In the News

The International Golf Federation (IGF), recognised as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, announced the creation of an Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport's inclusion in the 2016 Games. Organisations that will be represented on the committee are The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club.

During a press conference at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the IGF also introduced PGA TOUR executive Ty Votaw as the person who will coordinate the Olympic golf movement on behalf of the IGF's Olympic Golf Committee and other golf organisations around the world. Votaw will serve in a newly created position as Executive Director, IGF Olympic Golf Committee and will work closely with the organisations involved. 

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. - The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Ashworth jointly announced that Ashworth has been named the official outfitter of the 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team. Ashworth will outfit the U.S. Solheim Cup Team at the 2009 Solheim Cup, Aug. 21-23, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.

The Solheim Cup is a biennial trans-Atlantic match-play event featuring the top 12 U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best European members from the Ladies European Tour (LET). The U.S. Team leads the competition, 7-3, and has never lost The Solheim Cup on home soil. 

Harbor Springs, MI. - Golf Channel's popular original production Big Break is returning with a series-first team format that will test each competitor's game as much as their relationship in its 10th season.

Big Break X: Michigan promises new excitement as eight two-person teams, comprised of a male and female, will face some of the most grueling competition in series history in which they could win a lifelong dream at the risk of losing a lifelong friendship. 

When Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien won the inaugural American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in 1990, current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was six.

Now Rodgers finds himself the center of attention among a crowded group of famous athletes and faces because of the soap opera involving Brett Favre and himself in Green Bay. Rogers said this week is just about golf and getting away for him.

“Coming up to the American Century Championship in Tahoe is basically the best week of summer,” Rodgers said. “The people associated with this tournament, NBC, Harrah’s, they take incredible care of us; a lot of great events here. Obviously we’re here to play golf.

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The 2008 Cleveland Golf Pro-Scratch at Angel Park Golf Club will take place Sunday, July 20 on the Palm Course and Monday, July 21 on the Mountain Course. The format will be a two-person better ball with each team comprised of one professional and one “scratch” amateur competing for a total prize purse of more than $18,000.

“Over the years the Cleveland Pro-Scratch was a great excuse to get together and have a lot of fun golfing in Vegas!” said Kris Strauss, Director of Sales and Marketing for OB Sports Golf Management. “While fun is still had by all, the generous support of Cleveland Golf and our other event sponsors (The Rio Hotel and Casino, VegasGolfer, Grey Goose, Taylored Golf Car Systems along with Southern Wine and Spirits) has taken this event to the next level. There is some substantial cash to be won and we are extremely excited to tee it up!”

MONTEREY, CALIF. - The nation's economic slowdown is taking a bite out of the business of many of the golf industry's largest ownership and management companies, but a number of owners and operators say they will continue to invest in their facilities in hopes of growing revenues and gaining competitive advantage during the downturn.

Those were among the results of the annual MCO Pulse Report based on a survey of executives attending the National Golf Course Owners Association's Multi-Course Owners Leadership Retreat held in Monterey July 1-3. The annual gathering of many of golf's most influential executives attracted representatives from more than 50 of the industry's largest course owners and operators. 

St Andrews Links Trust announced a freeze on visitor green fees for its seven public courses for 2009.

The announcement means that high season green fees for visitors to the Old Course will remain at £130, the New and Jubilee courses at £65 and The Castle Course at £120. 

Junior golfers receive Presidents' Youth Leadership Award at Rolex Tournament of Champions 

BRASELTON, Georgia. - Smylie Kaufman of Birmingham, Ala., and Kelsey Conway of Ventura, Calif., were presented the 2008 Presidents' Youth Leadership Award Thursday at the Rolex Tournament of Champions at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind.

The award was created to recognize one boy and one girl AJGA member who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the USGA-AJGA Youth Leadership Club - a joint initiative founded in 2006 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism. 

STATELINE, Nev. - Forty years of historic play, PGA Championships, and a thousand stunning sunsets have made Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course & Restaurant the unique creation it is today. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this incomparable golfing sanctuary is committed to maintaining and improving upon this long-held tradition of excellence.

Coming west in 1896, the Park Family established Edgewood along the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The overwhelming beauty that enchanted them still astounds visitors and locals alike. Today, after more than a hundred years, the Park family still owns Edgewood. 

Jupiter, Fla. - Rounds played in the U.S. were down 4.4% on a same-store basis in May 2008 vs. May 2007. However, because May 2007 rounds were above average, the recent drop is actually a return to normal May volume. Year-to-date rounds are 2.3% less than the comparable period last year.

Regions with the largest declines in May also had nearly two fewer play days this year vs. last - Lower Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. With the Iowa flooding, the Lower Midwest will no doubt be hard-hit in June as well.