USGA Announces Exemption Categories for 2020 U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the exemption categories for the 120th U.S. Open Championship, which will be contested Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), in Mamaroneck, N.Y. As previously announced, the 2020 U.S. Open field will be comprised entirely of exempt players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

“The decision to cancel local and final qualifying for this year’s U.S. Open was deeply disappointing, but we are pleased to still provide the world’s best professional and amateur players the opportunity to compete for this historic and coveted championship,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships. “The exemption categories for this year’s championship at Winged Foot Golf Club were carefully developed to mirror a representative U.S. Open field, and we are excited that players will still have an opportunity to earn a place in the field through a variety of categories.” 

PGA Tour Covid-19 Testing Summary Statement

We have been working since March to develop a comprehensive health and safety plan that would be considered a best practice among professional sports leagues. While we have been thorough in building and implementing a program that mitigates as much risk as possible, we knew it would be impossible to eliminate all risk – as evidenced by the three positive tests this week. 

 

We need to use these developments as a stark reminder for everyone involved as we continue to learn from an operational standpoint; we are making several adjustments to our health and safety plan, as noted in the memo sent to players this morning, and we will continuously reinforce to all players, caddies, staff members and support personnel on property at PGA TOUR events to adhere to social distancing and other safety protocols that further minimize risk. 

The Sea Pines Resort to Host Lighthouse Invitational in September

The Sea Pines Resort will host its annual Lighthouse Invitational–a two-person team competition for men and women amateurs—from Sept. 17-20, 2020. 

 

The “destination tournament” showcases the Hilton Head Island’s top three ranked courses, all part of The Sea Pines Resort—Heron Point by Pete Dye, Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III, and historic Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing and rated the #1 course in South Carolina in 2019.  All three courses are Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. 

PUMA Golf Joins the RS Revolution, Bringing Retro Running Shoe Vibes to the Links with RS-G Shoes

PUMA Golf, long revered as a trend-setter and innovator in the golf footwear space, continues to push the envelope, with its new RS-G shoe. Inspired by PUMA’s extremely popular RS series of shoes first introduced in the 80’s and recently rebooted with multiple drops in 2019 and 2020, the RS-G (Running System – Golf) delivers unconventional, lifestyle-inspired vibes with all the performance technologies needed to play 18. 

 

Incorporating the same, bold, chunky silhouette as the sportstyle version, the RS-G’s reengineered upper is seam-sealed and completely waterproof, with microfiber leather and TPU skin that delivers protection from the elements, keeping your feet dry all day long. The outsole traction pattern has exaggerated and pronounced Carbon Rubber lugs strategically placed in different zones of the outsole to provide traction while the performance Fusion Foam midsole delivers improved, bounce-back cushioning combined with a Softfoam sockliner for the ultimate step-in comfort. 

COBRA Golf Launches Limited Edition Red, White, and Blue Speedzone and Speedzone Xtreme Drivers to Celebrate Fourth of July

Cobra Golf has introduced its new Limited-Edition Pars & Stripes SPEEDZONE and SPEEDZONE Xtreme Drivers, available for a short time in a new color scheme that celebrates America and pulls inspiration from our national championship, featuring a white crown, with red and blue highlights on the sole, and an exclusive blue PVD milled infinity face. 

 

The Pars & Stripes LE Drivers incorporate an upgraded Fujikura Ventus Blue shaft, a Lamkin Crossline Connect – Red/White/Blue grip, and all the key technologies and design attributes utilized in the in-line SPEEDZONE drivers. 

New Edison Forged Wedges Challenge Conventional Wisdom

How much do you think you really know about wedges and their design?  Did you know “smash factor” is just as important to your wedges as to your driver?  Do you realize that wedges – by design – don’t really “want” to spin the ball efficiently? 

 

Terry Koehler has been designing wedges for over 30 years, and he has put all the top brands of ‘tour design’ wedges through repeated batteries of robotic testing . . . so he does know these things.  He has also analyzed over 50,000 online wedge fitting profiles and had thousands of one-on-one conversations with amateur golfers, so he has also learned that 80% of golfers have the same challenges with their wedge play– poor distance control, insufficient spin and excessively high ball flight. 

USGA Announces Exemption Categories for 2020 U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Amateur Championships

The USGA announced the exemption categories for the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, set to take place Aug. 3-9 at Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md., and the 120th U.S. Amateur, which will be held Aug. 10-16 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in Bandon, Ore. As previously announced, the fields for both championships will be comprised entirely of exempt players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

“Making the decision to forgo qualifying for our championships this year was extremely difficult, but we’re glad to be able to continue the legacy of these competitions and provide the best amateur players in the world the opportunity to compete for a USGA title,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships. “We aimed to create fields that most closely resemble those for a typical Amateur and Women’s Amateur, and are confident we will crown two worthy champions in August.” 

Classic U.S. Open Courses Awarded USGA Amateurs

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that a pair of celebrated U.S. Open venues will host future USGA amateur championships. Oak Hill Country Club, in Pittsford, N.Y., will be the site of the 127th U.S. Amateur and Southern Hills Country Club, in Tulsa, Okla., will host the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur. 

 

Oak Hill, where in 1989 Curtis Strange became the first player in 38 years to successfully defend his U.S. Open title, will host its third U.S. Amateur and seventh USGA championship in 2027. The East and West Courses will be used for stroke play and the East Course will be used for match play. The championship is scheduled for Aug. 9-15. 

NGF Update: 20 Million Spring Rounds Lost to Covid-19

The U.S. golf industry lost as many as 20 million rounds in March and April due to course closures and coronavirus-induced anxiety, according to the most recent National Golf Foundation estimates. 

 

After double-digit growth in rounds played in January and February, rounds were up 15% for the year entering March. Due to the outbreak of the virus and associated shutdowns, year-over-year drops of 9% in March and 42% in April left the industry down 16%. More than half of golf courses closed nationwide for most of April and the drop in rounds volume alone accounts for a loss of about $1 billion in golf course revenues. (This doesn’t include related losses in F&B, retail sales, events, etc.) 

Homna TR20 Irons: Players Gear Buolt to Appeal to Broad Range of Performance-focused Golfers

Honma has announced the release of their new TR20 (“Tour Release 2020”) iron line. Known globally for beautifully-crafted, versatile and playable equipment, Honma’s approach with its new TR20 V and TR20 P iron sets is to provide serious players the look, set-up, feel and performance they have come to trust and expect in a players, and players distance, iron. 

 

Both the TR20 P and V irons showcase modern player-preferred profiles with sleek lines and shaping, and are built to be fast and forgiving so that golfers can achieve desirable distance and accuracy– even on misses. 

USGA Launches U.S. Open Victory Club

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the launch of the Victory Club, the first-ever dedicated U.S. Open fan club, where fans can celebrate the U.S. Open Championship and experience a greater connection to the championship year-round. 

 

The launch of the Victory Club follows the recent introduction of the “From Many, One” U.S. Open brand platform as part of the USGA’s ongoing commitment to elevate the U.S. Open experience for players and fans. While serving as a community of fans for the U.S. Open, the Victory Club offers more direct content, updates and access to the championship than ever before. 

Virtual Watch Parties and Network Programming Highlight 2020 US Open "Week Of" Schedule

The USGA announced today a variety of week-of activities designed for sports fans to celebrate and relive iconic U.S. Open Championship moments while building excitement for the championship’s return in September. 

 

The 2020 championship was originally scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., but now will be contested Sept. 17-20. 

Give Dad a Tour Experience with Club Champion Custom Fittings

Shopping for Father’s Day gifts is tough — what do you get the man who has almost everything? The answer: a custom golf club fitting experience from Club Champion, the #1 premium club fitter, builder and retailer of the best brands in golf. They offer more than 45,000 hittable head and shaft combinations — a true, professional-level experience for golfers of any ability. 

 

Ranked by Golf Digest among the 100 best club fitters eight times in a row, Club Champion’s unique coupling system allows them to combine any head and shaft together. The equipment available for demo is far more expansive than what’s offered at other fitting venues, and the variety allows the master fitter to find exactly the right combination to optimize a golfer’s swing. Dad won’t have to wait to test the suggested clubs; he’ll get to hit the exact club that will be custom built for him. 

PUMA Golf X Arnold Palmer Collection Blends the King's Iconic Style with Modern Technology and Comfort for an Elevated Look On and Off the Course

PUMA Golf has revealed its highly anticipated collaboration with Arnold Palmer Enterprises, the PUMA Golf x Arnold Palmer Collection, delivering head-to-toe style and comfort fit for a King.  Blending his trademark cool with modern technologies and fabrics, PUMA x Arnold Palmer offers a complete range of tops, bottoms, headwear and footwear that pays homage to golf’s global icon. 

 

Drawing inspiration from the pride of Latrobe, PA’s ‘Life Well Played,’ the PUMA x Arnold Palmer collection delivers the classic styles that Mr. Palmer wore during his career on and off the course, using a blend of modern and heritage materials authentic to Mr. Palmer’s style. This exclusive partnership celebrates the life and excellence of Mr. Palmer through nostalgic color palettes, storied prints, and personal detailing on every piece. From Bay Hill to each golfer’s own favorite 19th hole, this collection will bring out the Palmer in all of us. 

PUMA Golf Unveils New IGNITE NXT CRAFTED Footwear

PUMA Golf has unveiled its new IGNITE NXT CRAFTED footwear, blending comfort and function in a stunning, premium package that fits perfectly on or off the course. The IGNITE NXT CRAFTED shoes deliver the artistry and look of handmade premium footwear blended with the technology of PUMA’s NXT golf shoes. 

 

Building off the success of the popular IGNITE NXT family, NXT CRAFTED is a premium take on the style, utilizing a natural leather saddle for a sophisticated, one-of-a-kind look.  Additionally, just like the rest of the NXT family, these shoes are built from the ground up using PUMA’s Pro-Form TPU outsole with an organically-altered traction pattern, featuring over 100 strategically placed directional hexagon lugs in proper zones, for maximum stability and traction. In addition, a full-length IGNITE Foam midsole, wrapped in SOLESHIELD for added durability, delivers unparalleled comfort and energy return to help golfers play their best all day long.  SOLESHIELD is a micro-thin TPU film that is vacuum-formed around the midsole to make cleaning off dirt and debris a breeze. The upper features a premium leather saddle wrapped around PWRFRAME reinforcement. The PWRFRAME TPU is an ultra-thin frame that is strategically placed in high stress areas of the upper for lightweight support and increased stability. 

Cobra Golf Extends the Popular King MIM Wedge Family with New MIM in Standard and ONE Length Offerings

COBRA® Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, unveiled its new KING MIM Black Wedges, a fully Metal-Injection-Molded (MIM) 304 stainless steel head construction that is now offered in a glare-reducing QPQ (Quench Polish Quench) black finish.  The MIM process represents a significant advancement in wedge manufacturing, delivering the most precise shape possible for truly exceptional feel and turf interaction in every wedge COBRA manufactures. 

 

Unlike cast wedges, MIM manufacturing reduces the amount of post-process polishing, where in the past, there was a heavy reliance on skilled machinists to grind consistent wedge shapes by hand.  Each wedge is created using a mixture of 304 stainless steel metal powder, which is then heated and injected into a mold.  Using a sintering process, the metal is heated to a higher temperature than forging (1340°C vs. 1200°C), resulting in a smoother grain flow structure versus forged and cast wedges, and the softest feel the industry’s ever seen.  The KING MIM Wedge family is the first in golf to utilize a fully robotic polishing process where the robot is pre-programmed to polish each wedge to exact specifications – a sharp contrast to the variability found in the traditional manual hand-polishing process.  This fully automated process eliminates variance in head weight and thickness and creates more precise grind shapes and more repeatable bounce in each wedge. 

Cobra Delivers Heightened Long Iron Performance with King Utility Variable and One Length Irons

COBRA Golf®, a leader in golf club innovation has introduced its new KING Utility irons, delivering improved distance with a classic look and modern technology. The KING Utility iron is designed for players who seek maximum control and precision on tee shots and longer approach shots on par 5’s. A classic, muscle-back iron shape delivers the feeling of controlled ball flights, while a wider sole and hollow body provides stability, power, and a low centered CG for trajectories that are high and penetrating.  A PWRSHELL™ face insert adds to the performance by expanding the sweet zone for improved ball speeds on off-center hits and launch efficiency for improved trajectory. 

 

Normally only found in Metalwoods, COBRA engineers integrated into the Utility design the trusted COBRA MyFly8™ technology, a series of eight adjustable loft settings that give users the ability to manage trajectory and launch for proper distance gapping. Additionally, the KING Utility irons are geared with COBRA CONNECT™ Powered by Arccos Caddie, an artificial intelligence system that utilizes Smart Grips with embedded sensors to track and record distance and accuracy data on the Arccos Caddie app.  COBRA blends a classic design with cutting-edge engineering, including a hollow-body design, forged PWRSHELL Face, and Tungsten Weighting, to deliver superior performance that users can track and analyze using the in-depth data provided by the Arccos Caddie system. 

SkyGolf Introduces New SkyCaddie LX5 Smart Watch with Touchscreen

SkyGolf®, maker of SkyCaddie®, the most-trusted rangefinders in Golf, announces the new SkyCaddie LX5 Smart Watch with the industry’s largest and most-brilliant color touch screen at 1.39 inches. Now available for order, the new LX5 features next generation technology to provide the closest thing to the award-winning SkyCaddie SX500 on your wrist. 

 

“The LX5 is packed with stroke-saving technology and delivered with the largest and most-brilliant color display in a golf watch today,” said Jacqui Surman, SkyGolf Senior VP and COO. “The LX5 includes most of the dynamic features that golfers rave about in our award-winning SX500 and SX400 handhelds, giving you the most accurate information conveniently located on your wrist. It’s also light weight and looks great, making it a versatile watch for everyday use both on and off the course.” 

USGA Finalizes 2020 Championship Schedule

The USGA announced several updates to its 2020 championship schedule as the organization continues to reconfigure its season due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

The 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur, scheduled for Aug. 3-9 at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md., and the 120th U.S. Amateur, scheduled for Aug. 10-16 at Bandon (Ore.) Dunes Golf Resort, will be conducted as scheduled, provided that CDC recommendations and state and local government guidelines make it possible to do so. 

SkyCaddie Offers $50 off the Award Winning SX500 and SX400 Rangefinders for Fathers Day

SkyGolf®, maker of SkyCaddie®, the most-trusted rangefinders in golf, is offering a special Father’s Day promotion of $50 off the award-winning SkyCaddie SX500 and SX400 rangefinders through July 6, 2020. 

“With more golf courses opening during this pandemic, golf is a great way to have fun, get fresh air, and exercise, all while maintaining proper social distancing,” said Jacqui Surman, SkyGolf SVP, International Sales & Marketing. “We’d like to help you give your dad the gift of better golf with a SkyCaddie rangefinder this Father’s Day. Your dad will thank you for helping improve his game with accurate golf course information. Take advantage of our special promotion and receive $50 off a brand new SkyCaddie SX500 or SX400, the most powerful and visually dynamic golf course GPS products on the market today.” 

NGF COVID-19 Update: Golfer Anxiety About Return to Retail Lessens as Stores Reopen

As the percentage of golf retail stores open to foot traffic continues to increase, a growing number of golfers indicate their concern for visiting physical store locations is subsiding, according to the National Golf Foundation’s latest industry-wide surveys. 

 

Approximately 80% of off-course golf retail stores are open to customers, up from 61% two weeks ago. All but 4% of the 6.5 million square feet of total off-course golf specialty space had been closed to in-store traffic in early April, even as more than 40% of courses remained open for play. 

Tour Edge Announced Limited Edition “Straight From the Tour Van” Exotics EXS Pro Forged Irons, EXS Blade Irons/Blade Wedges

Tour Edge officially introduces the Exotics EXS Pro Forged Irons, EXS Blade Irons and EXS Blade Wedges featuring forged designs with CNC milling. 

 

The tour-inspired irons feature the very latest in golf club design innovation for the highest levels of ultra-premium performance from the company that has earned 22 victories and over 150 different players using their equipment on the PGA Tours. 

Volvik Offers ViMAX Soft Special

Volvik USA (volvik.com), a rapidly-growing, premium high-performance golf ball company, is offering a special on its ViMAX Soft golf balls. Now through July 6, a bundle of two dozen balls can be purchased for $35. High-visibility matte color options include green, red, orange and yellow. 

 

“This is a good opportunity for golfers to try the Volvik ViMAX Soft golf ball, which provides superior distance along with soft feel,” said Wes Whittingham, vice president of sales for Volvik USA. “Players will notice improved focus with the super-visibility matte colors that enhance concentration.” 

Bag Boy Unveils Patriotic Limited Edition USA Bags

Bag Boy is excited to announce they have released two new USA Limited Edition bags. The cart bag and the hybrid bag both have an allover patriotic print and feature Top-Lok technology. 

 

“USA-themed golf products always go over very well with our customers,” said Perry Hilbert, Sales Manager at Bag Boy. “These bags are perfect for the upcoming July 4th holiday.” 

USGA Welcomes Class of 2020 P.J. Boatwright Interns

The USGA continues its commitment to cultivating future leaders in the golf industry by funding more than 125 paid internships in 2020 through the P.J. Boatwright Internship Program. 

 

Since the program’s inception in 1991, the USGA has invested nearly $30 million to provide college students and other qualified applicants with hands-on experience as staff members at the USGA’s network of Allied Golf Associations (AGAs). The value of the internship funding in 2020 totals $1.7 million. 

2020 John Deere Classic Canceled Due To Area Restrictions and Related Concerns

Citing ongoing local and state-related challenges related to gathering restrictions, the John Deere Classic, title sponsor John Deere and the PGA TOUR announced today that the 2020 tournament, scheduled for July 9-12, has been canceled. It is set to return to the PGA TOUR schedule in 2021 with its 50th playing. 

 

As a result of this decision, the PGA TOUR announced that it will fill the week vacated by the John Deere Classic with a new tournament. The TOUR will provide details in the near future on the venue and location. 

PGA TOUR 2K21 Tees Off Worldwide on August 21

2K crushed a long drive this week with the announcement that PGA TOUR® 2K21, its forthcoming, officially licensed golf simulation video game, is currently scheduled for worldwide release on Friday, August 21, 2020 for the PlayStation®4 system, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch™ system*and Stadia. 

 

Featuring decorated PGA TOUR pro Justin Thomas as the cover athlete, PGA TOUR 2K21 heralds the return of the great golf video game that fans have been missing. Developed by HB Studios, the studio behind The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR 2K21 marks the evolution of The Golf Club franchise and will include 15 licensed PGA TOUR courses, each of which was scanned using cutting-edge technology to bring the fairways, greens, bunkers, trees, lakes and ponds to life. Players can also trick out their own greens and fairways with thousands of custom options in the Course Designer. Fans can reserve their tee time now by pre-ordering PGA TOUR 2K21 at participating retailers. 

NGF COVID-19 Update: Golf Retail Store Openings Jump to 75-Percent

The percentage of off-course golf specialty stores open to foot traffic jumped from 61% to 75% last week in the National Golf Foundation’s latest industry-wide surveys. On-course pro shops are following close behind with 63% now open, up from 52% the prior week. 

 

Even with some occupancy limitations not unlike restaurants, this reopening for business comes just in time for an important equipment buying period – mid-May to mid-June. NGF’s ongoing customer research shows personal financial outlooks are inching optimistically upward, while golf equipment-related searches on Google have begun to resemble “normal” for this time of year. 

Club Champion Reopening Nationwide In Phases With Promotion

Custom club fitter and builder Club Champion is in the midst of a phased store reopening program as retailers are being allowed to resume operations. To ensure golfers are ready for the season, the company is offering a free, Tour-level custom club fitting with an equipment purchase of $500 or more for a limited time only. 

 

Like other retailers, Club Champion experienced significant closures as state and local mandates required residents to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. At one time in April, all but five stores were closed, including their Chicagoland operations facility. Though able to continue assembling custom clubs from remote locations, Club Champion’s fitting services were limited by stay-at-home mandates and inventory restrictions due to manufacturer closures. Now, the company is hoping as many as 55 of their 74 locations will be open by Memorial Day. Locations remaining closed will reopen per local retail guidelines; however, booking future appointments is encouraged. 

NGF COVID-19 Update: Golf Course Openings Top 90-Percent as Retail Continues Comeback

The National Golf Foundation’s seventh week of nationwide surveys found that 91% of U.S. golf courses were open last week amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with all 50 states now allowing golf to be played. 

 

Since the last week of April, a dozen states have lifted statewide bans on golf while others – most notably California and Florida – have eased significant local restrictions. There are still some local government orders keeping golf closed in metro areas like New York City, Washington D.C. and Chicago, but the latest projection from NGF researchers indicate 95% of courses will be open for at least some level of play by next week. In early April, only 44% of courses were open and as many as 19 states had noteworthy limitations on golf operations last month. 

Travis Mathew Launches New Omni Channel Customer Experience - Cuater Golf Belt Giveaway

You may have noticed the Travis Mathew website was down for a few days.  Well that's because they were working on the launch of an all-new, omni-channel shopping experience.  And the resulting multi-brand website is just loaded with new features, content, and incredible perks. 

 

And to celebrate the exciting improvements, I'm giving away two Cuater by Travis Mathew golf belts.  The VooDoo (Black) and The Central (Grey), are both stretch, rope weaves for a flexible fit.  We'll get to how you can enter to win these below, but first let's hit on some of the great benefits and more connected shopping experience you'll have at Travis Mathew, both on-line and in store. 

Ready to Roll with Club Champion Giveaway: Putter Fitting, Full Bag Fitting, and Custom Putter of Your Choice

All 50 states have re-opened golf courses this week, and that's cause to rejoice as responsible golfers around the world are again ready to roll. 

 

And to help you start your season the right way, I'm hooking up three people with free fittings at Club Champion.  Two winners will receive a Full Putter Fitting.  And one Grand Prize Winner will receive a Complete Bag Fitting (driver, woods, irons, wedges, and putter), and also choose Any Custom Putter you want. 

Bridgestone Golf Releases Limited Edition e12 Soft Patriot Pack Golf Balls to Celebrate 15 Year Relationship with Tee it Up for the Troops

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, unveiled today its new Limited Edition e12 SOFT Patriot Pack supporting Tee It Up for the Troops.  The Patriot Pack features a dozen of the award-winning e12 SOFT white golf balls and a bonus sleeve of the popular e12 SOFT Matte Red, all housed in a red, white and blue themed package that any American patriot would be proud to display.  A portion of proceeds from sales will benefit Tee It Up for the Troops. 

 

Tee It Up for the Troops is a national non-profit organization that has donated greater than $11 million to programs that deliver critical services to help veterans from all eras heal and transition from the battlefront to the home front.  Through its REUNION Outreach Program and other partnering veteran service organizations, Tee It Up for the Troops provides support for six critical areas of need for veterans and their families: Golf and Sports Rehabilitation, Suicide Prevention, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Employment, Housing/Homelessness, and Family/Caregiver Support. Hosting more than 50 charity events held in over 40 states annually, Tee It Up for the Troops considers it a privilege to honor, remember, respect, and support all those who serve(d) in the United States Armed Forces. 

Mamma Mia: Duca del Cosma Offering Special Mother's Day Deals

Italians adore their mothers. Which is why Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma, a recent arrival in the U.S. golf market, is offering a generous 20% discount on any purchases from its SS20 line of shoes for women golfers to coincide with Mother’s Day this weekend. 

 

The attractive offer on the distinctive premium leather shoes is valid until Sunday, 10 May and  activated with a special code: MOM20. 

NGF COVID-19 Update: Golf Courses Now 79% Open and Retail Is Following

The National Golf Foundation’s sixth week of nationwide surveys found that 79% of U.S. golf courses were open for play last week amid the coronavirus pandemic, a significant jump from 58% the previous week. 

 

The biggest change was in the Mid-Atlantic U.S census region, where Pennsylvania and New Jersey – which have more than 1,000 courses between them – both permitted play to resume. In total, seven states allowed golf courses to reopen on May 1 and 2, while an increasing number of California counties continued to lift restrictions on golf and additional courses opened over the past week in states such as New York, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan. 

Ben Hogan Golf Introduces Two New Long Iron Alternatives

Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has introduced two long iron alternative products, the UiHi Utility Irons and the VKTR+ Hybrids, designed for serious golfers who may not be comfortable hitting lower-lofted irons.  Both products, which are offered in 18, 22 and 26 degree lofts to replace traditional 3/4/5 irons, join the new ICON blades and the Award-Winning PTx PRO irons in creating a highly anticipated Player’s Combo Set offering that has been long demanded by Ben Hogan Golf customers. 

 

The UiHi utility club was engineered to be incredibly easy-to-hit with the same kind of controlled swing golfers would take with shorter irons. The UiHi’s hollow head dimensions are larger to instill confidence and make the club appear to be more highly-lofted. UiHi’s two-piece forged construction features a deep cavity and a low-and-rearward center of gravity that helps get shots airborne quickly, while it is extremely forgiving. 

Club Champion Opens Four New Stores

Custom club fitter Club Champion announces the opening of four new fitting studios, located in Greenville, SC; Providence, RI; Westminster, CO; and Winston-Salem, NC. The Providence store is the first Club Champion studio in Rhode Island. 

 

Club Champion fits, sells and builds custom golf clubs using brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Cobra, Fujikura, Golf Pride and many more. The company delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate for golfers of any ability level. 

PGAPappas Golf Stimulus Package (Wave 5): All Together Now with Golf Pride Grips

You've heard it a lot over the last few months of the pandemic.  We're all in this together.  Taking care of ourselves, giving comfort to others.  Pretty much taking care of the things we can control.  And in this fast-evolving situation with many moving parts, we're doing a pretty good job of it all. 

 

Comfort and control is equally essential with your golf grips.  And your hands working together are what synchronize the various moving parts of your golf swing.  So that's why Wave 5 of my PGAPappas Golf Stimulus Package will include two full sets of new grips from Golf Pride. 

Puma Celebrated National Tie-Dye Day with New Pieces Inspired by Iconic Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco

Today, on National Tie Dye Day, PUMA Golf is celebrating the nostalgia of Tie Dye with a new, colorful collection featuring products inspired by the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco, the heart of free-spirited bohemian culture since the 1960s and the unofficial birthplace of tie dye. 

 

The Love/Haight Collection features unique, hand-tie-dyed polos and sweaters, along with shoes and caps that feature on-trend tie dye patterns and colorways. 

NGF COVID-19 Update: 2,500+ Courses Reopen for Play in One Week

The National Golf Foundation’s fifth week of nationwide surveys found that approximately 58% of U.S. golf courses were open for play last week amid the coronavirus pandemic. As state and county restrictions continue to be relaxed, this number could rise to 75% or higher by mid-May. 

 

The changes last week were driven by two regions. The Mid-Atlantic U.S census region, which includes New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and their combined 1,900 golf courses, went from having less than 1-in-20 courses open for play to almost 1-in-4 as more of New York’s 850+ courses continue to reopen. And the Great Lakes states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois also approved golf courses to reopen with enhanced safety practices in place, including walking-only play. 

Galvin Green Strengthens its Green Credentials

Leading golf apparel brand Galvin Green has intensified its drive to supply the most sustainable products in the sector with the introduction of a new line of long-lasting INSULA™ warm layer garments made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. 

 

The latest version of the stylish and comfortable DWIGHT sweater is made 100% from Recycled Polyester derived from plastic bottles. The durable, stretchy half-zip garment delivers outstanding thermal insulation, as well as breathability and easy care across six color choices (S-3XL). Other INSULA™ garments made from the same recycled material are the men’s DAMIE full-zip and DRAKE half-zip sweaters, plus the women’s DAVINA full-zip jacket and DIANE hoodie. 

PGAPappas Golf Stimulus Package (Wave 4): You Decide with Duca del Cosma

Hopefully we're getting close to quarantines and stay-at-home orders lifting or at least being softened.  But it's been tough having our freedoms and choices curtailed for sure.  So let's see if we can do something about that. 

 

You all were really excited about Wave 3 of my PGAPappas Golf Stimulus Package.  So we're going to keep with Duca del Cosma for this Fourth Wave.  And for this one you can choose any pair of new Duca golf shoes from their new 2020 Spring/Summer Collection.  Yup. Any. Pair. You. Want. 

The Bryson DeChambeau Story (SIK Golf)

It's no coincidence Byrson DeChambeau has used a SIK Golf putter in every one of his five PGA Tour victories, and this upstart putter company has gathered double digit professional wins on Tour since coming into existence. 

 

SIK Golf uses Descending Loft Technology (DLT) to achieve a truer, faster roll than would be possible without, and DeChambeau recently got together with SIK to talk about this tech, why it works for him, and why he believes it will work for everyone. 

The Sea Pines Resort Supporting Community and Employees

The Sea Pines Resort has created a special package to raise funds for resort employees whose jobs were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak and for the Heritage Classic Foundation. 

 

The Heritage Classic Foundation relies on ticket sales from the RBC Heritage tournament to fund most of its giving programs. In normal years, the event annually raises $3 million dollars, which is distributed to charities throughout the Lowcountry as well as to the Foundation.