National Golf Foundation Reports 4 Million U.S. Golfers Took Lessons Last Year: Representing Almost 17 Percent of the Overall Participation Base

The positives of an improving golfer are plentiful .  Most notably, they express increased comfort and confidence, while playing more frequently and spending more money on the game. 

 

And according to a report by the National Golf Foundation, the quest to get better led more than four million golfers to take lessons last year in the U.S., a figure that represents almost 17-percent of the overall participation base. 

Golf Datatech Reports August 2019 Rounds of Golf Played Up Compared to Last Year

The National Golf Foundation and Datatech Golf have reported that rounds of golf for August 2019 were up 3.5-percent compared to the same period last year, although the increase is attributable at least in part to more favorable weather conditions than a year ago. 

 

While the August increase brought the year-to-date rounds-played total up, it's now flat compared to the first three quarters of 2018, which overall was a down year.  The total rounds-played number dipped to 434 million last year after hovering around 460 million the previous five years, a decline caused in part by the third-wettest year for the continental U.S. dating back to 1895. 

COBRA Golf T-RAIL Iron Hybrid Preview: Baffler Rail Technology Used to Design COBRA's First All Hollow Iron-Hybrid Set

Cobra Golf is releasing their first all-hollow iron-hybrid set called T-RAIL (Transitional Rail) to take super game improvement clubs to the next level.  T-RAIL combines the forgiveness of a COBRA Baffler hybrid with the precision of an iron in a one-of-a-kind set of clubs that are designed for anyone looking for a better game. 

 

The COBRA T-RAIL irons fuse a hollow, hybrid shape with an iron face and topline, creating an iron-hybrid design that delivers the perfect blend of distance, forgiveness and accuracy.  A hollow body construction creates a lower, deeper CG than traditional cavity-back iron designs allow and makes getting the ball airborne and on the desired target line easier than ever before. 

Next Gen COBRA Golf KING Forged Tec Irons Preview: A Powerful Combination of Accuracy, Feel, Distance, and Forgiveness

COBRA Golf is releasing its next generation 2020 KING Forged TEC irons featuring a traditional muscle-back shape with a hollow design for softer feel and improved power. 

 

Available in a variable or ONE Length set make-up, the new gen KING Forged Tex irons fuse a classic look with modern, cutting-edge face, finish and feel technologies, to provide golfers with the ideal balance of precision and distance. 

Mitsubishi and Aldila Shafts Pick Up Two More Victories on the PGA and European Tours

Mitsubishi and Aldila golf shafts picked up two victories on the PGA Tour and European Tour this weekend when Lanto Griffin won the Houston Open, and Bernd Wiesberger won the Italian Open. 

Griffin's maiden victory on Tour moved him to number 1 in the FedExCup Playoffs and Wiesberger's win moved him to number 1 in the Race to Dubai. 

 

The driver was instrumental in both Griffin's and Wiesberger's victories.  Griffin used a Mitsubishi Kuro Kage TiNi 70 X shaft in his driver to average 324.5 yards off the tee on the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston, and found 78.6-percent of the fairways. 

Lanto Griffin WITB What's In The Bag: The Golf Equipment Griffin Used to Win the 2019 Houston Open

Lanto Griffin has toiled on various mini-tours for most of his career, broke on to the PGA Tour in 2017 only to lose his card the following year, and overcome the life-shattering loss of his father to brain cancer. 

 

So when Griffin won his first professional Tour win Sunday at the Houston Open, emotions poured out.  Griffin's fought and clawed his entire life for this moment.  And persistence is in his DNA. 

Wynn Golf Club Returns with Championship Course Designed by Tom Fazio

The only resort golf course on the Las Vegas Strip returned to Wynn Las Vegas this weekend with the grand reopening of the Wynn Golf Club. 

 

The original 18-hole championship course established in 2005 has been reimagined by legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio to give players a new golf experience from the first drive to the last putt. 

Detroit Golf Club Named 2019 Michigan Golf Course of the Year

Founded in 1899, Detroit Golf Club has evolved for over a century into a graceful, challenging and picturesque property with history and pedigree at every turn. 

 

Accolades have been many and the latest is its selection as the 2019 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA). 

Troon and True Spec Golf Enter Partnership

Troon, the leader in club management, development, and marketing, has entered into a strategic partnership with True Spec Golf, the worldwide leader in custom club fitting and building, with more than 20 studios located around the world. 

 

Through the partnership, Troon will collaborate with True Spec Golf to expand their Mobile Fit program and studios at Troon locations around the country.  True Spec Golf will offer Troon customers and members special rates and exclusive offers for club fitting and building services. 

Tour Edge Golf Launches New Bazooka 370 and Bazooka 470 Black Complete Sets

Tour Edge Golf has released their new Bazooka 370 and Bazooka 470 Black complete sets, designed as part of their "Get in the Game" products designed to be the highest quality complete sets in the game. 

 

Their purpose is to make it easier for new golfers and golfers coming back to the game to get new high-performance, game-improvement technology that will make the game easier to play.

PING Golf Offers Free Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors on Eligible Products

As part of its ongoing effort to encourage owners of PING clubs to take advantage of the numerous benefits of Arccos Golf technology, PING has announced a program providing a free set of Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors exclusively to golfers who have purchased an eligible PING club or buy one before the end of the year. 

 

More than 30 PING clubs (listed below) are eligible in the promotion that runs through December 31, 2019, while supplies last.  The promotion also includes a 90-day free trial of the Arccos Caddie app. 

Callaway Footwear Introduces Oceanside and Oceanside LX Oceanside Spikeless Golf Shoes Feature PLUSfoam Insoles

Callaway Footwear is expanding its spikeless offerings for 2020 with the introduction of the new Oceanside and Oceanside LX golf shoes. 

 

The Oceanside line combines a lightweight sports-fusion design with superb comfort and traction features, providing style, stability, and responsive cushioning in every step. 

TRUE Linkswear Launches 10 Year Limited Edition Golf Shoes

To commemorate 10 years of crafting footwear for the walking golfer, TRUE linkswear has announced the launch of a limited edition #/500 TRUE Original golf shoe. 

 

Paying homage to the TRUE Tour (T1), the first TRUE model prototyped in 2009, the OGX echoes the iconic black and white reverse saddle colorway.  The OGX includes several upgrades to the core Original model which include a Bulletproof Vegan Leather upper, reflective rope lacing, commemorative diamond pattern and 10-year anniversary detailing. 

Golf Datatech Unveils 2019 Summer Golf Product Attitude and Usage (GPAU) Study

Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry's leading independent research firm for consumer, trade and retail golf trends, has unveiled the 2019 Summer Golf Product Attitude and Usage (GPAU) Study. 

 

A bi-annual study, and the 40th edition produced by Golf Datatech, the serious golfer research report has become an in-demand resource for the golf marketing community over the past 20 years. 

THE PLAYERS Will Broadcast Every Shot by Every Player for the First Time in History

For the first time ever in golf, every shot by every player will be live-streamed from a full-field tournament when THE PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass, March 12th through the 15th, allowing fans to follow any player in the elite field, for all four rounds. 

 

All of this revolutionary coverage will be available to PGA Tour LIVE subscribers on either NBC Sports Gold or Amazon Prime Video Channels. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Golf Shafts Win LPGA 2019 Volunteers of America Classic

Aerotech SteelFiber composite iron shafts topped the Texas leaderboard this weekend at the Volunteers of America Classic as Cheyenne Knight won for the first time on the LPGA Tour. 

 

Knight played SteelFiber i70 shafts in her irons and i80 shafts in her wedges, and hit 12 of 18 greens in the final round en route to 5-under 66, and 18-under overall score for the tournament. 

Bryson DeChambeau and LA Golf Shafts Make Equipment History

Bryson DeChambeau became the first player on the PGA Tour to play with all graphite shafts for every club in his bag last week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. 

 

Using shafts he co-designed with LA Golf Shafts for every club in his bag, DeChambeau finished T-4 in Las Vegas.  DeChambeau first used LA Golf graphite shafts two weeks ago in his wedges at the Safeway Open. 

Kevin Na WITB What's In The Bag: The Golf Equipment Na Used to Win the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

It took Kevin Na 10 years to win his first professional PGA Tour Event.  But with three victories in his last 30 starts, including a dramatic playoff win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Na is catching up on lost time. 

 

Na has been a professional for almost 20 years, and for many of them he was fighting with himself to get comfortable over the ball, exhibiting a maddening array of idiosyncrasies that dismayed fans and fellow players alike.  But Na has found his way back, and is now confident, comfortable, and even dominating at times when he tees it up. 

Aldila Golf Captures Win at Open de Espana

Jon Rahm defended his Open de Espana title with a dominating performance at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, finishing 22-under par for the tournament in a 5-stroke romp. 

 

Rahm relied on an Aldila ATX Green shaft in both his driver and fairway wood, and shot a course record 8-under, 63 on Saturday to open up his lead heading to the final day. 

French Lick Resort Awarded Top 100 Resorts in North America Distinction

French Lick Resort, Southern Indiana's iconic golf and vacation destination and home to two of the state's most lauded golf courses, has been awarded "2019 Top 100 Resorts in North America" honors by GOLF Magazine. 

 

Restored to its historic glory, French Lick Resort is home to the expansive and captivating West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and French Lick Casino, as well as two top-ranked public layouts, The Pete Dye Course at French Lick, and The Donald Ross Course at French Lick. 

PGA National Resort & Spa Announces "Fall Escape and Save" Packages

PGA National Resort & Spa is offering an exceptional limited time sale with 30-percent off rooms or 10-percent off select golf and spa packages from October 2nd, 2019 through January 23rd, 2020, making it the perfect time to escape to this world-class golf, spa, and vacation destination. 

 

PGA National is home to 90 holes of championship golf on five distinctly diverse courses including its famed Champion Course (a former Ryder Cup host and current venue of the PGA Tour's Honda Classic.  The Champion, also the home of the legendary "Bear Trap," recently underwent a renovation by Jack Nicklaus and his design team, and one of the greatest courses in the U.S. is now even better. 

Titleist Releases Experimental EXP•01 Golf Ball: Limited Run Straight from Titleist R&D Lab

The Titleist Golf Ball Research & Development team is comprised of more than 75 associates, from chemical engineers and mathematicians, to materials scientists and aerodynamics physicists, all driven by a commitment of continuous improvement and innovation. 

 

Year after year, countless golf ball concepts are developed with some never seeing the light of day and many left on the trial room floor.  The new Titleist EXP•01 golf ball, an experimental multilayer construction utilizing a new high performance urethane cover formulation and process, is one concept that has made its way to the top. 

Srixon Soft Feel Brite Golf Balls Preview: Distance Never Looked so Bright

SRIXON has announced the launch of the Soft Feel Brite golf ball, which will be available in Brite Orange, Brite Red, and Brite Green, and is now available in North America. 

 

Soft Feel Brite offers everything you love about Soft Feel.  It delivers distance, exceptional feel, and now, enhanced visibility from tee-to-green to form a high quality matte golf ball. 

Report Claims New PGA Tour Driver Testing Program Snags Multiple Non-Conforming Drivers at Safeway Open

Driver testing on the PGA Tour became an issue earlier this year when Xander Schauffele's driver was deemed non-conforming at The Open Championship.  And the ensuing fiasco led to a new policy of unannounced in-play pulling of drivers directly from players bags. 

 

Perhaps this was done to put the players and equipment manufacturer's on notice to ensure drivers are tested frequently and within the limited of CT conformity.  But according to a Reuters source familiar with knowledge of the testing, at least five players were deemed to be using non-conforming drivers last week at the Safeway Open. 

Miura Golf MB-101 Preview: The Latest in a History of Venerated Muscleback Irons

Miura Golf today introduced the MB-101, the newest addition to its catalog of revered forged muscleback irons.  This is the first new blade launched by the family-operated club maker since 2013. 

 

Designed and forged by the Miura family in its Himeji, Japan factory, the MB-101 provides discerning golfers with the unrivaled Miura feel developed over six decades of craftsmanship, and is the latest chapter in the Miura family's perpetual pursuit of perfection. 

Nicklaus Design Courses Make Big Splash on Golf Digest Top 100 Courses List

Eighteen golf courses designed by or associated with Nicklaus Design are included on the inaugural GOLF Magazine list of North America's Top 100 Resorts. 

 

Among those making the inaugural list (which is divided into the categories of Luxury, General Excellence, Buddies, and Families), are Big Cedar Lodge and Hammock Beach in the Families category and Pinehurst Resort in the Buddies category.  Properties represented in the General Excellence category include Baha Mar Resort, Cabo del Sol Beach & Golf Resort, Cap Cana Resort, La Quinta Resort & Club, Pronghorn, Sea Pines Resort, and The Greenbrier. 

On an Island Where Golf is King, Sea Pines Resort is True Royalty: Autumn Getaway Packages You Want to Check Out

With Hilton Head Island's fabulous fall weather and some of the most attractive offers of the year, now's a great time to book a getaway to The Sea Pines Resort.  During the autumn season, a fantastic array of outdoor events and festivals abound just as temperatures begin to cool. 

 

Here are ten reasons to plan a trip in the coming months and Fall in Love with Sea Pines. 

HONMA Golf Launches New XP-1 Product Line Worldwide

Honma Golf has officially launched its new game-improvement XP-1 product line, which includes drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons for both men and women and brings legendary Honma craftsmanship to golfers across a wide range of skill levels. 

 

Honma master craftsmen designed XP-1 club heads and shafts holistically in Sakata, Japan, and the clubs are beautifully designed and precisely engineered to improve performance. 

Volvik Introduces Marvel x Volvik The Hulk Golf Balls

Volvik has introduced The Hulk golf balls as part of its partnership with Marvel Worldwide.  Volvik has reported record-setting sales of the Marvel x Volvik collaboration of Captain America, Ironman and Spider Man Vivid 4-Ball Sets, and The Hulk is the newest addition to the collection. 

 

The matte-finish, three-piece Vivid high-performance golf balls feature Volvik's new oversized energy core.  Each four-ball set includes a magnetic hat-clip ball marker and retails at $24.99.  The Marvel balls are available for purchase at Volvik.com or at retail outlets across the country. 

IGOTCHA Golf Ball Retrievers Preview: Feature Jawz Teeth

IGOTCHA is the number one selling golf ball retriever int he industry, and has now released a new and colorful Jawz line. 

 

The Jawz line was created to be easy to see in the water with a vibrant, rubberized surface which grips and holds the golf ball in place.  These patented ball retrievers are durable, with stainless steel shafts, head designs, and easy locking devices. 

Breakthrough Golf Technology Stability Putter Shaft Wins Sanford International Senior PGA Champions

Rocco Mediate used a Breakthrough Golf Technology (BGT) putter shaft to win the Sanford International PGA Tour Champions event last week, including a birdie-birdie finish to take the title. 

 

Mediate has been using the Stability Shaft for over a year, and has seen his putting improve significantly during that time. 

Ben Hogan Golf Makes PTx Pro Black Forged Irons Part of Permanent Lineup

On the heels of its best sales month in recent history, as well as the launch of its first full-line of forged products in decades, including irons, woods, wedges and putters, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has decided to make their PTx PRO BLACK Forged Irons, featuring proprietary Diamond Black Metal Finish, a permanent part of their club lineup. 

 

The PTx PRO BLACK irons, which are the third product the company has added in last year using Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finish (Equalizer wedges and Ft. Worth irons), are available to golfers exclusively at www.benhogangolf.com.  The decision to make PTx PRO BLACK  a permanent part of their product line was based on extraordinary consumer demand from a limited edition run, which was offered in July. 

PXG GEN 2 Spitfire Putter Preview: Adding Tactical Precision to Your Bag

PXG is releasing a new model to their GEN 2 Series of milled putters called the Spitfire.  The Spitfire, named for a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force before, during, and after World War II, presents a clean and unique design that is extremely easy to align and exceptionally forgiving. 

 

Part of PXG’s GEN2 putter collection, the Spitfire is one of nine club head types available.  Other models include the Closer, Lucky "D," Brandon, Mustang, Bat Attack, Mini Gunboat, Gunboat, and Operator.  Each clubhead is designed to be custom configured during a fitting, enabling golfers to select the style that best suits their eye and the hosel that best suits their stroke. 

Titleist TruFeel Golf Ball Preview: Titleist's Softest Ball for Long Distance and Excellent Greenside Control

The new Titleist TruFeel golf ball is engineered to deliver longer distance and excellent control for golfers who rely on the consistent performance and quality of the softest-feeling Titleist. 

 

Now available in golf shops worldwide, Titleist TruFeel has been reimagined with a new TruTouch core and new TruFit aerodynamics for more distance with the driver and in the long game.  A proprietary TruFlex cover provides ultra-soft feel and excellent control on shots into and around the green. 

Aerotech Golf SteelFiber Shafts Win Lacoste Ladies Open de France

Aerotech Golf SteelFiber graphite iron shafts won the Lacoste Ladies Open de France last week, as Nelly Korda cruised to an 8-shot victory in France. 

 

Playing SteelFiber i80 composite irons shafts in her irons, Korda won her first Ladies European Tour title with a strong fourth-round finish that included six birdies on a blustery day at Golf du Medoc near Bordeaux. 

Mitsubishi Golf Shafts Win 2019 BMW PGA Championship

Danny Willett won the 2019 BMW PGA Championship last week at the Wentworth Club in the UK using a Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana DF 60X in his driver. 

 

Willett averaged more than 297 yards off the tee en route to a three-shot over runner-up Jon Rahm.  The BMW victory was Willett's seventh European Tour title, and apart from major championships is considered one of the biggest events on the European Tour. 

Sun Mountain Golf Kube Travel Bag Preview: Folds Up Small, Protects Big

The innovators at Sun Mountain have done it again with the introduction of the Kube golf travel bag. Kube looks like an ordinary, small, plastic suitcase but unbuckle it and it opens into a full-sized golf travel bag. 

 

Kube’s folded size is merely 9" x 13" x 14.5" and weighs only 6.8 pounds.  Kube is available in eight colors with a retail price of $229.99. 

Rocco Mediate Breaks 3-Year Winless Drought after Switching to a Bridgestone Ball

Bridgestone Golf Tour team member, Rocco Mediate, returned to the PGA TOUR Champions winner's circle for the first time in three years on Sunday, with a thrilling victory at the 2019 Sanford International. 

 

Mediate finished birdie-birdie to close out his best single round score of the year (a 64) winning the event by 2 strokes, and his victory with Bridgestone's TOUR B XS golf ball vaults him into top 25 of the current Charles Schwab Cup points standings. 

Stephen Curry and Under Armour Golf Launch the SC30 Range Unlimited Golf Collection

Stephen Curry has gotten used to being in the spotlight, spawning countless highlight reels on the way to three NBA titles and two MVP awards.  But this past June, he stepped onto the course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China to show the world something it had never seen from him before; the SC30 Range Unlimited Golf Collection. 

 

This 14-piece collection combines Stephen's unique style with Under Armour's best-in-class product innovations across tops, bottoms, footwear and outerwear, most notably in Iso-Chill polos. 

Cleveland Golf Launcher Irons and Launcher Halo Preview: More Speed, More Precision, More Launch

Cleveland Golf is releasing new Launcher HB Turbo irons, Launcher UHX irons, and Launcher Halo built for speed and more precision. 

 

The latest generation of irons and hybrids from Cleveland Golf officially launch in North America on October 4, 2019, and promise to be the longest, most accurate, and most forgiving irons and hybrids in the Launcher family. 

2019 Sun Mountain H2NO Lite Golf Bag Review: Complete Waterproof Protection and Incredibly Comfortable to Carry

If you golf in the rain or enjoy walking as much as riding, there aren't many bags out there better than the 2019 Sun Mountain H2NO Lite Stand bag.  It's completely waterproof, extremely lightweight to carry, and incredibly stable and durable. 

 

I've been using my H2NO Lite all season, and throughout the year I became more and more impressed with the features I knew about, as well as the little things I didn't.  And ultimately I came to realize H2NO is a bag that does it all, and actually delivers more than what's advertised. 

New Balance Fresh Foam Golf Shoes Preview: Taking Comfort and Stability to New Levels

New Balance Golf shoes are already some of the most comfortable shoes you can buy.  And now they're introducing the Science of Soft with their latest golf footwear line featuring Fresh Foam technology. 

 

New Balance's Fresh Foam technology utilizes data-driven designs to determine zones in the midsole where altering levels of compression and resistance are aligned to provide ultra-soft cushioning and lateral stability.  The company first introduced Fresh Foam in performance running shoes and is now used across almost all categories of New Balance footwear. 

Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Turbo Driver and Woods Preview: Speed and Forgiveness for All

Cleveland Golf is releasing the new Launcher HB Turbo Driver and Launcher HB Turbo Fairway Woods for sleeker, faster, and more forgiving performance than ever before. 

 

Reintroducing Cleveland Golf Woods and Irons two years ago proved to be very successful, and the new Launcher HB Turbo woods represent an even bigger step up from the previous generation. 

Callaway Golf JAWS MD5 Wedge Preview: Callaway's Most Aggressive Grooves for Maximum Spin and Control

Callaway Golf is releasing new wedges named JAWS MD5 and touting them as a breakthrough in wedge design and performance. 

 

Master wedge designed Roger Cleveland and his extensive R&D team have created a new JAWS Groove to take spin and control to the next level, with the end result that delivers total performance, with premium shapes, striking finishes, outstanding versatility, and exceptional spin. 

GolfLogix is Speeding Pace of Play at Courses Worldwide

This season has seen a remarkable debate on the PGA Tour over the slow play of some professionals and the effect of greens books on the pace of tournament play. 

 

Even five-time major champion Phil Mickelson chimed in, pointing out that greens books actually speed up play around the green.  As Mickelson put it, "The greens book allows me to do 80-percent of my read before I even get to the green.  And GolfLogix couldn't agree more. 

Bridgestone Golf 2019 Tour B XW-1 Wedges Review: Refined Feel with All-Terrain Versatility

When you think of Bridgestone Golf, you probably think of their award-winning golf balls and commitment to fitting golfers into the best, most technologically-advanced ball for their games.  But don't make the mistake of thinking Bridgestone is just a golf ball company. 

 

The folks at Bridgestone Golf made the path to better wedge play a whole lot easier in 2019 with their new Tour B XW-1 wedges.  Distinct sole grinds and new groove designs allow you to control your distances, manage various lies, and ultimately hit your intended targets.  And you can trust the Tour B XW-1 to hit a variety of shots on full swings, half swings, and everything in between. 

Adidas Golf Waterproof Tour360 XT PrimeKnit Preview: A New Level of Waterproof Comfort without Sacrificing Performance

Adidas Golf has released their new TOUR360 XT Primeknit, which features a waterproof knit upper, giving players a new level of comfort without sacrificing any performance  on the course. 

 

The premium knit upper in the TOUR360 XT Primeknit gives players a soft feel every time they play.  Beyond the comfort, the special yarns that make up the upper of the shoe are designed to repel water (one-year waterproof guarantee), keeping feet dry while still giving players breathability and stability where they need it most. 

Fujikura Golf Introduces Two New Lines to Ventus Shaft Series

Fujikura Golf is adding two new additional profiles to their successful Ventus line.  The new Ventus Red and Ventus Black are designed with cutting edge, premium materials and will significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed, especially on off-center shots. 

 

The complete lineup of Ventus (Red, Blue, Black) shafts include Fujikura's VeloCore Technology, developed to boost the clubhead's performance through maximum energy transfer combined with an accelerated taper design that enhances loading and feel. 

Cleveland Golf Frontline Putter Preview: A Completely New Way to Design a Putter

Cleveland Golf has designed a new putter called the Frontline, with radical new weighting that brings the center of gravity forward for incredible performance consistency. 

 

Frontline is a completely new approach to putter design that pairs an extreme center of gravity with an improved speed optimized face.  The result is a putter that uniquely maximizes directional and speed consistency.