USGA Celebrates a Milestone Year Advancing the Game “For the Good of the Game”

As the USGA celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Members Program today, the organization is marking a year of significant progress toward its mission to champion and advance the game for generations to come. 

Starting in 1975, when Volunteer National Chair Arnold Palmer presented U.S. President Gerald R. Ford with the first Associate’s bag tag (for what is now called the USGA Members Program) in the Oval Office on Dec. 18, the program has united those who share a passion for golf and a commitment to its long-term health. Through its support, the program helps fund critical USGA initiatives that ensure the game’s future — from developing the next generation of American golfers to driving innovation and sustainability across the game. 

Gleneagles: A Legacy of Excellence Continues as World's Number 1 Golf Resort Outside the USA

Gleneagles, Scotland’s iconic hotel and global luxury destination, has once again reaffirmed its place among the world’s elite. The 850-acre Perthshire estate has retained the prestigious honour as the ‘World’s #1 Golf Resort outside the USA’ for a sixth consecutive year.

In the latest list curated by an international panel of Golf World raters, ‘The Glorious Playground’ achieved the #2 position globally, second only to Bandon Dunes in Oregon, USA, a landmark achievement underscoring Gleneagles’ enduring excellence.

True Spec Houston Opens at Intown Golf Club

True Spec Golf, the global leader in custom club fitting and club building, is pleased to announce that they have partnered with Intown Golf Club, the only private social club blending upscale amenities with a community built around the game and culture of golf, to open a new location in Houston. True Spec Houston is celebrating their grand opening today and is currently booking appointments.

True Spec Houston is the latest in a series of partnerships that brings True Spec’s bespoke fittings and best-in-class customer service to prominent venues across the country.

Ellen Port’s Distinguished Career and Contributions Celebrated by USGA with 2026 Bob Jones Award

The USGA will present its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, to Ellen Port, of St. Louis, Mo., in 2026 in recognition of her exemplary sportsmanship, character and lifelong contributions to the game as one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in history and a devoted educator, coach and mentor. 

Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the character, integrity and respect for the game that were among the many lasting qualities of Robert Tyre “Bob” Jones Jr. 

Andrew Novak Claims Victory at the Grant Thornton Invitational

Andrew Novak captured a signature win at the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational, delivering a clutch performance to finish atop the leaderboard at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The victory adds another highlight to his strong season on the PGA Tour.

Novak finished strong on Sunday with three straight birdies, finishing with a standout 9-under 63. He demonstrated elite-level shot-making from start to finish throughout the tournament.

Camiral, Home of The 2031 Ryder Cup, Reaffirms Status Among World's Top 20 Golf Resorts

Camiral, home of The 2031 Ryder Cup, has retained its status as Spain’s No.1 Golf Resort – a position it has held for the past decade – in a new global ranking published by Golf World.

 

The 550-hectare forested estate in Catalonia, on the doorstep of Barcelona and Costa Brava, featuring two world-class golf courses, a luxury five-star hotel and thriving residential community, also remained within the world top 20 resorts.

Matt Kuchar Uses New Bridgestone Golf VS Proto Ball to Smash Scoring Record and Win PNC Championship

25-year Bridgestone Golf staffer Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron captured a storybook victory at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton GC in Orlando, Florida on Sunday in record fashion. Putting up incredible scores of 57 on Saturday and 54 on Sunday for a final score of 33-under-par, which breaks the old tournament record by five strokes, the Kuchars dominated the field with Matt playing Bridgestone’s new and exciting VS Proto Black golf ball.  

 

“Winning the PNC with my son Cameron is the thrill of a lifetime and I’m extremely proud of him and the way we both played this weekend,” said Matt Kuchar. “I played Bridgestone’s VS Proto Black golf ball and the combination of added distance over the previous TOUR B X as well as better short game performance definitely helped me contribute to our low scores.”   

$10M Swing Returns to Icons Series - The Richest Hole In Golf

Icons Series has announced the return of The $10M Swing – the richest hole in golf – as part of the Reignwood Icons of Football 2026, taking place on 31 January – 1 February 2026 in Bangkok.

Back by huge demand following its dramatic debut, The $10M Swing will once again see every competing Icon attempt a single shot at glory on a specially created par-3 at Robinswood Golf Club. 

XXIO and VESSEL Join Forces for Exclusive Ladies Package Set

XXIO®, a global leader in lightweight luxury golf equipment, announces an exclusive collaboration with premium bag maker VESSEL, unveiling the all-new XXIO 14 Ladies Package Sets. 

This limited-edition partnership marks a first for XXIO and showcases the brand’s growing commitment to creating elevated, performance-driven products for female golfers who value both style and effortless performance on the course. 

Letters from Santa DAY 12 PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway: Club Champion Iron Fitting and Custom Built FULL Set of ANY Irons YOU Want

You might call this one the Merry Mic Drop.  For the grande finale gift of DAY 12 in my 12 Days of Christmas we're going to get one of you hooked up with a Club Champion Iron Fitting and Custom Built FULL Set of ANY Irons of Your Choice baby!  And Santa gives it his BIG Ho-Ho-Ho approval.

Santa's letter to me tonight is brief and succinct but also Festive and Mighty.  And I'm having an eggnog or two tonight "with a little of that extra holiday spirit" if know what I mean.  Here's a Kringle Toast to ALL of You!

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas JingleBAMBigger DAY 12 Golf Giveaway: New 2025 Motocaddy M7 Remote Electric Caddy

The Motocaddy M7 Remote Electric Caddy is pretty much a well trained golf robot that carries your clubs, follows your commands, and never complains.  With remote control precision and hill climbing confidence, M7 Remote lets you focus on your swing while it handles the heavy lifting.  M7 is basically the caddie that never takes a day off.

And for the DAY 12 JingleBAMBigger prize in my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway here comes the new 2025 Motocaddy M7 Remote Electric Caddy that one of you will win!  And trust me, you're going to have more fun on the course in 2026 than you ever imagined possible.  Consider it your golf bag's own personal chauffeur.

12 Pairs of New 2025 Adidas Golf Shoes for 12 Winners (YOU Choose Tour360 or AdizeroZG): 2025 PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway DAY 12

A PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway tradition that you all love kicks it off today with 12 Pairs of new 2025 Adidas Golf Shoes (Choose ANY Tour360 or Adizero ZG) for 12 Winners on this DAY 12!

Yes, that's ANY Tour360 and Adizero ZG meaning any color you want, Lace or BOA, Mens or Womens, pretty much anything you see in stock on the Adidas Golf site we'll get for you!

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Emergency Hot Koffee and a Kringle DAY 11 Golf Giveaway: New 2026 PXG Lightning Driver (Pick ANY Model, RH or LH)

I wasn't expecting to have another Hot Koffee and a Kringle with you in my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway so soon but Kringle is in full improvisation mode now.  And so here we are in this Emergency Hot Koffee and a Kringle on Sunday night, DAY 11 of my 12 Days and we're giving away a New 2026 PXG Lightning Driver!  Any model (there are four), any flex, RH or LH.

I didn't receive my PXG Lightning Tour driver in time (still don't have it) to write up a mini Kringle review for you so instead we went for the Emergency Hot Koffee and Kringle Lightning strike baby!

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas JingleBAMBigger DAY 11 Golf Giveaway: YEAR Supply of 12 DOZEN New Bridgestone Golf VS Prototype Balls (YOU Choose Black, Blue, Red, or Green)

You've seen and heard about the new Bridgestone Golf VS Prototype balls which were revealed last month.  And VS Proto has been politely breaking the internet.  It's all still very hush-hush, but we do know VS Proto are the culmination of four years of development, with more than 20 new materials investigated, and over 240 prototype builds designed and tested.  And with that kind of advanced research efforts, could VS Proto be a significant breakthrough in golf ball performance?

Bridgestone Golf believes the answer is a certain and emphatic yes.  And for my JingleBAM Giveaway in DAY 11 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas one of you is going to discover the answer for yourself and receive a YEAR Supply of 12 DOZEN Bridgestone Golf VS Proto balls of your choice (Black, Blue, Red, or Green).

Choose ANY New 2025 Vessel Player V Pro Stand Bag (ANY Color, ANY Top): 2025 PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway DAY 11

What makes a Vessel Golf stand bag special?  Well, how much time do you have?  Premium materials, thoughtful engineering, and an innovative designs go into all Vessel stand bags.  And their new Player V Pro bag proves a stand bag be equal parts performance based and luxury.

And to kick off DAY 11 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway let's have one of you choose ANY new 2025 Vessel Player V Pro Stand bag you want.  Head over to Vessel's site here and choose ANY color you want, ANY top you want (7-way and 14-way options).  Whatever bag you choose there's one thing for certain.  Your clubs will never be more attractive.

Letters from Santa DAY 10 PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway: FULL Set of New 2026 Callaway Apex Ai150, X Forged, X Forged Max Irons

Santa's having a night of it up on The Pole.  I'm having a night of it over here in NE Ohio.  But the Show Goes On baby!  We're wrapping up DAY 10 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway with another Kringle Haymaker!  Choose a FULL Set of ANY new 2026 Callaway Apex Ai150, X Forged, or X Forged Max irons!  And Santa might be even more excited about all of them than I am.

I reviewed and compared the new X Forged and X Forged Max irons for you a few months back here.   But remember me on my 12 Days "day off" a few days ago at Club Champion?  Well I wanted to take the X Forged head-to-head with the Ai150 knowing we'd be giving away a full set today.  I told you a bit already on X and Instagram about the Ai150 all over the face forgiveness and juiced up ball speeds.  I think Ai150 has enough similarities to X Forged (though also obvious differences) to warrant a comparative review as well.  Kringle mini-reviews, I know you love em.

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas JingleBAMBigger DAY 10 Golf Giveaway: Iliac Golf $500 Gift Card and VIP Custom Design Appointment Experience

Our first Jingle BAM Bigger of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas lands for you today on DAY 10 and it's an absolute banger.  One of you will receive an Iliac Golf $500 Gift Card and VIP Custom Design Appointment Experience.  And when I tell you it's an experience, it will unlock an entirely new life level.

I'll tell you more about what the Iliac Golf Design Appointment is all about below.  But first I want to give you a proper introduction to Iliac because in the world of handmade custom leather golf headcovers, bags, and accessories they are the main character, top of the food chain, and running the table with custom designs that are thoughtfully elevated and distinct by design.

Club Champion Driver Fitting and ANY Custom Built Driver of Your Choice: 2025 PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway DAY 10

A Club Champion Driver Fitting and ANY Custom Built Driver of Your Choice kicks off DAY 10 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas.  And you know I think a Club Champion fitting is one of the best things you can do for your game and one of the best experiences any golfer can have.

Every Club Champion fitting I've ever experienced has been absolutely enjoyable and beneficial because it's combined the best fitting technology with expert personalization.   And I'd even call it a kind of hands-on learning experience.

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Kringle Gonna Kringle DAY 9 Golf Giveaway 4: New 2025 Turtleson Apparel 3-Piece Outfit (Outerwear AND Polo AND Pants)

Turtleson was my favorite new find at the PGA Show last January.  Every new piece I looked at caused cartoon level excitement.  Every new piece I touched gave my smile its own zip code.  Turtleson is an apparel company with luxury and uniqueness to the moon.  And throughout this year it's also become one of my all-time favorite apparel brands.  The outstanding quality and uniqueness of Turtleson is pretty much impossible to resist.

And so to wrap up Day 9 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas the fourth giveaway of Kringle Gonna Kringle will be a New 2025 3-Piece Outfit from Turtleson (Outerwear AND Polo AND Pants).  Did your brain just do a little confetti pop?  Mine did... Release The Kringle baby!

PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Kringle Gonna Kringle DAY 9 Golf Giveaway 3: FULL Set of New 2025 Fujikura AXIOM Iron Shafts (Choose ANY Weight and Flex)

Fujikura Golf has been the Number 1 driver shaft on Tour for the past 6 years.  World No. 1 and Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler has relied on Ventus and VeloCore technology to post consistently find the short grass.  What if Fujikura could pack their same flagship ball speed, stability and forgiveness technologies into a premium iron shaft?  If you follow me here or on X or Instagram you know they have.  And then kept going.

Fujikura AXIOM graphite iron shafts utilizes the same VeloCore Technology we get in their Ventus shafts and the results have exceeded expectations.  And then flexed.  Increased ball speeds, better and more consistent center face contact, tighter dispersion (both in distance and accuracy),  and more consistent shot patterns.  Turns out the secret to better iron play isn't always lessons or practice.  Sometimes it's the shafts.  So for the third Kringle Gonna Kringle giveaway in DAY 9 of my PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas let's get one of you into a FULL set of Fujikura AXOIM graphite iron shafts.