Connemara Championship Links in Clifden, Ireland, is renovating its clubhouse. The â?åÂ2 million project will include an extension to the restaurant and bar. A new pro shop and new locker rooms are also planned. The six-month redevelopment project is due for completion in late May. … New York-based M Booth & Associates has been named North American public relations agency of record for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in South Carolina. … Team USA cruised to a 27-11 win over Team Canada in the inaugural Pro Team Golf League USA vs. Canada team match in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Dec. 18. … Shoemaker Ecco reports that staff player Thongchai Jaidee wore its World Class Collection golf shoes en route to winning the Volvo Masters of Asia last month. …
Jim Furyk and Michael Beebe are hired to design the Sawmill Creek Golf Course in Palm Coast, Fla. … The European Golf Course Owners Association chooses Club Car as the preferred supplier of golf cars and turf/utility vehicles for the 600-member association. … Circling Raven Golf Club and the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and Hotel, located in Worley, Idaho, have been voted onto Golfweek’s 2007 "Best 21 Casino Courses" list. … The Kaua’i (Hawaii) Visitors Bureau reports that several of the golf and resort properties in its golf-destination co-operative have been voted onto Golf Digest’s biennial ranking of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America." Princeville at Hanalei is rated at No. 23, the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa is rated No. 32 and the Kaua’i Marriott Resort and Beach Club is No. 60. …
The Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism announces that three of the state’s courses have been voted onto Golfweek’s "Best 21 Casino Courses" list — Grand Bear Golf Club (No. 7), Dancing Rabbit Golf Club‘s Azaleas Course (No. 12) and Oaks Course (No. 17). The three courses also made Golfweek’s "Best Resort Golf Courses" — Grand Bear Golf Club at No. 34, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club’s Azaleas Course at No. 42 and the Oaks Course at No. 71. … Tom Patri has been named director of instruction at the Friar’s Head Golf Club in Riverhead, N.Y. … The Georgia State Golf Association‘s 2007 competitions schedule will include 18 state competitions, 18 qualifying rounds for two state championships, three interstate matches, an intrastate competition and 17 qualifying rounds for USGA national championships. The GSGA’s longest-running event, the Georgia Amateur Championship, takes place at Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Creek Course in Roswell, July 12-15. …
Dr. Thomas G. Frazier, William H. Iredale and Frank E. Rutan IV were nominated and confirmed as new board members of the Golf Association of Philadelphia‘s Executive Committee at the organization’s annual meeting on Oct. 25. … S & J 18th Tee Inc. introduces its new line of apparel, specifically geared for young golfers wearing sizes 10 to 16. … The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, Texas, completes renovations to its Cottonwood Valley Golf Course and held a re-opening tournament on Dec. 30. The renovation was overseen by architect Jay Morrish. In addition, the golf course’s logo has been updated. … Pasadera Country Club in Monterey, Calif., names Paul J. Spengler as managing partner. … First Choice Products Inc. will introduce Extreme Green at the PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 25-27, in Orlando, Fla. The Extreme Green will be available to the public this spring. …
The Kapalua Resort on Maui, Hawaii, receives the Jemsek Award for Golf Course Excellence. This honor is given annually by the National Golf Course Owners Association to the world’s best golf courses that are widely recognized for their superior quality, for hosting major amateur and professional tournaments and as venues that golfers visit. … Barwell Leisure reports that couples booking holiday trips before the end of this month will receive £100 off the brochure price of its new European Classic Resorts portfolio, which includes Spain, Mallorca, Tenerife, the Algarve, Lisbon, Madeira, Italy and Cyprus. … Former European Tour commissioner Ken Schofield will be the keynote speaker at GolfEx Dubai 2007, Jan. 28-29, in Dubai. Schofield headlines a list of representatives from the PGA, European, Ladies European, Sunshine and Asian tours who will speak, along with members of the commercial sector. …
Inga Hammond joined the Golf Channel as the newest member of its on-air staff, effective Jan. 1. Hammond’s duties will include serving as co-anchor for "Golf Central" and host for the a new program "The Approach with Callaway Golf," which will dissect tournaments by the numbers in a fresh and entertaining manner to help indicate why given players succeeded or failed the previous week on Tour and predict who should do well in the upcoming week. … The Northern California PGA recently announced year-end honors, including Mike and Denise Mazzaferri as its 2006 Junior Golf Leaders; Vic Williams, publishing partner and executive editor of Fairways + Greens Magazine, as Sports Media Person of the Year; Pat Lyle of San Anselmo, Calif., as Sales Representative of the Year; Bill Bondaruk of Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln, Calif., as Teacher of the Year; John Hughes of Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton, Calif., as Private Merchandiser of the Year; Dirk Skillicorn of Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee, Calif., as Resort Merchandiser of the Year; Ken Woods of Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif., as Public Merchandiser of the Year; and Tom Morton, PGA director of player development for Morton Golf in Sacramento, Calif., as winner of the Horton Smith Award for his commitment and ongoing involvement with PGA education. …
Carol Hensley, the wife of Society of American Travel Writers Atlantic-Caribbean Chapter member and past chair Bill Hensley and mother of ACC member Bruce Hensley, recently died. Condolences can be sent to Bill F. Hensley, 7179 Meeting St., Charlotte, N.C., 28210 or contact him at 704-552-2223 or billhensl@aol.com and Bruce and Jill Hensley, 9324 Percy Ct., Charlotte, N.C., 28277 or contact him at 704-542-0607 or hensleypr@aol.com.
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