USGA, Cisco Announce Partnership Extension

Cisco and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have announced a multiyear extension of their partnership, which began in 2018 and established the global technology leader as the Official Technology Partner of the USGA and its championships. Through the new term, the two organizations will leverage Cisco’s industry-leading solutions, innovation and expertise to strengthen the USGA’s technological infrastructure at their championships and foster continued innovation and inclusion in golf.

Over the past five years, Cisco and the USGA have implemented several innovations benefiting fans, media and event organizers, including debuting the first-ever “Connected Course” at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. That USGA championship marked the first launch of course-wide Wi-Fi. Cisco played a key role in the USGA’s ability to seamlessly and securely deploy virtual connectivity solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing Webex by Cisco to the forefront of both fan engagement and media operations. Additionally, Cisco powered the use of 4D technology as part of the broadcast experience of USGA championships, giving fans watching at home a new perspective on their favorite players’ swings.

New Par-3 Layout Under Construction Next to Tiger Woods Designed Payne's Valley Golf Course

One of America’s most in-demand golf destinations just got even more appealing with news that it is adding another golf course, this one a dramatic par-3 18-hole layout under construction adjacent to Payne’s Valley, the astounding championship course designed by Tiger Woods and Beau Welling that is drawing players from around the globe.

Construction is still in its early stages and no timetable for completion was shared.

Original Penguin Launches Chi Chi Rodriguez Collection

Original Penguin by Munsingwear, a division of Perry Ellis International, is pleased to announce the launch of the Chi Chi Rodriguez 2023 Summer Collection. Introducing a retro yet modern look, combined with the classic Original Penguin heritage and style, the Chi Chi collection brings his trademark swagger on and off the course.

“The Chi Chi Rodriguez collection fully incorporates what it means to be an original,” stated Oscar Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International. “El Toreador is a true icon in the game and one of the most popular golfers of all time. This collection perfectly reflects his distinct style, from his hallmark fedora to his signature “sword dance” celebration. We are excited to bring this collection of products to market, merging Chi Chi’s original style with Penguin’s trademark performance.”

Give Dad a Premium Duca del Cosma Shoes and Glove Pairing this Father's Day

Luxury Italian golf shoe brand Duca del Cosma is offering a premium leather golf glove with every pair of golf shoes purchased from its latest range to coincide with Father’s Day next week.

Several glove models can even be paired up with a selection of the latest SS23 golf shoes to deliver a super stylish feel-good factor on the golf course.

PING Signs William Mouw to Multi-Year Agreement

William Mouw, a three-time All-American at Pepperdine University, has turned pro and joined PING’s global tour staff, company CEO & President John K. Solheim announced today. The 22-year-old Mouw, who makes his professional debut at this week’s Korn Ferry BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD Synnex, was previously under contract with PING through an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreement.

“William’s record is extremely impressive, going back to his victory at the Junior World Championships as a 14-year-old and his recent success at Pepperdine that included an NCAA team title in 2021,” Solheim said. “Since then, he’s continually added to his long list of accomplishments. I really like his approach to the game. He plays with a lot of confidence and has a well-rounded game. He has a strong faith, and his outgoing personality is very engaging.  He’ll be fun to watch, and we’re excited to have him join our staff and represent PING.”

Galvin Green Sales Soar in New York

Sales of the latest Galvin Green premium hi-tech apparel collection have been soaring across the PGA Met Section in New York since the brand introduced its full range of garments to some of the country’s most prestigious golf clubs and stores earlier this year.

“We presented leading golf outlets in the Met Section and the New York area to the strongest ever range of Galvin Green garments across all layers – from award-winning outerwear in various colorways to some of the most exceptional shirt designs on the market – and the results have been pretty spectacular,” said Lou Delfino, General Manager in North America.

PXG Announces New Summer Sweepstakes with Darius Rucker

Together with GRAMMY award-winning artist and PXG® Ambassador Darius Rucker, PXG is thrilled to kick off the summer with an exclusive giveaway. The PXG Summer Swingstakes with Darius Rucker contest is officially calling all golfers to sign-up for a chance to win a golf outing with Darius, concert tickets, and a custom fitted PXG GEN6 full bag. The contest is available in four PXG Fitting & Retail Studio markets: Paramus, Boston, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

To enter the Summer Swingstakes, golfers and music lovers are encouraged to stop by select PXG stores – PXG Paramus, PXG Boston, PXG Chicago North, PXG Chicago West, and PXG Minneapolis – to complete their entry. Enthusiasts can also enter on social media by following @PXG, tagging their concert buddy, and hash tagging a participating PXG store location on the official announcement post.

PXG Pro Tips with Actor, Comedian, and Golf Club Junkie Rob Riggle: LPGA Edition

PXG recognizes that more women than ever are trying, enjoying, and succeeding in golf, and the company is doing its part to continue this momentum and ensure everyone feels welcome. During Women’s Golf Month, PXG is featuring its talented LPGA Tour players, celebrating its employees, and making a mark in the community through several key initiatives aimed at growing the game.

Premiering today, PXG pairs comedy icon and golf addict Rob Riggle with LPGA Tour Professionals, including Celine Boutier, Austin Ernst, and Christina Kim, for some core stimulating, performance-powering tips and tricks. Spanning the fundamentals to the game’s finer points, the nine-episode series, PXG Pro Tips with Rob Riggle: LPGA Edition, is available on PXG’s website and YouTube.

Now on Tour: New Titleist T-Series Irons (T100, T150, T200, and T350)

The next generation of the PGA TOUR’s most played irons – Titleist T-Series – will debut this week at the Memorial Tournament.

Titleist irons have been the longstanding top choice of the best players in the world. In each of the last nine seasons (and 18 of the last 19), more players on the PGA TOUR have had Titleist irons in their bags than any other brand.

USGA Announces that Jupiter Hills Club will Host Two USGA Championships

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Jupiter Hills Club, in Tequesta, Fla., will be the host site for two USGA championships: the 2027 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 2032 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. This will be the third and fourth USGA championships held at the club.

“The USGA is pleased to return to Jupiter Hills Club and continue a partnership that enthusiastically supports amateur competition on many levels,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, championships. “We know that the club’s courses will challenge the best male and female mid-amateurs from around the world and that South Florida will embrace these two championships.”

Emiliano Grillo Captures Charles Schwab Challenge Sporting PUMA Golf Footwear and Apparel

 PUMA GOLF athlete Emiliano Grillo fought off the competition on Sunday with a final round 68 and eight-under-par total to win the Charles Schwab Challenge, his second career victory on the PGA Tour. Grillo’s first win in over seven years came in dramatic fashion, as he outlasted Adam Schenk in a playoff to grab the prestigious title.

The 30-year-old Argentinian cruised around the famed Colonial Country Club in style, sporting PUMA PROADAPT DELTA Mids for solid footing and comfort, as well as PUMA DEALER TAILORED pants and a MATTR RISING polo shirt for style and performance. MATTR (Materials, Technology, & Research) is a performance fabric designed to provide the highest level of comfort in a wide variety of conditions. A technical, moisture-wicking and fast-drying material, MATTR performance no doubt played a hand in keeping Emi cool and calm on his way to victory.

Adidas Signs Top Amateur Golfer Rose Zhang

The most decorated athlete in amateur women’s golf history will now be wearing the 3-Stripes as she begins her professional career. Today, adidas announced the signing of Rose Zhang to a multi-year contract that will see her wearing adidas apparel, footwear and accessories while on the course.

Zhang’s accolades as an amateur are unmatched. Beyond capturing every women’s amateur major championship – U.S. Girls’ Junior (2021), U.S. Women’s Amateur (2020) and Augusta National Women’s Amateur (2023) – Zhang finished her sophomore season by becoming the first woman to ever win back-to-back NCAA individual titles. In May of last year, Zhang became the first student-athlete to sign a Name, Image and Likeness endorsement agreement with adidas.

The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village - Aon Risk Reward

Since being redesigned two years ago, the 15th hole at Muirfield Village Golf Club has been one of the most balanced risk-versus-reward par 5s all season on the PGA TOUR. Players have been almost split down the middle when it comes to the second shot decision: 52 percent go for the green, while 48 percent lay up. And while hitting the green in two has enormous value (eight-tenths of a stroke), a well-positioned layup can be beneficial, too. Laying up into the fairway can gain two-tenths of a stroke over players who go for it and miss with their approach.

At the end of the regular season, the most consistent player across each tour, with the lowest average score under par, on the Aon Risk Reward Challenge holes captures the $1 million prize.

PING Signs Reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Sam Bennett to Tour Staff

Sam Bennett, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and three-time All-American at Texas A&M, has turned pro and joined PING’s global tour staff, company CEO & President John K. Solheim announced today. The 23-year-old Bennett, who makes his PGA Tour debut as a professional at this week’s Memorial Tournament, was previously under contract with PING through an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreement.

“We’re excited to have Sam transition to our professional tour staff,” Solheim said. “His performance in winning last year’s U.S. Amateur received a lot of attention but it was his remarkable play at the Masters that skyrocketed his popularity and made him one of the biggest stories of that week. He’s an amazing talent who plays with a lot of confidence and passion, which should serve him well as he begins his professional career. We’re looking forward to having Sam represent the PING brand.”

FootJoy 2023 StaSoft Golf Glove Review

FootJoy has been the most worn golf glove on professional tours since 1983.  You put on a FootJoy glove and you know you're getting quality, reliability, comfort, and absolute, unparalleled performance.

And this year FootJoy updated their 2023 StaSof golf glove to improve on every aspect of the glove.  I kid you not.

Reynolds Lake Oconee Offers the Ultimate Gift for Day this Father's Day

Looking to score an ace this year with your Father’s Day gift? Search no more as Reynolds Lake Oconee, the highly acclaimed golf community located between Augusta and Atlanta, offers dad a wide-ranging golf experience that he’ll not soon forget.

For starters, to ensure his equipment matches his passion for the game, dad will start with a comprehensive club-fitting and building experience with a visit to The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Since opening in 2007, The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee is the country’s only TaylorMade fitting venue where recreational golfers have access to the same expertise and technology used by TaylorMade’s athletes and club pros.

True Spec Charlotte Opening at Intown Golf Club

True Spec Golf, the global leader in custom club fitting and club building, announced that they have partnered with Intown Golf Club to open True Spec Charlotte, True Spec’s third location in North Carolina.

Located in the SouthPark area of the Queen City, True Spec Charlotte will open at the new, highly anticipated private social club for golfers, Intown Golf Club, on June 1st. It is the latest in a series of partnerships that brings True Spec’s bespoke fittings and best-in-class customer service to prominent clubs and resorts across the country. True Spec Charlotte is now the third location in the state, joining True Spec Pine Needles and True Spec Raleigh.

Rose Zhang Granted Special Exemption into 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links

Rose Zhang, of Irvine, Calif., has been granted a special exemption into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, which will be conducted July 6-9 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. The 20-year-old, who was previously exempt prior to turning professional, is set to make her fifth consecutive appearance in the championship.

“Competing in the U.S. Women’s Open is always a special experience, and being granted an exemption into the first at Pebble Beach is truly an honor,” said Zhang. “This is a big moment for our sport, and I’m very appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity to be part of it.”

Rose Zhang's First Event as a Pro - Mizuho Americas Open

On the heels of becoming the first female golfer to ever win back-to-back NCAA Individual Championships, the #1 ranked amateur in the world, Rose Zhang, has announced that she will be turning professional and has accepted a sponsor exemption in the Mizuho Americas Open, where she will make her professional debut from May 31 - June 4 at the iconic Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ.

The three-time McCormack Medal winner left the amateur ranks having held the top position in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking for a record 141 consecutive weeks, dating back to September 2020. Zhang, who received the 2022 and 2023 Annika Award as the nation’s top female collegiate golfer, set the NCAA scoring average record at 68.70 this season, surpassing the previous record that she set last year by nearly a full stroke. She established herself as a champion at the biggest events in the sport, including victories at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Her 12 titles in NCAA competition, earned in just 20 collegiate starts, are the most in Stanford history, besting Tiger Woods, Patrick Rodgers, and Maverick McNealy by one.

USGA Expands Funding for P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program, Connecting More People to Careers In Golf

This week, the USGA welcomed its largest class of P.J. Boatwright Jr. interns to the annual Boatwright Summit as the organization kicks off the 32nd year of the career development initiative that provides on-the-job training across the USGA’s network of 58 Allied Golf Associations (AGAs).

As part of the organization’s commitment to foster a more inclusive game and connect more individuals to careers in golf, the USGA funds the program, in part through philanthropic contributions, and works closely with AGAs on intern recruitment and training. In 2023, the USGA is delivering a program-high $2.09 million to pay each intern, provide travel costs to the annual summit and support AGA operations to manage staffing locally.