The front- and back-nine holes on the iconic Atlanta golf course will be reversed for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, to be held September 21-25. The previous finishing hole for the tournament was a par 3, and will now finish on a par 5.
Storm Knocks Over Trees at Torrey Pines GC
The La Jolla, Calif., property hosted the Farmers Insurance Open over the weekend, and had to suspend the final round of play on Sunday, and keep spectators off the golf course due to conditions. Overnight, 60 mph winds knocked over as many as 20 trees, including two Torrey pines and a 75-foot eucalyptus.
PGA Takes Pro Golfer Thomas Pieters to the Photo-Barbershop
After the photo submitted for Pieters’ official Tour headshot was given a digital haircut before being posted on the PGA’s site, Pieters used Instagram to send out a “before and after” comparison with the hashtag, #WhereAreMyCurls. The story went viral and was even highlighted in a “Today” show report, with the PGA then admitting it had been a “bit too heavy-handed” and commending Pieters for having “a great head of hair.”
Want to Test Brazil’s Olympic Course? The PGA Needs Volunteers
The PGA Tour is trying to hold a test event on March 8 for the new course in Rio de Janeiro, and is even offering charter-flight transportation for participants. But scheduling conflicts has many Tour players turning down the opportunity.
NGCOA Announces Course Of The Year Finalists
The National Golf Course Owners Association will announce the winner at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego in February, from a group that includes Forest Dunes GC, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes GC, TPC Boston and Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort.
Florida Clubs’ Comeback Efforts Featured by New York Times
The newspaper’s commercial real estate section devoted extensive coverage to a post-recession update on the state of South Florida’s club and course properties, including Boca West CC’s $50 million renovation and Woodmont CC’s expansion beyond golf.
Thumbs Up
Some clubs invest a few million dollars to reinvent themselves, some a lot more. All of them are seeing a good return on investment, and none of them are being managed the same way as in the past.
Deere & Company extends PGA TOUR relationship through 2023
Through the announcement, made before the start of the 2015 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., John Deere also retains its designation as Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier to the PGA TOUR, Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier of the TPC Network, Official Landscape Product Supplier of the PGA TOUR, and Official Golf Course Equipment Leasing Company.
John Deere Golf, First Tee Set Careers on Course Schedule for 2015
The program, which provides hands-on experience and leadership skills for teenage participants to help them prepare for a career in golf course management, includes “shadowing” opportunities with superintendents around PGA Tour events.
Trump’s New NYC Course Starts Taking Tee Times in Anticipation of April 1 Opening
Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, a $269 million collaboration between Donald Trump and designer Jack Nicklaus built on a former landfill in the Bronx, will be New York’s first new golf course in 52 years. Greens fees at the most expensive public golf facility ever built in the U.S. will range from $141 for New York residents during the week to $215 for non-residents on the weekend.
Portland (Ore.) Plans Vote to Ban Smoking On Golf Courses in City Parks
Other cities in Oregon have exempted golfers from similar laws, but the ban in the state’s largest city would apply to all four of its municipal courses. Tobacco products would also be banned from being sold at the facilities, but groups renting courses for tournaments could apply for smoking permits. Portland would join a growing group of cities, including New York, San Francisco, Houston and New Orleans, that now also include golf in their smoking bans.
After Nine Years, Construction Begins In Earnest for New Orleans’ City Park Golf Revival
Nearly a decade after Hurricane Katrina swamped much of the 1,300-acre park, work has begun to build a $13.2 million course as part of a $24.5 million project that seeks to bring championship golf back to the Crescent City.
Top Management Changes Announced at Ocean Reef Club, Congressional CC
After 15 years as General Manager/COO of Congressional CC, Michael Leemhuis has moved to Ocean Reef Club to succeed Paul Astbury, who has retired. Congressional has named Jeffrey Kreafle as its new GM/COO; he will move from his current position at Bellerive CC to start at the Bethesda, Md., club April 1.
TPC Network Expands to Caribbean With TPC at Baha Mar
The PGA TOUR’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be part of a $3.5 billion integrated gaming resort opening in the spring of 2015 in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Jani-King Expands PGA Tour Staff
In addition to renewing agreements with Chad Campbell, Martin Flores and Ryan Palmer, the long-time golf sponsor is adding Luke Guthrie, Kevin Kisner and Hudson Swafford to its roster.