Friday, August 11, 2023

Dominant Heck, Unflappable Stone Headline U.S. Women’s Amateur Semifinalists

Before this week, Rachel Heck had only played one competitive round since last October. Now she’s two matches away from winning the biggest title of her career.

Heck was relentless at Bel-Air Country Club on Friday, winning six consecutive holes in an 8-and-6 triumph over Catherine Rao, the largest U.S. Women’s Amateur quarterfinal victory in 51 years. The rising senior at Stanford is on to the semifinals at this championship for the second time in three years.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Clemente Outlasts Castle for Big Round of 64 Victory

Four years after making her U.S. Women’s Amateur debut at age 11, Gianna Clemente, 15, of Estero, Fla., is back with bigger expectations and significantly more attention. 

Entering the week as one of the hottest players in the field (she won the PGA Junior Championship last week), Clemente already has one USGA title under her belt this season, teaming up with Avery Zweig to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in May at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

New Resource: “Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices,” Published for Leaders of Private Clubs

The National Club Association (NCA) and Club Management Association of America (CMAA) today released “Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices.” Written by a joint committee of experts from the associations, the new publication is a definitive guide to governance of private clubs, designed to be a framework of best practices for clubs at any place on the spectrum of effective governance.

“Governance is among the most discussed issue at any private club,” said joint Governance Committee Chair Tim Muessle, CCM, CCE, Chief Operating Officer, The Olympic Club, San Francisco. “This new publication was written to clearly define the standard of effective governance, offering best practices for club boards, committees and general managers/CEOs.”

The Country Club of North Carolina to Host Two USGA Amateur Championships

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced that The Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC), in Pinehurst, N.C., will be the host site for two upcoming USGA championships: the 2030 U.S. Senior Amateur and the 2037 U.S. Women’s Amateur. These will be the fourth and fifth USGA championships held at the club.

“We very much look forward to continuing our relationship with The Country Club of North Carolina, which has been a great partner of ours for more than 40 years,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “We know the community will support these events, the course will challenge the best amateur players in the world, and the club and its members will provide a world-class experience.”

Garsen Introduces the New Quad Tour Pistol NT

Garsen has been working hard to improve upon the Quad Tour Pistol, and the major feedback was that it needed a more distinct pistol shape.

So that's exactly what they did.  The Quad Tour Pistol NT adds a texture than provides a more tacky gripping experience.

Medalist Chacon Sets Stroke-Play Scoring Record in U.S. Women’s Amateur

Aspiring stars flock to Los Angeles from all over the world in their quest for glory. Briana Chacon only had to travel 30 miles. The Whittier, Calif., native shattered the U.S. Women’s Amateur 36-hole scoring record, following her opening 66 with a sizzling 65 to earn medalist honors at Bel-Air Country Club.

Chacon’s two-day total of 131 is two better than the previous record, originally set by Mariel Galdiano in 2016 and matched by Lucy Li and Selin Hyun two years later. Andrea Lignell also shot 133 this year.

Monday, August 7, 2023

Titleist Introduces Next Generation T-Series Irons

The next generation Titleist T-Series irons family establishes a new standard in iron engineering, reaffirming Titleist’s commitment to creating the world’s best irons while providing golfers with optimized performance options from their shortest to longest iron.

The new tour-proven T-Series models – T100, T150, T200 and T350 – deliver unrivaled feel with effortless turf interaction in four tour-inspired shapes, each designed to maximize the three dimensions of iron performance: distance control, dispersion control and descent angle.

Titleist Introduces New U 505 and T200 Utility Irons

The introduction of the new Titleist U 505 and T200 utility irons provides golfers with enhanced feel and improved accuracy in two tour-proven shapes engineered to create more scoring opportunities from distance.

Week in and week out, Titleist is the most played utility iron on the PGA TOUR, providing players an unparalleled combination of high launch, increased ball speed and forgiveness at the top end of their set.

FJ x Harris Tweed - A Tribute to Hoylake

The FJ x Harris Tweed Premiere Series Hoylake shoes have been released and are a true embodiment of modern elegance. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, these shoes exude sophistication with their clean, elevated design.

This FootJoy limited edition collection includes the Field and Wilcox styles from the Premiere Series and are only available in limited quantities.

California Natives Canales, Chacon Surge to First Round Lead at 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur

Caroline Canales thinks she’s played Bel-Air Country Club at least 100 times. But none of those instances were as nerve-wracking as her first tee shot on Monday at Bel-Air's iconic par-3 10th hole, when Canales, 20, was given the honor of hitting the first ball at the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur.

“I definitely felt the nerves with a big gallery watching,” said Canales, who grew up in Calabasas, just 20 miles from the iconic Los Angeles golf course. “That’s a tough tee shot. I think it’s one of the hardest holes. It was a nice honor and I’m really grateful for the opportunity, but I definitely felt some nerves there.”

Winner at the Wyndham Chooses Fujikura Golf

Fujikura, the leader in performance golf shafts, was honored to be the #1 driver, wood and hybrid shaft on the PGA Tour. This included a victory for the tournament winner, who used all VENTUS shafts in his driver and woods.

At the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina, Fujikura sealed the #1 driver, wood and hybrid shaft spot. In total, over 37.6% of the field used a Fujikura driver shaft during the week, with another 34.4% in the wood shaft and 30.9% in the hybrid shaft.

Back to Back Wins For Celine Boutier

Following her major victory at the Amundi Evian Championship, PXG LPGA Tour Professional Celine Boutier continued her title run with another impressive victory at the Women’s Scottish Open.

"These last two weeks really are a dream come true," Boutier said.  "I have worked so hard and I am so incredibly grateful to the people and partners who have supported me along the way. PXG saw my potential in college, supported me in my transition to playing professionally, and continues to stand beside me today. I am thrilled to celebrate another win as part of the PXG Troops."

Sunday, August 6, 2023

123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship – Fact Sheet and Television Coverage

Bel-Air Country Club hosts the 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur next week marking the third USGA championship in the clubs history.

The classic George C. Thomas design is one of the country's most prestigious courses steeped in golf history.  Here's a deep dive look into the 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.

Saturday, August 5, 2023

123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship – Inside the Field

The 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur Championship kicks off on Monday from Bel-Air Country Club.

The course twists and bends through four canyons and this George C. Thomas design will be a stern test for the 156 golfers competing.  Here's a look inside the field.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Callaway Announces New 2024 Apex Pro Series Irons

Callaway Golf has officially announced their new 2024 Apex Pro Series.

This includes the new Apex Pro Irons, Apex CB Irons, Apex MB Irons, Apex UT, and Apex UW.

Driver Dominance on the PGA Tour for Fujikura Golf

Fujikura, the leader in performance golf shafts, was honored to be the #1 driver, wood and hybrid shaft on the PGA Tour, along with another driver victory at the event.

At the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, Fujikura was the #1 driver, wood and hybrid shaft at the event last week. In total, 33.8% of the field used a Fujikura driver shaft during the week, with another 29.9% using a Fujikura wood shaft and 26.7% using a Fujikura hybrid shaft. These figures also included the 3M Open winner. Ranked 1st in Tee to Green statistics for the week, the winner in Minnesota used the Fujikura Speeder EVO 6 757 Tx in his driver on his way to victory.

Duca del Cosma Signed Women's Golf Superstar Georgia Hall

Duca del Cosma, the premium Italian golf fashion brand, has signed top ranked women’s superstar Georgia Hall to wear its latest Pro Spike shoes on a global basis from this month.

The British Major winner and European Solheim Cup star will make her first appearance in Duca del Cosma shoes at the AIG Women’s Open on 9 August at Walton Heath, attempting to become the first home golfer to win the prestigious title on two occasions. When capturing her first Major in 2018 at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, she became the first player to shoot four sub-70 rounds in the tournament’s history and describes the event as her favorite.

Monday, July 31, 2023

PXG LPGA Pro Celine Boutier Secures Major Victory at the Amundi Evian Championship

PXG LPGA Tour Professional Celine Boutier finished 14-under on Sunday to secure her first LPGA Tour major victory at the Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France. Topping the leaderboard Friday through Sunday, Boutier finished the week with an impressive 6-stroke lead to secure her spot in the winner’s circle.

“What a great finish for Celine,” said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “She played lights out all week, and we were absolutely thrilled to see her hoist the trophy on Sunday. Congratulations, Celine!”

Pulsar Spikes Wins 3M Open

PrideSports congratulates the winner of the 2023 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities this weekend.

An opening round of 63 helped the eventual victor of this year’s 3M Open jump out to a commanding lead. A lead that he carried through to Sunday afternoon where he won by 7 strokes to secure his first PGA Tour victory. This year’s champion trusted Pulsar spikes from Softspikes along with Metal Stinger spikes from CHAMP in his Footjoy brand shoes to shoot 24 under par for the tournament. This victory marks 10 straight weeks of PGA Tour golf where the winner utilized replaceable traction technology from Softspikes and CHAMP.

Tour Edge’s Alex Cejka Wins Senior Open in Epic Conditions at Royal Porthcawl for Third Major Title

Alex Cejka won the rain-battered Senior Open Championship Sunday in a two-hole playoff, giving him his third major championship trophy since joining the PGA Champions Tour in 2021.

All three of his victories on PGA TOUR Champions have come at major championships.