In the News

Golfers have until Saturday, Aug. 1 to register for the 2009 PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, the "World's Largest Single-Site Golf Tournament."

The 26th annual World Am will be held Aug. 31 through Sept. 4 with more than 3,000 golfers from 45 states and 20 countries converging on 51 Myrtle Beach area courses for the week.

During the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, often referred to as the Super Bowl of celebrity events, many players took the opportunity to show off their locker room celebratory skills in the second annual "Korbel Celebrity Spray-Off."

Participating players included winner Tony Romo, runner-up Jerry Rice, and third place finisher Charles Barkley among more than 35 other celebrity participants. Players were judged on champagne cork distance and style of the champagne spray. 

Current instructor for Phil Mickelson and former teacher of Tiger Woods, Butch Harmon, has been ranked as golf's top teacher for the fifth consecutive time. Harmon was named as the No. 1 teacher in Golf Digest's biennial ranking of America's 50 Greatest Teachers (2009-2010) by a direct ballot survey of his peers nationwide.

This list, which is featured in the August issue of Golf Digest, is included in the America's 50 Greatest Teachers package. This package also includes the Best Teachers in Your State, a state-by-state list of the top teachers around the country. The complete rankings of America's 50 Greatest Teachers and the Best Teachers in Your State can be found at www.golfdigest.com. 

CARMEL, Ind. – The 2009 U.S. Senior Open and the United States Golf Association Grants and Fellowship Department, will honor the contingent of military in Indiana and around the country by hosting Military Family Days during Championship Week Practice Rounds Monday, July 27 – Wednesday, July 29 at Crooked Stick Golf Club. 

All military personnel, both active and retired and with proper identification, will receive free admission during Practice Rounds along with a 20 percent discount coupon valid in the merchandise tent for themselves and their families. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), along with Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), offered an effort to award golf legend Arnold Palmer the Congressional Gold Medal, which along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. Congress. The award would be issued in recognition of Palmer's service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship.

"Throughout his career, Arnold Palmer has presented himself as a positive role model and mentor to millions," said Martinez. "He has made tremendous contributions to the sport of golf by bringing recognition to the game worldwide. Palmer has built a successful business as an entrepreneur and spokesperson, while always giving back to Florida and the nation through his many charitable efforts. It is fitting we bestow this award on a man known for his positive influence around the world." 

Mike Malaska, worldwide director of instruction for Nicklaus Academies, has been ranked by his peers as the 24th Best Instructor in the United States. The complete rankings are featured in the August 2009 issue of Golf Digest.
 
Malaska is a regular contributor for Golfer's Guide Arizona and Golfer's Guide Las Vegas. He is one of TaylorMade-adidas’ lead staff instructors, contributes to The Golf Channel, writes for Golf Magazine and other International golf publications. 

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Barefoot Resort & Golf announced that it will host the Barefoot Resort & Golf Fire Victims Pro-Am Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 27 at the Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort to assist Barefoot residents that were left homeless after the April 23rd wildfire that blew through the North Myrtle Beach community.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to the Barefoot Resort & Golf Fire Victims Fund to help many of the 70 residents who lost their homes in the April 23 wildfire and did not have home owner’s or renter’s insurance. 

Ryder Cup Europe confirms that six countries, France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, have announced their intention to bid for The 2018 Ryder Cup.

All six countries have been advised that the deadline for the submission of bids has been set for April 30, 2010. It is intended that the 2018 Host Nation will be announced in 2011.

For nearly 16 years, Falcon’s Fire Golf Club has consistently been recognized as one of the finest public golf courses in Orlando. In order to maintain the highest quality golf experience for their guests, the Club will be using this summer as an opportunity to renovate the course in an effort to return it to the championship quality that golfers have come to expect.

Some of Falcon's Fire's honors include being named “Best Public Course in Florida” in 2006 by Florida Monthly, one of “Florida’s 50 Finest Golf Courses” in 2000 by Golf & Travel and consistently receiving four stars from Golf Digest.

PGA Professional Mike Taylor celebrated his 46th birthday by hopping on a plane at 7 a.m. Monday bound for New York, in the hopes of witnessing some personal golf history.

A little more than six hours later, his wish came true when his student, Lucas Glover, captured the 109th U.S. Open at the famed Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. Glover is the first protégé of Taylor, who has taught at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., for 20 years, to capture a major Championship.