Monday, March 1, 2021

Seventy-Four Top 100 Players Headline Loaded Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship Field

Taylor Roberts

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.)
— The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, which will be played March 5-7 at TPC Myrtle Beach, will feature the strongest field in the event’s six-year history.

The event has boys and girls tournaments with 74 of the 90 total players (60 boys, 30 girls) ranked among America’s top 100 juniors, including Brendan Valdes (Orlando, Fl.), the sixth-ranked boy in the nation, according to Golfweek magazine.

An Auburn signee, Valdes is one of 49 top 100 boys who will be competing, and he will have to hold off the likes of No. 8 Bryan Lee (Fairfax, Va.), No. 10 Maxwell Ford (Peachtree, Ga./Georgia), No. 11 Nick Dunlap (Huntsville, Al.), No. 12 Caleb Surratt (Indian Trail, N.C.) and No. 13 Luke Clanton (Hialeah, Fl.). The field will include 11 of Golfweek’s top 20 junior boys and 26 of the top 50.

Twenty-five of the 30 girls competing in the 54-hole, college-style event are ranked among America’s top 100 juniors by either Golfweek or Junior Golf Scoreboard, a group led by No. 3 Hyo Joon Jang (Howey in the Hills, Fl.). Among Jang’s primary challengers will be No. 12 Taylor Keyhoe (Ontario, Canada), No. 16 Bailey Shoemaker (Dade City, Fl.) and No. 19 Brooke Bierman (Wildwood, Mo.).  

“Dustin’s goal was to make this the best junior tournament in America, and this year represents another big step in that direction,” Tournament Director Scott Tomasello said. “This year’s event will feature one of the three strongest fields in all of junior golf, TPC Myrtle Beach is an elite facility, and with Dustin’s support, the tournament will deliver on the experiential side as well. We can’t wait for the sixth annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship to tee off.”

Last year’s boys champion, Tyler Wilkes is playing at the University of Florida, while girls winner Taylor Roberts is teeing it up at Florida State. 

With Johnson’s support, the tournament provides players a PGA Tour-like experience, and the opportunity to test themselves against a premier field.

A significant part of the event’s appeal is TPC Myrtle Beach, one of the Grand Strand’s most decorated layouts. TPC Myrtle Beach has hosted the Senior PGA Tour Championship and been ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest, making it an ideal venue to test golf’s rising young stars.

The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship is being sponsored by Founders Group International, the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and Golf Tourism Solutions.

Johnson’s involvement with the tournament reflects his long-time commitment to junior golf, particularly in South Carolina, where he grew into one of the world’s best players. Through the Dustin Johnson Foundation, which is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, Johnson has donated more than $500,000 to junior golf, sponsoring numerous events throughout the state and helping cover entry costs for kids who need financial assistance.

For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgolfchampionship.com.

Honma’s New T//World GS Clubs Help Golfers GAIN SPEED


(CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA)
– Honma’s new T//World GS (Gain Speed) family of clubs are beautifully-crafted, streamlined, game improvement products designed with advanced technology to deliver more speed and exceptional playability for a wide range of golfers. Players across North America can now test the full line of GS drivers, fairways, hybrids, and irons with Honma custom fitters, which were launched recently in Japan.

Honma’s popular game improvement line T//World XP-1, will be replaced by the new GS complete offering of expertly-constructed golf clubs. GS is specifically designed to help golfers gain speed which translates to more distance. Honma Takumi and their 60-year history of craftsmanship worked in partnership with the North American engineering team in designing the new Flip Slot and Keel Sole for the modern shaped, technology-packed GS clubs. 

“In much the way the TR20 and TR21 lines we launched last year delivered exquisite design for unrivaled performance for mid to low handicappers, The GS line brings a rewarding combination of technology for golfers attracted to game-improvement clubs. Everything about the new GS line of drivers, fairways, hybrids, and irons shouts speed, consistency and confidence,” says Honma’s Vice President of Marketing Brad Holder.

T//World GS Drivers

The T//World GS 460-cc drivers, designed for straighter ball flights and more distance, are artfully shaped with a raised Keel SoleDRIVERTRIO.jpg towards the heel to promote draw-bias and a lower, deeper CG and high MOI to maximize forgiveness. The 9-gram adjustable weight in the heel allows for individual customization for preferred ball flight. The GS driver’s titanium construction, utilizing Ti811 for the body and a Ti 6-4 face, allowed engineers to sculpt thick and thin allowances throughout the club head for the optimal speed and stability.

Honma’s new Flip Slot technology increases face flexure and reduces spin for more speed and forgiveness. The precise location and shape of the forward Toe Slot creates shot-straightening gear effect on off-center hits. Additionally, regardless of where the ball strikes on the club face, the Radial Face dynamically flexes all parts of the club face to harness more speed. The Radial Face design has rib patterns and variable thickness for a weight efficient design. The ribs specifically add strength to the top and bottom of the face to ensure hits obtain advanced flex and speed.

Honma engineers achieved a master feat to design the GS driver properties to work ‘in phase.’ The flexure of the ultra-thin titanium crown, Radial Face and Flip Slot react at the same time, for the same amount of time, to deliver more consistent shot patterns. This produces the most speed off the club and adds distance for a wide range of players. The variable thickness crown also saves weight that is more efficiently used elsewhere in the design.

The GS driver includes an integrated heel-bias crown graphic applied to encourage golfers to return the club face to square at impact. A key feature in Honma adjustable clubs, the revolutionary non-rotating hosel, is also featured in the GS driver. The system keeps the shaft perfectly aligned through all adjustable loft-lie settings, delivering distance and directional consistency for all golfers. 

Available in 9.5, 10.5, and 11.5 degree heads, $499 Honma SPEEDTUNED shaft designed in Japan. 

T//World GS Fairways and Hybrids

Modeled on the same optimized “Gain Speed” construction principles as the new GS driver, T//World GS fairway woods and hybrids follow similar aesthetics and design characteristics for satisfying “matched set” consistency and trusted performance.

The T//World GS Fairway woods inspire confidence at address with beautifully traditional shape and size. GS woods are built with Honma’s Flip Slot technology to maximize face flexure and reduce spin for more speed and additional forgiveness. The internal weight positioning toward the heel creates dynamic closure for increased side spin and enhanced draw-bias that is beneficial for most golfers. 

Honma designers created a heel-bias crown graphic applied to visually encourage golfers to return the club face to square at impact. Available 3W (15), 4W (16.5), 5W (18), and 7W (21), $249 Honma SPEEDTUNED shaft designed in Japan.

The T//World GS Hybrid features a beautiful club head, carefully designed with Honma’s advanced engineering. The Flip Slot technology, carried over from GS drivers and woods, increases face flexure for maximized ball speeds and reduced spin. Internal weight positioned low and towards the heel creates a dynamic closure for increased side spin and slight draw-bias ideal for off-center hits.

The hybrid includes a heel-bias crown graphic applied to visually encourage golfers to return the club face to square at impact. The GS hybrid is the entire package. It features a classic profile and is teaming with technology and forgiveness, making it fun to hit from any lie on the golf course.

Available U3 (19), U4 (21), and U5 (24), $219 Honma SPEEDTUNED shaft designed in Japan.

T//World GS Irons

The new T//World GS Irons are the ideal game improvement clubs, designed to inspire visual trust at address and technology that corrects mishits. GS irons are easy to hit and feature a wide, deep cavity and sole to increase CG depth for enhanced MOI. The L-Cup face construction in the 4-7 irons maximizes ball speed and reduces spin, while a 360-degree heavy steel undercut in 8-11 irons increases face flexure and expands the size of the sweet spot.

Flip Slot technology incorporated within the sole of the iron produces higher ball speeds, particularly on shots struck off the toe. The L-Cup face and Flip Slot flex ‘in phase’ for increased ball speed and longer distance on every shot. Modern accents of red in the cavity in the men’s set and vibrant yellow in the ladies clubs create distinctive appearances in the bag.

Men’s set includes 4-iron to 11-iron and a SW, women’s set contain 6-11 irons plus SW, $200 graphite with Honma SPEEDTUNED shaft, $175 steel with NS PRO NEO. 

High-SPEEDTUNED shafts are designed in Sakata, Japan and are uniform in the GS series at 55 grams, regular and stiff flex. The kick point supports a high launch and the most efficient speed transfer possible. The SPEEDTUNED shaft in the GS driver features a mid to low kick point that flexes in perfect harmony with the club head to generate fast ball speeds off the face. For more information about Honma’s full line of T//World GS irons, drivers, fairways and hybrids visit: https://us.honmagolf.com.

Puerto Rico Golf Shines on World Stage; Caribbean Destination Ideal for Tropical Travel


 Island’s Rafa Campos Excels in PGA TOUR Event; 18 Golf Courses, Scores of Resorts Summon

(SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO) — It was an exceptional week for Puerto Rico on the world golf stage last week. Not only did Island native Rafa Campos play brilliantly during the PGA TOUR’s 13th Puerto Rico Open that concluded on Sunday, but the United States Golf Association announced that the Puerto Rico Golf Association has joined its network of Allied Golf Associations (AGA), becoming the 59th AGA and the first outside of the 50 United States.

Puerto Rico has earned its esteemed status as a premier tropical golf destination. It is home to 18 courses – with new ones planned – world-class beaches, dozens of resorts, thousands of restaurants, and is traveler friendly. As the air hub of the Caribbean, a top Airbnb destination, and a bilingual Island that requires no passport for U.S. citizens, it is ideally suited for invigorating escapes.

The plethora of health and safety protocols in place enabled the world-class golf tournament and Island to continue their long-standing partnership, mirroring the positive emerging trends in Puerto Rico.

“The Puerto Rico Open was the largest, highest-profile event to be held on the Island since the pandemic began, and the wonderful partnership illuminated Puerto Rico’s positive shift pertaining to events and travel,” said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. “Our Destination Marketing Organization’s mission is to showcase Puerto Rico’s global brand, and the PGA TOUR partnership and Golf Channel coverage highlighted our golf courses, culture, history and many other attributes.”

Campos, who grew up in San Juan, thrilled the golf world with his play on the Championship Course at Grand Reserve Golf Club, an amenity of the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, in Rio Grande. Finishing tied for third, he was in contention to win the championship until the very end.

“It was a great week, and I'm very happy,” Campos said after his final round. “I'm very fortunate and want to thank all the fans out here, the supporters in Puerto Rico.”

Past Puerto Rico Open champions and runners-up include Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, and 2020 winner Viktor Hovland.

Along with PGA TOUR member Campos, Puerto Rico was represented in the professional tournament by Edward Figueroa, who qualified by finishing in the top two of the 2020 Golf Puerto Rico Island Championship / Puerto Rico Open Qualifier. 

Campos and Figueroa added to Puerto Rico’s rich golf history. Island native and legendary champion Chi Chi Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA TOUR.  He designed El Legado, a popular 18-hole course in Guayama, within minutes of the ocean on the south coast.  It is one of Puerto Rico’s wonderfully diverse yet complementary playing options, including four of the top 50 rated courses in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and the Atlantic Islands (source: “Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play”).

Other course designers represented on the Island include Tom and George Fazio, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Rees Jones, Tom Kite, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr.  All are open to the public, and many are amenities of beautiful resorts, including Royal Isabela; Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino; The St. Regis Bahia Beach; Wyndham Grand Rio Mar; Palmas del Mar; Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and the forementioned Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve. 

Learn more about visiting Puerto Rico at DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

The Island’s golf venues include:

- TPC Dorado Beach (36 holes) – 787-626-1020

- Costa Caribe (27) – 787-812-2650

- Fort Buchanan (9) – 787-707-3980

- Wyndham Grand Rio Mar (36) – 787-888-6000

- Rio Bayamon (18) – 787-740-1419

- Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve/Coco Beach (36) – 787-657-2000

- The St. Regis Bahia Beach (18) – 787-809-8000

- Caguas Real (18) – 787-653-1573

- Royal Isabela (18) – 787-609-5888

- Deportivo del Oeste (18) – 787-851-8880

- Palmas Athletic Club (36) – 787-656-3000

- Punta Borinquen (18) – 787-890-2987

- El Legado (18) – 787-866-8894

- El Conquistador (18) – 787-863-1000

Morikawa Collects His First World Golf Championship Playing TaylorMade's New TP5 Ball


TaylorMade's Collin Morikawa now has 4 PGA TOUR victories including a major and a WGC before the age of 25

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – Team TaylorMade's Collin Morikawa captures the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession, FL and moves inside the Top 5 in the OWGR.

Collin recently switched to TaylorMade's new 2021 TP5 ball and the company's new Spider FCG putter at the first event of the year - Sentry TOC in Maui, HI. He is also playing the company's new SIM2 fairway wood.

With rounds of 70-64-67-69 to win by three shots, Collin heads into the PLAYERS and majors season in good form looking to capitalize on his first major last year at the PGA Championship.

NEED TO KNOW

- Joins Tiger Woods as the only other golfer to win a major and WGC title before the age of 25

- Now has four PGA TOUR victories

- Moves to No. 4 in OWGR

- Made 23 birdies through the opening three rounds and fell one short of the 54-hole tournament record set by none other than Tiger

- No. 1 in SG Approach (+9.97) and SG Tee-to-Green (+12.30).

- Since turning professional: 4four wins, 13 Top 10s, 21 Top 25s from 39 events

COLLIN MORIKAWA WITB:

- SIM 8.0° driver

- SIM 14.0° fairway

- SIM2 19.0° fairway

- P7MC 4-6 irons

- P730 7-PW irons

- MG2 60° wedge

- Spider FCG putter

- TP5 2021

Pizá Golf Opens Design Studio in San Diego, Calif.


Pizá Golf’s expansion in the United States strengthens their global presence

(SAN DIEGO, CA.) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized as a world-class architecture and golf course design firm, announced the opening of their offices in San Diego, California. The company’s growth and potential in the North American market influenced the decision to establish these additional offices.

“We are excited and ready for this expansion. For the past two decades, we have been designing innovative and award-winning golf courses in Latin America, but potential projects and partnerships in the United States has spurred on this strategic business step. So, we committed to this market not only with offices but also with staffing. We are confident that this move is an investment for the company’s future as well as our clients,” commented Agustin Pizá, Founder of Pizá Golf.

The new Pizá Golf offices in San Diego, California are the company’s second location. Their corporate offices are in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and will remain their headquarters.

“We can’t think of a better location. San Diego is an important golf hub; Carlsbad is just North of us, and San Diego is the only Bi-National airport of Tijuana with CBX which provides a straight connection to anywhere in the world. Plus, LAX is a short distance away,” added Pizá.

For more information on Pizá Golf, visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com.

Mauna Lani Reopens North Course


All Courses on Property Open for Play, Seven Days a Week

(Kohala Coast, Hawai‘i) – After the successful reopening of Mauna Lani Golf's South Course, the award-winning North Course is now open for play. Both the courses are now open seven days a week with the first tee time offered at 7:30 a.m. daily.

“We've seen a tremendous increase in demand for additional tee times at Mauna Lani, with the amount of local homeowners and resort guests on the island,” said Chris Noda, Director of Golf, Mauna Lani. Socially distanced by nature, the popularity of golf has been on the rise. In 2020, the National Golf Foundation reported that golf rounds in the United States were up nearly 14%. “Here on Hawaii Island we are seeing the demand from our homeowners, kama’aina and our resort guests that are arriving via the Safe Travels programs. It is exciting to get all of our golf courses open for play seven days a week.”

Travel to Hawaii Island is more accessible with the island’s participation in the Safe Travels program. Trans-Pacific U.S travelers who register with the Safe Travels program and receive a negative Covid-19 test result from a trusted testing and travel partner within 72 hours of departure, may bypass the 10-day quarantine. In addition, now International travelers from Canada, Japan and Korea may also bypass the State of Hawaii’s mandatory 10-day quarantine by securing a pre-travel test from a trusted testing and travel partner within 72 hours of departure on the final leg of their journey to Hawai‘i.

The Golfer's Dream Package is a great way to enjoy Mauna Lani with three days of unlimited golf on the South and North Courses, practice opportunities, one round on the Wiki Wiki Short Course, Two Sleeves of Callaway Golf Balls and a complimentary beverage at Hā Bar located at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection. Visit www.maunalanigolf.com/packages for more information.

Both courses were recently ranked among the “Best Courses You Can Play in Hawaii” by Golfweek Magazine – North Course No. 8 and South Course No. 15 – and were ranked No. 5 and 6 in Hawaii by GolfPass in the website’s “Golfers’ Choice 2021: Top Golf Courses in Hawaii” annual ranking. 

The South Course, a Homer Flint, Raymond Cain and Robin Nelson design, was built on the 16th century Kaniku lava flow snaking through stark, rugged a‘a lava.  A pair of par 3s – the 7th and 15th holes – are Mauna Lani South’s signature holes and are two of the most photographed golf holes in the world. The South Course was home to the Senior Skins Game from 1990 to 2000 and Golfweek magazine rates it as one of the “Best Courses to Play in Hawai‘i.” 

Mauna Lani’s North Course, a Flint, Cain and Nelson design, was built on an ancient lava bed and is ranked by Golfweek as one of the top courses on Hawaii.  Overlaying the rugged brown pahoehoe lava flow, the North Course features rolling fairways and through kiawe forests.  A 230-acre protected archeological district lies on the northern edge of the North Course, while feral goats roam the course, cropping the grass and providing a unique neutral hazard.  The par-3 17th is the signature hole on the North Course as a series of elevated tees form a natural amphitheater with the green at the base of a lava bowl.  

For more information on Mauna Lani Golf, visit www.maunalanigolf.com or call 808-885-6655.

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Honma TR20 Driver Singled Out for Best Forgiveness in MyGolfSpy’s “Most Wanted” Testing for Second-Straight Year


(CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA)
– Honma is pleased to share that the TR20 460 driver has been recognized for the second consecutive year as MyGolfSpy’s Best Forgiveness driver in their annual "Most Wanted" Driver awards. The independent club test award attests to the advanced technology of Honma’s beautifully-crafted products that are designed for a wide range of golfers.

The Japanese company, with more than 60 years in the golf equipment business, continues to build upon their time-honored reputation of designing elegant clubs. The TR20 driver, TR21 family of clubs, and the new GS products are expanding the Honma brand as an OEM utilizing state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge materials to bring out the performance and beauty into an unprecedented design. Being recognized by MyGolfSpy continues to support Honma’s impact within the industry.

About TR20 460cc Driver

The TR20’s refined beauty makes a bold impression but it’s the combination of speed, feel, and forgiveness that are fueling the line’s growing reputation. 

The TR20’s TiCarbon Fast Frame combines an ultra-thin, ultra-light and uniquely molded ET40 carbon crown from Toray Composites (the world's leading manufacturer of PAN-based carbon fibers used in a variety of applications like aerospace and aeronautics) with a lightweight carbon sole on a highly engineered titanium frame that locates weight and structure exactly where they are needed for speed. A unique variable thickness and vertical groove face saves weight and works with the Ti frame and carbon body to deliver even more ball speed. Three adjustable weights are strategically located to optimize the CG location for high MOI, low spin or draw biased performance allowing the golfer to achieve their optimum launch conditions and preferred ball flight.

TR20 460cc model comes in base lofts of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degrees that can be adjusted up or down by one degree through a patented, non-rotating hosel system that adjusts both loft and lie while keeping the optimized shaft spine in a consistent position for every adjustable setting for more consistent performance. Three strategically-located and adjustable sole weights to provide flight and playability preference for increased MOI, reduced spin, or more draw bias.

Visit: us.honmagolf.com.