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Empire Golf Management promotes Rudy Virga to director of operations. Virga has worked for the company for the past 14 years, most recently serving as general manager of Pine Barrens Golf Club.

Energy Grip Inc. announces that Todd Cassidy has joined the company as its new director of sales, effective immediately.

Clubmaxx Golf Bags hires new sales staff member David Webster of Sharpsburg, Ga.

KemperSports names Mike Tripp as sales and marketing director of Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Clubmaxx Golf Bags hires Gary Rodin to its sales staff.

International Pairs appoints Frank Samson and Jay Risher as the new license holders for the western United States.

Cleveland Gol appoints Stan Sopczyk as its new chief operating officer.

Henry DeLozier, vice president of golf for Pulte Homes, is named a principal of Global Golf Advisors, an international golf consultancy that provides a range of consulting and support services to golf course owners, operators and the investment community.

TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Co. names David Abeles senior vice president and general manager for the TaylorMade Golf United States business unit.

E-Z-Go promotes Michael Parkhurst to vice president, global sales, as the company strengthens its focus on sales following the introduction of its RXV fleet golf car.

ProLink Solutions, a provider of Global Positioning Satellite golf course management systems and on-course advertising, names M.G. Orender, past president of the PGA of America and a PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame inductee, to its board of directors.

OB Sports names Bob Byman as the director of instruction for The Legacy Golf Club located in Henderson, Nev.

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.

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.

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.

Ogio announces two personnel changes — Tom Gocke, Ogio’s national golf sales manager, is now the company’s first global director of golf; and Steve Elder, who until recently worked as the company’s director of operations, will serve as its director — international division.

Fairway & Greene appoints Jeff Clark as vice-president of sales, effective Jan. 14. Clark will be responsible for overseeing the company’s overall golf sales operation for the United States.

Gary Markel, president of Gary Markel Companies, acquires majority ownership of ProQuip USA on Jan. 11 and then signs Jim Furyk to a multi-year endorsement deal.

Fairway & Greene appoints Jeff Clark as vice-president of sales, effective Jan. 14. Clark will be responsible for overseeing the company’s overall golf sales operation for the United States.

Ann Liguori will sign copies of the newly-revised edition of her book, "A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings About the Game," in ProQuip booth on Friday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-noon and 3-4 p.m. at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.