Scott Verplank commits to play the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Jan. 24-27 in Doha, Qatar. … Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc. agrees to be the official technology supplier for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. … The second Golf Business Conference, “Development on New Golf Markets” will take place April 23-25 in Warsaw, Poland. … The Western Amateur is exploring the possibility of rotating the Western Amateur among a handful of Chicago-area clubs and Point O’Woods beginning in 2009. … Imperial Headwear announces the 2008 National Leadership Council’s newest members. The three newly-appointed members include Colin Sinclair of Carnoustie, Scotland; Jack Druga of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club; and Bob Kennedy of Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, Canada. … The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame announces that it will induct Woody Austin, who played for the Hurricanes from 1982-1986 and recorded the lowest tournament average score in all four seasons at Miami. The induction banquet will be held Feb. 13 in Miami. … Tiger Woods holds a commanding lead in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings with 3,430.627 points. The top eight through the PGA Championship automatically qualify for this year’s team. Jim Furyk is second with 1,751.553 points, followed by Zach Johnson (1,525.483) and Steve Stricker (1,311.767). Stewart Cink is currently eighth with 630.235 points. … Grubb & Ellis Co. announces that Homestead NW purchased Desert Canyon Golf Resort, an 18-hole championship golf club in Orondo, Wash., from GE Credit Equities. The sale price was not disclosed.
Luke Donald will compete in Etihad Airways‘ Swing on the Wing challenge as a prelude to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships. Following in the footsteps of his European Tour counterparts Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson, Donald will compete in the long drive competition from the wing of an Etihad aircraft at Abu Dhabi airport. … Travel + Leisure Golf magazine announces its Top 100 U.S. Golf Communities in its January/February issue. Sea Island, Ga., comprised on nine communities is ranked No. 1. … Foothills Development Corp. buys Gold Creek Golf Club in Dawsonville, Ga., renames it, purchases another 166 acres and plans to transform it into a lifestyle community. Architect Steve Smyers will renovate the Gold Creek Golf Club. … Power Golf Group announces that Pat Gorman, a Wisconsin PGA Teacher of the Year in 2000 and 2004, and owner of the Gorman Golf Academy at The Oaks Golf Club near Madison, Wisc., purchases a Cool Range! mobile practice facility shelter and is implementing the product to create an outdoor winter lesson program this month. … Pointe Royale Golf Village, located in Branson, Mo., selects to move to ClubTec‘s SQL Club Management Solutions. … The fourth Irish Links Championship will be held in Northern Ireland, May 8-11. This unique Ryder Cup format competition attracts both men and women amateur golfers from around the world to compete against their Irish counterparts in a three-day tournament at three different links courses. Entries remain open for a limited number of participants. For information, go to www.irishlinkschampionship.com or call 800-824-6538. … Never-Search Inc. releases its new Never-Search for Golf Personal Edition. This knowledge-based mapping technology includes new features and performance enhancements to make updating and navigating the vast golf related content and other points of interest fast and effortless. The Never-Search for Golf Personal Edition travel map includes all 18,475 golf courses in the nation with detailed information on each, along with driving ranges, golf stores and 9,000 golf instructors.
PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW (Jan. 17-19, Orlando, Fla.)
Roger Fredericks, a golf and fitness instructor, will be an exhibitor at the PGA Merchandise Show. … Jox Sox Inc. will participate in Demo Day on Jan. 16 and at the PGA Merchandise Show. "It is only natural for us to be there" said Peter Antonacci, national sales manager of Jox Sox. "This is the world’s largest demo day, held at the world’s largest practice facility, featuring the leading golf equipment companies, and a perfect venue for us to demo ‘The Ultimate Performance Sock.'”
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