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.

SQAIRZ Footwear Delivers Measurable Performance Gains for 82% of Athletes in CURVE Sports Regional West Showcase Testing

Performance testing of 150 baseball athletes and more than 1,650 swings demonstrates gains in exit velocity, consistency and first-swing readiness

(WINDHAM, N.H.) — SQAIRZ, the performance footwear company built on the belief that better movement starts with a better foundation, today announced new performance data gathered during the CURVE Sports Regional West Showcase demonstrating measurable improvements in hitting performance when athletes switched from their personal footwear to SQAIRZ baseball footwear.

Across two days of testing, 150 athletes completed 1,655 recorded swings, establishing performance baselines in their own footwear before hitting in SQAIRZ. The results showed that 82% of the athletes tested improved either peak exit velocity, average exit velocity or both while wearing SQAIRZ.

Among the 123 athletes who demonstrated improvement, the results included:
- +1.59 mph average improvement in peak exit velocity
- +2.63 mph improvement in average exit velocity, a measure of swing-to-swing consistency
- 91% of the improved athletes increased their average exit velocity
- 81 athletes improved both peak and average exit velocity

Performance gains across developing, mid-range and high-power hitter groups

The testing also found that wearing SQAIRZ footwear improved the first swing and offered performance benefits across hitter profiles.

Athletes wearing SQAIRZ averaged 54 mph on their first swing, exceeding the group’s average final-swing performance in their personal footwear (when athletes typically increased their performance over several swings) and indicating that a stable foundation may help athletes access their power more consistently from the moment they step into the batter’s box.

28% of athletes recorded their maximum exit velocity on their first swing in SQAIRZ, compared with 14% in their personal footwear.

Among athletes who improved while wearing SQAIRZ, developing hitters with baseline exit velocities below 75 mph increased peak exit velocity by an average of 68 mph and average exit velocity by 2.74 mph; mid-range hitters between 75 and 85 mph improved peak exit velocity by 1.71 mph and average exit velocity by 2.76 mph; and even high-power hitters entering the test at 85 mph or greater improved peak exit velocity by an average of 1.05 mph and average exit velocity by 2.07 mph.

Individual performances were even more pronounced. The largest recorded increase in peak exit velocity was +7.0 mph, while the largest improvement in average exit velocity was +13.0 mph.

“A shoe shouldn’t be viewed as a fashion accessory. It should be viewed as a piece of performance equipment, just like a bat, glove or any other tool an athlete relies on to compete,” said Bob Winskowicz, Founder and CEO of SQAIRZ. “That belief is why we created what we believe is the first truly biomechanically engineered performance shoe platform. SQAIRZ designs footwear around how the human body actually moves, beginning with its connection to the ground. We’ve spent years studying that relationship, testing it with athletes and seeking scientific validation of what we see in the data. At every level of sports, athletes are searching for an edge. Sometimes that edge is sitting right underneath their feet.”

Where Athlete Development Meets Performance Innovation

CURVE Sports has built its athlete-development model around objective testing, trusted data and measurable progress, while SQAIRZ has spent years studying how an athlete’s connection to the ground can influence movement and performance. Together, the organizations are examining an often-overlooked variable in athletic performance: what athletes put on their feet.

“CURVE Sports exists to strengthen the foundation beneath baseball so clubs can focus on coaching and culture, athletes can develop more thoughtfully, and families can feel confident in the journey,” said Sandy Ogg, CEO of CURVE Sports. “What we saw at the Regional West Showcase is a great example of that philosophy in action. When you can take something athletes use every day, like their footwear, test it objectively and demonstrate measurable differences in performance, you give athletes and coaches information they can actually use. That is what makes our relationship with SQAIRZ so compelling. We share a belief that better development starts with better information, and that every part of the athlete’s performance system should be measured, understood and continually improved.”

The Regional West Showcase provided an opportunity to put that shared philosophy into practice. By measuring athletes in their existing footwear and then measuring the same athletes in SQAIRZ under the same event conditions, the organizations were able to examine footwear using the same objective, data-driven approach increasingly applied to bats, swing mechanics, exit velocity and other aspects of baseball performance.

CURVE measures how athletes perform. SQAIRZ improves the foundation they perform from. Together, the organizations are helping athletes find performance they may not have known was under their feet.

Proper Fit Reinforces the Connection to the Ground

The testing also produced an important insight into footwear fit.

During initial testing, 31 athletes were identified as wearing SQAIRZ footwear approximately one-half size too large. After those athletes were resized and retested, the group improved peak exit velocity by an average of 0.90 mph and average exit velocity by 0.80 mph compared with their initial SQAIRZ test.

The finding reinforces the importance of proper footwear fit in creating the secure connection between the athlete’s foot, shoe and ground necessary for efficient movement.

SQAIRZ footwear is engineered around a patented roomier toe-box geometry and performance platform designed to allow the toes to sit naturally while creating stability through the midfoot and heel. The resulting foundation is designed to promote balance, stability and more efficient ground-force transfer during athletic movement.

Rethinking Footwear as Performance Equipment

The CURVE Sports testing adds to a growing body of SQAIRZ performance research examining the relationship between footwear, ground interaction and athletic performance.

Rather than beginning primarily with aesthetics, cushioning or conventional footwear geometry, SQAIRZ designs its performance platform around human biomechanics and how an athlete interacts with the ground during movement.

That philosophy has driven years of product development, athlete testing and scientific evaluation across multiple sports.

“Baseball has become incredibly sophisticated about measuring the bat, the ball, launch angle, exit velocity and virtually every part of an athlete’s movement,” Winskowicz said. “Yet the athlete’s connection to the ground is still too often overlooked. Everything an athlete generates starts at the ground. Our job is to make that connection work harder for them.”

For more information, visit https://sqairz.com/

What Are the Three Worst Golf Courses in Each State (New Jersey)?

If you want to know whether a golf course is worth playing, the scorecard can only tell you so much. Sometimes the most revealing information comes from the golfers who have actually paid the green fee, played 18 holes and walked off the course with an opinion.

GolfPass is one of the better places to find that kind of feedback, with golfers rating courses on conditions, layout, value, pace of play, friendliness and amenities. Based on GolfPass ratings and the comments left by golfers, three New Jersey courses stand out for all the wrong reasons.

For this list, I excluded courses that are listed as closed and focused on courses with enough GolfPass reviews to provide a meaningful sample.

Wild Oaks

1. Wild Oaks Golf Course — Salem, New Jersey

GolfPass rating: 2.8 out of 5
Reviews: 39
Conditions: 2.1
Layout: 3.0
Value: 3.7
Pace: 4.3
Recommend: 69.2%

Wild Oaks Golf Course has the distinction of having the lowest overall GolfPass rating among the active New Jersey courses that surfaced in our review.

The biggest problem isn't the layout. It's the condition of the golf course.

GolfPass golfers give Wild Oaks just 2.1 out of 5 for conditions, by far the course's weakest category. The layout scores a more respectable 3.0, while value comes in at 3.7 and pace of play is actually one of the course's strengths at 4.3.

That tells an interesting story. Golfers don't necessarily hate the course itself. Instead, many of the complaints center on whether the course is being maintained to an acceptable standard.

And that is a common theme when golfers rate public courses: A decent layout can survive a few quirks, but poor conditioning can quickly ruin the experience.

Wild Oaks is an 18-hole public course in Quinton Township, and GolfPass describes the layout as a par-72 course stretching 6,726 yards.

Bottom line: If conditions are your No. 1 priority, GolfPass reviews suggest you may want to think twice before booking Wild Oaks.

Ash Brook

2. Ash Brook Golf Course — Scotch Plains, New Jersey

GolfPass rating: 2.7 out of 5
Reviews: 45
Conditions: 2.3
Value: 2.8
Layout: 3.5
Pace: 3.7
Amenities: 2.2
Recommend: 37.8%

Ash Brook might be the most interesting course on this list because golfers seem to agree that there is a playable layout underneath the problems.

GolfPass gives the Scotch Plains course a 3.5 rating for layout, significantly better than its 2.3 rating for conditions. But value is only 2.8 and amenities are a disappointing 2.2. Just 37.8% of reviewers recommend the course.

The reviews can be particularly harsh when golfers discuss course conditions.

One golfer complained that the fairways were difficult to recognize as fairways and that the tee boxes were badly chewed up. Another review described extensive mud throughout the course and questioned whether the price was justified by the condition.

But it's worth noting that not every golfer dislikes Ash Brook. Some reviews praise the greens and the layout, suggesting that conditions can vary considerably depending on when you play.

That may be an important distinction for golfers considering a tee time. A course can have a poor overall rating while still offering a worthwhile round when maintenance conditions are favorable.

Bottom line: Ash Brook appears to have a better golf course hiding underneath its conditioning problems.

Stonybrook

3. Stonybrook Golf Club — Hopewell, New Jersey

GolfPass rating: 3.0 out of 5
Reviews: 72
Conditions: 2.2
Layout: 2.7
Value: 3.6
Pace: 4.3
Recommend: 59.7%

Stonybrook Golf Club has a slightly better overall rating than Wild Oaks and Ash Brook, but its individual category scores reveal why it makes this list.

Golfers give the Hopewell course only 2.2 out of 5 for conditions and 2.7 for layout. On the other hand, friendliness scores 4.1 and pace of play is an impressive 4.3.

In other words, the people working at Stonybrook and the speed of the round aren't the problem.

The golf course itself is.

One GolfPass reviewer described a dramatic decline in conditions, citing crabgrass throughout the fairways, bumpy greens and a green that was essentially unputtable. Another reviewer said most holes had little grass and described the conditions as the worst they had experienced after playing hundreds of courses.

Stonybrook is also a different proposition from the other two courses. It's an executive-style, par-62 layout measuring only 3,514 yards, so golfers looking for a full-length championship test aren't coming here for the length.

Still, the course's strong ratings for friendliness and pace suggest there are things golfers like about the experience.

Bottom line: Stonybrook may be worth considering for a quick, shorter round, but GolfPass reviews indicate that course conditions are the major concern.

What Do These Three Courses Have in Common?

There's a clear pattern in the GolfPass numbers.

Conditions are the problem.

Wild Oaks scores 2.1 for conditions. Ash Brook scores 2.3. Stonybrook scores 2.2. All three are considerably lower in conditioning than they are in at least some other categories.

And that's an important lesson when evaluating golf-course reviews.

A low overall rating doesn't necessarily mean a course has a terrible layout. In fact, Ash Brook receives a 3.5 for layout, while Stonybrook gets a 3.6 for value. Golfers can appreciate parts of a course while still feeling that poor conditions make the overall experience disappointing.

It's also important to remember that GolfPass ratings are based on individual golfer experiences and can change over time. Weather, maintenance schedules, renovations and management changes can all have a significant impact on a public golf course.

So should you completely avoid these three New Jersey courses?

Not necessarily.

But if you're booking a round based on what fellow golfers have experienced, Wild Oaks, Ash Brook and Stonybrook deserve some extra research before you make that tee time.

And if you're especially particular about pristine fairways and greens, the GolfPass reviews suggest there are better options elsewhere in New Jersey.

Scotty Cameron Releases New Phantom 9.5R Mallet Putter

Newest addition to Phantom family builds on PGA TOUR-winning 9.5R modern mallet design

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) — Scotty Cameron adds to his family of tour-proven mallet designs with the new Phantom 9.5R model, building upon the success of one of the most popular Scotty Cameron putter setups this season on the PGA TOUR.

Last month, Jackson Koivun switched to a Phantom 9.5R the week before earning his first PGA TOUR victory, posting 25 under to win the 3M Open by three shots in just his third professional start. Cameron Young has captured each of his three PGA TOUR wins with his 9.5R gamer, including the 2026 PLAYERS Championship.

Since the first Phantom 9.5R prototypes landed on tour, they have continued to gain popularity with tour players due to their modern mallet design with rounded contours and “.5” jet neck configurations, which work in tandem to deliver stability and alignment with a blade-like feel.

The new 9.5R model features the 2026 Phantom family’s full-face Studio Carbon Steel inserts with chain-link milling, producing a player-preferred softer sound and feel. It shares the same head shape as the 2026 Phantom 9R and 9.2R but delivers more toe flow through the stroke than either model due to its elongated jet neck setup. For precise alignment on the greens, the new 9.5R leverages a long, single sightline that stretches the length of the putter head.

Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R putters are available for pre-sale today and will be landing in golf shops beginning September 30 (U.S. only). 

PHANTOM 9.5R ON TOUR

• Cameron Young was one of the first players to put a 9.5R prototype in play on the PGA TOUR, making the move at the 2025 RBC Heritage. In the months that followed, Young earned his first PGA TOUR win at the Wyndham Championship and delivered a breakout rookie Ryder Cup performance — highlighted by a clutch, 11-foot birdie putt to win his Sunday singles match.

With his 9.5R this year, Young won twice more (THE PLAYERS Championship, Cadillac Championship), posted two top-3 finishes at majors (T3 at the Masters, runner-up at the 154th Open) and ascended to a career-best OWGR ranking of No. 3.

“He’s always wanted to feel flow in the putter,” said Scotty Cameron Tour Rep Brad Cloke on Young's initial move to the 9.5R. “We’ve started in face-balanced mallets for him and we’ve kind of worked our way down to a point where he’s felt comfortable enough to feel the toe flow the way he wants it and get the release of the putter that he wants.”

Said Young: “I just felt like the middle of the face was more apparent to me with a little bit more [face] rotation and a little bit more release into the ball. I felt like I just struck it more in the middle, which kind of helped my speed, made it roll a little tighter... I feel like I've putted better and better as my mechanics keep improving and as I get more familiar with it.”

Finding the right alignment feature on his putter was also key for Young, who had previously been playing a Phantom 5.5 with no sightline. Young marks his Pro V1x Double Dot golf ball with a black line that he matches up with his putter for precise alignment on the greens.

“It’s just a really, really nice clean look,” he said on his 9.5R. “The long line helps with my alignment.”

• It wasn’t long before other players began testing — and finding success with — 9.5R models. Jackson Koivun captured his first professional victory at the 3M Open with his 9.5R gamer, having put it in play the week prior following a session with Scotty Cameron Tour Rep Drew Page. According to Page, it was clear that Koivun could benefit from more toe flow, and the first build they tested was the 9.5R. It checked all the boxes, immediately delivering more consistent start lines while giving Koivun (who had played a 9R model in college) a familiar visual.

"There was no reason to test any other models,” said Page.

In his next start, Koivun rolled in the 13-foot winning putt with his 9.5R to become a PGA TOUR champion for the first time.

“This was a familiar shape for me,” Koivun said. “The rounded edges are great. Just gives it a soft look that almost helps me line it up a little better, and then it just sits nicely on the ground.”

• The setup continues to earn its way into players’ bags at the game’s highest level:

- That list includes one of the PGA TOUR’s Top 70, who made the move to 9.5R two weeks ago for the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs.

- Earlier this summer at the Travelers Championship, the 2025 U.S. Open champion switched to a 9.5R (flow neck) setup.

- After seeing Cameron Young’s success on the greens, Justin Thomas asked to test his exact setup at the Truist Championship, eventually putting a backup putter initially made for Young in play for much of the 2026 season.

“What happens a lot on tour is players see a shape or they'll pull a someone’s putter, and they'll hit some putts with it, and then they'll take interest in it. And then that's kind of how stuff grows,” Cloke said.

- Phantom 9.5R’s influence has also stretched to the elite amateur game. The world’s current top-ranked amateur Preston Stout won the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Championship earlier this year with his Phantom 9.5R, which has remained in the bag throughout his multiple PGA TOUR starts this summer.

PHANTOM 9.5R MODEL OVERVIEW

The Phantom 9R head shape is the next evolution of the Phantom 9 profile that debuted in 2024. The 9R (“R” denoting rounded) features softer, more rounded contours and edges compared to its predecessor. 

The new 9.5R configuration features a “.5” jet neck, which promotes more toe flow than the 9R or 9.2R models, and a single, long sightline for precise alignment over the ball.

Specs:

Neck style: Jet neck (.5)

Alignment: Single sightline

Grip: Full Contact

Loft: 3.5 degrees 

Lie: 70 degrees 

Stock lengths: 33”, 34”, 35” 

Dexterity: RH only

PHANTOM FAMILY OVERVIEW

Scotty Cameron’s 2026 Phantom mallet lineup comprises five tour-validated putter head shapes and 12 unique configurations, aimed at matching the widest range of putting strokes and player preferences. Every putter in the family is crafted and precision milled to deliver a softer sound while preserving feedback off the putter face.

Full 2026 Phantom lineup:

Phantom 3.2

Phantom 5, 5.2, 5.5, 5 OC

Phantom 7, 7.2, 7.5

Phantom 9R, 9.2R, 9.5

Phantom 12

AVAILABILITY 

New Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R putters are available for pre-sale now and will be in golf shops beginning September 30 (U.S. only). MAP: $549

Baylands Golf Links Recognized for Environmental Excellence

(Palo Alto, Calif.) – Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto has been recognized as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.

Baylands Golf Links Superintendent Patrick Tuttle led the effort to obtain sanctuary designation on the property. Baylands is now one of over 900 courses in the world to hold the “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” honor. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, South America, and Asia have also achieved certification in the program.

“Earning Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification is a reflection of our team’s commitment to responsible golf course management and environmental stewardship,” said Tuttle, who has been Baylands golf course superintendent since March 2024. “We’ve focused on enhancing wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, implementing sustainable maintenance practices, and creating a golf course that delivers exceptional playing conditions while preserving the unique natural environment that surrounds us. We’re honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to building on these efforts, ensuring Baylands Golf Links continues to provide an exceptional experience for our golfers while making a positive impact on our community and the local ecosystem.”

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Highlights of Baylands Golf Links’ conservation efforts include:
- Producing beneficial green spaces
- Promoting and protecting quality wildlife habitat
- Conducting maintenance practices responsibly
- Ensuring surface water is protected from pollutants

“Baylands Golf Links has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” said Ken Benoit, CEO at Audubon International.

Baylands Golf Links is professionally managed by Indigo Sports, a Troon company. For more information on Baylands Golf Links, visit www.baylandsgolflinks.com.