Santa María Golf Club of Panamá to host 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship

The Masters Tournament, The R&A and the USGA have announced that the ninth edition of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) will be contested at Santa María Golf Club in Panamá City, Panamá, January 18-21, 2024. The LAAC will return to Panamá for the second time in the event’s history and make its debut at Santa María Golf Club.

“It is an honor to host the top men’s Latin American amateurs at our beautiful venue for the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship,” said José Ignacio Olea, General Manager of Santa María Golf Club. “Santa María Golf Club will provide a quality backdrop to showcase some of the best players in our region.”

Wilson Adds Two More Players to Professional Golf Advisory Staff

Wilson Sporting Goods Co. today announced that professional golfers Willie Mack III and Alex Knappe have joined its professional Golf Advisory Staff. Mack joins Wilson’s PGA TOUR roster that includes John Augenstein, Kevin Chappell, Quade Cummins, Padraig Harrington, Kevin Kisner, Trey Mullinax, Brendan Steele, Kevin Streelman, Martin Trainer and Kevin Tway; and LPGA Tour player Sophia Schubert.

“Wilson’s momentum and player adoption on worldwide tours highlights the quality, consistency and, most of all, the performance of our premium golf equipment,” said Tim Clarke, President, Wilson Golf. “Having up-and-coming players like Willie and Alex choose to play our products mirrors what’s happening on golf courses around the world: better players are trusting Wilson Golf equipment.”

Duca del Cosma Wows Retailers and Attendees at the 2023 PGA Show

Duca del Cosma, the luxury Italian fashion brand that sells its distinctive handcrafted golf shoes in 46 countries worldwide, wowed American retailers attending the PGA Show last week to secure a record number of forward orders for its latest collection that offers something completely different from any other brand on the market.

Exhibiting in Orlando for the sixth successive year to an audience of nearly 7,000 PGA professionals and more than 800 media, Duca del Cosma unveiled its most advanced range in a host of vibrant colorways, including its feature-packed PRO SPIKE collection offering Tour-level performance and stability to both men and women golfers.

Reynolds Lake Oconee Honored on Golfweek Best List of 2023

Reynolds Lake Oconee has been recognized on two of Golfweek’s Best lists for 2023: Top 200 residential golf courses in the U.S. and the Top 200 resort courses in the U.S.

Reynolds Lake Oconee boasts some of the most diverse golf experiences in the southeast with courses designed by legendary architects: Great Waters by Jack Nicklaus, The National by Tom Fazio, The Oconee by Rees Jones, The Landing and The Preserve by Bob Cupp, as well as the members-only Creek Club by Jim Engh.

Sacks Parente Releases New Fang Shape Drac Putter

Sacks Parente Golf (SPG), is delivering a shiver in the golf industry by introducing the newest addition to its innovative putter portfolio – the DRAC, a fang-shaped mallet putter built for golfers who want to make more putts. SPG is the creator of exceptional putting instruments and a growing portfolio of golf shafts, grips and other golf related products.

Short for Dracula, the Series 02 DRAC boasts a striking silhouette that delivers stability on every stroke; a straighter roll, even on off-center hits; a square putter face at impact; and the distinctive feel that all SPG putters provide – all resulting in more putts made.

USGA Annual Awards Celebrate Volunteerism, Turfgrass Research and Literature

Recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional efforts in volunteerism, innovation and golf literature, the USGA has announced the 2023 recipients of its Annual Awards, including the Joe Dey Award, the Herbert Warren Wind Award and the Green Section Award.

Robin Farran is the recipient of this year’s Joe Dey Award in recognition of nearly 30 years of meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. “Bless•ed One,” by James Roth, has been selected as the winner of the USGA’s Herbert Warren Wind Award. Roch Gaussoin is the Green Section Award honoree for introducing new technologies and processes that advance putting green construction and management.

Padraig Harrington Set to Tee it Up at the 2023 Ras Al Khaimah Championship

Major winner and 2020 European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington is set to tee it up at the upcoming Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club from February 2-5, 2023.

The 15-time DP World Tour winner joins an already-impressive field which includes defending champion Nicolai Højgaard, his twin brother Rasmus and New Zealand's Ryan Fox, who finished second in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex last season.

The International Series Kicks Off the 2023 Asian Tour Season with a Blockbuster Field in Oman

The International Series returns in 2023, making its Middle Eastern debut at Al Mouj Golf, Oman, from 9-12 February with the Asian Tour’s enhanced tournament series’ strongest field to date.

The 132-player field including golfers from 23 countries across 6 continents is headlined by major winners Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, and Charl Schwartzel.

Bridgestone Golf Introduces New e9 Long Drive Golf Ball

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, has announced the new e9 Long Drive, a new golf ball designed in conjunction with World Long Drive professionals.  The new e9, the Official Ball of World Long Drive, will be used in all WLD competitions and is the longest ball in the Bridgestone Golf portfolio.

The new ball, which is aimed at players looking for maximum carry and the ultimate in overall distance, features a two-piece construction with injection molded seamless Surlyn cover and Bridgestone’s Tour-proven 330 dimple pattern. An extreme gradational core (softer in the center, firmer toward the exterior) promotes extreme ball speed and lower long game spin. The uniquely-designed e9 Long Drive also offers higher launch, more carry, and more overall efficiency.

Cleveland Golf Announces New Frontline Elite Putters with One of a Kind Tungsten Face

The all-new Frontline Elite Putter line from CLEVELAND GOLF features eight carefully crafted models with improved forward weighting and face technology, all designed to help golfers hit straighter putts with consistent speed and distance. The Frontline Elite Putters are slated to launch Feb. 22.

Frontline Elite Putters were carefully designed to reduce adverse effects of off-center strikes and help players sink more putts, regardless of stroke type.

Arccos Golf Announces New Features and Platform Extensions for 2023

Arccos – the pioneer of big data and Artificial Intelligence for golf – has announced a series of product innovations and platform extensions as it continues to leverage the power of its unrivalled and largest on-course dataset that now includes 700 billion data points and more than 625 million shots taken by Arccos users during over 13.5 million rounds.

Geared to help golfers and golf businesses harness the power of data to perform their best, Arccos releases for Q1 2023 will include the following.

Adidas x Burning Cart Society Collection Reminds Golfers of the Importance of Nature in the Sport

Since golf is primarily played outdoors, the natural setting is as much a part of the round as the golf shots that move players along. With nature in mind, adidas is focused on continuing a material revolution that puts athletes – and the planet – first. Today, adidas’ journey to a world beyond plastic continues by introducing a special collection of adicross products with Burning Cart Society that are Made with Nature.

The adidas x Burning Cart Society collection is one of the ways adidas is teaming up with eco-partners – like Burning Cart Society – to start closing the loop. Built within the adicross range, this product is made in part with natural and renewable materials as part of adidas’ journey to design out finite resources and help end plastic waste.

The New e6 Bridgestone Golf Ball Provides Enhanced Feel and Longer Distance

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, announced today that the new e6, the longest running and historically biggest selling model in the company’s lineup, is now redesigned to provide a softer, more pleasing feel at impact with maximum distance for value-minded players.

After 15 years of success, the e6 is still going strong, with a new design aimed at players that want an exceptionally soft feel and pleasing sound at impact without giving up any distance off the tee. In the case of the new e6, those that don’t have Tour-level swing speed will greatly benefit from the soft, extremely large gradient core and Bridgestone’s advanced dimple technology and aerodynamics. As always, a seamless Surlyn cover helps provide a combination of speed, distance, and exceptional durability.

Streamsong Set to Begin Construction on The Chain Fourth Course

Streamsong Golf Resort revealed the highly anticipated construction schedule for “The Chain,” nearly one year to the day since the concept of the new golf offering was first announced. Construction on the course will begin in early March with hopes of a fall 2023 grand opening. “The Bucket,” a two acre putting course that is part of the new concept also steps from the Lodge entrance, will follow The Chain timeline.

Since Streamsong announced the name, logo and initial routing last spring, the Coore and Crenshaw design team have returned to the roughly 100 acre site on several occasions and are taking advantage of every opportunity to showcase the unexpected elevation changes and live oak groves, water features, and sandscapes throughout to create a compelling layout. The legendary duo who also designed Streamsong Red, which opened in 2012 with “Best New U.S. Course” honors and is perennially ranked among the top 30 courses in the U.S. by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek, have made several changes and additions to the original routing.  Most notably, the 3,000 yard walking layout now includes 19 holes ranging from 90 to over 275 yards, with a six- and 13- hole loop.

Lamkin Grips Announce 2023 New Product Line

Lamkin Grips announced today its new additions to the product lineup for 2023. The Sonar+ Black, UTX Green and UTX Blue, and Crossline 360 models have been added to build upon the equity built in the brand’s core products.

Lamkin CEO Bob Lamkin shared that he is “very enthusiastic about the new products we’ve added to this year’s product lineup. We’ve doubled down on what golfers really like about our products and have extended both the Sonar, UTX, and Crossline 360 product families to provide our customers even more feel, performance, and confidence each time they step onto the golf course.”

Golf Datatech and Yano Research Institure Unveil 2023 World Golf Report on Study of Golf Equipment and Apparel Sales

Golf Datatech, LLC, and Yano Research Institute Ltd., the golf industry’s two leading independent research and data firms, have introduced the “World Golf Report 2023,” the industry’s only global golf retail study. The 2023 edition of the report, the 5th edition since 2015, provides an in-depth global retail market summary based upon geography, size and economic significance of the now $20 billion worldwide golf equipment and apparel market, which encompass the $11.1 billion equipment and the $8.9 billion apparel sectors, respectively.

Among the key highlights of the study, worldwide golf equipment and apparel sales exploded to all-time highs in 2021 following the pandemic, surging more than $5 billon.

Three Troon International Venues Host Three Different Tour Events in Three Different Countries All in Same Week

Troon’s international properties are braced for the staging of multiple top tier events over the coming days. Within the next week, three Tour events will take place at three Troon International locales; with MENA Tour back-to-back events at the Madinaty Golf Club, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club will host the Asian Tour’s Saudi International tournament, as well as Al Hamra Golf Club which prepares for the second instalment of the Ras al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.

As the leader in golf course management, development and marketing, Troon continues to support host facilities across agronomy, operations and marketing to ensure they have the tools in place to effectively showcase their golf courses when welcoming some of the world’s best golfers.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa Begins Renovation of Famed Champions Course

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa has broken ground on the renovation of its famed Champions Course, one of its two 18-hole courses, as it prepares to host three consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships beginning in May 2024.

The renovation and ensuing NCAA Championships mark the beginning of a new chapter at one of the country’s most-iconic golf resorts. The golf course work will be led by Hanse Golf Course Design, founded by acclaimed architect Gil Hanse, who recently designed Fields Ranch East at the soon-to-open Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.

Aon Risk Reward Challenge at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am

At one of the signature closing holes in all of golf, winners of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am have used informed insights to take a better approach on the path to victory. In final rounds, winners have taken a risk-averse strategy.

Just two of the last 19 winners here have gone for the 18th green in two in the final round. The numbers say taking the ocean left out of play is the better decision: over the last 5 years, players are more likely to make bogey or worse with a tee shot to the left side.

70th PGA Show Closes and Signals Big Year Ahead for Golf

Nearly 30,000 PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives and retailers from more than 86 countries came together to meet with more than 800 golf companies at the 70th PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 24-27, 2023. Following two years of business disruptions by the global pandemic, the PGA Show was a clear sign of a bullish year ahead for the continued growth of the sport and the $84 billion golf industry.

The PGA Show, organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions and the PGA of America, began in the trunks of cars at a winter golf tournament in 1954 and has grown into golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering. Among the tens of thousands of attendees were nearly 7,000 PGA, LPGA and international PGA Professionals and more than 800 media reporting from the annual event.