The overwhelming most played and best performing wedges in the game – Vokey Design SM8 –are now available in an ultra-premium Slate Blue finish.
Master Wedge Craftsman Bob Vokey has always stressed the importance of players having confidence in their wedge at address – and finish plays a key role.
Five years ago when Deborah and Erica Bennett started to design and build customized golf bags for large corporate tournaments, charities and individuals, they were comfortable in their niche and thrilled with the response they received about their unique products. During those years they were often asked by golfers and passersby if they could buy ORCA golf bags at retail. Starting today, ORCA Golf Bags can now proudly answer, “yes,” as the company launches its first line of golf bags available for individual purchase.
The new line of ORCA bags includes six styles, each with ORCA Golf Bags’ unique styling to separate it from the crowd of mass produced bags. To further underscore the point of ORCA bags being unique, the name of each bag is related to the ORCA narrative. For the Bennetts, the ORCA is symbolic of being strong, powerful and unique, especially in an ocean of so many types of animals.
Leading high-performance golf clothing brand Galvin Green has seen a surge of interest from younger golfers amongst its customer profile over the past year.
The largest percentage of purchasers of its award-winning Multi-layer garments are now golfers aged between 25-34 years old, which is also the fastest-growing age range for the brand. While the number of younger golfers aged 18-25 buying Galvin Green between 2019 and last year almost doubled.
PUMA Golf introduced the newest addition to its popular spikeless franchise, the IGNITE FASTEN8, continuing to deliver premium comfort, top-notch performance and versatile style that golfers of all levels will appreciate.
The IGNITE FASTEN8 ($120) family provides wearers added stability with a new, exacting fit, in multiple sleek designs, featuring both a traditional lace up style and PUMA’s proprietary DISC technology, and also a PRO version with a microfiber upper. The FASTEN8 lace version is also available in several eye-catching colorways for women ($100).
Tour Edge announced that they have signed PGA TOUR winner Ken Duke to their professional tour staff.
Duke played a Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 driver, fairway, hybrid and an Exotics utility iron for the entire 2020 season.
It's not quite a Tiger Woods "hello, world" moment, but Shot Scope's entry into the golf rangefinder market (to quote Ron Burgundy) is kind of a big deal.
The new PRO L1 laser rangefinder excels in accuracy, speed, distance range, and ease of use. It even incorporates some high-tech pin seeking features like slope measurement. And for a price less than $200, you'll be hard pressed to find a quality rangefinder at a better value.
Titleist has consistently promoted hybrids as scoring clubs – as opposed to rescue clubs - and the new TSi2 and TSi3 hybrids represent a new standard within the category. Engineered for golfers seeking long iron replacements, these new hybrids offer two distinct looks and performance options, including improved adjustability, sound and feel.
The new hybrids complete the popular TSi metals line, complementing the TSi2 and TSi3 drivers and fairway metals, which have gained considerable momentum across the worldwide professional tours and in the marketplace since their November introduction. Both models feature Carpenter 455 forged faces.
The introduction of the new Titleist TSi4 driver provides golfers seeking ultra-low spin performance with the advanced speed and distance gains that have made Titleist TSi2 and TSi3 the most played driver models this season on the PGA Tour.
The new TSi4, the driver choice of Adam Scott, Russell Henley and Richy Werenski, among others on the PGA Tour, is engineered to be a high-speed, ultra-low spin design – challenging the notion that a driver designed for extreme spin reduction can’t produce that level of ball speed.
Building upon the overwhelming momentum and immediate success of the popular TSi2 and TSi3 metals, Titleist introduces the new, comprehensive TSi1 family, engineered for the moderate (less than 90 mph) swing speed player seeking increased club and ball speed with control off the tee and from the fairway. The moderate swing speed player represents approximately 30 percent of all golfers making the TSi1 metals an important offering to maximize their performance potential.
The new TSi1 drivers, fairway metals and hybrids will be available for fittings beginning February 17 and in golf shops on February 26.
The USGA announced today that Mike Whan will join the organization this summer as CEO, and will become the eighth top executive in USGA history.
Last month, Whan announced his intention to step down as LPGA Commissioner in 2021, after his organization completes a search for the next Commissioner. His transition follows an impressive 11 years at the helm of the LPGA, during which the organization experienced historic growth in virtually every aspect of the business.
Tour Edge, the pound-for-pound industry leader in performance and innovation, today announced the all-new Exotics 721 Series irons: the C721 iron and the E721 iron.
These ultra-premium irons provide all new design concepts and ground-breaking technology from Tour Edge that takes the Exotics 721 Series to an entirely new level of performance.
When Odyssey introduced the Ten shape a few years ago, it immediately became a popular choice on Tour and with golfers who wanted to putt with more confidence. This proven head design puts an emphasis on alignment and high MOI, and they improved on those two key performance features dramatically.
The new Odyssey Ten lineup showcases exceptional alignment systems, including 2-Ball and Triple Track in a head construction that’s sleeker and more forgiving. In fact, this is the best 2-Ball that Odyssey has ever made, with a profile that allows you to frame the ball at address like never before.
Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, announced today the company’s manufacturing facility in Covington, GA, has increased production capacity by 30% to help satisfy the strong consumer demand for TOUR B golf balls as well as the new e12 CONTACT. Additionally, Bridgestone Golf has also increased its production staff by approximately 20%, the majority of which is drawn from the local community.
“According to the NGF, rounds in 2020 were up over 13%, but our sales were up approximately 19%, so we were significantly ahead of the pace,” said Bridgestone Golf CEO and President, Dan Murphy. “We simply can’t meet consumer demand at our standard manufacturing rate so a major increase in our capacity was necessary. We’re very pleased to increase production while also adding a significant number of new employees.”
Miura Golf has announced the new PI-401, the first player improvement iron in the distinguished Japanese manufacturer's history.
The PI-401 makes it possible for golfers of all levels to experience the renowned sound, feel and performance of a Miura iron. The forged face and cast body meld the latest performance enhancing technology with six decades of clubmaking craftsmanship to produce maximal distance and forgiveness.
Custom club fitter Club Champion announces the opening of three new fitting studios this month, located in Des Moine, IA; Tacoma, WA; and Livingston, NJ. The stores are open and accepting fitting appointments. This brings the brand’s nationwide footprint to 79 stores, with four more planned in the near future.
Club Champion fits, sells and builds custom golf clubs using brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, Cobra, Fujikura, Golf Pride and many more. The company delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate for golfers of any ability level.
Golfers who enjoy straight putting will be excited to try Frontline from Cleveland Golf. Weights in the face have been shifted forward resulting in straighter putts, even when the sweet spot is missed. These golfers also enjoy better aim, more consistent distance, and a superior fit.
With an expanded lineup of designs and models to choose from, Frontline delivers a putter to fit any putting stroke and any player preference.
The degree of preparation behind a serious golfer’s most enjoyable GameDay experience and a quest for even greater product sustainability are at the heart of the Part One 2021 range from leading apparel brand Galvin Green available from today.
More than 30 years of playability expertise and a true passion for the game ensures that tangible performance benefits are built into every detail of the new lightweight, high performance garments that deliver compatible layers designed to enable golfers to perform at their best even in the most extreme playing conditions.
The manufacturing process for the new Titleist 2021 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls – encompassing over 200,000 square feet of engineering innovation – is now on display for golfers around the world through the Titleist Ball Plant 3 Virtual Tour on Titleist.com.
The virtual tour follows the same journey around the manufacturing floor that golfers take when they make the trip to Massachusetts to visit Ball Plant 3 (BP3) in person – exhibiting how each layer of a Pro V1 and Pro V1x comes together to deliver the best performing, most consistent and highest quality golf balls in the game.
The multi-colored umbrella logo, universally known to golfers, celebrates one of the most recognized icons in the sports world. And on National Umbrella Day, PUMA Golf announced its second collaboration with Arnold Palmer Enterprises, a collection that embodies The King’s timeless style as it would come to life today.
The PUMA Golf x Arnold Palmer Collection celebrates the life and excellence of golf’s global icon through nostalgic colors, unique prints and personal detailing on each piece.
PXG, an innovative golf company dedicated to developing high-performance equipment and apparel, has released new, smoking hot super tour blades. PXG 2021 0211 ST Irons are no-nonsense triple-forged blades that push distance and workability for skilled golfers. Part of PXG’s All-New 2021 0211 Golf Club lineup, ST Irons also carry a killer price.
“We couldn’t help it. We had to see if we could develop a pure tour blade that packs a punch at a killer price tag,” said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “Good enough for the tour, but designed for the average Joe, 0211 ST Irons feel as good as they look and perform like a car on rails.”
Drawing on his extensive experience with golf’s greatest players, Scotty Cameron has bolstered the high-tech Phantom X family with four new tour-inspired setups. The updated Phantom X 5 and Phantom X 5.5 replace current in-line models, while the new Phantom X 11 and Phantom X 11.5 - compact wingback mallets - add new options engineered for performance.
Available on March 26 in golf shops worldwide, the new Phantom X putters are inspired by the designs that Master Putter Maker Scotty Cameron has crafted for tour players around the globe. All four putters feature solid stainless steel faces and bodies with new shapes and neck configurations.
Wilson Golf has extended its renowned Staff Model wedge range by adding a new Tour Grind model to the line for players who demands absolute precision around the greens.
Tour Grind was created with direct input from Wilson Staff players like Gary Woodland and Padraig Harrington, and gives golfers the chance to play wedges with these custom Tour grinds that are usually reserved only for Tour players.
Tour Edge, the pound for pound industry leader in performance and innovation, today announced the all-new Exotics 721 Series metalwoods: the C721 driver, C721 fairway metal and C721 hybrid.
These ultra-premium metals provide all new design concepts and ground-breaking technology from Tour Edge that takes the Exotics 721 Series to an entirely new level of performance.
Bag Boy push cart sales continue to soar, reaching record sales numbers in 2020. Continuing the positive momentum into 2021, January closed with sales up 62% over prior year. Push cart and rental cart spring and summer bookings also remain at an all-time high.
With the surge in popularity of push carts, Bag Boy worked diligently with its suppliers to increase production and inventory levels to meet the increased demand. “We’re thrilled to see the increase in new walking golfers,” said Perry Hilbert, Sales Manager at Bag Boy. “With the spring golf season approaching, we expect the positive push cart momentum to continue in 2021.”
Offerings from PRGR Golf, an expansion of Edel selections and more additions have pushed custom fitter Club Champion over the 50,000 mark for in-store hittable combinations. The company reached the 45,000 mark in March of 2020 and has been steadily expanding their offerings since.
“We’re excited to up the ante this year,” said Nick Sherburne, founder of Club Champion. “By continuing to bring in new options, we’re able to provide such a deep well of fitting solutions so we can continue to provide Tour-level service for any and every golfer.”
Today Tour Edge announced that Bernhard Langer, the #1 ranked player on the PGA Tour Champions, has joined its professional Tour staff in a multiyear agreement.
Langer recently played a Tour Edge Exotics EXS Pro Hybrid at the November Masters that helped the age-defying legend become the oldest player to make the cut in Masters history.
SRIXON®, a global leader in golf equipment innovation, announces the launch of the all-new ZX4 Irons, a fully hollow, face-forged iron set that brings forgiveness to the Srixon irons family.
The ZX4 Irons officially launch in North America on March 5, 2021.
ECCO Golf has announced the launch of BIOM® H4, the latest offering from the award-winning ECCO BIOM line featuring innovative stability and traction technology for advanced performance and motion control through the swing.
Offered in four colorways for both men and women, BIOM H4 boasts a visible T. PU stabilizer that wraps around the foot from the outsole to the midsole for enhanced stability, while adding to the contemporary design with vibrant color pops in certain styles.
Callaway Footwear has added the Coronado v2 and Coronado v2 SL to its 2021 footwear collection. The Coronado, launched in 2018, quickly became one of the top-selling golf shoes in the Callaway footwear line.
For 2021, the Coronado v2 and Coronado v2 SL debut with enhanced performance technologies for exceptional comfort and stability in every step.
Growing the game of golf has seemingly always been a challenge, yet it continues to be the sports number one priority. Topgolf Entertainment Group (TEG) has made its mission and worked tirelessly to make the game of golf more accessible and entertaining through meaningful, tech-driven golf experiences.
To further its cause of growing the game, TGE created a first-of-its-kind competition known as the “9-Shot Challenge” global tournament, which kicks off this Saturday, February 6th.
The USGA and The R&A are re-engaging with the golf industry on the Distance Insights project, which aims to help achieve a more sustainable long-term future for golf.
The governing bodies are issuing specific Areas of Interest to help mitigate continuing distance increases and three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits.
SRIXON®, a global leader in golf ball technology and innovation, is proud to announce the launch of the seventh generation Z-STAR Series golf ball. Srixon’s Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV are available in Pure White™ and Tour Yellow™ and officially launch in North America on February 26, 2021.
The seventh-generation Z-STAR features a 0.6mm cover that is thicker than previous generations for enhanced spin and control around the greens. When paired with the revolutionary FastLayer Core that dramatically increases ball speed to deliver maximum distance, the new generation offers unparalleled feel.
New Balance Golf introduces the Fresh Foam PaceSL BOA to its performance footwear collection for 2021.
The combination of a new Fresh Foam midsole and BOA Fit System delivers the ultimate walking shoe for golfers by providing a secure fit, perimeter stability, and comfort in every step.
The National Golf Foundation’s Graffis Report, a holistic overview of an unprecedented year in the golf industry, is now available for NGF members. The Graffis Report compiles many of the game’s key 2020 data points on the business of golf and the health of the game in a single publication: golf participation, engagement, rounds-played, golf course supply and development, golf equipment sales, retail supply and the game’s reach.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced local qualifying sites for the 121st U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open will be contested at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), in San Diego, Calif., for the second time from June 17-20, 2021. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 43 U.S. states and Canada, will take place between April 26-May 18.
“Professional and amateur golfers worldwide have a pathway to emerge from the thousands who will attempt to earn a place in this year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course by competing in this two-stage qualifying process that was established in 1959,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director, Championships. “Allied Golf Associations and Golf Canada, with the cooperation of the USGA’s five regional offices, are joined in this collaborative effort for both stages. We appreciate their diligence in overcoming the challenging times we confront each day.”
Titleist, Golf’s Symbol of Excellence, introduces six new golf bag models across two distinct categories – stand and hybrid – for the 2021 season.
TITLEIST PLAYERS COLLECTION
The new Titleist Players Collection stand bags – Players 4 Plus StaDry, Players 4 StaDry, Players 4 Plusand Players 4 – offer feature-rich designs for dedicated golfers seeking a lightweight stand bag without sacrificing storage or durability.
SIK Golf, creator of patented Descending Loft Technology, and Cobra Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today announce a long-term partnership which will see the brands working together on technology that was used in the first 3D Printed commercial putter, launched by Cobra in 2020. The two companies plan to continue working together on future products currently slated for launch in Summer 2021.
This partnership, the genesis of which was SIK Golf partner and long-time Cobra Golf ambassador Bryson DeChambeau, has the common goal of bringing superior putting performance to the masses through SIK’s patented Descending Loft Technology (DLT).
XXIO®, a global leader in premium lightweight golf equipment, introduces the all-new XXIO Prime, the ultimate symbol of excellence and performance. The new XXIO Prime officially launches in North America on February 12, 2021.
“It’s safe to say that the new XXIO Prime Woods and Irons are the most advanced set of clubs ever developed for moderate-to-slow swing-speed players,” said Jeff Brunski, Vice President of Research and Development. “From the exotic materials and construction to the ultra-lightweight shafts featuring our Weight Plus counter-weighting technology, every detail in the new XXIO Prime has been engineered to add distance and accuracy – specifically for players who have lost some yards over the years. XXIO Prime is truly different and special.”
SRIXON®/ASICS® a worldwide leader in golf equipment design and manufacturing, is proud to introduce a new golf footwear model in partnership with ASICS North America – the GEL-Course ACETM.
“The Srixon/ASICS partnership has been tremendous for both our brands,” said Mike Powell, President of Sales and Marketing at Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO. “ASICS is a huge global sports brand and widely recognized as the leader in performance footwear. We’re excited to launch the new GEL-Course ACETM. This shoe will provide the legendary performance of ASICS running shoes and the waterproof protection you need when conditions on the course aren’t perfect.”
Today, Tour Edge officially announced the extension of the Exotics EXS Pro Series that was one of the fastest rising models in drivers, fairways, hybrids, irons and wedges on the PGA Tour Champions in 2020.
Launched in June of 2020 and out on tour in late July, these popular tour-inspired clubs that were dubbed “straight from the tour van” were only ordered in limited small batch quantities.
Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY), an industry leader in golf equipment and innovation, has officially introduced its new ERC Soft, Supersoft, and Supersoft MAX Golf Balls.
This new lineup will appeal to a wide range of golfers, and each offering promotes fast ball speeds, exceptional feel, and outstanding greenside control.
Shot Scope, the industry-leader in performance tracking technology, has announced a significant string of upgrades to its platform, allowing users to review ‘strokes gained’ data for all facets of their game on the mobile app.
Strokes gained is a way of analyzing where a player sits when comparing every aspect of their performance with players in the rest of a dataset. This approach to performance analysis will allow Shot Scope users to gain a greater understanding of which areas of their game they may need to work on in order to improve their overall scoring average. It will do this by isolating individual aspects of a player’s game and comparing it to the entire Shot Scope dataset to deliver efficient results.
Mizuno, the global specialty sporting goods company, announced the next generation of ST Series metal woods will be available starting February 2021, representing the culmination of the company’s 3-year, rapid-fire driver development project.
The new ST-Z and ST-X further deploy Mizuno’s high strength, Forged Beta SAT2041 Ti face and complex carbon construction to deliver potent ball speeds and a dense, satisfying sensation at impact. The Forged Beta SAT2041 TI maintains its characteristics and resists micro fractures for longer than the commonly used 6-4, Alpha Beta Ti.
Mizuno, the global specialty sporting goods company renowned for its industry-leading forged irons and technically advanced golf clubs, announced three new models in the premium M CRAFT line of putters, available starting February 4, 2021.
Previously available in three classic shapes, Mizuno’s M-CRAFT putters are forged from premium 1025 mild carbon steel then CNC milled to create the most precise shape and alignment. As a result of the hugely popular initial models, Mizuno designed and developed three new shapes to extend the M CRAFT line — M CRAFT IV, M CRAFT V and M CRAFT VI.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced qualifying dates and sites for the 76th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, which will be contested June 3-6, 2021, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.
Conducted over 36 holes, qualifying will be held at 22 courses between April 26 and May 13. The championship is open to female professionals and amateurs with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. Online entry applications open on Wednesday, Feb. 17 and continues through April 14 at champs.usga.org.
Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, today unveiled the 2020 National Golf Performance Report, a first-of-its kind annual report analyzing rounds played and retail equipment sales in the U.S. Golf Datatech’s data indicates rounds soared by 14% and equipment sales increased by 10% over 2019.
The year-over-year surge in rounds and retail sales are a consequence of golf being positioned as a near ideal socially distanced activity. The 14% increase in rounds is the largest total year increase since Golf Datatech began collecting and projecting rounds played in 1998.
COBRA® Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, unveiled today its highly anticipated, limited-edition COBRA RF Proto Irons, a design collaboration with longtime COBRA ambassador and five-time PGA TOUR winner, Rickie Fowler. The RF Proto Irons are a replica of the head design that Fowler plays to provide golfers with an opportunity to experience what it feels like to play the same tour-caliber irons trusted weekly by one of game’s most popular players.
The design is the result of multiple shape and spec revisions that evolved over the span of 12 months to get the perfect iron. The process involved COBRA engineers and longtime Director of Tour Operations, Ben Schomin, working with Fowler every step of the way, applying his design direction, turf-interaction feedback and aesthetic preferences to the overall design, which underwent 32 iterations before arriving at the final version, hence the Rev33 stamp.
Bushnell Golf, #1 in Electronic Measuring Devices, unveiled the new ION EDGE. The ION EDGE has been designed to meet the ever-changing needs of golfers wanting wearable EMD’s. The ION EDGE features a new design with a touchscreen display and the Bushnell Golf app for automatic updates to the more than 38,000 preloaded courses worldwide. The ION EDGE is one of the industry’s easiest to use golf GPS watches with instant yardage measurements.
“Creating EMD’s that are both trusted on Tour and by the weekend golfer is extremely important to us,” said William Flood, Global Product Manager at Bushnell Golf. “The ION EDGE is user-friendly with industry-leading technology at an affordable price.”
Today’s golfers demand a lot from their shoes, and Adidas kept hearing that there was something missing. Whether it was one of their tour professionals or an everyday golfer, they all wanted the same thing: a high-performance spiked shoe that was lightweight and extremely comfortable. Adidas took that as a challenge to not only fill this void that players were looking for, but also create something exciting that would stand alone at the top and launch a new category of spiked footwear.
After nearly two years, multiple prototypes, configurations, and infusing our latest technologies to get everything right, Adidas is releasing a product that ushers in a new era of performance golf footwear for their brand: ZG21. It’s their latest offering that gives golfers of all skill levels a high-performance spiked shoe that’s lightweight with zero compromises.
Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, announced today the release of the revolutionary new e12 CONTACT golf ball. Following the great success of the award-winning TOUR B series featuring REACTIV cover technology, the latest e12 is designed with next-generation contact science and aimed at players looking for a combination of game-changing distance and forgiveness with exceptionally soft feel and enhanced short game performance.
The true breakthrough in the e12 CONTACT design is the innovative new CONTACT Force dimple, which features a unique structure with a raised area in the center and an outer portion that slows sidespin during flight. The raised area of the new dimple allows for 38% more contact with the clubface at impact than traditional dimples, yielding a much more efficient transfer of energy and improved core activation. The result is faster ball speed and more distance with every club in the bag.
