July Is Troon Family Golf Month

Month celebrates golf’s ability to bring families together and also serves as a fundraiser for First Tee

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – July is “Troon Family Golf Month” and Sunday, July 26th is Family Golf Day at Troon-managed and affiliated facilities worldwide. Throughout the month, Troon will celebrate golf's ability to bring families together through fun, learning, and shared experiences with courses hosting family-focused instructional programs, events, and tournaments designed to encourage participation across all ages and skill levels.

Troon Family Golf Month also serves as a platform to raise awareness and support for First Tee and its mission to empower young people through the game of golf. From July 15-29th Troon and Member For A Day, a leading charity auction platform for exclusive golf experiences, will feature rounds and packages at Troon facilities with proceeds from sales donated to First Tee. Guests and members of Troon-affiliated facilities are encouraged to visit the dedicated Member For A Day Auction (CLICK HERE) to bid on items beginning July 15th. Featured auction items include golf rounds and stay and packages experiences from:

Tubac Golf Resort & Spa in Tubac, Arizona (Stay and Play Experience)
Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Coast, Florida (Stay and Play Experience)
Monster Golf Club and Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, New York (Stay and Play Experience)
Bay Creek Golf Club in Cape Charles Virginia (Stay and Play Experience)
El Conquistador Tucson, in Tucson, Arizona (Stay and Play Experience)
Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington (Foursome)
Monarch Beach Golf Links, in Dana Point, California (Foursome)
Torreon Golf Club in Show Low, Arizona (Foursome)
Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club in Austin, Texas (Foursome)
And more

Throughout July, Troon facilities will spotlight the impact of First Tee through storytelling, in-club signage, and digital campaigns. Guests and members of Troon-affiliated facilities will be encouraged to make a donation to First Tee. More information can be found at https://firsttee.org/troon-supporting-first-tee.

While July serves as the kickoff for family golf activities, Troon Family Golf is available every day of the week, all year long, at participating Troon-managed facilities worldwide. Families can play golf together and enjoy the following:

• Juniors play golf for free after 3 p.m. when playing with a paying adult
• Juniors enjoy complimentary Callaway rental clubs all day (at participating locations)
• Juniors receive complimentary instruction when taking a lesson with a paying adult

As part of Troon Family Golf Month, Troon facilities, Troon Golf Academies and their respective teaching professionals will present a series of engaging initiatives. From introductory clinics to special events, Troon is dedicated to making this month a memorable experience for families and golf enthusiasts of all levels.

In addition, Troon has once again partnered with Next Round, a leading golf equipment trade-in services provider, to raise additional funds for First Tee. During Troon Family Golf Month, facilities can run a used equipment donation drive in partnership with Next Round. Next Round values donated clubs and directs 100 percent of that value to First Tee.

To learn more about specific Troon Family Golf programs visit Troon.com, follow @Troon on social media or visit the Troon-affiliated facility nearest you.  

Building on a Proud Legacy, Horseshoe Bay Resort is Better than Ever

Premier Central Texas vacation destination is ready for prime time.

Horseshoe Bay Resort has never been a modest proposition. The place has a lot to offer its guests, including opportunities to play 54 holes of golf, attend a golf school, and take part in all sorts of water recreation, racquet sports, and enjoy exquisite dining along with an action-packed sports bar.

But Horseshoe Bay Resort, founded more than 50 years ago in the Texas Hill Country on Lake LBJ, about 45 minutes from Austin, Texas, never stands pat. The owners and management there continue to refine all aspects of the resort year after year. There’s no better example of that than the golf experience itself, which is arguably in its golden era.

This year, the whole nation will be able to witness how good the golf is firsthand as the Golf Channel’s Big Break returns with a full season of episodes filmed at Horseshoe Bay Resort, featuring all four courses, three of which are open to resort guests. (Horseshoe Bay’s fourth championship course, Summit Rock, is members-only) These championship layouts have never been better and continue to improve.

“The thing I’m most excited about is showcasing the variety and quality of golf that we have,” said Anthony Holder, PGA director of golf operations at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Holder added that Big Break X Good Good (sponsored by the popular golf influencer group, Good Good) really showcases the 7,000-acre Texas Hill Country resort, which is situated around a beautiful lake and all its amenities. 

“For a long time, I think we’ve been this sleepy little secret,” he said. ”I think hosting this season of Big Break, called Big Break X Good Good, really puts us out there in a resonant way that brands Horseshoe Bay Resort as a national bucket list destination.”

The event will begin to air on Golf Channel in August, bridging the gap between the long-running reality show’s legacy viewer and Good Good Golf’s growing legion of YouTube golf fans.

Horseshoe Bay Resort being ready for its closeup coincides with the continuing upgrades of the resort itself, which most recently have included the popularity of a new dining yacht, on-water obstacle course, playground, and the new 10,000 sq ft Live Oak Pavilion near the Whitewater Putting Course, which sits adjacent to the 250-room tower hotel. The new pavilion is perfect for a variety of functions, including award ceremonies and corporate or family gatherings.

As for golf, Holder said it’s been a combination of both the people, and the physical improvements. Horseshoe Bay has long-tenured associates in the golf department, which has created a high level of collaboration, communication, and expectations.

“Now, we’re really getting into the fine tuning of getting ahead of the guest experience. So that’s something I’m extremely proud of,” said Holder, adding that they emphasize a great work-life balance among employees to breed creativity and production.

On the product side, Holder said the owners have invested heavily back into the asset, which in this case, is the collection of resort courses, all designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. It included renovations in 2018 and 2019 on the Apple Rock and Ram Rock courses. It encompassed expanding the greens complexes, retaining walls, cart paths, fountains, and leveling tee boxes. Similar work was done on Slick Rock in 2015. 

There are several ongoing projects, too, including renovating the bathrooms on Apple Rock and Ram Rock, enhancing the teeing area on the driving range, a new roof on the Slick Rock cart barn, $100,000 worth of work in tree trimming to enhance turf health on all the courses, and new bunker sand. 

In 2027, Slick Rock and Ram Rock will undergo a complete irrigation replacement as well as more bunker work and tee box leveling. Apple Rock is scheduled to get the same work four years later. So it’s always ongoing. 

It’s also paramount that conditions across the three resort courses are consistent with each other. They all have bentgrass greens, zoysia collars, and 419 Bermuda on the fairways and tees. The goal is for all three courses to play the same in terms of conditions and green speeds, Holder said, which is made easier by having a director of agronomy who oversees individual course superintendents.

“Every single year, we’re getting better and better and better, and finding new ways to enhance the playing experience,” Holder said. 

One of the biggest game changers recently has been the addition of the new Horseshoe Bay Resort Golf Academy, headed up by Director of Instruction Bobby Steiner. The state-of-the-art 3,000-square foot facility is equipped with indoor/outdoor lesson bays as well as eight covered practice bays equipped with Toptracer Range technology. 

Horseshoe Bay officials knew it would help attract guests who wanted to improve their games through clinics and schools as well as enhance the member experience, but it proved to be far more valuable. They’ve been able to tie it into their men’s and women’s golf association functions as well as their nine-holers and introductory classes. It’s also served as a great spot for other special events as well as bringing in VIP groups looking for a unique experience.

“So we can put them there at the Golf Academy and do some fun contests,” Holder said. “The cherry on top is that it’s a great hook for prospective members when they’re doing their site tours and see all the technology and amenities in that large space.”

The impetus of Big Break X Good Good goes back to the Good Good Lone Star Shootout, an event Horseshoe Bay did with the influential social content creator collective last June. It was a 12-hole event that featured Good Golf Creators and celebrity athletes (like Reggie Bush and Matt Ryan), who formed two-man teams in a competition, exhibition, and even a concert. 

“After having them here and seeing some of the contrast, and the variety of golf that we have, and also all of the amenities around that, they felt like it was a good fit and they felt really comfortable with us,” said Holder.

Big Break will include a couple of members from Good Good as well as 10 other male players. The winner of the competition will get a spot in the upcoming Good Good Championship on the PGA Tour to be conducted this November in nearby Austin.

And while Big Break is another milestone for Horseshoe Bay, you can expect the resort to keep on growing and evolving. There has been talk about possibly adding even more courses, like a tour-level championship layout and perhaps a shorter course for resort guests. So stay tuned.

To see everything that is new at Horseshoe Bay Resort, visit HSBResort.com.

WGA Caddie Academy Marks 15 Years of Opening Doors Through Caddying

(Glenview, Ill.) – The Western Golf Association's (WGA) Caddie Academy is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, marking a milestone for a program that has helped hundreds of young people discover new opportunities through caddying, personal development and the pursuit of higher education.

The Caddie Academy provides summer caddie opportunities to at-promise high school students who demonstrate outstanding academics, leadership and character. During the seven-week residential program, participants earn money through caddying while taking part in academic enrichment, leadership development, community service and personal growth opportunities designed to prepare them for success in college and beyond.

What began in 2012 with 12 participants has grown into a nationally recognized summer enrichment program serving more than 170 students in 2026 across Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Seattle and Washington, D.C. To date, more than 245 Caddie Academy alumni have gone on to earn the Evans Scholarship, a full tuition and housing college scholarship awarded to high-achieving caddies.

"The program has evolved tremendously over the last 15 years," said Kara Chin, the WGA’s Senior Director of Caddie Academy & Scholarships. "What stands out most is the level of holistic support we now provide. The Caddie Academy is about much more than teaching students how to caddie. We want students to leave understanding the value of hard work, kindness and perseverance. Whether they pursue the Evans Scholarship or another path, the skills they develop here will help them succeed wherever life takes them."

Participants are selected during their freshman year of high school and spend three summers in the program. Through classroom instruction and on-course training, they learn the fundamentals of golf and caddying while developing valuable life skills. Students also participate in leadership speaker series events, financial literacy workshops, health and wellness programming, golf instruction and educational field trips.

This summer also marks the launch of the eighth Caddie Academy chapter, based out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Evans Scholarship House. The program will run from June 21 to August 8, with participants living on campus and caddying at Atkins Golf Club in Urbana, expanding access to the program for more young women across the state of Illinois.

For Joanna Hernandez, the WGA’s Senior Manager of Caddie Academy & Scholarships and a member of the program's inaugural class in 2012, the growth of the Academy is especially meaningful.

"When I joined the first Caddie Academy class, I had no idea how much the experience would shape my future," Hernandez said. "Being away from home taught me independence, but it also showed me the value of leaning on others and building a support network. Those lessons stayed with me throughout college and into my career."

Applications for the 2027 WGA Caddie Academy will be available on Dec. 1, 2026, to students currently in their freshman year of high school who demonstrate character, leadership, academic achievement and financial need. 

For more information about the WGA Caddie Academy, eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit wgacaddieacademy.org.

River Place Country Club Completes First Phase of Major Renovation, Unveils Elevated Member Spaces and New Wellness Hub

Transformation reflects Arcis Golf’s commitment to creating an exceptional lifestyle experience at this premier Texas Hill Country club

(DALLAS, Texas) — River Place Country Club has completed the first phase of a major two-phase renovation that reimagines how members dine, train, unwind, and connect.

The multi-million-dollar investment from Arcis Golf—the second-largest owner and operator of golf facilities in the United States, with a portfolio of 88 private, resort, and daily-fee properties—introduces upgraded dining and social spaces, a dramatically expanded two-story fitness center, restorative amenities, and an enhanced retail experience. Together, the improvements strengthen River Place’s position as a premier club for active, healthy living in the Texas Hill Country.The company also owns and operates Onion Creek Club and Twin Creeks Country Club in the region.

Inspired by the humble grandeur of the Hill Country, the reimagined clubhouse blends the timelessness of natural hardwoods, rich leathers, and forged iron with modern touches of bold color and graphic pattern to reflect the distinct heritage and identity of Austin.Every element of the design creates a clubhouse that exudes a relaxed luxury in keeping with Arcis Golf’s identity as a premier hospitality and lifestyle brand.

"Our vision is to create clubs that become an extension of our members' lives," said Blake Walker, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Arcis Golf. "Today's private club experience is about much more than exceptional golf. It's about creating places where families gather, wellness becomes part of everyday life, friendships grow, and memories are made naturally. Our investment at River Place reflects that vision and our long-term commitment to delivering one of the premier private club lifestyles in Central Texas."

The fully redesigned 19th Hole features new furnishings and a lounge area, giving adult members a comfortable, inviting place to gather. The expansive cocktail menu emphasizes craftsmanship, with drinks made from fresh ingredients, house-made syrups, and fresh-squeezed juices. An extensive bourbon and tequila selection, including small-batch pours and rare selections, complements an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and welcoming.

Led by a new executive chef and supported by completely modernized kitchens, the club’s culinary program highlights fresh, regional flavor through partnerships with local farms, regional ranches, and artisanal bakeries. Lunch and dinner menus feature Texas-inspired small plates, salads, health-conscious choices, taqueria selections, handhelds, and entrées, supplemented by themed dinners and social gatherings.

At the heart of the club’s commitment to an active lifestyle, the Wellness Hub sets a new standard for what a club fitness experience can be. The expansive two-story training facility features dedicated strength and cardio zones engineered for performance, a large functional fitness rig, and purpose-built weight-training areas designed to meet members wherever they are in their fitness journey. A boutique Pilates studio—six reformers, virtual class kiosks, and programming that rivals the best standalone studios — sits alongside a refined yoga studio built for mobility, intentional movement, and mental clarity. Members also have access to two elevated amenity spaces: the Recovery Suite, featuring NormaTec compression boots, red light therapy, and a zero-gravity massage chair; and an expansive Finnish sauna and the Frost Locker cold therapy space, just steps from the locker room.

The club is also introducing Wellness+, an exclusive health and performance program that combines advanced biomarker testing, expert-led training, and premium recovery therapies into a single integrated offering. Designed for members seeking a more personalized approach to health and performance, Wellness+ provides deeper insight into individual health markers while supporting performance, recovery, and vitality.

Additional enhancements include a reimagined and rebranded Lifestyle Shop with an elevated retail experience. The new location creates a stronger first impression for members and guests while supporting an upgraded shopping experience.

River Place’s family-centric amenities include a vibrant aquatic setting anchored by a Junior Olympic swimming pool, providing inviting areas for relaxation and fun during Austin’s warm season. For racquet enthusiasts, the club offers eight tennis courts, two ghost-lined pickleball courts, and a new tennis center with a deck overlooking three courts. With food-and-beverage service and sweeping views, the venue enhances River Place as a destination for play, instruction, and community.

Golf remains central to the River Place lifestyle, with a course that winds through steep canyons, elevated tees, and sweeping Hill Country views. Thoughtfully integrated into the natural landscape, the course delivers a playing experience that is both visually striking and extremely memorable. A full calendar of play and instruction underscores the club’s commitment to player development.

This fall, an updated arrival experience, lobby, family restaurant, and Great Hall will round out the transformation, adding a more connected setting suited for year-round use. The new design will include rustic oak flooring, warm wood ceilings, new custom furnishings, an expanded executive boardroom, pre-event function space, and two personal workspaces for members.

An industry leader in inventive programming and lifestyle amenities that complement exceptional golf offerings, Arcis Golf has invested more than $175 million over the past four years in property upgrades, new amenities, personnel, training, and systems to create extraordinary experiences and forge emotional connections with members and guests. The company has received numerous honors, including recognition on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.

For more information, visit arcisgolf.com.

Champion Hills Names Nick Auten Head Golf Professional

(HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.) — Champion Hills Club has announced the hiring of Nick Auten as its new Head Golf Professional, bringing more than 25 years of experience at some of the country’s most respected golf clubs to the private Tom Fazio–designed community.

Nick Auten

Auten joins Champion Hills after most recently serving as Director of Golf at Lake Hickory Country Club, where he led golf operations and member programming for the past two years. Prior to that, he spent nine years as Head Golf Professional at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, home of the season-ending PGA Tour Championship.

A North Carolina native widely regarded as a relationship-driven leader, Auten is known for building strong connections with members, mentoring staff, fostering collaboration, and delivering high-quality golf experiences. His leadership style and operational background align closely with Champion Hills’ commitment to service, excellence, and a premier member experience.

“To come back to the mountains of North Carolina and join a club like Champion Hills - one I’ve admired for years - is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m excited to help elevate the membership experience,” Auten said. 

Champion Hills partnered with Troon, the world’s leading golf management company, during the search process. Troon assisted with candidate evaluation and industry insight, helping ensure a strong alignment between the club’s culture and leadership experience.

Auten steps into his role as Champion Hills – home to one of America’s top 50 residential courses - continues to build on its reputation as one of the premier private golf clubs in the nation.

For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.ChampionHills.com or call (828) 696-1962.

Should AimPoint Be Banned in Golf? The Growing Debate Over Slow Play, Worn Greens, and the Future of Putting

Golf has spent the last several years searching for ways to speed up play, from reduced time limits on shots to penalties for chronic slow players. Yet one of the game's most controversial pace-of-play issues continues to unfold on the greens: AimPoint.

The green-reading system has become increasingly common on professional tours and among elite amateurs, but it's also become one of the most criticized routines in golf. Detractors argue it slows down rounds, damages putting surfaces, and creates an unnecessary spectacle. Supporters counter that it's simply another legal skill players have learned to master.

With pace of play once again under the microscope, it's fair to ask: Should AimPoint be banned?

What Is AimPoint?

AimPoint Express is a green-reading method that relies on players feeling the slope beneath their feet before selecting a starting line. Golfers typically walk around the hole, straddle the putting line, feel the gradient through their feet, hold up several fingers to gauge the break, and then step into their putt.

The system has helped numerous PGA Tour professionals become better putters and has been taught worldwide for years.

But critics argue that the process often takes too long.

Does AimPoint Slow Down Play?

One of the biggest complaints is time.

Studies examining professional golf have found that the average PGA Tour player takes roughly 35 to 40 seconds to play a putt. Players using extensive AimPoint routines can push that time closer to 50 seconds or more, particularly on longer or difficult putts. While an extra 10 to 20 seconds may seem insignificant, multiplied across 18 holes and four players, the delay can add several minutes to every round.

On television, viewers frequently watch players circle the hole, straddle the putting line multiple times, feel the slope with their feet, consult their fingers, then repeat portions of the routine before finally pulling the trigger.

Former players, broadcasters, and fans have increasingly questioned whether the routine has become excessive.

The Wear Around the Hole

Beyond slow play, superintendents have voiced concerns about turf damage.

AimPoint encourages golfers to repeatedly stand near the cup while feeling the slope with their feet. During a tournament week, dozens or even hundreds of players may gather in nearly identical locations around each hole.

That concentrated foot traffic creates additional stress on already vulnerable putting surfaces.

Areas immediately surrounding the hole can become:
Flattened or compacted
More susceptible to spike marks
Faster to wear during hot or dry conditions
Less consistent for players putting later in the day

While normal putting also creates traffic, critics argue AimPoint intensifies the problem because players intentionally spend extra time standing in the same areas around every cup.

Why Players Like It

Despite the criticism, AimPoint isn't without merit.

Many players believe it provides:
More accurate green reads.
Greater confidence over breaking putts.
A repeatable system that removes guesswork.
Better performance under pressure.

For professionals competing for millions of dollars, any legal advantage is difficult to ignore.

That's why many instructors continue teaching the method.

Should Golf Ban It?

A complete ban would likely prove controversial.

Golf has always allowed players to gather information before making a stroke. Reading grain, walking around the hole, crouching behind the ball, and consulting yardage books are all accepted parts of the game.

Instead of banning AimPoint outright, governing bodies could focus on limiting how it's used.

Possible solutions include:
Establishing a maximum amount of time allowed to read any putt.
Restricting repeated straddling of the putting line.
Limiting the number of times players can feel the slope around the hole.
Enforcing existing pace-of-play policies more consistently.
Encouraging players to begin reading putts while others are putting rather than waiting for their turn.

These changes would preserve the system while discouraging excessively long routines.

The Bottom Line

AimPoint itself may not be golf's biggest pace-of-play problem, but it has become one of its most visible.

Every extra second spent reading greens adds up over four rounds of tournament golf, and repeated foot traffic around the cup can contribute to additional wear on putting surfaces.

Rather than outlawing the system entirely, golf's governing bodies may be better served by enforcing quicker routines and encouraging players to be more efficient. Doing so would preserve the benefits of AimPoint while addressing the concerns of fans, broadcasters, tournament officials, and golf course superintendents alike.

As golf continues searching for ways to make the game faster and more enjoyable, the debate over AimPoint is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Viktor Hovland Outduels Scottie Scheffler in Playoff to Win Travelers Championship

Viktor Hovland added another memorable chapter to his PGA Tour career by capturing the Travelers Championship on Monday morning, defeating Scottie Scheffler with a birdie on the first playoff hole to claim his eighth career victory.

Hovland finished regulation at 21-under-par 259, the lowest 72-hole score of his PGA Tour career, before edging the world's No. 1 player in the extra session. The win also made Hovland the first golfer from Norway to capture the Travelers Championship and improved his record to 5-1 when holding a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.

Scheffler, who forced the playoff after another steady performance, settled for his 14th career runner-up finish and fourth of the 2026 season. Despite narrowly missing another victory, Scheffler continued to cement his remarkable consistency, extending his streaks to 35 consecutive top-25 finishes and 78 straight made cuts while maintaining his lead atop the FedEx Cup standings.

Collin Morikawa made the biggest charge of the final round, firing a dazzling 9-under 61 to finish alone in third place at 20 under. The round matched the lowest score of his PGA Tour career, equaling the 61 he posted during the 2023 Tour Championship. Morikawa came within a shot of forcing the playoff and nearly completed what would have been the largest come-from-behind victory in Travelers Championship history.

Fresh off his major championship victory, Wyndham Clark tied for fifth as he attempted to become the first player since Scheffler in 2024 to win on the PGA Tour the week immediately following a major title. While he fell short, Clark continued his strong run of form with another top-five finish.

Patrick Cantlay added another impressive result at TPC River Highlands, tying for 14th to extend his streak of nine consecutive top-15 finishes at the Travelers Championship. Defending champion Keegan Bradley also finished tied for 14th in his bid to become the tournament's first back-to-back winner since Phil Mickelson accomplished the feat in 2002.

The week ultimately belonged to Hovland, whose clutch play in the playoff capped one of the strongest performances of his career and added another signature victory to an already impressive résumé.