averages out to about $12 to $14 per golfer at the turn.

Instruction and the lighted range, open until 9 p.m., are also key contributors to success. On the digital front, new social media director Lillian Stackhouse, who has a Disney background, uses drone footage among other strategies to grow the club's online presence. Parker trusts her creative mindset to help keep the brand fresh.

In 2019, revenue sat at $2.5 million. Today, projections are on pace for $4.8 million. Doubling the top line in six years is a significant milestone for the property.

The future could hold even more for this venerable Lowcountry mainstay. Patriot’s Point’s owners have explored the viability of a future golf course renovation with a vision to push the course into the Top 100 rankings. That plan would also call for taking strategic advantage of the prime, scenic locale and incorporating a premium stay-and-play component – an alluring notion in a coastal market already known for legendary golf travel opportunities.

Throughout his 17-year tenure at Bobby Jones Links, Parker has valued the autonomy and support provided by BJL. Having worked with other management firms, he notes that this partnership has been a “really good ride.”

He likes that he can call for help and get challenged or backed up when needed. It's a culture of direct access rather than corporate layers.

Resources are just a phone call or email away. At BJL, you can reach anyone in any department immediately -- a level of transparency Parker hasn't found elsewhere. And, for the long term, this daily-fee property has found a formula to keep its team and its clientele coming back for more.

Stonetree Golf Club Completes Multi-million-dollar Renovation in Novato, California

(Novato, California) – StoneTree Golf Club in Novato, California, has completed a comprehensive multi-million-dollar renovation, improving playability and accessibility for golfers of every skill level. The project ran from November 2025 to April 2026 with minimal disruption to the daily member experience.

A new set of “green” tees, positioned ahead of the existing “white” tees, was introduced to better accommodate new golfers, juniors, and seniors. The broader renovation also included a full bunker overhaul (roughly 10 bunkers removed, 10 relocated, and 10 rebuilt in place), tee box work on 75 percent of holes, and a full irrigation system upgrade.

The renovation was designed to improve course conditions overall: the new bunkers make maintenance more efficient, and the upgraded irrigation system improves turf firmness and speed while reducing water use. The changes aim to make the course more accessible, ensuring that while low-handicap players will still be challenged, high-handicap players will have more forgiving shot options since bunkers that were primarily in play for high-handicap golfers have been removed to improve pace of play.

“Our goal was to create a more enjoyable and accessible experience for all golfers. So far, average pace of play has decreased by about 10 minutes to 4 hours, and the lower handicap is still seeing the course as the challenge it was before while the higher handicap is seeing an easier and more enjoyable round of golf” said Bay Club Chief Customer Officer Ryan Burke. “These enhancements reflect our commitment to providing top-tier facilities and a welcoming environment for all members and their guests, regardless of their golf abilities.”

StoneTree Golf Club, established in 2000, is an 18-hole championship course designed by Johnny Miller, Sandy Tatum, Jim Summers, and Fred Bliss. The course spans 132 acres of pristine greens, shaded oak groves, and rolling hills in Marin County. Operated as part of the Bay Club’s Marin campus, it offers a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. In 2014, Bay Club acquired StoneTree, which had previously operated as a public golf facility. Throughout its ownership, Bay Club has invested capital including building a 27 acre, state-of-the-art driving range and practice facility from land acquired through the County of Marin. As part of membership at StoneTree, members receive access to the greater Bay Club community including top athletic, fitness, and sport facilities.

The renovation underscores Bay Club’s dedication to maintaining high-quality facilities and enhancing the golf experience for its members and guests.

For more information about StoneTree Golf Club, visit www.bayclubs.com/clubs/stonetree. 

Zinkand Golf Design Completes The Scurry at Chechessee Creek Club

New 12-Hole Course Opens for Member Play With a Bold Ground Game, Strategic Options and One Very Unusual Golf Course Feature

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) – Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD) – led by golf course architect David Zinkand and his more than 25 years of experience designing, managing and shaping projects in the field – has completed The Scurry, a new 12-hole course at Okatie, South Carolina’s Chechessee Creek Club. The course opened for member play on September 1.

Rather than using length to create difficulty, The Scurry relies on angles, contours, hazards and choices. Short par 4s and par 3s unfold through a Lowcountry landscape of live oaks, wetlands and native vegetation, while expansive areas of low-mown turf surrounding the greens create a ground game that can reward creativity just as readily as precision.

“The course is really about options,” said Zinkand. “You can challenge a hazard and create a better angle, play away from trouble and accept a more difficult approach or use the contours around the greens to your advantage. We wanted those decisions to be fun for every player, regardless of ability.”

For Chechessee, bringing the concept to life was as much about the collaborative process as the finished product.

“Working with Dave and the entire Zinkand Golf Design team has been a terrific experience from the beginning,” said Bill Kennedy, general manager of Chechessee Creek Club. “They understood what we wanted The Scurry to become and brought a tremendous amount of creativity and thoughtfulness to the project. Our members’ feedback to the course has been incredibly positive; they’re having fun with the variety of shots and options.”

Construction on The Scurry began in Spring 2025. The finished course provides Chechessee Creek members with a compact alternative to the club’s existing 18-hole Coore & Crenshaw-designed course, creating opportunities to expand on a day’s golf with another dozen holes or play a meaningful round when time is limited.

The opening five holes form a par-3 loop that moves through a continuous expanse of turf. Its generous playing corridors make the loop approachable for beginners, higher-handicap players and younger golfers, while changes in length, orientation and green design continue to test accomplished players.

The remaining seven holes turn up the strategic pressure without abandoning The Scurry’s emphasis on playability. The sixth is a short par 4 where players decide how much of the live oaks along the inside of the fairway they want to challenge. The seventh requires a carry over wetland to a high green, with an aggressive line rewarded.

At the eighth, the golf course crosses another wetland before arriving at a punchbowl green framed by a large front bunker. The ninth follows with a tightly bunkered, domed green, while the 10th presents a gracefully contoured target with a pronounced false front. The 11th offers plenty of room from the tee but uses the bunkering configuration to create multiple strategic choices. The final hole is a par 3 played over native vegetation to a green tucked into a towering pine grove.

Throughout The Scurry, ZGD used the ground surrounding the greens as an extension of the putting surface. Bumps, ridges and spines can feed balls toward pins, repel them from targets or provide recovery routes.

“The low-mown areas allow the ground to become part of the strategy,” said Zinkand. “Sometimes the contours help you and sometimes they don’t. They create opportunities to use imagination rather than simply hitting another conventional pitch or chip.”

The course also places an unusual emphasis on the landscape beyond the playing surfaces. ZGD, guided by one of its three stated strategic principles (genius loci, or sense of place), preserved and incorporated native Lowcountry vegetation while creating varied habitats and ground formations intended to increase ecological diversity and reinforce the site’s natural character.

That approach culminates in one of The Scurry’s most distinctive features: a carnivorous plant bog beside the eighth tee. ZGD excavated a cavity, installed an impermeable liner and an outlet to regulate moisture, then planted the bog with pitcher plants, Venus flytraps and other moisture-dependent species.

“It is definitely something golfers don’t expect to see on a golf course,” said Zinkand. “But it fits the character of the site and the experience we wanted to create. There are a lot of moments where the natural landscape is doing something interesting, and the bog is probably the most memorable.”

The result is a course designed to feel distinctly of its place while offering a different kind of challenge from the club’s existing 18 holes.

For more information about ZGD, visit zinkandgolfdesign.com or @zinkandgolfdesign on Instagram.

Scotty Cameron Introduces Limited-Edition Phantom OC Spec III Putters

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) — Scotty Cameron introduces the new limited-edition Phantom OC Spec III putters, pairing all-black configurations and high-contrast sightlines with the low-torque Phantom 5 and 11R OC designs.

Scotty Cameron OC (Onset Center) putters combine low-torque performance with exceptional feel and feedback, promoting a square-to-the-path delivery while keeping golfers connected to the putting stroke. “Onset Center” refers to the putter’s shaft position, which is set back of the putter head’s leading edge (Onset) and in line with its center of gravity (Center) to help minimize torque and simplify the putting stroke.

The new Scotty Cameron Phantom OC Spec III mallets are named after the highly optimized Spec III performance builds in the automotive world, where all components and modifications operate harmoniously to produce ultimate performance. Both models are equipped with a glare-free, durable PVD black finish as well as three high-contrast sightlines to help lock in alignment and frame the golf ball at address. A custom black mid-size Matador grip and a black steel shaft round out the limited-edition all-black setup.

New Scotty Cameron Spec III OC putters will be in golf shops beginning October 1.

MODEL OVERVIEW

Phantom 5 OC Spec III

A longstanding favorite of Scotty Cameron’s mallet head shapes across the worldwide professional tours, the Phantom 5 is a modern wingback design with a compact profile. The Phantom 5 OC Spec III model delivers low-torque performance with a black PVD finish and three high-contrast sightlines to frame the golf ball and lock in start lines. This model benefits from Scotty Cameron’s full-face Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert with chain-link face milling for a softer sound and feel off the face.

Phantom 11R OC Spec III

Scotty Cameron's Phantom 11R is a stable, high-MOI mallet with a tour-inspired rounded shape. The new Phantom 11R OC Spec III delivers low-torque performance with a black PVD finish and three high-contrast sightlines to frame the golf ball and lock in start lines. This model leverages Scotty’s chain-link face milling for a responsive, soft feel at impact.

The Phantom 11R OC Spec III is available as a left-handed option as well.

SPECS

Available lengths: 33, 34, 35 inches

Loft: 3.5 degrees

Lie angle: 70 degrees

Shaft lean: 1 degree

Dexterity: RH (Phantom 5 OC Spec III, Phantom 11R OC Spec III), LH (Phantom 11R OC Spec III)

FAQs

Are OC models zero-torque putters?

OC putters are low torque, as the act of putting introduces some amount of torque, no matter the design. Compared to other Scotty Cameron offerings, OC putters deliver the lowest torque design for a square-to-the-path delivery.

What kind of golfers would benefit most from OC?

OC putters will best fit players looking to minimize face rotation and feel a straight-back-and-through stroke. Design elements like minimal shaft lean (one degree), familiar head shapes from the Phantom family, and a conventional grip style (tapered mid-size Matador) help facilitate a smooth transition from more traditional putter setups.

How do OC putters maintain feel and feedback?

A priority throughout the OC design process was to mitigate loss of feel and feedback. OC putters feature a slightly stiffer shaft that complements the 15-gram heavier head weights and maintains flex properties that preserve the feel of the clubhead. The Phantom 5 OC Spec III’s SCS insert and Phantom 11R OC Spec III’s full-face chain-link milling pattern provide a familiar soft feel off the face at impact, and a tapered mid-size Matador grip offers a comfortable connection to the stroke through the hands.

AVAILABILITY

Scotty Cameron Phantom OC Spec III putters are now available for pre-sale on Titleist.com and will be landing in golf shops in limited quantities on October 1. MAP: $800

Epson Tour Championship Returns to Indian Wells Golf Resort Next Week

(INDIAN WELLS, CA) — The City of Indian Wells is proud to continue as the presenting sponsor of the Epson Tour Championship for the third consecutive year in 2026. The Epson Tour's season-ending showcase event will take place on the newly redesigned Players Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort the week of September 28 - October 4, 2026.

As the final tournament of the year, after the conclusion of the championship, the top 15 finishers on the Epson Tour's season-long "Race for the Card" will earn their LPGA Tour cards for the 2027 season. Exciting changes to the tournament format this year include the field being limited to the top 80 players on the Race for the Card standings, and the 72-hole championship will now feature a no-cut format. The total purse will be $250,000, with the winner earning $100,000, a first in the 46-year history of the tour.

In addition to attending the Epson Tour Championship, golf fans have a rare opportunity to be part of the action during the official Pro-Am held on Wednesday of tournament week, playing the course alongside a future LPGA Tour star.

"As a premier golf destination, we are excited to once again welcome the Epson Tour Championship to Indian Wells," said Dr. Toper Taylor, mayor of Indian Wells. "The Epson Tour brings some of the most talented professional women golfers to our community and provides an incredible opportunity for residents, visitors, and golf fans to experience championship-caliber competition right here in Indian Wells."

"Indian Wells has become the perfect stage for the Epson Tour to crown its season, and we couldn't ask for a better partner in the City of Indian Wells," said Jody Brothers, GM of the Epson Tour. "The newly redesigned Players Course gives our athletes a true championship test, and the backdrop of the Coachella Valley creates an unforgettable setting for the final push toward LPGA Tour cards. This is where dreams are realized, and there's no place we'd rather do it."

For more information on the Epson Tour Championship, visit www.epsontourchampionship.com. For more information about the City of Indian Wells, visit www.CityOfIndianWells.org.

Srixon Introduces All-New ZXi RKT Woods

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) – SRIXON announces the launch of its all-new ZXi RKT Woods family, a complete reimagination of brand’s metalwood lineup engineered to deliver explosive ball speed, refined acoustics, and tour-validated performance for golfers of every skill level.

The new lineup, including ZXi RKT LS, ZXi RKT, and ZXi RKT MAX Drivers, along with ZXi RKT Fairway Woods and Hybrids, represents years of research, prototyping, and collaboration between Srixon’s engineers and Tour staff. Rather than pursuing a simple evolution of its previous generation, Srixon rebuilt its development process from the ground up, creating entirely new prototypes and gathering deeper player feedback to uncover every possible performance advantage.

Chasing the Perfect Formula

Powering the performance of ZXi RKT Woods is new RKT Face technology, a breakthrough system born from Srixon's pursuit of faster ball speeds and greater consistency. This new system includes VR-Titanium, a new proprietary alloy enhanced with silicon to create more flex throughout the face and body of the drivers. Combined with an enhanced i-FLEX face structure, the result is a more efficient transfer of energy at impact, helping golfers unlock greater speed and performance across more of the face.

Beyond raw speed, ZXi RKT Woods were engineered to deliver greater consistency when golfers need it most. A new Variable Roll Design helps keep misses on line by optimizing performance across the face, while Rebound Frame technology boosts ball speed and distance by utilizing two flex zones, instead of one.

Throughout testing, one of the most consistent themes we heard from players was the desire for more speed across a larger area of the face without giving up consistency. RKT Face was developed to answer that challenge. By combining several technologies into a single performance system, we were able to create a face that not only produces exceptional ball speed but does so more consistently across a wider range of impact locations. - Patrick Ripp, Srixon Tour Engineering Manager

Improving the face wasn’t the only design objective Srixon engineers targeted. Throughout the development process, engineers focused on creating a sound that inspires confidence. The new ACOUSTICORE chassis utilizes AI-optimized internal rib structures and lightweight carbon fiber crown construction to precisely tune the acoustic character of each model. Through advanced simulations and extensive testing, engineers refined every frequency until they achieved a crisp, controlled impact sound worthy of the performance behind it.

Dedicated Tour Development

Tour feedback played a critical role in shaping every ZXi RKT clubhead. Over two years of prototype testing in competitive environments worldwide, Srixon’s R&D team refined face depth, crown height, address profiles, face angles, and lie angles to create a more confident look and improved performance from the generation prior. Deeper faces and taller heads increase performance high on the face, while more compact shapes provide a cleaner, more player-preferred appearance at address. Additionally, a redesigned laser face milling pattern also improves alignment at address and helps maintain more consistent spin in challenging conditions.

One of the biggest differences with this generation of woods was how closely we worked alongside our Tour staff throughout the entire process. Every round of testing led to new insights, and those insights directly influenced the decisions our engineering team made. The final product is a lineup that reflects what elite players are asking for while delivering benefits that every golfer can appreciate.

Patrick Ripp, Srixon Tour Engineering Manager

ZXi RKT Woods Lineup 

The ZXi RKT Driver family offers three distinct performance profiles:

- ZXi RKT LS: Built for aggressive players seeking maximum distance and reduced spin through a low-spin profile and adjustable front-to-back weighting.
- ZXi RKT: Combines speed, forgiveness, and workability with adjustable heel-toe weighting for customized shot shape and trajectory control.
- ZXi RKT MAX: Srixon’s highest MOI driver ever, built to provide exceptional stability, confidence, and forgiveness while maintaining a powerful, athletic profile.

The innovation goes beyond the driver category. New ZXi RKT Fairway Woods and Hybrids feature the same RKT Face architecture while introducing Srixon’s most comprehensive adjustability system yet. For the first time, Adjustable Sole Weights and Adjustable Hosel Sleeves work together, allowing golfers to precisely dial in launch conditions, swing weight, and distance gapping to fit their game.

The result is Srixon’s most advanced woods lineup to date, shaped through years of tour validation, engineered for speed and consistency, and refined down to every detail golfers can see, hear, and feel.

To learn more about the new ZXi RKT Woods lineup, visit us.dunlopsports.com/srixon.

Pricing & Availability

- ZXi RKT, ZXi RKT LS, ZXi RKT MAX Drivers: $649.99
- ZXi RKT Fairway Woods: $379.99
- ZXi RKT Hybrids: $329.99

Launch Date: October 16, 2026