Oldfield Golf Club Completes $1.1 Million Bunker Renovation Project

Major golf course investment enhances playability, consistency and long-term sustainability while restoring architectural character to the Greg Norman-designed Lowcountry course

(OKATIE, SOUTH CAROLINA)  – Oldfield Golf Club has completed a comprehensive $1.1 million renovation of the bunkers on its Greg Norman-designed golf course, marking one of the Club’s most significant recent investments in the long-term quality, sustainability and playability of the golf experience. Construction began May 19th and was completed August 7th. Oldfield celebrated the project’s completion with a Bunker Renovation Re-Open Event on Saturday, August 22, welcoming members back to the golf course for an 18-hole, two-person competition and an opportunity to experience the fully completed course.

The project addressed aging infrastructure and years of sand contamination, drainage challenges and washouts that had increasingly affected bunker consistency and maintenance. The renovation focused not only on improving day-to-day playing conditions, but also on creating a more sustainable bunker system capable of performing through the challenging weather conditions of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

The project was divided into three phases of approximately three weeks each, allowing portions of the golf course to remain available for member play while work progressed. Southeastern Golf served as the golf course contractor and completed all construction, drainage, shaping and sod work. The project was managed by Oldfield Director of Agronomy Thomas Davis, working in collaboration with Norman Golf Course Design and with support from Troon’s Design and Development team of experts.

“This project was about much more than putting new sand in our bunkers,” said Oldfield Director of Golf Mark Reilly. “We wanted to address the underlying infrastructure, create a bunker system that performs more consistently and restore the bunkers to their original architectural character. The finished product has made an immediate difference, both visually and in how the course plays.”

A defining feature of the renovation is the installation of EcoBunker on all greenside bunkers, creating distinctive stacked-sod faces reminiscent of traditional links golf. The treatment strengthens the architectural character of the bunkers while introducing a visual element closely associated with the style of golf found throughout Great Britain and the courses of The Open Championship.

The bunker floors utilize a Capillary Concrete and mesh hybrid system, designed to combine structural stability with improved drainage. The system helps maintain the integrity of bunker faces while allowing water to move efficiently through the bunker floor, helping reduce washouts, contamination and standing water while providing more consistent playing conditions following significant rainfall.

The project also significantly reduced Oldfield’s overall bunker footprint. More than 114,000 square feet of bunker area was reduced by nearly 50 percent, allowing Norman Golf Course Design and the project team to retain the strategic and visual impact of the bunkering while creating a more sustainable footprint for long-term maintenance.

Particular attention was given to restoring the visual character of the bunkers while maintaining the strategic intent of the original golf course. Rather than fundamentally changing the layout, the project sought to strengthen bunker definition, restore architectural features that had diminished over time and better integrate the bunkers with the surrounding Lowcountry landscape.

“From an agronomic standpoint, we wanted to build something that would perform as well below the surface as it looks above it,” said Oldfield’s Director of Agronomy Thomas Davis. “Reducing the overall bunker footprint, improving the drainage infrastructure and incorporating the capillary concrete, new liner and EcoBunker systems gives our team a much more sustainable product to manage. Most importantly, it should allow us to provide our members with greater consistency following the heavy rainfall and challenging weather conditions we experience in the Lowcountry.”

“Oldfield has always been a golf course that feels connected to the land around it,” Reilly added. “The live oaks, native areas, marshes and views of the Okatie River are a tremendous part of its identity. Any investment we make in the golf course has to respect that. We believe this project improves the golf experience while enhancing what makes Oldfield special.”

Designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design and opened in 2000, Oldfield winds through moss-draped live oaks, broad Lowcountry savannas, freshwater and saltwater ponds and along the marshes of the Okatie River.

The 2026 bunker project represents a major step in Oldfield’s continued stewardship of the golf course as the Club evaluates the long-term needs of an increasingly mature golf property. The investment combines modern bunker construction technology with architectural elements intended to preserve and enhance the character of Norman’s original design.

“Our responsibility is to think beyond the condition of the golf course today,” Reilly said. “We have to make thoughtful investments that protect the experience our members enjoy now while ensuring Oldfield remains an exceptional golf course for generations to come. The bunker renovation is an important part of that effort.”

Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon, manages golf operations and agronomy, the Equestrian Center, Sports Club, Outfitters Center, food & beverage, and membership marketing, as well as Oldfield’s community association. For additional information about Oldfield Golf Club, visit www.Oldfieldsc.com.

Shot Scope LM1 Makes Strong Market Impact, Now Fully Stocked Nationwide

First affordable launch monitor continues its industry disruption as new stock hits the shelves.

(Edinburgh, Scotland, UK) – Shot Scope, an industry leader in performance-driven golf technology, announces continued momentum for its LM1 Launch Monitor following a meteoric debut earlier this year.

The LM1 was sold out for the first six months of production, having instantly disrupted the launch monitor space with a first-of-its-kind affordable unit. The compact LM1 has been Shot Scope’s most sought-after product of 2026 and is now fully stocked and available at top golf retail partners across the country.

“The response to the LM1 has exceeded our expectations. Selling through the first half of the year demonstrated just how strong the demand was, and having the product fully stocked at leading retail locations across the country now gives even more golfers the opportunity to experience what makes the LM1 so valuable,” said David Hunter, CEO of Shot Scope.

The LM1 has quickly established itself as a standout option for golfers looking for an easy-to-use, affordable launch monitor without sacrificing the data that matters most. Priced at $200, the radar-based LM1 delivers key performance metrics including carry distance, total distance, ball speed, clubhead speed, and smash factor, providing golfers with meaningful feedback during practice sessions at home or on the range.

Its compact size, simple setup, and easy-to-read display have helped make the LM1 particularly appealing to golfers who want reliable distance data without the complexity or cost of more advanced launch-monitor systems.

“Recording more than one million shots every month with the LM1 is an incredible milestone, and one we’re extremely proud of,” said Hunter. “It’s a testament to how quickly golfers have embraced the LM1 and made it part of their practice routine. We set out to make launch-monitor technology simple, accessible, and genuinely useful for golfers of all levels, and seeing more than one million shots being recorded month after month shows just how strongly the LM1 is resonating with golfers.”

The LM1 was designed to put practical launch-monitor technology within reach of a broad range of golfers. Rather than overwhelming users with extensive data, the device focuses on essential performance metrics that can help golfers better understand their distances, improve practice sessions, and make more informed decisions about their equipment and game.

LM1 customers are thrilled with their purchase and the performance:

“It’s just as advertised…easy to set up/use, accurate swing data, lightweight and portable…and all for just $200!” – William Z, Camillus, US

“Gave me the consistent information needed to pinpoint my yardage and swing speed. This is an excellent product at an excellent value.” – Paul K, Salt Lake City, US

“What a solid, user-friendly, reliable tool. Reliable feedback and lots to learn about my swing!!” – Amy R, Phoenix, US

With inventory now fully replenished, golfers can find the LM1 at leading golf retailers nationwide, including Dick Sporting Goods, PGA Tour Superstore, Golf Galaxy, Worldwide Golf Shops, Playbetter, Carl’s Golf Land, as well as through Shot Scope’s website.

For more information on the LM1 visit: https://shotscope.com/shop/products/golf-launch-monitors/lm1-launch-monitor/.

Xplor Golf & Club Research Reveals Rapid AI Adoption Across the Golf & Club Industry

New research from Xplor Golf & Club, home to Clubessential, foreUP, and BlueGolf, explores how golf and club professionals are using AI today, and where they see the greatest opportunities ahead.

(ATLANTA, GA) – Xplor Golf & Club, which brings together Clubessential, foreUP, and BlueGolf, today announced the release of From AI Curiosity to Critical Advantage, a new guide designed to help private clubs, golf course operators, and tournament organizations identify where artificial intelligence can create meaningful value and where people should remain firmly in the loop.

The guide arrives as AI moves from an emerging concept to an increasingly important consideration across the industry. Xplor Golf and Club’s 2026 research found that respondents are actively exploring how AI could fit into their organizations, with reporting and analytics emerging as one of the clearest areas of near-term opportunity. As adoption grows, the question is shifting from whether AI belongs in golf and club operations to where it can solve real problems, what teams should trust it to do, and where human judgment still matters.

The guide helps organizations answer those questions by breaking down predictive, generative, and agentic AI, exploring where the industry sees near-term value, and providing a two-minute assessment to evaluate AI readiness.

“The real opportunity with AI isn’t flashy features. It’s solving real operational pain points,” said Stacy Zak, Vice President of Product Management at Xplor Golf & Club. “Because when you combine ideas like the agentic engine with the AI capabilities emerging across the platform, you begin to see something much bigger take shape.”

One of those opportunities is simple: giving teams time back.

Across private clubs, golf facilities, and tournament organizations, AI could reduce time spent searching systems for information, compiling reports, drafting routine communications, and repeatedly answering common questions. That can create more capacity for the work that requires people: acting on insights, building personal connections, preparing memorable experiences, and making decisions that require judgment.

For a private club, that could mean less time rewriting routine member communications and searching for information, and more time anticipating member needs and creating personal experiences. For a golf course, it could mean less time pulling together reports and more time using the numbers to make decisions across a busy operation. For a tournament organization or golf program, it could mean less time compiling event information and answering routine questions and more time preparing for the next event and supporting players.

The research suggests golf and club leaders are taking a practical approach to that opportunity. When asked where AI could create the most value over the next 12 months, more than half of respondents selected reporting and analytics, pointing to a desire for better intelligence before greater autonomy.

“AI should never replace the relationships that define this industry,” said Scott Strong, President of Xplor Golf & Club. “Used well, AI can help preserve that human side of hospitality by giving the people who deliver it better intelligence and more time to spend where it matters most.”

The guide also explores what it takes to become AI-ready, from understanding what information an organization already has and how well it is connected to protecting sensitive information and avoiding new data silos. A two-minute AI readiness assessment helps readers evaluate whether the information they rely on is integrated with their business management system.

What are he Worst Golf Courses in Each State (New York)?

Clearview

There are some spectacular golf courses in New York. Bethpage Black, Oak Hill, Winged Foot and countless others make the Empire State a bucket-list destination for golfers.

But not every New York golf course is earning rave reviews.

In fact, a handful of public courses are generating some brutally negative feedback from golfers, with complaints ranging from poor conditioning and neglected tee boxes to painfully slow play.

Here are three of the lowest-rated courses I found that are still open for play.

1. Clearview Park Golf Course — Bayside, Queens

If you've ever played golf in New York City, you know that convenience can come with a price.

Clearview Park Golf Course sits in Bayside, Queens, and its location is arguably its biggest selling point. The 18-hole municipal course sits near the Throgs Neck Bridge and provides some terrific views of the surrounding area.

The problem, according to a significant number of golfers, is the golf itself.

The course currently carries a 2.0-star rating from 34 reviews in the local business data I found.

Older Tripadvisor reviews have been particularly harsh, with complaints about poor fairway and green conditions, bird droppings and long waits. One reviewer described the waiting time as excruciating.

There are, however, signs that the course has been trying to improve. Current course information notes updated tees, a new 8,000-square-foot putting green and a remodeled clubhouse.

And that's an important distinction: a bad rating doesn't necessarily mean the course is permanently bad.

Clearview is open for play, with posted hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on most days. Clearview Park Golf Course

The verdict: If you're looking for pristine conditions, Clearview probably isn't the place. If you're looking for convenient New York City golf and don't mind the occasional rough edge, it's still an option.

2. Pelham Bay & Split Rock Golf Courses — The Bronx

Pelham Bay/Split Rock

This one might surprise New York golfers.

Pelham Bay & Split Rock is actually a 36-hole public golf complex inside Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. With two 18-hole courses and a huge amount of golf available, you'd expect the reviews to be better.

Instead, the facility currently carries a 2.5-star rating from 85 reviews in the business data.

That's enough reviews to make this one considerably more interesting than a course with only a handful of disgruntled golfers.

The complaints aren't necessarily about one catastrophic problem. Like many heavily played municipal facilities, the criticism tends to revolve around the overall experience, including pace of play and course conditions. At the same time, golfers also praise the value and the fact that you get 36 holes of golf relatively close to Manhattan. Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses

And there's another reason this course deserves some context.

You're playing in one of the largest urban parks in the country, not a private club tucked away in Westchester or the Hamptons. Expectations have to be adjusted accordingly.

The facility remains open for public play, with posted hours beginning at 6 a.m. most days. Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses

The verdict: The rating is ugly, but 36 holes, a convenient location and public-golf pricing make Pelham Bay/Split Rock more complicated than simply calling it "bad."

3. Sunken Meadow Golf Course — Fort Salonga

Sunken Meadow

Here's the most interesting entry on the list.

Sunken Meadow Golf Course is part of Sunken Meadow State Park on Long Island and offers 27 holes of public golf. It's a beautiful setting, with the course located near Long Island Sound.

On one review platform, however, the course's Green nine carries an Eden score of just 2.9 out of 10, with only 25% of reviewers indicating they liked it. Recent reviews have included complaints about slow greens and poorly maintained tee boxes and fairways.

One recent reviewer gave it just 1 out of 10.

Another gave it 2.2.

And yet another reviewer in August 2026 gave it an 8.3.

That tells you everything you need to know about online golf reviews: they can be wildly subjective.

In fact, another golf-review site gives Sunken Meadow a 4.2 rating from 164 reviews, describing it as a scenic, affordable and walkable public course.

So why include it?

Because when you're looking for the worst-rated courses, Sunken Meadow's extremely low recent user scores are impossible to ignore.

And the course is definitely still open. The current business listing shows the facility operating seven days a week, while the course offers 27 holes and remains a New York State Parks facility. Sunken Meadow Golf Course

The verdict: Sunken Meadow may be the best example of why golfers shouldn't blindly trust a single rating. Some golfers absolutely hate it. Others think it's a very good value.

So, Are These Really New York's Worst Golf Courses?

That's the tricky part.

There is no official "worst golf courses in New York" ranking, and different review platforms produce dramatically different results.

That's particularly obvious with Sunken Meadow. One platform rates it poorly, while another has it at 4.2 stars based on 164 reviews.

And that's why I wouldn't interpret this list as "never play these courses."

Instead, think of it as three New York courses where golfers have been most critical recently.

If you're planning a golf trip, I'd look beyond the star rating and check the most recent reviews, current course conditions and pace-of-play reports before booking.

Because sometimes the difference between a terrible golf course and a pretty good one is simply when you played it.

Shane Lowry Claims Dominant Home Soil Victory at Amgen Irish Open

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) – Srixon staffer Shane Lowry delivered a commanding performance at the Amgen Irish Open, capturing his first victory of the 2026 season and the seventh DP World Tour title of his career with a dominant 11-stroke victory on home soil in Dublin, Ireland.

The victory marks Lowry’s second Amgen Irish Open victory, his first coming 17 years prior in 2009 as an amateur. Lowry’s dominant performance included a course-record 8-under-par 62 in the second round to surge into contention and never let up. He carried a four-shot advantage into Sunday’s final round before pulling away from the field to secure the most decisive victory on the DPWT this season. He finished the tournament at 23-under-par.

Reflecting on the win, Lowry spoke about the significance of winning in front of his home fans after a challenging season.

This year has been quite difficult on the course for me. I’ve had a few chances to win and took some really tough times, but to come here and win is incredible. I can’t believe I’m standing here and looking at that leaderboard. This has been the most spectacular week.

From his precise iron play to his trademark touch around the greens, Lowry had every part of his game working at the Amgen Irish Open. Throughout the tournament, he showcased the shot-making and scrambling ability that have become synonymous with his success, turning potential mistakes into momentum-building saves and capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the week. The result was a dominant performance on home soil and a victory that left little doubt about who was the best player in the field.

Adding to the significance of the victory, Lowry had the new Srixon Driver in play this week and immediately found success. Throughout the tournament, he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Total, showcasing complete control of his game from tee to green.

Shane Lowry putting the new Srixon Driver in play at the Amgen Irish Open

Here’s a look at Lowry’s winning setup:
- New Srixon Driver 9.0°
- Srixon ZXi5 Irons (4i, 5i)
- Srixon ZXi7 Irons (6i-PW)
- Cleveland Golf RTZ 2 (50° MID, 56° MID)
- Cleveland Golf RTZ 60° LOW
- Srixon Z-STAR XV Golf Ball

The victory is expected to move Lowry to 17th in the DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as he continues to build momentum heading into the closing stretch of the season.

To learn more about Lowry’s winning clubs, visit us.dunlopsports.com/srixon.  

How Financially Healthy Are Golf Courses?

The general improvement in U.S. golf facility health metrics over the past couple decades represents one of the industry’s most significant structural shifts.

In 2009, toward the end of the Great Recession (and a period in which participation levels dipped by about three million golfers), NGF researchers began surveying U.S. golf facilities regarding their financial health. We’ve continued this longitudinal study over the years to track how these self-reported measures have changed, and the contrast between the low point after the financial crisis and the recent peak is substantial.

In 2009 and again in 2016, approximately one quarter of public U.S. golf courses indicated they were in poor financial health. Over the past five years, this proportion of poor (or “very poor”) has dropped to 5% or less, and the early returns this year among hundreds of responding golf course operators suggest nearly three-quarters of public facilities would rate their financial footing as “good” or “excellent.”

A similar trajectory holds true with private clubs, with even fewer indicating they’re in dire financial health.

The past five years have seen heightened participation (+4.3 million on-course golfers) and play (record-setting rounds in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025), so the easy back-of-napkin math would suggest more revenue means better financial standing for golf courses and clubs. Operator surveys have supported this, with nearly 60% saying increased demand for rounds and memberships has been the leading factor behind their improved financial health, while other reasons included investments (in the golf course, infrastructure and amenities), better pricing power, and an added or renewed focus on the overall customer experience.

From a broader perspective, an underappreciated contributor to improved facility health was the supply correction that resulted in a net reduction of over 2,000 U.S. golf courses between 2006 and 2020.

Looking back, there has been predictive validity in the self-reported financial health measures – as approximately 20% of the public courses in the early samples that rated their health as poor or worse are now shut down. That closure rate is four times as high as facilities at the upper end of the financial health scale. Meanwhile, financially distressed private clubs closed or converted (to public) at eight times the rate of those in strong financial standing.

When we shared an update on facility financial health five years ago and noted fewer courses were “at risk,” we anticipated the rate of course closures would slow down as the marketplace moved closer to equilibrium. The findings were predictive, as the net U.S. supply change since 2020 is a reduction of fewer than 60 facilities.

The balancing of supply and demand may have been accelerated by the pandemic, but the result is the most robust market in decades from a facility health perspective, even as challenges remain such as sustaining momentum amid normalization and capacity constraints at golf courses. These early findings, and more to come, will be a part of NGF’s State of Industry and Graffis Report – set for release in early 2027.

The 10 Most Scenic Opening Holes in American Golf

Cypress Point

There are opening holes that ease you into a round, and then there are opening holes that make you stop and take a picture before you even put the tee in the ground.

The best opening holes in golf do more than begin a scorecard. They introduce a course's personality, establish a sense of place and, sometimes, provide a view you'll remember long after the round is over.

From the Pacific coastline to the sandhills of Nebraska and the rugged terrain of the Northeast, these 10 opening holes offer some of the most spectacular first-tee views in American golf.

1. Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, California

Few places in golf can match the beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, and Cypress Point wastes little time showing it off.

The first hole is a relatively gentle par 4, but the setting is anything but ordinary. Cypress trees, rolling terrain and the Pacific Ocean establish the visual character of the course immediately. It's an understated beginning to one of America's most spectacular golf experiences.

The real drama comes later at Cypress Point, but the first tee provides an elegant introduction to what's ahead.

2. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California

It seems almost unfair that a course with one of golf's most famous closing stretches also has such a spectacular beginning.

The first hole at Pebble Beach is a relatively straightforward par 4, but the surrounding Monterey Peninsula scenery immediately lets you know you're somewhere special. The Pacific Ocean is already part of the landscape, while the opening fairway begins the journey toward some of the most famous holes in golf.

For many golfers, simply standing on the first tee at Pebble Beach is an experience.

3. Sand Hills Golf Club – Mullen, Nebraska

Sand Hills

The first hole at Sand Hills is a wonderful example of how spectacular golf scenery doesn't require an ocean or mountain range.

Here, it's all about the Nebraska Sandhills.

The opening hole is a par 5 that winds through enormous grass-covered dunes. From the first tee, the golfer gets an immediate sense of the scale and isolation that make Sand Hills one of America's great golf courses.

There's something almost cinematic about looking across the rolling dunes and realizing there isn't a building, road or development in sight.

4. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – Bandon, Oregon

The opening hole of Bandon Dunes provides an immediate introduction to the rugged beauty of the Oregon coast.

The wide fairway invites the golfer to get the round started, but it's difficult not to look beyond the golf and take in the dunes, native vegetation and Pacific coastline.

Bandon Dunes is one of those places where the landscape feels bigger than the golf course. The first tee makes that clear from the beginning.

5. Old Macdonald – Bandon, Oregon

If the first hole at Bandon Dunes introduces golfers to the Oregon coast, the opening hole at Old Macdonald introduces them to a very different kind of beauty.

The course occupies dramatic coastal terrain, with massive dunes and wide-open views creating an almost links-like environment.

The first hole doesn't overwhelm you with manufactured spectacle. Instead, it gives you room to appreciate the land. That's part of the genius of the Bandon experience.

6. Whistling Straits – Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Whistling Straits looks like it was dropped onto the Lake Michigan shoreline from somewhere across the Atlantic.

The opening hole immediately establishes that character. Rugged fescue, dramatic bunkering, expansive views and the presence of Lake Michigan create a memorable first impression.

The course's visual presentation can make the first tee feel more like the beginning of a championship than an ordinary round of golf.

And that's fitting. Whistling Straits has hosted major championships, including the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

7. The Honors Course – Ooltewah, Tennessee

The Honors Course offers a different kind of scenic opening.

Rather than ocean views or endless dunes, the course is tucked into the rolling hills of southeastern Tennessee. The first hole introduces golfers to a heavily wooded, natural setting with elevation changes that immediately establish the character of the course.

It's a reminder that some of America's most beautiful golf scenery is found away from the country's traditional golf destinations.

8. Streamsong Red – Bowling Green, Florida

Streamsong Red

Florida golf doesn't have to mean palm trees and flat terrain.

Streamsong Red is proof.

Built across a dramatic former phosphate-mining landscape, the course features enormous sandy expanses, rolling terrain and elevation changes that seem almost impossible for central Florida.

The opening hole provides an immediate glimpse of that unusual landscape. Instead of the stereotypical Florida golf experience, golfers encounter something closer to an inland links.

9. Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is famous for its spectacular coastal setting, and the first hole provides an appropriate introduction.

The course sits directly along the Atlantic, with dunes, sea breezes and native coastal vegetation shaping the experience.

The scenery can be especially dramatic when the wind is blowing. That's when you realize you're not simply playing a course near the ocean. You're playing a course that feels completely connected to it.

10. TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The first hole at TPC Sawgrass isn't necessarily the most dramatic opening hole on this list, but it earns its place because of the experience it creates.

Golfers begin their rounds at one of America's most recognizable courses, surrounded by the distinctive landscape and water hazards of the Stadium Course.

And there's something psychologically appealing about standing on the first tee knowing that, eventually, you'll have to face the 17th hole.

The first tee isn't just the beginning of a round at TPC Sawgrass. It's the beginning of the journey toward one of golf's most famous holes.

The First Tee Is Part of the Experience

A great opening hole doesn't necessarily need to be difficult. It doesn't even need to be architecturally spectacular.

Sometimes, it simply needs to make you want to hit the first shot.

That's what these 10 holes have in common. Whether you're looking at the Pacific Ocean, rolling sandhills, Lake Michigan, coastal dunes or the hills of Tennessee, each provides something golfers can't get from a scorecard.

The best opening holes tell you something about the course before you've even hit your first shot.

And these might be the most beautiful introductions in American golf.