In the News

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The reigning National Teacher of the Year, Mike Bender, will be on stage and provide free seminars at the 22nd West Michigan Golf Show to be held Feb. 12-14, 2010 at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

With his Golf Academy based at Timacuan Golf & Country Club in Lake Mary, Florida, Mike Bender attained the highest honor that can be earned by a golf instructor when he was named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year in September 2009 by the PGA of America.

SCOTTSDALE, Az. - Troon Golf, an industry leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing has announced the launch of the 2010 Troon Card Program, offering green fee discounts of up to 50 percent.

With more than 40 participating facilities, the 2010 Troon Card offers discounts at more luxury golf courses than ever before. Additionally, this year's Arizona TwoSome card is priced at $375 until Nov. 6, 2009, offering prospective buyers a $150 savings compared to last year's price. The National Twosome card is priced at $500, saving cardholders $175 on purchases made prior to Dec. 7, 2009.

Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright, the 1952 U.S. Girls' Junior champion and four-time U.S. Women's Open champion, has been chosen to receive the United States Golf Association's 2010 Bob Jones Award. Presented annually since 1955, the USGA's highest honor is given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. The Award seeks to recognize a person who emulates Jones' spirit, his personal qualities and his attitude toward the game and its players.

The award will be presented Feb. 6, 2010, at the USGA's Annual Meeting in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

The LPGA's exhaustive search to replace Carolyn Bivens finally came to an end Wednesday morning when the Tour named 44-year-old former marketing executive Michael Whan as its new commissioner.

"We established very strict criteria for the position of Commissioner and Mike impressed us not only with his background and intellect but also his passion for golf," Board of Directors Chairman Dawn Hudson said at the announcement of the LPGA's new leading man.

The partners responsible for putting on the annual golf industry show have announced that the event will be held in Las Vegas in 2012.

The dates of the show will be Wednesday, Feb. 29, and Thursday, March 1, while presenting partners the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Education Conference and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Education Conference will be conducted Feb. 27-28 and March 2.

Central Florida's Winter Park Country Club will welcome five-time PGA Tour winner Ken Green as part of its Golf Lecture Series presented by the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. The appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11.

In June 2009, Green was seriously injured in a grizzly motor vehicle accident that claimed the lives of his brother William, his girlfriend Jeanne Hodgin, and his German Shepherd Nip.

The 17th hole of the Old Course will be lengthened ahead of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship at St Andrews. The 'Road Hole', which has remained the same length for more than 100 years, will increase in length by some 35 yards to 490 yards. A new Championship tee will be constructed on the practice range of St Andrews Links Trust.

It has long been suggested that the 17th hole would benefit from additional length to restore the original challenge of the hole. In advance of the 1964 St Andrews Open, three-time Open Champion, Henry Cotton, recommended the alteration stating: "I would make a tee just beyond the railway line on the other course [he was referring to the Eden Course which is now the practice range]. It would restore this drive to its former value."

NEW YORK -- The Women's Sports Foundation and the ANNIKA Foundation have teamed up to create the ANNIKA Inspiration Award to honor exceptional young female athletes. The national award, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award presented by the Women's Sports Foundation and the ANNIKA Foundation, will be given to a young woman who has been inspired by someone in her life and who now excels in her sport while demonstrating leadership qualities, taking time to give back to her community or sport, and, in turn, serving as an inspiration to others.

"I credit much of the success in my career to my father's inspirational words, 'There are no shortcuts to success,'" said Annika Sorenstam, founder of the ANNIKA Foundation. "Knowing how impactful one person can be, I am honored to be a part of the recognition of amazing young women who continually inspire and encourage those around them."

ORLANDO - Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Lucas Glover and Vijay Singh have all won majors championships, and each has also experienced victory at the Children's Miracle Network Classic held annually at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Classic is played on the Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World Resort, which will serve as the setting for the 12th installment of the Golf Channel's popular Big Break reality series. The show will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST.

BEAVERTON, Ore. - The new Nike Golf Method putter that has generated so much buzz and curiosity, particularly after having been used to win two major championship titles this summer, will be made available to consumers online in limited quantities beginning at 12:01 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.

Consumers will be able to get a customized and personalized version of the winning Nike Method putter in their hands before its official launch on Feb. 1, 2010, by being among the first limited number to order online at www.nikestore.com starting on Nov. 2 until Nov. 30, 2009 (or while the limited quantities are in stock).