Troon, Full Swing Announce Strategic Partnership As Full Swing Becomes Troon's Official Launch Monitor Partner

Multi-Year Golf Technology Partnership Expands Access to Full Swing’s KIT Launch Monitors, Range and Instruction Programs, Retail Offerings, and Products Across Select Troon-Affiliated Properties

(NEW YORK, N.Y.) – Troon, the world's largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company, and Full Swing, the leader in immersive golf simulation and performance technology and a new addition to Versant’s comprehensive portfolio of golf businesses, today announced a strategic multi-year partnership designed to bring Full Swing's connected performance technology to more golfers and golf facilities across Troon's global network.

As part of the partnership, Full Swing becomes Troon’s Official Launch Monitor Partner with KIT launch monitors and additional Full Swing products being deployed at select Troon-affiliated properties.

Troon and Full Swing’s partnership will also launch with practice range programs at select public, private and resort properties, with Full Swing’s KIT supporting instruction, club fitting, rentals and enhanced practice experiences.

"Troon is one of the most trusted operators in golf and uniquely positioned to help us scale Full Swing technology across the industry,” said Will McIntosh, President, Digital Platforms & Ventures, Versant. “This is much more than a product-placement relationship. We are building a repeatable model that delivers better experiences for golfers at Troon-affiliated properties and generates value through our combined technology, distribution, data and marketing efforts.”

“Troon is very excited to engage in a multi-year partnership with Full Swing and introduce their industry-leading launch monitors to golfers across our portfolio of properties,” said Ryan Pensy, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Troon Partners Network. “In addition to innovative products, Full-Swing’s golf range and instruction programs provide Troon and Troon-affiliated properties with a wealth of game improvement offerings that greatly the enhance the customer experience”

"Golfers improve fastest when useful data becomes a natural part of how they practice and play. Working with Troon will allow us to bring KIT and future Full Swing products into real environments, learn quickly alongside their teams, and help participating properties create new ways to serve golfers," said Ryan Dotters, Chief Executive Officer of Full Swing.

GolfNow and GolfPass, also part of Versant’s comprehensive portfolio of golf businesses, will additionally support and promote the partnership, helping connect more golfers with the new offerings across multiple platforms.

Indoor Golf Alliance and Greenlight Advisors Announce Strategic Partnership and Bring Performance Benchmarking to Indoor Golf

Partnership supports the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and introduces a dedicated Indoor Golf sector to the GCB intelligence platform

(CHICAGO, IL) — The Indoor Golf Alliance (IGA), which supports over 3,500 indoor golf facilities, and Greenlight Advisors, creator of GolfClubBenchmarks.com (GCB), today announced a strategic partnership to support the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and expand the GCB benchmark intelligence platform with a new sector dedicated to Indoor Golf operators.

The collaboration will bring performance benchmarking to indoor golf businesses, helping owners and operators evaluate their results against comparable facilities, identify improvement opportunities and make more informed decisions about profitability, operations and the player experience.

“Indoor golf operators need practical business insights to build successful, sustainable facilities,” said Phil Immordino, President of the Indoor Golf Alliance. “Our partnership with GolfClubBenchmarks.com will help operators understand how their businesses are performing, learn from their peers and identify opportunities to improve. We’re excited to support the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and help shape a benchmarking framework that reflects the unique needs of indoor golf.”

The 2026 U.S. Golf Study is organized around four integrated performance pillars: Financial Performance, Operational Performance, Capital Asset Stewardship, and Player Experience & Engagement. The new Indoor Golf sector will adapt this framework to the economics and operating characteristics of simulator-based facilities.

IGA and GCB will collaborate to define relevant measures, with anticipated areas of focus including:

- Simulator bay utilization and revenue per available bay hour.

- Revenue mix from simulator rentals, memberships, leagues, instruction, and food and beverage.

- Labor costs, operating expenses and profitability.

- Technology investment, equipment replacement and capital planning.

- Customer satisfaction, repeat visits and player engagement.

Through confidential data collection and aggregated peer comparisons, the initiative will help indoor golf operators assess their performance within a sector designed specifically for their businesses.

“Indoor golf is an important part of golf’s evolving business landscape, and its operators deserve benchmarks that reflect how their facilities operate,” said Mike Suglich, CPA, Founder and CEO of Greenlight Advisors and creator of GolfClubBenchmarks.com. “Working with IGA allws us to combine its industry knowledge and operator relationships with GCB’s benchmark intelligence platform. Together, we can help turn operating data into clearer business decisions and measurable improvement.”

As part of the partnership, IGA will help build awareness of the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and encourage participation among indoor and outdoor golf operators. GCB will develop the dedicated sector framework and reporting approach, with participation details and data requirements to be shared jointly.

Outdoor golf courses and indoor golf facilities interested in joining the 2026 U.S. Golf Study can register at signup.GolfClubBenchmarks.com.

For more information about GCB, the U.S. Golf Study and its industry partnerships, visit GolfClubBenchmarks.com/press. To learn more about the Indoor Golf Alliance, visit IndoorGolfAlliance.org.

Pizá Golf Reimagines the Short-Course Experience With El Once at Palmilla Reserve

Agustín Pizá’s 11-hole design blends strategy, flexibility, and social play in a distinctly Los Cabos setting

(SAN DIEGO) – Pizá Golf is bringing a fresh approach to the short-course experience at El Once, an 11-hole private par-3 course designed by internationally recognized golf course architect Agustín Pizá for members and guests of The Reserve Club at Palmilla Reserve in Los Cabos.

Currently under construction by Landscapes Unlimited, El Once has been designed as a fun, flexible and highly social golf experience that works with the natural character of the Palmilla Reserve property rather than imposing itself upon it.

Six of the course’s 11 holes are expected to open later this year, introducing what will be the newest golf experience in Los Cabos and the first course in the destination to feature two pins on every green.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Landscapes Unlimited on El Once and seeing firsthand their commitment to delivering an exceptional golf project here in Mexico,” said Pizá. “Under the leadership of Marvin Cruz, the team has brought an extraordinary level of care and attention to detail to the project. As designers, we strive to create thoughtful, high-quality golf experiences, and seeing our vision executed with this level of precision is incredibly rewarding.”

The dual-pin concept is central to Pizá’s vision for El Once, allowing golfers to choose between different playing experiences on the same hole. One pin may provide a more accessible option, while the second creates a more demanding target—encouraging repeat play, flexibility, and a less traditional approach to how golfers experience the course.

Designed into the site’s natural arroyo, El Once weaves between Palmilla Reserve’s Valley Estate, Palmilla Park and Summit communities. Pizá’s routing and shaping take advantage of the land’s existing contours and dramatic desert setting, creating an intimate golf experience built around variety, strategy, and enjoyment.

El Once reflects Pizá Golf’s broader philosophy of creating golf that goes beyond conventional expectations—placing greater emphasis on entertainment, social interaction and memorable experiences while still preserving strategic interest for accomplished players.

“We think El Once will be one of the most fun and most talked-about golf experiences in all of Cabo, and it’s exclusively for our Reserve Club members and guests,” said Brendan Wood, Vice President of Sales, Palmilla Reserve. “Agustín Pizá is an exceptional designer, and he designed this course into the land itself—masterfully shaping it around the natural arroyo, with greens carved between our Valley Estate, Palmilla Park, and Summit communities. Two pins on every green mean it can play a bit easier when you want it to, with a more challenging option when you’re feeling up to it. That’s what our members are most looking forward to, a new, fun, social way to play the game, the kind of round people will remember.”

El Once is part of Palmilla Reserve, the final new real estate offering and private club within Palmilla, the iconic master-planned resort community that is also home to One&Only Golf Club.

For Pizá, the project represents another opportunity to rethink how golfers engage with the game by creating an experience that is shorter, more flexible, and highly re-playable while remaining grounded in thoughtful golf course architecture.

Landscapes Golf Management Earns Multi-Year Extension to Operate Former Tour Event Host Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club (Park City, Utah)

(LINCOLN, Neb.) – Landscapes Golf Management has been granted a multi-year extension to continue operating the private Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club in Park City, Utah, for substantially growing club utilization and bottom line annually.

Since 2013, Landscapes Golf Management has directed Jeremy Ranch’s business strategy and planning, golf course maintenance, clubhouse operations, marketing, IT, staffing and training, food and beverage, health and wellness, merchandising, golf instruction and financial management.

Jeremy Ranch increased revenue and net operating income by 200% and 544%, respectively, the past 13 years buoyed in part by a full slate of programming. It includes virtual concerts, happy hours and wine tastings, shopping network microsites, trivia contests and theme dining events, a wine society, junior golf nights, indoor golf simulators and a Nordic skiing track designed by Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong.

The club is also a preferred venue for private event hosting, blending refined elegance with natural panoramic beauty of the Wasatch Mountains.

Over the past year, the golf course underwent a complete renovation of greens and surrounds, tees, fairways, bunkers and practice areas.

“Partnering with Landscapes Golf Management is among the best decision ownership has ever made,” said Chris Gies, President of Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club. “Members and guests make the club part of their steady diets and, as a result, our community satisfaction and balance sheet are much better for it.”

“Our on-site team led by 2025 LGM General Manager of the Year Brian Wright, along with regional and home-office support, continue to make Jeremy Ranch a sought-after club in the region,” said Tom Everett, President of Landscapes Golf Management. “Our business and service strategies are spot on, execution is consistently crisp and we are excited to continue the journey to take Jeremy Ranch to the next level.

“I would be remiss not to mention the steady leadership of Jake Hanley, PGA Director of Golf at Jeremy Ranch for nearly 30 years. Jake has been a constant during our time with Jeremy Ranch, and we are grateful for his service.”

From 1982 to 1992, Jeremy Ranch’s stellar Arnold Palmer design hosted the annual Senior PGA Tour “Shootout at Jeremy Ranch” between Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Ben Crenshaw, Chi Chi Rodriguez and other stars.

Jeremy Ranch is one of Landscapes Golf Management’s marquee private clubs which include Lost Rail Golf Club (Gretna, Neb.), Mapleton Golf Club (Sioux Falls, Iowa) and River Run Country Club (Davidson, N.C.) while Sutton Bay (Ager, S.D.) perennially ranks No. 1 in Golfweek “Best State by State” ranking.

More information: Landscapes Golf Management, 402.980.6861.

10 USGA Champions Highlight Teams for 2026 East West Matches

(RELEASE) – Ten USGA champions highlight the 36 players named to the 2026 East West Matches, set for November 6-8 at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.

Two USGA champions will also serve as captain of the respective squads: Trip Kuehne for the West and Paul Simson for the East.

Each roster will include 18 players, six seniors, at least 10 mid-amateurs and up to two amateurs who have not yet reached the age of 25. Nine members of each team are decided based on a points system, with the other nine chosen by the tournament committee. 

The Mississippi River delineates the East and West geographic split of the pool of amateur players.

The East squad includes these USGA champions (7 players, 9 titles):

Andrew Bailey, Cleveland, Ohio-- 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur

Evan Beck, Virginia Beach, Va. -- 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur

Doug Hanzel, Savannah, Ga – 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur

Scott Harvey, Kernersville, N.C. – 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

Bob Royak, Alpharetta – 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur

Mike Sposa, Spartanburg, S.C. -- 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur

Todd White, Spartanburg, S.C. – 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur

The West squad includes these USGA champions (3 players, six titles):

Gene Elliott, Norwalk, Iowa -- 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur

Stewart Hagestad, Newport Beach, Calif. -- 2016, 2021, 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur

Mike McCoy, Des Moines, Iowa – 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur

Kuehne (pronounced KEEN-knee), 53, of Westlake, Texas, won the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur and advanced to the championship match of the 1994 U.S. Amateur against Tiger Woods. An Oklahoma State All-American, he was on three USA Walker Cup teams as well as the 2006 USA team at the World Amateur Team Championships. The winningest player in Carolinas Golf Association events, Simson, 75, of Raleigh, N.C., won the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Senior Amateur and was the co-captain of the East in the inaugural Matches in 2020. He won the Carolinas Senior Amateur on October 8 with an eagle on the sudden-death playoff hole.

“It is with tremendous pride and honor that I announce the West Team for the 2026 West East Matches,” Kuehne quipped. “Our team brings together USGA champions, proven veterans, fierce competitors, and, most importantly, exceptional individuals. The depth of talent and accomplishment on this year’s roster is remarkable, and we could not be more excited to represent the West.

“I know Paul, with a glass of wine in hand, will have an exceptionally talented East Team prepared and ready to compete. With the caliber of players assembled on both sides, the 2026 field may well be the most accomplished in the storied history of these matches. We look forward to a spirited and intense competition—one that honors the traditions of the game and celebrates amateur golf at its highest level. Congratulations to all of the players selected. We can’t wait to compete.”

Simson is equally confident in his team.

“The East team boasts the current U.S. Mid-Am and Senior Am Champions,” he said. “The East is also represented by players that have won major events in both the USA and abroad. Our team of wily competitors are ready to engage the West in what has become the best amateur team competition in the USA. 

“Maridoe, as the host site, provides the perfect venue for this competition! Conditioned to near perfection, Maridoe can be stretched to over 8,000 yards. More tolerable lengths will be used for the Matches. Maridoe’s slogan: ‘We bury heroes here’ will challenge all competitors. The slogan refers to the abundance of risk/reward shots Maridoe offers.

“The East West Matches embody all that is good about golf. Competition, sportsmanship, camaraderie and friendly banter are always priorities at the Matches.

“I’m sure West captain Tripp will have a few tricks up his sleeve. The East will be ready! Gird your loins and prepare for another great East West Match.”

Scott Harvey, the founder and operator of the East West Matches added: “What started out as a good event has quickly evolved into a top tier competition that the most prominent amateurs in the game strive to play in. The player’s excitement and enthusiasm for the East West Matches is felt throughout the year as they strive to make their respective teams. The field for the 2026 Matches is the strongest yet, and when you have two of the best in Trip Kuehne and Paul Simson leading their teams into battle, it only enhances the experience that much more.”

The schedule for the 4th East West Matches: 

Thursday November 5:

Practice Rounds
Player Dinner and Draw 

Friday November 6

Afternoon -- Day 1 matches (Fourball – 8 total matches)
Player Dinner and Draw for Day 2 matches 

Saturday November 7

Morning -- Day 2 matches (Foursomes – 8 total matches)
Lunch
Afternoon – Day 2 matches (Foursomes – 8 total matches)
Draw for day 3 matches immediately following play

Sunday November 8:

Morning -- Day 3 matches (Singles – 18 matches, all 18 holes)
Closing celebration by 18th green at conclusion of play

The Sea Pines Resort Again Honored for Excellence in Prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Image: Bill Hornstein

Property also recognized in past year for first-class golf, lodging, dining and workplace culture

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – The Sea Pines Resort has again been named among the Top 20 properties in the South in the 39th annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. It is the third time in four years the resort has been singled out in the awards, widely considered among travel’s most prestigious recognitions.

Nearly 800,000 survey responses were received from readers in the competition that has long represented acknowledgement of excellence within the travel sector.

“We’re honored to once again be recognized by Condé Nast Traveler readers, whose votes reflect the experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Birdwell, President, The Sea Pines Resort. “This ranking is truly a tribute to our entire team. Their dedication to genuine Lowcountry hospitality is what makes The Sea Pines Resort a destination travelers look forward to visiting often.”

This has been a banner 12 months for The Sea Pines Resort as it has earned other awards and honors for exceptional golf, lodging, dining and workplace culture, including:

Golf: Ranked No. 5 Best Golf Resort in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards; named Best Golf Destination in Global Traveler’s 14th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards; and earned a place on GOLF Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Resorts in the World for 2026.

Lodging: Earned a No. 6 ranking among the Top 25 Hotels in the South for The Inn & Club at Harbour Town in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards; a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award for the Inn & Club, the 17th consecutive year; and a 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for the resort.

Food and beverage: Received 2026 DiRōNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) Awards of Excellence for Coast, Oceanfront Dining; Links, an American Grill; and Quarterdeck. Also ranked Links No. 2 Best Golf Course Restaurant in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards; Coast among the Top 10 Beach Bars in the South in Southern Living’s 2025 “The South’s Best Beach Bars”; and Quarterdeck No. 18 among Casual Dining Restaurants in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Workplace culture: Received 2026–27 Great Place To Work Certification, with 85 percent of employees saying the resort is a great place to work, 28 percentage points higher than the average U.S. company.

To learn more about the property’s awards, visit www.seapines.com/awards-accolades.

The 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards can be viewed at www.cntraveler.com and will be showcased in the magazine’s November issue.

Cliff Drysdale Management Unveils Refreshed Brand and Expanded Company Identity

Updated identity reflects the company’s expanded capabilities across all racquet sports, club operations, and a wide range of services.

(New Braunfels, Texas) – Cliff Drysdale Management (CDM), a Troon company, today unveiled a refreshed brand identity that reflects the company’s expanded capabilities across racquet sports, club operations and hospitality. Effective immediately, the organization will sunset its longtime public-facing Cliff Drysdale Tennis (CDT) brand and move forward as Cliff Drysdale Management. The updated name and visual identity better represent the full scope of the company’s services and its continued evolution within the global racquet sports and hospitality industries.

While Cliff Drysdale Tennis has served as the company’s public-facing identity since 2001, the organization has operated as Cliff Drysdale Management LLC for many years. Tennis will always remain at the heart of the company’s story and a central part of its business. At the same time, CDM’s work has expanded well beyond tennis to include every major racquet sport, along with food and beverage, aquatics, fitness, wellness, hospitality, programming, consulting, evaluations and other areas of club operations.

The refreshed brand reflects that growth while positioning CDM for the future of the racquet sports industry. Designed to be professional, timeless, hospitality-driven and inclusive across all racquet sports, the new identity gives the organization a more accurate platform from which to communicate its capabilities to current and prospective partners.

“This is an important milestone for our company, but it is also a very natural next step,” said Scott McCulloch, President and CEO of Cliff Drysdale Management. “Tennis is foundational to who we are and always will be. At the same time, our teams now support clubs and resorts across a much broader range of sports, amenities and operational needs. Cliff Drysdale Management better reflects the company we have become and gives us the right platform for where we are headed. Most importantly, the people, values and commitment to exceptional service that our partners know and trust are not changing.”

The refresh is not a reinvention of the organization as CDM’s leadership, associates, values and service standards remain unchanged. The company will continue to build on more than two decades of experience creating exceptional racquet sports and club environments while delivering customized solutions for facilities of all types.

CDM’s primary service verticals include:

- Full Club Management: Turnkey operations of racquet sports clubs, with an all-encompassing approach across staffing, programming, member experience, marketing, finance and beyond.

- Property Consulting: Strategic and operational guidance for resorts, private clubs, commercial facilities and public venues, including planning, programming, staffing, membership, marketing and facility development.

- Club Evaluations: Objective, on-site assessments that provide club leaders with clear recommendations to strengthen operations, elevate the guest and member experience, and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.

- EXPERIENCE Travel: Curated tennis, pickleball and padel vacations, camps and events that connect players with world-class destinations, coaching and hospitality.

- Racquet Works: A year-round education and professional development platform supporting leaders, coaches and club support staff through customized roadmaps, practical resources and an international network of racquet sports professionals.

In conjunction with the brand refresh, CDM has launched a redesigned website featuring the company’s expanded services, portfolio, insights and opportunities to work with its team. To explore the new Cliff Drysdale Management brand, visit: www.cliffdrysdale.com