Colorado Golf Association and Colorado Golf Foundation Invest Nearly $120,000 to Expand Golf Opportunities for More Than 39,000 Young Coloradans

Grant program supports youth caddie programs, junior player development and community partnerships working to grow the game across Colorado

(GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.) – The Colorado Golf Association (CGA) and the Colorado Golf Foundation (CGF) have awarded $119,750 in grants to programs and organizations that are expected to positively impact more than 39,000 young people throughout Colorado in 2026. The annual investment reflects their ongoing commitment to making golf more accessible while creating opportunities that extend well beyond the golf course.

The grants support a diverse network of organizations dedicated to youth development, player education, caddie programs and community engagement, helping introduce new participants to golf while fostering leadership, confidence and lifelong connections to the game.

"Golf has the power to positively influence lives far beyond the fairways," said Ed Mate, CEO of the Colorado Golf Association. "Through our grantmaking program, we're proud to invest in organizations that are creating opportunities for young people to learn valuable life skills, build confidence and discover all that this game can offer."

More than two-thirds of this year's grant funding, $83,250, was awarded to community organizations throughout Colorado, while the remaining $36,500 supports CGA programs that directly serve junior golfers and youth caddies. Collectively, the grants are projected to reach more than 39,000 participants, demonstrating meaningful statewide impact through strategic partnerships.

Among the organizations and initiatives receiving support in 2026 are:
●CGA Caddie Summit Club Grants, which strengthen youth caddie programs and create additional opportunities for young people to develop leadership, work ethic and life skills through caddying.
● CGA Junior Player Development, expanding opportunities for aspiring competitive golfers through instruction, player development and tournament preparation.
● First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, First Tee – Green Valley Ranch, First Tee Southern Colorado and First Tee Four Corners, which use golf as a vehicle to teach character, resilience and personal growth while introducing thousands of young people to the game.
● Colorado PGA REACH, whose programs make golf more accessible while positively impacting youth, military veterans and diverse communities.
● Gold Crown Foundation, which provides sports-based youth development programming that encourages healthy lifestyles, leadership and academic success.
● Pikes Peak Golf Links, which expands access to golf and youth programming in southern Colorado.
● Sapphire Golf Tour Junior Clinic, introducing young golfers from diverse backgrounds to the game through instructional clinics and community engagement.

The investments reflect a commitment to ensuring golf welcomes participants from every background. Among the projected youth served through this year's grants, 37% are girls, nearly half are under the age of 12 and the programs collectively reach communities representing a broad range of racial and ethnic backgrounds across Colorado.

Community partnerships continue to represent the largest area of impact, accounting for approximately 65% of all youth served through its grantmaking efforts in 2026.

"Every grant represents an investment in the future of golf and, more importantly, in the future of Colorado's young people," added Mate. "Whether a child picks up a golf club for the first time, develops into a competitive player or discovers new opportunities through caddying, these partnerships help ensure golf remains a game that changes lives for generations to come."

For more information about CGA and CGF charitable programs, visit coloradogolf.org.

New Hanse-Designed Destination Club Planned for Ann Arbor Area

Plans are under way for a new, high-priced golf course near Ann Arbor, Michigan, that could open in as little as two years.

Site plans for a new destination Gil Hanse-designed golf course on more than 300 acres have been submitted in Lodi Township, Michigan.

According to published reports, the property is located on 13 parcels covering a total of 333 acres and is owned by real estate developer Wayne Jones and his son-in-law Scott Kovanda, both of Ann Arbor.

The site is reported to be set on rolling terrain that will require minimal land movement for construction of a golf course, according to the site plan.

Plans call for the Frontier to be a destination club, with a national membership. The Frontier Club project, according to reports, is expected to cost $32 million, including all buildings and the golf course. Construction on the project could begin later this year with a projected grand opening in 2028.

Hanse has completed more than 30 original designs across the U.S. and abroad. Among Hanse’s original designs are Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania; Apogee in Hobe Sound, Florida; and the Black Course at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida. He also has completed 50-plus restoration and renovations that include projects such as Oakmont in Pennsylvania, Baltusrol (New Jersey), Oakland Hills (Michigan), and Lake Merced, Olympic and Los Angeles Country Club, all in California.

Escalante Golf Announces Construction of New Luxury Homes at Black Diamond Ranch

Four Turnkey Residences Debut in Crosswater Village Highlighting Company’s  Continued Investment in One of Florida’s Premier Private Club Communities

(FORT WORTH, Texas) – Escalante Golf – a boutique owner and operator of luxury golf properties across 17 states – announces a limited release of four newly constructed luxury residences at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.

The turnkey homes are located in the Club’s Crosswater Village and part of a highly selective residential release rather than a broad new construction initiative. The release will feature one each of three home designs – The Cypress, The Longleaf and The Magnolia – with a fourth design currently in development. All homes are in construction or pre-construction phases and expected to be move-in ready by Spring 2027.

Priced from approximately $1.4 million to $1.5 million, the residences are designed to provide buyers with the benefits of new construction without the time, uncertainty and complexity typically associated with a fully custom build.

“This release is about creating an even deeper connection to the Black Diamond Ranch lifestyle,” said David McDonald, President & Partner at Escalante Golf. “Crosswater Village places residents within walking distance of the clubhouse and directly alongside two of Tom Fazio’s golf courses, allowing them to immerse themselves in the game and the club experience every day. As we continue investing in Black Diamond Ranch, including the recent transformation of the Ranch Course, these homes represent an opportunity to become part of a vibrant golf community at a particularly exciting moment in its evolution.”

The homes occupy one of the most desirable settings within the Club. Residents will be near dining venues, practice facilities and member amenities, making it possible to enjoy the full club experience without relying on a car or golf cart. Crosswater Village is uniquely positioned between the Highlands nine-hole course and a portion of the back nine of the recently renovated Ranch Course.

The release comes at a particularly significant moment for Black Diamond Ranch following the December 2024 reopening of the Ranch Course after an extensive renovation led by golf course architect Tripp Davis.

The renovation was part of a broader $15 million reinvestment across the property by Escalante Golf, including enhancements throughout the Club and the addition of new member accommodations. The project further strengthened Black Diamond Ranch’s reputation as one of the most distinctive golf destinations in the United States, with its 1,320 acres of rolling terrain and ancient oak hammocks. The reimagined Ranch Course now complements the Club’s celebrated Quarry Course – its dramatic limestone canyons and elevation changes make it one of the most recognized private golf experiences in America.

Designed and built in-house by Black Diamond Development, each residence reflects a timeless Florida architectural style centered on indoor-outdoor living. All homes feature three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms and will be delivered fully landscaped and move-in ready.

The Cypress offers an airy, open-concept layout centered around an expansive rear porch, with vaulted ceilings throughout the primary living spaces and study. The Longleaf embraces a classic Florida farmhouse aesthetic with a welcoming wraparound porch and separate screened outdoor living area. The Magnolia introduces a distinctive Mediterranean influence, featuring elegant exterior detailing and light-filled interiors designed for both entertaining and everyday living.

Across all three designs, homeowners will enjoy open-concept floor plans, vaulted ceilings, hardwood flooring, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, porcelain bathroom tile, fireplaces, screened porches, generous windows and expansive outdoor living spaces that embrace year-round Florida living.

While each home is being delivered as a turnkey residence with furnishings, fixtures and finishes selected by the development’s design team, buyers may have the opportunity to personalize select elements – including lighting, tile, plumbing fixtures and appliances – depending on the stage of construction at the time of purchase.

Ownership at Black Diamond Ranch provides access to 49 holes of Tom Fazio golf – the nationally acclaimed Quarry Course, the newly renovated Ranch Course, the nine-hole Highlands course and the four-hole Diamond Dunes short course. Together, the four layouts offer a depth and variety of golf unavailable at any other private club in Florida.

Beyond golf, members enjoy elevated dining, an active social calendar and a welcoming club culture in a setting just minutes from Crystal River and the Gulf Coast.

For more information about the new luxury residences, please contact Laura Fincher: laura@blackdiamondranch.com / 352-492-0905.

For more information: visit www.escalantegolf.com or call 817-386-9721.

The Art of Playing Uphill: Champion Hills and the Case for Mountain Golf

(HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.) — Mountain golf offers a different kind of experience. Fairways rise and fall on Mother Nature's terms, shots are influenced by elevation, and cooler temperatures make even midsummer rounds a pleasure.

Only a small fraction of American golf courses is located in the mountains, and fewer still enjoy the spectacular setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, where dramatic vistas and rolling terrain create an unforgettable golf experience.

The Elevation Advantage

Ask any golfer who's escaped to the mountains during the summer, and they'll tell you the difference is immediate. At elevation, temperatures often run 10 degrees cooler than courses at lower elevations, turning July and August into some of the year's best golfing months.

Most importantly, the terrain transforms the experience. Fairways tumble downhill before climbing toward elevated greens and uneven lies are often the norm.

Few courses embrace that landscape better than Champion Hills.

Widely regarded as Tom Fazio's "Mountain Masterpiece," Champion Hills follows the mountain's natural contours rather than fighting them. The result is a layout that feels as though it belongs to the landscape instead of simply occupying it.

Learning to Play the Mountains

"The topography makes the difference in the mountains," Champion Hills Head Golf Professional Nick Auten said. "Making the correct adjustments with club selection and around the greens is really important. Playing uphill, downhill and from uneven lies changes everything."

Golfers won't notice a dramatic increase in how far they hit the ball at Champion Hills' 2,500-foot elevation, but they will quickly learn how much slopes influence every shot.

Auten's advice is straightforward.

"My tip when you're playing uneven lies is to make sure your shoulders stay parallel to the ground," he said. "Whether the ball is above your feet or below your feet, your setup has to match the slope."

Mountain golf also rewards precision.

"The more accurate player is probably going to have a better score than someone who's simply a longer hitter," Auten said.

A Course Designed for the Mountains

Beautiful scenery alone doesn't guarantee an outstanding course.

"What separates the best mountain courses is the architecture," Auten said. "The terrain can either help you or limit you. It's about how the architect sees the land and uses it."

Few architects have done that better than Fazio.

Champion Hills consistently ranks among America’s premier private clubs because every hole embraces the mountain landscape without feeling forced.

"There are very tough tests and then opportunities to make birdies,” Auten said. “It's a great mixture, and a big part of what makes playing at Champion Hills so fun."

Auten cites the closing stretch, holes 15 through 18, as his favorite, while the par-3 ninth offers the course's most breathtaking view.

"It definitely has the best view on the golf course," he said of No. 9, which plays from an elevated tee box to a green that resides 125 feet below. "But honestly, every hole is unique."

More Than a Golf Course

Champion Hills offers more than exceptional golf. Located just south of Hendersonville, the club provides a year-round lifestyle centered on golf, tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining and an active social calendar.

Champion Hills captures everything that makes mountain golf special: dramatic elevation changes, unforgettable scenery and architecture that accentuates the virtues of the land. For golfers looking to escape the summer heat while enjoying one of the Southeast's finest private clubs, there's no better place to enjoy mountain golf than Champion Hills. 

For more information visit www.ChampionHills.com or call (828) 696-1962.

LIV Golf Begins Major Layoffs as Saudi Funding Ends, Launching LIV 2.0

LIV Golf is entering a dramatically different era.

After five years of billion-dollar backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the controversial golf league is moving toward a future without that financial support. The first major consequence of the transition is now becoming clear: LIV Golf is preparing to lay off a substantial majority of its workforce in the first week of September.

A LIV Golf source confirmed the layoffs to Yahoo Sports, saying the organization is scaling back its operations as it prepares for what officials are calling “LIV 2.0.”

“The funding commitment announced by PIF earlier this year will reach its conclusion,” the source said. “As a result, we are scaling back operations as we transition to the next chapter of LIV Golf and work toward making LIV 2.0 a reality.”

Employees affected by the layoffs were informed this week that their employment with what LIV is calling “LIV 1.0” will end in September.

The PIF announced in April that it would end its funding of LIV Golf following the conclusion of the 2026 season. LIV is now tasked with finding a new financial model to support the league's future, although there is no guarantee that sufficient funding will be secured.

What Will LIV Golf 2.0 Look Like?

LIV Golf has already outlined plans for a significantly smaller 2027 schedule. The proposed LIV Golf 2.0 season would feature 10 events, with five tournaments in the United States and five international events.

International markets could play an increasingly important role in LIV's future. The league has developed strong followings in countries such as South Africa and Australia, where LIV events have attracted six-figure crowds.

But replacing the enormous financial resources provided by the PIF will be one of LIV Golf's biggest challenges.

LIV's Saudi-backed model allowed the league to spend aggressively on player contracts, tournament purses, infrastructure, marketing and operations. Without that funding, the organization will have to operate on a much different scale.

LIV CEO Scott O'Neil has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the league's future during recent press conferences.

“This group has been under enormous pressure,” O'Neil said. “We don't often control our destiny, and we are trying to do and be the best kind and type of people and partners that we built our careers on, our reputations on and our character on.”

O'Neil added that the organization would continue doing the best it could with the resources available.

LIV Golf's Future Remains Uncertain

The transition from LIV 1.0 to LIV 2.0 is expected to take several months. While league officials remain optimistic about the future, the scale of the layoffs demonstrates just how significant the changes will be.

There have also been indications that some employees affected by the layoffs could eventually return if LIV's new business model takes shape.

For now, however, LIV Golf is facing a new reality. The Saudi-backed spending spree that defined the league's first five years is coming to an end, and the next version of LIV will have to prove that it can survive — and compete for golf's attention — with substantially fewer resources.

The 2026 season may have marked the end of LIV Golf as fans have known it. What comes next could determine whether LIV 2.0 becomes a sustainable professional golf league or the beginning of the end of one of the most disruptive experiments in modern golf.

2026 Tour Championship: Scottie Scheffler Leads 30-Player Field at East Lake

The 2026 Tour Championship returns to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta this week, bringing the PGA Tour season to its conclusion with a $40 million purse and a $10 million prize awaiting the winner.

The event marks the 25th time the Tour Championship has been played at East Lake and the 20th consecutive year that the historic Atlanta club has hosted the FedEx Cup Playoffs finale.

For the second straight year, all 30 players in the field will begin the tournament at even par, eliminating the staggered starting scores used in previous seasons and giving every player an equal opportunity to win the FedEx Cup.

Scottie Scheffler Again Leads the FedEx Cup Field

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives at East Lake as the FedEx Cup leader for the fifth consecutive year. The two-time major champion has once again put together a dominant regular season, leading the PGA Tour in several key statistical categories.

Scheffler leads the Tour in greens in regulation at 72.52%, top-10 finishes with 12, scoring average at 68.65 and official money with more than $20.9 million.

He also enters the Tour Championship with two victories in 2026. Scheffler won the FedEx St. Jude Championship before finishing tied for 12th at the BMW Championship.

With the starting-strokes format gone, Scheffler won't have an advantage on the scoreboard when the tournament begins. But his season-long consistency makes him an obvious favorite.

Wyndham Clark Brings Momentum to East Lake

Wyndham Clark could be Scheffler's biggest challenger after an impressive performance at the BMW Championship.

Clark won at Bellerive Country Club by three strokes, closing with birdies on each of his final three holes to secure his sixth PGA Tour victory and third win of the 2026 season.

He enters East Lake ranked No. 3 in the FedEx Cup standings and is the only player in the 30-man field to post top-10 finishes in both of the first two FedEx Cup Playoffs events.

That combination of recent form and confidence makes Clark one of the players to watch this week.

Rory McIlroy Continues East Lake Streak

Rory McIlroy is making his ninth consecutive Tour Championship appearance, the longest active streak on the PGA Tour.

The three-time FedEx Cup champion enters the finale ranked No. 11 after finishing third at the BMW Championship. McIlroy also leads the field with 30 career PGA Tour victories.

Given his history at East Lake and his success in the FedEx Cup, McIlroy will once again be one of the most closely watched players in Atlanta.

History Adds to the 2026 Tour Championship

This year's field also includes several notable milestones.

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick become the first brothers to compete in the Tour Championship since Bobby and Lanny Wadkins in 1987. Meanwhile, 46-year-olds Justin Rose and Adam Scott represent the first time since 2009 that multiple players age 45 or older have qualified for the finale.

Six players will also make their Tour Championship debuts.

With a $10 million payday, a FedEx Cup title and plenty of history on the line, the 2026 Tour Championship promises to be a fitting finale to the PGA Tour season.

Seminole Legacy Golf Club Ranked Among Top Golf Courses In Florida by Golfweek

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee has been recognized by Golfweek as the No. 10 ranked golf course in Florida in the publication’s “Best Public-Access Courses in Every State” rankings. While still considered a member club, Seminole Legacy does allow non-member guest play, including Florida State University students and faculty as well as limited public tee times.

“We’re proud to be recognized as one of Florida’s top golf courses by Golfweek and their expert team of raters,” said Seminole Legacy Golf Club General Manager Jaxon Hardy. “This recognition reflects not just the golf course, but the experience and culture we’ve built here at Seminole Legacy.”

Golfweek’s team of more than 850 raters rate courses based on 10 criteria. An average of those overall ratings is calculated to create an annual score for each layout, allowing Golfweek’s Best to rank courses. The magazine then ranks the best classic and modern courses nationally as well as the top public and private courses in each state.

Seminole Legacy Golf Club, recognized as one of the ‘Top 30 Golf Courses’ in Florida by GOLF.com, underwent a $10 million renovation in 2020 led by the Nicklaus Design Company. The comprehensive redesign included a complete overhaul of the course, with only one hole remaining from the original layout. The updated course spans 174 acres, measures 7,800 yards, and features two practice ranges and a new 12-hole par-3 course for the university’s golf teams. Originally designed by Bill Amick and opened in 1962 as the Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, the club has long served as the home for Florida State University’s men’s and women’s golf teams. The 2020 renovation enhanced the facility’s reputation, making it a sought-after venue for prestigious tournaments such as the NCAA Regional.

“Golfweek’s Top 10 ranking affirms what so many in the Florida State community already know — Seminole Legacy Golf Club is one of the nation’s premier golf courses,” said Kyle Clark, FSU senior vice president for finance and administration. “This recognition reflects the university’s commitment to excellence, and the exceptional experience Seminole Legacy provides for our student-athletes, club members and the broader golf community.”

Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon, manages Seminole Legacy Golf Club. For information on Seminole Legacy, visit www.seminolelegacygolfclub.com.