Thursday, September 22, 2022

Baltimore Country Club Awarded Two USGA Amateur Championships

The USGA has announced that Baltimore (Md.) Country Club’s East Course will be the host site for the 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur and 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships. The club has previously hosted four USGA championships, most recently the 1988 U.S. Women’s Open.

“We are thrilled to return to Baltimore Country Club and rekindle our relationship with a club that has produced memorable USGA moments dating back to 1899,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “The process of awarding these two championships has been seamless, and we appreciate the club’s staff and membership for their friendship and partnership and look forward to working closely together over the coming years.”

FootJoy x Todd Snyder - The Links Collection

How would golf’s most iconic players from the Sixties and Seventies dress if they stepped onto the links today? The answer is this fall’s Todd Snyder x FootJoy Collection. Titled “The Links,” the collection was inspired by the old-school, “links” style coastal courses of Scotland, and the styles borrow traditional British menswear patterns and place them in modern, technical fabrics.

Building on FootJoy’s almost 100 year history as a leader in performance and comfort, Snyder designed a capsule collection of polos, hoodies, cardigans, varsity jackets, trousers and golf shoes that are inspired by vintage golf style yet reinvented for the modern gent. A vintage FootJoy logo depicting a golf ball and tee figures throughout the collection.

Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Kicks Off LPGA Season with World Class Entertainers, Athletes, and Celebrities

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), the industry-leading global vacation ownership company, announces the return of the Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions. As the kickoff to the LPGA Tour and one of the LPGA season’s most-watched events, the January tournament brings together LPGA Tour winners to play alongside approximately 50 of the biggest stars in sports, entertainment and music.

The highly anticipated HGV Tournament of Champions is legendary for its world-class experiences that extend beyond the course, including an exclusive, three-night private concert series, which will feature R&B icons En Vogue, Grammy-winning country-pop star Maren Morris and pop superstar Ellie Goulding. To round out this iconic all-female concert lineup, Paris Hilton, the world-famous influencer, philanthropist and CEO of 11:11 Media who has successfully built a career as a highly sought-after DJ, will hit the stage following Ellie Goulding to keep the party going after a day of action on the course. EDM vocalist Emma Hewitt and Australian DJ duo NERVO will also perform.

New Kingdom Cup to Feature Top PGA Tour Pros and VIP Guests

Kingdom magazine, in collaboration with Hilton Head Island, is proud to announce the inaugural Kingdom Cup golf tournament, to be played October 27–30 at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island.

A celebration of friends, success, and the good that golf can do, the Kingdom Cup will feature a number of VIP guests, including 2022 U.S. Presidents Cup Team Captain Davis Love III; nine-time PGA TOUR winner and Olympic Bronze Medalist Matt Kuchar; and 2022 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year contender Cameron Young. Golf Correspondent, Alexandra O’Laughlin, Folds of Honor founder and CEO Lt Col. Dan Rooney, Golf Personality Roger Steele, PGA Tour Caddie, Geno Bonnalie and World-Champion Tennis Icon, Stan Smith will join other VIPs and distinguished guests for two days of friendly tournament play on the Arthur Hills and Robert Trent Jones courses at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.

PING PLD Anser Patent 55 Copper Putter Drops September 26th

The PLD Anser Patent 55 in copper, the third of four fully machined collector’s models being offered as part of a year-long celebration acknowledging the issuance of the Anser putter patent 55 years ago, is available exclusively through pingpld.com beginning Monday at 2 pm ET.

Only 55 of the precision-milled, handcrafted putters, which are made in the USA and serialized, will be available via the website for $790 (limit one per customer).

Circling Raven Earns Best Casino Course Distinction

Best-in-kind course raters have ranked Circling Raven No. 20 in the just-published Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top 50 Casino Golf Courses in America.

Designed by Gene Bates, Circling Raven has perennially been ranked one of the country’s top casino courses since opening in 2003. It has also earned Top 100 Resort, No. 1 Public Course in Idaho, and Pro Shop Merchandiser of the Year honors on multiple occasions.

Country Clubs Choosing Inrange for Premium Member Experience

Grey Oaks Country Club (a Platinum Club® of America member), located in Naples, Florida, is enhancing its member experience by upgrading its golf offering with the installation of Inrange® – the leading Range Experience Technology product on the market – becoming the second high-end country club in the USA to do so.

As part of their continuing improvement in experiences for their members and guests, the premier club (which also offers 54 award winning holes of golf) is bringing a whole new experience to Southwest Florida. The decision to partner with Inrange® was one that Grey Oaks felt would take their facility to the next level.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Matthew McClean Defeats Countryman Hugh Foley for U.S. Mid-Amateur Title and Earns U.S. Open Exemption

The winner of the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship was … the Republic of Ireland.

This island nation of 5.1 million (7 million when you count Northern Ireland) was going to produce its first champion in a USGA amateur competition no matter who prevailed in the 36-hole championship match, which concluded on Saturday – 1½ days later than expected – with 29-year-old optometrist Matthew McClean, of Belfast, holding the Robert T. Jones Memorial Trophy, thanks to a 3-and-1 victory over countryman and close friend Hugh Foley, 25, of Dublin.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship - Meet the Semifinalists

The semifinal round of match play at the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be played at the 7,322-yard, par-71 Erin Hills.  Semifinal round winners will advance to the first 18 holes of the 36-hole championship match on Friday.

The final 18 holes of the championship match are scheduled for Saturday.  Here's a look at the semifinalists.

Irishmen Hugh Foley and Matthew McClean Join Josh Persons and Bryce Hanstad in U.S. Mid-Amateur Semifinals

It seems appropriate somehow that a pair of Irishmen have advanced to the semifinals of the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Erin Hills. Erin is the poetic name for Ireland in Gaelic, and the 16-year-old course’s logo is a three-leaf clover. Cottages on the property are named for iconic Irish venues such as Ballybunion and Lahinch, and the pub has an Irish theme.

While the layout might not remind anyone of the historic links courses in Ireland, Hugh Foley, 25, and Matthew McClean, 29, have found the surroundings to their liking. And on a glorious Thursday – temperatures in the 70s with breezes in the 10- to 20-miles-per-hour range – the two Irishmen advanced to the semifinals in their first-ever appearance in this championship.

Dunlop Sports Americas Returns to 2023 PGA Show

Dunlop Sports Americas® announced today plans to return to the PGA Show in Orlando, FL., Jan. 24-27, 2023.

Debuting their new global brand structure for the first time on the Orlando showroom floor, Dunlop Sports Americas plans to highlight their international scope and freshly united family of golf brands at the 2023 PGA Show. The Show will serve as a critical opportunity to display how revamped branding under the Dunlop umbrella has coalesced and magnified the moment of the growing Srixon, Cleveland Golf, XXIO, and ASICS platforms.

Revo Introduces Sonic Audio Enhanced Smart Sunglasses

Revo, the global leader in high-quality performance sunglasses, announced today the launch of Revo Sonic, audio sunglasses that let listeners field phone calls, listen to music, and, with an optional app, monitor their fitness workouts.

Three years in the making, the new Revo frames combine cutting-edge Bluetooth audio technology and sleek design with Revo’s signature NASA polarized lenses to provide the ultimate sight and sound experience. Using easy to access touch controls, users can free themselves from intrusive earbuds, listen to audio while maintaining alert to what’s happening around them.

PING Introduces 10 New Putter Models Designed to Meet the Needs of Every Golfer

PING has introduced 10 new putter models, each individually designed to achieve the proper balance of feel and forgiveness in a confidence-inspiring look using various combinations of the company’s proven putter technologies.

The 10 models, consisting of high moment of inertia blades and ultra-forgiving multi-material mid-mallets and mallets, are available for pre-order beginning today for $300 (U.S. MSRP). Each model can be custom fit for stroke type, length, lie, loft and grip type.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Adidas Announces Limited Edition Samba Golf Shoes

The Samba – a timeless classic originally created to enable footballers to train in firm and icy conditions – has made its way back to the course.

As the traditional golf season slows down, we wanted to offer a special shoe to keep golfers’ energy alive, which is why we created a Limited-Edition Samba Golf in not one, but four vibrant pastel colors such as halo blue, clear pink, pulse yellow, and crystal white.

Desert Mountain Club to Host Two USGA Championships

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Desert Mountain Club, in Scottsdale, Ariz., will host the 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and 2029 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championships. These will be the second and third USGA championships held at Desert Mountain.

“We’re thrilled to bring both of our four-ball championships to Desert Mountain and the state of Arizona for the first time,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “The variety of risk-reward options throughout the club’s signature golf courses will allow for exciting and dramatic team competition, while providing a comprehensive test that will produce worthy champions.”

James Leow Leaves Foes in Fog, Champions Scott Harvey ​​​​​​​and Stewart Hagestad Advance in U.S. Mid-Amateur

Mother Nature threw the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship another curveball on Wednesday morning when fog caused a 30-minute delay for the resumption of the Round of 64 that was suspended due to darkness on Tuesday.

Following Sunday’s storm – 4 inches fell at Erin Hills – this was just another blip on the radar for the best 25-and-older golfers hoping to add their name to the Robert T. Jones Memorial Trophy and earn a spot in next year’s U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Padraig Harrington Builds on Wilson Staff Legacy Winning Ascension Charity Classic

Wilson Sporting Goods Co., the club manufacturer with more Major wins with its irons than any other brand, today celebrates Padraig Harrington’s victory at the Ascension Charity Classic held in St. Louis at Norwood Hills Country Club.

“What an incredible season our Wilson ambassador Padraig Harrington is having,” said Tim Clarke, President, Wilson Golf. “It’s hard to beat nine top-10 finishes in just 13 starts and we’re thrilled that he’s added the Ascension Charity Classic trophy to go alongside his Dick’s Sporting Goods Open and U.S. Senior Open Championship wins. We love providing Padraig with the innovative clubs that helped him claim his 35th professional win of his career.”

Andrew Paysse Among Six to Advance in ​​​​​​​Weather-Delayed U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

To some degree, the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship has turned into a race against fading daylight. Given Sunday’s storm and the loss of nearly half a day on Monday due to course cleanup, the national championship for golfers 25 and older is now playing catchup.

On Tuesday, weather-delayed Round 2 was completed at noontime CDT at Erin Hills and stroke-play co-host Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, with the cut for match play coming at 3-over-par 144. Two hours later, the first Round-of-64 match began at Erin Hills, while the 17-for-12 playoff for the final spots in the draw commenced on No. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Monday, September 12, 2022

35th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship - Facts and Figures

The 35th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship kicks off this week on the Long Mean Course at Fiddlesticks Country Club.

The course will be set up at 6,199 yards and play to a par of 72. Based on the setup, the Course Rating™ is 77.0 and the Slope Rating® is 137.

Sam Jones and Jake Shuman Early Leaders for Medalist ​​​​​​​in Rain-Delayed U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

Mother Nature continues to wreak havoc on the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Sunday’s storm dumped 4 inches of rain on Erin Hills and 5.3 inches at stroke-play co-host Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, nearly 30 miles to the southeast, requiring a massive cleanup effort.

This was especially the case at Blue Mound, where 20 pumps were utilized to extract standing water from bunkers and fairways. Staffers from nine nearby facilities aided in the herculean task of making the course playable.