Info

You are currently browsing the archives for the National Golf News category.

February 2012
M T W T F S S
« Jan    
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829  

Archive for the National Golf News Category

International Junior Golf Tour Launches ‘Discovery Tour’

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) - International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) – one of the leading competitive circuits for elite golfers grades 5-12 – announces the “Discovery Tour,” providing fun and enjoyable tournament experiences for ages eight to 12.

Discovery Tour events will be held in conjunction with the IJGT, making it convenient for families with golfers on both tours. Each course on the Discovery Tour will average 2,200 – 2,500 yards.

Several host locations have been selected for the inaugural Discovery Tour season. The first event will be held along with the IJGT Bridgestone Series at Greate Bay Golf Club (Somers Point, N.J.), Mar. 31 – Apr. 1. Additional spring events include Hershey Links (Hershey, Pa.), Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (Farmington, Pa.) and Mill Creek Golf Club (Churchville, N.Y.).

“The Discovery Tour is a great opportunity for young golfers to test their skills in a competitive arena while learning the rules of the game,” says Ryley Hendry, Chief Operating Officer of Junior Sports Corporation, owner/operator of the IJGT. “We believe offering a low pressure, fun tournament atmosphere will encourage participation in golf at a younger age.”

Players are encouraged to have a caddy during each round. Caddies can carry a participant’s bag, assist with rules and offer advice. There will be a 10-stroke limit for each hole. Rulings resulting in disqualification on other tours will only be enforced with stroke penalties.  

For more information about the IJGT and the Discovery Tour: www.IJGT.com, info@IJGT.com, 800.792.9143.

About Junior Sports Corporation

Located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, JSC owns and operates:

Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (www.IJGA.com) is the world’s only academy to combine training, competition and academics for serious junior golfers.  Director of Instruction Hank Haney – coach to winners of every major championship on the PGA Tour – and his elite staff train junior golfers from more than 27 countries across five continents.

The International Junior Golf Tour (www.IJGT.com) hosts 60 tournaments annually and is the only junior golf tour with events every weekend during the September-to-May school year.

Established in May 2011, the Ivan Lendl Junior Tennis Academy (www.LendlTennis.com) produces the finest tennis training and competition for junior students to ultimately reach the college or professional ranks. Ivan Lendl, former World No. 1 player and winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles, serves as Director of Instruction and is dedicated to the development of each junior tennis player.

Heritage Academy (www.HeritageHHI.com) provides progressive, diverse academic instruction for students from grades five to 12 who pursue extra-curricular passions, such as golf at Hank Haney IJGA and tennis at Ivan Lendl IJTA.

Hilton Head Island is easily accessible by most major airlines through Hilton Head Island (HHI), Savannah (SAV), Charleston (CHS) and Columbia (CAE) airports.

www.hiltonheadsgolf.com

Dancin’ Dogg Golf Introduces Melbourne Golf Club Replication for OptiShot Infrared Simulator

(TRAVERSE CITY, MI) – Dancin’ Dogg Golf – maker of the OptiShot Infrared Simulator, the ultimate in-home virtual golf system – has expanded its premium course library to include Melbourne Golf Club, a hyper-accurate replication of an Alister Mackenzie design that consistently ranks as Australia’s No. 1 layout.

A two-time host of the biennial competition between American and International squads, Melbourne Golf Club is well-known for its reachable par 5s and spectacular yet well-guarded par 3 holes. With signature large, undulating greens it has repeatedly been rated among the “Top 100 Courses in the World” (GOLF Magazine) and “Top 100 Best Golf Courses Outside the United States” (Golf Digest).

It’s thanks to our in-house design and development teams that we’re able to deliver this kind of truly unparalleled experience in time for the upcoming competition,” says Brandon Theophilus, CEO of Dancin’ Dogg Golf. “This means that OptiShot users can test their skills on the same pressure shots their countrymen are about to face Down Under.”

Available by download at www.dancindogg.com, Melbourne Golf Club ($49.95) is joined in the OptiShot premium library by replicas of other world-famous courses and major championship host sites, including Atlanta Highlands, Capitol Club, Cogs Corner, Jones Lake, Monterey Classic, Old Scot, Ponte Vedra, Royal St. Marks and Whispering Dunes.

OptiShot (MSRP: $399.95) connects with Windows computers via a plug-and-play interface and requires only 8-½ feet of swing space. With their own clubs, up to four players per round can compete by hitting real balls, foam balls (provided) or no ball at all. Infrared sensors on a durable swing pad precisely record club-head speed, face angle, swing path, distance, tempo, face contact and ball flight. In addition to Core courses that come with the system, OptiShot users can practice and compete on the par-3 option or a realistic driving range.

Dancin’ Dogg Golf was recently ranked one of America’s fast-growing entrepreneurial companies by Inc. Magazine, placing No. 358 on the prestigious Inc. 500 list for 2011. This honor was based on the company’s 951.2% revenue growth from 2007 through 2010. That increase was fueled by exceptional demand for OptiShot, a fun, accurate, affordable and easy-to-use golf simulator that allows players to improve their games from the comfort of home.

About Dancin’ Dogg Golf

Based in Traverse City, MI, Dancin’ Dogg Golf was founded in 2005 and specializes in developing innovative technologies. The company was recently named to the prestigious Inc. 500 list as one of America’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial companies. Other distinctions include winning SoreGolf’s 2010 Research & Development Award. Dancin’ Dogg’s product range is highlighted by the OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator and its expanding library of world class courses that golfers play anytime, anywhere. Durable and built to last, OptiShot comes with a 180-day warranty and has been heralded by leading authorities nationwide, including GOLF Magazine, Golfweek, Sports Illustrated, Wired and Golf Channel.

For more information: www.dancindogg.com, www.facebook.com/dancindogg, 866.941.3644.

Heavy Driver by Boccieri Golf

Boccieri Golf Unveils Limited Edition White Heavy DriverInnovative Counterweighted Design Increases Distance, Accuracy and Consistency(

RIDGEFIELD, CT)

– Boccieri Golf announces its widely acclaimed “Control Series” Heavy Driver – named GOLF Magazine’s “Most Surprising New Club” at the 2011 PGA Show – is now available in a limited edition white finish.Retailing for $399, the 460cc Heavy Driver is strategically engineered with a 50-gram backweight in the butt-end of the shaft. This has been shown to significantly improve tempo and stability by consistently delivering the club’s sweet spot to the ball, thus ensuring optimal distance and accuracy. “Research and consumer testing has proven the Heavy Driver is simply a better product – one that provides superior results to any other brand regardless of a player’s skill level,” says Stephen Boccieri, President and CEO of Boccieri Golf. “White drivers offer an optical option that some golfers prefer, so we’re combining this with our unique technology to create the game’s most attractive high-performance driver.”Incorporating revolutionary “Dimple Face Technology,” the Heavy Driver was developed to maximize the coefficient of restitution (COR) without decreasing durability. This allows better weight distribution throughout the head, which has slightly more mass than traditional offerings, and makes it one of the highest MOI drivers available. The benefit of additional mass is greater force at impact, which results in superior distance. The driver is available in 9°, 10° and HL or “High Launch” (12.5°) lofts with a variety of flexes in a premium Aldila NVS shaft.Additional offerings in the “Control Series” line include:

  • Heavy Wood and Heavy Hybrid: Constructed of 17-4 stainless steel with a special face insert made of 455 steel, the Heavy Woods will be available in 15 and 19 degree options, and the Heavy Hybrid in 20, 23 and 26 degrees.
  • Heavy Irons: Designed to improve overall consistency, the Heavy Irons have a head weight of approximately eight grams more than conventional irons. This combines with the counter-weight to raise the balance point for unparalleled control. The new collection is one quarter inch shorter than irons from other leading manufacturers, promoting smoother transition and consistent contact for superior accuracy and lower scores.
  • Heavy Wedge: Added weight (65 grams) is positioned in the butt of the shaft, raising the club’s balance point nearly 40 percent to promote improved distance and directional control. Available in a variety of loft and bounce options with grooves conforming to new USGA regulations.

In addition to the company’s “full swing” products, its new Heavy Putter Bronze and Tour Series collections are also available. Each new offering is part of the popular MID-WEIGHT family, which independent testing indicates is preferred by 7 out of 10 golfers over the putters currently in their bags. Each incorporates Boccieri Golf’s unprecedented application of a heavier mass head and counter-balanced weight in the grip end of the shaft. This automatically engages the body’s larger, more stable muscles to promote greater stability, consistency and control.        About Boccieri GolfThe TOUR-proven Heavy Putter was launched in 2005 and has played a key role in victories on the PGA, European, Champions, Nationwide, Asian, Canadian and European Challenge Tours. Boccieri Golf products have expanded to include the Control Series, consisting of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons featuring the latest advances in counter-weighted technology. All are unique due to back weighting in the butt-end of the shaft which produces a higher balance point to promote a smoother swing. Boccieri Golf products are now carried by the finest off-course shops and most prestigious golf courses, country clubs and resorts in all 50 states and more than 35 overseas markets. For more information please visit www.boccierigolf.com or call 888.788.8374.

Club Glove Redefines Travel with Made-in-the-USA TRS Ballistic Luggage Line

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA) – Club Glove® – the world’s leading maker of Made-in-the-USA luggage, travel bags, accessories, golf bags, club covers – confirms availability of its TRS Ballistic line of ultra-premium luggage specifically crafted to redefine the first-class travel experience.

Inspired by the needs of discerning globetrotters and golfers seeking the most durable and stylish luggage, the TRS Ballistic line consists of a carry-on ($699), check-in ($750) and XL check-in ($799) bags and is also available as a set ($2,248).

Amazing functional capabilities of this unique collection include:

  • Train Reaction System – Club Glove’s patent-pending method for drastically reducing the effort needed to pull or push gear by creating a perfect center of gravity to make bags feel weightless
  • Patented, Ultra-Durbale Wheel Base and Retractable Handle – engineered to provide ideal balance and convenience
  • Intelligent Design – premium zippers, easy-to-open flap, internal webbing with superior tensile strength
  • Packing Modules – perfect compartmentalization of clothing, toiletries, shoes and other items

“I looked for the very best of everything to create a luxury luggage set with a classic look, extreme durability and mind-blowing performance,” says company founder Jeff Herold. “This is simply a better way to pack and that’s proven by its rapid adoption on the PGA Tour.”

Each piece in the TRS Ballistic line is constructed from U.S. woven 1050d CORDURA® Ballistic nylon fabric. The world’s most ideal material for high-end luggage, it offers double the abrasion resistance and four times the tear resistance of other premium fabrics, yet is rarely used by competing brands due to the high cost.

Among the dozens of Tour stars who have already “Gone Ballistic” are world No. 1 Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan, Mark Wilson, Justin Leonard, Chris DiMarco, Bill Haas, Angel Cabrera, Ricky Barnes, Tommy Armour III, Rich Beem, Trevor Immelman, Charles Howell III, David Duval, Chad Campbell, Josh Teater, Peter Tomasulo, Marc Turnesa, Greg Chalmers, Matt Bettencourt, Kris Blanks, Peter Hansen, David Hearn, Robert Karlsson, John Senden, Joe Durant, Billy Mayfair, Chris Stroud, Omar Uresti, Tom Pernice, Jr., Andres Romero, Brandt Jobe, John Rollins and Carl Pettersson.

Built with a lifetime of use in mind, Club Glove’s American-made products include the Last Bag, which was honored by Golf World magazine as one of the game’s “10 Best Innovations.” This signature golf travel bag was recognized for its extreme durability, extra thick foam padding and patented high-impact plastic wheel base that cradles and shields the bottom of the bag.

Club Glove is the No. 1 golf travel bag brand at all PGA and Champions Tour events. The Darrell Survey confirmed that the brand is preferred by 90 percent of PGA Tour Players. Selected by six U.S. Ryder Cup teams, Club Glove’s golf bags have been a fixture at green grass and off course shops for nearly a decade and are available in stand, cart and Sunday versions.

More information: www.clubglove.com or 800.736.4568.

About West Coast Trends, Inc.

Based in Huntington Beach, CA, West Coast Trends Inc. was founded in 1990. A worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of premium luggage, golf travel bags, stand bags, club covers and accessories, its products have been tested and approved by the world’s most demanding travelers, including pilots at all of the major airlines. The overwhelming choice of serious golfers, the company’s Club Glove® products are used by more than 90 percent of PGA and Champions Tour players. 

Hot Stix Opens Outdoor Fitting Center at Golf Club of Georgia

(SCOTTSDALE, AZ)Hot Stix Golf – the leading custom club fitter for Tour professionals and recreational players serious about improving their games – has opened a state-of-the-art, outdoor fitting center at the renowned Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Conveniently located just north of Atlanta, this latest Hot Stix facility was added to meet thriving demand for the custom swing analysis and golf club fitting that has gained the company worldwide acclaim. Of golfers undergoing a “premium” fitting, 92 percent reported seeing an immediate benefit from their new equipment, according to a recent study by Golfsmith and the Sports Illustrated Golf Group.

“With more than 4.5 million golfers in the Southeast, bringing our industry-leading club fitting technology to Atlanta will boost enjoyment for many passionate golfers,” says Mark Flynn, CEO of Hot Stix. “Our scientific approach and elite custom fitters perfectly tune equipment to a golfer’s unique swing. The result is notable improvement and lower scores.”

The fitting center is overseen by Hot Stix Certified Fitter Bill Johnstone, former Head Golf Professional at Atlanta Country Club and PGA Tour player. One of a select few PGA of America members to earn Master Professional status, he has been named among the “Best Teachers in State” by both Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. Johnstone draws on his extensive personal knowledge and Hot Stix’s proprietary fitting software to help players optimize on-course performance.

“Partnering with Hot Stix provides our members and all golfers in the Atlanta area the best custom club fitting experience to improve their game,” says Jeff Paton, Director of Golf/Co-General Manager at The Golf Club of Georgia. “Their services are invaluable to players of all skill levels and our club is proud to have the best in the industry on site.”

A team of highly-experienced fitters helps players through a sophisticated process analyzing how specific components – head, shaft, ball and grip – affect individual performance. By precisely measuring loft, lie, shaft frequency, swing and ball speed, launch angle, spin rates, smash factor and other variables, Hot Stix helps to maximize distance, accuracy and consistency.

A variety of packages are available for golfers and gift-givers, including full-bag evaluations, or ala carte driver, fairway wood, hybrid, iron and wedge fittings. The company also offers a gap analysis program, measuring the average carry and rollout for each club in the bag, ensuring players no longer have to guess when it comes to yardages. For more information on specific fitting packages, please visit here

Additional Hot Stix Performance Centers are located in California (three locations), Scottsdale (two locations), New York, Minneapolis, Dallas and Orlando, with several more opening in the next 12 months.

Appointments for Hot Stix Performance Centers can be scheduled online at Hot Stix Golf or by calling 877.513.1333.

About Hot Stix Golf

For nearly 10 years, Hot Stix Golf has fit Tour and club professionals, as well as avid and recreation golfers, at its expansive state-of-the-art fitting centers in Arizona, California, Florida, Minnesota, New York and Texas. With more than 35,000 satisfied golfers, the company’s golfer-equipment matchmaking technology and its club-building craftsmen maximize golfers’ performances. Hot Stix is the official golf equipment research partner of GOLF Magazine.

For more information: Hot Stix Golf, 877-513-1333.  

About The Golf Club of Georgia

Since 1990, The Golf Club of Georgia has stood for unmatched service, camaraderie and hospitality and an unrelenting devotion to daily turf quality and performance. Established for the enthusiastic golfer or executive who desires to use an elite club for business entertaining, The Golf Club of Georgia enjoys championship course conditions every day, offering incredible golf experiences to its members and their guests. The two Arthur Hills-designed courses, Lakeside and Creekside, are distinctly different from each other, offering enormous architectural, aesthetic and strategic variety.

For more information: www.golfclubofgeorgia.com , 770-664-8644

Golf A Course Sponsors


Stacy Lewis Wins Kraft Nabisco Championship

MONTREAL – Fila Golf sponsored player Stacy Lewis won the Kraft Nabisco Championship — her first LPGA Tour victory and a “major” tournament nonetheless — competing in apparel from the sport brand’s 2011 collection.Fila Golf’s superior performance fabrics kept the 26-year-old cool, dry and comfortable at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage,

California. Specifically designed to enhance athleticism without hindering the body’s natural motion, Lewis wore Fila Golf’s Athena Polo and Calgary Bermuda Shorts while firing a final-round 69 to steal the lead from defending champion and World No. 1 Yani Tseng.”I was proud of the way I hung in there and made some key putts, especially on 17,” says Lewis about her clutch 18-foot putt from the fringe. “I know I can play with the best players in the world now.”Culminating with a traditional victory leap into Poppie’s Pond, the win boosts Lewis inside the Top 20 in the Rolex World Golf Ranking and positions her for a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team.Adding to the drama of Lewis’ win, was the death of her grandfather during the Kraft Nabisco Championship Pro-Am last Wednesday. Lewis is accustomed to overcoming adversity, having battled scoliosis since age 11 and playing with a metal rod and five screws in her back, she still reached All-American status while attending the University of

Arkansas and earned SEC Golfer of the Year in 2008.”Stacy’s unyielding competitive drive aligns perfectly with Fila Golf’s mission to design and manufacture top-of-the-line golf apparel,” says Nancy Robitaille, Fila Golf principal designer. “Not only did Stacy look stylish on the course, but she performed her best despite numerous obstacles to achieve her dream. As we celebrate the centennial of the Fila brand, we are thrilled about Stacy’s accomplishments on and off the course.”Crafted from Fila Golf’s premium, 100-percent cotton and eco-friendly recycled polyester, many pieces boast wrinkle-resistant, moisture wicking, quick-drying and antimicrobial properties.

In stock year-round for immediate order and program fulfillment, Fila Golf’s complete line of apparel retails from $20 for accessories to $140 for outerwear and is worn in competition by professionals around the world. The Fila brand, which has an exceptional history of innovative design, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011.

For more information: www.filagolf.com or 800.565.7462.

About Fila — 2011 marks the centennial of the Fila brand which was established in Biella, Italy in 1911 by the Fila brothers. Fila is now a leading manufacturer of sport and leisure footwear and apparel distributed worldwide. The internationally respected company, having gained world class recognition in tennis apparel, has developed brand recognition by marketing high design and style content products that are endorsed by professional athletes from around the world.About Fersten Worldwide

Fersten Worldwide — North America’s leading full-service supplier of decorated apparel and accessories to the golf and corporate promotional products industries — is the exclusive licensee of Fila Golf.  FW develops, designs, manufactures and distributes all Fila Golf branded apparel and headwear for the United States and

Canada. http://www.fersten.comhttp://www.filagolf.com.

The National Golf Foundation Elects Four New Directors

The NGF, celebrating its 75th year as the industry’s leading provider of golf market research, is pleased to announce several changes to its board of directors, effective immediately.NGF’s four new directors:

  • Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, The First Tee, and Executive Vice President, World Golf Foundation
  • Oliver G. (Chip) Brewer III, President and CEO, Adams Golf
  • Bill Golden, President, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
  • Dick Raskopf, Publisher, Sports Illustrated Golf Group (GOLF Magazine, GOLF.com and SI Golf Plus)

They join eight serving directors:

  • Joe Beditz, President and CEO, National Golf Foundation
  • Jeff Colton, Senior Vice President - U.S., Callaway Golf
  • Jim Connor, President, FootJoy
  • Jeff Fiorini, President, Eaton’s Golf Pride Division
  • Mike Happe, Vice President, The TORO Company
  • Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO, Billy Casper Golf
  • Jerry Hinckley, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Textron Financial
  • John Watson, Chairman and CEO, Edwin Watts Golf


New Board officers were also elected. Fiorini succeeds Jim Connor as board Chairman, Peter Hill is now Vice Chairman (previously Fiorini), Colton will serve as Secretary and Jerry Hinckley will continue in his position as Treasurer (

Hinckley previously held both the Secretary and Treasurer positions).As the only trade association that serves all segments of the golf industry, the National Golf Foundation maintains what is arguably the most professionally diverse and respected board of directors in the industry. The board helps guide the NGF’s business strategy and the oversight provided by these category leaders helps ensure that the NGF’s research remains the most trusted and relevant in golf.New board chairman Fiorini said, “It’s been a privilege to sit on NGF’s board. I’m honored to be Chairman and I look forward to working closely with Joe and helping the organization continue its important work, as people like Jim Connor, Mark King, Cindy Davis and Ed Abrain did before me.”NGF’s leader Beditz added… “I could not be more pleased with the new additions to our board and the new board officer elections. The collective input and business acumen of this group is an invaluable resource for NGF. They make sure we stay focused on developing and improving the research, products and services we offer.”

Mr. Raskopf comments: “I know NGF has been a valued partner to GOLF Magazine for decades, always increasing our clarity on the trends in the golf market and the mindset of the avid golfers we serve. I’m excited to work with the other directors and the NGF staff.”

Joe Barrow is intimately familiar with the NGF as he served on the organization’s panel of directors previously and was Chairman from 2000-2001. “I’m proud to return to the NGF’s board and contribute my point of view on the research most useful to the greater good of the industry. The NGF’s role as an independent and objective market resource is critical as golf navigates through lifestyle and economic changes.”

“Even considering its long history of serving the golf business community, I believe the NGF of today is more relevant than ever. In this climate, there are many more questions than answers, and the insights we’ve gained through our work with NGF have been extremely helpful in our strategic planning,” offered Chip Brewer, CEO of Adams Golf since 2002.

Bill Golden has been with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday since 1996 and currently serves as the President of one of golf’s premier golf travel organizations. MBGH markets the golf-centric destination on behalf of more than 100 members. “It will be an honor to serve the NGF along with this group of industry leaders. We’ve certainly benefited from their knowledge of the golf traveler, and Golf Holiday is also very involved and supportive of NGF’s American Golf Census initiative which is helping golf businesses increase and enhance their customer databases,” said Golden.

Adams Golf, The World Golf Foundation, the SI Golf Group and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday are among the 65+ leading brands that support the NGF at the Business Elite level of membership. Business Elite members receive the highest level of service and the deepest access to NGF’s exclusive industry data. Representatives from these leading companies will be in attendance at the NGF’s pre-season golf market intelligence briefing… the 4th annual NGF Golf Business Symposium, to be held in

Chicago on April 27th and 28th. Please visit www.NGF.org/pages/ngf-symposium for more information.About the NGF
The National Golf Foundation, founded in 1936 and based in Jupiter, Fla., is the industry’s knowledge leader on the

U.S. golf economy and leading provider of golf industry databases. NGF delivers independent and objective market intelligence, insights and trends to fulfill its mission: To Keep Golf Businesses Ahead of the Game. NGF member courses, clubs, associations, media and myriad golf-related businesses representing every market segment rely on NGF research and resources to support their best decisions. For more information, please visit https://www.ngf.org/

Robert Trent Jones II Continues to Deliver the Gift of Golf

PALO ALTO, California — While not wanting to compete with a certain portly, red-suited gentleman who travels the world distributing gifts this time of year, the architects at Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II) have also bestowed some great golf gifts around the globe recently. Creators of more than 270 courses in more than 40 countries, the storied firm has, in 2010, rewarded golfers who’ve been good with some of its best work in nearly 40 years of designing golf layouts. RTJ II continues to spread golf cheer in locations as varied as India, China, and Vanuatu, further cementing the company’s reputation for creating distinctive courses that fit naturally into each unique site.

Chairman and Master Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. explains that the firm’s continued success is due to several factors. “We’ve always delivered tremendous value to our clients and taken great care with the environment in developing our courses. As golf continues its international expansion to new markets—particularly in Asia—new clients seem to recognize the integrity that our brand brings. We’re grateful to all our clients for their confidence and continued support and look forward to delivering some fantastic new courses worldwide in 2011. And we invite golfers across the globe to enjoy these golf gifts”

Despite the recent slowdown in the golf business, and in a year when few new courses opened in the US, RTJ II was proud to unwrap several great new domestic layouts. The firm’s Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course—built for a Native American tribe in Lewiston, New York– has already received rave reviews from the golf media. And RTJ II’s The Patriot, in Owasso, Oklahoma, has been ranked as one of the best new private courses by GOLF Magazine. Robert Trent Jones II continues to emphasize its long-term commitment to international markets, as well. The company—one of the first architecture firms to work in Asia, and creator of more than 80 courses there– recently unveiled the Alepnsia Golf and Country Club in Korea. Other new openings included the Bro Hof Slott Castle Course in Sweden; The Scandinavian in Denmark; and Riviera Maya Golf Club in Mexico. 

The firm also continues to receive kudos and awards for its work. In addition to choosing The Patriot as one of the best new private courses, GOLF Magazine chose Hickory Stick as a top 10 new course you can play and The Scandinavian as one of the top 10 new international courses. The well-respected Teetime.com, in Denmark, chose three RTJ II courses (The Scandinavian #1, Lübker Golf Resort #2, and Skjoldenæsholm #5) among the best five courses in that nation; and Golf Digest awarded Bro Hof Slott Stadium Course the #1 ranking in Sweden. In 2010 Jones himself was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the European PGA. Jones said of the award, “I am very proud to receive this recognition from the European PGA for our lifetime of work around Europe. We are honored that professionals and amateurs of all nationalities have the chance to play and compete on courses of ours in more than a dozen European countries from Denmark and Wales to Spain and Portugal.”

While competition for golf course design commissions heated up this year, competition on RTJ II courses was also red hot. More than a dozen championships were played on RTJ II courses in locations as diverse as Aruba, Australia, Kansas, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Sweden. The highest profile tournaments included the US Amateur Championship, played at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington (which will also host the 2015 US Open); The PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open at CordeValle in California; The Nordea Scandinavian Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Sweden; and the PGA European Tour’s Estoril Portugal Open, at Penha Longa Golf Club outside Lisbon. RTJ II courses have also continued their long history of hosting tournaments in Asia that began with the 1975 World Cup played at Thailand’s Navatanee Golf Course; 2010 saw The Mines Resort and Golf Club, in Malaysia, host the exciting Asian Pacific Golf Classic.

In 2011, Robert Trent Jones II will continue to deliver great new golf layouts near and far around the world. The firm will be working in Belize, California, Canada, China, England, Greece, Hawaii, India, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Texas, and Vanuatu.

Centennial Golf Club Honored in Oregon

CENTENNIAL GOLF CLUB HONORED AS #1 BEST GOLF COURSE
IN SOUTHERN OREGON FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW!
Named #1 Best Golf Course in Medford Mail Tribune
Annual Reader’s Poll For The Third Consecutive Year

MEDFORD, OREGON Centennial Golf Club in Medford, Oregon was named as the “Best Golf Course” in the Mail Tribune’s annual reader’s poll for the third consecutive year. One of the region’s longest running newspapers, the Medford Mail Tribune newspaper has been serving Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville and most of Southern Oregon for nearly 100 years. Annually they produce a reader’s poll that ranks many of the top businesses and attractions in the Southern Oregon and Rogue Valley region. The primary golf category for this ranking is “Best Golf Course” where Centennial maintained their position as the “#1 Best Golf Course” for 2010.

“Congratulations to Centennial Golf Club and Pacific Retirement Services for remaining at the top of this ranking of the best golf courses in the region,” stated David Goff, Vice President of Operations for OB Sports (management company overseeing operations at Centennial). “A special thank you is also extended to our team of dedicated Centennial staff members, who each day focus on delivering the best golf and guest experience for each and every one of our golfers at Centennial. Congratulations to all!”

Centennial is starting accumulate a number of awards and accolades having recently been ranked #6, amongst the “Top 50 Public Courses” in the Country by Golf World Readers in the 2010 Golf World Readers Choice Awards. Centennial boasts a challenging 7,309-yard, designed by two-time PGA Tour winner and 1977 U.S. Amateur Champion, John Fought.

For more information about Centennial Golf Club please call 541-773-GOLF or visit www.centennialgolfclub.com You can also “Like” Centennial on Facebook at www.facebook.com/centennialgolfclub or “Follow” Centennial on Twitter at www.twitter.com/centennialgc  

About Centennial Golf Club
Centennial Golf Club is a daily fee facility that features a spectacular 7,309-yard layout that was designed in a classic “Donald Ross style”. The course routing takes full advantage of the spectacular views of the Rogue Valley and the surrounding mountains. The name and theme of the project is a celebration of the many classic elements of the site and the bountiful Rogue Valley region. Other amenities at Centennial include an expansive practice facility and “The Pavilion” clubhouse that is home to the popular Centennial Grille.

Located on the former site of a historic pear orchard more than 100 years old, Centennial Golf Club is an affiliate of Medford-based Pacific Retirement Services, Inc. (PRS), and is located adjacent to another PRS affiliate, Rogue Valley Manor. The Rogue Valley Manor is a premier Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that has received numerous national awards for providing outstanding services to residents and retired seniors. The Manor’s public 9-hole Quail Point Golf Course and 18 hole natural grass putting course is also managed by OB Sports. For more information about Rogue Valley Manor, please call (541) 857-7214.

For more Oregon Golf Course Information, visit www.oregon-golfcourses.com