The National Golf Foundation reports that rounds played were down nearly 21 percent in January 2007 vs. January 2006 on a same-store basis. However, January 2006 rounds were up 30 percent over January 2005 rounds, so this year’s drop is really a return to normal January rounds volume.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational To Feature Collegiate / U.S. Amateur Invitations For First Time
The Nationwide Tour announces a new event in Columbus, Ohio — the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational — to be played July 9-15. The event is the only invitational on the tour’s schedule and features a unique eligibility component. For the first time, a Nationwide Tour event will include invitations to accomplished collegiate golfers, plus the U.S. Amateur champion.
Hills/Forrest, EDSA to collaborate at Baja’s Punta Lobos
Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates have been commissioned to design 36 holes at Punta Lobos, a proposed development in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, nearly 40 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas.
Thirteen Could Be The Charm For $1 Million Hole-In-One Contest
The Toyota/Kraft Nabisco Championship‘s $1 Million Hole-in-One Contest begins Saturday, March 17, and run through Sunday, March 25, with qualifying rounds at College Golf Center in Palm Desert, Calif., and Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palm Springs, Calif.
Sony Ericsson Open and World Golf Championships – CA Championship to Partner Together for Ticket Promotion
The Sony Ericsson Open and the World Golf Championships-CA Championship offer a combined ticket promotion that will offer sports enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase tickets for two sporting events in Miami, Fla., for one price. For $65, spectators will receive one grounds pass for the CA Championship, good for one day between March 22-25, and a 400-level ticket for the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, good for one day or night session between March 26-28.
Clicgear Announces New Compact 3-Wheel Push Cart
Clicgear USA introduces its full-size three-wheel push cart, the Clicgear Cart. The cart, when folded, is 40 percent smaller than competing models.
Peerless Golf to Attend Professional Clubmakers’ Society Annual Meeting
Peerless Golf will exhibit its latest clubheads, shafts and grips at the Professional Clubmakers’ Society’s annual event, March 8-10, in Louisville, Ky.
GolfTraxx
GolfTraxx‘s latest software release for Pocket PC’s and Windows Mobile devices now selects a player’s appropriate club, based on individual results, after determining the remaining distance to the target.
BRIEFLY
Ping agrees to sponsor the Ping NGCA Players of the Year for Division I, II and III women’s collegiate golf. The top player in each Division will be recognized at the National Golf Coaches Association Awards Banquets in May. … Trigelle-sponsored Stacy Prammanasudh won at the Fields Open. … Blue Giraffe Sports LLC acquires Australian sports management company Vault Sports Management, located in Perth, Australia. Wayne Smith. Vault’s CEO and founder, will remain with the new company and will become president of Blue Giraffe Sports. BGS also announce the recent signings of Heath Slocum to its client list. … Barefoot Resort and Golf, located in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., adds a golf school and a yacht club with a marina and dockside restaurant to its array of amenities. … The American Junior Golf Association‘s Polo Golf Junior Classic will be staged for the first time on two of Ginn Reunion Resort‘s signature courses, the Tom Watson-designed Independence and the Arnold Palmer-designed Legacy in Reunion, Fla., Nov. 17-23. … Harris Golf breaks ground on Old Marsh Golf Club in Wells, Maine. Old Marsh GC will feature 131 real estate units and a resort-style course designed by architect Brian Silva. Clubhouse construction will begin this fall and, developers say, there is an outside chance that Old Marsh will be open for play by year’s end. … The Golf Channel kicks off its ninth season of Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt, a golf skills competition for ages 7-14. Eighty-three local communities throughout North America will host events in 2007. The top-three junior golfers in each age division from the local championships will advance to one of 20 regional championships. Regional champions advance to the national championships in Orlando, Fla., in the fall. … ClubCorp announces the appointment of Douglas Miller as vice president of golf course management. In his role, Miller will serve as the senior leader providing guidance and coordination to all levels of management on golf course-related issues.
SMT Golf Sweeps Australasian Tour Season Opener
SMT Golf reports that the top four finishers in the long drive contest at the Jacob’s Creek Open in Australia used its clubheads.
Masters.org to feature Masters action online
Masters.org will will feature one hour of Masters play-by-play action daily, exclusively on-line prior to the cable and network broadcast, beginning Thursday, April 5.
P3ProSwing Named "Best of Show" By Golfing Magazine
P3ProSwing, a swing analyzer, instructional aid and simulator, was selected among "Best of Show" as a top-10 teaching and training aid by Golfing Magazine in its review of the PGA Merchandise Show.
Heine elected GCSAA president
Ricky D. Heine, general manager and director of grounds at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, Texas, was elected president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America at the association’s annual meeting Feb. 23.
Callaway Golf Reaches Agreement with PGA and European Tour Great Ernie Els
Callaway Golf Co. reaches an endorsement agreement with Ernie Els, who is expected to begin his endorsement by playing the HX Tour 56 golf ball, carrying a Callaway golf bag and wearing the Callaway logo on the sides and back of his cap. Els will work with the company to determine which metal woods, irons, wedges and putter to play.
Thousand Hills Golf Resort Signs On with Legendary Marketing’s Golf Marketing Commander Product for Integrated Marketing and Web Solutions
Legendary Marketing launches it Golf Marketing Commander product for Thousand Hills Golf Resort in Branson, Mo.
For A Perfect Fit: The World’s Top 100 Clubfitters
The second annual list of the World’s Top 100 Professional ClubFitters has been released. The list includes two from Australia, five from Asia, 13 from Canada, 15 from Europe and 65 from the United States.
New 2007 Golf Expo Tees Off in Austin
Organized by the Golf Foundation of Texas, the all-new Golf Expo will be March 9-11 at the Lester E. Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas.
Total Golf Adventures Site Director In Bergen County Named Junior Golf Leader Of Year By LPGA
Total Golf Adventures reports that Michelle Melia, site director for the TGA of Bergen County (N.J.), has been honored with the Phyllis Meekins Junior Golf Leader of the Year award by the LPGA Northeast Section.
Kent Stalwart Eric Green Receives Micklem Award
Eric Green, a member of the English Golf Union and a lifelong golf administrator, receives the annual Gerald Micklem Award, which was introduced in 1990 and is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to further the interests of amateur golf in England.
Trion:Z Thinks Pink!
Trion:Z reports that the winner of the LPGA’s Fields Open wore its Pink/Pink bracelet.
