Given our 2,087 feet of elevation, fall at Fairfield Glade is more beautiful than most anywhere else in the country. It’s hard to put into words the colorful display you’ll experience on our five Championship Golf Courses. Even out of bounds.
What you feel is beautiful too.
Cool, dry fall air that makes golf, hiking, tennis, pickleball, fishing, boating or swimming especially comfortable and fun. Our Stay & Play and Golf Packages make a fall getaway visit to Fairfield Glade Resort beautifully affordable too.
Now the fun begins.
Conveniently located between Knoxville and Nashville, just a few miles from I-40 (Exit 322) For information or reservations, call 888-334-5233 fairfieldgladeresort.com
LIFE WITH A SMILE ON
A few years ago, Jim’s brother brought him to Ave Maria to play golf at Panther Run. “I was looking for a small town,” he says, “and the people are awesome. I only golf every couple of months, but I did have a hole-in-one once. They gave me a year’s supply of balls. I told them I lose so many, it would be cheaper to give me a car.” Jim enjoys singing karaoke at the Oil Well Brewery, and he’s a runner. “I’m known as the jogger with a smile on my face,” he says. “A neighbor asked me why I was smiling all the time. I said, because we live in paradise.”
You should know before you visit that smiling is contagious in Ave Maria—A Big Kind of Small Town.
Love The Relevance
There is a universal truth that often goes unnoticed: the pursuit of relevancy—the effort to matter, to contribute, and to leave a mark— awakens the most extraordinary qualities in us. The 2025 PGA Show was the largest since 2009; this collective hunger for relevancy has pushed the needle again! More than 33,000 Golf Industry Professionals from 94 countries and 50 US States came together to meet 1,100 participating brands at the 72nd PGA Show hosted in Orlando. WOO, HOO!
With the growth of our game, all things are pointing to an extremely optimistic view for the $102 Billion (with a B) golf industry in 2025.
On both sides of the Turf Life we saw big numbers! The GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) conference and Trade Show made a successful return to San Diego Feb.3-6. Attendance was up over Phoenix in ‘24, Orlando in ‘23, with 11,000 attendees. Yeah Baby!
We always enjoy all the, “How you Been”, “Mag looks great”, and just “Great to see you and the team here again!” So nice to feel the love. Oh, and especially nice to get the suck-ups from people who want to get exposed!
The journey toward relevancy requires that we stretch ourselves a little bit beyond what feels comfortable; dream in spite of our fears, and reach for something greater than ourselves. As marketers we take pride in illuminating the path for others. In our efforts to matter, we lift broken spirits, spark change, and hopefully create ripples that extend far beyond what we see.
On our cover for the 9th year in a row, is Rumbling Bald, the Western NC resort. The staff and management have shown unbelievable resilience and are back open and welcoming all the new guests as well as all of us big fans who LOVE this Stunning Mountain retreat and can’t wait to come back … believe it!
This property is always one of my favorite places to reminisce about with great family stories and fantastic golf tales, if you’ve been you know what I mean. I’m always proud to promote this kind of Southern Comfort, Feel Good destination.
We try to push the depths of our courage, the heights of our compassion, and length of potential. Hope to see you all at The Florida Swing!
Love, TP
Publisher: Terrie L. Purdum (terrie@golfcentralmag.com)
Editor in Chief: Shannon Coates (shannon@golfcentralmag.com)
Graphic Design: Melahn Cable
Social Media Manager: Nafanua Marlowe
Media & PR Consultant: Joe Wieczorek
Turf Pirate: Anthony Williams
Photojournalist: Greg Corbo
Videographer: Ronald Malone
Photographers: Lynn Pelham, Brion Price, Peter Hakansson, Tres Fenton, Mike Coonan, Becky Galloway, Madison Coates, Mac Carraway
Senior Correspondent: Rick Harris, Sr.
International Correspondent: Dave Finn
Contributing Writers: Jay Golden, PGA; Bob Bolton, Greg Corbo, Elisa Gaudet, Holly Geoghegan, Mike Jamison, Mike May, Anthony Williams, Tres Fenton, Ronald Malone
The Agile Group Invitational golf event partnered with Playing for a Cause and the Martin Gramatica Family Foundation to host another successful tournament at Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville. This marks the 7th year that Playing for a Cause has raised funds for cancer research and awareness to benefit AdventHealth Cancer Institute. Lisa Bowen, cancer warrior and co-host along with Dr. Kendrick’s Team from AdventHealth GYN Oncolgy office took home the awards for “Most
Funds Raised” for this year.
A big thank you goes out to media partner Golf Central Magazine for their support. The Agile Realty Group and Rocket Mortgage staff ensured a fun experience for all participants, while Professional Golf Events managed the various aspects of the event, including the silent auction, contests, and player gift store. For information on next year’s event, please contact Jeff Piciacchia with Professional Golf Events at pgetampa@yahoo.com.
Martin Gramatica Back Row- Whitney Bell, Edgar Cruz, James Kendrick, Maria Penland, Irma Cordero, Erin Page, Ayeni Medard Front Row- Denise Johnson, Cinnamon Spaulding, MarnethAprile Barsotti, Melissa Marquez
Team Martin: Martin Gramatica, Titan Steele, Jet Steele, Santiago Gramatica
Rocket Mortgage Team: Chad Warren, Michael Brennan, Paul Farr, Adam Spec, Daniel
World-Famous Beaches
Fairways For Miles
Known for action-packed racing and wide-open beaches, Daytona Beach also offers savvy golfers challenging courses at exceptional value. Come and play where the pros play, at LPGA International and other top-rated courses. Savor local seafood along scenic waterways. Explore historical and cultural sites. And pair your golf outing with a range of coastal accommodations to create a perfect package.
LPGA International
Where did you grow up?
Galloway, New Jersey
What is your favorite sport to play?
Competitive Cheerleading and Dance like what is held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex here at Walt Disney World Resort.
Favorite to watch?
Baseball, the New York Mets are my team. I also follow the PGA TOUR and the LPGA.
Do you enjoy playing golf?
Very much so!
Any golfers in your family?
My Father, Brother, Uncles and an Aunt.
What do you feel makes Walt Disney World Golf special?
The convergence of joy meeting tradition. It’s where you can test the limits of your golf skills or just have a leisurely round with friends while surrounded by the wonder and magic of Disney. I mean, where else can you play the same hole that many of the greatest professional golfers have played, yet still laugh when your tee shot lands in a sand bunker shaped like Mickey Mouse’s ears? Where else can you play where many of the greatest golfers have competed, on courses associated, and in the case of Disney’s Palm, redesigned by Arnold Palmer himself, all in Mickey’s backyard.
What is your favorite part of being a beverage cart attendant?
Having the opportunity to meet new people from all over the country and the world as our golf courses are draw golfers from around the country and internationally.
If you weren’t a beverage cart attendant, what would you be doing?
I have a bachelor’s degree from Stockton University in graphic design and would like to put it to use, particularly here at Disney someday. People really like my work.
What is your memorable moment in this role?
Earlier this year a young guest named Nick was golfing with his family on the back nine of at our Lake Buena Vista course. I witnessed him birdie the par-3, 12th hole, and he later told me it helped him complete his best round ever.
What is the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on the golf course?
I lost count how many shots one guest needed to get out of the Mickey bunker on the 6th hole of the Magnolia course. Sorry Dad!
What type of music do you prefer?
Multiple genres; many songs recorded before I was born.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Drawing, crochet and most arts & crafts
Favorite comedian?
Currently have come to appreciate Nate Bargatze. Jerry Seinfeld was always funny to me as well.
Favorite Disney Movie? Lilo and Stitch
Favorite charity to support? St. Jude
Keeping Your Game Hydrated
Mention water to a golfer and his first thought may be the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass and to check how many balls they have in their golf bag to overcome that hazard. What they sometimes fail to realize is water is not only a hazard on
the course, but lack of water or proper hydration may be a hazard to their body and their game.
Altitude Water Founder and COO Jeff Szur, who will be featured in the upcoming season premiere of Discovery Channel’s The Fish Guyz:
Lures to Legends hosted by awardwinning CBS and ESPN sportscaster Jim Kelly, knows about the dangers of contaminated water, but also the dangers of plastic bottles. His company has revolutionized the world of air-to-water Atmospheric
Jeff Szur
Photo by Andrés Jiménez AJG
Water Generators, which pull humidity from the air and transform it into drinkable water for immediate use both at home, on the go, and even on the golf course!
Last summer, Szur visited the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort in Costa Rica, a beautiful community primarily made of travelers and expats.
However, Jeff didn’t bring his golf bag. Showcasing how his company’s technology would improve the resort’s water quality for residents and golfers.
The Marriott and Golf Resort agreed to replace their original Reverse Osmosis units with Altitude’s machines, significantly improving the community’s access to top-quality, purified drinkable water. Additionally, a second Marriott property included Altitude’s units in a highly-anticipated golf tournament held last September.
A Driving Force: ‘Do Good to Do Well’
Since his entry into the industry,
Jeff Szur has prioritized creativity, innovation, and using his resources to better the world he loves so dearly. Financial success, especially from your own creation, is an incredible honor, and for Altitude’s team it means greater opportunities to change lives.
Altitude Water has developed close relationships with various nonprofit organizations and people
helping those in need, including, L’Oreal Women Sustainability Fund, Footprint Project, Grassroots Aid Partnership, Amy Grant, and her husband, avid golfer Vince Gill.
At his recent visit to the PGA Show in Orlando the synergies between the philanthropic aspect of the PGA Tour and what Altitude could do together to hydrate and change lives is literally a hole in one.
Jim Kelly and Jeff Szur
ON POINT Shown To IMPROVE PUTTING ACCURACY UP TO 44.3%
3D Ball Markers’ Performance Tested & Scientifically Verified
By Holly Geoghegan
olfers know that a good putting stroke is only as good as your alignment. If you’re not aimed properly, even the best stroke won’t lower your scores.
The science behind how our eyes and our brain effectively gather data to read a putt has influenced some golf equipment manufacturers to design strong visual guides on putter heads and golf balls such as Callaway’s Triple Track Odyssey putters and Chrome Soft golf balls. According to the American Optometric Society the visual perceptual system is made up of several components:
1. Visual spatial skills - The ability to understand and organize visual
information about objects in space including depth perception.
2. Visual motor integration - the coordination of visual information with body movements.
3. Visual attention - The ability to focus on important visual information and filter out irrelevant details. This includes sustained attention, selective attention and divided attention.
The miracle of our depth perception comes from our brain’s ability to put together two 2D images in such a way as to extrapolate depth. This is called stereopsis. Each retina in our eye produces a slightly different image.
When those two images are assembled in your brain, they are interpreted as depth perception. In putting, we need our vision to identify our aim point (target), to aim our putter face to it, and to visualize the distance between the ball and the hole. Unfortunately, our peripheral vision can be a distraction in the process.
placed on the green. The top of the dome comes with single and triple alignment guides that engages golfers’ depth perception and visual acuity the ‘secret sauce’ for precision putting.
And there is scientific proof just released by renowned optometrist and fellow of the American Academy of Op-
Enter ON POINT 3D golf balls markers to connect those dots. Briston Peterson, the creator and CEO of ON POINT ball markers, solved the missing link. His three-dimensional marker helps golfers dial-in their focus creating a “tunnel vision” effect by engaging the four key components for better alignment: length, width, height and depth.
The patented, ON POINT 3D marker has a dome-shaped design that sits slightly elevated behind the ball when
tometry, Dr. Bruce Levinson, a scratch golfer based in Jupiter, FL.
Dr. Levinson has consulted and performed research for several major golf companies pertaining to putting. He tested ON POINT markers with a group of golfers ranging from high handicaps to touring pros. The results confirmed a dramatic improvement in putting accuracy when using ON POINT versus a two-dimensional flat marker: 44.3% at three feet, 20.7% at six feet and 34.4% at 10 feet.
“When lining up a putt with a
two-dimensional (flat) marker, golfers only engage length and width; we are only using our eyes on a rudimentary level,” stated Dr. Levinson. “ON POINT 3D markers engage our visual perception system which is how the brain tells the eyes what it is seeing.”
Best-selling author and international golf instructor Nick Bradley, who’s pupils have included PGA Tour champions Sir Nick Faldo, Brad Faxon and Justin Rose, believes ON POINT markers help golfers improve their putting practice by connecting the putter, the marker and the ball in one visual process.
“The dome shape on the ON POINT marker promotes a slight upward strike on the golf ball,” Bradley stated. “This gets the ball rolling end-over-end because the face is square at impact and the ball stays on its intended line.”
ON POINT 3D ball markers conform to the Rules of Golf and are endorsed by U.S. Open and FedEx Cup Champ and Ryder Cup Captain, Jim Furyk.
“Our overall findings revealed that the ON POINT 3D marker is statistically 33% more accurate than a traditional flat marker,” concluded Dr. Levinson. “In my opinion as an optometrist, researcher and serious golfer, ON POINT should be considered the fifteenth club in the bag.”
Transform your game where it matters most: putting. The proof is in the numbers, on the green and on your scorecard.
For more information or to purchase, visit onpointgolf.us.
ON-POINT 3D ball markers are 33% more accurate than a traditional flat marker.
Where were you born? Did you grow up there? Columbus, OH and I grew up in a small town nearby – Sunbury.
Is “acting your age” overrated? It depends on how old you think I am.
What do you do for a living? Manager of Brand Experience and Event Marketing for Club Car.
Aside from golf; what do you prefer for fun and relaxation? Traveling and enjoying time with my family and dearest friends – they keep me going!
What golf apparel do you like to wear? My favorite golf apparel brands are ForeAll, Greyson and Peter Millar.
Whom do you most admire for their inner and outer beauty? My mother; she is encouraging, inspiring, feisty and simply the most amazing person I know.
What do you find to be the most annoying habit people demonstrate on the golf course? People who take the game and themselves too seriously. Let’s all just have fun enjoying the beautiful scenery and good company!
Name the three most important things to you in this world. My three children.
What do you fear the most? I believe we should live without fear and I’ll always bet on me.
What three people would you most like to play with in your fantasy golf foursome? Scottie Scheffler, Megan Khang, Nelly Korda
What are some of your great accomplishments? Raising three beautiful, smart and witty children to be amazing people who care about others and have great character.
Relaxed evening at home, or nightclub and cocktails? Relaxed evening at home!
Favorite comedian? Just love to laugh – whoever’s on stage can bring it on!
Movies:…comedy, drama, action, romance? RomCom
Last book you read? In Her Shoes
News, current events; hardcopy or on-line? Online because news is happening and being reported so quickly. I do enjoy the chance to pick up a newspaper and read it.
Favorite charity to support? Dale Jr. Foundation and Make a Wish
Regina and her daughter, Willow
Jekyll Ocean Club Partners with Bridgestone Golf on Unique Golf Package
By Mike May
If you’re looking for a late winter/early spring destination that includes golf, time at the beach, mingling with Mother Nature, and great seaside dining, consider Jekyll Island, Georgia. There, the Jekyll Ocean Club has ‘teemed’ up – er, teamed up -with Bridgestone Golf to offer a special package which features overnight accommodations at the all-suite, oceanfront Jekyll Ocean Club Resort, two rounds of golf at the nearby Jekyll Island Golf Club, a golfer’s gift bag, and a food and beverage credit for 80 Ocean. Rooms start at $358 per night and the package is available through March 31.
To add value to the deal, Jekyll Ocean Club will donate $5 per room night to the First Tee, a nationwide youth development organization that integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum that builds innerstrength, self-confidence, and resilience that children can carry to everything they do.
To add more value to this getaway experience, Bridgestone’s Otto ball-fitting experience will be available in the bar area of
80 Ocean so that golfers can use state-of-the-game technology to find the right ball for their style of play all while enjoying the oceanfront bar and restaurant.
“As a Georgia-based business, Bridgestone Golf is delighted to be partnering with Jekyll Island Club Resort to promote golf on Jekyll Island,” said David Vogrin, director of marketing for Bridgestone. “As the #1 Ball Fitter, we are excited to bring our Otto ball-fitting experience to all the golfers staying at the Jekyll Island Ocean Club to make sure golfers are fit into the right ball for their game before taking on the challenges of the newly
renovated courses on the Island.”
“Just as Jekyll Island is a Georgia landmark with a storybook history, Bridgestone Golf is a Georgia business institution and we’re very pleased to take these first steps in what we hope will be a long and mutually beneficial partnership serving the clients we both value so much,” said Kevin Baker, director of sales and marketing for the Jekyll Island Resorts.
In addition to spending time on the beach and playing golf, visitors to Jekyll Island enjoy bird watching, bike riding, swimming in the surf, playing tennis, shopping at the Beach Village, learning about turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle
Center, guided fishing and crabbing expeditions, and visiting the many historical structures on the island.
Golf-related promotions like this are becoming more popular as overall golf participation in the U.S. continues to grow. According to the National Golf Foundation, green grass golf participation topped 28 million in 2024, a seventh consecutive a, nnual increase. In 2024, there was a net increase of approximately 1.5 million golfers, which was the biggest single-year jump since 2000. During the past five years, the number of traditional golfers has risen by 16 percent. It’s worth noting that total golf participation in the U.S. -- i.e. those
who play on- and off-course with a real ball, real club and full swing -- climbed to 47.2 million in the U.S., a five-percent gain versus 2023 and a 38-percent jump since 2019.
“The Jekyll Island Golf Club, which is part of the Georgia Golf Trail, is a perfect place for a golfthemed getaway in the spring,” said Georgia Golf Trail Founder Doug Hollandsworth. “In fact, Jekyll Island is one of many popular destinations along the Georgia Golf Trail throughout the year.”
To book this unique golf package, please visit WWW.JEKYLLCLUB.COM and select golf from the drop-down menu.
Pine Lakes Golf Course
Pine Lakes Golf Course
Noh doubt about it – A First Win is “So Sweet!”
By: Beverly Wise
California resident, Yealimi Noh
won the 2025 Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands, beating Jin Young Ko by four strokes to become the season’s first Rolex First-Time Winner at Bradenton Country Club.
Noh began the final round Sunday afternoon 18-under par with a one-stroke lead over Ko. That increased to two strokes after her first birdie of the round at the par-4 2nd hole.
Ko responded with a birdie on the fourth hole, narrowing the gap back to one stroke, and then matched Noh’s score at 19-under par with a second birdie on the par-5 6th hole.
Let’s just say… the race was on… by this final twosome.
Ko took the lead from Noh on the par-5 8th hole with her third birdie, reaching 20-under. At the 13th hole, Ko dropped to 19-under with a bogey. Noh’s birdie on the 13th hole created a 2-stroke swing and she regained a one-shot lead over Ko with a score of 20-under. Subsequently, Noh secured another birdie on the 14th hole, advancing to 21-under, while Ko recorded her second consecutive bogey, moving to 18-under.
Noh, with a well-established three-shot advantage with four holes remaining in Bradenton, Florida wasn’t on cruise control yet. She stayed solid down this stretch… to out-distance the Ko by 4-stokes securing her first
Photos by: Beverly and Greg Wise
Noh doubt about it… a true Champion
Jin Young Ko out of the bunker at the 13th
LPGA Tour win at the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands.
“This means so much to me,” Noh said on the 18th green. “I worked really hard the past few years and went through a lot of struggles. This means so much to me. I told myself 2025 is going to be my year, so this is the best way to start it.
“I’ve been in contention a couple of times, and I told myself I could do it, but this is the first time it got done. This is a really big confidence booster for me and the rest of the year.”
Congratulations on your first victory at the Foundation Cup presented by U. S. Virgin Islands and collecting the firstplace check of $300,000.
To Par Strokes
Yealimi Noh (USA) -21 264
Jin Young Ko (KOR) -17 267
Megan Khang (USE) -16 268
Hannah Green (AUS) -13 371
Jin Hee Im (KOR) -13 271
Miyu Yamashita (JPN) -13 271
To the final hole with a 4-shot cushion… now the walk becomes much easier
Great entertainment from the Presenting Sponsor –U.S. Virgin Islands.(this one is important to have in there.)
Girls from the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program follow the Champion up the 18th Fairway
Noh’s caddie - Tyler Ekenberg getting the low profile view of the 13th green
Megan Khang… tough missed put on number 9
Bettinardi Super Bowl Champions Collection
The Super Bowl LIX Champions Philadelphia Eagles QB6 Putter, available in both righty and lefty, was precision machined from 303 Stainless Steel from in our Queen B 6 head shape and features the Eagles logo nano-engraved on the face, a decorative sole featuring the iconic design motifs from New Orleans, and the winning score engraved on the right bumper. The putter is a limited pre-sale we are thrilled to collaborate with the World Champion Eagles on this historic milestone win. On Sale Now Through February 24th on the website: www.bettinardi.com/collections/sblix
FACTORFIVE
Waste Management Open is less than a month away. Whether you lather on sunscreen before you leave the house, rely on a hat to keep you covered, or don’t even think about the sun’s harmful rays, you’ll likely get dark spots, wrinkles, and aging skin.
As a viewer of the open or a golfer yourself, FACTORFIVE’s Anti-Aging Cream (available on Amazon) is a must for golfers looking to reverse the effects of constant sun exposure. It combines adult human stem cell factors, niacinamide, green tea leaf extract, and more to visibly hydrate and improve signs of aging such as redness, wrinkles, tightness, thickness, and texture (like sunspots & UV damage). It works at the cellular level to speak to aging skin and teaches it to repair itself. Would you be interested in trying out FACTORFIVE’s Anti-Aging Cream and featuring it as a must-have for golfers and viewers for the WMO who want to reverse their golfing skin?
Good Fellow Golf
Gone are the days of the disorganized golf bag. No longer does a golfer need to fear reaching into his or her golf bag pocket and stabbing themself with the sharp end of a tee or divot tool. The Purist is a stylish, customizable, and lightweight organizer that securely zips closed and tucks neatly into the golf bag’s apparel or accessory pocket for easy access during a round.
It includes dedicated slots for just enough tees, ball markers, pencils, divot tools, golf gloves, scorecards, cash, a phone, keys, a rangefinder battery, an AirTag, and more!
Reducing the clutter and chaos of the golf bag, The Purist holds all the tools a golfer needs for a round of golf and nothing they don’t.
This patent pending invention is changing how golfers organize their bag.
www.goodfellowgolf.com
GreenUp Golf
GreenUp Golf is a Danish company revolutionizing the golf industry with its innovative, eco-friendly golf tees made from upcycled coffee grounds and biomaterials. Founded by a small team of Danish visionaries, the company aims to inspire and accelerate golf’s contribution to a sustainable world.
Traditional golf tees are often made from plastic or chemically treated wood, which can damage greenkeepers equipment and decompose slowly. The production of wooden and bamboo tees contributes to deforestation and involves long-distance transportation, leading to a significant carbon footprint.
In Europe, GreenUp emphasizes local production, utilizing local coffee waste. The resulting tees are biodegradable and eco-friendly, containing no plastic or wood. This approach minimizes the environmental impact and supports local businesses and communities. Moreover, nitrogen and phosphorus found in coffee grounds are essential components for healthy grass growth.
GreenUp Golf’s tees have been well-received by golf clubs and players in both Denmark, Europe and the US. The company is the official tee partner for Danish.Golf, ECCO Tour, and the Challenge Tour in Denmark. Additionally, GreenUp was recently awarded “Best New Product” at the 2025 PGA Show!
GreenUp Golf plans to expand further internationally, aiming to introduce their sustainable golf tees to markets in Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA. By offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional golf tees GreenUp Golf is leading the way in making the sport more sustainable for future generations.
www.greenupgolf.com
Pinned Golf – The Caddie
The Caddie is the first ever portable GPS golf tablet. Instead of waiting for courses to invest in expensive cart systems, golfers can now bring their own high-tech Caddie, complete with heavy-duty magnet that securely attaches to the golf cart. This device gives every golfer the experience of having their own personal caddie. It provides instant yardages, identifies hazards, and gives a 360° view of each hole at any of the 45,000+ courses it has available. Outfitted with an ultra-bright screen, weatherproof casing, and an embedded magnet, this portable tablet is the first of its kind. T he Caddie also logs your data during the round, from fairway hit percentage to average putts, and you can use it as your digital scorecard. Even though The Caddie is all about data on the course, it still embodies Pinned Golf’s motto: “Better Vibes, Better Golf.” Known for products that are both accessible and performance-driven, Pinned aims to make the sport more fun and less intimidating. The Caddie offers advanced features in a format that’s simple enough for even the most tech-averse golfer. Best of all, The Caddie was the winner New Product of the Year at the 2025 PGA Show, and for good reason.
www.pinnedgolf.com
Ashley Herrera Golf
Ashley Herrera Golf is revolutionizing women’s golf fashion, making a spectacular impression at the 2025 PGA Show. Showcasing a fashion forward approach to style and functionality, the brand holds a commitment to offer innovative designs that elevate traditional golf wear. Ashley Herrera, an avid golfer herself, understands how to merge performance with elegant styles that excite the game.
The skirts feature varying pleat sizes for dynamic movement in every swing. This flair adds a touch of fun to each step on the fairway. Sleek mock collars bring a contemporary edge to the golf wardrobe. The collection is crafted from high-performance, breathable fabrics designed to keep players comfortable throughout their round. Every piece is infused with thoughtful details, such as unique collar prints, precise piping between seams, and highquality buttons that exude luxury.
Highlights at the PGA Show include a pearl golf sweatshirt with built-in tee holders —a perfect blend of function and sophistication. The first-ever backless polo with a built-in bra also gained some buzz, an ideal piece for warmer climates. This game-changing design not only delivers on comfort and breathability but ensures players look effortlessly chic on and off the course.
Ashley Herrera Golf embodies a luxury boutique aesthetic that sets it apart from mainstream golf apparel. Each piece seamlessly transitions from the course to social settings, making it as versatile as it is fashionable. These styles are designed to make a statement, allowing golfers to stand out without sacrificing elegance. By blending innovation, femininity, and performance, Ashley Herrera Golf is setting a new standard in women’s golf apparel—one stylish swing at a time.
ForePlay Golf
ForePlay Golf is a luxury women’s golf brand founded by Gabrielle Migoya with a clear mission: to help women look great, feel confident, and play their best on the course. Gabrielle, an avid golfer and fashion enthusiast, created ForePlay Golf to fill a gap in the market—stylish, flattering, and functional golf apparel that seamlessly transitions from the course to everyday life.
Gabrielle fell in love with golf in her early 30s and quickly became obsessed with the sport. However, she struggled to find clothing that fit well, reflected her personal style, and made her feel confident. Recognizing the need for modern, fashion-forward women’s golf apparel, she decided to create her own brand.
ForePlay Golf is designed to be both elevated and inclusive, ensuring every woman feels amazing in her game. The high-quality fabrics, mostly produced in the USA, provide unmatched comfort and durability. These versatile pieces aren’t just for the course—they’re perfect for brunch, errands, or a night out, effortlessly blending golf and lifestyle fashion.
At its core, ForePlay Golf is more than a brand—it’s a community that empowers women to feel bold, stylish, and confident every time they step onto the course.
www.foreplaygolf.com
Ellsworth + Ivey
Ellsworth + Ivey specializes in creating one-of-a-kind custom apparel, designed exclusively for your members and guests. With a wide range of body styles and artwork options, we make it effortless to bring your vision to life.
Golf is more than a sport — it’s a tradition, a lifestyle, and a community. Our knitwear is designed with golfers in mind, blending timeless style with modern comfort to create pieces that feel as good as they look. Whether you’re outfitting a tournament, a member-guest event, or a club shop, our custom designs provide an elevated, personal touch.
Beyond custom pieces, Ellsworth + Ivey offers a thoughtfully curated collection of high-quality knitwear that reflects the heritage of the game. From classic polos to retro-inspired golf sweatshirts, our apparel is designed for both on and off the course, ensuring golfers stay stylish at every swing.
Wherever the game takes you — Ellsworth + Ivey is here for your knitwear needs!
www.ellsworthandivey.com
Lero Golf
At Lero Golf, we celebrate the spirit of the game, empowering women to play with confidence at every level. Our apparel is designed for performance, offering the freedom of movement needed for a powerful, athletic swing. Every piece is crafted with golf in mind, featuring functional details that keep you focused on your game. Our custom fabrics are breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying, with UPF 50+ protection and 4-way stretch—ensuring all-day comfort, on and off the course.
www.lerogolf.com
Duca Del Cosma
The Olivera 2 is handmade using a combination of plain and tumbled Nappa leathers, in tandem with the high abrasion resistance and breathability of onDura® Nilo nylon.
The Olivera 2 is a women's golf shoe that is designed to make you stand out from the crowd. Partnered with a durable, high-traction rubber outsole that will provide you with excellent grip on both wet and dry surfaces, together with a premium soft lining and Arneflex® memory foam insole you are assured of all day comfort both on and off the golf course.
MSR $239.00
Honors
Honors is a golf and lifestyle brand, focused on modern wear that moves, performs and transitions on the course, court, and beyond. The brand was founded by three female golfers who noticed a lack of options that both fit well and matched their preferred style and aesthetic. In 2023, they set out to create apparel that focused on style without sacrificing performance. And so began the journey that is Honors. Their well-tailored pieces use UPF 40 sweat-wicking, four-way stretch fabrics that are virtually wrinkle free. And while the collection was created through the lens of golf, each piece is intentionally designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing wardrobe. Available online at www.wearhonors. com, through RepSpark at app.repspark/honors, and at select retail locations.
www.wearhonors.com
HEAD Golf: A New Era of Style and Function, Led by Ka Ho Kam
Ka Ho Kam is no stranger to merging art, design, and innovation. As the Creative Director of HEAD Golf, he is charting an exciting new path for the brand with a bold, fresh perspective. Kam, originally from Hong Kong, began his creative journey in the fashion world, working with iconic fashion houses like Marc Jacobs, Sies Marjan, and Narciso Rodriguez. Over the years, he has developed
a unique design philosophy that blends storytelling, functionality, and artistic exploration. Today, as the helm of HEAD Golf’s design team, Kam’s vision is reshaping the world of golf apparel with an eye toward both aesthetics and performance.
Kam’s approach to design is deeply personal and experiential. His affinity for textiles, along with his desire to create meaningful garments, has resulted in designs that are not just clothing but reflections of moments. His love for innovation in fabric development shines through in his partnership with textile pioneers, ensuring that every HEAD Golf piece is a fusion of durability and modern style. By seamlessly blending sustainability with high-performance technology, Kam is ushering in a new standard for golf apparel—one that champions both style and practicality.
HEAD Golf’s First-Ever Line: A Masterful Blend of Functionality and Fashion
Under Kam’s direction, HEAD Golf has launched its inaugural collection, featuring a range of products that set a new benchmark for golf wear. The line exudes sophistication, blending cutting-edge materials with innovative designs to create functional pieces that resonate with the modern golfer.
Signature Anorak – The Signature Anorak is a standout product of the new line showcasing where style meets practicality. This quarter-zip anorak features a signature print that not only elevates your look but is crafted for ultimate functionality. The front flap pocket and sideseam pockets offer plenty of utility, while the back yoke ventilation enhances breathability for those
Creative Director Ka Ho Kam
warm rounds. Made from recycled polyester and spandex twill, it delivers UPF 50+ protection, moisture-wicking capabilities, and a four-way stretch for maximum comfort and mobility.
Knit Pleat Dress – Designed with the modern woman in mind, the Knit Pleat Dress is a beautiful fusion of form and function. Featuring a quarter-zip closure, an eyelet knit panel on the back for breathability, and color stripes for a contemporary touch. The wide-spread collar and open pleat construction maximize movement, ensuring ease of play. Made from a rayon and nylon blend, the dress is soft to the touch while incorporating advanced technology for durability and performance.
Knit Raglan Tape Jacket – Drawing inspiration from western vintage styles, the Knit Raglan Tape Jacket is a fresh take on a classic design. Kam’s use of soft, fuzzy yarn mimics the unique textures of desert cacti, adding a distinctive flair to the piece. The jacquard stripes, folded collar, and embroidered logos create a refined look, while the practical two-way zipper and side-seam pockets ensure functionality.
Technical Shorts – Perfect for the
golfer who values both performance and style, the Technical Shorts feature a golf tee pocket on the side panel for easy access to tees, balls, and gloves. Crafted from a nylon-spandex blend with PFC-free durable water repellent, these shorts offer UPF 50+ protection, four-way stretch, and a comfortable fit that’s built for movement on the course.
Detachable Quilted Jacket – With detachable raglan sleeves and a back snap that converts the jacket into a vest, this piece seamlessly transitions from business to golf course. With recycled polyester insulation, this jacket ensures that you stay comfortable and protected, whether you’re playing in chilly weather or enjoying a post-game dinner.
Kiltie Keychain –To complete the collection, the Kiltie Keychain adds a touch of elegance to your
everyday accessories. Inspired by the traditional kiltie from classic golf shoes, this refined keychain is both functional and stylish.
A Bold Future for HEAD Golf
Ka Ho Kam’s debut collection for HEAD Golf marks a new chapter for the brand. His dedication to innovative design and sustainable practices, combined with his deep passion for storytelling through fashion, has resulted in a product line that is as functional as it is fashion forward. HEAD Golf is poised to lead the industry into a new era, where golf apparel is not only a reflection of athletic performance, but a celebration of style, craftsmanship, and individuality made to be worn on and off the course.
www.head.com
Streamsong Golf Resort Announces David
McLay Kidd as Architect of Fifth Course
Kidd joins Coore & Crenshaw, Doak, Hanse, and Wagner as architects at Streamsong Golf Resort
Streamsong® Golf Resort
announced today the start of construction and architect of the fifth golf course at Streamsong Golf Resort. With construction starting in early 2025 and designed by David McLay Kidd, the golf course is located amongst some of the resort’s most interesting sand site terrain as it traverses rambling sand dunes and dramatic elevation changes situated between Streamsong Black and Streamsong Red.
“I have read many times how great players have a special love for the Majors. Not sure I understood what that meant when I was younger, but now I get it. In the world of golf design, there are certain properties, locations
and even owners that working for can be like playing in the Majors. Streamsong, for me, is a Major,” said architect David McLay Kidd. “The destination is world renowned and KemperSports ‘gets it.’ To be included in that group of architects requires my team and I to do something exceptional. That opportunity both excites me and makes me nervous, but in a good way. My team and I are so excited to add to the history of a place so young and yet so rooted in a tradition of exceptional golf architecture.”
Streamsong Golf Resort burst onto the destination golf scene in 2012 with the opening of
Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue along with a 228-room Streamsong Lodge and Red and Blue Clubhouse Experience. The Resort added to its’ golf offerings in 2017 with Streamsong Black and, most recently, launched The Chain and The Bucket – a 19-hole short course (The Chain) and 2.5acre putting course (The Bucket) designed by Coore & Crenshaw that opened in April 2024.
Streamsong is home to the only winter season destination with three courses in the Top 40 You Can Play in the United States as ranked by GOLF Magazine(Streamsong Red – 17, Streamsong Blue –19, Streamsong Black – 37).
In addition to top-ranked golf courses, Streamsong offers five restaurants, three bars/lounges, world-class guided bass fishing, sporting clays, tennis, and a spa.
David McLay Kidd joins a roster of renowned golf course architects, including Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (Streamsong Red and The Chain), Tom Doak (Streamsong Blue) and Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner (Streamsong Black) –making it the only golf resort in the world to feature this collection of world-famous architects.
Kidd is credited with ushering in a new era of golf course architecture
and established himself as one of the premier figures in modern golf architecture where his highly regarded golf course designs include Bandon Dunes, Mammoth Dunes, Tetherow, Gamble Sands, Nanea, and The Castle Course at St. Andrews. David’s courses claim three spots on GOLF Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play list.
“We are excited to partner with David to lead the continued evolution at Streamsong Golf Resort,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “He is one of the most talented architects of his
generation with a unique ability to design golf courses that are visually appealing, challenging, and great fun to play. I know the whole golf world will be excited to see what he creates on some of our best property at the resort.” Streamsong Golf Resort is owned by Lone Windmill, LLC and managed by KemperSports.
The new golf course name and timeline for completion is yet to be determined.
A novel study at HSS Florida,
the West Palm Beach location of Hospital for Special Surgery, is utilizing a high-tech golf simulator to evaluate players with arthritis both before and after joint replacement surgery.
The study is recruiting patients with knee, hip or shoulder arthritis to determine how the disease affects club swing and other components of the golf game. Participants will be assessed again following joint replacement and subsequent rehabilitation to determine the effect of surgery on their ability to play golf.
“High-end golf simulators have optically enhanced radar tracking technology that provides a considerable amount of data in terms of golf swing, ball launch and ball flight,” explains Ryan W. Simovitch, MD, director of the shoulder division and co-medical director at HSS Florida, and the study’s principal investigator.
“Our simulator employs advanced technology and complex algorithms to deliver a realistic and immersive virtual golf experience.”
Study Uses High-Tech Golf Simulator to Determine How Joint Replacement Surgery Affects Players’ Game
The researchers will use the simulator in combination with a highly sophisticated system for motion analysis known as DARI that uses high-speed cameras to capture the golfer’s movements from multiple angles. “We will perform motion analysis of the torso, shoulder, elbow, hip and knee while simultaneously looking at vital information provided by the golf simulator such as ball spin, distance, trajectory and smash factor,” Dr. Simovitch explains.
Rodger Hess, an avid golfer and one of Dr. Simovitch’s patients, had shoulder replacement surgery last month to relieve painful arthritis. The 86-year-old Jupiter resident, who has been playing
golf since he was a teenager and continued to play up until his surgery, said he found the study interesting. So, a few days before his left shoulder replacement, he played virtual golf on the simulator and data was collected.
“I’m curious to see what my range of motion is after my recovery compared to before the surgery,” Mr. Hess says. “Maybe I’ll be able to turn my body more, and it will improve.” Since shoulder replacement surgery entails months of physical therapy and healing, Mr. Hess is scheduled to be back on the golf simulator in May.
The HSS Florida study aims to follow up to 300 patients over two years to monitor their progress.
Dr. Simovitch notes that down the road, their findings could lead to changes in rehabilitation to maximize outcomes for golfers after joint replacement or even lead to modifications in how the surgery is performed.
Outside of the study, HSS Rehabilitation and Performance facilities in Florida and New York City use their golf simulators to help devoted players get back in the game after an injury or surgery. The objective information it provides can be a valuable supplement to the doctor’s recommendations and rehab program developed by a physical therapist or exercise physiologist www.hss.edu.
ZIGIT, a mobile app platform that conveniently uses smartphones to sell and buy alcoholic beverages, is rolling out across five golf clubs in the Tampa, Florida area.
TPC Tampa Bay (owned by Heritage Golf Group), Meadow Oaks Golf and Country Club, The Eagles Golf Club, The Club at Cheval and another nearby club are adding the proprietary technology to sell icecold can and bottle beer and mixed cocktails through attractive, standalone ZIGIT-enabled dispensing stations during golfers’ journeys. At the touch of a smartphone, purchase eligibility is validated through ID authentication and facial recognition, and drinks are dispensed typically within 30 seconds.
Transforming convenience in conformance with regulations, ZIGIT is meaningfully increasing golfer satisfaction and alcohol sales at golf courses, country clubs and resorts nationwide.
“These Tampa-area courses love the self-serve solution that gets golfers the drinks they want when and where they want them,” said Elsbeth Hurry, CEO of Bizboxes, owner of the ZIGIT platform. “Golfers are no longer waiting on beverage carts to get drinks, and they’re buying even more at the 19th hole and from beverage carts thanks to ZIGIT’s presence.”
To enjoy ZIGIT, golfers first complete a 90-second, one-time enrollment on the app that includes ID authentication and collection of biometric markers to verify they are of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages. They then simply scan a QR code, select their desired drinks and take a quick selfie to confirm their identity. The platform quickly
Five Tampa-Area Golf Clubs Partner with ZIGIT to Transform On-Course Beverage Service
processes their preferred payment (from enrollment) and dispenses beverages all within 30 seconds.
All biometric and payment data is securely processed through users’ smartphones, not through any hardware, meaning all sensitive information is kept safe.
Locations of dispensing station include outdoor restrooms / comfort stations along the course, at the first tee and the turn, and on driving ranges. Dispensing stations only need a flat surface, run on a
standard electric outlet without the need for Wi-Fi, and sturdily hold up against tough weather. There is little to no maintenance required (stocking takes less than 10 minutes, mainly after-hours) and they can hold up to 680 drinks.
For golf courses owners and operators, ZIGIT’s modern and purposeful technology:
• Provides golfers with immediate, gratuity-free access to the alcoholic beverages they love
• Generates meaningful, incremental revenue at higher margins
• Requires less overhead and staffing headaches
• Upholds compliance controls, including ID and individual verification, and drink limits per day, per user
• Tracks real-time inventory
• Reduces alcohol inventory shrinkage that often reaches 30%
• Speeds pace of play
Profits are also tied to selling at least one more drink (a 20% lift) to golfers each round, as well as packaging drinks at dispensing stations for all golf outing and tournament participants.
More information: www.zigit.app, info@zigit.app
By Timm Hamm
A Kansas City Gem
Nestled in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, Shoal Creek Golf Course is a pristine golfing paradise that attracts enthusiasts from all corners of the country. Designed by the renowned Steve Wolfard, the course opened its doors in 2001 and has since established itself as one of the premier public golf destinations in the region. The
course spans an impressive 6,983 yards from the championship tees, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience for golfers of all skill levels.
Each hole is meticulously crafted to blend seamlessly with the natural landscape, providing players with breathtaking views of rolling hills, mature trees, and the meandering Shoal Creek. This harmonious integration of nature and design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also introduces a variety of strategic elements that require thoughtful play and precise shot-making.
One of the many standout features of Shoal Creek Golf Course
is its impeccable conditioning. The fairways are lush and wellmanicured, while the greens are known for their consistency and true roll. This attention to detail ensures that every round played at Shoal Creek is a memorable one.
The course is also equipped with a state-of-the-art practice facility, including a driving range, putting green, and chipping area, allowing golfers to hone their skills before hitting the fairways.
Shoal Creek Golf Course is more than just a place to play golf – it’s a community hub. The clubhouse, with its warm and inviting atmosphere, serves as the perfect spot for post-round relaxation. Golfers can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink while recounting their day on the course.
The venue also hosts a variety of events and tournaments
throughout the year, fostering a sense of camaraderie among members and guests alike. Moreover, Shoal Creek Golf Course is committed to environmental sustainability. The course management employs eco-
friendly practices to preserve the natural beauty and integrity of the landscape. This dedication to sustainability not only benefits the environment but also enhances the overall golfing experience.
Shoal Creek Golf Course is a true
gem in Kansas City, Missouri. Its stunning design, top-notch facilities, and vibrant community make it a must-visit destination for any golf enthusiast. Whether you are a seasoned player or a novice, Shoal Creek promises an unforgettable golfing adventure amidst the serene backdrop of nature.
Check out ShoalCreekGolf. com or call 816-407-7242 for more information or check out OrionGolf. com to find out more about golf management solutions.
Campestre Guaymaral
Colombia may be the most underrated country in South America. After years of uncertainty, challenge and change, Columbia has emerged as the newest travel destination for curious travellers and naturalists. According to World Wildlife Magazine, Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, with ecosystems that range from the Andes mountains to Amazonian rainforests and oceans that border the country. These elements are part of what makes golfing here so exciting.
Bogotá is the capital, with over 10 million inhabitants. It is the third-highest capital city in South America, at 8.600 feet above sea level. With average temperatures ranging from 45°F - 60°F, it’s cool in more ways than one, so make sure you bring extra layers of clothes. There are 20 courses within a 45-minute radius, but regrettably, I only had the opportunity to play four.
El Rincón de Cajicá Golf Club is a private country club with
Bueno Golf in Bogotá Colombia
By Dave Finn
panoramic views of the Andes. This heathland-style course was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1957 and has hosted numerous national and international tournaments. At one time, Golf Magazine considered it among the best 50 golf courses in the world.
In 1980, El Rincón proudly hosted the World Cup. Since 2022, it has
also been home to the PGA Tour Americas Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship. This course has a walkable tree-lined layout but beware the water that is evident on twelve holes, and the huge bunkers should be avoided at all costs.
Club Campestre Guaymaral is also a private facility. They offer two magnificent 18-hole courses that are both ranked
Club
La Cima Golf Club
among the best in the country. Even though there is less water, the greens are well protected by bunkers, and I found it the best-conditioned course.
La Cima Golf Club is a public course 9,850 feet above sea level, potentially making it the world’s third-highest golf course. Do not expect any amenities. The conditioning is rough around the edges, but it offers stunning
views. This par-70 is a minimalist design that follows the natural topography, and the tight fairways will challenge your every shot, but remember that your ball flies further at this altitude. There are plenty of blind shots, and the elevation changes are extreme. Green fees range between US$20 to $40.
Briceño 18 Golf Club is another public course that stretches to 7319 yards, making it one of the longest
courses in Colombia. Briceño is a tale of two distinctive layouts. The front nine is a parkland design that meanders through a wellforested landscape, whereas the back nine is more links-style with wide open fairways peppered with deep-faced bunkers and rolling terrain. For 18 holes, green fees range from US$10.50 to $25.70.
Here are a few things to consider when planning your trip. Most courses are private but accessible when you book through a local tour operator like Pelecanus SAS. Caddies are mandatory for guests and range from US$8 to $14 + $3.50 for caddy snacks + tip. The dress code requires long pants, and it is traditional to stop and dine after nine holes.
Golf is more than a sport for Columbians. It means so much more than the score. It is a social activity that connects people with the land and one another. I guarantee it will add a new dimension to your enjoyment of the game.
Club El Rincon De Cajica
Briceno 18 - 1st Hole
Darom Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2023 | Dry Red Wine
SRP- $33 (by YATIR) www.kosherwine.com
Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Southern Judean Hills, showcasing the typical characteristics of the variety along with a distinct expression of the southern terroir. Darom brought to you by Yatir Winery, presents the southern wine region in all its splendor. The winery team pushes the boundaries of terroir, offering an exciting interpretation.
Darom wines are crafted from grape varieties grown under challenging desert conditions, resulting in unique wines that are rooted, warm, round, and approachable.
Tasting Notes:
Color: Dark garnet
Aroma: Ripe black plum with some herbal notes, cassis, and spices.
Palate: Rich and juicy ripe berry fruit, with a full, velvety, and balanced body. Very fresh and elegant
Food Pairing: Pairs well with hearty meat dishes, as well as spicy dishes from the Mediterranean cuisine.
Serving Recommendation: To fully enjoy the wine, it is best served at a temperature of 15–17°C (59–63°F).
PROUDLY ENDORSED BY JIM FURYK
U.S. OPEN CHAMPION 20-TIME TOUR WINNER
MAKE MORE PUTTS
SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED AND VERIFIED!
ON POINT three-dimensional golf ball markers help golfers make more putts. The dome-shaped elevated marker is easy to see on the green. The single, double and triple alignment lines on the top of the marker allow golfers to read greens better, increasing putting performance up to 44%. ON POINT markers improve putting confidence and will lower your scores. Makes a great tournament gift with custom logo & velvet bag! FEDEX CUP CHAMPION
Heard and seen in ClubING at the PGA Show in Orlando last month
By Mike Jamison
STEINBREDER LEADS ING MEDIA AWARDS
Global Golf Post’s John Steinbreder took first-place honors in two categories to lead the way in the 31st Annual ING Media Awards program. Results in 13 categories were announced at the PGA Show.
The International Network of Golf, a non-profit, media-based networking organization based in Lake Mary, Fl, conducts the awards program for its members. ING membership is open to anyone in the golf industry and media. Nearly four-dozen First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference. Media Awards’ sponsors this year were Bridgestone Golf, CertiFresh Cigar, PGA Show, Jaxson Maximus apparel company and Zero Friction Golf.
Steinbreder took top honors in the Business Writing Category with his article “Arizona Star,” and the Travel Writing Category for his personal story titled “Inner Peace On The Outer Banks.”
Gary Van Sickle and Gary D’Amato
tied for the most individual awards, taking three Outstanding Achiever honors and one Category First-Place win each. Van Sickle’s first-place finish was in the Opinion/Editorial Category. His story in SI.Com titled “Masters Opening Ceremony A Reminder Of Our Mortality” was judged best in that category. D’Amato won the Equipment & Apparel Writing Category for his Wisconsin.Golf story titled “How I Gained 20 Yards In 5 Minutes.”
Sean Martin of PGATOUR. COM took home three awards, including a first-place finish in the Competition Writing Category for his story “Masters Win Highlights Staying Power.” Ann Liguori also won three awards including top honors in the Book Author Category for “Life On The Green.”
Barry Cronin’s Chicago District Golfer was selected the winner in the Publications Category. Top Radio Show went to Charles Humphries’ Golf Shop Radio Network based in Charlotte, and the Podcast award went to Colin Weston’s ModGolf Podcast.
Other winners were Laurie White of WMGA in the TV/Internet Show Category, Cameron Morfit of PGATOUR.COM in the Profile Writing Category, Chuck Garbedian of Garbedian On Golf for Radio Segment and Paul Rogers of The Met Golfer in Feature Writing. An independent panel of three judges in each category determines First-Place Winners and Outstanding Achievers.
Five Companies Shine In ING Media Showcase
ING hosted its inaugural ING Media Showcase of New Products press conference Thursday during the 2025 PGA Show. This event featured five innovative companies selected to showcase their groundbreaking golf products in a dynamic press
conference-style format.
More than three dozen companies applied for a spot in this exclusive showcase. A panel of ING media members carefully selected the following five companies who presented their products to a room of members of the media: lowercase golf bag by lowercase golf
Presenter: Gwyn Jones, Director of Design & Manufacturing, Booth 1390
Presentations were all followed by informative question and answer sessions.
Bridgestone, Jaxon Maximus Among Clubing Sponsors
Several exhibiting companies participated in ClubING throughout the PGA Show.
Bridgestone Golf: The Georgiabased company designs and manufactures a full range of golf equipment including balls, clubs,
and accessories utilizing both the Bridgestone and Precept brand names. The Tour B Series ball is one of the industry’s most popular. The Tour B Mindset ball helps in visualization of the shot with ess thought and better focus.
CertiFresh Cigar: For almost two decades, CertiFresh Cigar® has offered the finest brandname cigars that are delivered in a perfectly humidified custom package. Boveda's patented twoway humidity control device is the cornerstone of CertiFresh packaging. The device keeps cigars at a precise 69% humidity that guarantees their freshness for one year without a humidor. CertiFresh packaging is individually customized for an impact like no other cigar sales program, and has revolutionized how premium cigars are distributed to and sold at nontraditional cigar retailers.
GreenKeepers: Greenkeepers, Inc. was founded in 1996 as one of the pioneers in the non-metal cleat revolution. Their invention of the outward-angled, traction-tooth golf cleats is still being used around the world today. Since then, Green Keepers has introduced several products many golfers know and love, including the 4 Yards More Performance Golf Tee, the Line-MUp stenciling device, the Myball golf ball personalizer, and the PosiSet grip counterweights. The most recent product addition is the durable Survivor Tee, promising more distance through maximum ball speed and the lowest ball spin rate.
Jaxson Maximus: Founded in 2018 by father-daughter duo Madison and Christian Boehm, Jaxson Maximus began as a single menswear store in Miami, combining a luxury custom clothier and salon all in one location. Taking inspiration from its bespoke clothing heritage, Jaxson Maximus created a luxury ready-to-wear golf and athleisure apparel division. This evolution stays true to the company’s core values of elegance and superior craftsmanship.
Zero Friction: Zero Friction is known industry wide for being on the cutting edge when it comes to introducing new products to players and creative packaging for its retail partners. Zero Friction provides high-quality, technologically advanced products for golfers worldwide, including gloves, performance golf tees, balls
and accessories. Zero Friction’s colorful line of compressionfit gloves for men, women and juniors takes the guesswork out of sizing. Compression-fit technology means a universal fit within the various models, and the glove that will hold its shape longer than any on the market.
Jan Stephenson Award Presented to Tony Leodora
Veteran, multi-talented golf media member Tony Leodora became the second recipient of the ING Jan Stephenson Entrepreneur Award at the PGA Show. World Golf Hall Of Famer and ING member Jan Stephenson was on hand to present the award to Leodora.
The ING Jan Stephenson Entrepreneur Awards recognizes a person who has successfully utilized innovative and leadership abilities to develop a business idea into a successful venture in the golf industry. The first recipient was Stephenson, who followed a Hall of Fame LPGA golf career with several successful business ventures under Jan Stephenson Enterprises, including
golf course design, wine and spirits and golf course ownership.
Leodora is known as one of the hardest working individuals in the golf media business. The Villanova graduate enjoyed a long, awardwinning career as a sportswriter and editor at the Norristown Herald near Philadelphia before turning his love for golf into a second career in the golf business.
He worked for a few golf businesses and media outlets before starting his own PR & Marketing firm, TL Golf Services, providing counsel to national golf businesses of all types, and Philadelphia-area golf courses. Some of those still turn to Leodora for advice today.
During that span Leodora created and hosted two successful media shows, Golf Talk Live Weekly Radio Show in Philadelphia and The Traveling Golfer TV Show, one of the most widely distributed golf TV shows in America. The TV show still airs today, with 18 annual episodes available ondemand to more than 170 million subscribers on OTT, Connected TV, and Smart TV applications.
Leodora also uses his vocal skills in another arena, with singing gigs in the Sarasota area where he lives. His Sounds Of Sinatra outings always draw an enthusiastic crowd.
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth becomes the first two-time winner of the Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year
The first two-time winner of the Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award came from the North Florida PGA. Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth accomplished this feat after winning the 2024 Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award Presented by Rolex. She also won the award in 2023.
Stephanie’s year included several highlights. It started with a victory at the 2024 PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship at the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club. As the year progressed, so did her solid play. She shot 4-under 68 in the opening round of the 2024 PGA Professional Championship and finished T26 with a total score of +7 295. She competed in the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club and represented Team USA, along with fellow NFPGA Member, Sandra Changkija, at The Women’s PGA Cup at the Meadows Course at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon. Team USA won the cup by a wide margin of 12 strokes! Stephanie also won medalist honors after shooting an outstanding final round of 5-under 66, which included going bogey-free. Within the Section, she finished T3 at the NFPGA Section Championship. Reflecting on the award, Connelly Eiswerth expressed what it meant to her. “I’m very
excited to have earned the PGA Professional Women’s Player of the Year for the second time. I’m thankful for the opportunity to compete and enjoy the game I share with my students each day.”
The North Florida PGA welcomes the next Executive Director, Andrew Yeast
On January 20, 2025, Andrew Yeast, officially started as the next Executive Director of the North Florida PGA. Andrew, originally from Harrodsburg, Kentucky, has a history with the game as he spent his summers from age 12 through college at Old Bridge Golf Club. That’s where he took his first golf lesson from Bruce Brown, PGA, and where he would work on his game and work in a variety of roles at the facility. Looking back on the influence Bruce had, Yeast said, “there is no doubt that his mentorship and qualities he conveyed had a profound influence not only on me as a golfer, but as a person.”
Andrew attended Eastern Kentucky University and played on the men’s varsity golf team.
He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in history and minor in political science – Cum Laude. After graduation, Andrew spent one year serving in a sales role for a third- party logistics company. Following this stint outside the industry, Andrew decided to follow his passion for the game of golf. He started with the American Junior Golf Association in 2015, Andrew served as a Tournament Coordinator, Tournament Manager, Regional Manager (South Central), and Regional Director (Southeast). As the Southeast Regional Director for the AJGA, Andrew was responsible for securing new sponsorships and renewals, while managing the operational budget of twenty-two events. His most recent role was with the World Golf Foundation as the Senior Director of Industry. He oversaw the American Golf Industry Coalition’s operations while managing relationships with over fifty organizations and C-level executives. Andrew has played a significant role in fundraising to secure annual contributions supporting growth and fostering collaborative partnerships. Through these partnerships, Andrew has led the efforts to execute a grassroots grant program that has contributed $2.5 million since 2021, demonstrating his commitment to community engagement and inclusion within the sport.
The North Florida PGA looks forward to Andrew’s leadership and guidance as the Section continues to promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry.!
South Florida PGA Golf Professionals
Jason Baile and Pam Elders have been recognized as 2025 PGA of America National Award Winners.
The PGA of America annually recognizes 13 award recipients for their extraordinary accomplishments and efforts within the golf industry, standing out among more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals. Each award recipient was recognized for their accomplishment during day one of the 2025 PGA SHOW yesterday in Orlando.
Baile, the PGA Director of Instruction at Jupiter Hills Club, was recognized as the 2025 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year, the first SFPGA Member since Martin Hall, PGA in 2008, and only the third SFPGA Member to receive the honor.
Joining the SPFGA in 2019, Baile was previously named the 2022 SFPGA Teacher of the Year.
Elders, the PGA Director of Instruction at Boca West Country Club, was honored as the PGA of America Player Development Award recipient, the first SFPGA Member to receive this recognition. An SFPGA Member since 1992, Elders was previously recognized as the 2023 SFPGA Patriot Award recipient.
Baile and Elders will be formally recognized during the 2025 PGA of America Annual Meeting in November.
JASON BAILE, PGA - PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year - Jupiter Hills Club - Tequesta, Florida
Jason Baile, PGA, the Director of Instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Florida, has been named the 2025 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year for his outstanding services as a golf teacher, innovator, and coach.
Jason Baile and Pam Elders Named PGA of America National Award Recipients
A Member of the South Florida PGA Section and a PGA of America Golf Professional since 1999, Baile’s quarter-century career has been marked by dedication, innovation and continuous growth.
Among his achievements is the creation of the Jupiter Hills Performance Center (JHPC), a state-of-the-art facility that promotes excellence in golf and physical fitness. Together with his team—which includes PGA Tour winner Brad Faxon as Director of Putting and LPGA Hall of Famer Judy Dickinson—he has built a hub of expertise that guarantees unparalleled instruction.
Baile coaches players of all skill levels, including players from the
PGA, LPGA, Champions, and PGA Tour Americas Tours. Notable students include Lucas Glover, Peter Uihlein, Bud Cauley, Hayden Buckley, and Ryan Gerard.
An award-winning instructor, Baile has received several within the South Florida PGA, including the Southeast Chapter PGA Professional Development Award (2023), Southeast Chapter Teacher of the Year (2022), and the South Florida Section Teacher of the Year (2022). Additionally, he received the Carolinas Section PGA Teacher of the Year (2018) and the Carolinas PGA Low Country Chapter Teacher of the Year (2018, ‘16).
Nationally, Baile has been
named to the Golf Magazine
“Top 100 Teachers in America” list annually since 2019, the 2023 Golf Digest “Top 50 Teachers in America” list, the Golf Digest
“Best in State - Florida” list, Golf Digest “Best in State - South Carolina” list and is a Golf Range Association of America “Top 100 Growth of the Game” Professional. Prior to Jupiter Hills Club, Baile served as the Director of Instruction at Belfair in Bluffton, South Carolina (2012-19), and Sea Island Golf Performance Center in Sea Island, Georgia (2009-12).
Baile resides in Jupiter, Florida, with his wife, Mollie.
PAM ELDERS, PGA - PGA of America Player Development Award - Boca West Country Club – Boca Raton, Florida
Pam Elders, a South Florida PGA Section member and the Director of Golf Instruction at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, is the 2025 PGA of America Player Development Award recipient. This honor
bestows special recognition to a PGA of America Golf Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development.
A PGA of America Golf Professional for 32 years, including the last 22 at Boca West CC, Elders demonstrates a commitment to player development and mentorship through her teaching style and her innovative lineup of programs. Responsible for creating custom programs for more than 2,000 members annually, Elders has been instrumental in implementing and elevating diverse player-development programs throughout her teaching career, highlighted by Ladies Beginner Clinics, Get Golf Ready, and her Break 100 Program, among many others. Additionally, Pam is a gifted High School golf coach, PGA HOPE instructor, former First Tee Instructor, and former Special Olympics Volunteer, further reinforcing her commitment
to player development.
Elders serves as the lead instructor for the SFPGA Section’s Annual Women’s Golf Day event and a lead instructor for PGA HOPE, where she continues to play a pivotal role in the growth of the South Florida PGA HOPE program, including women’s Veterans. An accomplished player, Elders was the 1978 Junior College individual Champion (MiamiDade Community CollegeNorth) before spending three successful years on the Women’s Golf team at the University of Miami. Pam has been recognized at the South Florida Section level as the Patriot Award recipient (2023), the SFPGA Player Development Award recipient (2020), the Southeast Chapter Player Development Award recipient (2020), and the Southern Chapter Teacher of the Year (1994). From 2019-21, the Palm Beach Post recognized Pam as the Women’s High School Golf Coach of The Year.
A Turf Pirate's Journal
$ A Turf Pirate's Guide to Goal Setting (part two) $
Welcome
back Turf Pirates! I hope you enjoyed and put to use the strategies from last month’s goal setting column. Now let’s move on to the next level, beyond SMART and GREEN goals and their impact exists the synergy of LINKED goals. LINKED goals link similar goals together by taking reverse engineering steps to craft powerful sub-goals that creatively connect where you aspire to be to where you are now.
You can accomplish huge life/ professional goals and navigate a sea of goals as long as you keep a study heading by identifying those sub-goals and connections that are critical to the larger goal/ success. Writing a time horizon can help with the clarity of this process. A Golf Industry example is, if you want to eventually be a golf course superintendent (the big goal) and you are currently a turf student (early in the journey
of reaching the big goal) your time horizon should start with you as a turf student (current) and have bench marks (next logical events and sub-goals) that includes things like complete internship at Augusta National, volunteer at a PGA tour event, graduate turf school, get a job as a greenskeeper, get a job as a 2nd Assistant/Spray technician at a Private Club, move into Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Mark Khuns presenting me with GCSAA’s highest environmental honor, The President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2010
position and ending at the linked goal of becoming the head golf course superintendent. Be detailed, be flexible but most importantly stay committed to your goal and its processes on a daily basis. The more creative your benchmarks are the more synergy you can expect from the process. Now that you have an overview review the LINKED acronym below.
• L – Legendary (milestone personal/professional achievements)
• I – Innovative (outside the box, NEO)
• N– Navigable (many ways to reach the destination)
• K – Kinetic (relating to or resulting from motion or activity)
• E – Edifying (strengthens others)
• D – Destined (divinely guided)
The LINKED process can lead to extraordinary results. Here is a personal example explaining the LINKED goal process in detail. My linked goal was to win the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Presidents Award for Environmental Stewardship (PAES). Following the acronym, it looks like this. L – Legendary, winning the PAES which is the GCSAA’s highest environmental honor is considered a career/life achievement award, so it is certainly legendary. I –Innovative, my plan was to be innovative through case studies, certifications and outreach,
my water and IPM case studies led to my first book deal, The Environmental Stewardship Toolkit, John Wiley and Sons 2012 (available on Amazon.com) and that’s where GREEN and LINKED goals debuted so again it was pretty innovative. N – Navigable, in the beginning I thought the path was clear that I would be at my original property when eventually I reached the link goal but because I had multiple strategies if needed, I made a bold move and took a tour of duty at a second multicourse property to complete the task and improve my skills. This led to the corporate agronomist role that I am in currently proving the goal was indeed navigable. K – Kinetic, the motion required was epic and connected me to many people and programs such as the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA), Audubon International, E-Par, GEO and many GCSAA staff (including green expert Mark Johnson) to name a few so it was definitely Kinetic and resulted in other awards and lessons along the way that were epic in their own right. E – Edifying, it is hard to say just how many people were impacted by this epic goal, I have taught 1,000’s of amazing people in classes, plus many more
through books and articles and dozens of my staff have gone on to be superintendents or manage their own green businesses. Humbly we all made each other better, stronger. D – Destined, it seems an obvious conclusion to reaching any lofty goal that has progressed through the LINKED philosophy that it was destined to be. However, on my quest to win the PAES there were at least 99 reasons or occasions to quit or give up ranging from droughts to floods and at times just feeling a bit overwhelmed. The deep truth is that you must believe that you are destined to reach the goal and be willing to keep moving forward no matter what occurs even against the negativity of those close to you. I won the PAES in 2010 on a Tuesday, it was an epic day! 10 years of LINKED goal perseverance in the making.
It is my grandest hope that you will take these ideas and use them and build upon them to reach your highest aspirations. We have left the dock and are heading into 2025 and our stories are yet to be written, and anything is possible with a great plan, proven processes and a passion for living! Until our paths cross again Turf Pirates may the grass always be greener on your side of the fence.
Innovative Golf Course Agronomist Rodney Lingle Honored with 2025 USGA Green Section Award
Celebrating a game-changing career in golf course management, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced Rodney Lingle, CGCS, as the winner of the 2025 USGA Green Section Award. Presented annually since 1961, the Green Section Award honors distinguished service to golf through an individual’s work with turfgrass.
An innovator, turfgrass field expert and mentor to countless golf course superintendents, Lingle began his career in 1974
at Hattiesburg Country Club in Mississippi. He joined Memphis Country Club as superintendent five years later and would ply his trade there for the next 37 years, during which time he invented products, advanced the science and art of quality putting surfaces and influenced the entire golf course maintenance industry with his curious mind and innovative tactics.
“Everyone in golf needs to know the name of Rod Lingle – and follow his example,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “Rod has shaped careers, changed the way we think about golf course maintenance, and has never been satisfied with the status quo. But there isn’t a greater legacy you can leave than to be counted as a revered teacher and friend. Golf is better because Rod cares, and that’s why he’s deserving of this award.”
Lingle’s lifelong dedication to experimenting with and perfecting the use of ultradwarf bermudagrass spurred an industry-wide
movement, improving the putting and playing experience for countless golfers and golf courses across the country. That seminal work took root on greens at Streamsong, Atlanta Athletic Club, the RTJ Trail, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club and others in Arizona and Hawaii. It led to Lingle’s development of Mach 1, an advanced turfgrass he eventually patented and is now available around the world.
An innovator at heart, Lingle also created the new greens mowing brush system after a golf course equipment manufacturer stopped making a previous model for walking mowers. Tinkering with various brushes at Memphis Country Club, Lingle eventually developed and patented the Greens Perfection Brush, Toro purchased the rights to use on mowers for the first four years – kickstarting a new era of innovation.
However, Lingle’s greatest contributions to the game stem from his lifetime work as a mentor and collaborator - earning the respect of countless superintendents over four decades of work in golf. He held 10 on-site ultradwarf surface management workshops while at Memphis Country Club, hosting hundreds of superintendents to share his novel maintenance practices and turfgrass management techniques. Superintendents under his tutelage tout his generosity,
ingenuity, drive, care and passion – a “North Star” among his peers, university researchers and colleagues in golf.
“I am very honored to be named the 2025 USGA Green Section Award winner, as working with the USGA Green Section through the years has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Lingle. “A special thank you to the great staff in Memphis and Texas, you made all this possible by the hard work and dedication you provided. Your effort provided much of the foundation for the popularity and growth of ultradwarf greens in the South.”
After 37 years at Memphis Country Club, Lingle moved on to Escondido Golf and Lake Club in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he received a B.S. in agronomy and golf course management.
Testimonials:
• “I have known Rodney for 15+ years and have admired him not only for knowledge and expertise in many facets of our profession, but perhaps just as importantly for his willingness to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with his industry colleagues. Rodney was a pioneer in establishing best management practices for ultradwarfs. Many clubs through the Southeast have benefitted greatly from Rodney sharing his insights, not the least of which is your truly and our team at Pinehurst
Resort.” – Bob Farren, director of golf course management at Pinehurst Resort and 2024 Green Section Award recipient
• “Rodney’s commitment to advancing others in the industry is profound, consistently providing logical, scientifically grounded explanations that elevate the understanding and success of everyone he encounters. I am genuinely grateful to have benefitted from Rodney’s expertise and mentorship. He embodies the highest standards of a certified golf course superintendent and exemplifies the dedication, integrity and expertise this profession aspires to uphold.” –Hank Kerfoot, president, Modern Turf
• “I knew from the first visit with Rodney at Memphis Country Club that he brought much more than ‘just an idea’ to the market. He brought a philosophy of learning, teaching, and success to his whole team. His true passion is not grass – his passion is watching others succeed after passing along what he learned from his toils and peers.” – Tom Langworthy, director of engineering, The Toro Company
USGA CEO Mike Whan announced Lingle’s Green Section Award honor at the 2025 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference and Trade Show. He will be presented the award at the 2025 USGA Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 1, 2025, which will be held at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.
T.A. Barker, CGCS, elected 88th president of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
T.A. Barker, CGCS, the superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville, Utah, was elected to a one-year term as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association’s annual meeting Feb. 6, which was held in conjunction with the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.
Barker is the 88th president in the association’s history and served as vice president of the association in 2024. He has been a member of the association’s board of directors since 2018. A 21-year member of GCSAA, Barker is also a past president of the Utah GCSA. Barker joined the grounds crew at Fore Lakes in 1995 and has been superintendent since 2006. A third-generation superintendent, he became exposed to GCSAA at a young age when his father, GCSAA member Todd Barker, would take the family to the GCSAA Conference
and Trade Show each year.
Barker has an advanced turfgrass certificate from Penn State University World Campus.
“This is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Barker said. “This organization is my professional home. The collective strength and passion of our members is what makes GCSAA exceptional.”
In addition to Barker, chapter delegates elected Paul L. Carter, CGCS, superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tenn., as vice president, and Marc E. Weston, CGCS, superintendent at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington, Conn., as secretary/treasurer.
Board members Steven J. Hammon, CGCS, superintendent at Traverse City (Mich.) Country Club, H. Scott Griffith, CGCS, director of agronomy at the University of Georgia Golf Course, in Athens, and Gregory B. Jones, CGCS, MG, director of agronomy at Champions Run in Omaha, Neb., were re-elected to serve on the board, while Ryan S.
Kraushofer, CGCS, superintendent and general manager at Westminster National Golf Course in Westminster, Md., and Brian J. Roth, CGCS, superintendent Oquirrh Hills Golf Course in Tooele, Utah, were newly elected to join the board as directors.
Jeff L. White, CGCS, director of agronomy at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan., will serve one year as immediate past president, while Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif., retires from the board. Doug Dykstra, CGCS, director of agronomy and facilities at White Mountain Country Club in Pinetop, Ariz., resigned his position on the GCSAA Board for personal reasons after serving on the board since 2020.
In addition to the board election, the membership also approved a dues increase to support GCSAA efforts in workforce development, advocacy, environmental programs and professional recognition.
Sebonack: Sustainable From The Start
Sebonack Golf Club on Long Island, New York, has built up quite the resume in its 20 years of existence.
It’s the only course co-authored by Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus. It hosted the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open.
And, though it’s within view of the clubhouses serving two of America’s truly legendary locales–The National and Shinnecock Hills–it has the strongest environmental sustainability bona fides of any course in the Northeast.
From day one, Sebonack’s shapers and agronomists made environmental stewardship the
central tenet of their construction and maintenance credo. They took into consideration every nuance and vagary of their site from soil composition to water to a rich wildlife profile. Sebonack had asserted itself as a leader in sustainable golf, with three staffers shepherding it through the environmental impact studies and construction standards necessary: Original superintendent Garret Bodington, assistant superintendent Nick Venturino (who worked most closely with Audubon International’s certification specialists at the time), and project manager Mark Hissey.
“All were instrumental in the original certification program,” says Mike Keohan, who in 2024 marked three years as the club’s superintendent and is coming up on his sixth year there.
June 19, 2008, Sebonack received its first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification–an honor it has maintained ever since. Its stewardship roots are now as deep as those of any course in the Signature Sanctuary family, and there’s no chance of them withering as long as the club’s membership continue to count sustainability among their treasured cultural touchstones.
“It’s part of all of the allure of being part of the Sebonack Golf Club,” says Keohan. “It’s a very natural setting. We set up to [operate in a sustainable way]. This is just how we operate. Our ownership is fully on board with and proud of being part of the certification, so we’re always trying to improve on it.”
Keohan has established sustainable systems at facilities up and down the Eastern Seaboard, including the Country Club of Vermont in Stowe and Anglebrook Golf Club in Northern Westchester County, located on the watershed for New York City drinking water–which, of course, made water quality monitoring not just a priority but a necessity. That’s also true at Sebonack,
where fresh water irrigation sources are limited, leading to a fast-andfirm playing surface philosophy.
“We pull directly from the aquifer and have a holding pond,” Keohan says. “We do use a lot of native plants, which are drought tolerant, but as far as the playing surfaces of the golf course, if we want to put out a 500th of an inch of water, we know that when we run the overheads, we only run them for two, three minutes as opposed to a traditional golf course that may be running seven to 10 minutes.”
If this approach sounds familiar to well-traveled golfers (and agronomists), it’s pretty much standard operating procedure for the world’s traditional linksland courses–the very conditions Keohan and Sebonack’s members are after. “We are a very sandy site, so we have been using specialized wetting agents. We are looking to hold a little bit of moisture in the sand profile, but allowing the top to be dry. We provide a firm playing surface for our members and guests, but allow ourselves to have adequate moisture for plant health. We supplement it just by irrigating, by spot, watering by hand, especially during July and August.”
While the greens get what amounts to white-glove treatment, native areas are left pretty much alone. From tee to green they take specific measures to ensure optimal conditioning, while allowing the natural setting of certain bunker faces and other native areas to remain untouched. “We have gone back to what golf was in its origins, and we pride ourselves on that.”
Sebonack has taken a traditional tack with its turf, as well. “We have fine fescue and Colonial bent grass fairways, so they can be a little temperamental due to different cultural practices and healing in springtime. And they’re very sensitive to herbicides and pre-emergence. We have expanded out our organic use program over the past few years, working at a cellular level of plant health, using more potassium, calcium, and carbon-based fertility programs.”
The carbon-based fertility line features seaweed extracts and kelps. “We’re also trying to build a stronger soil structure, a better soil biology, with improving our microbial population. The only
way to improve that is through a carbon-based program.”
Sebonack is home to countless species of fauna, too. “We run the gamut with wildlife,” Keohan continues. “We have bald eagles early in the spring, and osprey usually come back sometime around St. Patrick’s Day. When the osprey leave in the fall, we see the eagles come back. We have a lot of fox, especially in the shoulder seasons before play resumes. We are open from May one to November first, so to over the winter months, we have a lot of foxholes in the bunker faces. Once the maintenance teams are back out there on a real regular basis, they’ll go away and find another home.”
Year-round species include a “prevalent deer population,” and Sebonack welcomes bluebirds to its many on-courses boxes; they and other species really ramp up during summer, when they “eat a lot of mosquitoes.”
As a club with a healthy maintenance budget, Sebonack embraces new technology at every level of operation, including the GPS sprayers. “The whole facility is outfitted with LED lighting, and all lighting switches are on timers. The GPS sprayers are revolutionary to our maintenance programs. We tend to be on the leading edge of technology because thanks to our ownership, who’s very supportive of everything we do, either with savings or improving our input, our footprint on the environment.”
It’s all in service to Sebonack’s high sustainability standards. “I’ve been a golf course superintendent now for over 25 years,” Keohan says. It’s a lot different now than it was then. We are stewards and custodians of the land, and we must make these decisions to benefit all who are sharing this planet. Also, we are playing our part with the local agencies to ensure that members can enjoy the game of golf at a high level without affecting our surrounding environment.”
The club’s long-running partnership with Audubon International is a big part of Sebonack’s continued success.
“They have a lot of good points,” Keohan says, referring to certification site visits. “They’re happy to see the records we keep and what we’re promoting as far as wildlife we establish–allowing more to be introduced into the area just by having non-maintained areas. We’re working hand in hand to make it a better work environment for everyone. Audubon International enjoys seeing that we continue to uphold their certification, following their guidelines.”
To learn more about how your local golf course, community or resort can gain recognition for your environmental efforts or to learn how to expand your initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, visit www.auduboninternational.org or call toll free: 1-844-767-9051.
Meet Casey Reynolds: Leading Turfgrass Innovation with Turfgrass Producers International
By Cecilia Johnson
As Executive Director
of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), Dr. Casey Reynolds leads an association that has been the cornerstone of the turfgrass production industry for nearly 60 years. With a focus on education, advocacy and resource development, Reynolds ensures that TPI supports sod farmers, equipment manufacturers and industry professionals worldwide while promoting the environmental and economic benefits of natural grass.
Reynolds’ passion for agriculture began in high school while working on a strawberry farm. Internships on golf courses and sports field projects led him to study turfgrass at North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1996, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree. After graduating with his master’s, he launched a landscaping company, handling yard spraying, lawn mowing and sod installation for five years before returning to NC State to complete his PhD in 2013.
Reynolds’ passion for education and research and advice from mentors made pursuing a PhD a natural fit. “After 13 years at NC State University, I move to College Station, TX in 2013 where I served as a statewide turfgrass extension specialist and faculty member in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University.”
Reynolds learned the experience of being a faculty member helped develop many of the skills necessary to running a non-profit. “You have to raise funds, create programs and
publications that have value to the industry, and build relationships to become a trusted source of guidance,” he explained.
His time in the Lonestar State also offered him new perspectives on farming. “Texas is so large and I enjoyed the diversity and prominence of farming. It’s something that kind of drew me to TPI – I’ve always really enjoyed working with farmers.”
Turfgrass Producers International
In 2016, industry colleagues encouraged Reynolds to apply for the Executive Director role at TPI. During his 2017 interview with TPI’s Board in Tucson, Reynolds was excited to learn that many familiar faces he knew in sod production were already members of TPI. “It really was a natural fit”, says Reynolds. Working with farmers is something I have always enjoyed and to have a chance to serve them full-time inspired me to pursue the position.”
Reynolds officially began with TPI in May 2017. Just days later, he attended an industry event at Thomas Turfgrass in Paige, TX, for a Sod Solutions showcase featuring Latitude 36® Bermudagrass. As he arrived, he recalls receiving a call from his wife—nine months pregnant—saying she was going into labor. “I’ll always remember my first official TPI event as the day our daughter was born,” Reynolds said. “That memory alone will always remind me of my time in Texas, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The fact that I was on a sod farm when I got that call is just a nice little extra twist of fate.” Reynolds and his family now reside in North Carolina.
TPI Events
TPI hosts and participates in large conferences and meetings around the world, planned several years in advance. Reynolds emphasized the importance of TPI’s conferences, which bring members together to share knowledge, explore the latest technology and reconnect with colleagues. “One of the things our members routinely tell us is that they have built relationships at TPI conferences that lasts a lifetime.”
Reynolds credits much of the success of these events to his small but hard-working team: TPI’s Administrative Manager Geri Hannah; TPI’s Membership & Marketing Manager Allie Roed; TPI’s Event Planner Liz Lonsbrough and her team; and Mike Blair and others. “They do an amazing job ensuring our events and tours go off without a hitch.”
Steve and Suz Trusty, co-editors of TPI’s bi-monthly magazine TPI Turf News are also a large part of TPI. During their tenure, they’ve led the magazine to numerous communication awards and have both earned a place in the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) Hall of Fame.
“Our small staff does a bit of everything and I’m thankful for all they accomplish. Geri Hannah, Steve Trusty and Suz Trusty have been with TPI for many years now and I’m sad to say that retirement just over the horizon for them.
“We’ll work hard to ensure smooth transitions”, Reynolds noted, “but as any farmer or other businessperson knows, it’s always difficult to replace great people, especially those you’ve grown to care about like family.”
Public Policy and Advocacy
Advocacy is a core aspect of TPI’s work. Since 2017, Reynolds has influenced state and federal policies, providing testimony on grass bans in Maryland, North Carolina, California, Utah, Colorado and Texas, just to name a few. He’s worked with the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain herbicide labels for sod production and sports fields and influenced
policy decisions at the Departments of Labor (DOL), Transportation (DOT) and Agriculture (USDA).
Perhaps most notably, in 2019, the DOT removed sod from its list of agricultural commodities, threatening farmers’ exemptions from Hours of service (HOS) rules. TPI spent three years with the federal government, meeting in person with officials in Washington, DC and submitting comments to successfully reinstate sod as an agricultural commodity. For Reynolds, getting sod included in the new definition of Agricultural Commodity was “one of the most worthwhile achievements” of his career. “I cannot stress enough how important these efforts are,” says Reynolds. “It’s very rewarding to be
is engaged, TPI launched the Future Leaders Program, engaging younger members in state-level public policy. This group of leaders travels to Washington, DC each year with Reynolds to visit in person with staff at legislative offices and agencies to make sure sod producers have a voice in policy.
Combatting Artificial Turf
TPI continues to emphasize natural grass’s environmental and safety benefits over artificial turf. Reynolds noted that athletes consistently prefer natural grass, with studies showing it’s safer for knee and ankle injuries, concussions and overall career longevity.
A TPI-published NFL case study found that most players believe
able to go into a city council, state legislature or federal agency and succeed at something like keeping farm plates and ag exemptions for sod producers. That is a tangible, positive impact that is felt back on the farm for producers all over the United States.”
Similarly, TPI successfully lobbied to include sod in USDA COVID-19 relief programs, securing up to $210 million for sod farmers who lost sales in the early stages of the pandemic. Reynolds shared this would not have happened without TPI efforts in Washington, DC. Due to its importance, government relations take up a significant part of his time. While TPI’s advocacy primarily focuses on U.S. regulations, international members often note that U.S. policies tend to influence policy in their countries as well. To ensure the next generation
artificial turf increases injury risks and soreness. Reynolds is optimistic that the 2026 World Cup, played on natural turfgrass, will further showcase the advantages of grass fields on a global stage.
Rising concerns over plastic pollution have led to an increasing interest in artificial turf bans, creating new opportunities for natural grass. “People are starting to realize that plastic pollution is a serious issue. It’s the perfect time to promote the environmental benefits of grass,” Reynolds explained. It’s also important to participate in pending legislation in state and federal agencies around plastic pollution. “In my initial time at TPI I would only ever get called in to testify on grass bans, but in the last 12-18 months I’ve been asked to comment on artificial turf bans as well.” Many parents, advocacy
groups and agencies are starting to ask about the potential impacts of forever plastics, often called PFAs.
TPI continues to advocate for the long-term benefits of natural grass as the world shifts towards plastic-free choices.
North Carolina Sod Producers Association
Reynolds recently stepped in as interim Executive Director for the North Carolina Sod Producers Association (NCSPA) while continuing to lead TPI. During his time at NC State, Reynolds built close relationships with former Executive Director Dr. Art Bruneau and sod producers across the state. When Bruneau stepped down in 2022, NCSPA turned to TPI for interim leadership. Eager to help due to their shared goals and proximity, Reynolds took on overseeing communication, leading annual meetings and keeping members informed on industry news.
TPI Membership
Reynolds asks that all sod farms consider joining TPI, which produces award-winning publications like Turf News magazine, a 100+ page annual guide on weed, insect and disease control for turfgrass producers and a book on Sod’s Status as Agriculture in law.
“TPI’s work benefits every sod farm and being a member allows you to access critical resources and connections that can strengthen your business and our industry. We absolutely could not be successful in positively impacting laws or codes at the federal and state level, fighting grass bans or any of the other work we do without the support of the industry”, he emphasized. “We’re here to serve, so please reach out to us any time.
TPI was founded in 1967 at Michigan State University’s Turfgrass Field Day, when 40 individuals formed the American Sod Producers Association (ASPA). It was renamed Turfgrass Producers International in 1994 to reflect its global reach. Today, TPI represents members across the U.S. and in many countries.
“I’m passionate about leading TPI and addressing the issues that matter most to sod producers,” Reynolds concluded. To learn more about TPI’s resources and upcoming events or to become a member, visit TurfgrassSod.org.
Dr. Casey Reynolds advocating for natural grass in Washington, D.C.
55 Fifth Street, Winter Haven, FL
Saturday, March 8th 9:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday, March 9th 10:00am – 4:00pm
Join us at the Victor Smith Law Group Central Park Art Festival held in the heart of Winter Haven, Florida.
Showcasing an impressive collection of artists from around the country, this annual event promises to be a visual delight forall art enthusiasts.
• Live music
• Food trucks
• Face painting
• Kid’s activities
• Fine art
• Art for sale
• Interact with artists
• Includes 2d and 3d art
• All original art
We thank the sponsors for their financial support for this event:
