In the News

Two of golf's most powerful organizations are coming together for the common good of the game.

The United States Golf Association and The PGA of America announced a partnership for a Junior Golf Program in 2009 that focuses on expanding the number of junior golfers while fostering life-long participation in the game.

The pilot program will involve PGA Professionals in seven PGA Sections across the country that have demonstrated strong junior golf infrastructures - Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Northern Texas, South Florida, Southern California and Wisconsin.

The program will consist of three initiatives; an After School program, a Trio Mentoring program, and a Course Access program.

Members of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell were hard luck losers at the 2009 Masters, but their second place finishes have them tied for the lead in the first installment of rankings that will decide the 2010 squad.

Ryder Cup points can only be accumulated in major championships in 2009, with every $1,000 earned in prize money equivalent to one point in the standings.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - North America's most-read print golf publication is celebrating a decade online.

Golfer's Guide.com, which launched April 1999 as a complement to the company's growing number of regional magazines, now features unique content designed to keep its dedicated readership of more than one million golfers connected to the latest information from across the golf industry.

This June two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and golf fanatic Justin Timberlake, who serves as host to a PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, will join Michael Jordan at Bethpage Black for the second annual Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge.

The final entry to the foursome that will battle Bethpage's Black Course under U.S. Open conditions prior to the 2009 U.S. Open will be determined April 30, when an amateur is finally picked from a field of 75,581 entries. Golf fans can vote for one of the four remaining finalists at www.gdopencontest.com .

Pennsylvania's Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, located just outside the city of Strousburg, PA and 75 miles from New York City, played host to the 1938 PGA Championship. The 27-hole facility with 24 holes situated on a private island is a classic golf course, designed by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast, who also built Bethpage Black, home to this summer's U.S. Open.

This golf season, Shawnee will break tradition and encourage its visitors to play ready golf in an effort to reduce pace of play.

The Myrtle Beach-based golf course management company Signature Golf Group has promoted from within, naming Vice President of Operations and Construction David S. Downing II, who served as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2008, as its new president.

Downing replaces one of Signature's founders, Steve Taylor. Taylor, who helped form Signature Golf in 2005, will become the company's chairman of the board. He intends to complete the transition while Downing is still a member of GCSAA's Board of Directors as Immediate Past President.

If you thought a small donation to help Hillary Clinton climb out of campaign debt was the only purchase that could lead to rubbing elbows with an insanely recognizable star (Bill Clinton), think again.

From now until April 30, The AT&T National is giving one lucky fan the chance to get up close and personal with the world's No. 1 golfer and tournament host, Tiger Woods.

If you think your roll is better than most, grab your flat stick and head to Northeast Florida.

This weekend The World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village is holding one of two qualifying sessions for its 6th sixth-annual Putting Championship. The eight competitors from this weekend and next who post the lowest scores will receive prizes and compete for the title of "World Golf Hall of Fame Amateur Putting Champion."

Following the lead of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, the 2009 PGA Championship will welcome kids 17 and under accompanied by a ticket adult free of charge.

This year's PGA Championship, the last major of the calendar year, is scheduled for Aug. 10-16 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.