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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

2012 Edition Of "The Business Of Golf - What Are You Thinking?" Sold Out


(Castle Pines, CO) - Based on vibrant holiday sales on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the Golf Convergence website, combined with winter semester book orders from leading Professional Golf Management Programs, the first printing of the The Business of Golf - What Are You Thinking? has sold out. As of December 17, there were 193 copies of the book back-ordered. The book, now in its second printing, will be shipping January 14, 2013.

According to author James J. Keegan, "We are absolutely elated that the book has now been purchased in 19 countries and is being used as part of the core curriculum of nine colleges and universities, including Clemson's PGA of America Program, the Golf Academy of America, Keiser University College of Golf, and the University of Wisconsin - Stout. The Canadian Professional Golf Management programs at Holland College and Humber College also use the textbook for their capstone class."

The 2012 "primer edition" covered the elementary principles of the business of golf. The target audience was golfers, college students, and new entrants into the game of golf, as well as industry professionals seeking a fresh perspective.

In April 2013, a "professional edition" will be released. It will deliver an in-depth analysis of the principles, formulas, and theories that can transform the golfer's experience by adding value and thereby increase the investment return and fiscal sustainability for golf courses in this challenging business of golf. Golf course owners, general managers, directors of golf, superintendents, and seasoned professionals will gain substantial benefits from the new research conducted and the insights garnered. From protecting intellectual property to properly pricing season passes, a wide gamut of new perspectives is presented.

James J. Keegan, also Managing Principal at Golf Convergence, stated, "In everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. It is our passion and our purpose. The way we challenge the status quo is by creating a vision for you that is easy to understand and simple to execute. We are able to do so by blending extensive research, unparalleled experience, and unique perspectives formed from the examination of more than 4,000 golf courses in 40 countries. We are the 'thought leaders' and the 'authorities' in the business of golf. We craft goals that are consistently achieved by clients, and our excellence has been acknowledged by Avid Golfer Magazine."

For more information on Golf Convergence, visit www.golfconvergence.com or call (303) 283-8880.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Loudmouth Golf Launches Membership Club


Loudmouth Golf launches a brand new membership club that offers exclusive prints and surprise gifts throughout the year

(Foster City, CA) - Loudmouth Golf, the leader in bold and bright golf apparel, has launched its first-ever membership club, Loudmouth eXclusive Club. LMx is a quarterly club that automatically ships members a box filled with Loudmouth Golf gifts for men or women four times a year. The boxes will include member only patterns, pants, shirts, shorts, accessories, and surprise gifts. LMx members will have access to special Loudmouth discounts and other promotional incentives. Customers who sign up within the first year will be an LMx Founding Member and receive a special gift. LMx is for customers who like surprises.

"LMx is for Players! Loudmouth Players," says Loudmouth Golf CEO, Larry Jackson. "We have designed a club based on products that WE like and want to receive ourselves. There will be exclusive prints solely for our elite club members, a variety of specialty items, great values, and a new level of exclusivity that Loudmouth customers have come to expect from the most unique apparel company on the planet. We will be delivering a LOUD surprise every quarter - Welcome to the Jungle!"

"I'm excited to involve esteemed LMx members to be courageous Loudmouth guinea pigs on my colorful journey," says Loudmouth Golf founder, Woody! "Together, we will push the sartorial boat ever farther from the dock," adds Woody.

Customers can sign up online and will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire with their size information and preferences. Club LMx membership is $125/quarter (plus shipping) and is billed automatically. The total value of each box will be over $200, so LMx members are getting a lot of bang for their buck! Memberships may also be given as a gift.

For more information visit www.LoudmouthGolf.com or email LMxClub@loudmouthgolf.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Friday, December 21, 2012

Product Review: G/FORE Gloves


Tick tock. Time is running out and your Christmas shopping isn’t quite done. Presents are wrapped and under the tree, but the stocking hanging by the fireplace is pitifully bare. This year, don’t just stuff that stocking, add style to it with G/FORE golf gloves.

Acqua by G/FORE
Here’s a challenge. Go to your pro shop or local big box golf store and take a look at their wall of gloves. Sure, there are some quality gloves there, but really look. Is one the same as the next? White with white, white with black, white, white, white.

Bored? Who wouldn’t be, swimming through a sea of bland similarity.

Now, go to www.g-fore.com and take a look at their collection of gloves. From clover, acqua, and azure to tangerine, lavender, onyx and (just about) everything in between, G/FORE nature’s palette of colors covered.

You’re a serious golfer and interested in more than a pretty glove? So is Ricky Barnes, and he chooses to wear G/FORE week in and week out on the PGA Tour. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, can wear any glove he wants, and he chooses G/FORE. Made from the finest Cabretta leather available, G/FORE looks great and feels great.

To quote the founder of the company, world-renowned Mossimo Giannulli: “G/FORE golves weren’t designed in a cubicle and tested in a factory; they were born out of desire to express myself while playing, and to help inject a little more fu and flair back into the game.”

Can’t decide which color you like best? Don’t fret. Build your own G/FORE glove from a plethora of options (19, to be exact). The website offers you an opportunity to be Designer for a Day. Select the primary glove color, thumb color, tab color and trim color and you’ve added even more style to your game.

American Golfer Recommendation: Your game may be unimpressive, but your glove doesn’t have to be. Turn up the volume on your presence with pizzazz and panache by slipping on a G/FORE glove.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Callaway Golf's New X Hot Irons Bring the Heat


X Hot and X Hot pro irons deliver blistering distance optimized for complete performance

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) - Callaway Golf Company announced its X Hot and X Hot Pro Irons. Long-renowned for its best-selling and accurate irons, Callaway's award-winning Research and Development department set out to deliver measurable distance gains with these two new, aggressive irons. Available to golfers on January 25, 2013, the X Hot and X Hot Pro Irons have distinctly different technologies that fuel distance and complete performance for both amateur and professional golfers.

In its pursuit of distance gains, Callaway incorporated a Deep Undercut Cavity Design and its powerful Speed Frame Face Technology to strike a balance of high ball speeds and great feel. The deep undercut design allowed Callaway to precisely position the Center of Gravity and move the most compliant part of the face - the hottest part - lower, where more golfers make contact with the ball. Callaway also, for the first time, incorporated Speed Frame Face Technology from its drivers into the X Hot Irons. Doing so optimizes stiffness across the face for more efficient energy transfer. This produces more ballspeed and consistent distance, even on off-center contact. Relative to its predecessor, player testing resulted in an increase in ball speed and distance gains through the set.

"The X Hot Irons have been meticulously engineered - both in terms of physical characteristics and club configuration - to increase ball speed and promote overall distance optimization," said Dr. Alan Hocknell, SVP, Research & Development, Callaway Golf. "And in doing so I think we have raised the bar and created the standard in distance for the irons category. Golfers will very much enjoy the results."

Rounding out the X Hot Irons is the Feel Management Technology, a dual material medallion that fine tunes sound by promoting a crisp, dynamic feel at higher ball speeds. The stock shaft offering is a True Temper Speed Step 85 Lightweight Steel Shaft.

The X Hot Pro Irons have been designed for a more discerning golfer with an explosive blend of power, feel and pinpoint shot-making. This re-engineered stainless steel iron features new J-Face Dynamics, a face technology that combines precise face thickness control and undercut depth to deliver the power and feel that skilled golfers prefer.

The X Hot Pro Irons also feature Callaway's 20-degree Close Spaced V Grooves, which are typically reserved for forged player irons, but have been included in the X Hot Pro Irons to offer up to 1000rpm more backspin out of the rough (in comparison to its predecessor). These are Callaway's most precise grooves, delivering optimum performance in an iron for better players.

Also announced today are theX Hot and X Hot Pro Hybrids designed by Callaway to complement the new distance-promoting irons. These long, high-performing hybrids apply a thin Speed Frame Face for significantly higher CT and faster ball speeds. Both X Hot Hybrids also introduce a modern Warbird sole plate relieved in the heel and toe for enhanced versatility from a variety of lies. The club shape allows for the distance and forgiveness of a fairway wood with the accuracy and control of an iron, providing a fast and long complement to the X Hot Irons and a great replacement for long irons. Both models are available with a Project X Velocity stock shaft.

The standard X Hot Hybrid will be available in a 3, 4, 5 and 6. The X Hot Pro model, which features asmaller footprint often preferred by better players, will be available in 16-, 18-, 20- and 23-degree models.

The new product introduction price for the X Hot Irons is $699 with steel shafts and $899 with graphite shafts. For the X Hot Pro Iron, the new product introduction price is $799 with steel shafts and $999 with graphite shafts. Both models of the X Hot Hybrids will be available for a new product introduction price of $179.

For more information on the Callaway X Hot line of products, please visit www.callawaygolf.com/xhot.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Golfweek Selects French Lick Among Best Casino Courses


Pete Dye, Donald Ross, and Sultan's Run make prestigious casino list

(French Lick, IN) - French Lick Resort, the award winning resort destination located in southern Indiana, continues to earn national recognition from one of the country's leading golf publications. The latest accolade comes from Golfweek magazine, which included three of the resort's courses among its 2012 Best Casino Courses.

The Pete Dye Course, which opened in 2009, lead the way moving up one spot from its previous ranking to No. 4 on the list. The 94 year-old Donald Ross Course checked in at No. 12, while the newest addition to the French Lick Resort golf offerings, Sultan's Run, debuted at No. 29 respectively. Golfweek's annual listing of the top golf and gaming experiences appeared in the December 7-10 issue of the magazine.

The Pete Dye course is joined among the top four by such great tracks as Shadow Creek Golf Course (Las Vegas, Nev.), Fallen Oak (Saucier, Miss.), and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club's Saguaro (Fountain Hills, Ariz.).

"We are very honored to have three of our golf courses make Golfweek's top casino courses list," said Dave Harner, director of golf at French Lick Resort. "For the Pete Dye, Donald Ross, and now Sultan's Run to make this list further solidifies our combination of quality golf and resort amenities as one of the premier golf and gaming resort destinations in the country."

The nationally acclaimed Pete Dye course is regarded as one of the most breathtaking and exciting 18 holes of golf in the country. The course was carefully carved on a dramatic hilltop offering a variety of elevation changes, rugged and dramatic terrain, narrow fairways and challenging bunkers. There are spectacular views from every hole, some that stretch for over 40 miles.

The Dye course offers many distinct design features, including stretches of holes on each nine that are vintage Dye. The course, which stretches over 8,100 yards from the professional tees, welcomes all levels of players with five sets of tees, and yardages beginning at 5,100 yards from the forward tees.

Complementing the new Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort is the historic Donald Ross course. The Ross course brings a rich history to the French Lick Resort. The course was site of the 1924 PGA Championship won by the legendary Walter Hagen and hosted other golf greats and celebrities such as Gene Sarazen, Chick Evans, and Bing Crosby.

The Ross course is a parkland gem, which meanders up and down the rolling hills a few miles from the main resort. The wonderful routing of the holes take full advantage of the many elevation points for classic Ross green sites, which are sloped heavily from back to front.

Sultan's Run Golf Course opened in 1992 and was designed by Tim Liddy, a former disciple of Pete Dye. A former Top 10 course in Indiana, the course stretches over 224 acres, which was the former home of the legendary horse Supreme Sultan, who sired a record number of World Champion American Saddlebred horses. Located in nearby Jasper, Indiana, the course is a short drive for guests staying and playing at the resort.

For more information or to book a golf package, visit www.frenchlick.com or call reservation specialists at (888) 936-9360.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Salish Cliffs Golf Club Named a Top-10 U.S. Casino Course


Amenity of Little Creek Casino Resort Honored by Golfweek Magazine

(SHELTON, Wash.) -  Salish Cliffs Golf Club at Little Creek Casino Resort – located a scenic, convenient drive from Olympia and Seattle – has again been honored by a national publication, this time garnering Top-10 status in Golfweek magazine’s 2012 “Best Casino Courses” list.

Owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe, Salish Cliffs is the lone Washington casino course on the list and its No. 10 ranking was the highest among the four clubs – in any state – that opened in 2011 or later. The Gene Bates design has received numerous accolades since being unveiled in September, 2011, including recently being named to Golfweek’s “Best Resort Courses 2013.”

To produce its “Best Courses” lists, Golfweek sends out a team of more than 730 course raters each year to survey more than 3,000 courses. The criterion includes routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes. The “Best Casino Courses” list appears in Golfweek’s Dec. 7 issue.

“We are thankful for this recognition – bestowed by a panel of critical experts – which affirms that Little Creek Casino Resort and Salish Cliffs offer one of the best golf-and-gaming experiences in America,” said Salish Cliffs Head Professional David Kass, PGA. “The resort executives and Squaxin Island Tribe are committed to enhancing our guest’s enjoyment through our upscale amenities and services, and it’s humbling when acclaim like this reinforces we’re successfully accomplishing our mission.”

Little Creek Casino Resort’s latest hospitality additions include the full-service Seven Inlets Spa and Skookum Spirit Cigar and Wine Lounge. Green fees at Salish Cliffs through December are $59 (Monday-Sunday) for MVP Player card holders, Primetime Players (ages 50 and older), military personnel and hotel guests. The regular rate is $64 (Monday-Sunday) for 18 holes including cart, range balls and tax.  The pro shop is also offering holiday savings on men’s and women’s apparel and footwear, while supplies last.

Tee times can be booked with a major credit card up to 30 days in advance at www.salish-cliffs.com. Advanced tee-time booking up to 60 days in advance is available for those with confirmed Little Creek Casino Resort hotel reservations by calling the golf shop at 360.462.3673.

For more information, visit www.little-creek.com or call 1-800-667-7711.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Rockledge CC Retains KemperSports as its Management Partner


Historic Space Coast Country Club Partners with Management Company to Revive its Membership and Improve Club Operations

(NORTHBROOK, Ill.) – KemperSports, the most trusted name in golf course management, has been retained by the board of directors at Rockledge Country Club to provide turnkey management of the private, member-owned club in Rockledge, Fla. Rockledge Country Club, one of the oldest private clubs on the Space Coast of Florida, becomes the latest addition to KemperSports’ growing private club portfolio, KemperCollection.

“Like many private clubs across the nation, we are searching for new ways to stay relevant with our members in this challenging and evolving economy,” said Don Sparpana, president of Rockledge Country Club. “KemperSports is very familiar with the challenges facing our club, and their expertise, systems and collaborative approach to working with the board made them the right fit for Rockledge Country Club.”

KemperSports will work closely with members and staff of Rockledge Country Club to re-establish the value proposition of a club membership. Initiatives include a vibrant social calendar with golf and non-golf events appealing to all member segments, a new member ambassador program and enhanced member communication tools, including an updated website. In addition, KemperSports will implement its proprietary customer service training program, TrueService, to improve the member and guest experience.

“Rockledge Country Club is taking a proactive approach to address the global issues facing the private club industry today,” said Steve Skinner, chief executive officer of KemperSports. “Its membership and board of directors are committed to the long-term success of the club, and we look forward to tailoring our results-oriented programs to ensure a promising future at Rockledge Country Club.”

Located only 45 minutes from the Orlando airport, Rockledge Country Club opened as a 9-hole course in the early 1920s and was one of the first golf courses to be built in Brevard County. The club now features a strategically-challenging 18-hole, par-71 golf course with an expansive clubhouse with a recently remodeled golf shop, full-service restaurant and lounge, a banquet and meeting facility and outdoor dining.

For more information about Rockledge Country Club, please visit www.rockledgecc.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Solheim Applies for Golf Handicap Patent


(PHOENIX) – PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim announced today he’s applied for a patent that uses an equipment rating formula as a factor in calculating a golfer’s handicap. The pursuit of the patent, according to Solheim, is to ensure amateur golfers who want more options in playing the game have another choice allowing them to do so in a globally available format.

“The tone coming from the USGA and R&A in recent years suggests another significant equipment rollback may not be far away,” said Solheim, who applied for the patent in June of 2011. “We’ve already seen it with the groove rule and the proposed rule banning anchoring. We continue to hear whispers of more changes.  But as we’re also reading on the proposed anchoring ban, many directly involved in the game favor more equipment options, not fewer. I’m looking for ways to keep the game enjoyable for every level of golfer.”

The patent application details numerous scenarios in which equipment could be rated (balls that go varying distances, for example) and are also factored in with current variables, such as the challenge presented by each individual course. Solheim suggests the expanded equipment options could be approved as “Conditions of Competition” so the new method of handicapping could exist within the current set of rules.

“One of the goals of this concept is to get people thinking outside the “traditional” box that seems to have been built around golf – due primarily to the influence of the professional game,” said Solheim. “This alternative approach to handicapping gives golfers the options to play and enjoy the game with the goal of keeping one set of rules. All of us who are part of this industry need to be looking forward to ensure the game grows in both appeal and participation. This is just one example of things we should be considering.”

The patent application is expected to be published December 20 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov).

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Bobby Clampett’s 'Impact Zone Training System' Now Available to Golfers Everywhere


(BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.) - “The Impact Zone Training System by Impact Zone Golf,” the innovative approach to golf instruction created by acclaimed PGA Tour winner and popular television golf analyst Bobby Clampett, is now available for personal download and ready to be offered in specially packaged DVD form.

This transformational system of learning and teaching golf – which has flourished around the success of Clampett’s book, “The Impact Zone” – can be downloaded to any computer or smartphone.  By visiting www.impactzonegolf.com golfers everywhere now can have Clampett’s complete-game instruction with them wherever and whenever they need it.  The online downloadable product is $79.
Also, “The Impact Zone Training System” will be available in a set of four DVDs in the coming weeks, each set priced at $89.  Check www.impactzonegolf.com for earliest availability.

Clampett founded Impact Zone Golf in 2009 largely in response to golf professionals who wanted to teach the system, as well as golfers who inquired about taking lessons, based on what they learned in the book.

“With the new online digital product and the DVD set, my hope is we will reach golfers around the world to improve their game,” Clampett said.

“The Impact Zone Training System” completely changes the way golfers and instructors perceive and interpret each golfer’s swing.  Clampett challenges the widely accepted theory of golf instruction that is too concerned with a golfer’s swing style, while overlooking its results and effectiveness.  “Impact-Based” instruction puts the emphasis where it should be, Clampett professes: on consistently good shots and lower scores.

In both the new online downloadable product and DVD set, Clampett offers tips and drills designed to produce more consistent golf shots and explains in detail the “Five Key Dynamics” to becoming a great ball-striker:
* The Flat Left Wrist
* Four Inches in Front of the Ball Swing Bottom
* Loading the Club on the Backswing
* Club Head Lag
* Straight Plane Line

Another segment of the presentation centers on an actual golf clinic given by Clampett, who teaches amateur golfers about “The Impact Zone Training System” and why it renders swing style teaching irrelevant.  Using the examples of great champions, such as Lee Trevino, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Corey Pavin, Clampett explains why the only truly important concept is impact.  And he teaches all golfers, regardless of skill or handicap, how to improve their impact until it is consistent — and consistently good.

For more details about “The Impact Zone Training System” and to order the online downloadable product or set of four DVDs, visit www.impactzonegolf.com, call 1-877-243-8718, or email info@impactzonegolf.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

BrightSpot Solutions' Spotless Swing Golf Towel Adds Three New Colors for 2013


(Boulder, CO) - Scott Salzman, inventor of the three-in-one Spotless Swing Golf Towel and President of BrightSpot Solutions, announced that the innovative towels will be available in three new colors for 2013. In addition to the current line of five colors (Black, Black/red trim, Red/black trim, White and Pink) Spotless Swing will be available in: Royal Blue, Navy Blue and Hunter Green.

"These new colors have been added to meet customer demand in the retail and custom logo environments. Organizations have requested towels which fit the color scheme of their logo and individuals like golf towels to match their bags," said Salzman. "Customers have been pre-booking orders in the new colors for the 2013 season. We expect them to be in stock the first week of January," Salzman added.

Until Spotless Swing was developed, the only way to clean the mud and dirt off your golf clubs during your round was to water down a standard towel or use a brush. However, brushes are awkward and messy and a watered down towel dries out during your round rendering it useless.

Now there is an alternative. A portion of the inside of the Premium Multi-Use Spotless Swing Golf Towel is made of a uniquely designed MicroBrush fabric that easily cleans the grooves of the club-face where dirt hides from ordinary towels. The fabric is coarse enough to clean deeply into the grooves yet soft enough to not damage the golf club finish, and absolutely NO WATER is needed! The ultra-high quality microfiber fabric that makes up main body of the Spotless Swing absorbs over 600% of its weight in dirt, mud and water.

The Spotless Swing Golf Towel functions as three golf towels in one:
1. Outside keeps the hands, face, glove and grips clean and dry;
2. Inside protects and preserves golf clubs by removing dirt, mud and water;
3. Revolutionary MicroBrush fabric cleans club grooves effortlessly preparing the club for its next shot.

Custom embroidery is available.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Jack Nicklaus Visits Golf Course Site at Baha Mar in The Bahamas


(NASSAU, The Bahamas) - Jack Nicklaus recently visited Baha Mar-the 1,000-acre resort enclave currently under development on the Bahamian Riviera-to review progress on his 18-hole, par-72 Signature Golf Course.

The golf icon and designer of nearly 300 golf courses worldwide toured the site with Baha Mar President Tom Dunlap and Nicklaus Design Senior Design Associate Chris Cochran. Nicklaus assessed construction progress, provided insights on strategy and playability, and discussed the development schedule with on-site teams.

Baha Mar's Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course-the highest tier of design offerings from world-renowned Nicklaus Design-will showcase "two golf courses in one." The front nine is highlighted by ocean views and several water features, while the back nine winds through inland forest and native habitat. Taking advantage of the terrain's natural contours to promote strategy and memorable shot-making is paramount, as well as maintaining the ecological integrity of the course and its surrounds.

The course is scheduled to open December 2013. Other resort amenities-including four hotels, the Caribbean's largest casino and more than 300 private residences-are slated for a December 2014 unveiling. Baha Mar is the largest luxury resort destination currently under construction in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information: bahamar.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

ProQuip Launches Water Repellent Knitwear with Total Easy Care


Premium quality British lambswool with water repellent features can be machine washed and dried

(Marblehead, Ma.) - ProQuip, the world's leading innovator of lightweight golf weatherwear and Preferred Supplier to the European Ryder Cup Team 2014, has produced a new, high quality, water repellent lined lambswool garment that is as easy to wash and dry as it is to swing in.

The new knitwear range, which utilizes a special water repellent finish that results in light rain beading off the surface, is believed to be the first to be manufactured using 100% premium quality British lambswool that is also total easy care.

The 2/17Nm lambswool (New metric - two pieces of fine quality yarn twisted together) produces a premium handle garment that is highly durable with minimal piling. Its total easy care performance means it is machine washable and "tumble dry friendly". In fact, tumble drying and a warm press after washing positively enhances the garment's water repellency.

"While water repellent lambswool garments have previously been available for a variety of outdoor sports and pursuits, this is the first time such a high quality yarn and knit has been produced with total easy care," said Peter Dalton, ProQuip USA's CEO.

"You can conveniently machine wash and tumble dry this garment safe in the knowledge that it will come out looking and feeling as good as new - it will also continue to perform and resist rain showers, keeping you dry and comfortable."

The new knitwear range is available for men in lined mock in the following colors: Black, Bordeaux, Navy, Grey and Tartan Green, Sizes are S-XXL.
MSRP: $200

ProQuip USA's sales and distribution operations exclusively encompass the following markets: United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Islands of the Caribbean and Bermuda. ProQuip USA is located at 40 Tioga Way, Suite 200, Marblehead, MA 01945 and can be contacted at 781.639.1060 or online at www.proquipgolfusa.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

O’Connell, Wearner Join Swingbyte Advisory Board


Top instructors to guide enhancements to mobile swing analyzer

(CHICAGO, Ill.) – Chris O’Connell and Trent Wearner, who rank among Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America, have joined the Swingbyte Professional Advisory Board to help guide development of the wireless 3D swing analyzer.

 Swingbyte, which was named one of the “12 Coolest Items” at the 2012 PGA Show by Golf Digest, uses a lightweight sensor to capture and transmit digital images and swing metrics to smartphones and tablets.

O’Connell, vice president of Plane Truth Golf and a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, said Swingbyte makes valuable information available to golfers and instructors for the first time.

“There are a lot of things that Swingbyte measures that – to my knowledge – no one else measures,” said O’Connell, an instructor at DA’s Golf Learning Center in Plano, Texas, whose students include PGA Tour players Matt Kuchar and Scott Piercy. “For example, I’ve never seen (a teaching aid) that measures the club face relative to the plane throughout the backswing and the downswing.”

Wearner, who runs the Trent Wearner Golf Academy at the Meridian Golf Club in Englewood, Colo., said Swingbyte provides “perfect feedback.”

“It’s what every player needs to accelerate their understanding of the golf swing and to connect the dots between feel and real,” said Wearner, a former Teacher of the Year for the Colorado Section of the PGA.

“There aren’t too many things more important than where the club face is when it strikes the ball and knowing how it got there,” Wearner added. “That’s what the Swingbyte feedback gives you.”

In addition to O’Connell and Wearner, the Swingbyte advisory board includes Dr. Jim Suttie, who is ranked 15th among America's 50 Greatest Teachers by Golf Digest; Brad Redding, a PGA Master Professional and a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher; Brad Brewer, who is among Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America; and Kevin Weeks, one of Golf Digest’s Top 50 instructors.

Swingbyte weighs less than an ounce and attaches to any club just below the grip. As the club makes contact with the ball, the wireless sensor transmits a 3D digital version of the swing to the Swingbyte app, which is available on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. The swing image – along with measurements of club head speed, swing plane, face angle, loft and lie angles and tempo – can be viewed during practice sessions and archived in the cloud for future reference.

Swingbyte can be ordered through the company’s website, Swingbyte.com, and purchased at more than 1,800 AT&T retail stores. Swingbyte’s introductory price of $149 includes the Swingbyte unit, the free Swingbyte app and an online account that includes additional analytics, community rankings and personal trends.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Spence Completes Restoration at Historic Roaring Gap Club

(ROARING GAP, N.C.) – Golf course architect Kris Spence has wrapped up an extensive restoration of Roaring Gap Club, a Donald Ross-designed course in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The project focused on a number of areas, most notably green and bunker restoration. Using old aerial photos and many original plans drawn up by Ross, Spence brought back to life a unique set of greens buried under eight decades’ worth of topdressing and organic material.

Mindful of Roaring Gap’s rich history, Spence took extra care on this project. The club dates to 1926 with roots that can be traced directly to Pinehurst.

The club’s founder and first president, Leonard Tufts, was president of Pinehurst at the time, so Tufts commissioned Ross to build a mountain masterpiece in Alleghany County to be promoted as “the Pinehurst of the hills.”

With such an important legacy, the club turned to Spence to recapture and reclaim the course’s architectural pedigree, while updating it slightly for modern play. Spence is considered one of the nation’s premier Ross restoration specialists.

“A large majority of club members were overwhelmed by the outcome. People are raving about how much the greens exceeded their expectations,” said Dunlop White III, a long-time member of the club’s greens committee and past president of the Donald Ross Society. "Kris’s understanding of how the greens evolved over time was critical to the project’s success. He really devoted his skills to bringing back Ross’s distinctive design work here at Roaring Gap.”

White said so much of the greens had been lost over time that current golfers assumed the knobby regions outside the perimeters were chipping areas. Instead, they were integral parts of the original putting surfaces.

“These were 86-year-old greens which had never been touched. No one remembered exactly how they were,” said White. “I’m thrilled with what was uncovered. It was like finding a long lost treasure.”

“We’ve all been taken aback by how well this restoration turned out,” Spence said. “Uncovering such wonderful Ross greens is certainly a highlight of my career.”

In addition to the greens, the project renovated and restored most of the original bunkers, particularly fairway cross bunkers that Ross considered an integral part of the game. Tees were leveled and squared, with several new tees created to adjust distance for the modern game.

A new double-row irrigation system replaced an inefficient single-row system, while a tree management program returned strategic playability, opened sweeping vistas, and added recovery options on many holes.

One unique way the project retained the course’s rustic charm was the preservation of various turf blends and mutations which had naturally evolved over time.

The fairways remain a mixture of native rye grass, Kentucky bluegrass, and Poa annua. Meanwhile, the greens retain an old-school mix of bent grass and Poa annua.

The par-72 layout now measures 6,475 yards, up from its original length of 6,210 yards.

For more info on Spence’s work, visit: www.KrisSpence.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Vietnam Veteran Butch Harmon and Friends, Reach Out to Help Wounded Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

(LAS VEGAS, Nev.) - Butch Harmon is renowned for his profession as a golf coach working with some of the biggest names in the sport. Past pupils include Greg Norman and Tiger Woods. Currently, he works with Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Dustin Johnson, Gary Woodland and Natlie Gulbis, and he has recently released an instructional DVD earlier this year titled "Butch Harmon About Golf," www.ButchHarmonDVD.com.

However, it is Harmon's steadfast and loyal passion in giving back to veterans of the military that is grabbing even more attention. Harmon, who is Vietnam Veteran, reaches out directly to combat-wounded soldiers through Harmon's Heroes, a foundation that encourages the well-being of these veterans and to provide financial assistance to those with a qualifying need.

Butch Harmon and friends with wounded veterans at this year's Harmon's Heroes Golf Classic that took place during Veteran's Day weekend at the Bali Hai Golf Course on the Las Vegas Strip.

Since the founding of Harmon's Heroes in 2009, the organization has now evolved into an annual fund-raising golf tournament, with proceeds going toward making grants for wounded veterans to obtain homes.  Eleven wounded veterans participated in  this year's Harmon's Heroes Golf Classic that took place during Veteran's Day weekend at the Bali Hai Golf Course on the Las Vegas Strip.

Also in attendence was a select group of people who donated between $10,000-$25,000 per foursome, with 100% of the funds raised going to the Harmon's Heroes Foundation.

"Many of us have no idea what these veterans face once they get home," said the 69 year-old Harmon, whose father, Claude Harmon, was a long-time golf professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York and also the winner of the 1948 Masters.

"Dealing with physical wounds is bad enough, but the financial hardships they face are absolutely mind-boggling - and we want to help. And assisting them in owning their own home is one of our priorities," said Harmon.

As of September 2012, at least two wounded veterans were able to secure a home; one in Boston and the other in Texas. Plans are well underway to help a veteran from Las Vegas get his or her own home.

In addition, a portion of DVD sales from Harmon's comprehensive golf instructional two-DVD set titled "Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist" is donated to the Harmon's Heroes Foundation.

The two-DVD set contains more than 250 specific tips from the man voted #1 in Golf Digest's annual ranking of America's Best Teachers for the past 11 consecutive years.

Those who have worked with Harmon all agree that the keys to his success are his keen eye for the strengths and weaknesses of each individual player's swing; his comprehensive understanding of the game; his ability to communicate; his toughness; his enthusiasm for his players to succeed; and his relationship and rapport with his players, making their work about teamwork rather than individual accomplishment.

The "Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist" DVD set is sponsored by Titleist, Winn Grips, Rolex, Golf Digest and JMA and is available for $79.95 on-line at www.ButchHarmonDVD.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Boxgroove Welcomes Montour Heights Country Club

(BELLEVUE, Wash.) - Boxgroove (www.boxgroove.com), an inventive, reliable online network offering golfers the opportunity to play private golf courses of their choosing, welcomes Montour Heights Country Club in Coraopolis, Pa., to the selection of private courses Boxgroove members can play.

"The golf course at Montour Heights Country Club is a traditional Pete Dye beauty," said McRedmond Morelli, founder and CEO of Boxgroove. "It is a certainty that Boxgroove members will enjoy playing this scenic layout."

Founded in 1911, Montour Heights Country Club has undergone several transformations, landing at its current location in 1987 in the airport corridor of Moon Township in western Pennsylvania. During its nearly 100 years of operation, the club has provided its membership with a traditional country-club venue offering business, social, recreational and family activities and events.

The club consists of a beautiful 230-acre facility with one of the only Pete Dye golf courses in the area. The course utilizes the natural elevation changes in the region to provide a challenging and picturesque round of golf. With a clubhouse that incorporates the McCune estate mansion and several outbuildings, there are stunning panoramic views for all activities, including fine and casual dining.

"Boxgroove is a great way for us to introduce Montour Heights to players who otherwise never would have access to our wonderful facility," said Tony Romansky, PGA head golf professional at Montour Heights Country Club. "We have complete control over who gets to play, and it provides incremental income to our bottom line."

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Team Love Relies on Bridgestone in Thrilling Victory at PNC Father-Son Challenge

(Covington, Ga.) — This weekend in Orlando, Florida, Bridgestone Tour Team member Davis Love III teamed with son, Dru, to win the 2013 PNC Father-Son Challenge. The duo needed Dru to sink a clutch 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to best the team of Larry Nelson and Josh Nelson by a stroke. For the tournament the Loves shot 23-under par (60-61) on the par 72 Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes course. The 2013 Father-Son Challenge was the first to be contested since 2008, as the event had been in hiatus for three years.    

In victory, Love III relied on the Bridgestone Golf TOUR B330 golf ball and new J40 prototype blade irons (3-PW). Bridgestone’s TOUR B330 ball features the company’s proprietary Dual Dimple Technology cover for optimized aerodynamic performance. The cover’s smaller inner dimples increase thrust power at launch for greater distance while the larger outer dimples promote a shallow angle of descent for increased roll out on landing. The result of the improved performance at both takeoff and landing is greater overall distance performance and a more consistent wind-cheating ball flight.

The B330 balls feature a street price of $44.99 per dozen (MSRP $58.00 per dozen) and are available now at select golf courses and golf specialty and sporting goods retailers nationwide.

Visit www.bridgestonegolf.com to see Bridgestone Golf’s entire 2012 Tour Team and to view the complete lineup of new products.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Streamsong Resort Honored by GOLF Magazine in Best New Courses 2012 List

Streamsong Red named Best New U.S. Course You Can Play; Blue receives Honorable Mention

(Streamsong, Fla.) – Streamsong Resort, a development from The Mosaic Company, announced that both Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue have been recognized by GOLF Magazine in the publication’s “Best New Courses 2012” list.

Streamsong Red, designed by Coore & Crenshaw, was named the “Best New U.S. Course You Can Play” while Streamsong Blue, designed by Renaissance Golf Design (Tom Doak), received the “Best New U.S. Course You Can Play” Honorable Mention. Streamsong Resort is the first venue in the world where both architectural firms have collaborated to design 36 holes.

“It’s an honor to have Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue recognized by such an influential publication,” said Scott Wilson, Director of Golf at Streamsong Resort. “This is a true testament to the superb design and collaboration of Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Doak, as well as the months of hard work and dedication put in by our crew on the ground at Streamsong.”

Streamsong Resort, built on approximately 16,000 acres of former phosphate mine land, allowed both architectural firms to leverage their visionary talents and experience working with exceptional sand sites to create two unparalleled, intersecting golf courses. The extraordinary topography of the land - featuring towering sand dunes, dramatic contours, lakes and native vegetation left from the mining process - make Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue a challenging and visually fulfilling golf experience unlike any other in Florida.

Both Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue are scheduled to open to the public Dec. 21. The golf clubhouse, featuring 4,500 square-feet of meeting space, a steakhouse with private dining, lounge and golf shop will open Dec. 21, as well. The 12 guest rooms (designed to accommodate 16 guests) located in the golf clubhouse will open Dec. 30.

Tee times and stay and play packages are now available for booking via www.streamsongresort.com.

“We are excited about this distinction from GOLF Magazine just prior to our scheduled opening to the public in late December,” said Mike Speicher, General Manager at Streamsong Resort. “Our team at Streamsong Resort is ready to provide an outstanding experience for each and every guest.”

KemperSports is responsible for management of golf operations at Streamsong Resort. Interstate Hotels & Resorts has overall management responsibility for the resort including a new 200-plus room lodge, conference center and spa that will open on the property in late 2013.

For more information, visit www.Streamsongresort.com.

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Montecristo: Paradise Found in Nicaragua

(MONTECRISTO BEACH, NICARAGUA) – Lori and Jorge Estrada personify the description “visionary couple.” In the mid-1990s, the husband-and-wife team was living in a Chicago suburb. A native New Yorker, Lori was working as an orthopedic specialist. Jorge — a Nicaraguan whose ancestors include three of the Central American country’s former presidents — specialized in hospital management and administration, and later ran a real estate business. Together, the couple was raising three young children.

“Two words,” said Lori Estrada to describe their former day-to-day routine, “busy and hectic.”

Seeking a better quality life, the Estradas moved to Nicaragua in 1997 when their children were 14, 7 and 5. Their initial project was using their medical expertise to open Nicaragua’s first orthopedic facility. Later, they developed a number of award-winning community outreach programs.

Now, Lori and Jorge Estrada have turned their sights toward a dazzling piece of Pacific coastline just an hour west of Managua’s international airport. In this magnificent setting, the Estradas are not simply developing a world-class residential resort; they are creating their own Shangri-La: A tranquil, inviting and exciting beachfront community in which to live and raise family.

They named their dream community Montecristo Lifestyle Estates or, simply, “Montecristo.” Here, a lifestyle destination is unfolding, blending seamlessly with unspoiled elegance into 2,000 acres of Nicaragua’s most spectacular coastline. Montecristo offers its residents and guests a daily helping of sparkling blue seas, unlimited horizons, empty beaches, crashing surf and hidden coves.

Yet, what truly sets Montecristo apart from the competition is the individual touch provided by Lori and Jorge, who personally meet every guest and provide a guided tour. Then, through the purchase process to building and moving in, the Estradas are on site assisting property owners to make their transition as simple as possible. In addition, they tour the construction site regularly and add their personal touches along the way, helping each home become its own work of art.

“We pay attention to all the little details that make their home special — after all, they might be my neighbors,” said Lori. “We are always there for them and easy to find. This is our home and we are committed to this development on a very personal level.”

Vicki and Larry Davis came to Montecristo from Quincy, Ill., where Larry works as a family practice physician and Vicki as a teacher. Looking ahead to their retirement years, the Davis family also sought a slower pace and better quality of life when they first started searching for property throughout the Pacific coast. “It was all very nice,” said Larry Davis, “but the beauty at Montecristo is incredible and we fell in love at first sight.”

“Lori and Jorge had a huge impact on us from the very beginning,” said Larry. “They are wonderful people — trustworthy, very passionate about their country. They give us the feeling that we are part of a huge vision, a greater plan — a community, good relationships, good values — and a place where we would have opportunities to give back. It’s a feeling that you get when you are here.”

The Davis family constructed their home in Cumbres, one of Montecristo’s six unique yet cohesive neighborhoods designed to suit every type of lifestyle — from casitas, town homes and villas on the beach to spacious estate lots overlooking the golf course. The newest community, Laguna Del Mar, has broken ground and new golf cottages and beach casitas are under construction providing unforgettable views of the golf course and beaches.

With a vision and commitment to developing the leading oceanfront community in Central America, the Estradas insist upon the highest standard for even the smallest detail. Many of the concepts come from their own experiences and ideas, and as the owners of Montecristo, they are free to handle financing on a very personal level and construct agreements that work well for everyone. “We have tried to think of something for everyone, and in a sense we have designed it for us, to include what we would like to see as services, amenities, concepts,” said Lori Estrada. “That’s why we are contracting the experts to design it for us.”

The Montecristo team is comprised of engineers, topographers, architects, builders and land planners from both the United States and Nicaragua, each selected for their area of expertise. One of the first hires was Athens, Ga.-based golf course architect Mike Young, who has designed in Costa Azul one of Nicaragua’s only upscale, resort-quality golf courses.

Playing along a point where the Rio Soledad meets the Pacific Ocean, the 7,060-yard, par-71 Montecristo Golf Club takes maximum advantage of a site boasting more than 300 feet of elevation change. The front nine, scheduled to open mid-2013, is set on a relatively flat plain, with the river to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The back nine, meanwhile, climbs up into the mountains providing spectacular views in all directions of the ocean, the river and the interior. And while the views of the water are breathtaking, the inland vistas — looking across mountain ridges and sprawling valleys — can be equally dramatic. Add the wind, which is certain to a constant factor, and Montecristo Golf Club promises to be as challenging as it is beautiful.

“The golf course is designed on a truly incredible piece of land,” said Young, architect of more than 40 courses in five different countries, who is working with his son, Ashley, on the Montecristo project. “Building a golf course on such dramatic property and using skilled American labor plus local, Nicaraguan workers mean things don’t always evolve quite as quickly as you would like, but in the long run the golf course is going to not only introduce a new way of life to this culture but also offer numerous opportunities to people here that don’t necessarily exist today.”

Montecristo’s amenities are designed to rival any world-class development. The Estradas share a passion for horses and own several Andalusian purebreds that will stand as subjects of pride and admiration at Montecristo’s planned equestrian center, where dressage and training clinics will be among the offerings. In addition, miles of picturesque riding trails weaving in and out of the community’s 2,000 acres are designed as an alternative, environmentally clean form of transport. Other community activities run the gamut from water sports and tennis to art and salsa lessons.

At Montecristo, property owners and guests move at their own speed during an early morning walk along the high coastal cliffs. They practice yoga with a local instructor, or just wiggle their toes in the sand as they watch the hills turn pink at sunset. They say Montecristo simply helps them live better.

“Montecristo is a magical environment,” said Vicki Davis. “It’s a feeling that you get when you are there. As beautiful homes begin to decorate the hills, there is still a very natural and pure atmosphere.”

Learn more at www.MontecristoLife.com.

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2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Announcement

PGA President Ted Bishop, 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson, and Anthony Malkin of the Empire State Building pose for the media during the Empire State Building lighting ceremony in the lobby of the Empire State Building on December 13 in New York. The Empire State Building was Red, White and Blue on the evening of December 13, in celebration of the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America) 
2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson is on top of the world, overlooking New York City, on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building after being named 2014 United States  Ryder Cup Captain December 13 in New York. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America) 

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Titleist Engineer Eric Lastowka Wins World Long Drive Senior Division


ESPN to air RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship highlights December 23

(Fairhaven, MA) – Eric Lastowka, participating in the Senior Division of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship for the first time, took advantage of his newfound status and bested 63 other division qualifiers with a winning 355-yard drive to earn his first WLDC title.

Although he was making his 12th appearance at the annual event contested in Mesquite, Nev., the Hanover, Mass. resident became eligible for the Senior Division when he turned 45 years old in February. The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is the premier event in power golf, with an international field competing for more than $500,000 in prize money and the title of the world’s longest driver of a golf ball.

“This is the ultimate,” said Lastowka following his victory. “I’ve had a lot of close calls in the Open Division in the past (runner-up in 2006, 8th place in 2001), but this is why I continue in this sport.  There are so many good hitters that it always takes your best to win. Now that I have won, it gives me even more motivation to repeat next year.”

The sculpted 6-5 and 240 lb. Lastowka is a Senior Compliance Engineer at Titleist Ball Plant III in New Bedford, Mass. by day.  He credits the world’s leading golf ball company for contributing to his winning performance.

“My success this year is based on being in good physical shape,” said Lastowka. “I have spent a considerable amount of time over the years participating in the Acushnet Wellness program, and it does pay off.  I have focused on the cross-fit style workouts with the fitness coaches that the company provides its associates. It is very challenging, but rewarding.”

Lastowka also attended the first level of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certification program this year, where he absorbed a wealth of information about the golf swing and fitness.

The week-long event started with 64 Senior Division participants, which was reduced to 16 on the first day. Lastowka advanced after winning his first three rounds with tape measure drives of 379, 360 and 391 yards, respectively. The weather in Mesquite is always a factor, and Lastowka took advantage, winning his next two matches with downwind blasts of 426 and 403 yards.

The wind turned on the final day, however, and was dead in the face of the participants. Lastowka won his first match with a 333-yard drive, setting up his winning 355-yarder that was not without drama. His opponent had the final drive, which hit the grid and rolled to 349 yards while Lastowka and the boisterous crowd held their collective breath.

The event will be packaged into a 90-minute highlights feature and aired on the ESPN networks on December 23 and 30.

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Sunice Introduces Albany GORE-TEX Jacket for 2013


(Montreal, Quebec) - Sunice, Canada's No. 1 outerwear brand, is pleased to debut its 2013 Albany jacket from the Hurricane Collection.

The Albany jacket is a new style for the 2013 Sunice Hurricane Collection, and is 25% lighter with 25% more stretch than other jackets in its category. The Albany jacket utilizes Gore-Tex, an innovated high performance fabric exclusive to the Hurricane Collection that is designed to provide comfort and protection for intense climates and weather conditions.
   
"We are excited about this one-of-a-kind jacket that sets a new standard in the performance waterproof category," says Mark Fletcher, president of Sunice. "No jacket combines the GORE-TEX performance shell lifetime waterproof fabric with the X-Static thermodynamic lining, ergonomically designed stretch GORE-TEX shoulder inserts, the Pro-Trim cinching system and lycra cuffs in a complete package weighing just over 1 pound."

The jacket also features the Sunice patented V-collar and the two-way front zipper, as well as an iPod storage chest pocket with waterproof lockdown zippers, allowing golfers to keep their devices protected from moisture.

The Albany jacket comes with a Lifetime Waterproof Guarantee and is backed by the GORE-TEX "Guaranteed to keep you dry" promise.

For more information on Sunice, visit Facebook: www.facebook.com/SuniceGolf and Twitter: www.twitter.com/SuniceGolf.

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Nike Athlete Charl Schwartzel Secures Back-to-Back Wins with Victory at Alfred Dunhill

Schwartzel dominates the field to win by 12 strokes on the European Tour

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) – Nike Athlete Charl Schwartzel dominated the field at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, securing back-to-back wins.

Coming off last weekend’s 11-shot victory, Schwartzel coasted to a 12-shot win, locking up his eighth European Title with 14 Nike clubs in the bag. His 24-under-par score of 264 is the lowest tournament total at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Schwartzel set himself up for an incredible 25 birdies and one eagle with his Nike VR Pro blades. Averaging 83.3%, Schwartzel led the field in greens in regulation for the tournament. He fired at tough pins, capitalizing on the consistency and workability of his irons.

The Nike VR Pro blades feature X3X high frequency grooves which result in a cleaner, more consistent ball flight and spin. With more grooves closer together and deeper on the clubface, the Nike VR Pro Blades ensure more control and consistency in all conditions.

Schwartzel was also hot with his Nike Method 001 putter, sinking crucial putts for a breakaway lead in the third round. Averaging 27 putts per round, Schwartzel was first in overall putting for the tournament. The Nike Method franchise features Nike’s polymetal groove technology, generating a faster forward roll at impact for increased accuracy.

Rounding out Schwartzel’s bag is the Nike VR Pro Limited Edition driver. He averaged 307.7 yards for the tournament, third in overall driving distance.

Schwartzel wore Nike Golf apparel from its Premium line as well as the Nike Lunar Control footwear.

Schwartzel’s Nike Golf Arsenal 
* Driver: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 8.5-degree
* Fairways: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood/15-degree and 5-wood/19-degree
* Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (3–9)
* Wedges:  Nike VR Pro 48-degree, 54-degree & 60-degree
* Putter: Nike Method 001
* Ball: Nike One Tour D
* Apparel:  Nike Golf Tour Premium
* Footwear:  Nike Lunar Control

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Branson Golf Destination Adds GolfNow.com, Announces Contest


Savings and Tee-Time Booking Ease Enhance Ozark Mountain Golf Experience

(BRANSON, Missouri) – Branson’s exceptional golf destination values can now be clearly seen, thanks to its convenient, new online tee time booking system.

Golfers can now go online 24/7 at www.explorebransongolf.com, choose a course, pick a tee-time deal that fits their schedule and budget, and book the tee time. Moreover, golfers can see savings amounts with each tee-time option.

The GolfNow.com booking engine used by Branson golf is powered by Golf Channel, giving golfers the option to book tee times through the web, via email or via iPhone mobile application.

"Branson-area golf courses are committed to providing golfers with ease, enjoyment and valuable service,” said Dan Davis, president of the Branson Area Golf (BAG) destination marketing cooperative. “We believe our website gives golfers what they want – clear information, demonstrated value, options and efficiency.”

Already acclaimed for award-winning live entertainment and outstanding golf courses – including three of the five best golf clubs in Missouri by Golfweek magazine – Branson golf booking experience is more user-friendly than ever.  Overnight golf packages are also available at explorebransongolf.com.

Contest Launched through the End of the Year

Explore Branson Golf will reward four lucky fans who sign up to the collection’s eClub through December, with a free round of golf at any of the group’s courses.

There is no cost to participate, and all members of the eClub are eligible.  Golfers can enter at www.explorebransongolf.com/signup.

For more information about Branson area golf courses and the destination, visit www.explorebransongolf.com, or “Like” Branson Golf on Facebook.

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Sergio Garcia Wins Iskandar Johor Open Playing RocketBladez Tour Irons

Garcia, also playing new Project 5 prototype ball, shoots 61 to win weather-shortened Asian Tour event

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – TaylorMade-adidas Tour Staff professional Sergio Garcia, wielding his new RocketBladez Tour irons, ran away from the field in the rain-shortened Iskandar Johor Open with a third-round 61 that proved enough to earn his second win of the 2012 season. Garcia’s 24th career professional victory was splashed with his ballstriking brilliance, his latest 18-hole barrage highlighted by an outward 29 and 11 birdies total as he charged to the lowest final round in Asian Tour history.

Introduced in October, Garcia is among the first professional golfers to switch to the new RocketBladez Tour irons built with the revolutionary Speed Pocket; his victory in Malaysia marks the first official Tour win for the product. TaylorMade Tour Staff professional Sean O’Hair last weekend won playing RBladez Tour irons at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, an off-season exhibition featuring team competition in Naples, Florida.

Another noteworthy change to Garcia’s winning TaylorMade equipment this week was the Project 5 prototype Tour golf ball. Garcia, who first switched to the ball at the DP World Tour Championship, is among the Tour professionals who’ve switched from PENTA TP5 to the Project 5 – a code name for TaylorMade’s new Tour ball, to be released in 2013.

With the win, Garcia earned $317,000 and capped a momentous second half of the calendar year in which he won the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship, played a critical role in the European comeback at the 2012 Ryder Cup and finished 17th in the FedExCup standings following the conclusion of the TOUR Championship.

RocketBladez Tour irons are available at retail beginning Feb. 15, 2013.

In Garcia’s bag:
* RocketBallz Tour 9° driver
* RocketBallz 15° and 19° fairway
* RocketBladez Tour 3-PW
* ATV 50, 58° wedges
* Ghost Tour MA-81 putter
* Project 5 golf ball
* adidas crossflex footwear

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Prestigious Junior Heritage Tournament Returns to Sea Pines In 2014


(HILTON HEAD, S.C.) - The Sea Pines Resort - Hilton Head's most celebrated leisure retreat and home of the PGA TOUR's RBC Heritage - announces the prestigious Sea Pines Junior Heritage will return Feb. 1 - 2, 2014.

Partnering with the South Carolina Junior Golf Association in running the coveted tournament with the support of the Heritage Classic Foundation, Sea Pines also announces the 2014 event will coincide with the unveiling of its new golf clubhouse serving its Heron Point and Ocean golf courses.

The 16,000 square-foot clubhouse will reside on the site of the current Plantation Club and provide a premier golf experience for members and guests as well as the elite field of junior participants. Planned amenities include an expansive pro shop; bar and grill; 2,000 square-feet of meeting / event space; and spacious locker rooms.

"We're thrilled about the return of the Sea Pines Junior Heritage in early 2014," says Cary Corbitt, Director of Operations of The Sea Pines Resort. "The renovations taking place at our resort will only enhance what is already a premier nationally ranked junior event."

The Sea Pines Junior Heritage is contested on famed Harbour Town Golf Links and Heron Point by Pete Dye - recently named No. 10 in Golfweek's "Best You Can Play" in South Carolina. Past boys champions include: Charles Howell, III, Sean O'Hair and Kyle Stanley. Paula Creamer, Candie Kung, Virada Nirapathpongporn and Alexis Thompson are all past girls champions.

For more information about the Sea Pines Junior Heritage, please contact: Chris Miller, South Carolina Junior Golf Association at 803.732,9311 or cmiller@scgolf.com.

For more information about golf at The Sea Pines Resort visit www.seapinesgolf.com. Information about the new clubhouse is available at: www.seapines.com/development/.

Friday, December 14, 2012

TaylorMade Golf Company to Showcase Four Brands at 2013 PGA Merchandise Show


Company to unveil new equipment, apparel and footwear at the 60th annual international golf business gathering in Orlando

(NORWALK, Conn.) - TaylorMade Golf Company announced its return to the 60th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, January 24-26, 2013. All of its brands - TaylorMade, adidas Golf, Ashworth and Adams Golf - are planning a range of exciting activities for Show week, including the launch of a multitude of new products across all categories at the PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day and within their expansive multi-brand "clubhouse" exhibit space on the PGA Show Floor.

"The PGA Show continues to be a place and a moment in time for our company to excite the golf industry and set the tone for the year," said company President and CEO Mark King. "Two years ago we launched "white" metalwoods, last year we introduced a product called "RocketBallz" and this year we are excited to unveil even more breakthrough products from all of our brands."

With the purchase of Adams Golf and its record selling year with the launch of the "RocketBallz" franchise, TaylorMade Golf Company is coming off a historic year. The company maintained its marketshare lead as the No. 1 iron and metalwood. It also saw significant growth in the footwear and apparel space thanks to hot product introductions from adidas Golf and Ashworth.

"The family of TaylorMade-adidas Golf brands continue to bring exciting new products to the market each year at the PGA Merchandise Show," said PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions Senior Vice President Ed Several. "PGA Professionals, golf retailers and industry leaders value the opportunity to connect with company leadership and experience their newest products first-hand at the PGA Show."

For more information, or to schedule a one-on-one interview, please contact TaylorMade-adidas Golf Public Relations Manager Dave Cordero at dave.cordero@tmag.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Loudmouth Golf Signs Licensing Deal with TourMark Putter Grips


Loudmouth Golf continues to expand licensing portfolio with putter grips

(Foster City, CA) - Loudmouth Golf, the leader in bold and bright golf apparel and accessories, has signed a licensing deal with TourMARK putter grips. TourMARK offers a high performance putter grip, available in 2 sizes, that includes a powerful rare-earth magnet, which holds a ball marker securely in place within the grip's end cap. The proficient design of TourMARK's putter grip provides effortless player functionality and convenience on the greens. Perfect for golfers at all levels, the grips are offered in a variety of popular Loudmouth patterns including Captain Thunderbolt, Black Shagadelic, and Pink & Black Argyle.

"TourMARK offers the ultimate grip for the Loudmouth golfer," says Stan Denenberg, GM of Licensing for Loudmouth Golf. "This partnership enables us to fully cater to our customers and efficiently produce grips to meet demand. We are excited about this product and know our customers will be too."

"TourMARK's partnership with Loudmouth Golf provides the perfect marriage between cutting edge style and an enhanced putter grip design to create one of the most exciting, unique and practical golf products on the market today," says Brad Wallin, President of TourMARK Grips. "We are extremely excited for golfers of all skill levels to take advantage of this innovative product that has been created through our partnership with Loudmouth Golf."

TourMARK Grips is proud to release the Loudmouth by TourMARK putter grip line in limited quantities for sale on the web and in select retail locations in time for the Holiday 2012 season. Full retail and online distribution will follow during the 2013 golf season. The full TourMARK line can be seen at the 2013 PGA Show in Orlando.

For more information, please visit: www.tourmarkgrips.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Project X Introduces New Project X 95 Flighted Shaft


(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - Project X introduced the lightest steel shaft in the history of the brand-Project X 95 Flighted. The addition to the Project X family sets a new benchmark for high performance shafts.

"Project X 95 Flighted is carefully designed and crafted to produce maximum distance and the tour-caliber control expected of the Project X brand," said Greg Cavill, vice president of alloy engineering and development for Project X. "We also have incorporated descending weight properties into Project X 95 Flighted for enhanced feel in the mid to short irons. This was all quite an engineering feat given the lightweight properties of the shaft."

With variable geometry per flex, Project X 95 Flighted extends Project X's Tour-proven history and heritage, providing more performance to more players with various skill levels and different swing speeds than ever before.

"Project X 95 Flighted is great steel shaft option for competitive and aspirational players who are constantly seeking the latest technology in golf equipment to give them a competitive edge," says Cavill.

Where to Buy
Project X 95 Flighted is now available through True Temper's network of distributors and Performance Fitting Centers for the retail price of $520.00 (3-PW).

For more information about Project X 95 Flighted, or any other Project X shafts, visit www.pxshaft.com. Also, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/projectxgolf, and follow at www.twitter.com/projectxgolf.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Kaua‘i Golf Courses Unveil Special Winter Rates and Stay-and-Play Packages


‘Garden Isle’ Guests Offered Unlimited Golf, Reduced Junior Green Fees, Substantial Savings  on Accommodations

(KAUA‘I, Hawaii) – The five member courses of the golf destination cooperative "Kaua'i: Discover Golf's Ultimate Island Green” are now offering special winter rates and packages, allowing guests to experience the many enhancements and expansions recently completed at the resorts and courses on the “Garden Isle.”

The Prince Course at Princeville Golf Club: Stay-and-Play packages start at $300 per night for a Deluxe Island-View Studio at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, and include two rounds of golf, cart, practice balls, personalized bag tag and complimentary rental clubs. The Prince is ranked the No. 1 golf course in Hawaii by GOLF magazine and re-opened in March following a massive renovation project. For reservations, call 1-866-716-8140 and ask for plan LXPKG1.

Puakea Golf Course: The Ho’okipa Rate is $79, and includes 18 holes at this local gem, practice balls and a complimentary rider (special rate of $25 for rental clubs). Also, junior golfers ages 7 to 17 play for $1 a hole. For more information call 1.808.245.8756 or visit www.puakeagolf.com.

Makai Golf Club at Princeville: The “Limitless Golf Package” includes accommodations at The St. Regis Princeville Resort, unlimited golf at the Makai Course, a sleeve of Makai logo Callaway balls, a custom logo ball marker, and a 15% discount at the Makai Golf Shop. Rates start at $735 per night for two golfers in a Garden/Mountain View room. A minimum two-night stay is required, and reservations must be made at least three days in advance. Visit www.MakaiGolf.com  or call 1-866-716-8140 and request plan LZPKAG1.

Poipu Bay Golf Course: The former home of the PGA’s Grand Slam of Golf has a “Second Round Rate” of just $120, which is 50% off the regular green fee, if played within 10 days after a first round. Twilight rounds (after 2:30 p.m.) do not qualify for a first round. Poipu Bay is located adjacent to the award-winning Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort. For tee times call 1-800-858-6300 or visit www.PoipuBayGolf.com.

Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club: Become a Kaua‘i Lagoons “Member For A Week” for just $495, through Dec. 25. Package includes a week of unlimited golf, a Kaua‘i Lagoons logo golf polo shirt and an engraved bag tag at the home of the new Kiele Moana (Ocean) Course, which opened in May, 2011 and features the longest stretch of continuous ocean holes in Hawaii. Additional weeks of unlimited golf can be purchased for $445. The club is an amenity of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club. For reservations call 1-800-634-6400 or e-mail info@KauaiLagoonsGolf.com.

For more information about golf on the Garden Isle visit www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/, or call 800-262-1400.

You can also follow Kauai Golf on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/KauaiGolf, or “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Kauai-Golf/204271937068.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Thursday, December 13, 2012

AHEAD Strikes Strategic Partnership with Avendra


(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) – AHEAD, the highly regarded headwear, accessories and apparel manufacturer, announced this week it has agreed to a multi-year strategic partnership with Avendra, which provides a wide range of procurement services to companies in many industries, including golf.

“We are excited to partner with the quality properties that Avendra represents,” said Scott Stone, AHEAD’s national sales manager for golf.  “Avendra customers will have access to the full breadth of AHEAD headwear, accessories and apparel offerings.  We truly value the opportunity to align with groups such as Avendra and to build mutually beneficial partnerships in the golf industry.”

Don Hecht, Vice President Strategic Supply Chain Management for Avendra, said his company is likewise enthused about the partnership.

“The product and decoration capabilities that AHEAD brings to our customers will complement and be a welcome addition to our current roster of vendor partners,” Hecht said.

AHEAD was acquired by Sweden based New Wave Group AB, the parent company of Cutter & Buck, in the summer of 2011.

AHEAD is best known for its premier headwear collections that feature original approaches to logo embroidery options.  The company has been able to capitalize on the golf industry’s desire for high-quality graphics on headwear and an array of garments.  AHEAD operates four distinct business units: Men’s Apparel, AHEAD Headgear, the “Heavy Metal” line of golf accessories and the “Kate Lord Collection” of women’s hats, apparel and accessories.

For additional information access the web site at www.Aheadweb.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com