Titleist Introduces 913 Drivers with More Performance

Faster Face, Better Launch Conditions and SureFit Tour Hosel Technology Provide More Speed, More Distance, More Forgiveness

(FAIRHAVEN, Mass.) – Designed and built for more speed and more distance, the new Titleist 913 drivers deliver more performance with the most precise fit available to all serious golfers through an unparalleled combination of new innovations and Titleist’s industry-leading SureFit Tour hosel technology.

Featuring a high-speed, forged face insert, the new Titleist 913D2 and 913D3 drivers are the fastest, most consistent drivers Titleist has ever designed, delivering maximum ball speeds over a large area of the face.

They are also Titleist's most playable and forgiving drivers, primarily the result of improved launch conditions from a lower, more optimal center of gravity (CG) position, a new rear SureFit Tour weight and the fitting precision provided by the SureFit Tour adjustable hosel.

"The new 913D2 and 913D3 drivers offer the highest performance of any adjustable drivers on the market, particularly when it comes to speed and forgiveness," said Dan Stone, Vice President of Research and Development, Titleist Golf Clubs. “Every serious golfer, from tour players to amateurs of all skill levels, will experience more distance potential and better driving performance with 913.”

The 913D2 driver features a 460cc full-pear shaped head designed for maximum forgiveness and a slight draw bias, while the 913D3 has a 445cc classic-pear shape that is forgiving with tour-inspired workability. Unlike the 910 series, both D2 and D3 models now offer the same launch and spin characteristics to provide maximum fitting flexibility.

“Golfers can now choose their 913 model based on size or shape preference, amount of forgiveness or workability, and amount of draw bias,” said Stone. “They can then dial-in their launch and spin settings precisely using the SureFit Tour hosel.”

Fourteen players put new 913 drivers into play the first week they were available at the PGA Tour’s AT&T Classic in late June. Twenty-six players used 913 drivers about a month later at the PGA Championship, and the momentum only continues to build. Players gaming 913 drivers have already combined for eight victories across the worldwide professional tours, including victories by Rory McIlroy (PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship) and Nick Watney (The Barclays) in three of the past four weeks on the PGA Tour.

"The new 913 drivers further define our commitment and success in providing players with the game's highest performing clubs with preferred looks, sound and feel," said Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs. "Our previous generation 910 drivers proved to be the most innovative drivers in our history. With 913, we've raised the bar even higher."

MORE SPEED WITH TITLEIST’S FASTEST FACE: The 913D2 and 913D3 drivers deliver faster, more consistent ball speeds across the face due to a new forged, variable thickness face insert, the fastest face insert ever designed by Titleist Golf Club R&D.

The 913’s 6-4 Titanium face insert has a central thick portion that mirrors the outer face profile. As you move out from the center, however, the insert is thinner and organically tapered so that it perfectly matches up with the body thickness at the face perimeter. It is also 2 grams lighter than the 910's face insert, allowing that mass to be redistributed to the new SureFit Tour weight low on the clubhead.

"We are always engineering our center face ball speed to the maximum, but the new insert allows for a more consistent deflection across the whole face which gives us more ball speed and more distance across a larger area of the face," Stone said. "The face insert is not a symmetric geometry, it's a complex structure and it required us to really think outside the box. We had to invent a new process just to produce it."

The new insert has increased the maximum ball speed area up to 11 percent from Titleist's previous generation 910 drivers, resulting in upwards of 2 mph of additional ball speed in certain hit locations (which translates to up to 4-6 additional yards).

"It's faster on heel and toe hits, and I think that's something everyone can understand," Pelisek said. "When we first brought these drivers out on tour, that's what we heard back from the players. Even tour players hit it on the heel and toe on occasion and they came back and said 'Wow, I'm getting a lot more distance on those off center hits.' "

MORE DISTANCE THROUGH IMPROVED LAUNCH CONDITIONS: More optimal center of gravity (CG) locations further maximize the distance potential of 913D2 and 913D3 drivers while providing stability and forgiveness.

While past generation D2 and D3 models each featured different launch and spin characteristics, the new 913D2 and 913D3 drivers have equivalent launch and spin because of CG positions that are equally low. To accomplish this, the CG in the 913D2 was lowered to produce similar launch and spin to 913D3.

"You have speed around the face, you have the ability to reduce spin and you have the SureFit Tour hosel to adjust launch – that's a pretty powerful combination to increase distance," Pelisek said.

To help create the 913’s more optimal CG, Titleist engineers further improved the casting and polishing process to produce an ultra-thin crown that allowed for more discretionary mass to be redistributed low and deep in the head.

The 913 drivers also feature a lower, flatter sole profile than 910 and a new SureFit Tour weight on the rear sole that further optimizes the CG for speed and forgiveness.

The SureFit Tour weight has a new, flat geometry with a screw that holds the weight in place but does not extend up into the driver head, contributing to a lower overall CG. The standard SureFit Tour weight has increased from 7 grams to 9 grams, taking the 2 grams of weight saved from the new forged face insert and reapplying it in this lower, more optimal position.

913D2 vs. 913D3: The 913D2 driver, with a larger head (460cc) and fuller pear shape, provides maximum forgiveness and has a slight draw bias as a result of its CG being positioned deeper in the head.

The 913D3 driver, with a smaller head (445cc) and traditional pear shape, is a forgiving driver yet provides more workability with no flight bias from its CG that is positioned closer to the face relative to the 913D2.

PRECISION FIT VIA "TOUR VAN-IN-A-HOSEL": The best way to fully experience the technology and total performance of 913 drivers is to be precision fit using Titleist's patented, dual angle, industry-leading SureFit Tour adjustable hosel.

The SureFit Tour hosel, which debuted on Titleist 910 drivers, allows golfers to set loft and lie independently to optimize ball flight – higher or lower, and for more draw or fade for improved shot control and maximum distance.

"We call it 'Tour Van-in a hosel' because that was our inspiration for designing SureFit Tour in that it provides all the power of a tour van – the ability to bend for loft and lie, and interchange shafts – right on the tee at the point of fitting," Stone said.

The dual angle SureFit Tour hosel features a sleeve and ring, each with four settings. The sleeve settings are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and the ring settings are lettered A, B, C, D. In total there are 16 settings, each creating a unique loft and lie combination.

A Titleist authorized fitter will utilize the SureFit Tour hosel, coupled with interchangeable shafts and SureFit Tour weights, to determine a player's optimal setup so they are playing a 913 driver fit precisely to their game.

"We've already seen the fitting effectiveness of the SureFit Tour hosel with the success of 910 metals," Pelisek said. "Tour players on down to players with more moderate swing speeds benefit greatly from a more precise fit."

"HOTTER" SOUND AND FEEL: Golfers will notice immediately the 913's fuller, longer and more powerful sound at impact, which tour players have described as "hotter."

The sound was acoustically-engineered by an advanced research team to complement the club's fast-face technology.

As sound is a crucial component of feel, one tour player described his first swings with the 913 driver as "exploding off the club face."

913 DRIVERS ON TOUR: The buzz surrounding the new Titleist 913 drivers built quickly, with Titleist's previous generation 910 drivers having earned more wins on the PGA Tour than any other driver since their debut two years ago.

The seeding and tour validation process for the 913 drivers began in late June at the PGA Tour's AT&T National event at Congressional Country Club, where 14 players immediately put 913 drivers in play.

That same week, Rory McIlroy tested the new driver for the first time at his home in Ireland, also deciding to add a 913D3 8.5º to his bag straightaway for the European Tour's Irish Open.

A couple weeks later, the Titleist 913 drivers recorded their first pair of victories on the same Sunday. Bernd Wiesberger played a 913D3 7.5º driver in winning the European Tour's Lyoness Open, while Ben Kohles played a 913D3 9.5º on his way to the winner's circle at the Web.com Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Open, where he was making his professional debut. Remarkably, Kohles notched the 913's third win the following week at the Cox Classic.

The momentum continued into the PGA Championship, as 26 players stepped to the first tee at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course with 913 drivers in the bag. That includes McIlroy, who went on to win in record-setting fashion, claiming the first PGA Tour and major victory for the new 913 drivers.

The 913 drivers have since won two more times on the PGA Tour, with McIlroy claiming victory again at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs. A week earlier, Nick Watney gamed a 913D3 10.5º in winning The Barclays.

Both Kyung-tae Kim (Fujisankei Classic, Japan Tour) and Robert Streb (Mylan Classic, Web.com Tour) also claimed recent victories playing 913D3 8.5º models.

Among the other players with 913 drivers in their bags are: Steve Stricker, Tim Clark, Bud Cauley, Ben Crane, Seung-yul Noh, Geoff Ogilvy, Ben Curtis, Gary Woodland, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Michael Hoey, Scott Stallings, Kevin Na, George Coetzee, Cameron Tringale, Jimmy Walker, Chris Kirk and Jason Bohn.

BOLD LOOKS: The 913’s total performance advancements are highlighted with bold new cosmetics. Featuring an improved toe profile, the club head retains its striking, black PVD finish with a new black body paint that provides a sense of confidence and power at address.

IMPRESSIVE STOCK SHAFT MATRIX: The 913's high performance stock shaft matrix features five tour-proven options, including four high-performance aftermarket shafts (two each from Mitsubishi Rayon and Aldila), to fit a wide range of players and swing speeds.

The stock lineup includes the Mitsubishi Diamana +Plus White 72 (low launch) and Mitsubishi Diamana +Plus Blue 62 (mid launch); and Aldila RIP Phenom 70 (low-mid launch) and Aldila RIP Alpha 60 (lower-mid launch). Mitsubishi Rayon and Aldila driver shafts are currently the most played driver shafts on the PGA Tour.

Rounding out the stock shaft matrix is the Mitsubishi Titleist Bassara W 50 (higher launch), the No. 1 sub-60g shaft model on the 2012 PGA Tour and the lightest shaft to ever win on the PGA Tour (Ben Crane, 2011 McGladrey Classic).

In addition, Titleist offers an industry-leading number of custom shaft choices.

New Titleist 913 Drivers: Product specifications 

913D2 Specs
• Head volume: 460cc
• Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 RH & LH; 7.5 RH only
• Lie 58.5, Standard Length 45”
• Stock grip: Titleist Tour Velvet 360 degree rubber

913D3 Specs
• Head volume: 445cc
• Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 RH & LH; 7.5 RH only
• Lie 58.5, Standard Length 45”
• Stock grip: Titleist Tour Velvet 360 degree rubber

913 Stock Shafts
• Mitsubishi Diamana +Plus White 72
• Mitsubishi Diamana +Plus Blue 62
• Aldila RIP Phenom 70
• Aldila RIP Alpha 60
• Mitsubishi Titleist Bassara W 50

Each 913 Driver includes:
• 913 Headcover
• Ergonomic torque wrench
• Foldout instruction booklet with Performance Guide

SureFit Tour Weights Available for Purchase:
• Adjust for swingweight and feel preference
• SureFit Tour Weight Kit contains 4,7,9,11 and 14g flat weights
• Single Weights may also be purchased

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: The new 913D2 and 913D3 drivers will begin shipping to golf shops Nov. 1, 2012, with a suggested retail price of $449 (MAP: $399).

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy Announces Fall Class

Prestigious Program Draws Students from 25 Countries, 22 States

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) - Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA) – the world’s only academy to combine training, academics and competition for serious players – announces a fall class representing 25 countries and 22 states.

The new semester at Hank Haney IJGA began Aug. 16 and features talented junior golfers from six continents. Countries represented are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Ecuador, Estonia, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Panama, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

“Hank Haney IJGA offers a unique training experience and diverse learning environment for passionate junior golfers to prepare for elite competition and future endeavors outside the sport,” says Peter Orrell, President and CEO of Junior Sports Corporation, owner/operator of the Hank Haney IJGA. “Our staff is dedicated to helping each student reach his or her full potential in the classroom and on the golf course.”

Hank Haney IJGA opened in 1995 with only six golfers. Several graduates now play on the PGA and LPGA Tours in addition to top NCAA Division I schools. Hank Haney, former coach to Tiger Woods, serves as director of instruction. His students have gone on to win every major championship in professional, collegiate, amateur and junior golf.

The full-time golf program at Hank Haney IJGA consists of spending half a day on golf instruction. For the second half, students in grades five through 12 attend Heritage Academy to fulfill their academic requirements. Classwork includes extensive offerings in college preparatory and honors courses.

From September until May, students compete on the International Junior Golf Tour. More than 50 two- and three-day weekend tournaments are held annually.

For more information about Hank Haney IJGA: www.IJGA.com, info@IJGA.com, 800.791.8229.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

School Based Golf Program for Students Expands in Orlando

TGA Premier Junior Golf grows in Florida continuing to enrich lives of young people in the area

Dave Seanor, a former sports journalist, has acquired the TGA Premier Junior Golf franchise in north Orlando. TGA Premier Junior Golf has already made a significant impact in the state of Florida with franchises in south Orlando, Miami-Dade County and the Space Coast areas.

"Adding Dave Seanor, who has intimate knowledge of the golf industry and his community, to our team of franchisees will impact Orlando's junior golf landscape immediately. Dave's business experience and passion for working with youth is the perfect combination for developing successful junior golf programs," says Joshua Jacobs, chief executive officer of TGA.

"The state of Florida, with its high concentration of golfers and golf courses, along with its golf tradition, is an important geographic market for TGA in our mission to grow the game. It's exciting to add yet another TGA franchise in the state of Florida that will impact schools while enriching the lives of students."

Seanor, a 17-year resident of Central Florida, enjoyed a successful career as a sports journalist, working at daily newspapers in Detroit, New York and Chicago before taking on editorial management roles with PGA and Golfweek magazines. He was the editor of Golfweek for 13 years, frequently directing coverage of growing-the-game initiatives such as Golf 20/20 and The First Tee. Seanor, 59, and his wife Patti have two grown children.

"My golf media background has given me many opportunities to hear and evaluate discussions about the game's future," explains Seanor. "I became intrigued by TGA after meeting Joshua Jacobs at the PGA Merchandise Show last January. There's no question in my mind that among all the proposals and existing programs, TGA offers the most effective and achievable strategy for creating new golfers and introducing children to the game's ethos."

TGA Premier Junior Golf of North Orlando is expected to impact thousands of youth annually by introducing the game of golf to children at elementary and middle schools, child care centers and community organizations through a multi-level enrichment program. TGA will then transition students to local partner golf courses through summer camps and parent-child clinics, which will create new customers for these courses and create new golfers.

TGA's Five Level Enrichment Program enables children to advance from one stage to the next while building confidence and self-esteem. The unique curriculum is designed to enrich students' lives through physical activity, health and nutrition and character building. The program also incorporates academic lessons in math, science, social studies and language.

Seanor has come full circle with TGA. "During college, I intended to make a career of teaching and coaching," he says. "But I caught the newspaper bug as a senior, and 37 years of journalism intervened. Now I'm looking forward to working with kids, which is something I've always wanted to do. It's an added bonus that the platform happens to be golf."

TGA's sports franchises, which run the leading school-based youth golf and tennis programs in the U.S., are geared toward motivated self-starters who are passionate about the sport, their community and who enjoy working with children. Each franchise offers not only business ownership and job opportunities in the industry, but also unique ways to grow the sports.

TGA Premier Junior Golf is a full service franchise opportunity for self-starters who enjoy working with children in a business venture that provides a unique entry into youth sports, education and the golf industry. TGA makes golf affordable and provides accessible and consistent programs to children nationwide, through physical education and after-school programs at elementary and middle schools, childcare centers and community centers. The organization aims to transition students to golf courses through camps, clinics and lessons.

TGA, which was named by Entrepreneur Magazine as a "Top 10 Best Franchise Deal," is ranked No. 320 in the magazine's Franchise 500 rankings. TGA is also ranked No. 6 among Children's Fitness Franchises and named a top Home-Based Business Franchise and a Top 10 Child Services Franchise in 2012.

TGA is a national supporting organization of the After School Alliance and Lights on After School, and is a corporate advocate and national partner of the President's Challenge on Physical Fitness, Golf Coaches Association, as well as the National Council of Youth Sports. TGA's curriculums are also approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA) under the Rules of Amateur Status.

For more information about TGA Premier Junior Golf, visit www.golftga.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Dixon Golf Releases New Line of Eco-Friendly Apparel

(TEMPE, ARIZ.) - Dixon Golf, the first eco-friendly golf company, has released its new line of eco-friendly clothing. Each item is made from eco-friendly materials and features Dixon Golf's new product logos.

The company's full line of product logos have been updated, and feature a more modern, sleek and angular look. The color of each logo matches the color of the corresponding packaging - Earth Green, Fire Red and Wind Blue.

The new vintage fit organic Dixon Golf t-shirts will be sold in both v-neck and as crew neck designs. They are available in Dixon, Dixon Earth, Dixon Wind, Dixon Fire and Dixon Spirit designs. Both the v-neck and crew neck t-shirts are made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and naturally occurring rayon. These soft-to-the-touch t-shirts are the first t-shirts made by Dixon Golf. M.S.R.P. for the shirts is $29.95.

Made exclusively for Dixon Golf by FlexFit, the new and improved hats feature 'DIXON' in gunmetal gray across the front, and are branded with one of the new Earth, Wind or Fire logos on the left panel. Made from bamboo and cotton, the hats are not chemically treated and 100 percent recyclable. M.S.R.P. for the hats is $29.95.

The shirts are available in gray and the hats are available in black, with new colors coming soon. The new items are available for sale on www.dixongolf.com/products.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff Professional Richie Ramsay Wins Omega European Masters

Wins Playing R11S Driver and RocketBallz Fairway Wood and Rescues

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – Having never led a professional tournament after 54 holes, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professional Richie Ramsay played the final round of the Omega European Masters in Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland like a steely veteran.  The 29-year old Scot carded a final round 5-under 66 to win the biggest event of his career by four strokes.

Ramsay was consistent off the tee with his R11S driver and used his Tour Preferred MC Irons to lead the field in greens in regulation. The 2006 United States Amateur Champion also played RocketBallz fairway wood and a Penta TP5 golf ball. He also wore adidas Golf adiPURE footwear.

The victory was Ramsay’s second career European title and his first since the 2010 South African Open Championship.

Ramsay is expected to move into the top 70 Official World Golf Ranking.

TaylorMade was the No. 1 driver, fairway and Rescue in play at the Omega European Masters.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Sandestin Golf And Beach Resort Welcomes Guests Seeking Isaac Relief

Accommodations and discounted rates for visitors evacuating from projected path of Isaac; resort plans for busy Labor Day holiday

(DESTIN, Fla.) - Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort - the 2,400-acre resort on Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast - welcomes visitors evacuating or seeking relief from Tropical Storm Isaac with discounted rates starting at $139.

The resort is accepting reservations and offering discounted accommodations to help ease the burden of displaced Gulf Coast residents. Sandestin is an easy drive from destinations like New Orleans, Gulfport, Miss, and Mobile, Al.

In addition, Sandestin is planning for this special long Labor Day weekend. Resort activities will be in full operation and events will continue as planned, including the Baytowne Art Walk (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2), featuring world-class art and live music in Sandestin's Village at Baytowne Wharf.

Evacuees are encouraged to regularly check weather and sources for conditions. For reservations and information, contact (855) 252-3797 or visit Sandestin.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

The Otter Company Unveils 2013 Collection

(Birmingham, Mich.) - American apparel maker The Otter Company announced its 2013 collection of Performance Sweaters and Knitwear. Designed to extend playing sessions and seasons, the new collection features hearty and lightweight weather resistant sweaters.

"We focus on breaking the traditions that have bound weather-resistant active wear," said Martin Stebbins, of The Otter Company. "We've consistently demonstrated that weather repellant sportswear can be constructed of cottons, wools and eco-sensitive man-made fabrics without sacrificing value, performance, function or fit - now we are excited about expanding our sweater collection to include lighter-weight options that provide effective protection on cool, blustery or moist days."

The Otter Company 2013 sweater collection includes the return of its Rain Sweater, the all-new Otter Wind Sweater and the all-new Otter Quarter Zip Wind Sweater.

The Otter Rain Sweater
The heartiest of Otter's Performance Knits is made for the heartiest of conditions. To produce weatherproof comfort, the Otter Rain Sweater combines tradition and technology. It is constructed of blended Merino wool, features waterproof capped shoulders and a wind/waterproof stretch liner.
Outer Shell: 50% Merino Wool/50% acrylic. Liner and Overlay Fabrics: 100% polyester.
Sizes: S-XXXL. Color: black. $149.00 MSRP

New! Otter Wind Sweater
Nearly as light as a wind-shirt; the Otter Wind Sweater combines the weather resistant properties of Merino Wool with the protection of a performance laminate liner. This combination makes it the perfect choice for cool, blustery or moist days. The liner features four-way stretch with windproof/waterproof, breathable performance.
Outer Shell: 50% Merino Wool/50% acrylic. Liner and Overlay Fabrics: 100% polyester.
Sizes: S-XXXL. Color: black. $109.00 MSRP

New! Otter Quarter Zip Wind Sweater
With a quarter zip placket and self-standing collar, this lightweight sweater offers the same comfort and protection as the Otter Wind Sweater, with a little extra protection for the neck. Like the Otter Wind Sweater, the liner features four-way stretch with windproof/waterproof, breathable performance.
Outer Shell: 50% Merino Wool/50% acrylic. Liner and Overlay Fabrics: 100% polyester.
Sizes: S-XXXL. Color: black. $119.00 MSRP

Watch for the complete 2013 collection from The Otter Company, coming soon. Find the full line of The Otter Company outerwear, or find a local retailer, by visiting www.theottercompany.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com