FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Michigan Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report Merry Christmas Golfaholics! Yeah, I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but in trying to keep up with retailers, we are helping our readers get an early jump on their holiday shopping. If you have golfers on your Christmas list, you won’t want to miss our golf gift guide. The LIV wrapped up their 2023 season with the team championship at Trump Doral in Miami last month. Bryson DeChambeau’s Team, The Crushers, comprised of Charles Howell III, Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri won the title and shared a $14 million payday. For those of you mathematically challenged that is $3.5 million each. By comparison Jon Rahm earned $3.24 million for winning the 2023 Masters. It appears that we should consider the LIV Team Championship on par with the Masters. We also wonder if the Official World Golf Ranking’s latest ruling disallowing world ranking points for the rival LIV Series, will lead to the top names eventually leaving that tour and look to regain membership on the PGA, or DP World Tours? Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s TGL arena golf concept is getting closer to actual competition and have convinced several top-name players to join in the fun. See Ed Schmidt Jr.’s article about ‘5 Things You Need to Know About the TGL.’ Len Ziehm writes about the USGA’s big move to Pinehurst. Back 9 Report wonders if Ryder Cup participants should be paid, plus we have GAM tournament results from last month. As we near the end of 2023, we hope you get in a few last rounds, plus we hope we see you on the Back 9. Ohio Golf Journal
Ohio Golf Journal Ohio Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Ohio Golf Journal, Contact us for more information Be sure to take advantage of the links to social media, videos and other content provided within the articles FIND INSIDE 20 06 14 16 28 Christmas Ideas For Your Favorite Golfer Ray Hearn Designs Golf Courses For Every Player Italian Ryder Cup Sets Records & Pros Still NOT Paid Next At Pinehurst: USGA Golf House & World Golf Hall of Fame St. John’s Resort Undergoes Massive Redesign 5 Things You Need To Know About Tiger Woods’ TGL Ohio Golf News 06 11 16 28 14 26 20 You Gotta Have This: Sun Mountain’s NEW Tour Series+ Rainwear News & Notes From Around The Golf World 24 32 Our Favorite Videos Our Contributors DP Tour Opens Doors To PGA Tour Members 39 38 35
Volvik Golf Balls The most colorful ball in golf makes the ideal gift for any golfer on your Christmas list. Volvik has over 40 years’ experience in golf ball production. Their innovations have led the industry in the production of 3- and 4-piece multi-layer high performance golf balls for players of every skill set. They created the world’s first matte finished golf ball and they continue to expand their product line with their newest Vivid XT Soft ball. Volvik golf balls have been in use on the world’s professional tours since 2012. Just in time for Christmas, purchase two dozen Vivid XT Soft golf balls and receive a free leather belt. (Offer expires 12-10-2023) Help your favorite golfer stand out in the crowd and play with colorful Volvik golf balls. Find out more at: https://volvik.com/ Golf Training Aids Does your favorite golfer constantly complain about his, or her game? Do they need a little help? GolfTrainingAids.com has the widest and most complete compilation of training aids to help every golfer lower their score. Two of their most popular products are The Connector and The Putting Arc. Dan Frost created The Connector, a uniquely designed foam ball device with axis rods running through it to help golfers maintain connection between their arms and torso to improve alignment at impact. The result, better ball striking and more compression of the golf ball at impact. Immediate feedback is produced on the amount of rotation required for a variety of golf skills, from putting to driver swings. The Connector helps golfers establish proper arm position at address and trains the body and arms Ohio Golf Journal
to work in harmony to make the swing motion more efficient. Used by more than 1,500 playing professionals, the Putting Arc MS-3D allows golfers to have a balanced stroke, so golfers learn and constantly monitor eye and shoulder position, as well as head stability. Benefits include developing a consistent stance, head, eye, and body alignment with square putter face at initial alignment and through impact. Golfers also learn to putt on a proper path with effective putter toe release in their strokes. The Putting Arc is available in four models: the allpurpose, indoor-outdoor MSIII, the MS3D which has a mirror for feedback on eye and shoulder position, the T4, for outdoor use and the smaller T3 designed for easy packing and travel. Find the perfect gift for the golfer in your life at GolfTrainingAids.com and ThePuttingArc.com. Square Launcher Xccelerator Makes Golf Simple Again The Square Launcher Xccelerator helps reduce unruly swing thoughts to create a repeatable swing that produces a square club face and makes the game easier. By helping to imitate a natural underhand tossing motion the Square Launcher Xccelerator provides one easy repeatable motion to more consistently produce solid contact and better golf shots. The inventors of the Square Launcher Xccelerator tested over 60 different methods of golf improvement aids, but found this to be the best solution. Improve your practice sessions and build muscle memory using the Square Launcher Xccelerator to create more consistency in your game. To learn more watch this short video, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-UEks7HXE and visit their website: https://squarelaunchergolf. com/. Gear Up Sportswear If your favorite golfer could use a little upgrade in his oncourse wardrobe, Gear Up Sportswear has a variety of golf shirts that will make him, or her
look like a pro. Gear Up Sportswear shirts will never wrinkle, shrink or fade, even after hundreds of washings. Their proprietary blend of fabrics keep golfers cool and looking good on the course, or off. Your favorite golfer will love them, they are the most durable, comfortable and affordable shirts you can buy. Available in men’s and women’s styles. Order today at: https://gearupsportswear.com/ Ace Indoor Golf Simulators SQAIRZ Golf Shoes SQAIRZ Golf Shoes have taken the golf world by storm. A blend of research and modern technology SQAIRZ Golf Shoes provide a stable foundation to help produce a balanced golf swing. Nick Faldo believes in them and Sepp Straka wins with them, on the PGA Tour. Every golfer will be happy to find a new pair of SQAIRZ Golf shoes in their stocking this Christmas. Find out more at: https://sqairz.com/ Zoom Broom Are you troubled with leaves that are between your golf ball and the hole on cool autumn days? One of the newer products on the market, the Zoom Broom has the answer. Its lightweight design fits easily in your golf bag and is permitted for use by the USGA. The slim handle makes it easy to use and it weighs less than two pounds, even with the battery installed. How about an in-home golf simulator for the golfers in your life. Ace Indoor Golf has been customizing simulators to fit every situation. Want something simple in the garage, or more formal for the man cave, Ace Indoor has the experience to bring golf into your home for the whole family to enjoy. If your guy is a DIY’er, Ace Indoor Golf has the individual components to build your own simulator at a price every Santa can afford. Visit their website: https://aceindoorgolf.com/ Ohio Golf Journal
The Zoom Broom also does double duty as it can quickly clear the deck, or patio when you are ready to entertain guests. Find out the full Zoom Broom story at: https:// zoombrooms.com/ GolfForever Training System GolfForever is the first golf-specific home training program to embrace the approach of home exercise equipment paired with streaming video instruction. GolfForever customizes each golfer’s exercise routines specifically for them, based on a proprietary strength and flexibility test. It is safe and highly effective for any golfer. Tour. The new SpyneTM Technology and MultiZone Texturing are strategically placed in highsensory areas to optimize control, responsiveness, and confidence for every skill-level golfer. For a premium gift at an affordable price, consider personalized grips featuring Marvel characters, or favorite NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA teams. Visit https://superstrokeusa.com/ for discounted pricing. Honma’s Expertly Crafted Clubs Bring Elegance to Any Golf Bag Honma’s BERES LADY GO clubs are designed to inspire confidence with an easy-to-swing design that gives golfers the confidence they need to swing freely every time. This 10-piece game-improvement set, for women, includes a driver, 5-wood, 25- and 28-degree utility clubs, irons (7-SW), a chipper and putter. This makes the perfect Christmas gift and also includes a matching bag, headcover, tote bag and shoes case, all in a Tiffany blue color. Honma’s BERES Nx irons, for both Men and Women, are designed to generate high ball flight and added distance. The wide sole eases turf interaction, but also works in concert with a Scottie Scheffler trains with GolfForever and it helped him become the top-ranked player in the world. Between Black Friday and December 25th, save $100 on the combination of the GolfForever Swing Trainer and the GolfForever App subscription, plus receive FREE shipping. Find it at: GolfForever.com. SuperStroke’s Zenergy Customized Putter Grips Make the Perfect Gift SuperStroke’s Zenergy line of golf grips are featured on many of the pros putters on the PGA
hollowed-out lower body with tungsten weighting near the toe. An ultra-thin clubface results in a high MOI, more impact repulsion, and a low-anddeep Center of Gravity for higher straighter shots Honma’s Beres Nx Irons will help your golfer lower scores and look good doing it. Order today at: https://us.honmagolf.com/ the ball. Kavooa Pro can easily be adjusted to stabilize a golfer’s head and hips during the swing, which helps produce consistent impact. It also includes a phone clip holder, allowing for golfers to easily video their swing for analysis. Kavooa Pro weighs just 3.5 pounds and can easily collapse and stowed in the side pocket of most golf bags. It can be used on the course, at the range, or in a backyard. During the holiday season, type in the code Holiday20 and receive 20 percent off your purchase. Offer is good through December 15 at KavooaGolf. com. Kavooa Pro Helps Stabilize Head and Hips Kavooa Pro swing trainer helps golfers quickly improve and develop consistent contact with Ohio Golf Journal
Ray Hearn Designs Golf Courses For Every Player Michigan-native Ray Hearn is becoming one of the most popular golf designers in the country. His philosophy includes assuring courses are enjoyable for every handicap and skill-level. Watching the Masters as a nine-year old, Ray told his father that he wanted to design golf courses. In high school, he had not changed his mind and sought out advice from both Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Jones and Dye, both Hall of Fame golf course designers told him the same thing, “Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, work on the maintenance crew at a course and learn the business from the ground up.” By Fred Altvater
After receiving degrees from Michigan State, Hearn was offered a six-year teaching position in Europe. He taught turf management and design in Scotland, Ireland and England, which allowed him to study the great masters up close and personal. When he returned to America, he worked for Jerry Matthews and gained additional knowledge from Pete Dye, Michael Hurzdan and others. He has worked on over 150 courses around the world and received the “Award of Excellence” on five occasions from the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He recently completed a new design at St. John’s Resort in Northville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Working closely with ownership, he turned three older nine-hole tracks into a wonderful championship 18-hole course, The Cardinal and added a seven-hole short course, stateof-the-art driving range and putting course. Ray has been working closely with BOYNE Resort in developing a Master Plan and renovating all the courses at the popular Northern Michigan Resort. A new short course is set to open next year near the Highlands’ Lodge and will courses more sustainable. See the full interview HERE. offer BOYNE visitors one more golfing option. An extensive renovation was completed to BOYNE’s Moor Course which vastly improved the green surrounds and grass lines. Hearn used modern technology and GPS mapping to update several of the holes on the Donald Ross Memorial Course, to more accurately resemble the original Ross design. Back 9 Report talked with Ray Hearn about his recent endeavors and ideas to make Ohio Golf Journal
St. John’s Resort Undergoes Massive Redesign By Fred Altvater Ohio Golf Journal
If you visited St. John’s Resort in Northville, a suburb of Detroit, in the past you will not recognize it after its latest redesign by Ray Hearn. Founded in 1949, St. John’s was previously a Catholic Seminary under the direction of the Archdiocese of Detroit until 1988. The property was restored to use in 1994 as a Center for Youth & Family. In 1998 it was redeveloped as a conference center for corporate events, weddings and other celebrations. A hotel, The Inn at St. John’s opened in 2006. The Inn at St. John’s is now one of the finest boutique hotels in the state and prides itself offering the best culinary experience and upscale accommodations. Its impeccable service and distinctive ambiance combined with the golf course and excellent dining opportunities make it one of the most desirable lodging options in the Metro Detroit area. The Pulte Family Foundation purchased the property in 2021 and has undertaken a massive renovation to the historic site. One hundred percent of the profits generated by the Inn and golf operations are returned to the foundation and used to serve disadvantaged youth, as well as persons with emotional and mental disabilities in the Metro Detroit area. Hearn did a masterful job turning three outdated nine-hole courses into one 18-hole championship course, a seven-hole short course, state-of-the-art driving range and putting course. Michigan’s largest golf retailer, Carl’s GolfLand maintains a large golf shop, training center and heated Trackman driving range on the property. Hearn’s new course, dubbed The Cardinal, incorporates the slightly rolling topography to create a championship quality routing that will challenge every golfer. Over 1,000 trees were eliminated to open up sight lines and provide alternative routings for the new course and the new par three. Not one hole resembles another on the course and the total collection of 18 holes makes this one of the very best new courses in the state. It is a must play for golfers. Hearn used his knowledge of classic Scottish designs to create a one-of-a-kind golfing experience on the short course. The Cardinal course, along with the adjoining Inn at St. John’s, has been so well received that it may soon host a professional tournament. To learn more, or to make a reservation at the Inn at St. John’s and The Cardinal Golf Course click HERE.
Italian Ryder Cup Sets Records & Pros Still NOT Paid By Fred Altvater The results are in and they are conclusive, sportsmen and women around the world enjoy watching Europe and the United States do battle in the Ryder Cup. The 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy set new records across the board attracting unprecedented levels of engagement across social media, as well as global broadcasts. A total of 271,191 people from 100 different countries attended the 44th Ryder Cup in person Ohio Golf Journal
at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, with millions more following the action on their televisions and other digital platforms. Internet posts about the Ryder Cup led to more than 600 million impressions and pageviews on their website. Furthermore, early figures show views of Ryder Cup official social media channels amounted to 197.6 million, with a total of 26.7 million interactions, contributing to the channels gaining 500,000 new followers. On Ryder Cup Europe’s platforms alone, impressions numbered over 347 billion, a 117 per cent increase over the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. Data also show notable increases across global broadcasts, with a rise in average viewership on Sky Sports in the UK of 38 per compared to the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and 25 per cent up on the 2018 edition at Le Golf National, making it the most watched Ryder Cup on Sky Sports on record. Guy Kinnings, Executive Director of the Ryder Cup, said, “The 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy once again underlined the global appeal and continued growth of one of the world’s leading sporting events. This year’s contest, played against the backdrop of the historic city of Rome, truly connected with fans around the world, and our early figures show significant increases in engagement even from the recent recordbreaking editions. The Ryder Cup is undoubtedly a unique and special event in sport. These extraordinary numbers certainly are testament to that and to the wonderful entertainment the European and US team provided on the course, as well as the unforgettable scenes of Luke Donald and his players celebrating a memorable victory at Marco Simone. Luke was a magnificent captain and those scenes really captured what it means to play for something bigger than yourself, which is something that
inspired Luke and his players throughout his Captaincy.” All this success suggests that maybe the professionals should be paid some of the billions of dollars that are generated from the biennial Ryder Cup Matches. Back 9 Report wondered if it is time to pay Ryder Cup participants. The full segment can be viewed HERE. Put Patrick Cantlay pic here There have been rumblings before about participation by American golf professionals. In 1999, David Duval threatened to abstain from Ryder Cup participation and a last-minute compromise was made to donate $200,000 to every players particular charity, a tradition that is still carried on today. Current pros do not seem to be impressed with the PGA’s charitable largesse, or lack thereof. In Rome, Patrick Cantlay even went so far as to refuse to wear a hat with the Ryder Cup logo on it as a not-so-quiet protest against not receiving cash remuneration for being on the U.S. Team. Evidently his concern about money created turmoil among U.S. Team members and helped aid Team Europe to defeat the Americans 16.5-11.5 in Rome. The Ryder Cup, like so many former ideas, has grown into something greater than was ever envisioned by the PGA and the European Tours. It is one of the most highly anticipated and watched sporting events in the world. In the past the DP World Tour needed the funds generated from the Ryder Cup every two years just to keep their tour afloat. Today with all the billions of dollars floating around the golf world, that may not be the case. I’m sure the PGA and the DP World Tour, owners of the Ryder Cup, want to keep all the money for themselves, but maybe it’s time to pay the players for their participation. Ohio Golf Journal
Bob Sowards Does It AGAIN!! Ohio Golf Hall of Fame member Bob Sowards, Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, won the Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida for the second time. NOPGA Wins Inaugural Junior Ohio Cup Junior golfers from the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA won the inaugural Junior Ohio Cup at Westfield Country Club. The event pits junior boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 19 from both the Northern and Southern Ohio sections of the PGA in a Ryder Cup-like event with teams competing in both FourBall and Singles formats. The NOPGA team comfortably won with a 16-8 total score. The NOPGA girls won seven of their eight matches to lead the team. View complete results at: bit.ly/3SrlgjU OhioGolf News The victory makes him eligible for the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship to be held in at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Sowards carded rounds of 67-70-69-66 to finish six strokes ahead of runner-up Jerry Haas and pocket the $27,000 first-place check. Belmont Country Club Assistant, Mike Stone, who was the medalist in the Lima Shawnee qualifier, finished T-38. Other Ohio Pros in the field included, Steve Parker, Gary Trivisonno, Tom Atchison and Gary Rusnak. The 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship was held on the Wanamaker and Ryder courses at the PGA Golf Club. Ohio Golf Journal
Canterbury Assistant Wins 49th Denny Shute Match Play From: NorthernOhio.golf The 2023 Denny Shute Match Play is one of the most enduring events of the Northern Ohio PGA Section’s season. Held at Portage Country Club, Anthony Panepento defeated Jim Troy 6 & 5 in the 36hole final match to garner his first professional title. Canterbury Golf Club Assistant Professional, Anthony Panepento earned his first professional victory when he defeated Jim Troy, 6-and-5, to win the 49th Denny Shute Match Play Championship. The victory capped a masterful week for Panepento, as the 24-year-old defeated four of the Northern Ohio PGA’s top players, while playing his way to the 36-hole final. the 4897-yard 11th and 22-feet on the 366-yard 13th to close out the match. In order to reach the finals, Panepento defeated Pepper Pike assistant Sean McGuire, 5-and-4 in the semifinals and defending Shute champion Mark Scott Jr., 3-and-2, handing the Westwood Country Club head professional his first loss at Portage since 2021 in the quarterfinals. Prior to that, he eliminated NOPGA veteran Tom Waitrovich, 2-and-1 and Windmill Golf Center teaching pro Trent Maxwell, 3-and-2, in his first match. Panepento, a native of Wooster, took control early of his match against Troy, a fourtime NOPGA Player-of-theYear. He was 2-up after the front nine of the first 18 holes and never relinquished the lead for the rest of the day. A birdie on the final hole of the morning round put Panepento 3-up and he increased his margin to 4-up with a birdie on the 525-yard second hole, thanks to a marvelous approach to two feet to start the final 18 holes. He maintained that 4-hole lead through the turn and birdie putts of 66-feet on Columbus District Team Wins Ohio IntraState Challenge The 20th Edition of the Ohio IntraState was played at Losantiville Country Club last month. The team from the Columbus District Golf Association (CDGA) won by four shots over the team from Miami Valley Golf (MVGA). Northern Ohio (NOGA) finished third and the host Greater Cincinnati Golf Association (GCGA) was fourth. The Intrastate Challenge is contested with teams of six players, two women midamateurs, two men mid-amateurs and two senior men, from each association in an 18-hole stroke play competition. This was the ninth win, in the history of the event, for the CDGA. MVGA totals five wins, followed by both NOGA and GCGA each with three triumphs. The next InterState will be hosted by the Columbus District Golf Association.
STEVE PARKER INDUCTED INTO THE NOPGA HALL-OFFAME Steve Parker, a past president of the Northern Ohio PGA and Director of Golf at Portage Country Club, was inducted into the Northern Ohio PGA Hall-ofFame last month. Parker has held numerous positions within the PGA throughout his professional career and is currently a PGA District 5 Director. He began his professional career in 1996 after twice earning all-Mid-American Conference honors at Kent State. He is a former winner of the 1985 Ohio Junior Championship, 2022 Senior Toledo Open, 2017 Denny Shute Senior Match Play, and the 1996 NOPGA Assistant’s Championship. He was a five-time qualifier to the PGA Professional Championship and a two-time qualifier to the PGA Senior Professional Championship. SOPGA Grabs Third Consecutive Ohio Cup Held at Worthington Hills Country Club, the team from the Southern Ohio PGA (SOPGA) easily defeated the Northern Ohio PGA (NOPGA) pros, 20.5-11.5 in the 27th Ohio Cup. It was the third consecutive win for the SOPGA, its longest winning streak in the Ryder Cuplike event and reduced the NOPGA’s all-time lead to 16-11 in the series. The SOPGA dominated both the Fourball and Foursomes sessions by the same 5.5 to 2.5 scores, giving them a six-shot lead heading to singles . They added nine more points from the 16 singles matches to seal the victory. Ohio Golf Journal
Ohio Juniors Qualify for 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals Regional qualifying for the 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt (DCP) National Finals is complete. In April of next year, 80 junior golfers will make the trip to Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the DCP National Finals. One of the returning seven finalists from last year, Calista Han, from Lewis Center, earned a second chance at winning the national title. Han finished tied atop of the Girl’s 10-11 age group leaderboard with Kylie Miller of Mayfield, Kentucky, at the Scioto Country Club Regional. In the playoff, Han sunk her first putt and scored 20 points on the second to punch her second ticket to Augusta National. “I just knew I had to make it,” Hahn said. “I’ve been working hard on my chipping and putting.” In the Boy’s 10-11 division, Flynn Lewis, grandson of Ohio Golf Hall of Fame member, Robert Lewis, also won in a playoff. Grandpa Lewis competed in seven Masters Tournaments, winning the Silver Medal as low amateur in 1987. In the Boy’s 7-9 age group, at the Scioto Regional, Preston Tolnar from Canfield, won and will be making his first trip to the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals. Plain City’s Nikitha Suresh was victorious in the Girl’s 14-15 division. The Regionals were held at ten locations around the country. Scioto Country Club, TPC Boston, Aronimink Golf Club, Champions Golf Club, Sea Island Golf Club, Chamber Bay, Castle Pines Golf Club, Desert Mountain, The Golf Club of Tennessee and TPC Deere Run. The Drive, Chip & Putt Finals are always fun to watch on Sunday morning leading into the Masters every year. To learn more about Drive, Chip & Putt visit: https://www.drivechipandputt.com/
You Gotta Have This: Sun Mountain’s NEW Tour Series+ Rainwear As temperatures begin to drop around the country, golfers are looking for comfortable, yet stylish outerwear to keep them dry and warm. Sun Mountain has stepped up with their new Tour Series+ Rainwear that is waterproof and offers fourway stretch for full range of motion during the golf swing. Playing golf in the cold and rain drops the “Fun Meter” to the bottom of the scale, if it’s raining, or even looks like it might rain, it’s always a good idea to have highquality rainwear in your bag, to protect you from the elements. body temperature for the entire round. Long zippers on the legs allow for easy removal over golf shoes. Sun Mountain has thought of everything the pant legs even have built-in snaps on the hem, to eliminate the problem of the legs dragging on the ground. “The combination of top-ofclass waterproof protection and breathability plus the four-way stretch make our Tour Series+ the most playable rainwear on the market,” said Mark Heydon, Vice President of Outerwear at Sun Mountain Sports. “The added temperature control of the 37.5 is icing on the cake.” By Ed Travis Sun Mountain has years of experience making rainwear and knows a thing, or two, about functional outerwear for golfers and sportsmen. The Tour Series+ Rainwear is better than just OK,” It’s, “You gotta have this.” The new Tour Series+ includes several features that make it a must have. Both the pants and the jackets are made from waterproof fabric that contains activated coconut shell carbon and volcanic sand in the fibers. Called 37.5 Technology, the fibers can absorb moisture and heat energy, which controls Ohio Golf Journal
Women’s Jacket –– 2-way front zipper –– Body temperature regulating material –– Packable hood –– Scalloped cuffs –– Three color combinations choices –– MSRP: $239.99 Fast Facts Sun Mountain Tour Series+ Rainwear All pieces are waterproof and have 4-way stretch Men’s Jacket –– 2-way front zipper –– Body temperature regulating material –– Adjustable cuffs & waist –– Four color combination choices –– MSRP: $299.99 Women’s Pant –– Deep leg zips & snap system at hem shortens pants 2.0” –– Body temperature regulating material –– Silicon grip pattern inside the waistband –– Velcro® cinch system at cuff –– Color: Black –– MSRP: $199.99 Men’s Pant –– Body temperature regulating material –– Zippered pass-through pockets –– Belt loops –– Deep leg zips & snap system at hem shortens pants 2.5” –– Color: Black –– MSRP: $299.99
5 Things You Need To Know About Tiger Woods’ New TGL 1. WHAT IS TGL? Capitalizing on the huge popularity of simulator golf, TGL, in partnership with the PGA Tour, will pit some of the world’s greatest golfers in a high-tech, high energy environment with a live By Ed Schmidt Jr. The Golf Travel Guru 2. WHO’S PLAYING TGL? The league will be comprised of six teams with four players each. Each TGL match will feature three players competing for each team. Players who have committed to play account for 223 PGA Tour wins, 32 Major Championship titles and an astonishing 886 weeks as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. They include: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay, audience. The players will be hitting shots into a screen similar in size to a large movie theater screen. Closer range shots will be played “greenside” in the stadium (see below). TGL will feature six teams of PGA Tour players competing in two-hour tournaments. Ohio Golf Journal
Wyndham Clark, Lucas Glover, Min Woo Lee, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Tom Kim, Keegan Bradley, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Young and Kevin Kisner. 3. WHERE WILL TGL PLAY? An indoor, custom-built, 2,000-seat arena has been constructed on the campus of Palm Beach State College. The venue will be covered by an air-supported dome that reaches a height of 75 feet and outside the venue will be two plazas to host pre-match festivities. The players will wear microphones and will attempt shots from about 35 feet away to a mammoth 64-foot high/46-foot wide screen, powered by Full Swing technology. (Approximately 20 times the size of a standard simulator screen.) Alongside the simulator inside the venue will be a data-rich short-game complex that includes three sand bunkers and three individual 15 feet x 27 feet Virtual Greens within a massive 3,800 square-foot putting surface. The shortgame complex will be approximately the size of a basketball court, while the entire playing surface inside the venue (simulator area and short game complex) will be 97 yards by 50 yards, roughly the size of a football field. 4. WHEN DOES THE FIRST SEASON START? The inaugural TGL season begins January 20, 2024. A 15-week regular season will be followed by playoffs and championship match. Each team will play 5 matches during the season. The events will take place on Monday evenings throughout the year and will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+ in the U.S. with the first match airing in prime time on Tuesday, January 9th, on ESPN and ESPN+. 5. WHO CREATED TGL? Who Are Team Owners? The league is the brainchild of sports executive Mike McCarley, a former Golf Channel president, as well as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy under a corporate umbrella called TMRW Sports. Currently four of six ownership groups have been announced. • Atlanta Drive GC is led by Arthur M. Blank’s AMB Sports and Entertainment which also owns the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and PGA TOUR Superstores. • TGL Boston is led by John Henry, Tom Werner, Mike Gordon, and Fenway Sports Group, who also own the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, Pittsburgh Penguins and RFK Racing. • Los Angeles Golf Club is led by Alexis Ohanian, owner of the Angel City FC, Seven Seven Six, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams; as well as the Antetokounmpo brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, and Michelle Wie West, who are limited partners. • TGL New York is owned by Steven A. Cohen, who also owns the New York Mets and Cohen Private Ventures. To follow the new golf league, TGL visit their website: https://tglgolf.com/
Next at Pinehurst: USGA Golf House & World Golf Hall of Fame Things are hectic at Pinehurst and these are extraordinary times at the “Cradle of American Golf.’’ The United States Golf Association (USGA) will unveil its new campus in Pinehurst on By Len Ziehm December 1st and the popular resort will also be hosting the U.S. Open in June. The newest course at Pinehurst, Tom Doak’s No. 10 is set to open in April and don’t forget the World Golf Hall of Fame is relocating to Pinehurst from St. Augustine. Ohio Golf Journal
The USGA first began exploring the idea of moving some of its operations to Pinehurst in 2009, those talks have now come to fruition. “Our campus all along was to showcase all our values, not just our championships,’’ said Janeen Driscoll, director of brands communications for the USGA. “This community only knows us for the U.S. Opens we bring here. We truly believe this is the center of the golf universe, and we’re going to give back.’’ Pinehurst donated the site and the USGA received $27 million from the state of North Carolina to entice the USGA to relocate and help bolster local economic development. Twenty Pinehurst residents were hired by the USGA to open a small office after the 2005 U.S. Open, while the main USGA corporate offices, with 350 employees, remained in Far Hills, New Jersey. The new Pinehurst Golf House will include a staff of 65. It’s a massive facility built on land that had been previously used for tennis courts, located between The Carolina Hotel and the first tee of historic Pinehurst No. 2. One wing of the complex will house administrative offices and the testing center. The other will include the ‘USGA Experience’ on the first floor and the World Golf Hall of Fame on the higher floors. At our museum in New Jersey most everything is about the history of golf,’’ said Driscoll. “About 90 percent of our collection is in a vault
below ground, though, and most people don’t get to see it. We have golf bags of most every president, books dating back to 1400 and a very rich art collection related to the game of golf. That’s why we built this. It’s not just to look back at history.’’ The World Golf Hall of Fame began in Pinehurst in the 1970’s and is returning to its roots. Pinehurst will host the annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies every year that the U.S. Open is held in Pinehurst. The 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame class includes; Padraig Harrington, Sandra Palmer, Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson and Tom Weiskopf, plus the 13 LPGA Founders. Items from Far Hills will be brought to Pinehurst and exhibits will change every six months. The USGA Experience will feature a championship gallery, interactive exhibits, movie shorts and video clips for golf devotees. “It’ll give us a chance to story-tell more than we had in New Jersey,’’ said Driscoll, a golf industry veteran who has been a Pinehurst area resident since 2000. “This will be almost double the size of what we have in New Jersey.’’ The new headquarters will also house the new U.S. National Development Team. Heather Daly Donofrio, previously from the LPGA, will become USGA Managing Director of Player Relations and Development. Chris Zambri, associate head men’s coach at Pepperdine University, was named the first head coach of the U.S. National Development Program. With the addition of the World Golf Hall of Fame and the USGA Golf House, Pinehurst is truly becoming the “Cradle of American Golf.” Ohio Golf Journal
News & Notes From Around the Golf World Golfers Win Spots on Team USA The national tournament to decide who will represent Team USA versus Team Scotland in the Amateur Golf Championship was held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania last month. Although the weather was somewhat less than perfect, due to Hurricane Hugo, competitors weathered the storm to decide the five players that will compete against a team of golfers from Scotland next year. Winners in each handicap division were as follows: Watch this video from Tournament Director, Randy Tantlinger with all the action from the 2nd annual Team USA vs. Team Scotland Amateur Golf Championship. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Pu_J0d4ynQA Tom Morris Flight Jack Nicklaus Flight Prestwick Flight St. Andrews Flight Tom Watson Flight Chris Girouard Derek Afton Jimmy Wolfe Dave Peters Denny Schimdt Ocean Springs, Mississippi Grand Rapids, Michigan Greenville, Pennsylvania Collegeville, Pennsylvania Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania Ohio Golf Journal
As short courses are popping up across the golf world, Threetops at Treetops Resort, Michigan’s Most Spectacular Resort, was recognized by AARP The Magazine as one of the nation’s very best short courses and ‘Not to Be Missed.’ Designed by Rick Smith in 1992, after a visit to Augusta National’s par 3 course, it was one of the very first public short courses in the country and is still one of the very best. Other short courses on AARP’s list include; Bandon Preserve at Bandon Dunes, The Cradle at Pinehurst, The Sandbox at Sand Valley, The Hay at Pebble Beach and The Baths at Kohler. Short courses have become staples at many golf resorts, inviting players of all skill levels to kick back and tee it up with just a few clubs and a putter. “Threetops was one of the first in the country, before it became a popular design,” said Barry Owens, GM of Treetops. “We are proud to be included in this prestigious list! It’s the perfect invitation for our nation’s largest population to join us in Pure Michigan.” “AARP members are active and enjoy traveling, so why not make memories on Threetops. Folks of all abilities can play where many of their favorite PGA icons have played. The roster is hefty; including Arnold Palmer, Lee Travino, Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, and even ‘The Bear’ Jack Nicklaus among others,” Owens went on to say. For the full AARP story click HERE. To learn more about all the great golf at Treetops visit: www.Treetops.com. AARP Names Michigan’s ‘Threetops’ One of Nation’s Best Short Courses
Golf Heritage Society Holds Annual Convention The Golf Heritage Society held its National Convention last month in Lexington, Kentucky. It featured a full agenda of workshops and Cronheim, senior director, USGA Golf Museum and Library spoke about preserving golf history. The GHS National Hickory Golf Tournament was contested at the Gay Brewer, Jr. Course at Picadome. The Annual Trade Show featured golf collectibles, including hickory clubs, books, medals, trophies, ceramics and books. Golf collectibles in all price ranges, from tens of dollars to thousands of dollars for truly rare items were available for purchase, or trade. Founded in 1970, the GHS is a global nonprofit organization that honors and preserves golf’s history For information, or to join the GHS, visit GolfHeritage.org. presentations, as well as a trade show with the world’s most fascinating golf collectibles. “The GHS convention program has something for everyone who loves the game of golf,” said Dr. Bern Bernacki, president of the Society. “Golf collecting is a ‘hot’ market these days, and the trade show will offer items of interest to golfers of every age and income level.” The convention honored two of Lexington’s best golfers, amateur Marion Miley, plus former PGA Tour player and Masters Champion, Gay Brewer. Stacy Schiff, USGA Librarian, and Hilary Ohio Golf Journal
DP World Tour Opens Doors to PGA Tour Members With many of its biggest names defecting to the LIV Tour the DP World Tour has lacked star power at their events. It appears that the PGA Tour, who has a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour, will allow easier access to European Tour events for their members. Full membership to the DP World Tour will be granted to PGA Tour members ranking 126-200, which means those players will immediately be eligible to enter DP World Tour events. Affiliate membership will be granted to those players who participate in any Race to Dubai ranking tournament. The Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to qualify for the DP World Tour Playoffs and earn additional prize money, plus a piece of a $6 million bonus pool. By Fred Altvater Players who compete in 15, or more DP World Tour tournaments can also earn a guaranteed minimum bonus of $150,000. Eligible players must actively join the DP World Tour in December for the 2024 season. The PGA Tour also has a system in place to allow the top 10 players at the end of the Race to Dubai Season to be issued PGA Tour membership for the following season, if they do not already have membership on the American Tour. David Howell, Chairman of the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee, said: “When we announced our Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR in November 2021, one of the prime objectives was to give as many opportunities as possible to members of both Tours, and this is another perfect example of how this is working.” Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Our Ten Cards initiative will give the opportunity for DP World Tour members to excel on the PGA TOUR next season and this new membership opportunity announced today will give PGA TOUR members the chance to do exactly the same on our Tour. I am excited at the possibilities.” Ohio Golf Journal
The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour have been at odds in the past, but with the threat of the LIV poaching top names and diluting professional golf, they have become close allies. In January 2021, with the European Tour struggling to stay afloat during COVID and the threats posed by the LIV Series, the PGA Tour purchased 15% of the European Tour’s stock for $85 million, plus an additional $30 million to be paid via installments over the next three years. Top European players have always migrated to the United States for the larger purses and increased earning power, but most remained loyal to their home tour. Now the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour are working together, more closely than ever before, to provide a clear path for Europeans to compete on the PGA Tour. This assures a fresh intake of young talented players competing in Europe, but also making their way to the PGA Tour more accessable.
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Ed Schmidt Jr. Ed Travis is a national award winning golf journalist and has had a lifelong love affair with the game. He has competed in tournament golf both as an amateur and as a senior professional and though his competitive days are behind him, he still plays regularly and carries a handicap of 2. https://www.facebook.com/ ed.travis.98 An intrepid traveler and storyteller, author of three books and more than 3,400 published articles, columns and blog posts, Ed Schmidt Jr., aka The Golf Travel Guru, is well versed in a variety of topics including, golf lifestyle, luxury travel, wine travel destinations, sports and health. Find him at: http://www. thegolftravelguru.com/ Len Ziehm Len Ziehm spent 41 years as a golf columnist for the Chicago SunTimes. He now free lances golf travel pieces and posts for http:// lenziehmongolf.com/. Find Len on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/lenziehmongolf/ Ohio Golf Journal
VIDEOS Michigan-native Ray Hearn is responsible for renovating or designing over 150 golf courses worldwide. He recently completed work at St. John’s Resort near Detroit and has ongoing renovations at BOYNE Resort in Northern Michigan. His designs are perfect for the average golfer and he always strives to make golf courses sustainable and environmentally sound. Back 9 Report wonders if Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith & Patrick Reed will want to leave the LIV Series since the Official World Golf Rankings denied world ranking points to the rebel league? Amy Lillibridge talks about recent events and the ever-expanding goals of the Evans Scholarship Foundation. Ray Hearn Talks Recent Designs and Sustainability Did OWGR Just Kill LIV? Amy Lillibridge Talks About Current Happenings at Evans Scholars Foundation Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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