Golf Industry in Review: January 13-19
+ Names, news and notables.
The First Call’s Golf Industry in Review is a compilation of the news for January 13-19.
BUSINESS
PGA of America: Association invites local talent from underrepresented backgrounds to register for PGA JobMatch and to be considered for a new cycle of positions at its 2024 major championships.
Arcis Golf: Unveils value-added frequent play programs for 2024. Benefits include access to Grayhawk Golf Club and 14-day advance bookings at daily-fee facilities in the Phoenix, Arizona, area.
Eastside Golf: Receives investment from EP Golf Ventures.
IdeasLab: Signs PGA Tour Champions player K.J. Choi as advisor, investor. Debut app, XView, provides golf coaches and students the equivalent of a 3D studio on their respective iPhones.
Robert Trent Jones Society: Publishes “The Design Genius of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. — A Course Appreciation Guide” that analyzes Jones’ design principles.
Golf Live: Vetted Sports recognizes company as tech startup to watch in 2024.
Bobby Jones Links: Partners with Legends to leverage its MyShop ecommerce platform for customized shopping experiences at partner clubs
PGA Tour: GolfForever becomes Tour's official golf fitness system.
USGA: Creates a state team pilot program that will expand the pipeline for elite junior golfers into the recently created U.S. National Development Program. Seven states will participate in the initial phase with the goal of all states having a team by 2033. The first seven participants are California (Southern), Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee. The program will come to fruition through close collaboration between the USGA, its allied golf associations, the PGA of America and relevant state junior programs.
COMPETITION
JM Eagle LA Championship: LPGA field to receive complimentary lodging as the tournament at Wilshire Country Club in Hollywood, California, April 22-28, will feature an elevated $3 million tournament purse.
Epson Tour: Announces its 20-tournament 2024 schedule, which will feature a tour record $5 million in total prize money — an increase in average purse size per event. The Tour will also switch from a money-based ranking to a points-based ranking to determine which players will receive LPGA Tour cards for 2025. The 2024 schedule will make 20 stops in 12 states, beginning with the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Florida, March 8-10.
COURSES / DESTINATIONS
Circling Raven: The Worley, Idaho, destination partners with Scarlett’s Golf Experience to debut a new winter lesson program.
Island Resort & Casino: Northern Michigan destination’s 2024 golf packages are now available.
Troon: Black Desert Resort, located in Ivins, Utah, receives Golf Digest and Golfweek ranking on the lists for the Best New, Residential and Resort Courses in the U.S.
PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com: Reports that seven Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, courses are on Golfweek's Top 200 resort courses in the U.S. list, including two in the top 50 — Caledonia Golf & Fish Club at No. 46 and The Dunes Golf & Beach Club at No. 48. The remaining five are True Blue (No. 86), the Moorland Course at Legends Resort (No. 177), King’s North at Myrtle Beach National (No. 181), Grande Dunes Resort Course (No. 191) and Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course (No. 195).
GEAR
Cleveland Golf: Launches the CBX 4 ZipCore wedges that feature a cavity-back design with refreshed technologies.
True Spec Golf: Reviews TaylorMade's Qi10 drivers and examines the new look and technology behind the Qi10 Max, Qi10 LS and the Qi10 driver heads.
Cleveland Golf: Introduces its ZipCore XL and Halo XL full-face irons.
Cleveland Golf: Unveils HB Soft 2 putters with nine models.
Honma Golf: Debuts 3 new performance-driven golf balls — TW-X, TW-S and D1 — to the North American market.
True Spec Golf: Reviews Ping's G430 Max 10k driver.
Rolex: To have a presence at 19 golf events in 2024, including its 25th year of partnership with the Masters.
True Spec Golf: Reviews TaylorMade's Qi irons and how they control face flexibility and eliminate cut spin for straighter shots throughout the whole set.
Honma Golf: Introduces its Beres 09 collection of woods, irons and hybrids that will be available to consumers in March for men; April for women.
True Spec Golf: Reviews Cobra's Darkspeed drivers.
Srixon: Introduces its Q-Star Tour and Q-Star Tour Divide golf balls that deliver maximum greenside spin, more distance and control for moderate swing speed golfers.
Shot Scope: Collaborates with Liverpool FC to create a Pro L2 laser rangefinder that features the LFC crest on the rangefinder and case. … Evnroll: Adds five Neo Classic models to its 2024 product line — the milled ER2 and ER5 Classics, along with the ER1.2, ER2.2 and ER8.
PEOPLE
Golfzon: Names Sean Pyun as CEO for Golfzon America.
Golfpac: Nick Faldo joins Upper Deck Golf as brand ambassador.
Kavooa Golf: Names Drew Piller as national sales manager.
SwingU: Signs Monique Thoresz, director of instruction at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, to use Coach platform.
Gorman Golf Media: Names Greg Wise as publisher of eSouthernGolf.
PGTAA: Announces its Top 10 Teachers list for 2024.
PGA of America: Names Judy Rankin as it Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism recipient. The Hall of Fame player becomes the first woman to receive the award.
The Retreat at Silvies Valley Ranch: Hires Kelly Horen as the director of golf for the Seneca, Oregon, destination. Horen will oversee operations for Silvies’ six courses. … Berenberg: Extends its ambassador partnership with Gary Player and Tom Watson. … Golf Tourism Solutions: Enters into a partnership with the Bryan Bros — George and Wesley Bryan — to make them official ambassadors of the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, golf community. In 2024, the Bryan Bros will film an episodic series spotlighting the best Myrtle Beach offers on and off course, and will create content for PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com’s various media channels.
PGA SHOW
PGA Show: PGA of America Golf Professionals, retailers, golf leaders, executives and more will meet in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 22-26 for the event’s 71st edition.
AGM: Holding a product preview reception on eve of PGA Show. Attendees will receive an advance look at the newest products to be debuted.
Batcaddy: Introduces its Swiss-designed EVO Follow and EVO Remote electric caddys.
The Putt Club: Introduces its multiuse family entertainment destination that combines food, drink and games with indoor/outdoor professionally designed putting courses.
PGA of America: Announces programming for PGA Show's Industry Stage, including presentations on growth of the game, coaching and PGA HOPE.
Desert Fox Golf: Launching its DJ-10 wireless golf speaker and Can Cooler designs, an extension of its popular DrinkAide product line.
Golfzon: Company will exhibit new products and replicate the experience of Golfzon Social and Golfzon Range stores.
Birdie & Ace: Women's active-fashion brand will present its new assortment of women’s apparel products and engage with prospective and existing buyers.
Noonan Caddie: To exhibit its digital caddie app that takes golf simulator data to predict shot landing and roll.
Flyway Hats: Introducing its new line, which features straw gamblers and fedoras, classic Ivy League caps, and contemporary safari styles.
Lohla Sport: Annika Sorenstam to sign autographs and take photos with PGA Show attendees at booth No. 5872.
Zigit: Beverage company to introduce its product to the golf market.
American Fit: Debuting expanded presence as all of its 2024 men’s, women’s and junior holiday, fall, winter collections will be unveiled.
Swing Control: To debut the Black Floral and True Fall capsule series.
PGA of America: The Clubhouse pavilion to feature 70-plus exhibitors and will focus on enhancements to clubhouse facilities, practice areas, fitness centers and other capital investments.
Vortex Weather Insurance: Writes policy to protect PGA Show Demo Day.
Club Car: To showcase its innovative collection of golf and utility cars, including the debut of the Club Car Urban.
GenTeal Apparel: Men's clothing brand is named to the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest growing privately owned businesses in advance of second PGA Show appearance.
Tagmarshal: Valhalla Golf Club will host a PGA Show technology education session.
Uneekor: Announces LG partnership and will exhibit new products and innovations, including the all-in-one Eye Sim, Eye Mini Lite and AI-guided training.