Edwin Watts Golf Introduces Top Instructors Program

Leading Golf Teachers from Across the U.S. Recognized for their Passion, Commitment and Contributions to the Game

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) - In an effort to continue helping golfers “Play A Better Game,” Edwin Watts Golf Shops, one of the world’s largest specialty golf retailers, introduced the company’s newest growth of the game initiative, the annual Top Instructors Program. Backed by the company’s portfolio of more than 90 Edwin Watts Golf Shops located in the U.S., a designated selection committee made up of elite golf professionals has named nearly 80 men and women to the 2013 Edwin Watts Golf Top Instructors List, in recognition of their passion, commitment and contributions to the game of golf.

“We created the Top Instructors Program to honor an acclaimed group of individuals who collectively share a passion for teaching the game and demonstrate the highest level of expertise at their craft,” said John Watson, CEO, Edwin Watts Golf. “Equally important, these elite instructors boast an unmatched willingness and excitement to teach players of all skill levels. This philosophy falls directly in line with our commitment to growing the sport by helping golfers play a better game through best-in-class instruction combined with today’s advanced game improvement equipment technology.”

The individuals honored on the Edwin Watts Golf Top Instructors List include some of golf’s most accomplished teachers, such as Jimmy Ballard, Michael Breed, Chuck Cook, Martin Hall, Mike Malaska, Jim McLean and Bob Toski, among dozens of the leading minds in golf instruction located throughout the U.S.

By accepting inclusion on the list, these distinguished instructors establish an unmatched teaching network for Edwin Watts Golf, enabling the company to continue growing the game at the local level by connecting best-in-class instruction with consumers of all ages and skill levels, while advocating the true game improvement benefits of in-store club matching and performance fitting. In fact, the Top Instructors Program coincides with Edwin Watts Golf’s new ARC (Advanced Robot Certified) Club Matching System that uses scientific robot testing of golf club performance to objectively “club match and performance fit” golfers with products that best perform to their swing characteristics. As a result, throughout 2013, Edwin Watts Golf will be hosting a series of special events across its store portfolio featuring members of the Top Instructors List who will conduct in-store game improvement and club matching clinics.

Adds Watson, “This Top Instructors Program will come to represent one of the industry’s leading grassroots programs for golfers to truly improve their performance. Our ability to place golfers in clubs that best match their swing characteristics, and then provide in-store lessons and tips from golf’s premier instructors, creates game improvement opportunities that are unmatched for our customers.”

Among the criteria for inclusion on the Edwin Watts Golf Top Instructors List, candidates must have at least 12 years of full-time teaching experience; they must demonstrate a commitment to learn by attending continuing education programs, summits, etc.; they must have proven success with local and prominent students, having demonstrated the ability to develop a golfer into a successful competitive player; and they must serve as mentors in the game, using their skills to help grow the game by educating and working with up and coming instructors.

Watson concludes, “Through our grassroots nomination process, the selection committee was presented with hundreds of potential candidates for inclusion in the Top Instructors List. We believe that the more than 80 honorees on the 2013 list represent the best of their profession and will serve as great ambassadors for Edwin Watts Golf in helping to improve the game for golfers of all levels.”

On the heels of announcing the Top Instructors Program, in the coming weeks Edwin Watts Golf will unveil a “Regional Spotlight” list, recognizing accomplished teachers who are at the top of their profession at the local and regional levels nationwide. All instructors honored in the Top Instructors Program, both nationally and regionally, will be featured at www.edwinwattsgolf.com.

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Club Glove Adds TravelRX to Ultra-Premium TRS Ballistic Luggage Collection

Vintage ‘Doctor’s Bag’ Appearance, Innovative Dual Compartment Design

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA) – Club Glove – a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of premium travel bags, golf bags, club covers, accessories and luggage – announces the availability of its new carry-on sized TravelRX bag, the latest offering in the ultra-premium TRS Ballistic luggage line.

Inspired by a classic doctor’s bag, the TravelRX boasts an elegant, vintage design with updated features to ensure optimal functionality. These include extremely space-efficient upper and lower compartments for easy separation when packing. The distinct sections can be accessed individually or the piece can quickly be converted into one large overnight bag by adjusting the interior lining. Prototypes unveiled earlier this year were named among the “Top Products from the PGA Show” by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine.

Designed for the affluent globetrotter, the TRS Ballistic line is constructed of U.S. woven military-spec INVISTA CORDURA 1050 denier Nylon Ballistic fabric that offers double the abrasion resistance and four times the tear resistance of other premium brands.

“The TravelRX is tough, stylish and is the perfect size to be used as either an overnight bag or a companion piece on longer trips,” says company founder Jeff Herold. “When stowed in a plane’s overhead bin, the dual compartment design allows access to the lower section without removing the bag, which means it is great for storing a laptop, magazines or other things you typically want to access during a flight.”

Available in all black or a fashionable two-tone black and bronze color scheme, the TravelRX ($399) joins other popular offerings in the TRS Ballistic line, including a backpack ($349), shoulder bag ($349), carry-on ($699), check-in ($750) and XL check-in ($799) bags. When used as a set, travelers can take advantage of Club Glove’s renowned, patent-pending Train Reaction system. This allows users to quickly and easily connect bags and drastically reduces the amount of effort needed to pull or push gear by creating a perfect center of gravity and weightless feel.

TRS Ballistic luggage is preferred by more than 100 top-ranked PGA Tour players as well as NFL and MLB stars. These include Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Luke Donald, Davis Love III, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Matt Schaub, Reggie Wayne, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. To view the entire list, please visit www.clubglove.com.

The No. 1 golf travel bag brand at all PGA and Champions Tour events as confirmed by Darrell Survey, Club Glove is preferred by 90 percent of PGA Tour Players. Selected by six U.S. Ryder Cup teams, the company’s high-end, Made-in-the-USA golf bags have been a fixture at green grass and off course shops for nearly a decade and are available in stand, cart and Sunday versions. The famed Last Bag was honored by Golf World magazine as one of the game’s “10 Best Innovations,” recognizing its extreme durability and practicality.

More information: www.clubglove.com or 800.736.4568.

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Golf Pride Announces 27th Annual Richard L. Byrne Memorial Golf Tournament

Receives Governor's Awards for Efforts that Raised more than $3 Million for Hospice of Scotland County

(SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.) - Golf Pride, a division of diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton, has teamed up with sponsors and Scotch Meadows Country Club to raise more than $3 million dollars for Hospice of Scotland County. On April 23-24, they will once again play host to golfers throughout the Sandhills at the 27th annual Richard L. Byrne Memorial Golf Tournament.

After supporting the event since 1987, in recognition of its longstanding efforts, Golf Pride received a 2013 Governor's Award for Volunteer Service in the Corporate/Business Category. In addition, Governor Pat McCrory will bestow upon Golf Pride the prestigious Governor's Medallion Award, of which only 20 are given out in North Carolina each year. The award will be presented at the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh April 23.

The 2013 Richard L. Byrne Memorial Golf Tournament features both 18-hole individual low gross and low net competitions, as well as a two-person low net competition. Over 200 players annually participate in the event with 100 percent of tournament proceeds benefiting Hospice of Scotland County. The event also boasts an extensive silent auction featuring golf equipment, golf course certificates, sports memorabilia and other items.

"Eaton's Golf Pride Division has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the mission of Hospice of Scotland County for 27 years," said Jane Murray, CEO of Hospice of Scotland County. "Members of the Golf Pride team donate countless hours of their time each year to help plan and produce the Richard L. Byrne Memorial Golf Tournament. Golf Pride is uniquely suited to assist with the tournament given their expertise, contacts and reputation in the golf industry, and their support has helped raise more than $3 million since the tournament's inception. It is rare for a corporation to dedicate so much time, resources and energy to volunteerism, so we're very proud that Golf Pride has been recognized for those extraordinary efforts with the prestigious Governor's Volunteer Service Award and the Governor's Medallion."

For more information on the Richard L. Byrne Memorial Tournament and for last minute entrees, contact Hospice of Scotland County at (910) 276-7176. For information on Golf Pride grips' community involvement visit www.golfpride.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Golf Road Warriors Take on “The Best Island” Greens at Top-Rated Maui Golf Courses

(Portland, Ore.) – TheAPosition.com kicks off its spring golf season with a tropical flourish by sending five journalists to Maui from April 21-27 to sample the Magical Isle’s world-class golf courses, beaches, hotels, cuisine, and more.  Four writers and a videographer will create and broadcast daily original content via a collection of websites and social media that will be further disseminated by sponsor partners.  The content will include short travelogues, videos, and reviews of courses, restaurants, and other attractions, as well as the observations of a team of seasoned golf enthusiasts.

This edition of Golf Road Warriors involves members of The A Position who have reported from previous trips to Myrtle Beach, Scottsdale, Reynold’s Plantation, Palm Springs, Casa de Campo, and other locales.

Brian McCallen is a long-time golf travel writer whose credits include GOLF Magazine (where he was a Senior Editor for 16 years), Robb Report, Cigar Aficionado, Travel & Leisure, the Washington Post and many others top publications.  McCallen is also the author of a number of books about the world’s best golf destinations.

Manhattan-based writer Jim Frank has been a golf journalist and editor for more than 30 years, including stints as Executive Editor of GOLF Magazine from 1990-2003, and founder of Golf Connoisseur.  Franks has edited and published countless articles in the best golf and travel publications and published several books.

Award-winning writer Tom Bedell is the only member of both the Golf Writers Association of America and the North American Guild of Beer Writers.  His work has appeared in Travel & Leisure Golf, Celebrated Living, Lexus Magazine, and many other top publications.

Jeff Wallach, Executive Editor of the A Position, has published in The New York Times, Money Magazine, Outside, and other magazines and newspapers. The author of five books, he claims to have a pretty good short game for a journalist.

On Maui the writers will be videoed by Jamie McWilliams, whose extensive sports background has included producing, directing, and writing for NFL Films.  McWilliams has worked as the videographer for a number of Golf Road Warriors adventures.  He will document adventures at such great golf courses as Wailea Gold, Kapalua’s Plantation Course, King Kamehameha Golf Club, and Kaanapali’s Royal Course.

Check out the warriors’ field reports at GolfRoadWarriors.com and theAposition.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Nike Athlete Suzann Pettersen Secures Playoff Victory

Pettersen wins with Nike’s new VR_S Covert driver

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) – Nike Athlete Suzann Pettersen, secured a playoff victory at the LPGA LOTTE Championship in Hawaii.

Pettersen won with 14 Nike clubs in the bag including the new VR_S Covert driver with the Nike FlexLoft adjustability system set at 10.5 N (Neutral). The stunning red driver features a cavity back design, distinctive and simple FlexLoft adjustability system, and NexCor face. Petterson’s victory is her second win this season using the innovative VR_S Covert driver.

Pettersen fired 26 birdies and produced an average of 26 putts per round using her Nike Method Putter. The Nike Method franchise features Nike’s polymetal groove technology, generating a faster forward roll at impact for increased accuracy.

Pettersen expressed about her play, “It felt like I executed four good rounds under par in very different conditions.  I've been feeling good with my putter, so I said to myself, ‘you know what, you might make a few errors but you're going to have plenty of opportunities to make birdies.’”

Pettersen also played with Nike’s new 20XI X ball featuring Nike’s RZN Core technology. This groundbreaking technology provides a lighter, faster and more responsive core than rubber core technology. RZN technology allows for less spin off the driver and more spin off the wedge, creating greater distance and control.

With her recent switch to the combination of the VR_S Covert and new 20XI X golf ball, Suzann has picked up an average of 18.5 yards off the tee since her last win at the Mission Hills World Ladies’ Golf Championship.

Pettersen wore Nike Golf Apparel from the Performance line and new footwear launching this fall.

Pettersen’s Nike Golf Arsenal
* Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 9.5 degree
* Fairway Wood: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood/13-degree
* Hybrid: Nike VR_S 18-degree
* Irons: Nike VR Pro Cavity (4-5), VR Pro Combo (6-PW)
* Wedges: Nike VR Pro 48-degree, 52-degree and 59-degree
* Putter: Nike Method Core 3i
* Ball: Nike 20XI X
* Apparel: Nike Tour Performance Women’s Collection

Nike Golf’s 2013 PGA Tour Victories
* Tiger Woods – Arnold Palmer Invitational
* Tiger Woods- WGC Cadillac Championship
* Scott Brown- Puerto Rico Open
* Tiger Woods- Torrey Pines
* Russell Henley- Sony Open

Nike Golf’s 2013 International Victories
* Scott Jamieson – The Nelson Mandela Championship (European Tour)
* Charl Schwartzel – Alfred Dunhill Championship (European Tour)

Nike Golf’s 2013 LPGA Tour Victories
* Suzann Pettersen- LPGA LOTTE Championship

Nike Golf’s 2013 Ladies International Victories
* Suzann Pettersen- Mission Hills World Ladies’ Golf Championship

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TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff Professional Raphael Jacquelin Wins Open De Espana

Jacquelin's Fourth Career European Tour Win in Record-Tying Nine Playoff Holes

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – After nine playoff holes at the Open De Espana, TaylorMade Tour Staff Professional Raphael Jacquelin emerged victorious for his fourth career European Tour victory.

Jacquelin played a full bag of TaylorMade Golf equipment including the R1 driver, RocketBallz Stage 2 3-wood and the Lethal golf ball.

TaylorMade was the No. 1 driver at the Open de Espana with 57 in play.

In Jacquelin's Bag:
* R1 driver
* RocketBallz Stage 2 3-wood 14.5
* Adams Idea Super LSP VST 18.0
* Tour Preferred MC Irons 3-PW
* xFT wedges 52, 58
* MA-81 prototype putter
* adidas Golf footwear

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Sequoia Golf announces launch of new quarterly In Play Magazine

(ATLANTA) - Sequoia Golf, one of the leading golf management organizations in the industry, announces the launch of its quarterly In Play Magazine to be distributed to all members in the Sequoia Golf and Canongate network. The new upscale publication was created to inspire both passionate golfers as well as non-golfers and will feature the latest golf trends, instructional tips, travel stories and an array of human interest pieces.

Adding to its slate of current member benefit programs such as its PlayAway program, Performance Center and varied golf league offerings, Sequoia Golf's new publication is aimed at supporting the active golf lifestyle. Created to cater to the modern golfer, In Play will serve as a true lifestyle magazine and will cover all topics ranging from playing tips to luxury goods to relevant reading material. The In Play editorial staff is comprised of national magazine writers, golf experts and industry insiders focused on bringing exciting and informative news to its readership of more than 25,000 households.

"We are excited to unveil the latest addition to the Sequoia Golf brand. In line with all of the products we offer our members, our mission with In Play is to inspire golfers of all skill sets with variety of topics and unparalleled quality," said Joe Guerra, president and CEO of Sequoia Golf. "We created In Play to celebrate what's best about the golf lifestyle. Our members have some incredible stories that often go untold and In Play is a fresh and fun way to share inspiring stories from real golfers and their families. It is our hope that In Play will showcase the finest people, places and passions from the Sequoia community."

In addition to the quarterly print magazine, Sequoia will also release a full, interactive digital edition of every issue to be distributed to more than 50,000 opted-in Sequoia members and partners via email and its mobile application. To receive additional information on In Play Magazine and to learn about available advertising opportunities contact advertising@inplaymedia.com.

For more information on Sequoia Golf Group, visit www.sequoiagolf.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com