NGF Shirt Game: State of the Industry

Momentum across the recreational side of the U.S. golf industry remained broadly positive in 2024, and future indicators point to sustainability when it comes to participation and play.

Green grass golf participation topped 28 million in 2024, a seventh consecutive annual increase (no, we don’t owe all the good fortune to COVID-19). Last year’s net increase of approximately 1.5 million golfers was the biggest single-year jump since 2000, when Tiger Woods was at his peak and spurring golf participation to new heights. Over the past five years, the number of traditional golfers has risen by 16%.

Shot Scope Wrlcomes Rich Beem as Ambassador

Shot Scope is proud to welcome 2002 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem as its newest brand ambassador. Beem, a television commentator and golf analyst for Sky Sports, will appear in Shot Scope television commercials and video content explaining the many practical and shot-saving uses of the brand’s innovative laser rangefinders, GPS watches, and shot tracking technology.

“Rich Beem is one of the most charismatic and down-to-Earth major winners you will ever meet, and we’re excited to work with Rich to help golfers all across North America understand the many ways Shot Scope technology can help them better understand their performance on the course and play with ultimate trust and confidence in their yardages on their path to improvement,” said Shot Scope CEO David Hunter. “Our team is thrilled to be collaborating with Rich and developing new ways to help golfers get the most out of their games and the technology they trust on the course.”

Titleist Releases Vokey WedgeWorks A Grind Lob Wedges

Vokey Design releases the WedgeWorks A Grind, a low bounce lob wedge grind with a narrow, smooth sole that produces a fast feel through the turf. The A Grind features 4 degrees of bounce, and it is ideal for the player looking to smoothly slide the wedge under the ball and flight the ball higher while playing from firm turf and bunkers. WedgeWorks A Grind lob wedges are available now in 58- and 60-degree lofts and feature a Raw finish. 

The A Grind was originally born out of the collaboration between Vokey Tour Representative Aaron Dill and 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, who was looking for a wedge that moved through firm turf faster than his gamer L Grind. Dill took Ogilvy’s feedback and removed the ribbon on the L grind, resulting in a smoothed-out sole that cut through the ground with less resistance. 

A Golf Paradise in The Ozarks

Branson, Missouri, has long been a top destination for family fun, live entertainment, and outdoor adventures. Yet, in recent years, it has firmly cemented its place as one of the premier golf destinations in the United States. 

With 10 good to exceptional courses and an 11th set to open in 2025, Branson offers golfers of all skill levels an unparalleled experience amidst some of the most scenic landscapes in the Midwest.

Nikon Introduces Two New Rangefinders for 2025

Nikon Inc. has announced the release of two new laser rangefinders, giving golfers confidence all the way to the green with the benefit of powerful and precise Nikon optics.

The COOLSHOT® PROIII STABILIZED Laser Rangefinder is now the most advanced model in the COOLSHOT series while the new COOLSHOT 50i GII Laser Rangefinder is a feature packed mid-range model with attractive and versatile multi-functions.

ESPN BET and PGA Tour Live to Debut Live Betting Stream at WM Phoenix Open

The PGA TOUR, PENN Entertainment (“PENN”) and ESPN are launching a live betting stream on PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+. The ESPN BET branded stream will provide key data, insights and live betting analysis during coverage of six marquee FedExCup events across the 2025 PGA TOUR season.

ESPN BET on PGA TOUR LIVE, set to premiere at the WM Phoenix Open on ESPN+ starting Thursday, Feb. 6, is made possible by a new multi-year agreement between the PGA TOUR and PENN Entertainment, the operator of ESPN BET.  The deal designates ESPN BET as an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.

Srixon Stays Hot with First DP World Tour Win of Season

Srixon is atop of the leaderboard once again, this time on the DP World Tour, where staffer Alejandro del Rey captured his maiden title at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on Sunday. Srixon’s win tally is now at four in the month of January, continuing a dominant run to open the 2025 season.

In his 70th start on the DP World Tour, Alejandro del Rey achieved his breakthrough moment by delivering a bogey-free final round, carding a 6-under 66 to secure a four-shot victory. Throughout the tournament, del Rey displayed his consistency, ranking first in stroke average for the week with all four rounds in the 60s, as well as ranking first in strokes gained total.

PXG Introduces New Wildcat Clubs and Black Hawk Putter Designed for Ocassional and Novice Golfers

PXG, the golf equipment brand known for its innovation and high-performance products, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Super Game Improvement club line, the PXG® WildcatTMand novel putter the PXG Black HawkTM. Designed with novice and occasional golfers in mind, this exceptional new collection makes it easier to enjoy the game—whether on the golf course, at the driving range, or in a simulator.

The PXG Wildcat driver features a titanium, Ti-811, construction and a thin, high-strength titanium face insert. The high-strength, lightweight body material provides good durability and supports excellent performance, while the face is designed to optimize ball speed. With a generous 16 degrees of loft, a standard length of 44-inches, internal perimeter weighting, and a confidence-inspiring large face and head profile, the PXG Wildcat driver is engineered for easy impact, high launch, and maximum distance.

Atlanta Athletic Club Practice Facilities Named Top 50 in U.S. Private Clubs

The Atlanta Athletic Club (AAC) has once again been recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) for its excellent private practice facilities.

The club boasts 20 acres devoted to golf, tennis, and swimming practice. 

Duca del Cosma Creates Excitement at Busy PGA Show

Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma, whose ultra-stylish men’s and women’s golf shoes have been taking the U.S. market by storm, created lots of excitement at a busy PGA Show last week, as it showcased the latest golf shoes and boot innovations and an all-new apparel collection to new and existing retail partners, plus leading global media publications.

Exhibiting to a packed Orlando show floor for a seventh successive year, Duca del Cosma unveiled its pioneering SS25 golf shoe line-up and AW25 boot range – the largest collection of winter golf boots in the industry – offering a seamless combination of lightweight performance and unmatched stylish looks in abundance.

John Fought Lines Up Array of New Projects in 2025

While he puts the finishing touches on a brand-new 18-hole course at Windsong Farm Golf Club, west of Minneapolis, Minn., golf course designer John Fought is ushering in the new year with an impressive list of new projects.

Fought, who as a player won the 1977 U.S. Amateur and recorded two victories on the PGA TOUR, will be earning plenty of frequent flyer miles in 2025 as his work travels will take him from his home base in Arizona to California, Utah, Minnesota, and South Carolina.  

Turtleson Celebrates Career of Grover Walker and Announces Tammy Kaminsky as Successor

Turtleson, creators of striking, sophisticated apparel for discerning customers who appreciate exceptional style and wearability, celebrated the career of esteemed Account Executive, Grover Walker with a retirement party at the PGA Show in Orlando, FL. Industry colleagues, friends and longtime customers gathered at the Turtleson booth to celebrate Walker’s accomplished career. Many stories were told, and a few tears were shed as the group honored his lasting impact on the industry.

With more than 50 years of experience, Walker has represented premier brands such as Izod Lacoste, Corbin, Bobby Jones and most recently, Turtleson. His career has included booking business at some of golf’s most prestigious tournaments—both domestically and internationally— including the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Henderson Park Acquires PGA National Resort

Henderson Park, the international private equity real estate firm, announces that it has completed the acquisition of PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida from a Brookfield Asset Management private real estate fund.

Originally opened in 1981, the renowned PGA National Resort offers 360 guest rooms and 99 holes of championship golf, including the famed Champion Course, the host since 2007 to a PGA TOUR event now called The Cognizant Classic which is broadcast by NBC and The Golf Channel at the end of February.

Titleist Introduces New Scotty Cameron Studio Style Putters

Scotty Cameronpresents the most significant re-design of his blade putter offering in recent history with the new 2025 Studio Style line, a bold statement of the future with a nod to the past. 

Pairing Scotty’s legendary eye for craftsmanship and design with innovative new approaches to materials, milling, performance and technology, this new 12-model offering includes new additions, “ground up” re-designs of prior models and timeless classics, dramatically updated for the demands of the modern player while taking sound, feel and performance to new heights. 

Titleist Releases New Limited-Edition T-Series Black Irons

Titleist, the most played iron on the PGA TOUR for 20 of the last 21 seasons, including each of the last 11, introduces the new limited-edition T-Series Black irons. Available on each T-Series model – T100, T150, T200 and T350 – for the first time, the new, more durable Titanium Carbide Vapor finish features a darker look than previous T-Series Black irons. The smudge-resistant finish is consistent across models, creating a seamless transition from iron to iron in blended sets.

 

The T100, T150, T200 and T350 models, each gamed at the highest level of professional golf, deliver unrivaled feel and performance, engineered to maximize Titleist’s three dimensions of iron performance: distance control, dispersion control and descent angle.

Srixon Irons Reign Supreme, Claiming Second PGA TOUR Victory in January

Srixon is back in the winner’s circle, as staffer Sepp Straka earned his third PGA TOUR title at The American Express on Sunday. This win marks Srixon’s second PGA TOUR victory in January following fellow staffer Hideki Matsuyama’s triumph at The Sentry just a few weeks prior.

Equipped with Srixon’s all-new ZXi Irons and Z-STAR XV golf ball, Straka was dialed in with his equipment from the jump. Carding his first three rounds in the 60s, including two back-to-back 64s in rounds three and four, Straka never let his foot off the gas finishing the tournament at 25-under par.

Titleist Introduces New Vokey Design Limited-Edition Oil Can Finish

Vokey Design unveils its new, limited-edition Oil Can finish, a modern update to the classic Vokey Oil Can look, now available with the performance and technology of Vokey Design SM10 wedges. The finish, newly refined and highly durable, is a nod to Vokey’s popular Oil Can finishes of past generations, which date all the way back to the Vokey 200 Series wedges.

The new limited-edition finish is applied through a PVD treatment, which helps achieve a rich copper color while minimizing reflectivity and maximizing durability. Complementing the Oil Can finish is a custom copper-colored Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord grip with BV Wings and a Project X wedge shaft with an exclusive Brushed Chrome finish.

ASICS Introduces the JAPAN S Golf Shoe: Combining Style and Comfort for the Modern Golfer

Drawing inspiration from one of ASICS® throwback offerings from 1981, ASICS unveils its latest golf footwear model: the all-new JAPAN S Golf shoe.

These shoes deliver everyday style and comfort, ensuring golfers look and feel their best throughout the entire round. 

ECCO Golf to Unveil All New BIOM H5 at PGA Show

ECCO GOLF, leaders in golf footwear innovation, will introduce its upcoming collection for the spring and summer seasons during the 2025 PGA Merchandise Show in Booth #2408 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from January 21-24.

The pioneering brand continues to push boundaries of comfort, style, and technology with the ECCO GOLF BIOM H5, a performance golf shoe built for the elements. Drawing inspiration from the rugged Scottish Highlands and leveraging ECCO’s renowned Danish innovation, the BIOM H5 is a step forward for the golf shoe experience and represents the true nature of golf. The shoe is designed in men’s and women’s sizes, 10 total colorways as well as both lace and BOA® closure systems, and along with the entire SS25 collection, it will be available in the U.S. starting in March.

Newton Golf to Showcase New Shafts and Putters at PGA Show

NEWTON GOLF Company(Nasdaq: SPGC) (“NEWTON GOLF” or the “Company”), a technology-forward golf company with a growing portfolio of golf products, including putters, golf shafts, golf grips, and other golf-related accessories, announces its participation in the 2025 PGA Show, taking place January 21-24 in Orlando, Florida.

 

During the show, NEWTON GOLF Company will showcase its latest innovations from its respective Newton Motion Shaft and Newton Gravity Putter divisions.