Unboxing FootJoy Hyperflex Carbon Golf Shoes

The new HyperFlex and HyperFlex Carbon shoes from FootJoy offer Tour-proven enhancements within the athletic silo, delivering unquestioned innovation, comfort, stability and a visual design aesthetic that celebrates performance technology for the golfer athlete.

“This product will excite current HyperFlex wearers and those looking to add more power to their game,” said Patrick Trubiano, FootJoy’s Director of Product Management.

Benefits of the new FJ Hyperflex golf shoes include:

– Maximized ground contact and range of motion with OptiFlex Zone delivery;

– Support and stability the moment you set foot on the course with Softspike’s Pulsar LP cleats;

– Breathable performance mesh that’s combined with a ribbed knit saddle for support and structure;

– A 100% waterproof mesh upper, StratoFoam, and OrthoLite Impressions; and

– Carbon-wrapped shank of new Hyperflex Carbons.

Learn more at www.footjoy.com.

Cleveland Golf Releases Additional RTX 6 ZipCore Finishes

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) – CLEVELAND GOLF, an industry leader in Wedge design and innovation, introduces two new finishes for the RTX 6 ZipCore: Tour Rack and Black Satin. These finishes are scheduled to launch March 1 in North America.

The exclusive RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack Wedges offer golfers raw, customizable Wedges identical to the ones used on tour and played by the best players in the world. This unique program allows players to create their Wedge from start to finish just like the professionals.

“With Tour Rack, we’ve made tour-level customization an option for the masses,” said Pat Ripp, Tour Engineering Manager of Research and Development at Cleveland Golf. “We can bend, grind, color, engrave, and assemble your Wedge to your exact specifications, just like we do for the professionals on tour.” 

The process begins by choosing one of the Tour Crafted Sole Grind options, which are then fine-tuned by master craftsmen, creating a distinctive Wedge grind specific to the players short game preferences.

Along with Tour Rack, is RTX 6 ZipCore in Black Satin. Visually, this finish reduces glare at address and stands out more from the hosel and toe par.

The RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack and Black Satin Wedges are offered in a wide variety of Sole Grind options and lofts.

- LOW Sole grind: 58-60 degree lofts

- LOW+ Sole grind: 54-56 degree lofts

- MID Sole grind: 46-60 degree lofts

- FULL Sole grind: 54-60 degree lofts 

Both finishes come standard with True Temper’s Dynamic Gold Spinner Tour Issue shaft, and Lamkin Crossline 360 grip.

Pricing and Retail Information:

- RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack: $189.99

- RTX 6 ZipCore Black Satin: $169.99

U.S. Retail Launch Date: March 1, 2023

For more information on the RTX 6 ZipCore and its additional finishes go to us.dunlopsports.com/clevelandgolf

40th Annual World Amateur Handicap Championship to Begin Accepting Entries February 15

Golf’s Largest Single-Site Tournament Expected to Attract 3,200+ Players

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – The 40th annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship will begin accepting entries for the milestone event February 15. A 72-hole, net stroke play tournament, the World Am will be played Aug. 28 – Sept. 1 and more than 3,200 players from across the world are again expected to participate. 

Early entry into the tournament, which includes at least four rounds of golf, nightly admission to the World’s Largest 19th Hole and a gift bag, is $599 through March 23, a $100 savings off the regular cost. Players that register by March 23 will also be eligible to win one of 67 random drawing prizes valued at more than $10,000 from brands such as TaylorMade, REVO and more.

“The World Am is the game’s premier recreational tournament, and the fact we have arrived at Year 40 and continue to attract a robust field is a testament to the event’s enduring appeal,” said tournament director Scott Tomasello. “We can’t wait to welcome golfers back to Myrtle Beach and provide them the opportunity to compete like a pro over the course of 72 holes and earn the title of World Champion. With everything we have planned for this year’s tournament, especially at the World’s Largest 19th Hole, 2023 will be a great for our players.”

The World Am, which will be played on more than 50 Myrtle Beach area golf courses, flights players based on age, gender and handicap and is open to all golfers 17 years of age and older with a verifiable USGA handicap.

The World Am flights players into 12 divisions – men 49 and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women (59 and under), senior women (60+), the gross division, senior (50+) gross division, mid-senior (60+) gross division and women’s gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for players who want to enjoy the World Am experience without the pressure of competition.

After four days of tournament play, all flight winners and ties advance to the World Championship Playoff, an 18-hole shootout that crowns the event’s winner.

While the competition is initially what lures players to the tournament, it’s only part of what keeps them coming back. At the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the World’s Largest 19th Hole. 

Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes all 120,000-square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and more. Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, Charlie Rymer and John Daly.

Players also receive a gift bag that includes a polo, pullover, golf towel, logo’d hat, PGA Tour Superstore gift card and an assortment of other goodies valued cumulatively at $250.

For more information, visit www.MyrtleBeachWorldAmateur.com.

Tripadvisor Bestows Branson with “Best of the Best” Destination Accolade

10 Golf Courses Cited Among Best in Midwest

(Branson, Missouri) – Tripadvisor has named Branson to its just-published “Travelers’ Choice 2023 Best of the Best Destinations” list, including it with other top places like Hawaii, Las Vegas, and New York City. 

Among other things, Tripadvisor wrote “The Missouri city of Branson is jam-packed with diversions. Attend star-studded performances at [its live entertainment theatres]; explore Silver Dollar City theme park; get back to nature in the Ozark Mountains and at three pristine area lakes; play some of the best golf in the Midwest; visit museums highlighting the area’s history and culture; or browse the city's boutiques and outlets. When the day is done, you can decompress at one of the area’s many resorts.”

Branson Golf is the destination home to 10 compelling courses in the southwest Missouri Ozarks near the Arkansas border. It includes six of the state’s top 10 ranked courses (including the top four) and four that have been rated among the best in the country.

Course designs by Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Bob Cupp, Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Clark, Chuck Smith, and Bobby Clampett combine for a diverse yet complementary array of playing options. 

Several of the courses have been built in the recent past making the burgeoning travel venue one of the fasted-growing, most-compelling golf destinations in North America.

At the apex of the golf destination resides Big Cedar Lodge. The brainchild of Bass Pro Shops Founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris, all five of its courses are designated as Audubon International Signature Sanctuary locations for the environmental and sustainability best practices.

While golf is thriving in Branson, it is made more appealing thanks to the destination’s plethora of complementary other attractions as Tripadvisor listed.

“Branson is a favorite destination of visitors thanks to our wonderful hotels, resorts, restaurants and leisure activities,” said Lynn Berry, Director of Communications, Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We hope the Tripadvisor honor inspires travelers to choose Branson for a visit this year.”

For more about Branson Golf:

ExploreBranson.com/golf

Instagram.com/@explorebransongolf

Facebook.com/@bransongolf

Circling Raven Garner ‘Best-Of’ Accolade; Sets April 7 as Opening Day for 2023 Season

Announces New PGA of America Certified Director of Golf; Unveils Array of Programs and Specials

(Worley, Idaho) – Winter is typically a dormant time for Northern Idaho golf clubs, but Coeur d’Alene Casino’s Circling Raven has been anything but sleepy this offseason, appointing a new Director of Golf, earning a new “best-in-kind” accolade, and revamping key operational components as it eagerly approaches the 2023 season.

Christopher Runyan

“Each season is a chance to build upon the previous one, and we expect 2023 to be exceptional,” said Christopher Runyan, PGA, Circling Raven’s new Director of Golf. “As our guests have come to appreciate, we will provide superb course conditions, multi-faceted programs, first-class customer service, and one of the best golf experiences in North America.” 

A U.S. Marine veteran, Runyan assumes the golf club helm with a resume filled with distinctions including:

2021 Golf Digest “Best in State” Golf Coach

2020 PGA of America, National Patriot Award Recipient

2019, 2018, 2013-16 Pacific NW PGA Section Patriot Award Recipient

2019 Golf Digest “Best in State” Golf Coach

He is also serving on leading golf committees including PGA National Special Awards (2022-2023) and PGA National HOPE Committee (2023-2024).

Runyan brings his impressive track record to a golf club with a similarly outstanding history. Since opening in 2003, Circling Raven has accumulated dozens of honors ranging from “Best Casino Course in America” to “Top 100 U.S. Resort Course” by multiple national media outlets.

Circling Raven’s latest honor – No. 1 Public Golf Course in Idaho – came last month from GolfPass and its annual “Golfers' Choice” lists, compiled by analyzing the ratings and reviews submitted by GolfPass members throughout the preceding season.

Owned by NBCUniversal under the Golf Channel banner, GolfPass has nearly 1 million members and gets nearly 2 million unique visitors to its website monthly.

Owned by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and designed by golf course architect Gene Bates, Circling Raven’s 18 holes are astoundingly routed across 620 stunning acres of Palouse Region terrain. The course unfurls amid woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife, including eagles and moose. 

The course is “home” again this season of the Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4 Now, an Epson “#Road2LPGA” Tour event. This summer approximately 132 top women professionals will vie for their share of the $225,000 prize purse, August 21-27.

Also returning this season are the popular, value-laden Advantage Card ($299) and Player Development Card ($249), rewards programs with numerous benefits and discounts for cardholders. Leagues, events, and programs for youth and couples are also being held this season. 

Golf playing rates, including 18 holes, cart with GPS, use of the practice facility start at $79 in early spring and increase to $159 in peak season on weekends for hotel guests.

For more information about Circling Raven, including stay-and-play packages and booking online, visit www.cdacasino.com or 800-523-2464.

Dundonald Links Garners Two Accolades at Scottish Golf Tourism Awards

(Ayrshire, Scotland) – Dundonald Links earned distinction in two categories at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards last week, the new luxury resort collecting first-place prizes for Best Clubhouse and Best Sustainability Project.

The popular golf course was transformed into a full, opulent resort that had its first full season in 2022, spearheaded by an extensive overhaul of its clubhouse. The spacious facility has received much acclaim for its Highlands-inspired aesthetic and exceptional Canny Crow restaurant. A quintessentially Scottish whisky room offers tasting sessions, while the resort’s state-of-the-art gym boasts a wide range of equipment. Guests report that the refined, sumptuous clubhouse is the perfect place to relax in post round, with panoramic views over the 18th green and beyond.

Dundonald Links’ distinction in the Best Sustainability Project category is recognition of the resort’s work around the 2022 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open, which it staged in July 2022, working with industry experts to create the #TGWSOOnTheGreen strategy. Throughout the build-up and event itself,

Dundonald Links used educational messaging, advanced waste processing and a site-wide ban of plastics among its methods to promote environmental wellness across the tournament. Meanwhile, official clothing supplier Reflo played its part by providing uniforms made of recycled plastics and coffee beans and committed to planting a tree for every birdie or better scored throughout the tournament – a number that eventually came to 1,583. 

“We are extremely proud to win these awards, which are testament to both the success of our recent investments and the hard work of the whole team here,” said Ian Ferguson, General Manager at Dundonald Links. “These awards emphasize two key pillars of our strategy: world class facilities and meaningful, long-term actions toward sustainability. We look forward to what the future holds as we strive to keep improving.”

Dundonald Links has been one of Scotland’s most popular golf courses. The Kyle Phillips’ designed layout is known for its challenging bunkers and imaginative greens, earning a place among Ayrshire’s iconic, nearby courses that include Prestwick, Royal Troon, and Western Gailes. The resort is already confirmed to host the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open again in 2023, alongside Final Qualifying for The Open. 

Under new owners Darwin Escapes, heavy investment has seen Dundonald Links evolve into a full-fledged resort.  Guests can stay in either modern hotel rooms or a collection of luxurious, self-catering lodges, all just a wedge shot from the golf course and clubhouse. The Canny Crow restaurant and whisky room pay tribute to the resort’s heritage while maintaining a contemporary feel, crafting a one-of-a-kind golf venue that is only growing in reputation.

Titleist Presents ‘We Go Farther’ Docuseries

The Story of the Titleist Speed Project and the Most Played Drivers on the PGA TOUR 

(FAIRHAVEN, Mass.) – “We Go Farther,” a new four-part docuseries chronicling the Titleist Speed Project, an R&D breakthrough that drove the resurgence of Titleist drivers on the PGA TOUR, debuts today on the Titleist YouTube channel and Titleist.com/We-Go-Farther.  

• Series Synopsis: Today, TSR is one of the fastest, most popular drivers in the game. But it wasn’t long ago that Titleist drivers had a different reputation. We Go Farther is a new series from Titleist that takes you deep inside the Titleist Speed Project, a six-year journey that transformed a daunting challenge into overwhelming Tour success. Meet the team that led the way and see what it takes to harness pure speed. 

• Most Played Driver on Tour: Titleist TS drivers, the first models developed through the Titleist Speed Project, made their debut at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. A total of 17 players made the immediate switch to TS models that week, a striking number particularly for the week of a major championship.  

For the first time since 2000, more players used Titleist drivers on the PGA TOUR during the 2018-2019 season than any other brand. Through the introduction of the next generation TSi and TSR models, Titleist has remained the most played driver brand on the PGA TOUR for four seasons running. 

“I feel like I can hit the low one in the wind, I feel like I can hit the high one to carry a bunker, and I’ve got that extra 10 [yards] over the last five years that I didn’t have,” Jordan Spieth says in Episode 4. “Over the course of a season that makes a huge difference.”  

Last season, Titleist drivers were played to win 16 PGA TOUR events, including three majors championships. Justin Thomas (PGA Championship) and the U.S. Open Champion gamed TSi3 drivers while Cameron Smith won the Open Championship with his TSR3 just weeks after the new models launched on tour. 

Max Homa’s victory last week at the Farmers Insurance Open marked the 30th win for the TSR drivers across the worldwide professional tours.  

EPISODE GUIDE  

Episode 1 - A Line in the Sand

Go back to the beginning of the Titleist Speed Project to see the seeds of innovation that led to the development of the Titleist TS, TSi and TSR drivers. Hear how it all began and how quickly the rubber met the road in the team’s peerless pursuit of speed.  

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Fv2x7sZGvI 

Episode 2 - Proving Grounds

As the new TS drivers near completion, the team reaches its first “now-or-never” moment. If it passes the test, there are aggressive plans to launch it on the horizon. Not even narrow fairways, punitive rough and high stakes can keep the Titleist Speed Project from rolling.  

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/MX7vqpDaTcc 

Episode 3 - Breaking Through

Having done it once, the question becomes, “Can you do it again?” As the Titleist Speed Project shifts from TS to TSi, the team hits a wall. With physics unwilling to budge, it’s time to bring in the big guns. All it takes is a little “space metal” to set off the fireworks and a string of celebrations.  

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/_KPRsaVaZa0 

Episode 4 - Pushing Beyond  

Standing on the other side of success, the Titleist Speed Project team looks to prove that the end of their innovation is nowhere in sight. As the TSR driver takes shape, the newest member of the team proves that sometimes the smallest enhancements can yield the biggest gains.  

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/hRF9Co8nkFQ 

Four-episode playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbY3VIgx2ZAc4K3_jb1WVyp0OD2G32gEZ 

Official trailer: https://youtu.be/brcFjRZtfIw