“I’m delighted that we continue to excite golfers all across the world,” he commented. “I love to see us increasing market share and doing well as a business, but mostly I love that golfers want to use our products. We spend a lot of time thinking about what a golfer needs, and it gives me huge satisfaction when we get it right. With our smallest ever push cart the Blade Trio hitting stores around the world this year, I can’t wait to see if golfers agree with our ideas again!”
The coming year sees BIG MAX’s biggest new launch in over 5 years. The new Blade Trio push cart is based on the most impressive features across the brand’s multi-award winning fold flat push cart range. This will make the Blade Trio, BIG MAX’s most compact and fastest folding model. Despite its diminutive size when folded, the Blade Trio will open out to comfortably handle the most spacious golf bags, delivering the perfect blend of compact fold, beautiful aesthetics and practicality on the course.
With the launch of the Blade Trio and several exciting new additions to its bag line that are driven by the needs of golfers, 2023 is set to be another great year for BIG MAX.
*Golf Datatech figures for DACH European market share.
For more information visit Home - BIG MAX USA (bigmaxgolf.com)
(RALEIGH, N.C.) — In golfing circles, the state of North Carolina is renowned for boasting “50 Top 10 courses.” And in 2023, led by perennial stalwarts Sedgefield Country Club, Old North State Club, Raleigh Country Club and Treyburn Country Club, Raleigh-based McConnell Golf once again dominated North Carolina Golf Panel’s Top 100 courses.
For the third consecutive year, all 10 of McConnell Golf’s North Carolina-based layouts were included among the state’s Top 100 rankings, including a trio of layouts ranked in the state’s Top 20. The N.C. Golf Panel presented its 28th annual report on the state’s 100 best courses in the April issue of Business North Carolina magazine.
McConnell Golf CEO John McConnell, who founded the company 20 years ago, was also recognized in Business North Carolina’s April issue in a separate article about the state’s 15 most influential golf industry titans.
Greensboro’s Sedgefield CC, a Donald Ross design that annually challenges the world’s best golfers during the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship, ranked No. 9 in the state again in 2023, followed by McConnell Golf’s perennial state Top 10 — Old North State Club, a Tom Fazio masterpiece along Badin Lake’s Uwharrie Point near New London — which stayed at No. 10 in this year’s rankings.
Ross’s historic final design and McConnell Golf’s first club, Raleigh CC, also made the state Top 20 again in 2023, remaining at No. 19. Raleigh CC will enjoy the return of professional golf this year from June 1-4, when the club will host the Korn Ferry Tour’s UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH after 18 years at another McConnell Golf venue, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation in North Raleigh.
In 2020, McConnell Golf completed a $5.5-million renovation at Raleigh CC, a modern-day reimagining overseen by architect Kyle Franz. The layout lends itself to an excellent fan experience, with each hole in close proximity, giving spectators the privilege of watching multiple holes from expansive and convenient viewing areas.
The Fazio-designed gem at Treyburn CC in Durham was ranked No. 33 among North Carolina’s finest while another Ross design, Country Club of Asheville, remained in the state’s Top 50 at No. 50, following a 2016 McConnell Golf renovation spearheaded by Richard Mandell of Pinehurst. McConnell’s popular semi-private property, The Cardinal by Pete Dye in Greensboro, checked in at No. 52 in the state, up three spots from 2022.
Another Fazio design, Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, a Tom Fazio creation that McConnell Golf bought in 2020, made the biggest jump in the 2023 rankings, up 11 spots to No. 64 in the state, followed at No. 81 by Charlotte’s Providence Country Club. McConnell Golf added Providence CC to its portfolio in 2016 and hired Greensboro architect Kris Spence to renovate the course two years later.
In Raleigh, Hale Irwin’s design of The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation stood at No. 89 — further demonstrating how strong golf is across North Carolina. Meanwhile, McConnell Golf’s Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville remained a part of the state’s coveted Top 100 at No. 99.
McConnell Golf, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is the region’s largest owner of premier private clubs with a portfolio across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, including 13 18-hole, private golf courses, two semi-private courses and one 27-hole public course. The organization was built upon the concept of “pure golf for the true golfer,” focusing on enhancing both the individual clubs and its company’s overall membership value.
“Our courses continue to merge history, beauty and opportunity for our avid golfing membership and their guests,” said McConnell. “With numerous recent enhancements at McConnell Golf courses and other projects planned, I am proud of what we have accomplished and eager to see how the rankings play out in the future.”
McConnell Golf is the only individual golf course proprietor in the world that owns four Ross-designed courses. Its impressive stable of clubs also includes Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn., and its highly regarded 1927 Ross-designed golf course — current host of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Visit Knoxville Open and a fixture in Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses. McConnell Golf purchased Holston Hills in late 2015 and has invested heavily in capital improvements including a new fitness center, locker room upgrades, and a banquet and dining room renovation.
Other notable rankings of McConnell Golf courses:
- Golfers’ Choice 2023: Top 25 College Golf Courses - Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech (No. 8)
- Golfers' Choice 2023: Best golf courses in Virginia - Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech (No. 6)
- Golfers' Choice 2023: Best golf courses in North Carolina - The Cardinal by Pete Dye (No. 7)
- Golf Digest - We ranked every PGA Tour course—from best to worst - Sedgefield Country Club (No. 19)
- Golfweek's Best 2023: Top 200 residential golf courses in the U.S. - Old North State Club (No. 102), Treyburn Country Club (No. 122)
- The 20 best golf courses in South Carolina (2022/2023) - Musgrove Mill Golf Club (No. 20)
- The 20 best golf courses in North Carolina (2022/2023) - Sedgefield Country Club (No. 20)
- The 10 best golf courses in Tennessee (2022/2023) - Holston Hills Country Club (No. 2)
- Golfweek's Best 2022: Top public and private courses in Tennessee - Holston Hills Country Club (No. 2)
(SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.) – Pinehurst No. 2 has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state as determined by the North Carolina Golf Panel. Pinehurst Resort will host the 2024 U.S. Open at the venerable Donald Ross course for the fourth time, June 13-16, 2024. The Dogwood Course at The Country Club of North Carolina and Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club flipped the third and fourth positions. Southern Pines Golf Club moved up 13 spots to the 75th ranked course in the state as the recently renovated design by Kyle Franz continues to garner votes from panelists. Sixteen courses from the Sandhills area are listed in the Top 100 rankings with the lowest being Talamore Golf Club at #77.
The North Carolina Golf Panel was founded in 1995 and is recognized as the most authoritative statewide source of golf course rankings in a state that arguably boasts some of the nation’s best courses. The 185-member panel is composed of golf media, club professionals and general managers from many outstanding courses, accomplished amateur players and college golf coaches, and others who play an active role in promoting golf in North Carolina.
“North Carolina has some of the best golf courses in the country and the epicenter is right here in the Pinehurst area,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Golf is a major driver of our economy in Moore County and the demand for our product is higher than ever. This once again validates that we are the Home of American golf.”
Among the 2023 rankings of the Top 100 Courses in North Carolina, a total of 16 are located in the Pinehurst Area. Those rankings include: Pinehurst No. 2 (#1); The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood, #3); Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club (#4); Pinehurst No. 4 (#12); CCNC (Cardinal, #13); Pinehurst No. 8 (#16); Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club (#22); Dormie Club (#24); Forest Creek Golf Club (South, #29); Pinehurst No. 9 (#30); Mid South Club (#37); Forest Creek Golf Club (North, #40); Pinehurst No. 7 (#51); Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia, #68); and Southern Pines Golf Club (#75) and Talamore Golf Club (#77).
The panel also ranked the Top 50 Courses You Can Play and the Pinehurst area once again dominated the list with 14 locations, or nearly 30 percent of the clubs, including the top seven and eight of the top 11. The top seven include Pinehurst No. 2, Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst No. 8, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Pinehurst No. 9 and Mid South Club. Pinehurst No. 7 is eleventh. Other golf clubs among the Top 50 include Southern Pines Golf Club (#20); Talamore Golf Club (#21); Pinehurst No. 6 (#32); Tobacco Road Golf Club (#38); Legacy Golf Links (#40) and Longleaf Golf and Family Club (#41).
“The specialness of the Sandhills as the premier golf destination in perhaps the world, is reflected every year in our rankings. What sometimes get lost is how many outstanding course designers, following in the footsteps of Donald Ross, have worked in the region,” said Kevin Brafford, executive director of the N.C. Golf Panel. “Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus all have original designs. Then came the work of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw on Pinehurst No. 2, followed by Gil Hanse with No. 4. Tom Doak will be the next to leave his mark when the tenth course opens next year.”
Pinehurst area golf courses are no strangers to the national and global stage as well when it comes to major championships. The U.S. Open will be back at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, marking the fourth such major championship to be played at the iconic club over the course of 25 years (1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024), the most to be played over the course of a quarter century than any other location in the country. Pinehurst No. 2 will host additional U.S. Open championships in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. In 2029, Pinehurst No. 2 will once again host back-to-back men’s and women’s U.S. Open championships, a repeat of the only course in America to host that tandem of historic events in 2014.
For more information about all golf courses in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area, visit HomeofGolf.com. For the complete list of the Top 100 Courses for 2023, Top 50 Courses You Can Play and other rankings, visit NCGolfPanel.com.
Featuring an ultra-durable, Jet Black Premium finish, the WedgeWorks Limited Edition 64W is a unique wedge, especially designed for those who play in firm conditions, on golf courses with elevated greens or multiple short-sided lies.
The sole of the 64W has a medium width with slight camber, helping create speed through the turf, with an effective bounce of 4 degrees.
• Bob Vokey: “This wedge is ideal for the player with quick hands who likes to see the ball elevate quickly, or the fearless player who isn’t afraid to attack any pin.
“Players that are so good at shallowing out their technique can simply allow this mid-width sole with loft to do all the work when under the pressure of elevated pin locations. It delivers a feeling that the best players in the world love and dedicated golfers will, too.”
• Aaron Dill, Vokey Tour Rep: “I started getting calls and texts from players curious about a 64° wedge that they could use at certain times during the season. There are golf courses and green complexes that require more loft or bunkers that may be deeper than expected. As we worked through this project, the consensus from players was a wedge that has lower bounce, is faster through the turf and gives more of a skid and slide feeling on the bottom. It’s a really cool option to have available when the conditions call for it.”
Shaft: Dynamic Gold Black Onyx S200 | Grip: Golf Pride 360 Blackout | Available while supplies last
ADVANCED PERSONALIZATION AND CUSTOM OPTIONS: Limited Edition 64W features a modern, clean look, which provides a canvas for customization. The WedgeWorks custom options include:
Six unique toe engravings
Stamping options | 10-character Straight/Freestyle stamping; 15 characters around the toe; and two lines of 10 characters each WedgeWorks Limited Edition 64W can also be custom ordered with an industry-leading selection of shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules. For a complete list of options, visit www.Vokey.com.
(Oceanside, Calif .) — The story of Lee Elder is truly inspiring, and Linksoul is honoring his legacy and supporting his family through The Lee Elder Challenge on Saturday, March 18, 2023 @11AM. There is no better backdrop to host this event than at The Playground at Goat Hill Park Golf Course in Oceanside, California. 100% of the proceeds from the event will go directly to the Lee Elder Trust to cover his wife’s healthcare costs and sustain the Lee Elder Memorial Fund. For more event information, please link to all details: The Lee Elder Challenge is open to the public.
After standing lovingly by his side for 30 years, his wife Sharon now faces a serious health crisis of her own and is embattled with Alzheimer’s. Faced with mounting medical bills, rising healthcare costs, and no meaningful income to assist, the family is raising money to provide her care, which was always of paramount concern to Lee.
“It is heartening to see golfers and the golf community come together to celebrate Elder’s accomplishments and continue to uphold his legacy,” said Linksoul Co-founder John Ashworth “By supporting the Lee Elder Trust and Memorial Fund, we can ensure that his impact on the game and the world continues to be felt for years to come.”
Elder’s unwavering determination and optimism in the face of racism and discrimination broke down barriers and paved the way for future generations of Black golfers. A Linksoul-chaptered series was written honoring his life and memories, providing insight into his journey as a golfer from his beginnings as a caddie to his historic moment as the first Black man to compete in the Masters in 1975. Elder’s impact on the sport and the lives he touched through his trailblazing efforts will forever be entwined with the soul of golf. Please see the Linksoul nine-chapter story of Lee Elder here.
Ashworth continued: “Working with the family of Lee Elder embodies the purpose of Linksoul, which is to celebrate the soul of golf and give back. We will continue to use our platform and resources to support causes that align with our values and make a difference in the world. “
In addition to fundraising at The Lee Elder Challenge, Linksoul created a LEE ELDER x LINKSOUL capsule commemorating Elder’s powerful example of breaking through race barriers in sports. With the 2023 LEE ELDER x LINKSOUL capsule, 100% of all proceeds will go directly to the Lee Elder Trust and Lee Elder Memorial Fund. The capsule includes commemorative T-shirts, Hats, Ball Marker, Glove and Golf Towel. The LEE ELDER x LINKSOUL capsule is available online at Linksoul.com.
The “Pastel Pack” enhances the modern classic Premiere Series Field with rich, chalky pastel-flooded outsoles and accents. The subtle stand outs will be available for men in Powder Blue, Primrose Pink, and Hazy Yellow.
A women’s version will also be released in Primrose Pink on the new Premiere Series Issette, which features a removable kiltie.
“Spring always brings a heightened level of excitement to all golfers” said Patrick Trubiano, Director of Product Management, FJ Footwear. “We wanted to encourage players to elevate their shoe game as they return to the course with this exclusive Premiere Series offering.”
Fans can keep an eye out for the fresh pastels over the weekend as several FootJoy Tour players will be wearing them in competition, including Will Zalatoris, Max Homa, and Cameron Young.
The Premiere Series Pastels will be available on footjoy.com and partner retail channels beginning Thursday, April 6 at 10am EST. Learn more at footjoy.com or follow @footjoy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok.
