Golf Rounds Played Increase Slightly in 2019 Despite Second-Wettest Year on Record

The golf gods can be a fickle bunch but they have nothing on Mother Nature, producer of the one element general managers or course superintendents can’t control. 

 

The good news?  Rounds played in the U.S. were up 1.5-percent last year over 2018, with an estimated 440 million overall rounds played on the books.  The New England, Middle Atlantic and East North Central regions, which extend from Massachusetts to Michigan and accounts for almost half of national golf facilities and rounds, fared slightly better weather-wise in 2019.  It's a good indicator that the location of precipitation often matters more than the amount. 

Club Champion Hits Business Milestone

Tour-level fittings are an experience like no other, just ask the tens of thousands of custom-fit Club Champion customers who dialed their game in with the fitter last year.  

 

Over 100,000 appointments were recorded from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. 

Topgolf Augusta to Debut During Masters Week with One Floor, 36 Bays, Mini Golf and Backyard Games

Topgolf is unveiling a new venue concept in Augusta, Georgia, during this year's Masters Tournament, a single-floor location with an open-space backyard area. 

 

In addition to hitting golf balls on the 36-bay range, guests have the option to listen to live music, play mini golf and cornhole, socialize around fire pits, and eat together at communal picnic tables. 

Sun Mountain Adds 14-Way Top to its Lightest Golf Bag

Golf bags with individual club dividers are more popular every year.  To answer this demand, Sun Mountain is introducing the 2.5+ 14-way bag. 

 

This bag has a spacious 10.5 inch top with fourteen individual dividers and weighs just under four pounds.  The 2020 2.5+ 14-way is available in six different colors with a full-retail price of $239.99. 

SIK Putters Continues Strong Performance on PGA Tour with Top-5 Finish at Genesis Invitational

SIK Golf captured a T-5th Place Finish on the PGA Tour last past weekend at The Genesis Invitational held at the Riviera Country Club in Palisades, CA. 

 

Bryson DeChambeau, commonly referred to as "The Professor" and "The Mad Scientist", is probably best known for his unorthodox set of irons that are all the same length, but what many people don't know is that he's captured all five of his PGA TOUR victories, and in excess of $14 Million Dollars in earnings, using a SIK putter. 

Launch of New Exotics EXS 220 Clubs Pushes Tour Edge to over 100 Different PGA Tour Players and over 700 Clubs in Tournament Play Since 2018

Tour Edge surpassed 700 clubs in play and 100 different players who have played Tour Edge clubs over the past two years on the PGA Tours last week at the Chubb Classic on the PGA Tour Champions in Naples, Fla. 

 

The company launched their new Exotics EXS 220 clubs to the PGA Tour Champions the first time and the positive feedback from the players was instant. 

USGA Announces Local Qualifying Sites for 120th U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced local qualifying sites for the 120th U.S. Open Championship.  The U.S. Open will be contested at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), in Mamaroneck, N.Y., for the sixth time from June 18-21, 2020. 

 

Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 45 states and Canada, will take place between April 27-May 12. 

Clubbing with Vosh - Epsiode 1: Mizuno M-Craft Putters

Mizuno is releasing their new line of M-Craft putters tomorrow, marking the first time they've introduced a putter to the U.S. market in over a decade. 

 

Three different models forged from premium 1025 mild carbon steel are available in three stunning finishes.  And I sat down with Mizuno Product Manager Chris Voshall at the PGA Show last month to talk about the M-Craft and Mizuno's entire 2020 line-up. 

Adidas Golf Changes the Game with New CODECHAOS Golf Shoes

Adidas is continuing to redefine the golf dress code, this time starting from the ground up.  Pushing the boundaries in golf footwear once again, Adidas has introduced a new line of golf shoes, CODECHAOS, meant to challenge the definition of what a golf shoe can be. 

 

Built with the modern golfer in mind, the new footwear, offered in both men’s and women's styles, is the latest product from Adidas Golf that breaks down traditional stereotypes and the idea that there's only one look for the sport. 

New Titleist AVX Golf Ball Engineered for Higher Speed, Longer Distance, and More Control

The next generation of Titleist AVX ­is engineered for greater ball speed, longer distance, and increased short-game spin, advancing the multi-component golf ball technology that has produced breakthrough results for golfers who prioritize distance and extremely soft feel. 

 

First introduced in the spring of 2018 following a comprehensive four-month test market, AVX was developed as a performance alternative to sit alongside Titleist's industry-leading Pro V1 and Pro V1x models, offering the lowest flight, lowest spin, and softest feel of the three premium performance offerings. 

Titleist Introduces New Vokey Design SM8 Wedges - A Giant Shift Forward in Wedge Performance

Master Craftsman Bob Vokey's relentless mission to design and craft better performing, better feeling wedges has reached a new height of innovation with the introduction of his Vokey Design SM8 models, the most accurate and forgiving Vokey wedges yet. 

 

The groundbreaking Progressive Center of Gravity (CG) design concept that originated with Vokey Design SM6, and was refined with SM7, has experienced one giant shift forward in the new SM8.  By moving the CG forward, to a position that actually hovers in front of the wedge face, Vokey and his R&D team have produced a wedge that wants to square every time.  The result is improved distance and trajectory control, better feel, and increased stability for more consistent results. 

New Galvin Green Apollo Jacket Breaks the Mold

The new APOLLO waterproof jacket that headlines the Galvin Green 2020 Part One collection is the first model made in GORE-TEX Paclite Technology fabric to incorporate front pockets, making it even more versatile for serious golfers to wear both on and off the course. 

 

The creation of lighter stretch fabrics has made it easier for Galvin Green to design a jacket that ticks the boxes for the golfer keen to avoid any restrictions when wearing a 100-percent waterproof top. 

Golf Pride Launches New MCC Teams Collection so Golfers can Confidently Show Their Team Colors

Golf Pride, an industry leader in grip innovation and the #1 Grip on Tour, has announced it is expanding its popular MCC family of hybrid grips with the new MCC Teams collection. 

 

The launch lineup will start with 15 unique team color combinations to choose from, so golfers can represent one of their favorite teams while on the course. 

Bridgestone Launches VFIT Video Golf Ball Fitting Service

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf, has officially launched its innovative, new VFIT video ball fitting service, providing consumers with the ability to receive an expert person-to-person golf ball analysis anytime, anywhere.  

 

VFIT, which has undergone extensive Beta Testing since October of last year, and officially debuted in its go-to-market form at last week's 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. 

Bridgestone and Tiger Woods Reinvent the Golf Ball with Groundbreaking REACTIV Cover Technology in New Tour B Family

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, has unveiled its ground-breaking 2020 TOUR B family of golf balls, reinventing the Tour ball as golfers know it.  

 

The TOUR B family delivers a game-changing combination of driver distance and greenside control unlike anything ever before, thanks to Bridgestone's new REACTIV Urethane cover. 

Cleveland Golf Announces CBX Full Face and Smart Sole 4 Wedges

Cleveland Golf is proud to announce the release of two new wedge offerings, the Cleveland CBX Full-Face and the Smart Sole 4. 

 

Built with grooves across the entire face, the Cleveland CBX Full-Face delivers a larger face area and more versatility to make difficult greenside shots easier, while the Smart Sole 4 makes the short game easier. 

Titleist Introduces New T400 Irons For Easy Launch And Super Distance

The new easy-launching, super distance Titleist T400 irons are designed to provide moderate swing speed golfers with the most forgiving Titleist experience possible. 

 

T400 irons utilize an advanced split sole design, super-thin face and wide body, hollow head construction fortified by extreme amounts of high-density tungsten to help golfers effortlessly launch it higher and hit it farther. 

Puma Introduces New IGNITE PWRADAPT CAGED Golf Shoes

PUMA Golf has released their new IGNITE PWRADAPT CAGED footwear, delivering the optimum blend of comfort, style, and unmatched, locked-in stability no matter how hard a golfer swings, thanks to a new PWRACAGE saddle unit. 

 

IGNITE PWRADAPT CAGED is available in five staple colorways in two head-turning models, with lace up and DISC closure options.  The new Adaptive Fit System and PWRCAGE saddle unit help deliver a perfect fit and stability like you've never felt before. 

PING Introduces G710 Distance Irons With Arccos Caddie Smart Grips

Ping has announced their new G710 irons, engineered to deliver more distance and forgiveness in a sleek, dark finish. 

 

The G710 iron is Ping's longest, most forgiving iron to date.  But Ping also advanced other important attributes such as consistency, sound, and feel without sacrificing performance. 

Bushnell Golf Unveils The New Tour V5 And Tour V5 Shift

Bushnell has unveiled the latest additions to their innovative lineup of rangefinders, the Tour V5 and Tour V5 Shift.  The new Tour V5 models continue Bushnell's tradition of setting new standards in the industry through constant innovation and incorporation of leading technologies. 

 

Molded with the perfect combination of size, speed, accuracy and Visual JOLT, the Tour V5 rangefinders are designed to create confidence for every shot needed on the course.