Golf News – June 15, 2016

New Callaway MD3 Gold Nickel Wedges Announced

Today Callaway Golf has officially announced its new MD3 Milled Gold Nickel Wedges. They will be available at green grass shops around the country and online at callawaygolf.com onJuly 1st.

These wedges feature our most versatile wedge grind, the S-Grind, and our milled Progressive Groove Optimization to give golfers versatility and optimized spin for each loft, so they can hit all the shots they need around the green. They also have advanced shaping made by Callaway Chief Designer, Roger Cleveland, and for the first time in our wedge line we’ve incorporate a rich gold nickel plating for soft feel and a clean, refined appearance.

They will be available for right-handed players only in 50*, 52*, 56*, 58* and 60* lofts, at a retail price of $129.99 each.

KemperSports Announces “Ultimate Buddies Trip” Sweepstakes

One golfer will have the opportunity to win a unique experience at any property in the KemperSports portfolio

NORTHBROOK, Ill.,  – To celebrate the continued growth of KemperClub, KemperSports’ customer engagement initiative, the company announced today a sweepstakes that will give one golfer the chance to win a once in a lifetime golf experience at any property in the KemperSports portfolio.

The sweepstakes, which will run through Sept. 5, 2016, gives one lucky winner the chance to plan the Ultimate Buddies Trip that can be used at one or more properties. Up to $10,000 credit can be used for golf, lodging, food and beverage or to host a birthday party, wedding or other celebration.

“We are extremely proud of our portfolio of golf courses and resorts across the U.S. and Mexico and look forward to awarding one lucky winner an experience of a lifetime,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “The Ultimate Buddies Trip is a unique way to showcase the best that KemperSports has to offer.”

KemperSports’ award-winning portfolio includes golf courses, resorts and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Streamsong Resort, Quail Lodge and Club, Vidanta Resorts, The Glen Club, The Prairie Club, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Desert Willow Golf Resort, Butterfield Trail Golf Club, Harborside International, Harbor Shores and Chambers Bay, host of the 2015 U.S. Open.

Entry into the free sweepstakes can be made at kemperclub.com/ultimate.

KemperClub is an initiative from KemperSports that is designed to engage customers with special promotions and events at KemperSports golf courses. KemperClub showcases unique experiences and events at more than 120 KemperSports properties across the country.

KemperClub members were recently offered a unique preview opportunity to play the first course at Sand Valley Golf Resort, a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design in Central Wisconsin. Sand Valley Golf Resort is managed by KemperSports and is the latest development venture from Bandon Dunes owner Mike Keiser.

For more information on promotions like this and to join KemperClub, visit kemperclub.com.

Oxford Golf® Announces Fall 2016 Apparel Collection

ATLANTA, GA – June 14, 2016 – Oxford Golf®, a leading provider of classic golf and lifestyle apparel, is excited to announce the release of their Fall 2016 collection. The Oxford Golf line has been updated with new styles in fresh colors for Fall. The line consists of a full array of product categories including performance polos, woven sport shirts, shorts, pants, shoes, belts and outerwear. Whether on the course or in the clubhouse, the new collection covers all Fall apparel needs.

“The key direction for the season is everyday performance,” said Debra Miller, Vice President of Design and Merchandising for Oxford Golf. “The line between fashion and function is bridged by performance apparel with a casual look and handle. This is the philosophy that guided the design and development of our new line.”

For Fall 2016, Oxford Golf’s men’s collection has been transformed into three unique color story collections – Orion Blue, Cool Sky, and Niagara. Rich in colors that are great for Summer into Fall, the palette sweeps from pale, breezy neutrals to deep greens and blues. Each color story is distinctly different from one another, and was designed to create essential looks for every golfer, on and off the course.

Oxford Golf’s signature performance polos feature a new design aesthetic that blends casual richness in color, pattern and texture with modern functional elements. The polos this season are constructed from a variety of performance fabric blends including COOLMAX®, drirelease® and spandex. All combinations of fabric technologies offer permanent moisture management performance and easy care.

The collection also introduces two new updated bottom styles – each offered as pants and shorts – that are exciting additions to the brand’s collection of existing bottoms. The Harrow, a new flat-front, tailored-fit pant is available in three colors, Twill, Stone, and Iron Gate and is also available as a short, the Camden. Eastwood is a five-pocket, flat-front plaid pant offered in a Polyester/Spandex performance fabric. Available in two subtle color combinations, Orion Blue and Iron Gate, the fabric is also offered as a short in the Lancaster.

Shoes continue to be a valuable addition to the Oxford Golf collection. The season introduces two new shoe styles – Berwick, a suede driving moccasin, and Haddington, a Venetian loafer that offers the comfort of other Oxford Golf shoe styles, but with a longer, slimmer shape.

In addition to the new styles, the collection features customer-favorite carryover styles in updated colors for the season. Favorites such as the Stanton and Ashford polos, as well as the men’s Derby microfiber short, are now available in additional colors perfect for Fall including Orion Blue, Silver Pine and Niagara.

Mystical Golf’s The Wizard, Man-O-War Courses Celebrate 20th Anniversary

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – Mystical Golf – offering “Myrtle Beach’s finest 54 holes of golf” – announces this year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of its acclaimed Man-O-War and Wizard courses.

Since joining Mystical Golf’s first course – The Witch, which debuted in 1989 – Man-O-War and The Wizard have formed a trifecta continually lauded by customers and major golf media. Designed by Dan Maples, the trio have been consistently recognized among Myrtle Beach’s “five best courses” and “best values.”

The Witch and Man-O-War courses were recently ranked in the “Top 15 Courses in South Carolina” in Golf Channel’s Golf Advisor rater reviews for 2015. Man-O-War’s 15th hole ranks among GOLF Magazine’s “Five Most Memorable Island Greens” alongside No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass, the “Alcatraz” hole at PGA West’s Stadium Course and Coeur d’Alene Resort’s movable, floating putting surface. The Wizard has earned an exceptional 4-1/2 stars from Golf Digest.

“Our customers always marvel about how The Wizard and Man-O-War are side-by-side yet offer two completely different golf experiences that are equally amazing,” says Claude Pardue, President and CEO. “For two decades golfers have returned year-after-year to enjoy what has become widely known as Myrtle Beach’s premier buddy trip destination.”

Perfect to enjoy playing at Mystical Golf during the summer until Sept.7, the three-day Gold Package starts at $99 (per person, per day, taxes included). Features include three rounds with cart on each of the much-admired Mystical Golf layouts (plus one complimentary round), three nights’ lodging in well-appointed three-bedroom villa (four beds), free iHOP breakfast daily (available 24 hours per day), and a gratis steak dinner at Logan’s Roadhouse (includes non-alcoholic beverages, taxes).

Additional package extras include two free beers and lunch at the course each day, complimentary daily range balls, instant replay round for cart fee only, and $15 gift card toward a golf shirt. Extra night stays are available at a moderate cost per person.

Offered during the same time span, the Silver Package starts at $89 (per person, per day, taxes included) and features all the highlights of the Gold Package except the complimentary round, daily breakfast and steak dinner. Both stay-and-plays offer one complimentary golfer for booked groups of 20 or more players.

Mystical Golf’s three layouts are highlighted by wonderfully fun elements including the only back-to-back island greens in the game (Man-O-War), a front nine of dramatic holes weaving through secluded swampland teeming with wildlife (The Witch), and a splendid layout reminiscent of Scotland and Ireland’s classic courses complete with authentic sod-faced bunkering and castle-style clubhouse (The Wizard).

For Mystical Golf information: mysticalgolf.com, 843.282.2977.

SkyCaddie® Offers Up To $50 Off Select Rangefinders For Father’s Day

RIDGELAND, Miss., June 15, 2016… SkyCaddie®, the most trusted Rangefinder in Golf, is offering a special Father’s Day promotion of up to $50 off select SkyCaddie rangefinders through July 5, 2016.

“We’re helping you give your dad the gift of better golf with a SkyCaddie rangefinder this Father’s Day,” said Jacqui Surman, SkyGolf SVP, International Sales & Marketing. “With rangefinders now permitted in most competitive amateur golf, your dad will thank you for helping improve his game with accurate golf course information. Take advantage of our special promotion and receive up to $50 off of a brand new SkyCaddie, the simplest, most powerful golf course GPS product on the market today.”

This special promotion includes SkyCaddie® rangefinders in multiple formats and price points that are pre-loaded and ready-to-play with over 35,000 high-precision courses worldwide. Rangefinders include:
• The SkyCaddie TOUCH
• The SkyCaddie Aire II
• The SkyCaddie LinxVue
• The SkyCaddie Linx
• The SkyCaddie SW2

Each product includes simple wireless connectivity via a FREE app to collect and store critical performance data in the SkyGolf 360 Cloud Service, making it available instantly to the golfer, instructor or friends.

The promotional period for the SkyCaddie Father’s Day discount runs through July 5, 2016 and is subject to availability. The discount is only available on new SkyCaddie products, not pre-owned, open box or refurbished products. The offer is open only to U.S. residents and U.S. shipping addresses.

For more information on SkyGolf, please visit skygolf.com.

PGA Golf Club, St. Lucie County Offer Area Golfers Great Rates On Golf, Lodging

(PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.) – PGA Golf Club, the 54-hole property owned and operated by the PGA of America, is teaming with the St. Lucie County Tourism Department to offer area golfers value-packed rates on golf and lodging from June through October.

Golf rates start at $34 and room rates at $79 for a wide variety of lodging partners including the Residence Inn by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn PGA, Homewood Suites by Hilton and the Perfect Drive Villas. Golfers can book tee times and hotels online at GolfStLucie.com; upon check in guests receive a $25 gift card (per room) to the Taplow Pub at PGA Golf Club.

“With a collection of courses designed by golf’s most influential architects, fabulous dining and first-class lodging minutes away, PGA Golf Club is the complete package,” says General Manager Jimmy Terry. “We’re thrilled to extend preferred rates to golfers, there’s never been a better time to tee it up at PGA Golf Club.”

Case in point, the critically-acclaimed Wanamaker Course jumped five spots to No. 16 in Golfweek’s 2016 “Best Courses You Can Play: State-by-State” list following a significant re-grassing project. New turf on fairways and bunker surrounds, and the reframing of holes with several ornamental species, has heighted the overall experience. Golfers are raving about its immaculate playing surfaces and stunning visuals.

Guests can also enjoy rounds on the Tom Fazio designed Ryder Course – featuring rolling hills and tree-lined fairways – and nearby St. Lucie Trail Golf Club (also owned by the PGA of America). The Dye Course is currently closed for a complete renovation of fairways and greens, and is expected to reopen for play in mid-November.

Adding to the energized atmosphere is PGA Golf Club’s renovated 20,000 square-foot clubhouse which includes a modern golf shop, the American-British fusion Taplow Pub and the NINETEEN-SIXTEEN Bar & Grille.

Getting There: PGA Golf Club is less than a two-hour drive from Orlando, Miami and under three hours from Tampa, Fort Myers and other Florida population centers. Ranked among the “75 Best Golf Resorts” by Golf Digest, PGA Golf Club is conveniently located 50 minutes north of Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) off Interstate 95 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. PBI offers nearly 100 non-stop flights to more than 25 cities in the U.S. and Canada.