5 Things to Know about the 2019 Memorial Tournament

One of the strongest fields of the year lands in Dublin, Ohio this week for The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.  Muirfield opened in 1974 as a 6,969-yard track, and evolved into its current 7,392-yard, par-72 length with a series of nips, tucks, and wholesale redesigns. 

 

Of the 400-plus courses designed by Jack Nicklaus worldwide, Muirfield is considered his seminal masterpiece. Muirfield is a second-shot golf course with ample room off the tee.  However, the difficulty of each hole increases as you approach the greens, which are strategically bunkered and feature putting surfaces that are among the quickest and most undulating on the PGA Tour. 

Forest Dunes, Both Directions of The Loop Ranked Among America's 100 Greatest Public Courses

The Loop at Forest Dunes, the innovative reversible layout designed by Tom Doak, continues to garner the highest accolades from the golf industry.  In an unprecedented achievement, both golf course routings, Red and Black, have been ranked among Golf Digest's list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.  The panel ranked the Black No. 45 and the Red No. 47. 

 

Not to be outdone by the boutique Northern Michigan resort's newer addition, the original and immaculately-conditioned Tom-Weiskopf designed Forest Dunes course is ranked No. 28 on the list, putting all three Forest Dunes Golf Club layouts in Golf Digest's top 50.  Forest Dunes joins Pebble Beach, Streamsong, Bandon Dunes, and Kohler as the only resort properties with three courses distinguished among the nation's Top 50. 

Bay Harbor, Heather at Boyne Highlands Layouts Ranked Among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses

Boyne Golf is one of the largest and most-lauded golf resort companies in the U.S., and two of its acclaimed resort golf courses have been ranked on Golf Digest’s 2019 - 2020 list of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses.  The Heather at Boyne Highlands Resort joins the distinguished roster for the first time, while the 18-hole Links/Quarry pairing at Bay Harbor Golf Club has been a staple on the list since 2003. 

 

Golf Digest's biennial review of America's top public courses uses nearly 1,000 low-handicap male and female golfers on its Course Ranking Panel, and asked each to submit ballots based on eight criteria including shot options, challenge, layout variety, distinctiveness, aesthetics, conditioning, character, and fun. 

Arcis Golf Embarks on Renovation of Tour Course at Weston Hills Country Club

Arcis Golf has begun renovation of the Tour Course at Weston Hills Country Club, one of the private club's two 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designs, and one time home of the PGA Tour's Honda Classic.  The Players Course will remain open for play throughout the project. 

 

The Tour Course is undergoing a complete bunkering renovation, installation of Celebration Bermudagrass on all fairways, and building a new short-game area.  The multimillion-dollar project is being directed by award-winning Fry-Straka Global Golf Course Design, and is scheduled to be complete this fall. 

The Club at New Seabury Completes Renovations on the Dunes Course: Reshaped Features Enhance Playability and Experience

The Club at New Seabury has completed renovations to The Dunes Course as part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Club investment, all in an effort to better position the course as a classically designed layout and improve the playability and enjoyment for all golfers. 

 

The course opened Memorial Day weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 24th,with President and Executive Director Chris Card providing the welcome and opening remarks. 

Darrell Survey Shows 97 Percent of PGA Tour Players Use Bushnell Laser Rangefinders

The Darrell Survey Company, the golf industry's leading independent and impartial arbiter of equipment use, is reporting that 97-percent of the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship field used a Bushnell laser rangefinder to obtain accurate yardages. 

 

Surveying 156 players during the Wells Fargo Championship, 151 of those players named Bushnell as their preferred distance measuring device. 

Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk (Narrated By Bill Murray) Debuts in U.S. Movie Theaters June 7th

Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk is the most thorough feature-length film documentary ever developed on golf's historic caddie profession, and will make its nationwide theatrical debut on June 7th at more than 75 locations across the United States. 

 

The film, narrated by actor and former caddie Bill Murray, has drawn critical acclaim in early 2019 with positive reviews and best documentary awards from the Cleveland International Film Festival in early April and the Newport Beach (CA) Film Festival in early May.  The film continues on the film festival circuit through the first week of June, with the Greenwich, CT, International Film Festival on June 2nd. 

Bettinardi Signs Veteran PGA Tour Player Jason Kokrak

Bettinardi Golf announced that PGA Tour veteran Jason Kokrak will join their rapidly growing Tour staff.  Kokrak will play his custom Tour Department DASS (Double-Aged Stainless Steel) BB8 Triplane putter with patented F.I.T. Face Milling. 

 

Since Kokrak put his Bettinardi putter in play at the Honda Classic this season, he has not missed a cut and climbed from 109th to 65th in the Official World Golf Rankings.  Kokrak has also moved up 30 spots in Strokes Gained: Putting. 

Golf Pride Wins Grip Counts and Wanamaker Trophy at Bethpage Black

Golf Pride was the leading swing and putter grip brand in play at 2019 PGA Championship, with 125 players (80-percent) in the field trusting Golf Pride grips. 

 

Eleven players who finished in the Top 10 and ties, including the champion Brooks Koepka, chose Golf Pride at Bethpage State Park's Black course.  Koepka trusted Golf Pride's Tour Velvet Cord grips en route to capturing his 4th career major. 

PING Golf G410 LST Driver Preview: Movable Weight Technology in a Low Spin Head

PING Golf has expanded their G410 driver family with the G410 LST, a high-MOI driver engineered to produce low, stable, spin with the shot-shaping control provided by the company's innovative movable-weight technology. 

 

The multi-material driver is made of a cast Ti 8-1-1 body, forged T9S+ face, high-density tungsten back weight, and lightweight aluminum/thermoplastic adjustable hosel.  It can be ordered and custom fit at authorized PING golf shops around the world. 

PING Golf Blueprint Forged Blade Irons Preview: Tour Inspired for the Elite Player

Focusing on the needs of highly skilled golfers who rely on pinpoint accuracy, PING Golf has released their new Blueprint forged blade irons.  They're shaped and sized to deliver the workability and confidence required to play with score-lowering precision. 

 

The irons are one-piece, four-step multi-stage forgings, made from 8620 carbon steel with tungsten toe and heel weights.  They can be ordered and custom fit at authorized PING golf shops around the world. 

Brooks Koepka WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Koepka Used to Win the 2019 PGA Championship

Brooks Koepka buried the field for the first three rounds at the PGA Championship, then hung on Sunday at Bethpage Black to earn his fourth career major championship victory.  Koepka became the first player in history to successfully defend both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. 

 

Koepka set a record for the lowest 36-hole score in major history (128) over the first two rounds of play.  He also set the record for the largest 54-hole lead in PGA Championship history (seven strokes).  And in tough conditions Sunday, Koepka did just enough to hit some clutch fight off Dustin Johnson, and finish 8-under par for a two-stroke win. 

Mitsubishi and Aldila Golf Continue Major Dominance with 10th Consecutive Major Championship Victory

Brooks Koepka set all kinds of records winning the 2019 PGA Championship, but he wasn't the only juggernaut story at Bethpage Black this week. 

 

Winners of the last 10 consecutive major championships have played Mitsubishi or Aldila shafts in their drivers, making this one of the most impressive equipment streaks in the business. 

Bridgestone Golf Releasing Limited Edition Tiger Woods Chasing Majors Tour B XS Golf Balls for 2019 PGA Championship

Tiger Woods back in contention at major championships is fun for everyone.  Even the players on the PGA Tour admit it.  And as Tiger looks to win his second consecutive major to start the season, Bridgestone Golf is commemorating his chase by releasing limited-edition "Tiger Chasing Majors" Tour B XS golf balls ahead of the PGA Championship this week. 

 

The last time Tiger won the first two majors of the season he was victorious at Augusta and Bethpage Black in 2002.  And if Woods can hoist the Wanamaker Trophy this week, that would also mark his fifth PGA Championship title and career major victory number 16. 

Adidas Golf Celebrates 20-Year Partnership with Sergio Garcia with Limited Edition Throwback Polo

In 1999, a 19-year-old named Sergio Garcia burst onto the golf scene at the PGA Championship when he hit an eyes-closed shot behind a tree in the final round, and jumped his way up the fairway.  And today Adidas Golf is commemorating that special moment by offering a throwback limited-edition polo to celebrate the 20-year relationship between Garcia  and the brand. 

 

The limited-edition polo is patterned after the design he wore in 1999, and will be available in limited quantities at the Adidas flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on www.adidas.com beginning May 14th at 8 a.m. PT. 

Under Armour Scripting has Jordan Spieth Ready to Chase the Wanamaker Trophy at Bethpage Black

As you approach the first hole of the Black Course, there is a warning sign that has become synonymous with Bethpage.  It's a caution informing all players of the expertise needed to survive the immense challenge of these menacing 18 holes, mere miles from the bright lights of New York City. 

 

The 2019 PGA Championship will be debut for the first time this week at this infamous Long Island course, and there has been continued buzz around the tournament moving to the start of spring, from its former home in the dog days of August.  No matter the course or the time of year however, one thing is certain: Jordan Spieth will be ready to compete, thanks to his razor sharp focus, preparation, and support from the latest in Under Armour Golf innovation. 

Miura Golf Milled Tour Wedge High Bounce Preview: Inspired by Feedback from the PGA Tour

Miura Golf is releasing a new Milled Tour Wedge High Bounce (HB) to their lineup of clubs that delivers the soft feel golfers covet, and is a striking example of Miura's dedication to producing the finest equipment in the industry. 

 

Using premium soft carbon steel, the Tour Wedge HB boasts a wider sole that tapers from toe to heel, allowing for a more effective bounce along the middle of the sole. The added C Grind (heel and toe relief) and camber (front to back relief) increases playability and forgiveness.  And the new tour inspired head shape confidently aligns you for pinpoint accuracy. 

Ben Hogan Golf GS53 Driver and Fairway Woods Preview: Hogan's First Driver and Fairway Woods in Over a Decade

Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company is releasing a line of GS53 drivers and fairway woods, making it the first time in over a decade the illustrious company has returned back to the driver and wood categories. 

 

The GS53 family marks the third major product launch of 2019 for Ben Hogan Golf, and joins a line-up of high performance forged irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters. 

PUMA Golf Scripts for the 2019 PGA Championship: Fowler, DeChambeau, and Woodland Dressed to the Nines

Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland will be dressed to the nines each day at the 2019 PGA Championship as they prepare to tee it up at Bethpage State Park's iconic and challenging Black Course. 

 

With the infamous WARNING sign that golfers encounter heading to the first tee in mind, PUMA designers created a Limited Edition WARNING Pack that Fowler will wear during the first two rounds of the Championship. 

Sung Kang WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Kang Used to Win the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson

Sung Kang set the Trinity Forest course record with a 10-under 61 on Friday at the AT&T Wells Fargo, and then birdies three of the final five holes Sunday to win his first career PGA Tour event. 

 

Kang finished 23-under par for the tournament, holding off Scott Piercy, Matt Every, and Brooks Koepka to win by two strokes.  Kang heads next to Bethpage Black to for PGA Championship where the spotlight will be brighter, and conditions a lot tougher.