Kristin Powers Named Championship Director for 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Bethpage Black

(FARMINGDALE, New York) ー The PGA of America has named Kristin Powers as Championship Director for the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to be played at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

Kristin Powers

Powers will manage onsite operations, drive revenue and build community partnerships while collaborating with KPMG and the LPGA Tour to enhance the Championship’s premier status in women’s golf.

“Kristin brings a wealth of experience across our Championship portfolio to this role,” said David Charles, PGA of America Senior Director of Championships. “Her strong knowledge in executing world-class events, proven leadership abilities and familiarity with Bethpage Black and the New York market will help her deliver a fantastic Championship on Long Island in 2028.”

Now in her 10th year with the PGA of America, Powers transitions to the championship director position from a corporate hospitality sales role. She also previously held similar positions for multiple PGA of America Championships including the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club and the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club.

Powers also contributed to the success of numerous Senior PGA Championships, including as Corporate Hospitality Sales Manager in 2021 at Southern Hills and Marketing & Promotions Specialist in 2019 at Oak Hill Country Club. She launched her PGA of America career in 2016 as a corporate hospitality intern for the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club. 

“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead our onsite team for the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” said Powers. “This Championship boasts a strong legacy in New York state and its highly-anticipated debut at Bethpage Black will mark another memorable milestone. I look forward to working alongside our partners KPMG and the LPGA as well as the local community as we prepare to welcome the best women players in the world to Long Island.” 

A native of Rochester, New York, Powers graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she competed on the women’s golf team.

The 2027 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be contested June 24-27 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

For more information on the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, visit kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com.

Mountain Capital Partners Closes on Tubac and Sedona Golf Resorts

Through Dec. 31, the biggest Power Pass ever gives passholders a free round at each of four Arizona golf courses, while kids 12 and younger ski, mountain bike and golf free

(PHOENIX) – Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) announced today it closed on two Arizona golf resorts, giving Power Pass and 12 Day Power Pass holders a free round of golf at each of four Arizona courses through Dec. 31. In addition, kids 12 and younger can ski, mountain bike and golf for free on one pass, a combination no other U.S. season pass offers.

MCP, alongside affiliated fund Texas Capital Partners, acquired Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and Sedona Golf Resort, adding two of Arizona’s most iconic golf destinations to the Power Pass alongside MCP’s Birdie Ranch and Bison Golf Club in Show Low, Arizona.

The acquisition was led by MCP partner Kuzi Mutsiwegota, who oversees the company’s golf operations. Since acquiring its Show Low courses in 2023, MCP has tripled its golf business.

One season pass now unlocks skiing at 11 resorts across the United States and Chile, year-round, lift-served mountain biking at Spider Mountain Bike Park, and golf that now stretches from Show Low to Sedona and Tubac.

“It’s the most expansive Power Pass in our program’s history,” Mutsiwegota said. “We know of no other season pass in the world that gives kids 12 and younger free skiing, free mountain biking and free golf, with no adult purchase required. Kids who learn to ski and bike with us can now learn to play golf with us, too. That’s how you grow the game. Now the whole family has one more reason to get outside, year-round, together.”

What passholders get through Dec. 31

Courses: Sedona Golf Resort, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Birdie Ranch and Bison Golf Club.

Free round: One free round at each course for the passholder only; a $25 cart fee applies.

Who’s eligible: Power Pass, 12 Day Power Pass and Power Kids holders.

Half-price golf: Additional rounds at 50% off the tee-time rate during designated passholder hours through Dec. 31, subject to availability (Power Kids: 50% off the junior rate).

Half-price lodging: 50% off Sunday through Thursday nights at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa for Power Pass and 12 Day Power Pass holders through Dec. 31, 2026, subject to availability.

Details: Passholder hours and full terms at powerpass.ski. Power Pass prices increase after Nov. 6.

“We’re working on a more robust golf program for 2027, but we didn’t want our pass holders to wait,” Mutsiwegota said. “This is a chance for everyone to play these courses this season. We believe this makes the Power Pass the only outdoor recreation product in the world that pairs unlimited skiing with free golf at four different golf courses.”

Whether they’re golfing or skiing, Power Pass holders also have year-round access to Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock at preferred rates, plus a $30 food and beverage credit.

The golf expansion comes as Arizona Snowbowl prepares to open Nov. 20, aiming to be the first ski area in Arizona to open for the second consecutive season. In Chile, MCP’s Valle Nevado is wrapping up the longest season in its 38-year history, with daily operations through Nov. 8 and select dates through Dec. 1, while neighboring La Parva just concluded its longest winter season in history on Nov. 1.

MCP purchased Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and Sedona Golf Resort from the Allred family, who have shaped Arizona’s hospitality landscape for decades. Before founding The Arizona Hideaway Collection, the Allreds helped transform Telluride, Colorado, into a world-class ski destination from the late 1970s through the late 1990s. Current management and operating teams at both resorts have been retained.

“Bringing ski and golf together like this is a transformative step for Mountain Capital Partners,” Mutsiwegota said. “Our job is to take care of what the Allred family built and share it with more people than ever. I’m grateful to my partners and to Mike Allred for believing in what we’re building, and we will honor the trust they’ve placed in us.”

Rancho Mañana Golf Club in Cave Creek, the third property in The Arizona Hideaway Collection, remains part of the overall transaction. Its closing timeline has been extended to allow for municipal approval requirements.

For more information, visit tubacgolfresort.com and sedonagolfresort.com.

Troon Selected to Manage En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y.

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, is pleased to announce it has been selected by the Village of Endicott Board to manage En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York beginning on January 1, 2027. Indigo Sports, a Troon company, will oversee golf operations, agronomy, as well as sales and marketing.

En-Joie Golf Club has a rich and storied history. Set along the Susquehanna River, the course was established in 1927 and has been owned by the Village of Endicott since 1963. Originally designed by Ernie Smith, the course underwent significant renovations in 1998 and 1999 by architect Michael Hurdzan, transforming its flat, round greens into large, undulating ones and introducing narrow, tree-lined fairways. Today, the 6,490-yard, par-72 course is renowned for its exceptional conditioning.

From 1971 to 2005, En-Joie hosted the PGA Tour's B.C. Open, attracting top golfers like Tom Kite, John Daly, Brad Faxon, and Craig Stadler. In 2007, the club became the venue for the PGA Tour Champions Dick's Sporting Goods Open, an event it continues to host each summer.

"We are excited about the opportunity to work with Troon and build on En-Joie's longstanding reputation as one of the region's premier golf destinations," said Nicholas Burlingame, mayor of the Village of Endicott. "Our priority has always been to protect this valuable Village-owned asset while ensuring its continued success for residents, golfers, and the entire community."

“We are honored to manage such a historic and prestigious golf course,” said Troon Vice President of Operations Chris Strand. "Our team is committed to enhancing the En-Joie experience for both members, guests and the entire community."

En-Joie Golf Club boasts one of the largest natural turf practice ranges in the region with nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of teeing area, plus 12 artificial turf mats for early spring and wet weather use. The clubhouse is home to a well-appointed golf shop, a full-service restaurant as well as indoor and outdoor event space.

For more information on En-Joie Golf Club visit enjoiegolf.com.  

Boyne Golf’s Bernie Friedrich receives Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award

A golf career that spans 50+ years in Michigan earns its highest honor from the MGCA

(Harbor Springs, MI) — Bernie Friedrich, Director of Golf Course Renovation and Development for BOYNE Resorts, has been named the winner of the 2026 Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA). 

Bernie Friedrich

Friedrich will be honored at the Annual MGCA Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Dec. 1, during the 2026 Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant. 

The Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to an individual or organization that, over a lifetime, has provided steadfast leadership, outstanding service, and continuous commitment to the Michigan golf industry.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Friedrich. “I’ve been fortunate to spend my career in an industry and a state I love, surrounded by incredible people who make this work so rewarding. This recognition belongs to every colleague, mentor and teammate who helped along the way. Boyne Resorts and Michigan golf have given me so much, and I’m grateful for the chance to give some of it back.”

Friedrich began his career with BOYNE 50 years ago, embodying company founder Everett Kircher’s philosophy of developing year-round employees capable of leading both golf and ski operations. A 45-year PGA of America member, Friedrich has overseen BOYNE’s 14 golf courses and semi-private clubs across Michigan, Maine and Montana, managing golf operations, staffing, agronomy, marketing, memberships, and retail operations. Now serving as director of golf course renovation and development, he continues to help shape the future of golf experiences at one of North America’s largest golf and ski resort operations.

Friedrich’s contributions to the game have earned him numerous honors, including the MGCA Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award in 2018 and induction into both the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. He has also served on the MGCA Board of Directors, held committee roles with the Michigan Section PGA, and received two Michigan PGA Golf Professional of the Year awards. In 2023, the PGA of America recognized Friedrich with its prestigious PGA Golf Executive of the Year Award for his outstanding leadership, vision and service to the game.

“Boyne Resorts is built on our people, and for 50 years Bernie has been the best example of what that means,” said Stephen Kircher, President and CEO of Boyne Resorts. “He has developed talent, led with integrity and cared deeply about our guests, our teams and the communities we serve. His impact reaches well beyond our 14 golf courses, from the golf professionals he’s mentored to the young people who’ve benefited from The First Tee and the Harbor Cup Fund. There is no one more deserving of this honor, and we’re proud to call him one of our own.”

Friedrich’s most rewarding achievement has been the charitable efforts he implemented, which BOYNE Golf’s PGA professionals continue to carry out. He is a founding member and board member of The First Tee of Northern Michigan and is a co-founder of Harbor Cup Fund, a Michigan-based charitable fund that has raised more than $1 million since its 1997 inception.

GolfN Welcomes G/FORE as Retail Partner, Making the Brand’s Premium Footwear, Apparel Available for GolfN Rewards Redemption

G/FORE joins leading equipment and apparel brands in GolfN’s rewards-driven Pro Shop.

(MERRILLVILLE, Ind.) – GolfN, the innovative golf rewards platform and digital caddie app that pays golfers to play, proudly announces that luxury lifestyle brand and golf footwear innovator G/FORE is the newest retail partner that can be found in the growing rewards-redemption Pro Shop found on GolfN’s highly rated mobile app.

“We’re extremely pleased to welcome G/FORE as a retail partner and we’re just as excited to report their golf shoes and apparel have been an instant hit in the GolfN Pro Shop,” Co-founder and CEO Jared Phillips said. “We’re proud of every single brand we work with because we take a strategic approach to offering our members the golf items they truly want when it comes time to redeem their GolfN points or just purchase from a trusted brand. G/FORE makes some of the industry’s most trendsetting men’s and women’s product lines that bring a distinctive style and functionality to the golf fashion game and golfers really love their products.”

G/FORE is a luxury golf footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Founded in 2011 in Beverly Hills, Calif., its long-running tagline is “disruptive luxury.” Popular G/FORE golf shoe models like the MG4+, the MG4X2, the Gallivanter, the Gallivan2r Longwing, and the women’s lace-free G/DRIVE. G/FORE was the first golf shoe brand to introduce removable, washable massaging insoles. In apparel, the Tour 5 Pocket trousers are lightweight, breathable, stretchy and comfortable, and its jackets, polos and caps (such as the Wreath Trucker) remain staples for well-dressed golfers. G/FORE makes golf fashion feel edgy and modern, with bold colors and street-style design in place of traditional looks.

The golf community’s first true rewards app, GolfN allows members to redeem points they accrue by playing rounds with the GolfN mobile app engaged – with or without its dynamic GPS yardage and digital caddie mode engaged. Additionally, the 4.5-Star-rated app’s Daily Grind feature rewards users points toward golf merchandise for everyday things like practicing at the driving range, the indoor golf venue, local Tour event, visit to the golf retail store, or almost any golf-related activity.

With the incentive to redeem top-tier golf merchandise from leading L.A.B. Golf, Miura, Cobra Golf, Bettinardi Golf, Srixon, and Cleveland Golf, Vessel, Holderness & Bourne, and TRUE linkswear, GolfN users are taking the credit card rewards model and cashing in on points earned from doing the things they love doing the most.

Since the GolfN app launched in 2025, more than 200,000 rounds have been tracked by members engaging with the in-round scoring, GPS, and social features. An Apple Watch version of the GolfN app is in development and is expected to be in the App Store in late 2026.

The GolfN app is free to use, ensuring that any golfer can begin earning immediately. For those seeking to accelerate their rewards, GolfN offers optional membership tiers that provide points multipliers and enhanced earning potential — without compromising the core free experience.

As GolfN continues to scale, its mission remains clear: to make every round more rewarding, every golfer more engaged, and every moment connected to the game more valuable. The app is available to golfers everywhere in Apple and Android versions.

Learn more at GolfN.com.

ROKFORM Launches Rangefinder 18X: The Rangefinder That Stays Put, Sees More, and Is Hard to Lose

Featuring up to 3X stronger magnetic holding power, built-in Apple Find My and Google Find Hub tracking, and adjustable 8X–18X magnification.

(IRVINE, Calif.) – ROKFORM today announced the launch of the Rangefinder 18X, a premium golf laser rangefinder designed to solve three common frustrations: rangefinders falling off golf carts, getting lost, and struggling to clearly see distant targets.

At the heart of the Rangefinder 18X is ROKFORM’s MAGMAX™ magnetic technology, delivering up to 18.5 pounds of holding force — more than three times the strength of leading competitors failing at six pounds. Whether driving over bumpy cart paths, or navigating rough terrain, the Rangefinder 18X is built to stay securely attached to the golf cart.

“We spent two years developing the Rangefinder 18X, and I personally lost two expensive rangefinders we purchased during testing,” said Jeff Whitten, ROKFORM CEO. “The reality is, when you leave a nice rangefinder behind, there’s a good chance you’re not getting it back. We wanted to solve that problem with incredibly strong magnets and built-in tracking. We also wanted more magnification because I like knowing exactly where the flag is, and being able to spot my bad shots is also a great bonus.”

The Rangefinder 18X features adjustable 8X to 18X magnification, providing exceptional visibility for identifying flags, hazards, and distant landmarks. It measures distances up to 1,200 yards, vibrates when locked onto the flag, and includes a slope switch that can be disabled for tournament play.

Built-in Apple Find My and Google Find Hub compatibility adds another layer of protection, allowing golfers to locate a misplaced rangefinder using their smartphone even from miles away. Unlike rechargeable rangefinders, the Rangefinder 18X uses a replaceable CR2 battery. Golfers can keep a spare in their bag and swap it in seconds, eliminating the frustration of a dead rechargeable battery in the middle of a round.

Weighing 16.2 ounces, the Rangefinder 18X is intentionally more substantial than many conventional rangefinders, prioritizing powerful optics, exceptional magnetic strength, and rugged construction over minimum size and weight. Its IP54-rated housing provides protection against dust and rain.

The ROKFORM Rangefinder 18X is available now for $499.99 at rokform.com.

Book Review: Golf’s Ultimate Guide to Respectable Cheating Is a Must-Read for Weekend Golfers

Finally, a golf instruction book that teaches you everything you need to know about lowering your score without actually improving your game.

Let’s be honest. We’ve all been there. You hit one into the woods, take a mulligan off the first tee, improve your lie just a little (or a lot), and somehow walk off the 18th green with a score that looks considerably better than the round you actually played.

Sound familiar? Then have I got a book for you. Golf’s Ultimate Guide to Respectable Cheating, written by Mark Goldman, Ross Greenburg, and Michael Greenburg, is an absolute treat for anyone who enjoys golf but doesn’t necessarily enjoy being held accountable for every shot.

This isn’t your typical golf instruction book. You won’t find swing tips from Butch Harmon, putting secrets from Dave Pelz or advice on how to add 20 yards to your driver. Instead, this illustrated guide tackles the real challenges facing recreational golfers: How do you properly justify a mulligan? When is a putt officially a gimme? And what’s the appropriate procedure when your ball disappears into the woods and you suddenly remember you have a dinner reservation?

The authors have answers for all of it.

The book introduces readers to the philosophy of Respectable Cheating, including such essential concepts as the Mullie, Point of Entry, Safety Drops, strategic amnesia and the ever-important scorecard pencil equipped with an eraser.

There’s even guidance on club slamming and other forms of emotional maintenance. Because occasionally, a golfer needs to express himself without causing permanent damage to an expensive piece of equipment.

What makes this book particularly enjoyable is its recognition of something every weekend golfer understands: Golf is supposed to be fun. Sure, the official rules matter, and nobody is suggesting you bring these philosophies to the U.S. Open. But when you’re playing with friends on a Saturday morning, sometimes preserving the group’s happiness is more important than accurately documenting that seventh shot from the bunker.

And that’s the beauty of this book.

It’s a quick, easy and thoroughly enjoyable read, filled with humor, illustrations and plenty of situations that will make you think about your own questionable decisions on the golf course. You’ll probably recognize yourself, your regular playing partners or that one buddy who somehow manages to shoot 82 despite spending half the round in the woods.

My verdict? Give this book a mulligan-free five stars.

Golf’s Ultimate Guide to Respectable Cheating would make a terrific gift for your regular foursome, golf buddies, dads, husbands, grandfathers or anyone who has ever uttered the immortal words, “That one didn’t count.”

It’s also a great conversation starter for the next golf trip. Just don’t be surprised if everyone suddenly has a much better understanding of the rules.

After all, the official rules protect the game. These rules protect the people playing it.

How to Get Your Copy

Ready to improve your golf game without changing your swing? You can order Golf’s Ultimate Guide to Respectable Cheating in Kindle and other available formats.

Visit the official website at www.golfrespectablecheating.com to learn more about the book and find ordering information.

My advice? Pick up a copy for yourself and another for your favorite golf buddy. Just make sure you agree on the rules before your next round.

Your scorecard might never be the same.