Northeast Golf, December 2022/January 2023

No Resting on Laurels Around

The Home of American Golf

By Brad King

Calling these “the best of times” around the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area of North Carolina might seem like it’s saying a lot, but sometimes the shoe simply fits. Just take a look at everything that is currently happening around the Home of American Golf.

Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club recently celebrated its fourth U.S. Women’s Open and enjoyed rousing success, crowning another worthy champion in world No. 4-ranked Minjee Lee. The Australian joined her mentor, 2001 champion Karrie Webb, along with Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam and Cristie Kerr on the Pine Needles Wall of Champions.

Soon after the final putt dropped at Pine Needles, thoughts turned to the area’s next national championship, the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. It will be one of five U.S. Open Championships in the area by 2047. Oh, by the way, the USGA staged its inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open in July at Pinehurst No. 6 and the event will return next year as well.

All of which is part of the USGA’s historic move to establish its second home in Pinehurst. In an effort to expand its impact in golf and extend its mission to champion and advance the game, the USGA is in the midst of constructing “Golf House Pinehurst,” a six-acre campus that will be completed by the end of 2023

and will include a new equipment-testing facility, innovation hub, museum and visitor center, and offices housing 50 full-time USGA staff members.

The USGA Experience will present an immersive view of golf and the USGA’s work to unify, showcase, govern and advance the game. The Science of Golf and Championship galleries will feature interactive multimedia displays that incorporate augmented reality, interactive touch screens, sculptures and trophies. The USGA Golf Museum Special Exhibitions will uncover the organization’s deep collection of golf artifacts – the most comprehensive collection in the world.

The USGA’s Research and Test Center will be the only one of its kind in North America solely dedicated to testing golf balls and clubs for conformance to the Rules of Golf. At the USGA Shop, golfers will be able to purchase various products with the USGA championship logo of their choice as well as exhibit-related specialty items.

The USGA is also partnering with Pinehurst Resort to construct an outdoor testing pavilion and STEM education space near the resort’s main practice facility, including a mechanical golfer and ball launcher to demonstrate and evaluate golf ball aerodynamics.

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Then came the even-more-recent July news that the World Golf Hall of Fame will relocate its physical presence on display from St. Augustine, Florida, to Pinehurst. Building on their longstanding partnership and shared passion to elevate the stories of golf’s legends, the USGA and the World Golf Hall of Fame will create a new visitor experience at the Golf House Pinehurst campus, opening in 2024.

Additionally, World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held in Pinehurst in 2024 and 2029, to coincide with the 124th U.S. Open on Pinehurst No. 2 (2024), and the return of back-to-back U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica and U.S. Open Championships, also on Course No. 2 (2029).

Many of the most cherished items in the Hall of Fame’s existing collection will be relocated to Pinehurst for the creation of a new Hall of Fame locker room, which will come to life on the second floor of the USGA Experience building. The result will be a seamless visitor journey from the USGA Experience galleries on the first floor to the second, showcasing the incredible talents of golf’s many contributors and their lasting impact on the game.

Meanwhile, in other golf news around the Sandhills, the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Championship will be contested at The Country Club of North Carolina’s Dogwood Course. CCNC

has a long history of hosting elite golf championships, including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Girls and Boys Junior Championships, Southern Amateur and North Carolina Amateur.

For fans of the latest in golf technology, Talamore Resort has recently debuted its Toptracer Range. Talamore guests can experience interactive golf entertainment with the transformation of the Talamore’s driving range into a facility powered by Toptracer Range technology. In addition, the entire Talamore practice range has been upgraded and a new, 15,000-squarefoot putting course is being installed between the driving range and the 10th tee boxes that is expected to open in early fall.

In other scuttlebutt, the group that owns Pines Needles, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club and that recently renovated Southern Pines Golf Club are reportedly planning to build a similar type of large practice putting green, as well as a handful of new cottages at Southern Pines GC.

Pinehurst Resort has reportedly been planning to announce Pinehurst No. 10 at some point soon, while a new distillery and a new hotel are also on the drawing board for the area.

The best of times in the Home of American Golf? That time is now.

HomeofGolf.com

Photo Credit: Trump International Golf Links, Scotland

THE WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED GOLF TRAVEL NETWORK

GOLF INSPIRED DESTINATIONS THE GLOBAL GOLF RESORT COLLECTION

Featuring the very best of up to 60 golf regions across the world

A platform devoted to showcasing the world’s best golf resorts, golf courses and its lifestyle amenities that o ers exclusive benefits to our community members.

THE WORLD’S BEST GOLF TRAVEL EXPERTS GOLF TRAVEL AMBASSADORS INSPIRED JOURNEYS

Native to their destination or region, these experts allow our members to “see travel through the eyes of a local”

An Exclusive Travel Program available to qualified and carefully selected group travel planners that’s referred to as “That Guy or That Gal”

Join like-minded members on exciting and exotic golf travel experiences all over the world

Golf Inspired is a community based platform that showcases the very best of golf and the many passion points that complement the game.

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Specializing in experiential golf travel across the world Ireland, Scotland, Los Cabos, Spain, Portugal, S. Africa, New Zealand & Beyond...

Needing to get away and shake up those plans? With Pete Dye’s modern gem and a classic Donald Ross course together at the same resort (plus casino action after your rounds are in the books), Southern Indiana hits that sweet spot of golf and gaming.

Big-time golf, small-town character: French Lick is the road trip you’ve been waiting for.

FROM THE EDITOR INDOOR GOLF

Indoor Outdoor Golf 365

It has been said that no matter where you live, there is a prime season for the game of golf. If you live in the northern regions of the United States, golf season falls off after September and starts up again in Spring each year. If you live in the South, Southeast, or Southwest you are blessed with a more extended season, usually over 9 months yearly. While courses remain open in the summer, the heat often makes playing unbearable. You could say every demographic in golf comes with limitations and weather restrictions. Last year 37.5 million people played golf, ironically just over a third of all golf played was in fact not on a golf course.

Indoor golf and golf entertainment facilities are the fastest growing sector for golf today. Indoor golf facilities have expanded in all regions of the country. Both cold weather and tropical warm weather locations continue to expand at a rapid rate as the customer base continues to grow. There are over 100 Top Golf type golf entertainment facilities in the U.S. and literally thousands of indoor golf centers nationwide. In addition, private country clubs everywhere are adding indoor golf suites for their members to grow their business model year-round. Some industry experts note that more than 50,000 golf simulators are now in use in golfers homes as well. So, the question is, are there more golf simulators where you can play a round

of golf on, than real golf courses? The answer is a resounding yes!

Indoor golf is here to stay, and it just keeps getting better and better. What began as a golf practice device in the garage or basement has made its way to the family room and prime living spaces. Today’s golf simulators are full family entertainment centers, capable of all sports, home theater, television, and interactive fitness as well. Like the wide-screen television, one day there will be a media wall in almost every home in America.

Play 24/7/365

Timothy R. Branco Editor, Northeast Golf

Submit Your News & More at: www.Northeast.Golf/Submit

“Indoor golf is here to stay, and it just keeps getting better and better.”

At Clarity, we offer free expert knowledge on the acquisition and integration of anything related to indoor golf and launch monitors.

Our customers have the benefit of a free consultation that fully educates them on all aspects of their project. I jokingly tell them that if they make any mistakes, it will be because they choose to do so. Those who buy from us know they are getting the best products and services for the best prices — with lifetime technical support.

In addition to custom simulator integrations, Clarity has a host

of products we will be bringing forth:

• Better ball and club tracking

• Better sim software

• Better learning tools

• Great force plates with a unique interface

• Markerless skeletal-sequential body tracking

• Unique and advanced physical product designs

• Creative advances in simulator environments

• Empowerment for teachers and fitters

Bill Bales, Clarity.Golf Founder

CLARITY.GOLF’S VIEW OF THE FUTURE OF INDOOR GOLF

Software:

The industry is becoming commoditized. E6 has been the industry leading simulator software for over twenty years, and you can get it for numerous trackers. GSPro are the new guys and their product and pricing are compelling. There will be major future disruptions in software over the next few years, including Clarity’s entirely unique view of how to interact with a simulator.

Content:

Content is software but differentiated from the above to clarify the message. We are seeing fairly obvious and mundane content such as kicking a soccer ball, playing skee-ball, simplistic range games like at TopGolf, even beer pong. We will be seeing new, out-ofthe-box, totally original content in the future. It will make what’s out there today look silly.

Data to Knowledge:

Simulators and launch monitors can overwhelm you with data. That must change. Data doesn’t teach. It just sits there. Pros can teach with it. Consider the total percentage of usage of sims and launch monitors with a pro standing there, vs not. A smartphone isn’t smart without apps.

Product Knowledge:

If sims and launch monitors were cars we wouldn’t know their 0-60 times, horsepower, torque, braking specs… we wouldn’t even know if they were a V8, a V6, or a hybrid. Other than often spurious website claims and uneducated online reviews we have zero knowledge of the actual performance of these systems. That must, and will, change.

Pricing:

The emergence of the DIY market and the commoditizing of simulator components is increasing customer awareness and pushing pricing lower. Clarity is doing the same thing with turnkey integrated sims.

THE FUTURE OF INDOOR GOLF

WITH BILL BALES, CLARITY.GOLF FOUNDER

NEG: You’ve been an influencer in golf simulation for over thirty years, and recently founded Clarity. Golf. What is Clarity.Golf?

Bales: Clarity.Golf has been working with brilliant minds around the world to bring what will be my third major disruption to the golf launch monitor and simulator industry. We call it Paradigm3.

Where do you see this whole indoor golf movement going?

Indoor golf is growing rapidly and will continue growing in evolving ways.

Why?

Technology and Inclusiveness. Tech has been driving indoor golf growth for twenty years. Indoor golf is truly inclusive, and it eliminates the ridiculous rules you encounter on the course. Anyone can do it and have fun. The number of indoor golfers in the future will dwarf the number of outdoor golfers.

You’re saying there will be more indoor golfers?

A lot more. The math is simple. Over the last 20 years the number of golfers who played golf courses has remained static while the number of golfers doing it off course (usually indoors or partially indoors) has increased six-fold.

What is holding back the growth of on-course golf?

The golf powers, progenitors of the BEASTS: Barriers of age, race, sex,

class, and skill, expensive Equipment, Access to play, Satisfaction as in a great experience, Time as in it takes way too long, and Social as in pros do a lousy job of getting players together.

What makes Clarity unique?

Bales: We offer free expert knowledge on the acquisition and integration of anything related to indoor golf and launch monitors–with lifetime tech support. And we’re developing a bunch of cool stuff.

Can you expand on the “cool stuff”?

Bales: Better ball and club tracking, sim software, learning tools, force plates, body tracking, creative simulator environments, empowerment for teachers and fitters, extreme gamer-oriented golf derivatives, and more stuff we’ll disclose in the future.

CLARITY.GOLF TEAM

Bill Bales

Founder

Craig Van Vliet CTO

Kathleen Wilkinson Sew Shop Manager

Jack Wachowiak VP Sales

Will Branum CIO

Pete Brewer FPGA/EE

Wilson Bales President Aran Wainwright Clarity UK’s VP Former English Amateur Winner

Doug Woodward Warehouse Manager

Guy Woodman UK Key Accounts

Carson Bales Creative Director

Wes Maass Rendering Artist

AFTER

BEFORE CLARITY REFIT

Before and after at the new Mastodon Golf Club, where in 1989 the former owner unearthed the full skeletal remains of a Mastodon. www.mastodongolfclub.com

THE TECHNOLOGY MIRACLE UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES

Bill Gates summed up a huge challenge mankind faces when he said, “We need an energy miracle”. For us golfers, a technology miracle is taking place now. Consider the effect of ball and club tracking technology on golf. It relates to every TopGolf or TopGolf wannabe, every driving range with ball tracking and games, every indoor golf center, pro shop indoor studio, fitting center, and club retail facility — plus on every range in some portable form and as used by all of the touring pros. “The range is no longer about a bucket of balls — it is an experience”, said Nick Longley, Founder of InRangeGolf.com.

Witness Tiger and Rory’s new TMRW indoor stadium golf con-

cept, partnering with the PGA TOUR and applying Dave Shultz’s approach to indoor golf short game play. And the technology is going to get much better on all fronts. Ball and club tracking will get light-years better. And we’ll see a proliferation of magnificent and spellbinding content that will take the golf experience to a level not previously known or contemplated

Off-course golf has grown six-fold in the same period on-course golf has not grown. People think Covid did it. Covid boosted indoor golf awareness, but the technology miracle is taking place and it’s not going to stop growing this wonderful new facet of the game we all love.

NextLinks Founder Dave Shultz has patented an Innovative Simulation Approach to Short Game Play

Greg Hall and Jeremy Williams 2 Successful Entrepreneurs in Atlanta enter the Indoor Golf relm.

Gates Are Wide Open

BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT

THE PANDEMIC made many of us a bit leery of foreign travel but our nephew’s wedding in Italy propelled us to cross the pond and after five weeks in four countries and 30 beds, we declare the international gates are wide open for wondrous adventures.

France

France is gourmet golf ready and prepping for the 2024 Olympics in Paris where the iconic Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Palace of Versailles are just a few of the sights to behold. Play at the Ryder Cup and Olympian venue - Le Golf National or Ugolf Courson, host of the French Open Qualifiers for 12 years. Advance to other regions such as Normandy where the American Film Festival is held since 1975 and 69 movie stars are commemorated along the beach like the Hollywood walk of fame. Play “New Golf” Course on the premise of Hotel du Golf Deauville before visiting Omaha Beach for a stirring tour of the American Cemetery and World War II memorial. On 170 acres, neat rows of tidy white tombstones seem to go on for eternity. The battle of Omaha Beach is well depicted from different vantage points overlooking the now beautiful setting where sunbathers lounge and sailboats glide across the peaceful water. One such point is at Omaha Beach Golf Club. Behind the 11th green is not only a wide beach view but a bunker sans sand to experience the soldiers’

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

pill box. A jaw dropping stretch of Normandy beach with white chalk cliffs line the d’Etretat Golf Course which celebrated its centennial in 2008. Golfers swing with dramatic sea views from every hole. Play Golf in France is a consortium with more than 100 members, established in 2022 with the support of the French Golf Federation, to promote France to international golfers.

Italy

Italy is on the golf map as host of the 2023 Ryder Cup at the charming Marco Simone Golf Club. It is 13 kilometers from the city center of Rome where days may be spent touring the Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi, and many other historic landmarks. North of the city of Rome, in the southern tip of Tuscany, the Argentario Golf and Wellness Resort is an exceptional retreat on a promontory with magnificent mountain to sea views and the PGA National Golf Course of Italy which recently hosted the Senior Italian Open. In Tuscany’s Terme di Saturnia, golf is a bonus after the turquoise thermal pools bubbling up on site and passing through to the famous Cascades. More north, Castelconturbia has three nines designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior running through the woods below the Swiss Alps, freshly frosted with snow in the fall. In the northwest a daring ascent to the altiplano, with steep u turn curves on a narrow road and fast traffic leads to Golf

Club Asiago and the sweet Meltar Boutique Hotel. The alpine course plays through an Italian forest opening to a pasture with Asiago cheese making cows as mountains and the village with steeples, spires, and World War One memorial loom large in the background. Venice is a romantic setting with a maze of canals and city streets leading to St. Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco, lit at night with overwhelming grandeur as little orchestras strike an emotional chord. When you play at Veneto Golf Course you are glamorously chauffeured on a polished wood, water taxi. Some warn against Venice in the summer due to heat and congestion but our one night in October was unforgettable.

Slovenia

Slovenia is next door to Italy and a favorite of Europeans, where everyone speaks English. Royal Bled Golf Club has pristine 18-hole and 9-hole courses with snowcapped mountain and castle views. Guests are treated like royalty. Lake Bled, an e-bike ride away, is one of the most photographed spots on earth.

Ireland

Ireland is a golf mecca delivering lilted welcomes, links and laughs. You can’t go wrong in any direction. We’ve traveled the Wild Atlantic Way with North and West Coast Links Golf Ireland and recommend Ardglass, carved around capes of waves with views of

Hotel du Golf Deauville

Royal Bled Golf Club

Ballyliffin

DESTINATIONS

Coney Island, Portstewart Strand Course and Royal Portrush by the beach and blue sea, Castlerock, Ballyliffin and Glashedy Links, named for the island offshore and Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort with a bay view. Play Narin & Portnoo and Donegal in Murvagh, a peninsula course. County Sligo at Rosses Point has 27 holes in a seaside village with a marina. Stay at Mount Falcon in the baronial lodge or lakeside suites with a practice range and 12 courses within an hour, including Enniscrone. Carne Golf Links is a roller coaster round with ocean views and Connemara Championship Golf Links is a classic with Connemara ponies, a pirate witch’s castle, and plenty of ocean.

This year, we drove across southern Ireland, from Portmarnock on the sea by the Dublin airport to the parkland K Club and Trump Doonbeg on the western coast along with Lahinch, Ballybunion and Tralee, all with fabulous stretches along the Atlantic.

Don’t miss the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, and kiss that Blarney Stone near Cork before a tour of the Jameson Distillery in Middleton. Consider the Guinness factory in Dublin with 360-degree city view bar at the top and you have your Irish bases covered.

Beyond

We attended IGTM (International Golf Travel Market) with over 1,000 participants while in Rome and reacquainted with global friends. National tourism and resort representatives showcased their destinations in the exhibit hall with over 14,000 meetings and networking events. In addition to the above countries, Scotland, Wales, Spain, and Portugal were busy as well as Casa de Campo and Los Cabos from the Caribbean. Europeans enjoy regions that have not hit many Americans’ radars but caught our eye with elaborate displays and presentations.

Iceland invites lava play at midnight in the summer whereas Egypt, for all seasons except summer, boasts the pyramids, the Nile and two Troon courses within an hour. Troon also promoted the Grecian Islands, Czech Republic, Algarve, Dubai, and Turkey as premier spots to tour and golf. Morocco served a spiced green tea during meetings while Slovakia, 45 minutes from Vienna, made a big splash with wine sampling and recommended ten courses and the Danube. South Africa’s ambassador says, “Come in peace and leave inspired.” We experienced it with Pro Golf Safaris and agree. Zambia to the north also plugged game tours and Victorian Falls. Seated by the Tunisia ambassador at dinner, we learned that it was a star trek film location. Who knew? International golf travel expands your horizons with cultural immersion. The gates are open; let’s open our minds and fill our hearts.

Terme di Saturnia

2UNDR TRAVEL BAG COLLECTION

WEEKEND DUFFEL

BLACKCOMB - $100

With its sleek design accompanied by a side access shoe compartment and roomy main compartment, the Weekend Duffel holds all your essentials (and then some) for your impromptu getaways. Its premium nylon webbing shoulder strap along with hand/shoulder carry webbing handles make traveling a breeze. The external side sleeve and zippered side pocket, along with the internal zippered pocket provide maximum storage options.

H: 11.5in, W: 21.5in, D: 10.5in

TOILETRY KIT

BLACKCOMB - $60

The 2UNDR Toiletry Kit holds all your essentials. It offers a large main pocket for full-size toiletries, multiple mesh dividers for organization, quick entry isolated side pockets, and a fur-lined valuables pocket. Its top rotating hook can display the bag from a bar or rack, and then tucks away when not in use. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or frequent flier, this bag will keep you so organized, you’ll never forget your toothbrush again.

H: 9.75in, W: 9in, D: 3.75in

BOZEMON PACK

BLACKCOMB - $180

With its simple silhouette, premium materials and feature-rich design, the Bozeman pack is the undisputed boss of all backpacks. Its fleece-lined laptop compartment, valuables pocket, padded tablet pocket, and RFID blocker pocket keep your tech safe while you travel. Multiple internal zippered pockets, an expansion zipper for additional volume, and dual side stretch hydration pockets make this backpack the best travel companion you’ll ever have.

H: 19in, W: 12.5in, D: 8in

SHOE BAG

BLACKCOMB - $40

This convenient and classic shoe bag is a great way to separate your sneaks, cleats or wing tips from your other luggage to keep everything clean and smelling fresh. Its high-quality look and design includes an easyto-clean interior lining, and its versatile side-buckled Neoprene handle can attach to your golf bag. Fits up to a Size 13 shoe.

H: 14.5in, W: 10in, D: 5in

2UNDR products provide the best comfort and style a man could ever need. With simple silhouettes, premium eco-friendly materials and feature-rich designs, the all-new travel bag collection is ready and waiting for your next adventure.

LOS CABOS

The term “Bucket List Golf Destinations” is made up of some the most iconic golf resorts and destinations in the world. It simply is, a golf-travelers must-visit, must-play in a lifetime list. It is rare that any destinations make their way to this elite list; Los Cabos is the exception. The destination has become one of the most popular luxury golf destinations in the world. Not only is Los Cabos the top golf travel destination in Mexico, but it is also quickly moving up the list as one of the top destinations in the Americas.

Where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, bliss exists in the form of fresh mangoes and slow sunsets, unparcelled luxury golf resorts set in subtropical sunshine, seen an average 350 days of the year. If your idea of golf heaven is a diverse array of spectacular courses woven into a dazzling seaside landscape, Los Cabos is the destination for you. As Mexico’s premier tourism destination, Los Cabos is home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts, outstanding spas, award-winning restaurants as well as top ranked golf courses and amazing tours, activities and adventures. There are so many things to do

in Los Cabos and you can do them safely, without concern. Los Cabos was named by Forbes as the world’s first verified travel destination by Sharecare Digital Heath. Nearly 288,000 people call this scenic cape of Los Cabos, Mexico home, scattered across a 20-mile corridor connecting the touristy Cabo San Lucas to the cultural town center of San José del Cabo in the east. Known for its luxury hospitality, exuberant nightlife, and diverse culinary delights, Los Cabos exceeds expectations.

Los Cabos boasts a mountain-desert-ocean environment unique in the western hemisphere. Only in Los Cabos do emerald green fairways tumble down from cactus-studded foothills to meet the sea. Only in Los Cabos can golfers tee it up on world-class layouts built by design legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Only in Los Cabos can players enjoy great golf and perfect weather: Blue skies, brilliant sunshine and cooling sea breezes prevail year-round. Los Cabos is home to some of the top luxury Golf Resorts in the world. All Inclusive resorts like Pueblo Bonito Pacifica and Pueblo Sunset

Beach Golf & Spa Resort, Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Blanco, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, and Grand Fiesta Americana, offer unlimited amenities and all-inclusive packages that include golf privileges.

There are a host of amazing golf facilities, designed by the best of the best in the game today. Greg Norman’s Solmar Golf Links has only been open for a couple of years but already has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the “Top 3 Golf Courses” in Mexico. Along the Southern Coast, Quivira, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is ranked among “World’s Greatest New Courses” and has magnificent ocean side practice facilities. Diamante’s El Cardonal, featuring an “Old California” design motif, marked the architectural debut of Tiger Woods when it opened in 2014. Defined by flashedfaced bunkers, this intriguing layout transitions from sand dunes to rolling foothills edged by desert vegetate and winding arroyos. With its wide fairways and open-entry greens, El Cardonal was designed to appeal to golfers at all skill levels.

The Dunes Course, ranked among the world’s top 100 courses by both Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine, is a splendid Davis Love III design carved into vast white sand hills set back from the ocean. This breezy, lay-of-the-land links is known for its large undulating greens skirting enormous dunes and blowout bunkers on its journey to and from the sea.

For golf course living, Querencia is a private 1,800-acre golf community set in furrowed desert foothills high above the Sea of Cortes, Querencia (loosely translated as “sanctuary”) is one of Mexico’s finest private clubs. Known for its speedy, multi-tiered greens, this well-groomed course takes players on a roller-coaster ride across hills and bluffs. Several holes tiptoe along the edges of deep canyons and twisting arroyos. Designer Tom Fazio’s aesthetic touch is evident at Querencia, with palm trees and lush vegetation artfully blended with the native desert border. Broad

contoured fairways and harmonious transitions from green to tee mark this challenging yet playable course. Golf Digest has chosen 3 Cabo golf facilities in their list of “Top 100 in the world” this year, Diamante, Querencia and Quivira.

The Final Word; Incredible destination, amazing golf & beach weather, spectacular restaurants, warm friendly people, so much to do and see, and some of the best golf courses in the world. Los Cabos – Take me there!

www.visitloscabos.travel @loscabostourism

DESTINATIONS

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

World Golf Village

Home of The King & The Bear

ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS about the game of golf is the ability to take your game to new destinations and exciting new courses to challenge your abilities. Golf travel for most of us, is the very best part of the game, as we venture out to great destinations across the globe. If you live above the Mason Dixon line in the U.S., chances are your golf season is ending each year in mid-fall or earlier. If there is a prime time annually for planning golf vacations, this is it!

There is no question that Florida is the number one destination for golfers in the

/

The Slammer & The Squire

fall, winter, and early spring. The weather is great, course conditions are perfect, and the choices are endless whether you are flying or driving. For those that drive from the Northeast, Eastern Canada and Mid -Atlantic markets, Interstate 95 is the gateway to the Sunshine State. Once you cross over from Georgia to Florida its not long before you reach St. Augustine, “America’s first Settlement” and World Golf Village, which has been the home of the World Golf Hall of Fame since 1998. It is literally right off the highway and is one of the real gems in Florida’s golf resort

industry.

The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida is a “must visit” for golf enthusiasts. The sprawling complex boasts two 4-star championship golf courses: the King & Bear, the only course designed in collaboration by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, and the Slammer & Squire by Bobby Weed. Here you will find the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Golf Academy, an 18 -hole putting course, an Imax Theatre, designer shops, plus upscale amenities at a variety of on-site accommodations. It’s not only the most convenient golf resort in Florida, but

DESTINATIONS

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

also one that offers great golf, great accommodations, great golf packages, at a location that is just minutes from one of the most historic Florida regions. What could be better than a round on the King & Bear or Slammer & Squire, and lunch or dinner after golf at Caddyshack, owned by Bill Murry and family for a truly memorable golf experience.

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States. Forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish established at St. Augustine this nation’s first enduring settlement. Close by is TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, a great opportunity to add a round at the Home of the Players Championship, one of golf’s greatest facilities.

The King & Bear and Slammer & Squire are two unique courses designed by golf’s greatest legends. There is only one golf course designed by the team of Nicklaus and Palmer - and the King and Bear is it! This 7279-yard

layout features distinctive nines with wide fairways lined with loblolly pines amongst open meadows on the front, and tighter landing areas defined by a multitude of mature oak trees on the back. Coquina rock can be found in several bunkers and on cart paths, and also line the edges of lakes which bring water into play on 16 of the 18 holes.

The clubhouse is gorgeous - a classic design situated in prime view of the course and practice area. There is a full-service pro shop, locker rooms with showers and beautiful restaurant and lounge. A complimentary grass range includes stacks of range balls and hitting areas pointing to

target areas. The putting green is spacious, and a short game area also includes bunkers. Five sets of tee boxes allow golfers of all skill levels to choose a distance that fits their game. The last Hall of Fame class in March of 2022 included Tiger Woods and Tim Finchem, two of the games most iconic people who have had a profound effect on the game worldwide.

Start planning your visit to World Golf Village and Northeast Florida by going to www.worldgolfvillage.com, or call 904.940.6088

Best in The East

BY NEG STAFF

MODERATE TEMPERATURES and a touch of “Indian Summer” have blessed the Northeast with extended play well into the fall. The cloak of winter is at the doorstep as colder weather sets in. With our clocks now turned back and playing conditions deteriorating rapidly, it’s time to give some thought to greener fairways and greens, time for a “Southern Swing.” With airline fares on the rise and changes to flight schedules becoming more frequent, it makes more and more sense today to just drive. As we all learned during COVID, driving means more options, control, and most of all more flexibility. On a golf trip, giving away a day on each end of a golf vacation is just a waste of valuable playing time.

One of the most difficult things with golf road trips is driving. If you’re going to Hilton Head to play for 4 or 5 days, you are looking at a 16 to 17-hour drive. For the first few days into your playing rounds, that drive will be a factor; long drives beat on the body and the mind. The same is true for Pinehurst, Kiawah, Georgia, and northern Florida, it’s a trek.

Multiple designations both down and back mean you get to play and experience more great places with no huge travel days. Not only does the trip become less intense but it makes for a much more interesting adventure.

A 4 to 5-hour ride from the northeast puts you in Atlantic City, NJ, or a bit further in Ocean City, MD, where golf is played year-round. Much like Cape Cod conditions are good year-round. Drive south for another 4 hours and you’re in Virginia with a plethora of great golf courses. Pinehurst is just about 300 miles south, with more golf courses than gas stations. Next up is Myrtle Beach, only 130 miles down the road from Pinehurst. Continuing south, Kiawah Island, Charleston, Hilton Head, SC, and Sea Island, GA, are all just a few hours away. From there, Florida is just a 2-hour drive.

A few years back we drove from Florida

BEST IN GOLF EAST COAST SOUTHERN SWING

to New England over 8 days, stopped in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Williamsburg, VA on the way north, and played 3 rounds of golf. On the way back. We stopped in Ocean City, Pinehurst, and Kiawah and played a round at each. It was one of the best golf road trips ever, and we got to play 6 great courses and stayed at a number of great resorts. We honestly was not tired or ever had issues with drive time each day, it was an epic golf trip.

The greatest things about a true golf road trip are, no airport tie-ups, luggage issues, rental car issues, and most importantly, you can stay or move on at any time from or to any destination. For the most part, everything you need is always with you, this is truly the essence of the golf road trip, flexibility and options.

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR “BEST IN THE EAST” GOLF DESTINATIONS

Atlantic City, NJ

There are 24 golf courses in the Atlantic City area and great deals on hotels as well. The longest course is Twisted Dune Golf Club, which is 7,283 yards. Linwood Country Club is rated the best course near

Atlantic City. The following courses have won various awards: Atlantic City Country Club, Galloway National Golf Club, Hidden Creek, and Shore Gate Golf Club.

Ocean City, MD

With 17 championship courses designed by the legends of the game, great golf is just the beginning. Add miles of beach and boardwalk, exciting nightlife, excellent dining, and Ocean City, MD is the ultimate golf getaway. Play Eagles Landing with views of Sinepuxent Bay and Assateague National Seashore; it’s the only Maryland course certified as an Audubon Sanctuary.

Virginia Beach, VA

The Chesapeake Bay area is a prime location for great golf. You will find courses by all the greats, Palmer, Nicklaus, Dye, and more. The weather is very temperate year-round and course conditions are fantastic. There are 200 golf courses in Virginia and some of the best are in Virginia Beach – Off-season hotel rates are very attractive as well.

Pinehurst, NC

The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and

Kiawah Island, SC

Aberdeen areas have a storied legacy of golf unlike any other place in the country. Here, you’ll find North Carolina’s best golf courses, world-class dining and shopping, outdoor adventures, equestrian facilities, and more. With a wide variety of hotels, and resort-style accommodations there are more options here than almost anywhere.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach has earned the nickname “Golf Capital of the World,” and is home to

over 80 award-winning golf courses set along more than 60 miles of Carolina coastline designed by the top golf legends in the world. A Myrtle Beach golf vacation offers championship golf, oceanfront accommodations, award-winning cuisine, and a gambit of off-course fun.

Charleston/ Kiawah Island, SC

The Charleston area has amazing golf facilities like Charleston National, Daniel Island, Patriots Point, Shadowmoss and

many more. Kiawah Island is simply the best in the region with 5 championship courses along the Ocean and some of the finest accommodations anywhere with over-thetop amenities. There is nothing anywhere like the Kiawah Ocean Course.

Hilton Head, SC

The island offers golfers more than 33 world-class golf courses in the Lowcountry area, including Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Daufuskie Island. With

Hilton Head, SC

Jacksonville, FL

Palm Coast, FL

Myrtle Beach, SC

Bowling Green, FL

PGA TOUR events, such as the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing, hosted on the Island at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines, you get a big test of where the pros play. Hilton Head simply has it all.

Jacksonville, FL

TPC Sawgrass Golf Resort has two championship golf courses, the Pete Dye Players Championship Stadium Course and the Valley Course. Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort also offers a 25,000-square-foot luxury spa for guests more interested in pampering than putting. But play the Stadium course and fight your way through 17.

Palm

Coast, FL

Along the Palm Coast is the oceanfront

Hammock Beach Golf Resort with two 18-hole championship courses. The Ocean Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the Conservatory Course designed by Tom Watson, both are spectacular, as is the towering Hammock Beach Resort Hotel with every imaginable amenity you could ever want.

Bowling Green, FL

Streamsong Golf Resort – One of the best newly designed facilities anywhere. Ten years new with the Red, Black and Blue Courses always highly ranked, The Chain is now in the works by Coore and Crenshaw. This short course will uniquely serve as a 6, 12, or 18-hole loop. Secluded in Bowling Green, Florida, it’s all about the serenity of lakeside living in the middle of nowhere.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

PGA National Resort is more than just the Championship Course, it has 4 other courses that are all pristine. It’s sprawling complex of hotels, amenities, and home communities clustered around the resort. You might well run into Jack Nicklaus who frequently dines in the resort restaurant.

Miami Doral, FL

Trump National Doral is a world-class golf resort and spa. It has 643 rooms, several restaurants, multiple shops, an enormous staff, and dozens of amenities, all spread out across 800 acres - a veritable city-within-a-city. The Blue Monster, Red Tiger, Golden Palm and Silver Fox give you a lot to choose from. Visit the Rick Smith Performance Center.

Ocean City, MD

Virginia Beach National Pinehurst, NC

Atlantic City, NJ

Turning the Game INSIDE OUT

Indoor

Golf: The Sport’s Largest Growing Segment

THE PASSION that surrounds the game of golf for everyone who has caught the bug, is pretty much the same. Watching golf on TV is great and we all love it, but it is for the most part, well, short of the real experience of playing. Golf is a very personal chess game, much like life, and it has to be played out to complete the experience. It was only a matter of time and technology for this problem to be solved by some of the best visionary minds in and around the game. Much like computers, cell phones, and other advances in our history, the creation and acceptance of indoor golf has arrived and it’s spectacular. Much like the game itself, once you have tried it, you’re hooked.

Technology has certainly transformed the game of golf in a variety of ways. From equipment to instruction, GPS devices, and innovative shot-tracing capabilities on the

Newport Indoor Golf, RI

Eisen 7, Germany

weekend telecast, the old game has seen some pretty significant changes over the past twenty years. Enhancements in golf simulators are changing the way we play the game away from the golf course. The earliest golf simulators were sold almost 50 years ago, but needless to say, today’s version shows little resemblance to those early renditions. The theory behind them, however, remains consistent, play golf when you “can’t play golf”, because of harsh northern winters, brutal summers in the south, rain, crowds, and oh yeah, pandemics as well.

In 1990, nearly 65% of all public and private golf courses in North America were closed for play from 3 months to 6 months annually. In fact, 20 out of 25 of the states with the most golfers per capita had only seasonal play. Most players simply put away their clubs until spring of the next year. Off-season golf trips here and there in the winter months only reminded them that golf is a game you have to focus on to maintain skill levels. It is the primary reason professional

golfers live in regions where they can play and practice year-round. Indoor Golf quite simply has become the best advancement in game improvement and training for all golfers that the game has ever seen.

The Expanded Experience

In the game of golf, we all face choices. One of the most common is to be on the course

Golfs Overwhelming Demand

Custom indoor golf simulator

during major golf events or watch the event on TV from the comfort of our home and take in all the moments. It used to be a very difficult choice for us all, but indoor golf today offers us an opportunity to play golf while enjoying watching golf at any time of the year, in any weather, with all of our friends and family. What could be better than watching the Players Championship while playing the same course the tournament is being held on, in our home, our club, or a nearby indoor golf entertainment center. Indoor golf has expanded our opportunities to play, train, improve, and enjoy the game we love so much. Today with cloud-based data and apps you can compete with others anywhere, be a part of indoor leagues, share rounds and information on your game, and play in regional and national indoor golf events which continue to expand in the indoor golf world. You can even schedule golf matches with multiple players on almost any course of your choice with no green fees!

The Simple Demographics

There were almost 37 million Americans who played golf in 2021, over 12 million played in off-course facilities. This means one-third of all players are playing golf fully or partially indoors. In addition, over 100 million people in the country carry a strong interest in the game and follow golf, which is nearly 1/3 of our Nation’s population. With only 16,000 golf facilities in the country for the first time in history, golf has an available inventory problem, there are simply more golfers than prime open tee times available. With private country clubs

making up nearly 20% of all clubs and golf resorts accounting for 5%, only 12,000 clubs have public access of some kind. Indoor golf has not only arrived, but it has arrived at the most opportune time in the history of the game. Indoor golf has removed the stigma and intimidation of playing on a real golf course for so many that want to learn to play the game.

The History of Indoor Golf Simulators

In the late 70’s simple indoor golf hitting nets and basic simulators with hitting screens were developed. There was little or no ability for measurement or accuracy, but microphones were used for target tracking. In the 1990’s as technology advanced, engineers began to design and build more

advanced indoor golf systems using optical sensors that measured pinpoint landing areas, ball spin, axis of exit, speed and trajectory. Soon after gaming software, which was emerging for all sports, was added to provide a more realistic experience. In 1989, Sony Corporation registered a patent on a golf gaming simulator invented by Bruce Hutchon using both a mechanical arm and options for players hitting golf shots; it was later abandoned. In the late 1990’s and at the turn of the century, numerous companies began to develop products for indoor golf simulation systems.

A Word from an Icon in the Industry

Bill Bales is the Founder of Clarity Golf and aboutGolf. He is an Indoor Golf contributor

and advisor for Northeast Golf, below Bill shared his thoughts about the industry. Bill said, “It could be said that the indoor golf simulator culture began by the 1990s when the late Floyd Arnold got serious about playing rounds of golf indoors with the founding of Full Swing Golf. In 2003, AboutGolf significantly disrupted the golf sim market with the first indoor phased array radar tracker. AboutGolf’s radar made it practical to use a simulator to accurately try out and fit clubs, teach, practice with data, and play serious rounds. Indoor golf centers started to develop long term repeat business, and homeowners got the bug”.

“Starting in 2008, tracking technology made another leap, with AboutGolf’s machine vision (imaging) system. Over the ensuing years, all but one major premium simulator tracker developed or employed their own highly accurate imaging system.

INDOOR GOLF SIMULATORS & LAUNCH MONITORS

The lone wolf, Trackman, has done an excellent job of making radar track well indoors. But the real driver of the surprising growth of indoor golf has been accessibility. And isn’t that ironic, as the game of outdoor golf has always suffered from accessibility problems and universal access to the game”.

“Most anyone can go online, purchase, and then assemble the necessary components to form a full-blown DIY golf simulator. And this stuff is not only readily available with lots of choices, there is a satisfying range of cost options from the quite affordable to the top of the line. The bottom line is the hard charging growth of the indoor golf culture is finding its way into a growing number of dedicated indoor centers, virtually every golf retail center, golf courses, golf resorts, training centers, club fitters, and perhaps one day the home of every serious golfer and an equal number of indoor golf mavens”.

Indoor Golf & Entertainment Centers

There are nearly 100 huge golf entertainment centers by Topgolf, Bigshots, Drive Shack, and others that pack golfers in for a golf-like entertainment experience with dining and celebrations. In the next year, the industry model is expected to grow by over 50% nationwide. In 1990, there were no indoor golf centers in the New England market. Today there are over 50 indoor golf businesses and over 1000 golf simulators in homes, golf clubs, sports facilities, and resorts. The residential market will see the largest growth with systems offering more features and more competitive pricing for in-home indoor golf simulators. The key element of indoor simulators’ popularity in homes is the expanded applications and uses. Indoor golf simulators offer home theatre, multiple sports applications, TV viewing, work centers for meetings, and interactive

Proposed design of Golf Rhode Island

Topgolf Miami

INDOOR GOLF SIMULATORS & LAUNCH MONITORS

health and fitness suites. In a sense, simulators are becoming family activity and entertainment centers. Once mostly found in garages and other remote areas, today’s home simulators are front and center in the home and part of the integral living spaces.

The Golf Simulator Retail Sector

ACE Indoor Golf and GIMME Simulators is

an Ohio based company that is the industry’s foremost builder, designer, and installer of golf simulator hardware and technology for residential and commercial applications. They have installed over 1000 systems and also provide best-in-class custom-built screens, enclosures, hitting mats, and accessories for the golf business’s top simulator brands, retailers and teaching, fitting and

Industry Insights

Ken Reynolds is the V.P. of Sales & Marketing at aboutGOLF said, their full installation can range from $40,000 and up. “We cater to the entire family with multi-media platforms, providing easy access for expanded applications. We do a very good job with our development team of incorporating third-party products into it, such as Xbox, Apple TV, plug and play of really any other device.” Reynolds added that their products and technology are 100% “homegrown.” Touting the Ohio-based business as a software and technology company, everything they offer is all proprietary. “We’ve always been 100% based on the indoor market,” Reynolds adds, comparing their products and services to competitors whose offerings are utilized outdoors as well. The companies, aboutGOLF’s aG Locker app allows users to track and analyze their performance and connect with other users.

aG Trainer is a self-installed indoor training center that enables golfers to play golf any time and any place. The $17,500 price tag includes aboutGOLF’s 3Trak technology, a high-performance laptop, a one-year aG Trainer subscription, hitting and stance mats, and an adjustable tee system. You also get a QR reader for quick log-in to aG Locker, the company’s cloud-powered golf app that allows players to analyze their performance and statistics and share such data with instructors for remote learning. You can even communicate with friends and participate in online contests, challenges, and tournaments.

In September 2022 The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course ownership and operations, announce its latest executive partnership with aboutGOLF. The new relationship supports one of NGCOA’s initiatives to help its members run better and more profitable golf businesses.

Sim in a Box — Foresight SportS

INDOOR GOLF SIMULATORS & LAUNCH MONITORS

entertainment companies. The Company manufactures the hardware and enclosure design of Foresight Sports Sim-in-a-Box, the industry’s highest-quality screens (front and back), foam pads, carpet pads, and skin tops for simulators. Ace Indoor Golf offers its hard-earned innovations to the public by establishing Gimme Simulators as an official seller and dealer of top-brand golf simulator packages and launch monitors along with the hardware, design and installation know-how trusted by leading retailers like PGA TOUR Superstore and upscale entertainment venues, like Five Iron Golf.

Co-Founder Joe Neumeyer said, “We’ve seen everything that can go right or wrong in the process of installing a simulator and we’ve developed practices and expertise, so we can easily design and build the best product for the given space and customer.” He adds, “Whether for a home, business, entertainment venue, or golf/resort facility, our team can walk in and identify quickly the best area and way to build out your simulator to maximize your enjoyment at every level.”

Nora Dunnan the Co-Founder of Five Iron Golf an upscale golf simulator company based in New York City, said “Our venues serve the serious golfer who expects the very best in class simulators and amenities. Five Iron’s locations offer flexible event spaces, full bar service, fantastic food menus, games like ping pong, shuffleboard, pool, and Golden Tee (depending on the location), widescreen TVs, regular women’s events, junior programs, and much more.

Five Iron has quickly re-shaped urban golf culture and has expanded from Manhattan to Chicago, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, growing from the original lesson crew to a re-imagined, high-tech, inclusive urban golf experience for golfers and non-golfers alike. Five Iron is for everyone. Five Iron offers best-in-class commercial grade Trackman systems with

Trackman lesson studios, access to teaching professionals, practice time, leagues, club storage, showers, top-of-the-line clubs that are free to use during your booking, and in-house club fitting services.

In November, Callaway Golf Company announced the completion of a strategic minority investment in Five Iron Golf, of 30 Million dollars. “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Five Iron Golf and are excited to support the continued growth of off-course golf and entertainment,” commented Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Callaway. “Five Iron Golf has built a strong brand and leadership position in the evolving indoor golf market by creating technology-driven, eye-catching venues appealing to avid golfers, pure entertainment seekers, and everyone in-between”.

X-Golf America, a Los Angeles based simulator system company, was founded in 2005 and has sold over 3000 commercial and residential Systems worldwide. In 2015 the company launched a franchise model that currently has 75 locations with 50 more planned for 2022. Industry firsts such as the variable lie stance platforms and the automatic ball teeing system have elevated X-Golf to one of the top brands. These distinguishing features, along with 19 patents, have made X-Golf a popular choice in today’s sim market. Laura Harrison V.P. of Marketing at X-Golf commented, “X-Golf provides one of the most accurate simulators in the world. What has made our product stand out is its reliability, durability, and some of the newest technology in putting, which is 95% accurate. Our franchise locations are doing very well with many more coming throughout the U.S. in 2022”.

Names at the top of the industry are aboutGolf, Uneseeker, TrackMan, Foresight Sports, SkyTrak, Full Swing Golf, HD Golf, OptiShot, FlightScope, TruGolf, and Ernest

Sports. Rain or Shine Golf helps consumers navigate their way through the amenities, benefits, bells, whistles, and of course, the cost, as they work with die-hard golfers to create their dream golf simulator experience.

There are literally dozens of choices in the marketplace for indoor golf sports entertainment systems. Products range

Five Iron Seattle

Five Iron

widely in price points and features. The single most important step to finding the right one for your home or business is the ability to understand what will work for you. So, whether for business or commercial use or just great addition to your home, starting with a well-seasoned and wellversed simulator professional is a must.

Callaway Five Iron partnership

X Golf Los Angeles

GOLF, YOUR

“Necessity is the Mother of Invention”, is a saying that has continually become relevant in the game of golf, especially in the “Modern Era” of the game today. Golf was a game conceived to play outdoors, exposed to the variables of weather and playing conditions. If Scotland is truly the home of golf, then they could not have picked a much more difficult place to invent and play this game. In most regions in the world today, weather makes it very difficult, and in many cases, impossible to play golf for nearly half of the calendar year. The invention of indoor golf has forever changed how we play the game and our ability to play, anywhere, at anytime, with anyone, it is truly amazing.

It is no secret that aboutGOLF is the world’s most authentic and accurate indoor golf and entertainment platform, and a market leader in technology and applications as well. With over 25 years in the golf simulation business, the company is dedicated to pursuing the perfect indoor golf system. aG has deep roots as the world’s number one all-time distributor of computer golf simulation software and have blazed the trail to revolutionary technology. Characterized by an insatiable desire to push the envelope, the team challenges the conventional and continues to innovate, create, and enhance the experience of indoor golf while growing expanded applications and programs. Indoor golf simulators today have evolved through advanced technology to become multi-media centers for golf, fitness, sports, home theatre and full entertainment venues for the entire family. They have become an integral part of primary living space in homes, great additions to indoor golf facilities, private clubs and corporate businesses for events, conferences, and training. Their diversity is only limited by the imagination of what’s next in interactive technology in golf and entertainment systems.

Golf simulation and ball tracking has come a long way since the days of Microsoft Golf 1998. Revolutionary technology has allowed aboutGOLF to progress from radar in 2002 to the state-of-the-art

machine vision tech that they use in their simulators today. There are three main factors that determine how accurate a golf simulator is. First, is golf ball spin measured, or estimated? Second, how does the ball interact with the digital world after it has been struck? Finally, is the interaction between the ball and the physical objects that it collides with on the course realistic? At aG, they’ve been developing technology that puts a premium on accurate measurement and physics for over twenty years. Every aboutGOLF sim is custom built with 3Trak© technology that measures the three-dimensional position of the golf ball with stereo vision (multiple cameras) in the first few feet of flight after being hit by the golf club. These high-performance cameras use proprietary machine vision technology to precisely track every shot. From world long drive champions hitting drives at speeds of more than 220 miles per hour to short putts rolling at a leisurely 2 MPH, aG tech was built from the ground up to ensure that every shot is measured and interacts with the digital golf course the same way you would expect

to see it in the real world. When compared to the radar technology used by others in the simulator industry, aG machine vision shines as a true north star for simulated golf accuracy.

Another area where aboutGOLF simulators stand tall above the competition is in their custom installations. All aG sims are custom built for the space they’re meant for, which is bringing golf sims out of the garage and basements of America and bringing them to customers’ living spaces. Advanced multi-media in functions and applications have also made their products more universally used as entertainment centers for a mixture of golf, sports viewing, movies, television and a host of interactive gaming and streaming systems. It takes approximately 8-weeks from the time you sign your sales agreement to final installation touches on an aG sim. The minimum dimensions for a custom simulator with single-hitter stance are 9’6” H x 12’ W x 18’6” L. To accommodate both left and right-handed hitters, the width must increase to 15’. If you are

exceptionally tall, the height can vary. All installations are handled by factory trained teams; they are the best in the industry. Configurations come in flat screens as well as in truly immersive curved screens that make you feel like you’re really on the course at Pebble Beach or any of the other 85+ top rated courses that are available through the aboutGOLF software.

On the commercial side of things, aboutGOLF has been expanding its ability to meet the needs of business owners, club managers and more with powerful new enterprise software that allows them to be totally in control of their simulators from anywhere in the world. Commercial installations with indoor golf centers, private sporting and golf clubs have created new opportunities for growth year-round in a sector that was once only seasonal. In fact, according to one aG case study, aboutGOLF simulators have helped Hayden Lake Country Club in Coeur d’Alene , Idaho increase their revenue during winter months by more than $500,000 per year! Their commercial applications are expanding into new sectors in corporate business, conventions, resort venues and massive entertainment centers throughout the world.

aboutGolf remains committed to providing an unparalleled experience to their customers no matter who or where they are. Making the best golf simulator in the world is only the beginning for them. Their team of professionals was built from the ground up to support their customers from the design process all the way through using the simulator on a daily basis. Their award-winning customer service team is available to answer questions and upgrade systems to ensure that you have the best experience possible, no matter what.

aG is obviously passionate about golf, particularly indoor golf and they intend to continue investing in that experience with a goal of making it rival the outdoor game in every way possible. With a strong commitment to research and development, they continue to push the industry forward with new technologies, games, courses, and new software. New and existing customers can be assured that their simulator will always remain exciting.

As summer and fall give way to the crisp, cold air of winter, avid Northeast golfers pack away their clubs and long for what the next golf season will bring. But…what if we told you that this year, golf season doesn’t have to end? Meet SkyTrak – the accurate, affordable, awardwinning launch monitor and simulator, designed for avid golfers and high-handicaps alike, who want to

keep the season going all year long. With a variety of Game Improvement options, SkyTrak has something for every golfer, no matter their goals. Want to use the winter to improve your game? SkyTrak can help! Want to beat your buddies come Spring? Yep, SkyTrak can help with that too! By measuring critical ball data such as ball speed, launch angle, backspin, side spin and side

angle, SkyTrak provides the same data the pros use to enhance their swing, short game and course management.

Starting at just under $2,000, the award winning SkyTrak launch monitor provides golfers the ability to practice on their terms, in the convenience of their own home. Until SkyTrak, many thought an indoor golf simulator was unattainable – either due to price or space required. One of the many advantages of SkyTrak is the space required for a setup. While many SkyTrak customers build out rooms in their house with full projection setups, that by no means is a requirement for a SkyTrak setup. Because of its photometric design, the only real space requirement is to be able to comfortably swing a golf club. With numerous options, from

custom solutions to mat and net setups, the SkyTrak experience is a dream come true for golfers of all skill levels.

Available on PC, iOS and Android devices, the SkyTrak software application is a big hit with SkyTrak users. The SkyTrak mobile app and software are second to none in terms of the tools golfers need to improve their game.

With Skills Assessment, SkyTrak users choose a variety of target distances and how many shots they will hit to each target. With each shot, SkyTrak will provide immediate feedback, including a dynamic handicap of each shot, culminating in an overall handicap for each distance.

The Bag Mapping feature allows users to fine tune their game (and clubs) for the course. For proper course management and to make good decisions on course its important to know how far you hit each club. With Bag Mapping, hit a variety of shots with each club in your bag to determine distance, dispersion and overall trends.

The SkyTrak Wedge Matrix, designed to help golfers with their scoring clubs, gives users the opportunity to hit a variety of shots (pitch, ½, ¾ and full swings) with all the wedges in their bag. Once the assessment is complete, the matrix will reveal the distances for all shot types and clubs. This can then be used on course for help choosing a club when its time to make a birdie, or to assist with saving a par after missing a green.

Or…want to get the most out of your practice sessions? Abandon the typical approach to practice by using the SkyTrak Prac-

tice Randomizer! Choose a minimum and maximum distance and the Randomizer will generate a “random” distance within that range. Let the shot making begin…

The descriptions of these features are just a subset of the many Game Improvement features at a SkyTrak user’s disposal. To complete the experience, SkyTrak offers a variety of simulation options by partnering with the top simulation companies in the industry. Golfers can use the insights learned from their SkyTrak practice sessions to play the best courses in the world, at their convenience, from home, with the following simulation options: WGT by TopGolf (iOS only), The Golf Club (PC only), E6 Connect by TruGolf (PC and iOS) Creative Golf and Golfisi mo (PC only) and Fitness Golf (PC only).

Gone are the days of your clubs picking up dust during the winter months. Practice, Play and Improve on your terms, at your conve nience. Create your own SkyTrak experience today.

www.skytrakgolf.com

INDOOR GOLF

FIVE IRON GOLF

Five Iron Golf Indoor Golf Done Right

BY BILL BALES

A long time ago, before I didn’t know a golf simulator from Market Street, I gave a keynote address on revenue generation in the Waldorf Astoria ballroom in London to a worldwide group of newly minted Internet content experts. Where the other speakers talked of singular concepts such as subscription fees, “freemiums,” and the like I outlined how my company took the foundational code from our Microsoft Golf product and turned

it into an “advergaming” product with no less than nine revenue streams. I likened it to the American Indian consuming and utilizing every bit of the buffalo, down to the last hair, where the Lewis and Clark team left a trail of dead carcasses after removing and eating the tongues.

This formula applies fully to the business of indoor golf, an amazing growing element of the golf culture. But in my world travels over the last two decades, I have not found a single indoor golf operation that has fully executed on this critical fundamental–until now.

Mike Doyle and his co-founding partners Nora Dunnan and Jared Solomon founded their first Five Iron Golf indoor center in 2017 in the Flat Iron District of Manhattan.

They have grown to fifteen locations and expect to add five more by early 2023, and 8 more by years end

Pretty cool. But what’s even cooler is how Mike and his partners have used the whole buffalo. I’ve been somewhat of a broken record over the years encouraging my clients to exercise Sam Walton’s greatest point of wisdom, “It’s not about one thing, it’s about a hundred things”. The indoor golf business is not easy, at least if you simply build it and wait for them to come–and if they come to let them just play golf.

Five Iron Golf gets it done. They do it all for both ends of the golf culture–the more serious “on course” golfers and the emerging class of fun-loving “off course” golfers. And

“How cool would it be if your local muni obsessed over your experience?”

INDOOR GOLF FIVE IRON GOLF

they do it well. As Mike Doyle told me, “We obsess over the customer experience, whichever customer that may be.”

How cool would it be if your local muni obsessed over your experience, versus pointing out all the things you cannot do or must do to be allowed to give them your money? In the sense of the customer experience, Five Iron is much better, a shining example of what the golf experience should be.

And, with 7-15 well-maintained sims per site, equipped with top-shelf technology, in-house bar food, full bar, top of the line clubs for every swing in every bay, instructors, proprietary custom club fitting, and a atmosphere that welcomes parties. Five Iron caters to corporate events, leagues, and all golfers from absolute beginners to touring pros, Five Iron defines the future of growing the game of golf.

Consider that in 2000 the World Golf

Foundation established the now defunct Golf 20/20, with the goal of growing participants in U.S. golf by 20 million over 20 years. The number of on course golfers has remained static the last 20 years. At the same time the number of offcourse golfers has grown SIX-FOLD! Note, that’s the third time in my life I’ve used an exclamation point.

I’ll always cast my vote for enterprising, capitalistic entrepreneurs making things happen, versus buildings full of overpaid disconnected suits. And I cast my vote for Mike, Nora, Jared and Five Iron Golf.

Bill Bales

readers. His team can assist any homeowner on how to optimize their simulator plan — and how to avoid the egregious mistakes they see every day.

Email anytime: BillBales@Clarity.Golf

works with Home Golf Lifestyle Media and provides free expertise to

Why Guess When You Can Measure the Ultimate Indoor/Outdoor Learning Center

BY TODD CAMPBELL

It started as a vision of building a wellrounded Academy that could analyze every part of your golf game with the most advanced technology available all under one roof. Every lesson starts with a discussion of the current state of the player’s game to get an understanding of where they are and where they would like to be. After having the student hit a dozen shots with a 7 iron and then a driver, we are able to get some baseline numbers from our TrackMan 4 Launch Monitor on the curvature, trajectory and overall efficiency of the shots. By showing the numbers from TrackMan, our students gain a better understanding of why the ball is reacting the way it does. From there, we challenge the student to change the numbers to achieve the ball flight characteristics they are searching for. We normally start with the basics of club path and face angle, and as they demonstrate control, we progress into angle of attack, dynamic loft and center face contact. Ultimately, the student will see more consistency with their ball striking, flight and distance while gaining confidence in their swing.

In addition to TrackMan, we utilize a 4-camera video swing capture system from Swing Catalyst. The cameras film at 240 fps so the images are crystal clear (no shaft blur) and you are able to see the position of the clubface at virtually any point in the golf swing. The cameras are placed Face On, Rear Facing, Down the Line and Overhead so you will be able to see your entire golf swing in slow motion, frame by frame from any angle. We combine the TrackMan analysis along

with the video swing captures to have the student gain an understanding of how they arrived at their TrackMan numbers, and compare before and after videos to see how the swing has changed to arrive at the more efficient numbers. Your swing is shown on a large 55” Microsoft Surface Hub touchscreen monitor where we can utilize the software to add swing plane lines, setup lines, angle numbers, head circles, etc to help the student understand their motion patterns and how they affect the TrackMan numbers.

We can measure your Pressure and Ground Force Reactions with our Swing Catalyst 3D Motion Force Plate. This technology will measure the amount of pressure in each foot at any given point in the swing which is extremely helpful for those students who have problems getting onto their lead side coming into impact. It will also measure the pressure trace from your trail foot to your lead foot which will affect your club path. Besides measuring the

pressure in each foot, we can also measure the 3 Ground Force Reactions (GFR’s) which are Horizontal force from the trail foot to the lead foot, the Rotational force between the 2 feet and the Vertical force from the lead foot. Depending upon how the player posts their body in the backswing, there will be an ideal combination of forces to arrive at the most powerful impact position possible. By measuring these forces, we can determine if the player is using the ground properly to get the most out of their swing.

Rounding out our full swing technology, we offer 3D Motion Capture from GEARS Golf. When a student arrives for a GEARS lesson, there is a bit of prep that needs to be done. First, as the student warms up for the session, we will “build” their GEARS club by strategically placing markers on their 7 iron and then will calibrate the club to the 8 GEARS cameras located around the room. After the club is built, we then need to get the student

PuttView transforms any putting green into an interactive learning environment.

GAME IMPROVEMENT

TODD CAMPBELL

marked up by placing them in the GEARS suit and calibrating them as well. Once everything is calibrated, we can have the student hit some shots. They will see a computer-generated avatar show up on the screen that we can now view from a 3D perspective. The advantage of using GEARS over video is that the 3D version is more accurate than filming on video in 2D. In addition, we use our GEARS program just like TrackMan where we can display numbers. These numbers are very useful in determining proper setup angles, the amount of body rotation and sway, and can even be used as a clubfitting tool to measure lie angles and shaft flex. We also have PGA Tour model swings that we can view which will help gain clarity as to how a better player is moving throughout the swing.

For putting, we utilize our PuttView Putting green. The green has prebuilt slopes that have been calibrated with the computer software so the PuttView program knows every break in the green from any given location to the hole. The PuttView program will project images onto the green which include starting point alignments for foot and ball position, along with the ideal aim and break lines of the putt into the hole. Once we know the correct start line and the amount of break, we can then add in Sam PuttLab to measure and learn about your tendencies in your putting stroke. Recording a putting stroke on Sam PuttLab is similar to TrackMan where it will measure and display numbers in an easy-to-read format. Sam PuttLab also has a 3D version where you can watch an animated view of your putting stroke and understand what is truly going on with your stroke to affect the outcome of the putt.

Lastly, we use PuttView as a teaching tool for AimPoint Express. As the only certified instructor of AimPoint in Rhode Island, I take pride in teaching correct fundamentals for AimPoint. A valuable feature of Puttview is its ability to

accurately project the amount of slope on our putting green, which is displayed in a % number. We use these numbers to help teach our students to correctly judge the amount of slope and how to use that information to calculate the correct amount of break. We also help the students develop the pre-shot

routine on our green so they get comfortable with the process.

For more information on our Academy or to book a golf lesson appointment, please visit my website at www.toddcampbellgolf.com or email toddcampbell@pga.com

TrackMan Pro measures the full trajectory of any shot, from 6-foot pitches to 400-yard drives, pinpointing the landing position.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

KNOW

YOUR BASELINE & PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

Are you a golfer? If you’re reading this then it’s very likely that you are, or you know someone who is!

Do you know why you swing the way you do? Furthermore, do you know why you move the way you do? If you don’t, then it is crucial that you choose to invest in yourself, create the awareness, and discover the “why” NOW because we have one body on this earth and how you care for it today will 100% dictate how it treats you tomorrow. We all have physical limitations that directly impact the way we move in life and perform on the course.

Don’t you want to know the “why” or do you want to keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. That’s called insanity!

One of my favorite quotes is “nothing changes, if nothing changes.”

Are you in pain or do you have discomfort with playing golf? Are you even able to play golf? Furthermore, are daily activities becoming harder and harder to do? Do you want a better quality of life?

I can definitely help with all of these, including getting you out of any acute pain you may be in, but it’s more than that. There’s a deeper meaning. Yes, we want to get out of pain, get back to playing golf, and be able to do our daily activities, but what’s the deeper why?

That deeper “why” may range from being able to squat to pick up your kid and/or grandkid and see the smile on their face or it could be getting back out on the course with your buddies and being able to engage socially as well as compete.

Whatever the deeper “why” is it all starts with YOU choosing to invest in yourself.

What to do?

Well, allow me to be your guide!

It’s so important to know YOUR baseline and what your physical limitations are NOW, so that they don’t let you know about them down the road! If you’re dealing with any aches or pains, then obviously give me a call. Furthermore, if you’re not dealing with any pain, nor struggling with any movements, then please BE PROACTIVE and see a medical movement professional TODAY to evaluate and assess where YOUR limitations and abnormal movement patterns are so that you can put yourself “in position” to handle the demands that life will inevitably throw your way.

I would love to hop on a call with you to discuss how I can serve you and help you move better on the course, and in life! 401-864-0112 www.shoregolfperformance.com email: michael@shoregolfperformance.com

When Performance Meets Fashion

The Hottest Sports Performance Clothing and Footwear to Keep You Looking and Feeling Good

2UNDR LUXURY CREW TEE

$50 | www.2undr.com

These crew neck luxury tees are soft, breathable and perfect for any situation. Each tee features a buttery soft Modal blended fabric that is lightweight without compromising structure or design.

RADMOR GOLF HIGGINS HOODIE

$120 | www.radmorgolf.com

Knit from a proprietary blend of Better Cotton Initiative Organic Cotton and Elastane for performance and designed with a bias cut underarm panel to maximize movement, this might be the best sweatshirt you’ve ever owned.

4 2UNDR SWING SHIFT prices vary | www.2undr.com

The Swing Shift caresses the skin with the finest beechwood fiber in 2UNDR’s signature Modal fabric. The pure heavenly softness of the Patented Joey Pouch® delivers the perfect support, comfort, and air flow to keep you cool on the course and during your busy day.

5 RADMOR GOLF FIVE-O KNIT PERFORMANCE SHORT

$105 | www.kizik.com

This perfect year round blend of cotton and elastane provides comfort and performance where it’s needed most. Timeless style, classic construction, and a tailored fit allow 360 movement to maintain all day comfort on the course.

FASHION

PERFORMANCE CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

SWIFTWICK FLIGHT XT

$17 | www.swiftwick.com

The Flite XT features GripDry fibers on the sole of the sock provide traction and Ankle Lock Technology wraps your ankle with strong elastic for added support. The mesh upper section of the sock provides ventilation and breathability.

TRUE LINKSWEAR TRUE FS-01S $175 | www.truelinkswear.com

This classic sneaker silhouette has TRUE fit, feel & technology to keep you moving on and off the links. The 100% Eco-Genuine Leather upper is handcrafted and the Ultra Plush Insole System offers unrivaled comfort, fit, and performance.

KIZIK MEN’S ATHENS

$129 | www.kizik.com

HandsFree Labs® technology means no wiggling, no bending down, and no re-tying. Extra Rabbit Foam on the outsole gives your heel a slight lift and your whole foot added cushioning.

SKŌNI GOLF SHOE

$100 | www.skoni.com

Spend less time changing shoes, and more time living in them. Engineered with spikeless treads and designed for comfort and performance, these lightweight shoes are the only ones you need for life on and off the course.

PRO SHOP

BEST GAME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS

all about THE BEST

BY GREG SAMPSON

Golf is a game that involves consistent practice to improve, we all know that! Yes, practice does make perfect but practicing properly is the ultimate way to lowering your scores. We have researched, tested and reviewed the many game improvement products available on the market this year and here are the “Best Game Improvement Products of 2022” that you should consider purchasing to get better at the wonderful game of golf.

SHORT GAME

THE DEVIL BALL

30 | www.puttout.golf

With it’s flat-edged impact zone, the Devil Ball exaggerates your putter’s face angle for instant, understandable feedback. Devil Ball will help train you to deliver your putter face back to the ball square and not pointing out to the open or closed. With up to 90% of a putt’s start direction dictated by the face angle delivered, improving this element of your putting stroke is fundamental to becoming a better putter and making more putts. This product is literally the definition of learning to roll the rock!

PUTT KING ™ PRO GAME & CASE

$850 Green | $200 Case www.goputtking.com

Everyone needs a putting green at home to practice on. I have tested many and the Putt King™ Pro Green takes the gold. The Putt King™ rolls at a perfect stimp of 10.5 and measures 11.5’ long x 5’ wide allowing for putting or even chipping practice from 10 feet and in. Choose from five flag colors and one to three cups by inserting a surface plug when desired. The best part is that the Putt King™ Pro Green features similar high-quality materials found in professional backyard installs plus their non-skid comfort foam base is permanently bonded to the putting surface to deliver premium feel and consistent roll. You can even change the breakusing the provided contour pads. Add on their Roller Storage Bag and wheel your green anywhere you go.

PRO SHOP BEST GAME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS

LONG GAME

THE DOWNSHIFT BOARD

$80 | www.downshiftgolf.com

The Downshift Board stops you from pulling the club down and trains you to start the swing from the ground up using your legs, your feet and hips. The Downshift Board® accentuates your movements so you can see when and where you’re moving your pressure from the start of the swing all the way through your follow through. In addition to seeing how and when your pressure is moving, you can actually train to move your lower body more efficiently and sequence correctly. The DSB allows for less effort and more efficient movement to produce longer and straighter shots without the strain. This product is a true game changer.

SMART BALL

$47 | www.tourstriker.com

Keeping your hands in front of your chest is a fundamental must for playing any sport well, nevermind golf. To perfect this the Smart Ball from Tour Striker is all you need. Martin Chuck is known for his golf training aids and he is defintely “smart” about this “golf necklace.”

Practicing with this aid will allow you to own the rhythm and timing required to become a high-level ball striker by synchronizing your body and arms from putter through driver. No more chicken wings, feel the inside strike approach and get through your shots. Don’t be dumb, buy a Smart Ball!

MOLORI UNPLUGGED

Topgolf hits a grand slam at Fenway Park

IN NOVEMBER, tradition and innovation collided as the epitome of cutting edge golf entertainment made a true splash at one of sports’ oldest venues. The Topgolf Live Stadium Tour returned to Boston’s Fenway Park November 4 to 9, 2022.

Golf mavens had the chance to tee off at the venerable ballpark spraying little white balls at targets all over the legendary green field. Topgolf uses Toptracer technology to track the golf ball flight and score each shot instantaneously. Fans could reserve one hour time slots starting at $70 for a 6-person bay. VIP offerings were also available.

So, just what is Topgolf (topgolf.com)? The company defines itself as a “dynamic, technology-driven golf entertainment experience.”

Founded by Erik Anderson in 2000, Topgolf originated from the timeless golf question, “Who hit it closer?” The first U.S., venue was established in Alexandria, VA. The company now has locations around the world serving more than 23 million golf fans.

If you are looking for Fun Facts, check this. In 2019, over a billion golf balls were hit from Topgolf tee lines. Topgolf also holds two Guinness World Records: most golf balls hit simultaneously around the globe, 1,874 in 2019, and teeing off with the longest usable golf club via the swing of actor Anthony Anderson in 2018.

Flagship venues are located in Orlando, Nashville, and Las Vegas, but Topgolf is also found in golf-crazy locales such as Augusta, Phoenix, Myrtle Beach, Houston, and Long Island.

At the heart of Topgolf’s innovation is the Toptracer technology which offers an interactive and social experience for all playing levels. Players can compete in a variety of games, improve their skills, and be introduced to the game of golf.

Topgolf venues feature high-tech gaming, outdoor hitting bays, chef-driven menus, hand-crafted cocktails, music, and corporate and social event spaces. Topgolf’s 81 locations are about to be increased by two – and both will call New England home.

The Fenway Park event served as a worthy backdrop for Topgolf’s official announcement of a new facility in Canton, MA. Construction is underway with a targeted opening of late 2023.

By John Molori

According to TopGolf, the three-level Canton facility will offer 90 hitting bays with heaters, fans, and Toptracer technology. Says Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway, “We get asked all the time when we’re bringing a Topgolf to the Boston area, so we couldn’t be happier to finally have an answer to that question.

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity to join the Canton community and can’t thank the town enough for their support along the way.”

Canton is about 20 miles southwest of Boston, and the new Topgolf enterprise should be worth the trip with pointscoring golf games, varied menu items, drinks, music, rooftop terrace, outdoor patio, and year-round programs. It will also boost the area economy. “It’s with great excitement and

MOLORI

UNPLUGGED TOPGOLF

pleasure that I welcome Topgolf to our community,” says Canton Select Board Chair John Connolly.

“This project will have a significant economic impact to the town of Canton through the creation of jobs and increased tax revenue to support our schools and municipal services, in addition to the environmental and aesthetic benefits of cleaning up a blighted site. It’s truly a ‘hole-in-one’ for Canton.”

In addition to the Canton site, Topgolf will also be debuting a 68,000-square-foot facility in Cranston, RI, also set to open in late 2023. This facility will feature over 100 hitting bays and similar amenities and offerings for golfing guests.

The November Fenway Park festivities certainly triggered expectations for these imminent New England venues. With

unseasonable weather in the mid-70s, the event attracted local celebrities and a wide spectrum of golf enthusiasts.

Those patrons who dug deep into their golf bags for the Experiential Package not only got to tee off and experience Topgolf technology, but also scored a Fenway Park VIP tour, limited edition Topgolf hat by Black Clover, two drink tickets, a Topgolf Lifetime Membership, a $10 off gameplay, and an exclusive Topgolf drawstring bag.

Swag aside, the Fenway Topgolf game was as follows: Each person had 5 shots to hit at the 5 different targets on the field with the last shot worth double the points. After each player in the bay then hit their 5 shots, the player with the highest points won that round. The goal was to try to win as many rounds in the tee time as possible. Clubs were provided by Topgolf.

Ironically, the technology of Topgolf is matched by its simplicity. Customers can make a reservation in advance with an easy online booking tool or simply walk into a facility and sign up for a tee time.

Reservations at Topgolf are not necessary, but with golf games aplenty, local brews, and large food portions, a thirst and appetite for golf and much more are definitely required.

John Molori is an author and columnist for numerous publications. Like him on Facebook at John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@gmail.com.

AROUND THE GAME TGL GOLF LEAGUE

Golf Remixed

A Challenge to LIV — Tiger & Rory’s Bold Hi-Tech League

BY ED TRAVIS

IN A MOVE WITH POSSIBLE LONG REACHING IMPLICATIONS

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, arguably the two biggest stars in professional golf, have announced the formation of a hi-tech golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour.

Targeted to appeal to younger fans who have grown up with computer-based entertainment such as video games, the competitions will be held in a purpose-built stadium between six teams of three players each. Shots will be struck into a massive screen with sophisticated shot tracking capturing thousands of data points which will be instantly evaluated with the result shown to fans seated in the stadium as well as broadcast. From a fans perspective the technology was described as an indoor golf on steroids.

For shots around the green and putting a short game area will be built.

The TGL Golf League is the first venture of TMRW Sports a sports entertainment company cofounded by Woods and McIlroy and CEO Mike McCarley who was formerly President, Golf & Global Strategy for the NBC Sports Group.

At present there has been no announcement of the stadium location nor team members other than Woods and McIlroy. Play is slated to begin in January 2024 on Monday nights during prime time with a two-hour show. The virtual course will be able to replicate any layout plus specially designed holes.

Quoted in the press release from TMRW revealing plans for TGL Woods said, “TGL is the next evolution within professional golf, and I am committed to helping lead it into the

future. Embracing technology to create this unique environment gives us the ability to move our sport into primetime on a consistent basis alongside so many of sports’ biggest events. As a big sports fan myself, I’m excited about blending golf with technology and team elements common in other sports. We all know what it’s like to be in a football stadium or a basketball arena where you can watch every play, every minute of action unfold right in front of you. It’s something that inherently isn’t possible in traditional golf — and an aspect of TGL that will set it apart and appeal to a new generation of fans.”

McIlroy added: “I have the utmost respect for the game of golf, and the TGL, while rooted in the traditions of the game, is taking a bold step into the increasingly tech-fueled future of sports. TGL will tap into the appeal of team golf within an exciting,

AROUND THE GAME

TGL GOLF LEAGUE

fan-friendly environment, comparable to sitting courtside at an NBA game. TGL will widen the appeal of golf to younger and more diverse fans and serve as another avenue to introduce people to the game I love.”

There are several interesting points about the TGL worth exploring. The announcement comes at a time when the PGA Tour’s rival LIV Golf series, fronted by Greg Norman with money from Saudi Arabia, has turned the world of professional golf upside down.

The over-the-top sums reportedly paid by LIV to players such as Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson have dug a chasm between those who opted out of PGAT membership and those who remained. Hard feelings accompanied by strong language have pushed the usually placid world of professional golf into a muddy field of anger and recrimination with no clear way out.

In response the PGAT has dramatically increased money payouts and revamped the schedule to make it more attractive for top players stressing the tradition inherent in the competitive history of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, and hundreds of other players. In addition, the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) has an agreement with the PGAT ten of those among the top money winners not already members of the PGAT will be accepted as members and now it looks like that some players on the Japan Golf Tour will may also be eligible.

The gulf between the PGAT and LIV may not be bridgeable, and some are of the opinion LIV has done irreparable harm to golf fans and the charities supported by the PGAT around the country. Unquestionably LIV, which styles itself as a league but is more closely akin to a series of 54-hole exhibitions, has attracted attention but to date does not have a broadcast partner and attendance at events reportedly has been in

the hundreds and viewership on their social media channel a few tens of thousands.

Much has been said by LIV proponents that the series brings golf into the modern world neatly ignoring the fact all their events are recognizable traditional events played on regulation golf courses and therefore subject to all the variables of playing conditions and weather.

With Woods and McIlroy TGL represents a strong, new, and unique approach to competition removing unknowns such as weather and wind and even bad lies. It will be a whole new experience as well for old and new fans especially those oriented to high-tech sports not to mention those interested in online wagering. The format is concentrated action in a short, predetermined time and could be a huge draw for sponsors.

Will it work? Will it be an antidote to the LIV millions? Good questions but one thing is certain — professional golf has not seen anything as innovative and it is not a lukewarm, halfway reply to the LIV challenge.

Another excellent point in TGL’s favor was made by both Woods and McIlroy concerning team golf and the bonding amongst teammates at events such as the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Woods said, “the most nerve-racking experience I’ve ever had was going into a playoff with Ernie Els in South Africa [Presidents Cup 2003]. I read my par putt from behind the ball and the only thing I could see was nothing but a sea of red. The whole team together. I miss this putt I lose it for all of them and that’s an experience I have never felt as an individual.”

“I miss it, I miss it for me, no big deal. Missing it for all of them added a totally different element of pressure. It was such a great experience. That’s one of the neat things of a team aspect.”

TGL may represent the future of a new kind of top-level competition with the added spice of playing for a team. It will never replace nor is it meant to replace the present tournaments, but it will give fans a new way to engage our game and for the players an interesting if not exciting was to compete.

ROSS’S RULES

By Jack Ross

CGX Camps Offer Junior Golfers a Path to Ivy League Golf

THE YALE GOLF COURSE is one of the crown jewels of Northeast golf. Designed by C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor in 1923, the striking course is the top-rated intercollegiate golf course and often hosts NCAA competition. And if you know a junior golfer with an interest in playing at Yale or another Ivy League school, the Ivy Golf Institute (IGI) offers a pathway through a series of junior golf camps hosted exclusively by Ivy League coaches in partnership with a new golf educational camp model known as College Golf Experience (CGX).

Together, IGI and CGX Camps are designed to offer insights for junior golfers and their parents on playing college golf in the Ivy League in an educational, immersive, and fun setting at various locations across the country throughout the year.

Players attending these camps participate in simulated on-course college golf practice and tournament rounds. Players and their parents will also attend education seminars led by the coaches on college golf in the Ivy League, the recruiting process, course management and strategy. In addition, players receive real-time feedback on their games via skill assessments and challenges similar to what coaches work on with their teams.

Coaches have bought into the CGX and IGI concept. “The partnership between Ivy Golf Institute and CGX is reshaping the camp model for junior golfers interested in playing at elite academic institutions,” said Erika DeSanty, Head Women’s Golf Coach, Princeton University. “Representing nearly every golf program in the Ivy League, we are determined to build meaningful connections with all participants and their families, while supporting and guiding them as they embark on one of the most crucial decisions of their golfing lives.”

Joshua Jacobs, a junior golf industry veteran and

entrepreneur who founded TGA Premier Golf, one of the industry’s largest youth golf programs, recognized there was an educational and experiential opportunity to help junior golfers and their parents learn about college golf and the recruiting process, while engaging directly with college coaches.

In June 2021, Jacobs launched CGX with the exclusive endorsement by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The vision is to deliver education-based camps for boys and girls ages 11-18 that provide networking experiences for juniors, parents, and college golf coaches.

“In every other sport, 20 to 30 percent of the recruiting process and the education to getting to the collegiate level is centered around camps. That holds true for team and individual sports,” said Jacobs. “We quickly became aware that there was a lack of education among parents and players about college golf across the various divisions and programs, the path to playing at the next level. When you couple that with coaches looking participate or host their own camps, there’s an opportunity to create an ecosystem similar to the

College Golf Experience

ROSS’S RULES

JUNIOR GOLF

high-level junior tournament landscape, except with camps.”

CGX has run 26 camps to date. Camps include Elite Camps with single schools / programs, Preview Camps in partnership with junior tours prior to tournaments, and Showcase Camps that feature multiple college coaches from regions or specific conferences. By the end of 2022, CGX will have worked with over 100 coaches, and anticipates working with 325 coaches in Division I, II, III and NAIA across 75-100 camps in 25-30 states in 2023.

CGX and IGI have already held three successful camps together and is planning more over the next 12 months. A Boys and Girls Winter Ivy Camp will be held at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida on Jan. 7 – 8, 2023, and there will be another Boys and Girls Summer Ivy Camp scheduled for the Summer of 2023 at Springdale Golf Club in New Jersey.

“In partnership with the Ivy Golf Institute, we are striving to teach, motivate, and inspire players, while supporting these highly academically-minded families with the tools to help them find their fit in college golf,” explains Jacobs. “Our Ivy Camp series has been an exciting opportunity to create transformational experiences for juniors and their parents with esteemed coaches from America’s most prestigious institutions.”

Coaches attending the Ivy camps this winter include Dartmouth Men’s Head Coach Rich Parker, Columbia Men’s Head Coach Rich Mueller, Penn Men’s Head Coach Clay White, Yale Women’s Head Coach Lauren Harling, Dartmouth Women’s Head Coach Alex Kirk, and Penn Women’s Head Coach Mark Anderson.

“CGX is a first-class operation driven to educate junior golfers about college golf while also leveraging a unique partnership with Ivy League schools. I’m incredibly honored and excited about working with the CGX camps and sharing my experience,” said Rich Mueller, Head Men’s Golf Coach, Columbia University.

To learn more about CGX Camps or to register for an IGI Camp, visit: https://collegegolfx.com/camps/#upcoming.

Jack Ross, who resides in Holden, MA, has been a columnist for Northeast Golf for more than a decade with a focus on the rules of golf, the USGA, and regional golf topics.

The Owl’s Nest Resort, one of New England’s finest four-season resorts, is located in The White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer such an extensive portfolio of four-season vacations, family and corporate events, and resort community living opportunities. The Owl’s Nest Resort is the place to be for White Mountain adventures in all seasons, whether you are just looking for a great getaway or looking for that special place for your mountain dream home. The resort offers vacationers and residents the ultimate experience in a spectacular resort that has it all.

The White Mountain forest makes up 800,000 acres of some of the most majestic and scenic lands in America for vacationing and living. The region is home to dozens of small New England villages and towns and to the top-rated Northeast ski resorts with endless outdoor activities, making it one of the top tourist destinations in the East. The Owl’s Nest expansion and extensive development plans have now made the facility one of the largest destination four-season resorts in the Northeast — “The Place to be in Every Season.”

The multimillion-dollar expansion, which began two years ago, in-

cludes a recently completed Lake Harold, (the largest man-made recreational lake in NH). The newly completed Lakehouse can host events up to 500 and is equipped with a full-size catering kitchen, bar, and two-story event space with a large deck reaching over and wrapping around the waterfront of Lake Harold. The resort has announced the lake is full and will be sporting kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and more. The nearly completed Boathouse Complex

is about ready to open, and the lakeside eatery, HOOK, will be serving waterfront seafood and drinks for guests and residents. The Lafayette Lodge is under construction, the Lodge will feature 24 double queen and 9 king rooms. Three deluxe nanos are finished on Lafayette Road and are ready for occupancy.

The Owl’s Nest also has eight European red-clay tennis courts, two of which are championship courts, four heated/lighted paddle courts, and 13 pickleball courts, including two championship courts with bleacher seating for 200 people. Other amenities scheduled to open include an Italian pizzeria called, Slice, an executive 9-hole golf course, a 10-mile paved loop for jogging, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. A year-round pool with Jacuzzis is under construction with a new food and beverage pavilion. The pavilion will host concerts, and there are plans to build a 500-person amphitheater in the future.

The Owl’s Nest 18-hole championship is the only Nicklaus-designed course in New Hampshire. A Jack Nicklaus experience typically comes with a high premium, and a green fee under $100 is rare. Recently Jack’s course at the Owl’s Nest received accolades as one of the “Top Ten Best Value Nicklaus Golf Courses” in the world coming in at number 6 by Golf Pass. It is a magnificent layout with lots of elevation changes and fantastic hole designs. The real challenge here for golfers is focusing on their game while spectacular views abound in every direction. Fall is a spectacular season to visit and play golf.

The North Lake Villas and South Lake Villas are now being offered at the Owl’s Nest Community Waterscapes, along the shores of Lake Harold. Two carefree neighborhoods offering a full resort living experience, designed with luxury features and modern conveniences for new home buyers. Four new model homes will be open for tours at the Owl’s Nest in the new North

Lake development. There are various models and designs available and custom home designs as well. There is also an option to be included in a rental program for your home here.

When completed, the Lodge will have 36 suites with private balconies. Two luxury apartment buildings are also in the plan for 2022 if you would like to rent before buying. A lot is happening at the Owl’s Nest as it has become the place to be for all seasons, all sports, and all activities in New Hampshire. Find your way to the Nest, “Your first time will never be your Last.” www.owlsnestresort.com

THE NEW

OWL’S

NEST LIVING

A RESORT LIFE CAN BE YOURS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

The Owl’s Nest Resort offers the ultimate golf experience, gorgeous scenic views, and an award-winning restaurant, all at a luxury resort community. Today having it all right in your backyard is the ultimate living experience. What better place to have that experience than in the White Mountains National Forest at one of New England’s top resorts? The new trend in resort living has become one of the most popular choices in real estate today.

The Owl’s Nest offers full four-season living with expansive amenities in a beautiful mountain setting. For winter activities, close proximity to all the major ski areas, unappareled cross country and snowmobile trails, skating, and much more make it a winter wonderland. The fall foliage is amazing for hiking, mountain biking, plat-

form tennis or lakeside fun at the resorts, extensive sports facilities, or great restaurants. There literally is nothing better than having a resort-side second home that you can enjoy in any season.

The expansion of Owl’s Nest will not only allow people to experience the getaway of a lifetime but will also provide various real estate opportunities to own a vacation home in such an exciting and up-

Kristen Phelps Photography

and-coming location. The Owl’s Nest’s expansion is planned to continue into 2023, and will include 2 luxury apartment buildings along Lake Harold and Phase 2 of the Hotel Village which will include standalone units and boutique hotels with a brand-new spa and fitness facility as well as lifestyle-inspired upscale restaurant, and more.

Exceptional Golf Living

The Owl’s Nest 18-hole championship is the only Nicklaus designed course in New Hampshire. A Jack Nicklaus experience typically comes with a high premium, and a green fee under $100 is rare. Recently, Jack’s course at the Owls Nest received accolades at one of the “Top Ten Best Value Nicklaus Golf Courses” in the world coming in at number #6 by Golf Pass. When conditions are less than perfect outside, the resort also features a SkyTrak indoor golf simulator which is conveniently located in the SportsNest.

Four Season Homes

The Owl’s Nest offers various choices for both accommodations and custom design/build residences. The choices are endless. Southlake Townhomes offer 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 1250 square foot residences with oversized garages. The

Northlake Villas offer mountain views, 2320 square foot single-family homes with 3-bedrooms and 2.5-baths with lofts, studies, and two-car garages. There are magnificent choices at the resort for beautiful mountain view lots for larger custom-designed homes as well.

Living Here

There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer this location’s vast amenities and uncompromised beauty. A home at the Owl’s Nest will become your go-to place in any season for your family and friends for generations to come. Come to The Owl’s Nest and make memories for a lifetime.

www.owlsnestresort.com/ buy-a-home

The Owl’s Nest Resort

STEP INTO YOUR SANCTUARY

Cradled by the majestic White Mountains and surrounded by hardwood forest that put each seasons beauty on display make The Owl’s Nest a premier vacation and living destination. Experience the very best in indoor and outdoor mountain activities with restaurants, vast amenities at a community that offers a life well lived. A place for every season in a community for every family.

Live life to its fullest at the Owl’s Nest.

SPECTACULAR HOMES TO CALL YOUR OWN

Resort: www.owlsnestresort.com 603.726.3076

Real Estate: www.owlsnestresort.com/buy-a-home Broker: Tom DeMatteo 401.648.5308

Kristen Phelps Photography

“For more of those moments where you stop and think, what life is all about”

Northlake Villas Southlake Townhomes

The New Shape on Innovation

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