People

Buffalo Communications, the golf lifestyle and travel publicity, media-relations and marketing-communications firm that is a division of Billy Casper Golf, names Kevin Satz as public relations specialist.

Brad Brewer, president of the Brad Brewer Golf Academy at Shingle Creek Golf Club, located at Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Fla., has been named the lead instructor for GolfChannel.com.

James F. Vernon of Pasadena, Calif., has been elected to serve a one-year term as president of the U.S. Golf Association. The election of officers and the full 15-member USGA Executive Committee took place Saturday at the USGA’s annual meeting in Houston, Texas.

The Turnstile Publishing Co., parent company of Golfweek, names Eryck Dzotsi as online business development manager as the company takes strategic steps to further the company’s commitment to grow its Web-based properties.

Fujikura adds Mike Sposa as a tour representative.

Ecco names Michael Waack as head of global golf for its footwear.

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.