Friday, January 20, 2023

Titleist Introduces New Vokey Design SM9 Wedge Lightweight Options for 2023

Vokey Design SM9 wedges featuring lightweight steel and graphite shafts will be available at retail beginning March 10 worldwide, providing more in-store options for moderate swing speed players.

The SM9 lightweight featured shaft program is aimed at players who may gain better control around the greens with a shaft profile consistent throughout their bag. For golfers who prefer lightweight shafts in their irons, having wedge shaft options at retail is a critical part of finding the right wedge and improving their wedge play.

Bridgestone Golf Partners with FlightScope for New and Improved Autonomous Ball Fitting Technology OTTO GEN2

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, today introduced OTTO GEN2, the new, more portable version of their autonomous ball fitting technology. Designed to provide the simplistic interface and entertainment factor of the original OTTO, OTTO GEN2 provides the most engaging way yet for players to find the right Bridgestone Golf ball for their game.

When it comes to ball fitting, Bridgestone Golf has been the clear leader for nearly two decades, with close to four million fittings completed since 2006. The data from these fittings, all of which was gathered from a combination of live and online sessions (including with the original OTTO), has allowed Bridgestone engineers to tighten up the fitting algorithm in the new OTTO GEN2. The results are not only greater accuracy for a wider range of players but also the inclusion of Bridgestone’s new golf ball models for 2023.

GolfPass Reveals 2023 Golfers Choice List of Recreational Golfers Best Courses

The ninth edition of the highly anticipated Golfers' Choice lists were revealed this week by NBC Sports Next’s GolfPass, which include 69 categories generated by golfer reviews to determine the best golf courses played by recreational golfers in 2022. The lists are headlined by the “Top 50” courses in America and can be found within dedicated pages on GolfPass.

Relied on by recreational golfers for its user-generated golf course reviews and expert travel content, GolfPass creates the Golfers’ Choice lists every January to recognize top courses as determined by golfers who shared more than 315,000 reviews the previous year through NBC Sports Next’s leading online tee-time service, GolfNow. The pandemic golf boom continued to bring in more reviews than ever before.

First Tee Naples/Collier Hosts Swing Fore the Future Featuring Golf Legends

February 13th will be a hole-in-one for kids and golfers at the First Tee-Naples/Collier gala, “Swing Fore the Future.” The event will take place at Arthrex, Inc. in Naples, Florida. Arthrex is also the presenting sponsor. Golf Channel Host Rich Lerner will moderate a fireside chat with PGA Tour and Champions Tour Legends Peter Jacobsen, Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, and Jeff Maggert. Proceeds will fund First Tee’s new Learning Center.

“Having a Learning Center will give kids a much-needed head start on understanding the fundamentals and disciplines of the swing but, more importantly, the opportunity to build life skills and leadership skills along the way,” says Jacobsen, a Bonita Springs resident.

Mizuno to Open Full Tour Workshop at The Standard Club in Johns Creek Georgia

Set for opening in late 2023, The Foundry will not only be of benefit to members at The Standard Club, but it will also give consumers the chance to get a Tour-style fitting session at a Mizuno facility.

Mizuno is renowned for its expertise in performance golf equipment and for its presence on the main professional golf Tours, where the company provides top players the very best in custom fitting and equipment guidance. With the opening of The Foundry, the golfing public will be able to experience the same level of expertise and advice.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Mizuno Introduces S23 Wedges - Engineered for Spin

Japanese manufacturer Mizuno is constantly striving to offer the best products to customers, blending classic design with the latest in technical innovation. The S23 wedges provide a perfect demonstration of that fusion.

The S23 wedges showcase a shorter hosel and a heel-orientated cavity allowing greater mass to be pushed towards the toe. This creates a centered sweet spot, as opposed to a heel-side location in conventional wedges. The centered sweet spot contributes to longer impact time, less head deflection and higher spin from both full and partial shots. And all those benefits are delivered with the unmistakable feel of a Mizuno one-piece Grain Flow Forging.

Mizuno Introduces ST-230 Drivers, Woods, and Hybrids

Over a four-year development process, including blanket usage by Mizuno’s contracted professionals, Mizuno has lifted its metal woods from the shadow of its iconic irons. The ST-190 driver initiated Mizuno’s ST (Speed Technology) project, the ST-200 then added the Beta Ti face and was Mizuno’s first “Tour Ready” driver. The ST-Z and ST-X then added versatility with the option of two models. The ST220 Series represented a big shift in stability and ball speeds from off-center strikes.

After multiple iterative developments for stability, sound and spin, Mizuno has identified the missing piece to its ball speed equation with the CORTECH Chamber – in its ST-230 Series due for 2023 release.  The CORTECH Chamber encases a stainless-steel weight with elastomeric TPU, taking stress from the clubface and creating an additional source of energy. At the same time, it locates weight closer to the clubface to reduce spin rates, while contributing to a more solid, powerful sensation at impact.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Titleist Introduces New Pro V1 and Pro V1x Golf Balls for 2023

The 2023 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x - the next generation of the most trusted golf balls in the game - set another standard for tee-to-green performance and consistency through advanced core technologies validated by the best players in the world.

Available in golf shops beginning Jan. 25, new Pro V1 and Pro V1x are engineered with high-gradient core designs that deliver lower long game spin for increased distance and a more consistent flight – helping golfers hit the ball longer and straighter while maintaining the Drop-and-Stop greenside control that Pro V1 and Pro V1x players rely on to play their best.

Cleveland Golf Releases New CBX Full Face 2 with Largest CBX Face Ever

Cleveland Golf, an industry leader in wedge design and innovation, announces the release of the all-new CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge. The CBX Full-Face 2 is scheduled to launch in North America Feb. 3, 2023.

The CBX Full-Face 2 is designed to be more forgiving with a larger face, along with added HydraZip, ZipCore, and UltiZip technologies. It is a Wedge built for golfers looking for the right balance of forgiveness and versatility to unleash their greenside creativity.

French Lick Resort Experiencing Record Breaking Rounds and Pre Bookings

French Lick Resort, Southern Indiana’s iconic golf destination and home to two of the state’s most lauded golf courses, has experienced record-breaking golf round sales over the past two years along with unprecedented pre-bookings for 2023.

Home to the award-winning Pete Dye Course at French Lick and Donald Ross Course at French Lick, the resort destination has come off another record season for golf rounds. Since 2020, golf rounds have continued to grow by more than 22 percent. In addition, the popularity of the resorts Hall of Fame Golf Package continues to soar with pre-bookings for 2023 up over 300 percent.

Dundonald Links Offers Golfers Chance to Experience The Home of Golf

Dundonald Links – the luxurious new golf resort in Western Scotland that is garnering critical acclaim from traveling golfers and professional tour players alike – is giving golfers the chance to claim a deluxe trip to the acclaimed venue.

Running from now to midnight on February 5, 2023, one lucky winner and three friends will be awarded the unforgettable trip. Headlining the prize are two rounds of golf on Dundonald Links’ prestigious par-72 course, hailed as one of the finest in the world.

Ashworth Golf Signs PGA Tour Player Tom Hoge

To complement Fred Couples return to Ashworth Golf, Newtimes Group, a global leader of retail supply chain management, today announced that PGA TOUR golfer Tom Hoge, currently ranked #30 in the Official World Golf Rankings, has signed with the iconic brand as Ashworth Golf returns to the US market.

Hoge, who will be outfitted in Ashworth Golf apparel when competing on the PGA TOUR and other professional events around the world, has one victory on the PGA TOUR (2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), and recently captured the QBE Shootout in December alongside partner Sahith Theegala. He also finished T-3 to kick off 2023 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

GOLFFOREVER Signs 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson as Brand Ambassador

GOLFFOREVER, the industry-leading at-home golf fitness training system that helps golfers play without limits, has signed 2023 United States Ryder Cup Captain and two-time major winner Zach Johnson as its newest brand ambassador.

Johnson — the 2007 Masters, 2015 Open Championship winner and 12-time champion on the PGA Tour — was an early adopter of GOLFFOREVER’s first-of-its-kind training system that integrates an intuitive app with key equipment to deliver personalized exercise and recovery plans from PGA Tour doctors and trainers. He joins good friend and 1997 Open Championship winner Justin Leonard, reigning Masters champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler, and four-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Palmer as GOLFFOREVER ambassadors.

NBC Sports to Present Record of nearly 450 Hours of Live Women's Golf Coverage in 2023

NBC Sports presents a record nearly 450 hours of live professional women’s golf coverage in 2023 featuring coverage of all 35 LPGA Tour events, headlined by live coverage of five major championships, the Solheim Cup and the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, across NBC, GOLF Channel, USA Network, Peacock, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

The 2023 LPGA Tour season begins this week with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock on Jan. 19-22.

Original Penguin Launches 2023 Spring Collection

Original Penguin Golf is pleased to announce the launch of the Spring 2023 Golf collections for men and women showcasing dynamic prints, classic styling and technically advanced fabrics.

“Original Penguin is a true modern classic brand, trusted during play and preferred after the game is over,” said Oscar Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International. “For over 60 years, it has been a symbol for those who know how to be an original.  The Spring 2023 collections reinforce our commitment to authenticity and heritage while embracing our passion for the good times.”

Streamsong Resort Announces 2023 Special Events Calendar

Streamsong Resort announced a full slate of special events for 2023. From family-friendly weekends to best ball classics, the 2023 events calendar offers five fun experiences in tournament settings throughout the year. Online registration is now open for all events, and spots are expected to fill quickly.

The 2023 special events are as follows (note that pricing does not include tax, caddie fees or caddie gratuity).

SkyGolf Announces SkyCaddie GPS Devices Used by Over 65 Percent of Field in 2022 European Legends Tour Event

SkyGolf, maker of SkyCaddie, the most-trusted rangefinders in Golf, announced that the majority of competitors on the 2022 Legends Tour used SkyCaddie GPS distance measuring devices (DMDs) for their yardages, according to recently announced data.

“The overwhelming message from the 2022 Legends Tour is that winners use a SkyCaddie,”said Jacqui Surman, SkyGolf Senior VP and COO.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Wilson Golf Reimagines Dynapower after 70 Years

Nearly 70 years after Wilson Sporting Goods Co. redefined expectations around power and distance in the iron category, the company today announced the re-launch of its Dynapower franchise. The complete equipment line includes adjustable drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons that will be available for pre-order on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

“Dynapower changed the game of golf seven decades ago and it’s time for Wilson to do it again,” said Tim Clarke, President, Wilson Golf. “These powerful irons and adjustable drivers are built with our legendary history in mind as we continue to innovate and deliver top-of-the-line products that raise the confidence of golfers at all skill levels. Our technology is second-to-none and we’re extremely proud of this new line of Dynapower products.”

Srixon and Cleveland Golf Announce Partnership with Arccos Golf

Global leaders in golf equipment innovation, SRIXON and CLEVELAND GOLF announce a new partnership with Arccos, the pioneer of automatic shot tracking, big data and artificial intelligence for golf.

Highlighting the partnership is a special offer that allows Srixon/Cleveland Golf players to receive a free set of Arccos smart sensors and a 45-day free trial of the award-winning Arccos Caddie platform. Eligible consumers may also access special pricing on the Arccos Link wearable, allowing members to track their shots without using their phone.

TaylorMade Golf Joins PopStroke and Tiger Woods to Elevate Entertainment Experience

TaylorMade Golf Company has made a material investment in PopStroke, a cutting-edge putting and casual dining concept that merges a technologically advanced competitive golf environment with food and beverage. With the newly announced partnership, TaylorMade joins an ownership team that includes PopStroke Entertainment Group and Tiger Woods.

Founded by former Wall Street Executive Greg Bartoli, in just four short years PopStroke has become the leading putting entertainment experience in golf. With five locations in Florida, one in Houston, Texas, and two venues under construction in Arizona, the company has an aggressive growth strategy that will bring this immersive putting experience to golfers around the country – and eventually the globe.