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The Golf Wire

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GroundLinkx Announces New Customers

GroundLinkx reports on its growing list of clients that use its CourseVision software, including Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Golfweek Issues Apology, Names Jeff Babineau Editor

Jeff Babineau is named editor of Golfweek, replacing Dave Seanor. The change has been made after Golfweek ran a cover in the Jan. 19 issue showing a noose to illustrate a controversial comment by Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman about Tiger Woods.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company Unveils 2008 Special Limited Edition for China

TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Co. unveils two unique product offerings to commemorate the 2008 Olympic Games, with just 2,008 of these limited edition products available only in China and Hong Kong. First, TaylorMade introduces a special full set of golf clubs from the r7 XR series of product. Also, Adidas Golf is introducing a special limited edition golf bag to commemorate the Olympic Games by featuring the Beijing 2008 and Olympic logos.

Beidel Design Associates Is Growing

Beidel Design Associates, formerly based in Columbia, Md., opens new corporate offices in Orlando, Fla., along with a satellite office in Valencia, Pa.

Northern Texas PGA’s Darrell Crall Named Executive Director Of The PGA Foundation

Darrell Crall, executive director of the Northern Texas PGA Section since 1995, is named the executive director of the PGA Foundation. Crall, who will continue his Section duties while living in Dallas, Texas, will assume the responsibility of building the PGA Foundation enterprise-wide through transferring best practices and leveraging current assets.

NGCOA Expects Record Turnout for Annual Conference

The National Golf Course Owners Association reports that registration numbers for this year’s annual conference, scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 2 in Orlando, Fla., are up nearly 20 percent over a year ago.

Burton® Unveils 2008 Golf Bag Line

Burton unveils its 2008 line of golf bags. Highlighting the collection are the Apex, Syncro and Pulse models that are offered in six color patterns.

BRIEFLY

D.J. Trahan moved to sixth in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings after winning the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Tiger Woods leads with 3,430.627 points, followed by Jim Furyk (1,751.553) and Zach Johnson (1,525.483). Trahan has 1,062.805 points, while Hunter Mahan with 752.291 points is in the eighth and final automatic qualifying position. … Eight new members of the PGA of America‘s board of directors were sworn in at the association’s annual meeting on Jan. 16 in Orlando, Fla. Junior Bridgeman of Louisville, Ky.; Ray Cutright of Macon, Ga.; Rod Loesch of Easton, Conn.; David Mocini of Harbor Springs, Mich.; Derek Sprague of Malone, N.Y.; Mike Thomas of Goshen, Ky.; and Roger Wallace of Polston, Mont., will each serve three-year terms. Tour professional Brad Faxon of Barrington, R.I., was appointed player director. … Ginn Resorts‘ Mahogany Run Golf Course on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is named by Golf World as one of the top 100 golf shops in the United States. Promotional ideas at Mahogany Run helped to push the course to around $600,000 in total merchandise revenue in 2007. … The Iowa Golf Show is scheduled for Feb. 15-17 at HyVee Hall in Des Moines, Iowa. For information, go to www.iowagolfshow.com. … GolfSwitch agrees to become the online tee time reservations provider for Eagle Golf Management‘s 90 facility websites.

… Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C., names Tracey Webster director of sales. … Mark Strickland is the recipient of the Georgia State Golf Association‘s 2007 Tommy Barnes Award, signifying the association’s overall Player of the Year. Strickland of Woodstock becomes the eighth different recipient of the award in its 10th year of existence. … SubAir Systems LLC introduces its new turf syringing system, the MobileMist. The system’s 25-gallon tank attaches to a Buffalo Blower and evenly sprays a fine mist of water over the green as the MobileMist is driven around the greens’ outer edges. The MobileMist also includes a laser thermometer so that temperatures may be systematically monitored and logged. … The Kansas City Golf Show is scheduled for Feb. 8-10 at the Overland Park International Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas. For information, go to www.kansascitygolfshow.com. … Bobby Jones introduces its women’s and men’s fall 2008 collection. On the women’s side, Italian suede and silks and fine gauge merino wool are just some of the materials in the well-rounded collection. All are travel friendly and will endure a long day of socializing, sporting activity, and travel. Tailoring details set the collection apart and include whimsical grosgrain ribbon trims and decorative buttons at the ankles on the pants. The men’s fall collection for men celebrates the brand’s rich history, and reflects a very modern interpretation of American luxury. Highlights from the collections include both traditional and new silhouettes in a blend of luxury materials and the brand’s own X-H20 material that is hydrophobic so it resists absorbing moisture along with built in UV protection and anti-microbial properties. … Bobby Jones Sportswear promotes Grover Walker to director of green grass. With his new responsibilities, Walker will now work closely with all national green grass accounts and with the Bobby Jones sales force on sales strategies and training. … Wilson Staff Tour professional D.J. Trahan wins the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic using Wilson Staff Fg59 irons, named after the total of major championships (59) won with Wilson irons.

COLLEGE

Kalen Anderson, formerly Duke assistant women’s coach and a 2001 Duke graduate, is named head women’s coach at South Carolina. "We are ecstatic to have someone with Kalen’s credentials become our golf coach," said Eric Hyman, USC athletics director. Anderson will begin her duties March 1. … Mike Dirks, former head golf coach at Sam Houston State, Houston and Tulane, has been named associate head men’s coach at Southern Methodist.