Golf News – April 15, 2025

on April 15, 2025

Timeless Tradition Meets Modern Technology: TaylorMade Introduces R7 Quad Mini Driver

CARLSBAD, CA – TaylorMade Golf introduces the all-new R7 Quad Mini Driver. Inspired by one of the most popular drivers in the company’s history, R7 (and R7 SuperQuad), the R7 Quad Mini pays homage to what’s come before while creating its own modern identity in the same breath.

“The R7 Quad Mini Driver is one of those projects that got everyone excited from the initial concept, and being able to bring back one of the most iconic clubs in TaylorMade history (R7 Driver) was a dream come true. We couldn’t be more excited to continue setting the pace in the Mini Driver category.” – Chandler Carr, TaylorMade Product Manager, Product Creation

R7 Driver Inspiration
TaylorMade recognized the popularity of Mini drivers both on the PGA TOUR and for amateurs and wanted to further push the envelope of what’s possible in terms of both tech and performance. To do so, they looked back on what’s worked in the past and found inspiration from the R7 driver.

Released in 2004, the R7 was one of the most popular drivers in TaylorMade history. It captured over 30 wins worldwide, including the 2004 U.S. Open.

Adjustability Where It’s Needed Most
The R7 driver was also the first driver to incorporate TaylorMade’s Movable Weight Technology which revolutionized the way the entire industry thought about adjustability. The R7 Quad Mini Driver incorporates that same technology allowing golfers to dial in spin, distance, trajectory and shot shape with precise CG placement. The Quad Weighting System includes two 13g and two 4g weights with two ports at the back of the clubhead and one each on the toe and heel.

By moving weight and CG toward the front of the club, golfers experience a penetrating ball flight that’s ideal for maximizing distance. Conversely, placing more weight in the back of the club and moving the CG accordingly in that direction, golfers find enhanced control and ease of use from the deck. Additional weights can also be purchased for an even greater range of adjustability.

Infinity Carbon Crown
A key element in designing the R7 Quad Mini Driver was minimizing mass in the top of the head. The incorporation of a satin Infinity Carbon Crown allowed engineers to not only save weight, but relocate it to other parts of the head where it’s used more efficiently. Visually, the Infinity Carbon Crown presents a clean, elegant profile that inspires confidence in the playing position.

Proven TaylorMade Technologies
The R7 Quad Mini also incorporates Twist Face™ which helps golfers maintain tighter downrange dispersion, especially on mishits. Speed Pocket™ increases face flexion and rebound at impact to enhance ball speed and launch, especially on shots struck low on the face. Together, these technologies work in conjunction to provide golfers increased versatility and playability.

Specialized Component Package
While the design and technology in the R7 Quad Mini Driver’s head is cutting-edge, the complete component packaging is equally so. The stock Fujikura Speeder MD (Mini Driver) shaft is specifically designed to help keep spin rates low while also aiding in stability without adding weight.

Aesthetically, golfers will appreciate the black head with white, red and yellow accents that harken back to 2004 and the era of the original R7. The black headcover also features the original R7 logo with red, white and yellow trim.

“The R7 Quad Mini Driver is the perfect canvas for innovation and style. Featuring four movable TAS (Trajectory Adjustment System) weights, our newest Mini Driver gives golfers the ability to adjust shot shape and maximize performance off the tee and from the deck. It also features our most trusted technologies like the Infinity Carbon Crown and Twist Face™, providing the ultimate suite of playability and versatility in a single package. – Chandler Carr, TaylorMade Product Manager, Product Creation

Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE

Central Oregon Is Home to Championship Golf

SUNRIVER, OR – Central Oregon has long been accustomed to hosting the world’s top golfers, from the best of the amateur ranks to legends of the professional game. So when the United States Golf Association recently announced that Sunriver Resort was selected to host four USGA Championships over the next 11 years, the reaction was less a surprise, more an affirmation.

Both Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Club, a perennial pick on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, and its sister course, Meadows, will host the USGA championships, which include the 2027 and 2028 U.S. Adaptive Open, the 2031 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, and the 2036 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

A golf destination to remember

The quality of play on the Central Oregon Golf Trail, a group of nearly 30 golf courses in all, is easy to measure if you look at its accolades. Pronghorn Club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Juniper Preserve (No. 42), Crosswater (No. 54), and Tetherow Golf Club (No. 57) are all regulars in the Golf Digest Top 100.

In addition to the four USGA championships just announced, Sunriver Resort courses, including Crosswater, have hosted two USGA championships, NCAA national championships, and a Champions Tour major championship. Last year, Pronghorn’s Nicklaus Signature Course hosted the U.S. Open Final Qualifying Stage.

World-class championship venues with magazine-list pedigrees only tell part of the Central Oregon golf story. This High Desert region at the eastern foot of Central Oregon’s volcanic Cascade Range has cradled a diversity of golf that is incomparable.

Some of the best-known architects in the game — names like Bob Cupp Jr., Tom Fazio, John Fought, Robert Muir Graves, Robert Trent Jones Jr., David McLay Kidd, and Jack Nicklaus — have left their mark on the region. Together, they have brought an uncommon range of golf design styles, from Scottish heathland-inspired masterpieces and perfectly manicured desert links to pine tree-framed mountain gems and imaginative, family-friendly putting courses.

Bucket-list courses aren’t the only thing for Central Oregon to brag about, either. Approachable resort golf, including Sunriver Resort’s Meadows or Woodlands courses, Black Butte Ranch’s Big Meadow or Glaze Meadow, and Brasada Canyons in Powell Butte, are exhilarating tracks for nearly every player. And hidden gems, such as the gorgeous Aspen Lakes Golf Course, the lodgepole-pine framed Quail Run Golf Course, or Juniper Golf Course, considered the top municipal course in Oregon, will have you feeling like you are in on a secret.

“The USGA’s return to Central Oregon helps cement the region’s status as one of the country’s premier golf destinations,” said Scott Larson, President/CEO for Visit Central Oregon. “Championships such as these don’t just shine a light on Sunriver, they help introduce the world to all the courses on the Central Oregon Golf Trail. The diversity of golf experiences Central Oregon offers is rare and ensures that every golfer — from beginners to pros — will enjoy a trip they’ll truly remember.”

What’s new in 2025?

Besides the USGA championships, here is a look at some of the most exciting additions on the Central Oregon Golf Trail:

Black Butte Ranch has put the finishing touches on its renovation of all 63 of its cape-and-bay bunkers on the Big Meadow course. The improvement is another in a long line of upgrades at Black Butte Ranch, which debuted its $20 million lodge just two years ago.
Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve has opened a new golf shop that offers a revamped product lineup with more flair and high fashion. The fresh, modern space is housed in Juniper Preserve’s clubhouse, which was rebuilt and updated after being damaged in a 2023 fire. Juniper Preserve also opened Iris and the Blue Bar late last year, offering a fresh take on fine dining and craft cocktails.
Sunriver Resort is installing artificial intelligence-powered robot range pickers at all three of its championship golf courses this year, marking a first in Central Oregon. The fully autonomous golf ball-picking robots can collect up to 60,000 balls in a single day while working around the clock.
Tetherow will enjoy its first full season with its renovated clubhouse, which opened in 2024. With the renovation also came a new patio bar, offering a 19th hole overlooking the course with stunning Cascade Range views.
Currently, amid a four-year master renovation plan, Brasada Canyons continues to upgrade its playing experience. Recently, Brasada added its new “Golf Shed,” which includes a state-of-the-art Foresight Golf Simulator and heated hitting bays open to all Brasada Ranch resort guests.

A 19th hole like no other

Central Oregon provides endless opportunities for adventure, making it more than just a golf destination. The area boasts hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails and pristine rivers perfect for everything from fishing to whitewater rafting. With three dozen breweries, distilleries, cideries, and wineries, and a diverse culinary scene ranging from fine dining to a robust food truck culture offering an eclectic mix of cuisines, finding fun off the course is effortless. The area also has a growing arts and entertainment scene, including the Hayden Homes Amphitheater that books headliners throughout the golf season.

Or, if you prefer, simply relax and enjoy stunning post-round views with a favorite drink in hand as you recall the best shots from a round of golf you won’t soon forget.

Visit Central Oregon Golf HERE

Golf Legend Bernhard Langer Signs With Skechers

LOS ANGELES, CA – Golf legend and two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer signs on with Skechers and will wear the brand’s golf footwear for his return to Augusta this weekend. The PGA Tour Champions and European Senior Tour pro is set to bring Comfort That Performs® to the course as he competes in the Skechers Blade featuring Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins® technology in a special colorway that celebrates the event.

The Skechers GO GOLF Blade that Bernhard Langer and fellow Skechers athlete Matt Fitzpatrick will wear at The Masters features Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins® technology. This waterproof design features lightweight and resilient ECOFLIGHT™ cushioning made with at least 10% recycled materials, a GRIPFLEX spikeless TPU outsole providing superior traction and stability, plus a high-performance Resamax® sockliner for all-day comfort on the course.

German golfer Bernhard Langer has been competing professionally since 1972 and has earned numerous accolades and more than 120 worldwide victories through a storied career spanning over 50 years. Langer holds the all-time record for most PGA Tour Champions wins at 47—including 12 Champions tour major victories and winning the Charles Schwab Cup six times. His 42 career wins on the European Tour rank 2nd all-time. Langer previously won The Masters twice—in 1985 and 1993—and will return to Augusta this year. He’s received various awards throughout his career including winning the Byron Nelson Award for PGA Tour Champions player of the year seven times and earning the prestigious Payne Stewart Award in 2018.

Langer joins a Skechers roster that includes golfers Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooke Henderson. Additional elite athletes around the world competing in Skechers Performance footwear includes basketball stars Julius Randle, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Joel Embiid, Rickea Jackson and Kiki Iriafen; soccer players Harry Kane, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Isco Alarcón and Mohammed Kudus; pickleball pros Tyson McGuffin and Catherine Parenteau; cricket players Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan and Yastika Bhatia; and baseball players Clayton Kershaw and Aaron Nola, among others.

Skechers golf footwear is available globally at Skechers retail stores and skechers.com as well as select retail partners, including specialty golf pro shops.

Visit Sketchers Golf HERE

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Michael Feland

Born in Houston, TX, raised in New Orleans, LA, Mike and his family currently live in Orlando, FL. Mike is a First Tee Level 1 Certified instructor and enjoys sharing his love for the game with the Orlando area youth that participate in The First Tee of Central Florida program.

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