Brian Curley Progresses on Reimagined Golf Course at The River Club in Boise

Construction is well underway on the reimagined golf course at The River Club, with work progressing across all 18 holes as architect Brian Curley and his team continue a sweeping transformation of the club’s historic layout along the Boise River.

The current routing effectively swaps the club’s original nines. Much of the former back nine, where the holes run through residential corridors and required fewer structural changes, has already been completed, with irrigation installation and bunker construction underway.

The most dramatic changes are taking shape on what will become the new back nine, where holes now play through wider parkland corridors framed by large specimen trees. While the sylvan setting remains familiar, the design bears little resemblance to the original holes.

Among the most striking transformations are along the Boise River frontage on the new 13th and 18th holes. Historically, that portion of the property had little relationship to the river, sitting well below a protective dike and densely forested with vegetation. After years of permitting to clear the area, the land has been raised roughly 10 feet on average, creating two green sites that back into each other while overlooking a gentle bend in the river and nearby rapids.

The result, Curley says, is a dramatic new focal point for the club that also underscores its identity.

“These greens now sit above the Boise River and take in the sound and movement of the water,” Curley said. “As the only course in the market with true river frontage, those holes really reinforce the identity of The River Club, a name the club recently adopted to reflect its renewed connection to the river. In a region where most courses occupy inland valley land, direct riverfront golf is a rarity.”

Throughout the project, the design team has taken care to preserve as many trees as possible, with several also transplanted to maintain the character of the property and create natural backdrops throughout the course.

Curley also drew inspiration from the club’s architectural lineage. The original course, opened in 1917, was laid out by H. Chandler Egan, the celebrated amateur champion and early golf architect who later collaborated with Alister MacKenzie on the 1929 renovation of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

“Chandler Egan was involved here, and he of course played a role in the history of Pebble Beach as well as Pacific Grove Golf Links,” Curley said. “I grew up in Pebble Beach myself, so it felt meaningful to acknowledge that connection while respecting the character of this course in its small greens and bunkers.”

The project carries another personal dimension for Curley. His son, Cooper, is working on the build as a shaper, marking the first time the two have collaborated on a golf course.

Most green complexes have now been shaped, and the majority of fairway bunkering has been completed using modern Z-Line bunker-liner technology. Grass installation is expected to begin in late April, with Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass blends planned for fairways and rough, and Pure Eclipse bentgrass for tees and greens.

The club is planning an official reopening for late spring 2027.

“I’m very proud of what we are accomplishing at The River Club,” Curley said. “This project transforms what had been a relatively modest layout into a much more dramatic and memorable golf experience for the membership.”

Founded in 1917 along the Boise River, the club traces its roots to the original Boise Country Club, which later became Plantation Country Club before recently adopting its current name. Today the club serves as a full-service private lifestyle destination in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, featuring golf alongside amenities that include racquet sports, swimming, fitness facilities and a newly renovated clubhouse.

For more information about Curley-Wagner’s global collection of current and past projects, visit curley-wagner.com, @curley_wagner (Instagram), @curley_wagner (X).

Tiger Effect: Why Golf Betting Is Booming — and How a Masters Return Could Supercharge It

The business of golf betting is thriving — and one familiar name could send it into overdrive.

Just a few years ago, the sport faced uncertainty as LIV Golf began luring away some of the biggest stars from the PGA Tour. The rivalry created turbulence across the professional game and raised questions about the Tour’s long-term stability.

Now, the landscape looks very different.

While LIV’s momentum has slowed, the PGA Tour has found renewed energy — and one of its fastest-growing areas is sports betting. By embracing wagering partnerships and new betting products, the Tour is tapping into a rapidly expanding audience of engaged fans.

“Handle (total money bet) for the PGA Tour is up 35 percent year over year,” PGA Tour Vice President Scott Warfield told the New York Post, noting the increase spans multiple sports betting platforms.

One of the biggest developments has come through the Tour’s partnership with DraftKings, which recently introduced a “Same Game Parlay” option for golf bettors — a feature long popular in other sports but previously unavailable in professional golf.

“Golf is our fastest-growing sport,” said DraftKings Vice President of Product Nolan Shulman.

The feature allows bettors to combine multiple predictions within the same tournament. A fan, for example, could wager on a player hitting an approach shot within 10 feet of the hole, winning the first round, and ultimately capturing the tournament — all in one bet. Thousands of combinations are possible.

“This is the real coming-out party for same-game parlays,” Warfield said, noting that The Players Championship served as the first signature event to offer the feature.

Corey Gottlieb, DraftKings’ Chief Product Officer, said the appeal comes from the way fans naturally follow sports.

“SGP is the most synonymous experience with how you actually consume sports,” Gottlieb explained. “When you’re watching an event, every storyline enters your head individually. Each leg of a same-game parlay reflects an opinion on how the event will unfold.”

Even with betting interest already surging, the sport could see another massive boost if one of its biggest icons returns to competition this spring.

All eyes are on Tiger Woods and the possibility of a comeback at The Masters Tournament in April.

“Tiger drives interest all across the globe — there’s no hiding that,” Warfield said. “It would boost TV ratings, sports betting handle, and overall interest. It would be a nice lift, but we’re also confident in the innovations our partners continue to bring.”

Woods has not ruled out playing at Augusta National as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 15-time major champion has battled persistent injuries in recent years, including multiple back surgeries.

His presence, however, still commands enormous attention from bettors.

Some wager on him to make history — like James Anducci, who famously won $1.2 million when Woods captured the Masters in 2019. Others bet against him. One bettor reportedly placed $222,000 on Woods not to win the Masters in 2023, earning a modest $2,000 profit.

Either way, when Tiger is involved, the betting world takes notice.

And if he tees it up at Augusta again, the golf betting boom may be just getting started.

The Fifth Major We’ve Been Missing: Why the John Deere Classic Deserves a Bigger Stage

Every year, the debate begins again.

Golf has four majors — The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. But for decades, fans and media have searched for a “fifth major.”

That label is most often attached to The Players Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.

But if golf were truly looking for a tournament that captures the heart of the game — the fans, the tradition, the players, and the spirit of competition — there’s another event quietly making a compelling case.

The unlikely contender?

The John Deere Classic.

A Tournament That Represents Golf’s Soul

Modern professional golf can sometimes feel distant from its roots. Massive corporate tents. Ticket prices that rival major sporting events. Courses that feel more like stadiums than communities.

The John Deere Classic is different.

Played at TPC Deere Run in the small Midwest community of Silvis, Illinois, the tournament embraces something many events have lost: accessibility. Fans walk alongside players. Volunteers know the competitors by name. And the atmosphere feels less like a spectacle and more like a celebration of the game.

If majors are meant to represent the pinnacle of golf, they should also represent its spirit. Few events do that better.

A Proven Launchpad for Stars

While the biggest names sometimes skip the week before The Open, the John Deere Classic has become one of the TOUR’s most important proving grounds.

Consider the list of players who announced themselves here:

Jordan Spieth captured his first PGA TOUR victory at the event in 2013 at just 19 years old.

Bryson DeChambeau won in 2017 during his rise toward becoming one of golf’s most polarizing and dominant figures.

Zach Johnson built his reputation with multiple victories in the Quad Cities before becoming a major champion.

The John Deere Classic doesn’t just crown champions. It introduces future stars.

The Best Week in Golf for Charity

If championships are measured by impact, the John Deere Classic quietly outperforms many of the sport’s biggest events.

The tournament has raised well over $170 million for charity, making it one of the most successful charitable events in professional golf history.

That impact reaches throughout the Quad Cities region and beyond, turning a single week of golf into a year-round force for good.

In an era where sports leagues increasingly talk about “community engagement,” the John Deere Classic doesn’t just talk about it — it delivers.

A Course That Demands Birdies — and Nerves

Majors are known for brutal difficulty, but greatness in golf can also come from pressure-packed scoring.

At TPC Deere Run, the winning score often pushes past 20-under-par. That means constant aggression, late charges, and Sunday leaderboards packed with players making birdies.

The result? One of the most entertaining finishes on the PGA TOUR calendar nearly every year.

It’s not survival golf. It’s shootout golf.

And fans love it.

Golf’s Most Underrated Atmosphere

While many TOUR stops feel transactional, the John Deere Classic has a sense of belonging.

Players routinely praise the hospitality. Families return year after year. Volunteers number in the thousands.

For many pros, it’s one of the most enjoyable weeks of the season — even if it doesn’t yet carry the prestige of the majors.

Maybe that’s the real argument.

The best tournaments in golf shouldn’t just be the hardest or the richest. They should be the ones players and fans genuinely love.

A Different Kind of “Fifth Major”

The truth is, the John Deere Classic will probably never be officially labeled a major.

But maybe that’s beside the point.

Majors represent the best of golf. Tradition. Competition. Community. History.

By those standards, the John Deere Classic already belongs in the conversation.

Golf may already have a fifth major.

It just happens to be in the cornfields of Illinois.

If It’s Not Scottie or Rory, Who Wins THE PLAYERS?

Every year at The Players Championship, the conversation usually starts with two names: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.

And for good reason. Scheffler has been the most dominant player in the world over the last two seasons, while McIlroy’s power and experience make him a threat every time he tees it up at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.

But let’s make things interesting.

If you can’t pick Scheffler or McIlroy, who is the best bet to win golf’s unofficial “fifth major”?

My pick: Collin Morikawa.

Why Morikawa Fits Sawgrass

TPC Sawgrass isn’t a course that simply rewards power. Precision is everything. Players must control their ball off the tee, hit exact iron distances, and avoid the water lurking on nearly every hole.

That’s exactly where Morikawa thrives.

Few players in the world strike their irons as purely as the two-time major champion. His ability to consistently hit greens and attack pins makes him perfectly suited for a course that punishes even slight mistakes.

If the putter cooperates for four days, Morikawa has the type of tee-to-green game that can separate him from the field.

Momentum Matters

Form heading into The Players often tells a story. Morikawa has been trending in the right direction, stacking strong finishes and looking increasingly comfortable with his game.

Confidence can be a powerful weapon at Sawgrass, where momentum can shift quickly and players must stay patient through a demanding layout.

If Morikawa keeps giving himself birdie chances with his irons, he’ll be in the mix when the tournament reaches the pressure cooker of Sunday afternoon.

A Few Names to Watch

Even beyond Morikawa, there are several players who feel primed for a run at The Players.

Ludvig Åberg continues to look like a future superstar and has the ball-striking ability to dominate any course.

Akshay Bhatia enters with serious momentum after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, showing he’s capable of closing against elite competition.

And then there’s Tommy Fleetwood, whose all-around game and experience in big events make him a dangerous contender whenever the stage gets bigger.

The Prediction

Sawgrass always produces a little chaos. Water, wind, and pressure have a way of creating dramatic Sundays.

But if it’s not Scheffler.

And it’s not McIlroy.

Don’t be surprised if Collin Morikawa is the one lifting the trophy on the 18th green.

And if that happens, it likely comes with a winning score somewhere around 13- or 14-under par — right in the sweet spot for a classic Players Championship finish.

Service First: Woodlake Country Club Earns No. 2 Spot Among America’s Friendliest Golf Courses

North Carolina club builds its reputation on culture, training, and genuine hospitality

Being recognized as one of the friendliest golf courses in the country doesn’t happen by accident. It requires the right culture, consistent training, and a staff committed to creating memorable experiences for every golfer who walks through the door.

That formula is clearly working at Woodlake Country Club in Vass, North Carolina.

The club, operated by Bobby Jones Links, was recently ranked No. 2 on GolfPass’ “America’s 25 Friendliest Public Golf Courses – Golfers’ Choice 2026.” The recognition is based on golfer reviews and reflects a commitment to hospitality that the staff has worked hard to build.

For general manager Jeff Crabbe, the honor was both validating and a bit surprising.

“Our staff from top to bottom goes above and beyond,” Crabbe said. “So I won’t say I was completely surprised, but when I got the email, it was still a great moment. It really validated the hard work our team puts in every day.”

The GolfPass list highlights courses where exceptional service keeps golfers coming back “round after round,” much like the best restaurants and small businesses rely on customer loyalty.

Reviews of Woodlake on GolfPass reflect that reputation.

“All the staff were super nice and very helpful,” one golfer wrote. “The layout is beautiful and the facilities were top-notch. Can’t say enough about it. Highly recommend it.”

A Club Reimagined

Woodlake already had a compelling story long before the recognition.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated the region and effectively wiped out the lake that once defined the course. The damage forced the club to rethink its future. After a complete renovation and reopening a little more than two years ago, Woodlake has emerged stronger than ever.

The course now operates as a private club with limited public access, welcoming both members and visiting golfers through public tee times and golf packages. Regardless of how players arrive, the goal is the same: treat everyone like a VIP.

And the experience is expected to improve even further when the lake restoration project is completed in the coming years.

A Service Philosophy by Design

Woodlake’s reputation for hospitality is part of a broader philosophy shared by all facilities managed by Bobby Jones Links, an Atlanta-based company that operates roughly three dozen golf properties across the country.

Central to that philosophy is a training program known as the “Member Journey,” or the “Customer Journey” at public facilities.

Allyson Kahl Darling, vice president of experiences for Bobby Jones Links, travels to each property overseeing the programs that shape both team member and guest experiences.

“The Member Journey is our service delivery roadmap,” Kahl Darling said. “We customize it for every property because each club is unique.”

While technical training and operational procedures remain important, she says the company focuses heavily on service training—how employees interact with guests and shape the overall experience.

“Our service training programs are designed around the full guest experience and the entire member journey,” she said. “We emphasize thoughtful, consistent care from the first interaction to the final farewell.”

The goal is to elevate every touchpoint along that journey.

“We want our team members to be genuine,” she said. “It’s not about pushing people through the club. It’s about creating real interactions and meaningful moments.”

Sometimes those moments come from the simplest gestures.

“It can be as basic as making sure a guest walks in and immediately sees a staff member who makes eye contact, smiles, and steps out from behind the counter to greet them,” she said.

Service Starts Before the First Tee

At Woodlake, customer service begins well before golfers hit their first shot.

Bag drop attendants do more than load clubs onto carts. They’re encouraged to interact with guests, learn names, and look for conversation starters—anything from a college logo on a bag tag to a favorite sports team.

The idea is to connect with golfers personally, understanding when they want conversation and when they simply want to enjoy the day.

“Our more experienced staff members take newer team members under their wing,” Crabbe said. “They teach the work ethic and best practices that help create a great customer experience.”

That attention to detail carries through every part of the operation—from the golf shop to the restaurant and back to the bag drop after the round, where staff members unload bags and clean clubs.

“The points of contact that really matter—customer service from the parking lot to the golf shop to the first tee—those are constants for our team,” Crabbe said.

The Right People Make the Difference

Even with training programs in place, Crabbe believes the biggest factor behind Woodlake’s reputation is simply the people who work there.

One recent example illustrated that perfectly.

A golfer who had booked a round through GolfNow drove nearly 90 minutes from Greensboro, only to realize he had forgotten his putter. While checking in, he mentioned the problem to golf shop attendant Baxter Billingsley.

Without hesitation, Billingsley offered a solution.

“Hey, I’ve got my clubs in my car,” he told the golfer. “Let me go grab my putter.”

The golfer offered to pay or leave his driver’s license as collateral. Billingsley declined.

“He just told him, ‘I don’t need anything. When you finish, just bring it back,’” Crabbe recalled.

“It was just thinking on your feet and doing the right thing,” he said. “That was a really cool moment.”

Creating Memorable Experiences

At its core, the Bobby Jones Links service philosophy centers on a few key principles:
Every guest interaction matters, from arrival to departure.
Team members are encouraged to engage warmly and authentically.
Staff focus on awareness, anticipation, proactive service, and empathy.
Operational efficiency matters—but genuine connections matter more.
The goal is simple: ensure every guest feels welcomed, valued, and cared for.

That approach, Kahl Darling says, is exactly why Woodlake earned its recognition.

“They absolutely earned it,” she said. “We’re very proud of our team and our partnership with them.”

For Crabbe, the philosophy comes down to one simple mindset shared across the staff.

“It doesn’t matter what your title is,” he said. “Woodlake Country Club is on all of our titles. We all do whatever we can to make people want to come here—and want to come back.”

Troon Launches Access, Ushering In A New Era In Golf Rewards

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) — Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, today announced the launch of Access, a fully integrated golf ecosystem that brings together tee time booking, subscription savings, loyalty rewards, and e-commerce into one connected platform. Branded as “A New Era in Golf Rewards,” Access is designed to reward golfers for their loyalty while making it easier than ever to book, play, earn, and shop.

Access is comprised of four core components: a modern tee time booking engine at GolfWithAccess.com, a free rewards program called Access Loyalty, a paid subscription offering known as Access Premium, and an integrated online retail experience, the Access Shop. Together, these elements create a unified digital experience where every round played and every dollar spent contributes to meaningful rewards.

Through GolfWithAccess.com and the Access mobile app, golfers can book tee times at hundreds of courses nationwide, invite friends directly into reservations, receive tee time notifications, and manage their rewards activity within a single account. Members automatically earn points on eligible rounds booked through the platform and can redeem those points instantly toward future tee times or products in the Access Shop.

More than 200 courses currently participate in the Access ecosystem including premier destinations such as Kapalua Golf, Pronghorn Golf Club, and Troon North Golf Club. The participating network continues to expand, both inside and outside of Troon’s management portfolio.

“Access represents the future of how golfers and courses grow together,” said Troon President and CEO Tim Schantz. “Golfers want meaningful savings, flexible rewards, and a seamless digital experience. Courses want sustained demand, repeat play, and deeper customer relationships. Access aligns those priorities within one connected ecosystem. By rewarding golfers for engaging within our network, we’re not only enhancing the consumer experience, we’re building a long-term growth engine that supports the performance and vitality of the courses we manage.”

Access Loyalty is free to join and enables golfers to earn points for every eligible dollar spent on rounds booked through the platform or on products purchased through the Access Shop. As members accumulate points, they progress through Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers that unlock accelerated earning rates and expanded redemption flexibility. Points are transparently displayed and can be applied directly during the tee time checkout process, eliminating traditional redemption charts and phone-based booking requirements.

For golfers seeking additional value, Access Premium and Access Premium+ offer subscription-based benefits that include year-round savings on tee times at participating courses, automatic loyalty tier upgrades, guest passes to share savings with friends, and exclusive offers in the Access Shop. The subscription model allows frequent players to maximize savings while continuing to earn and redeem loyalty points within the same ecosystem.

The Access Shop extends the experience beyond the course, offering products from dozens of leading golf brands, including Callaway and TaylorMade, with Access Premium member-exclusive pricing and benefits. By integrating commerce directly into the platform, Troon has created a continuous rewards loop that spans booking, playing, and purchasing.

“Today’s golfers expect convenience and flexibility,” said Jeff Ma, Chief Digital Officer of Troon. “With Access, you can book a tee time, invite your playing partners, earn points automatically, and apply those points toward your next round, all in one place. It removes friction and makes loyalty part of the booking experience itself.”

With booking, subscription, rewards, and commerce now operating as one integrated system, Troon believes Access sets a new standard for digital engagement in golf. As participation grows nationwide, the company expects Access to deepen golfer loyalty while delivering expanded value across every stage of the playing experience.

For more information or to join Access, visit GolfWithAccess.com.

Teen Phenom Blades Brown Nearly Makes History at Puerto Rico Open as Bhatia Wins Big at Bay Hill

Two PGA Tour events produced dramatically different stories on Sunday — a stunning comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a teenage star who came within striking distance of history at the Puerto Rico Open.

At Bay Hill, Akshay Bhatia delivered a charge worthy of Arnold Palmer himself.

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, 18-year-old Blades Brown nearly became the youngest PGA Tour winner in nearly a century before a single disastrous hole derailed his bid.

Bhatia’s Bay Hill comeback

Bhatia appeared out of the tournament early Sunday when he missed a 30-inch par putt that left him five shots behind. But the 24-year-old responded with the kind of fearless play Palmer famously preached.

“You must play boldly to win,” Palmer often said — and Bhatia did exactly that.

He ignited the back nine with four straight birdies, including a 60-foot bomb on the 11th. Suddenly the tournament at Bay Hill was alive.

With three holes to play, Bhatia was two shots back. On the par-5 16th, he launched a towering 6-iron at a tucked pin. The ball nearly dropped for albatross before settling inches away, setting up a short eagle and tying the lead.

The drama carried into the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999 against Daniel Berger. Berger’s par putt on the first extra hole slid by the cup, leaving Bhatia two putts from inside 30 feet to secure the victory.

He calmly rolled them in to capture his third PGA Tour title — and the biggest yet — at the $20 million signature event.

“If he was up there watching, he’s probably pretty proud of how that finished,” Bhatia said, wearing the tournament’s signature red cardigan.

The victory pushes Bhatia inside the world’s top 20 as the PGA Tour heads toward the Masters.

Blades Brown’s near-history in Puerto Rico

While Bhatia celebrated in Florida, a teenage prodigy was making headlines in Puerto Rico.

Brown entered the final round at Grand Reserve chasing history. At 18, the rising star had a chance to become the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931.

And for much of Sunday, it looked possible.

Brown held a one-shot lead with six holes to play, showing the poise of a veteran despite turning pro just last year — months after graduating high school.

Then came the 13th hole.

His tee shot found a fairway bunker, and his approach toward a green guarded by water drifted right and splashed into the hazard. After the drop, Brown got aggressive again and ran his wedge over the green. The result: triple bogey.

In the span of minutes, Brown went from leading the tournament to trailing by four.

He regrouped admirably, finishing with a 69 and birdieing the final hole to secure solo third, his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour.

The title ultimately went to Ricky Castillo, who capitalized on Brown’s stumble. Castillo made back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and closed with a bogey-free 67 to finish at 17-under, one shot ahead of Chandler Blanchet.

Despite the heartbreak, Brown left Puerto Rico with a breakthrough performance and a spot in the Valspar Championship.

For a player still technically a teenager, it was another sign that one of golf’s brightest young stars is already knocking on the door.

And if Sunday proved anything, it’s that Brown might not have to wait long for his first PGA Tour win.