Tuesday, June 13, 2023

An Above Par Father’s Day at Omni Hotels & Resorts

Father's Day is a great way to show the dad in your life how much you care—about him and his golf game. Located in some of the country’s most beautiful destinations, Omni Hotels & Resorts has a portfolio of 26 above-par golf courses designed by renowned architects and offer challenges for golfers at all levels of play. Schedule tee time or plan a golf vacation in prime locations on legendary greens to enjoy the resorts championship golf resorts. Select properties listed below with un’FORE’getable Father’s Day offers.

As the proud Official Hotel Partner of the PGA TOUR®, Omni Hotels & Resorts is excited to offer an exclusive golf package at 12 select resort destinations across the country with the PGA Tour Golf Package.

Monday, June 12, 2023

Los Angeles Country Club North Course Review: An Overview (2023 U.S. Open)

It's important where players win their U.S. Open Championship.  Great courses produce great drama and even greater champions.  Cathedrals of the game matter.  Ghosts of the past matter.

And when Los Angeles Country Club opens its curtains to the world this week for the 123rd U.S. Open, it will be a legacy defining moment.

USGA Announces Tee Times for 123rd U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 2023 U.S. Open Championship, Thursday (June 15) and Friday (June 16), at 7,423-yard, par-70 The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course).

The U.S. Open is a 72-hole, stroke-play competition. A field of 156 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on June 15 and 16, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties. Those players making the cut will play 18 holes on June 17 and 18. If there is a tie upon the completion of 72 holes, a two-hole aggregate playoff will immediately follow. If this playoff results in a tie, the tied players will immediately continue to play off hole-by-hole until the winner is determined.

The Centennial Collection from FootJoy

For 100 years, FootJoy has been synonymous with golf-specific design and performance innovation.  The brand was born from a company-wide naming competition in 1923, where an associate in the Brockton, MA stitching room submitted a name for a new line of shoes the company was developing – FOOTJOY.

The brand continues to lead and innovate in golf wearables and will celebrate 100 years in the making with the Centennial Collection. This collection is FJ’s take on an unmatched legacy of performance innovation and style, featuring a limited edition Premiere Series Wilcox for Men, a Women’s Premiere Series Shield Tip and an apparel collection that includes timeless and sophisticated polos, cardigans, hoodies and sweaters.

COBRA Golf Unveils Limited Edition US Open Golf Bag

With the arrival of the 2023 US Open, COBRA Golf has unveiled a Limited-Edition US Open Staff and Stand Bag.  Like all COBRA Golf bags, those made for the US Open are crafted with premium materials for an elevated, Tour-caliber look and feel.

This year the US Open will be hosted by the storied Los Angeles Country Club from June 15th to June 18th.  The club has previously held the Walker Cup but the 2023 US Open will be the first major played at LACC and the first US Open contested in the Los Angeles area in 75 years. To celebrate the momentous event, Cobra will release a new Americana inspired bag that layers in the iconic landmarks and street culture of Los Angeles, adorned with palm trees and stars to reference to key locations like Beverly Hills and Sunset Blvd.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

2023 U.S. Open Championship Notes and Insights

The Los Angeles Country Club is hosting a U.S. Open for the first time. It is the seventh venue to make its U.S. Open debut over the last 50 years, joining Atlanta Athletic Club (1976), Pinehurst (1999), Bethpage (2002), Torrey Pines (2008), Chambers Bay (2015) and Erin Hills (2017).

This will mark the 15th U.S. Open, and 20th major played in the state of California. The only foreign players to win a U.S. Open in California are Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (in 2010 at Pebble Beach) and Jon Rahm (in 2021 at Torrey Pines). The only other foreign player to win a major in California is Australia’s Steve Elkington, who won the 1995 PGA Championship at Riviera.

123rd U.S. Open Championship – Fact Sheet

The Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course will be set up at 7,423 yards and will play to a par of 35-35–70.

The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to course setup and conditions.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

PXG Launches Summer 2023 Apparel Capsule Collection

PXG has launched a PXG Apparel Summer 2023 Capsule that contains both trendy and timeless pieces that fit effortlessness into every golfer’s summer wardrobe. With the limited collection, PXG focuses on core, golf-centric pieces, introducing new technical fabrications that deliver contemporary silhouettes and boast a timely and timeless color palette of sunshine yellow and navy.

The PXG Apparel Summer 2023 Capsule features 11 classic course-ready styles with PXG signature details – six for men and five for women. The men’s capsule features 4 core polos, one with brand-new bonded fabrication technology that allows for extreme breathability and comfort. Two new silhouettes with a classic appeal also make their debut, a layerable, four-way stretch golf vest and a new slim golf short, adding flare as well as function to a golfer’s summer game.

PING Slam PLD Limited Zing 2 Drops Tuesday June 13th

The PLD Limited Zing 2 putter, the third of four precision-milled PING putters celebrating the brand winning all four major championships in 1988, will be available for purchase on pingpld.com, beginning at 2 pm ET on Tuesday, June 13.

Known as the “PING Slam”, the celebration recognizes a historic achievement that had never happened before 1988 and hasn’t happened since for any putter brand. Precision-milled versions of the four winning models (Pal, Pal 2, Zing 2 and Anser), respectively, are available each Tuesday of this year’s four major championship weeks, giving collectors a rare opportunity to own a part of PING’s storied putter history.

Macklemomre Teams with Adidas in New Apparel Collection

Adiidas and Macklemore’s Bogey Boys are reimagining timeless styles from the 70s and 80s that established new trends for fashion, lifestyle and sports. Today, adidas and Bogey Boys are introducing the adidas x Bogey Boys collection featuring crisp designs and high-quality performance materials that combine vintage styles from golf and tennis with a modern feel, all for easy on- and off-course wear. The limited-edition capsule featuring apparel and footwear for men and women will be available at select locations beginning Wednesday, June 14.

“As the original sports brand, we’ve been designing product for sports like golf and tennis for more than 50 years,” said Dylan Moore, senior creative director, adidas Golf. “As we continue our mission to be the most progressive golf brand in the world, this heritage gives us the luxury of revisiting our extensive archives for inspiration. Those now-retro designs were inspiring to us, and we know that golfers are once again looking for products that present classic, clean, and bold aesthetics with an attitude. Macklemore and the Bogey Boys team were the perfect partners for this because of their love for vintage apparel and eye-catching designs.”

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

The PGAPappas Podcast - Episode 2: Leigh Steinberg Talks the PGA and DP World Tour Merger with PIF and LIV Golf

Yesterday's bombshell news of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour merging with the PIF (Public Investment Fund) and LIV Golf is making a potential golf super league look more and more probable.  The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf will all exist under one umbrella and professional golf may never be the same again.

My guest for Episode 2 is superstar sports agent Leigh Steinberg, and his insights into the proposed merger and issues surrounding it are profound and penetrating.  Leigh and I talk about the winners and losers in the deal, what PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan has done wrong and what opportunities exist for him to do right, as well as sportswashing, player and fan vested interests, and a whole lot more.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF Announce Newly Formed Commercial Entity to Unify Golf

The PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) today announced a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis. The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game’s best players.

In addition, PIF will make a capital investment into the new entity to facilitate its growth and success. The new entity (name TBD) will implement a plan to grow these combined commercial businesses, drive greater fan engagement and accelerate growth initiatives already underway. With LIV Golf in the midst of its second, groundbreaking season, the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to best feature and grow team golf going forward.

Celebrate Father's Day with Gifts He's Guaranteed to Love from Linksoul

With Father's Day just around the corner, Linksoul invites you to discover an exceptional collection of gifts that will make every dad feel truly appreciated. As a brand deeply rooted in a philosophy that values family, community, and the pursuit of soulful experiences, Linksoul offers a range of products designed to cater to dads of all types and passions.

When Dad Hits the Course. For the golf-loving fathers, Linksoul presents the perfect collection of polos and shorts that combine performance and style on and off the course. This Father's Day, give your dad the gift of comfort and sophistication with our selection of golf polos and Boardwalker shorts. Introducing the Rincon Polo, Delray Polo, and Solid Boardwalker Shorts.

Need a Fittervention? Club Champion Offering Exclusive Gift Card Bonuses

The first step is admitting there is a problem…with off-the-shelf clubs. It’s time for a Fittervention and Club Champion is here to help. Just in time for Father’s Day, Club Champion is kicking off their Fittervention campaign by offering a 20% bonus card on gift card purchases made June 9-18, 2023. A Fittervention is the perfect gift for a golf-obsessed dad!

“Many times, it’s not you, it’s the clubs,” said Club Champion founder, Nick Sherburne. “Sometimes you need an intervention — or a Fittervention, in this case — to see what custom clubs can really do for your game.”

Odds of Winning 2024 Masters Ticket Lottery

The 2024 Masters ticket lottery is open, and would-be patrons have two weeks left to apply ahead of the June 20 deadline.

So what exactly are the golf odds of winning Masters tournament tickets through the lottery? After doing some research, Bookies.com put together a complete guide of the process of deciding the odds and found the odds of winning the Masters lottery for a single-day tournament ticket to be 0.55%.

Uneekor EYE XO2 Discount for Father's Day and US Open

Uneekor, makers of the world’s most obsessively and meticulously engineered golf simulator technologies, is pleased to announce a special Father's Day promotion for their most powerful launch monitor, the EYE XO2. Customers can now receive a discount using the promo code "EYEXO2SPRING" at checkout for $2000 off now through June 30, 2023.

The EYE XO2 is the ultimate overhead golf launch monitor. With the addition of a third camera, advanced infrared sensor technology, and nearly double the hitting zone, it accurately measures ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and more to provide golfers with comprehensive data and feedback about their ball flight and swing. The EYE XO2 also includes the addition of the new Trouble Mat which simulates rough and bunker lies just like they are on the course.

USGA Welcomes 20 Pathways Interns to 2023 U.S. Open Championship

Demonstrating a commitment to foster a welcoming and inclusive golf industry by providing more work opportunities, the United States Golf Association (USGA) has hired 20 students from underrepresented communities for its 10-day Pathways Internship Program, held during U.S. Open Championship week in Los Angeles.

Launched in 2022 as the Lee Elder Internship, the career training program returns as part of the USGA’s four-pillar U.S. Open community engagement strategy that aims to utilize USGA resources and expertise to propel a healthier future for the game. Supported by foundational sponsor Deloitte, as well as Cisco, Sentry Insurance, NBC Sports, Peter Millar and host community partners The Los Angeles Country Club and Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC), the program aims to expose students to various career offerings in golf.

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.”