A large part of Tour Edge’s reputation as a first-class club manufacturer has been built on the performance of their fairway woods and hybrids; the introduction of the Exotics 722s strengthens that tradition.
Fast Facts Tour Edge Exotics 722 Fairways E722 Fairway
Game-improvement category
Maraging steel VFT face
Adjustable 10-grams rear sole weight
RyzerSole rail
Acoustic Resonance Channels
Carbon fiber crown
Stock shafts: Fujikura Air Speeder, Mitsubishi Tensi AV
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Gray
Choice of five lofts
$250 C722 Fairway
Better players category
Titanium face and body
Carbon fiber crown
VFT face
Adjustable hosel
Sole weight 80-grams
RyzerSole rail
Acoustic Resonance Channels
Stock shafts: Fujikura Air Speeder, Mitsubishi Tensi AV
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Gray
Choice of three lofts
$300
Tour Edge Exotics 722 Hybrids E722 Hybrid
Game-improvement category
Adjustable 10-gram rear sole weight
Carbon fiber crown
RyzerSole rail
Acoustic Resonance Channels
Stock shafts: KBS TGI Tour Graphite, Fujikura Ventus Blue
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Gray
Choice of four lofts
$230 C722 Hybrid
Better players category
Compact head shape
Adjustable 10-gram front weight
Maraging steel VFT face
Adjustable hosel
RyzerSole rail
Stock shafts: KBS TGI Tour Graphite, Fujikura Ventus Blue
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Gray
Choice of four lofts
$250
WYNTK
Tour Edge continues to make fairway woods and hybrids that, in the option of many, set the pace for the entire industry. Certainly, their reputation was built because players found Tour Edge-designed clubs performed from a variety of lies, fairway or rough, and gave them the confidence to hit serviceable if not great shots time after time.
The new Exotics 722 fairway woods and hybrids are the latest to fit that requirement.
The E models (Extreme) are for those finding these shots to be troublesome on occasion and wanting some assistance from the club’s design while the C models (Competition) are targeted for use by better players with higher swing speeds.
Tour Edge founder and president David Glod provided some insight on the company’s philosophy, “This approach that we first launched with Hot Launch has been extremely beneficial to custom fittings and to cover the entire matrix of different golfers, swing types and player preferences that exist.”
He continued, “The Competition Spec player wants more adjustability and higher-grade materials that produce hotter and lower spinning flights, while the Extreme Spec player wants high M.O.I. for increased accuracy, ease of launch and overall playability. We now have that distinction in every product in the 722 series.”
Anyone thinking of replacing their current fairway woods or hybrids should but the 722s on the for serious evaluation.
The 0311 Gen5 family from PXG includes three iron models for a range of player skills, each with redesigned clubheads and weighting plus a newly formulated polymer core material.
Fast Facts PXG 0311 Gen5 Irons
Five step 8620 carbon steel forged bodies
CNC milled back
Hollow-body construction
Maraging steel forged face
Inverted U-shaped Power Channel
Adjustable tungsten weighting
XCOR2 polymer core
Stock shafts: Project X Cypher, True Temper Elevate 95
Stock grip: PXG
Two finishes: Chrome ($349 per club), Xtreme Dark ($449 per club) 0311 XP Gen5
Super game-improvement category
Largest clubhead, wide sole & thick topline
Lofts: 5-iron 20°, pitching wedge 41° 0311 P Gen5
Game improvement category
Smaller clubhead less offset
Lofts: 5-iron 23°, pitching wedge 44° 0311 T Gen5
Better player category
Smallest clubhead minimal offset
Lofts: 5-iron 25°, pitching wedge 46°
WYNTK
PXG is promoting the irons in their latest club family as hitting the ball greater distances with more effective control and less dispersion with increased forgiveness. How much of this is marketing hyperbole and how much accurately depicts the performance of the 0311 Gen5 irons is yet to be determined and as always, the final evaluation will be done by those who purchase them.
PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons, with characteristic bravado, said in the introductory announcement, “We absolutely killed it with these clubs. GEN5 is better in every way possible. From explosive distance to tight dispersion, to the oh-so sweet feel of forgiveness on every shot, these clubs are a master class in performance!”
A couple of features deserve our attention. The hollow heads are filled with a new lighter weight polymer which means head weight is pushed to the perimeter, a tried-and-true way of increasing a club’s forgiveness. The polymer also provides backing for the very thin face (the company categorizes is as the thinnest in the industry) and PXG says this improves both head stability (higher COR) and better ball speed, hence more yardage.
Rather than a slot in the sole behind the face all three models have a unique inverted U-shaped channel forged in the face’s interior put there to help energy transfer to the ball especially when impact is above the face center. Head weighting is accomplished with five tungsten screws, three towards the toe and two towards the heel, versus the four in the Gen4 model, plus there’s a large screw in the middle that may be replaced to achieve an ideal fit prior to purchase.
Of course, all this comes at a price. A seven-club set of 0311 Gen5s with a Chrome finish comes to $2,443 while in the Xtreme Dark finish they are $3,143 though this is $25 less per iron than the previous Gen4 model. Selling at these numbers puts a set at roughly a thousand dollars more than top of the line irons from the major manufacturers.
Big changes will soon be coming to The Pine Ridge Golf Club in Beverly Hills, Florida. As you will see when you visit, Pine Rudge is still a work in process. This Citrus County golf course is situated in the middle of the 4800-acre Pine Ridge Equestrian and Golf community, in Citrus County, Florida. The course sits 161-feet above sea level, which explains the elevation changes and gently rolling hills, a welcome change from the flat, mundane terrain of most Florida golf courses. Pine Ridge was designed by Brian Almony and originally opened for play in 1982. In the early days, Pine Ridge offered its members an all-encompassing golf facility with a full-length driving range, a short game area, and a practice putting green. In addition to the par 72 championship layout, there was a par 3 executive course, Little Pines.
Pine Ridge still has some fair practice facilities. There’s a generous sized putting green, a driving range, and a short game area. The chipping and putting areas are the perfect place to improve your short game. The driving range at Pine Ridge is only about 200 yards long and is the perfect place to warm up your iron game. The practice green is great for getting to know the speed of the greens before heading to the first tee.
As you make your way around the layout, you’ll encounter a variety of hole styles; woodland framed holes with rolling fairways, wide-open holes that let you bomb away off the tee, blind tee shots, and challenging greens. Although the course winds its way through a golf community, the course is not crowded with home sites; in fact, the houses that you do see sit well back from the fairways.
While the current conditioning of the course is nothing to write home about, Pine Ridge Golf Club is a great place to tune up your game. Narrow fairways require accuracy to keep your tee shot in play. The greens are small – probably from the years of neglected maintenance – which can test your accuracy and shot-making ability. Many greenside bunkers sit about 10 yards back from the green, meaning you’ll need to be able to hit longer bunker shots with some spin.
For me, the par 5, 8th hole is the most memorable on the course and at only 464 yards from the White tees, it’s not going to overpower anybody. A good drive to the top of the hill sets up a risk/reward opportunity if you want to go for the green in two. Once you get to the top of the hill, you’ll find that the hole plays downhill and doglegs to the right. Fronting the right side of the green is the only water hazard on the course and the small, narrow green only adds to the difficulty of the hole and requires a very accurate approach shot to score well.
Number 1 is my favorite par 4. The first hole at Pine Ridge Golf Club plays 383 yards from the White tees and starts with a blind, slightly uphill tee shot. Once you get to the top of the hill and can see your approach shot, you’ll realize just how picturesque the hole is. A good drive will leave a short approach shot into a small green fronted by a bunker on the left and another on the right.
The course’s best par 4 is followed by my favorite par 3. The 161-yard second hole requires a well-struck, accurate tee shot into a long, narrow green protected in front by bunkers on either side and another on the right side.
After your round, grab a bite to eat or your favorite adult beverage at The Pub at Pine Ridge. They offer a fully stocked bar and a casual atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. The food is great, from tasty buffalo chicken wings to mouth-watering burgers to some of the best flatbread pizza I’ve ever had. The bar & grill is open daily.
Pine Ridge offers a variety of memberships. All memberships include unlimited greens fees and cart fees, range balls, and preferred tee times. Single and family memberships are available and are payable on a monthly basis. Check out the website for more information.
In addition to having an active membership, Pine Ridge is a great place to host family get-togethers, prom nights, anniversaries, or other special occasions. Whatever you have in mind, the professional staff at Pine Ridge is committed to helping you make your event a success. They offer a variety of hassle-free event packages to choose from or they can customize one to fit your specific needs.
Tournament hosting is another thing Pine Ridge does well. They will work with you to customize your event based on the size and menu you want. Their ‘Standard Outing Package’ includes green fees, carts, and range balls. For more information visit their website at www.prgcfl.com or give them a call at (352) 746-6177.
For over 130 years golfers from across the world come to the United States to play in one of the oldest golf events held.
In honor of this year’s US Open in Brookline, Mass., BGT introduces a commemorative putter shaft. The Stability Tour American is available only for a short time.
Don’t fall for imitations. Stability is the first and only patented putter shaft designed to specifically improve putting performance and will help you make more putts with better distance control. In fact, Stability has a 99% satisfaction rate over steel. If you play Stability in your putter, you will make more putts.
The Stability Tour American will be available mid-May
Retail – $399.99.
2022 Commemorative – a shaft which honors the US Open, one of the oldest golf events held.
Headcover included – retail value $79.99.
All the cutting-edge technology of a Stability Tour shaft. Premium Toray graphite, 1 degree of torque, Tour proven, ultra-premium look.
About Breakthrough Golf Technology
Breakthrough Golf’s state-of-the-art facility utilizes the latest technology to develop and bring to market the finest, most precise shafts available. Founder Barney Adams, who has always had the unique ability to see what is truly missing in golf equipment, decided to focus on the putter shafts since there had been no significant innovation for decades. A team of award-winning industry professionals was assembled and no shaft company delivers innovation in golf shafts like Breakthrough Golf Technology.
OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL — Mother’s Day is just around the corner and Zero Friction has golf products to help her look great while improving their game on the golf course! The company known for delivering cutting-edge products to golf enthusiasts of all skill levels has a wide variety of products available for the lady golfer in your life.
Zero Friction Ladies Compression Golf Glove: The original compression fit glove is an All-Weather synthetic glove with a digitized palm and patch which holds shape longer. The Ladies Compression Fit Glove is available in six colors in both right- and left-handed gloves. ($13.99)
Ladies Cabretta Elite Golf Gloves: Zero Friction’s unique Compression-Fit technology is also available in a 100% authentic cabretta leather glove with matching lycra colors. This glove molds with your hand for a guaranteed fit. Best of all the leather provides a solid grip in wet or humid weather and works with smartphones & touch screen devices. ($17.99)
ZF Storm Golf Gloves Ladies: This superior All-Weather (Rain & Cold) Golf Gloves has all the great features of our original ZF Compression Fit technology golf glove with added warmth and durability for the colder months. They are knitted from a unique hollow-core polyester yarn plus spandex that makes them warm, lightweight, breathable, and guaranteed to fit. The outer premium microfiber suede of the glove provides a non-slip grip for wet and humid conditions. ($24.99)
ZF Air Lite Golf Bag: A light and easy way to carry “pencil bag” 7 or 8 clubs. Weighing less than 2lbs, the pencil bag is water repellent, features a hood and carry straps, and stand. This sleek, mini carry bag is perfect for a Sunday round of golf. Available in three colors. ($69.99)
ZF Wheel Pro™ Push Cart Golf Bag: A three-in-one, multi-functional push or pull golf cart bag, at the PGA Merchandise show in January. The Wheel Pro Push Cart allows a golfer to use the bag 3 ways: as a push or pull cart, a carry stand bag or with use on a motor cart. This innovative bag features a single strap, six full length dividers and seven zippered pockets. Plus, it includes an umbrella holder and bag head cover. The new golf bag is available in three color choices. ($349.99)
ZF Spectra Golf Balls: Zero Friction Spectra matte finish golf balls are a two-piece distance golf ball with a soft Surlyn durable cover available in 5 neon colors plus matte finish white. Large super-fast core provides explosive distance, high launch and longer roll off the tee. Available in six colors as well as white. ($19.99/dozen)
Zero Friction’s colorful line of compression-fit gloves for men, women and juniors takes the guesswork out of sizing. Compression-fit technology means a universal fit within the various models, and the glove that will hold its shape longer than any on the market. For more information and to see the Zero Friction catalog, visit www.ZeroFriction.com or call
On Course Foundation kicked off its annual fundraising campaign during Military Appreciation Month (May) to benefit wounded veterans who use golf as a vehicle for physical and mental recovery, and harvest newfound confidence into careers in golf.
Corporate and individual contributions of financial and business resources are earmarked to expand On Course Foundation’s impact in new regional markets across America. The organization currently conducts free programs in 15 states which help active and retired, injured Service members develop golf business and playing skills.
Sponsors include Apollo Wealth Management, Barclays, Charles Schwab, CSX, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, Callaway, Clubessential and Summit Golf Brands. Countless individual donors also salute the military, the game of golf and vastly improving lives which otherwise would have spiraled downward.
“Golf is an extremely powerful tool,” says John Simpson, Founder of On Course Foundation and former agent to Nick Faldo and 17 major tournament winners. “The support we receive betters those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom; they go from unhappy to happy, and their transformations to enjoy family, professional, social, financial and athletic aspects of life are incredible beyond words.”
Thousands of On Course Foundation members have benefitted from the organization’s golf education and career services. Exhibiting profound changes of character, they are placed in full-time jobs with Callaway, ClubCorp, Marriott Vacations, TaylorMade, Topgolf, TPC Network and other golf companies, golf courses, clubs and resorts. Members also learn playing skills with many achieving low, single-digit handicaps and qualifying for the annual Simpson Cup where U.K. and U.S. teams square off in Ryder Cup-style matches.
A poignant video about On Course Foundation and the Simpson Cup is here.
Testament to On Course Foundation programming is Shad Newton, a National Guard veteran who sustained traumatic brain injury and right hip nerve damage in combat in Afghanistan:
“The organization saved my life. It got me out of the house and on the course with my brothers and sisters in arms; otherwise, I would have ended my life a long time ago. Rehab through golf is an outlet for us to experience other than four walls.”
To further exposure to the golf business, 10 On Course Foundation members worked at Augusta National during the 2022 Masters tournament. Others will help produce the Royal and Ancient’s Open Championship, the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge and the PNC Championship.
In 1999, Congress designed May as Military Appreciation Month, a time to pause to remember the sacrifice and service of past and present members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and National Guard. May also marks Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day. There are more than 4.5 million wounded, injured and sick Service people in the U.S.
Honma Golf has announced two new TW757 drivers, the D, and the S, making use of a unique sole slot made with titanium reinforced using carbon fiber plus a non-rotational hosel sleeve to maintain shaft spine position.
Fast Facts Honma TW757 Drivers
Carbon fiber reinforced sole slot
Internal ribs in carbon fiber crown
Two sole weights stock 9- & 3-grams
Adjustable hosel loft +/- 1.0°
Adjustable face angle +/- 1.5°
Stock shaft: Honma Vizard 757
Available for pre-order $719 TW757 D driver Game improvement category
460cc clubhead
Two sole weights–rear towards heel & toe TW757 S driver
Better player category
450cc clubhead
Two sole weights—front & back
WYNTK Both the TW757 D and TW757 S have Honma’s Keel Sole that lowers the head’s center of gravity while increasing the resistance to twisting but the more unique feature of these two new drivers is the hosel adjustment sleeve.
Called the P-Sat Adjustment System it allows both the loft and face angle to be changed without altering the shaft orientation. This means the shaft spine remains its original alignment while obtaining the most efficient ball trajectory.
The D model has a definite draw bias due to the rear 9-gram sole weight being closer to the heel while the S model’s front and back sole weights have the heavier 9-gram weight in the front and lighter 3-gram weight in the rear to increase the tendency for a flatter, lower spin flight.
Optional sole weights (6-,12-, 15-grams) are available.
In both models the crown is reinforced by internal ribs to stiffen it and improve energy being transmitted to the variable thickness face.
The PGA Tour now moves to Mexico and a new, but not so new, event on this years PGA Tour schedule. The Mexico Open was first played back in 1944 and notable winners of the tournament have been Roberto De Vicenzo who won the title three times, Tony Lema, Lee Trevino and Stewart Cink are all double winners and Ben Crenshaw is also a past champion.
This years event will be played at the Greg Norman designed signature course at the Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta resort. The Norman course runs by the Ameca River and can only be accessed by the worlds longest golf cart suspension bridge. Unlike a lot of resort courses the Norman course isn’t surrounded by lots of properties and sits on its own little parcel of land.
There are 15 lakes, 98 bunkers, huge sandy waste areas, indigenous vegetation, large undulating greens which are well protected by some vast bunkers. The greens range in size from average to huge with plenty of slope and contours – which includes tiers and valleys – and are raised with lots of false fronts. The course also has some forced carries and from the tips weighs in at 7,287 yards.
Notable holes to look out for are; the opening hole which is a 398 yard par 4 risk and reward hole with the fairway horseshoeing around a lake with 2 big bunkers in the landing zone, three more guarding the raised and contoured green, plus 3 large oblong shaped bunkers on the left front side of the green.
The 15th is a challenging 459-yard par 4 with water running from tee to green, there are also 8 bunkers, including a huge waste bunker on the left and a bunker in the middle of the fairway, and then there are 4 more to contend with that surround the green.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona Beach has become a destination of choice for savvy group leaders in search of good golf, good times and value, leading an influx of newcomers to search for the area’s premier layouts.
Home to nearly 20 golf courses, including a pair of Donald Ross designs, a U.S. Open qualifying site, and three layouts that have hosted major professional tournaments, identifying Daytona Beach’s “best” courses is by nature a subjective exercise. With that being said, here are five must-play Daytona Beach golf courses in 2022:
● LPGA International, a 36-hole property, is Daytona Beach’s most acclaimed facility, and the Jones Course challenges players with some of Central Florida’s best greens complexes, sprawling waste bunkers and natural marsh areas. A favorite of the world’s best female golfers when the LPGA held its titleholders event in Daytona Beach, the Rees Jones layout also features generous fairways framed by mounding, creating the memorable visuals players enjoy.
● Golfweek has ranked Victoria Hills among Florida’s top 15 public layouts and it doesn’t take players long to figure out why. The course plays along naturally rolling terrain and pine tree-lined fairways, an atypical look for a Florida layout, and players love it. For golfers in the western part of Volusia County, playing this Ron Garl design is a priority.
● A greens restoration project has moved Halifax Plantation to the top of many must-play lists. The new Champion Ultra dwarf bermuda grass has made the Bill Amick course’s greens among the area’s smoothest. Halifax plays among centuries-old oaks, adding scenery to a layout in pristine condition.
● For many, Daytona Beach is home to the “World Center of Racing” Daytona International Speedway, so it’s only natural that one of the area’s fastest rounds of golf is also among its most enjoyable. Crane Lakes Golf Club, a par 66 that includes eight par 3s and a pair of par 5s, can be played in under 3 ½ hours, but it’s not just a “short course.” Crane Lakes has several par 4s that play over 380 yards and its shortest par 3 is 151 yards.
● The U.S. Women’s Open will be played on a Donald Ross design this summer, shining the spotlight on America’s most revered golf course architect. Ross designed a pair of area layouts – the South Course at Daytona Beach Golf Club and the New Smyrna Golf Club – both of which are municipal courses that allow players to enjoy the work of one of the game’s legends at a value price. For golfers in southern Volusia County, New Smyrna, with its small undulating greens, is a treat to play.
For information on all of Daytona Beach golf offerings, visit DaytonaBeach.Golf.
Featuring more accuracy than previous versions, the Arccos Gen3+ Smart Sensors use integrated artificial intelligence machine learning developed over the past three years and linked with Arccos Caddie app.
Fast Facts Arccos Smart Sensors Gen3+
13 sensors plus putter sensor
Shot tracking smartphone software
One year Caddie Link
Smartphone GPS rangefinder
Optional Caddie Link belt data recorder
$199.99
WYNTK The benefits of accurate tracking of your shots during a round include being able to analyze club distances, where shots are lost, what we do well and not well plus other data useful for becoming a better player.
Arccos, a leader in automatic shot tracking, has updated and refined their Smart Sensors with the Gen3+ version. Paired with the Arccos Caddie app, which also includes a GPS distance screen, swing data is recorded allowing in-depth strokes gained analysis, now for each club as well as accurate distances for each club and A.I. club suggestions for each shot.
The sensors which screw into the butt end of the club’s grip are both smaller and lighter than previously and the P3 Putter Sensor is especially suited for pistol-style grips.
“Arccos is the world’s #1 automatic shot tracking system and we’ve made it even better with these technological improvements,” said Sal Syed, Arccos CEO and Co-Founder. “Arccos now captures 98% of all tee shots and delivers the most accurate shot tracking experience the game has ever seen.”
A one-year membership to the Arccos Caddie app is included with purchase with subsequent years billed annually for $12.99 per month.
The Heritage Harbour golf course in Bradenton Florida has been a favorite of both locals and snowbirds for many years. The course opened in 2001 as Stoneybrook Golf Club at Heritage Harbour and changed to its current name in 2018. Since its inception, it has been operated as a public course and a semi-private club.
In the years after the 2008 financial crisis, the condition of the course continued to deteriorate. Different golf course management companies were brought in to make improvements and turn things around, but conditions didn’t improve and the golf course was put up for sale, something that worried residents who had once upon a time purchased golf course homes.
Local PGA golf professional turned publisher turned real estate broker Mark Bruce put together an investment group and purchased the distressed property, thus adding the title of Golf Course Owner/General Manager to an already crowded business card. His knowledge and expertise in each area have melded together nicely as everything he foresaw for Heritage Harbour is coming to fruition.
By his admission, Bruce says the course was desperately in need of repairs. Bruce and a group of investors purchased the club about 4 years ago. Florida weather, especially summer heat and torrential afternoon rains is hard on golf courses. “The lifespan of core elements like greens, bunkers, and turfgrass is only about 12 to 15 years, so now, after 21 years, it was time for us to do some heavy lifting”, says Bruce. As one of his partners told me, “I came down to visit the property shortly after agreeing to become an investor. As Mark was touring me around the property I stopped him and asked, “what have you gotten me into?”
Mark Bruce knew exactly what he was doing. After doing his due diligence, he put together a business model that will ultimately pay for the course renovation, clubhouse improvements, and ongoing maintenance of the golf course. Bruce has partnered with ResClub, whose business model brings quality traffic to vacation rental property resorts. Visitors that are in golf vacation mode will provide additional revenue streams for the resort developer. With this new business model, the shift to frame the property as a micro destination golf resort makes perfect sense and will generate sufficient revenue for years to come to properly care for the course and make it a “must play” in Southwest Florida.
The uniqueness of what Bruce and ResClub’s CEO Craig Williamson have created is unparalleled. You can be a visiting vacationer for a short or extended stay, a member that comes every year for two to four weeks, or a seasonal owner that lives in a Villa for up to six months a year. Here’s how membership works. A $99,000 membership will get you four weeks of use for a 30-year term on a vacation home at Heritage Harbour in Bradenton, FL or you can choose from more than 4,500 resort locations and 600,000 hotels in more than 100 countries within an extensive travel exchange network. The biggest difference between this type of ownership and timeshare is that with a timeshare, you still pay maintenance and resort fees. The ResClub membership model has no closing costs, HOA, property management fees, or ongoing utility expenses either. With this type of membership, there is a fixed annual return – they pay you back between 5 – 8% each year. Use your new vacation home for 4 weeks during the year and you’ll get 5% of your investment back; don’t use it at all and you’ll get 8%. So instead of forking out $3 – 5,000 in fees, you are getting a check for $5,000 – $8,000 each year. Looking for a seasonal place to call home? Whole ownership of a villa is available and owners can use it for up to 179 days a year as a “seasonal home” or keep their use limited to four weeks and deploy the villa into the resort rental platform to create income. The whole goal is to create an experience for Members and Owners that creates a net-zero cost of ownership and gives them amazing lifestyle and personal use benefits.
Ultimately, the new Heritage Harbour Golf Resort will include 74 villas and a 100-suite golf lodge and will be the only full-service golf resort in Manatee County. It will include a resort-style pool, fishing excursions in the nearby Manatee River or Gulf of Mexico, corporate meeting and event spaces, and various other amenities.
The Heritage Harbour Golf Club was designed by Arthur Hills, one of America’s foremost golf course designers who was best known for building courses that are fun to play, beautiful, challenging, and require a strategy. He has designed many of the country’s finest courses – over 200 throughout the nation – and renovated just as many. I’ve often commented on how mundane Florida golf can be; after all, there’s only so much you can do with water, sand, and palm trees. Arthur Hills has taken those three aspects of Florida golf and created a Sunshine State masterpiece. As far as the layout goes. It’s incredible, winding its way through ponds, lakes, wooded areas, and wetland preserves. By successfully playing the angles Hills gives you, you are rewarded with manageable approach shots and opportunities for birdie.
Unfortunately, Arthur Hills passed away in May 2021, so we will never know what changes he would have made to his original design. Instead, Bruce and his partners have turned the redesign efforts over to someone they feel is an up-and-coming course architect, Nick Campanelli. Campanelli is just 38 and is a graduate of Penn State University. He is a Partner in the highly successful boutique landscape architecture firm M-D-L-A, whose presence is mostly in the Northeast US. In 2010, he submitted the winning entry into Golf Digest’s “Dream Hole” Armchair Architect Contest. His risk/reward par 4 hole was judged by fellow course architects Gil Hanse, Jeff Mingay, Tripp Davis, and Todd Eckenrode. As the contest winner, Campanelli was awarded probably the most inspiring life experience he will ever have; a four-week micro-internship with Pete Dye in French Lick, Indiana.
The full renovation will take place in the summer of 2022 and will include new turfgrass for the tees, fairways, and greens complexes, rebuilt bunkers, and upgrades and technological improvements to the irrigation system. Although the majority of the course will remain unchanged, The first and second holes will be replaced with the Lodge and two groups of villas that border a fifty-eight-acre wetland and beautiful bodies of water. Two new holes will be added to the existing course. Several other holes will be rerouted and redesigned. I’ve seen the renderings and they are quite impressive.
Several aspects of the current club will not change; at least it’s not in the current plans. The Heritage Harbour practice facilities will still include an aqua practice range, two putting greens, a short game area, and a fully stocked pro shop.
The clubhouse currently has a very active Bar & Grill. They’re open for lunch every day with happy hour from 4 – 6 pm. Wednesday’s is Cornhole Night with a special sports menu and Thursday’s is Burger Night with special prices on half-pound burgers served with your choice of fixings. There are all kinds of ice-cold beverages and adult libations. Be sure to check out their online calendar for other special events.
These days it’s hard to find a vacation destination with something for everyone, but Heritage Harbour and the Bradenton area will soon be changing that. The area offers great golf, both fresh water and deep-sea fishing, world-class beaches, exquisite culinary offerings, and luxury shopping. The Resort is just minutes away from I-75 and is destined to become one of Florida’s premier all-purpose resorts. For more information about all that is going on with Heritage Harbour or to make an appointment to visit and purchase a vacation home, you can give them a call at (941) 746-2696 or visit them online at www.heritageharbourgolfclub.com.
The new 0311 Gen5 club family, woods, hybrids, irons, from PXG according to the company shows improvement over previous models with faster ball speeds, less dispersion, a higher MOI and better feel.
Fast FactsPXG 0311 Gen5 Driver
Aluminum vapor coated carbon fiber crown
Adjustable hosel +/- 1.5°
Improved aerodynamic shaped crown
Three sole weights
Face Ti412 titanium
Head design dampens vibration
Stock shafts: choice of four
Stock grip: PXG Z5
$499
WYNTK
PXG initially portraited itself as a maverick who was out to upset the traditional world of golf club manufacturing with innovative design and manufacturing marketing premium clubs at a premium price. To a degree they succeeded, and founder Bob Parsons certainly has gained the reputation of daring moves with no lack of hyperbole.
Started in 2014, as the business matured some things out of necessity changed such as a requirement every club had to be custom fitted before purchase selling at prices the average weekend warrior thought were ridiculous. It was common knowledge a full ball of PXGs originally cost upwards of $5,000.
As the overall club business has expanded to record levels in the past two years PXG has reduced club prices to increase market share until today they fall into the middle range of club costs though the label of “club company maverick” is still appropriate and the brash trumpet blowing hasn’t decreased.
The latest introduction of the 0311 Gen5 models was accompanied by Parsons saying, “We absolutely killed it with these clubs. GEN5 is better in every way possible. From explosive distance to tight dispersion, to the oh-so sweet feel of forgiveness on every shot, these clubs are a master class in performance!”
The technology of the drivers is interesting especially the aluminum vapor coating applied to the carbon fiber crown in a vacuum chamber, PXG is the only maker doing this, and the company says it materially stiffens the crown. The company says this lessens the crown’s distortion at impact and increases the head’s COR for better ball speed since less energy is lost from crown deformation.
There is also a bigger profile XF model which is longer heel to toe and is more forgiving.
With the onset of a new golf season comes the insatiable desire for new gear. We’ve all dealt with supply chain issues and long lead times for ordering clubs, balls, apparel and just about any sort of golf-related stuff. So, why not get ahead of it this spring? To help get the ball rolling toward the cup, here’s our Way Too Early Father’s Day Golf Gift Guide for forwarding to loved ones, golf buddies, or (why not!) your inbox to get ahead of the game.
FlightScope Mevo
As the prevailing wisdom goes these days, you need a launch monitor if you want to practice with a purpose. Historically, the price points for these treasure troves of swing data kept 99.9% of golfers out of the market. The 0.1%? Those were the TOUR players who could afford $20K TrackMan monitors. FlightScope was one of the first companies to bring these devices down to earth, and its Mevo model is downright affordable by any golfer’s standards. Retailing for $500, Mevo measures eight different data parameters, including carry distance, spin rate, club speed, ball speed, vertical launch, smash factor, apex and flight time. Start-up and use is a cinch, simply download the app, power up and synch the Mevo, and boom, data galore.
Warmer weather equals more walking rounds, and no brand does walking golf like Tacoma, Wash.-based TRUE linkswear. TRUE’s iconic All Day Knit II (A.K.A TKII) has been remastered and released in four spring-like colors ranging from Asphalt to Vino ($145). The five original colors are still available for traditionalists lead by the ever-popular G.O.A.T. Grey. Spring can make buckets of rain in many parts of the U.S., and TRUE meets meteorology head-on with the All Day Ripstop ($150), a close cousin to the TKII. The company’s most sustainable shoe, the Ripstop is made from 100% recycled materials that is both wind and water-resistant.
Like OnCore’s original three-piece ball, the enhanced ELIXR uses perimeter weighting for greater accuracy and reduced side spin off the driver. A unique polybutadiene core delivers an outstanding coefficient of restitution (CoR) for higher ball speed, resulting in more carry and roll. Additionally, a slightly firmer cover with a 350-dimple pattern (up from 318) and mid-compression ball specification delivers a pure feel off the club face and gives the ELIXR superior greenside control, durability and unmatched performance in its category. The new ELIXR retails for $29.99 per dozen with additional discounts available to loyalty members and for bulk purchases.
If you want to play the top-tier tracks at famed Pinehurst Resort, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8, you’re going to need to stay at Pinehurst Resort. Due to demand from area golfers, resort guests and members, the resort eliminated outside play on its marque courses for the foreseeable future. One of the best ways to experience The Cradle of American Golf is to book a Sunday through Tuesday stay via the Donald Ross Package, which includes lodging in the Carolina Hotel, Holly Inn or Manor, three rounds of golf (choose from nine courses plus the nine-hole, par-3 Cradle), Southern breakfast each morning and a three-course dinner, nightly. Rates start at $1,509 singly occupancy and drop slightly May 26 through Sept. 5 for the summer. There’s a $195 premium to play vaunted No. 2, U.S Open Anchor Site, but it’s hard to put a price on this unforgettable experience.
Few brands outside of Titleist have been as dominant on the PGA TOUR as Bushnell. Its laser rangefinders have long been accepted as the benchmark for accuracy, ease of use and longevity, all backed by a category-leading warranty. And no Bushnell laser rangefinder drives this fact home quite like the Tour v5 Patriot. The Tour V5 Patriot is Bushnell at its category-leading best. Easy to unbox, simple to start up and sporting a sleek-yet-powerful design that is sure to get more than a few looks from your playing partners. Distance is displayed on the screen as soon as the button is released (in either yards or meters). It also features Bushnell’s PinSeeker technology that helps it lock onto the pin.
Many of the world’s best inventions are born from the “better mousetrap” concept. Nexbelt is a case in point. The company’s high-end belts have no holes and no sizes. Out of the box, you simply cut the belt to fit your waist size. Nexbelt’s Golf Series features its proprietary “Go-In” ratchet system that smoothly locks in the belt around the waist and easily adjusts on the fly as needed. The overall quality and durability of all Nextbelt’s lines is staggering and a much-needed injection of craftsmanship in an often-overlooked category.
Golfers looking to better understand their game and improve faster will benefit most from the next generation of Smart Sensors launched today by Arccos Golf. The latest Smart Sensors (Gen3+) feature new automatic shot tracking technology powered by A.I. machine learning that tightly integrates Arccos hardware and software to pinpoint a player’s shots more accurately. The advanced technology has been developed over the past three years by Arccos Data Scientists and Engineers, after analyzing more than 500 million shots hit using Arccos sensors in 194 countries worldwide.
RADMOR Golf recently dropped its men’s and women’s spring collections available for purchase by green-minded golfers. The company’s sustainably-sourced golf clothing forgoes virgin polyester in favor of natural cellulose fibers like Peruvian Pima cotton, elastane yarns and super-soft Tencel (lyocell and modal) to create the most eco-minded golf apparel in the industry. The spring collection includes a variety of polos, “tee” shirts, crew neck sweatshirts, hoodies, pants, shorts, hats and other accessories. Founders Scott Morrison and Bob Conrad, who played on the University of Washington men’s golf team, launched RADMOR in 2020.
Sun Mountain’s flagship PX3 and PX4 push carts have made a huge splash with members of #pushcartmafia. Offering improvements on the company’s past Pathfinder models, PX3 and PX4 feature advancements like a new handle and accessory tray, while retaining the main benefits of smaller folded size and easy opening. The PX3 and PX4 retail for $249 and $259, respectively. Additional enhancements on both models we loved: a continuous handle for pushing with one hand, an accessory console that holds balls, tees, scorecard and mobile phone, a mobile phone holder with a slot for a charging plug, dual umbrella holders, and a mesh basket and velour-lined pouch for additional storage.
The CBX Zipcore is a cavity-back wedge that offers many of the same benefits of a player-improvement iron. Its decidedly larger profile delivers a high-level of comfort as golfers set up for full, pitch and chip shots. The club’s ultra-wide sole helps the clubhead slide through the grass like a knife through butter and reduces both chunks and skulls, according to Cleveland. Cleveland’s Ultzip Groves are sharper, deeper and packed closer together than on traditional wedges to the point there are two additional groves. And based on testing from a variety of equipment testing services impart just as much spin as their blade brethren.
Cleveland Golf have challenged this limitation with the Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood, which unabashedly offers the best of both worlds in terms of looks and performance. Engineered for golfers who struggle to hit their fairway woods off tight lies or make clean contact with a ball snuggled down in the rough, the Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood is quickly becoming the workhorse of many golf bags. The 3+ Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood features 18 degrees of loft, more than ample for settling comfortably into the role of a 5-wood. According to Cleveland, its head is noticeably bigger than your typical hybrid, and its size creates a higher moment of inertia for more stability at impact. There are three guide rails along the sole of the club to help keep the face square during impact and run smoothly over any surface.
Cleveland / Srixon made industry waves with the addition of Brooks Koepka to its PGA TOUR player lineup late last year. Fast-forward to 2022 and the tried-and-true OEM combo is cranking out innovative hybrids that are making some seriously loud noise in this up-for-grabs category. The company’s latest iteration, the ZX, is a beautifully-wrought club that’s both compact and powerful. At address, it cuts a regal profile that will appeal to better players. But Srixon’s Rebound Frame makes the ZX an incredibly forgiving hybrid for mid- to high-handicappers. It’s also competitively priced at $229.99, making it a viable option for players on reasonable new-club budget. The ZX is offered in lofts 2-6 (16-28 degrees) and available with either a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black or Project X Evenflow Riptide shaft.
You can count on Greenville, S.C.-based Southern Tide releasing its spring and summer collection of golf polos and shorts if it’s springtime. Designed for golfers teeing it up in intense heat and humidity, its BRR-EEZE polos use natural cooling minerals, active moisture wicking and maximized airflow and brrr technology to keep golfers’ internal temperatures 3-4 degrees below normal temperatures. They pair perfectly with the new T3 BRR-DIE 8-inch performance shorts, available in six colors and sizes ranging from 28 to 42. Not every spring morning is warm, and Southern Tide makes its wildly popular quarter zips, long-sleeve shirts and full-zip jackets available year-round.
Southern Tide Men’s Gulf 8 Inch Brrr Die Performance Short Stone
2Thumb Octotech Grip
2Thumb Grip, The Original Flat Top Grip since 2004, recently introduced its new OCTOTECH Grip. This 8-sided grip has been specifically designed to fit perfectly into the natural shape of a golfer’s hands while delivering the ultimate feel and feedback from every stroke you make. It’s the perfect combination with Dimax technology offering traction when needed down both sides of the grip and a smooth soft-touch front. The non-tapered design, available in either 36 mm or 43mm widths, helps promote even grip pressure across both hands and reduces potential wrist action. The OCTOTECH Grip accommodates all of today’s grip styles, from Conventional, Claw, Left Hand Low, Prayer, etc.
The Towel Tag utilizes “Pull-Thru Technology” to create an entirely new generation of functional bag tags. Designed to temporarily secure a golf towel without using grommets or hooks, each tag is manufactured using two separate compounds to create a functional bag tag with maximum durability. They’re ideal for temporary storage of golf towels, head covers, rain gear, and outdoor and layered clothing. Each Towel & Tag Combo includes a tour-sized microfiber golf towel, and a customized Towel Tag featuring “Pull-Thru Technology” along with functional packaging.
More than a Father’s Day gift, joining a private golf club would be a masterful Father’s Day decision. With the explosion of golf participation in the U.S. during and post-pandemic, public tee times are getting harder and harder to secure. Especially during prime weekend times. Country clubs around the country have modernized their membership categories, making them more affordable and practical for first-timers.
The Club at Olde Cypress
For example, The Club at Olde Cypress in Naples, Fla., offers an associate golf membership that affords unlimited use of the golf course from May through October for cart fee only and unrestricted use of the practice facilities. The club’s reciprocal program is one of the most robust in the region and allows associate golf members access to play 40 other private clubs in the area from May through October.
Champion Hills in Hendersonville, N.C. recently rolled out its Equity 55 membership for those 55 and under. With Equity 55, the club’s initiation fee is divided into four equal payments over four years, dues and replacement reserve fund contributions are reduced by 50% and the club’s annual food and beverage minimum is prorated for new members.
Offering complete access to the club’s amenities and activities, Equity 55 members enjoy Champion Hills’ mountain-style Tom Fazio-designed golf course, clubhouse with pub and fine dining, wellness center, tennis and bocce courts, pool and hydro spa and more. Search wherever you’re dreaming of relocating, or even where you live now – if you play and practice more than four or five times, monthly, joining a private golf club could make good sense.
New 58.06 and 60.06 models available immediately with custom options
CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 6, 2022) – Building upon the momentum generated by the introduction of the Vokey Design SM9 line, Titleist launches the WedgeWorks Low Bounce K Grind, a tour-proven, versatile wedge now available in Tour Chrome and Raw finishes.
The SM9 K grind is among the most popular of all the available Vokey options, especially with amateur golfers who favor its wide, cambered sole, providing maximum forgiveness on greenside shots and out of the bunker.
Like the majority of Vokey Design wedges, the new Low Bounce K grind was born out of Master Craftsman Bob Vokey and longtime Vokey tour representative Aaron Dill’s collaboration with players on the PGA Tour and across the worldwide professional tours. The pool of input runs deep, as Vokey Design models account for more than half of all wedges at a PGA Tour event during any given week. Vokey and Dill take that extensive feedback to consistently deliver new, tour-validated designs.
“Several players preferred the K grind sole but were seeking a lower bounce version,” said Vokey. “As a result, we crafted a sole with 6° of effective bounce, while maintaining the wide camber that makes the K design so effective for a wide variety of players. As soon as we brought it out on tour, it was immediately accepted and in the bags of multiple players as soon as they had a chance to test it.”
Among the players who have found immediate success with the new Vokey Design SM9 60.06 K grind in the bag includes Sentry Tournament of Champions and PLAYERS Championship winner Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas and Webb Simpson, as well as the 2020-21 PGA TOUR’s only three-time winner.
“The K grind lives in the bags of some of the world’s best,” said Dill. “It has always been known as the ultimate bunker club, inspiring confidence in players short games. However, when you ask players on tour why they play the K grind, they will tell you not only do they love the performance in the bunkers, but they love the way the leading edge hugs the ground when pitching and chipping.”
SM9 TECHNOLOGY
Forward Center of Gravity progression – The CG has been raised vertically by adding weight to the topline design, where a tapered pad at the back of the toe helps align the CG properly without being visible from the playing position.
New patented spin milled process for maximum spin – A new spin milled cutting process in the SM9 models – which includes tightening our allowable tolerances – produces consistently sharper grooves wedge after wedge, resulting in higher, more consistent spin.
VOKEY WEDGE SELECTOR TOOL | The Vokey Wedge Selector tool on Vokey.com helps golfers select the proper loft, bounce and grind options for their swing and course conditions. Vokey recommends that golfers visit their local Titleist fitter to confirm the results. Experience the Vokey Wedge Selector tool at:
ADVANCED PERSONALIZATION AND CUSTOM OPTIONS | Vokey Design SM9 wedges feature a modern, clean look, which provides a canvas for customization. The WedgeWorks custom options include:
Six unique toe engravings
Stamping options | 10-character Straight/Freestyle stamping; 15 characters around the toe; and two lines of 10 characters each
Custom paint-filled | Loft, Bounce and Grind markings and BV Wings logo
SM9 wedges can also be custom ordered with an industry-leading selection of shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules. For a complete list of options, visit www.Vokey.com
STOCK SHAFT and GRIP | Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 | Grip: Tour Velvet 360 White
LOFTS, FINISHES, BOUNCE | Lofts: 58° and 60° in RH/LH | Finishes: Tour Chrome (RH only), Raw (RH/LH) | Bounce | 6°
AVAILABILITY and PRICING | WedgeWorks Low Bounce K is available through golf shops worldwide and Vokey.com beginning April 6th, 2022 | MAP $225
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Who is it for?: The Low Bounce K is perfect for the player with a shallow attack angle playing firm conditions but would benefit from the wider sole out of deep soft bunkers.
What is the difference between the WW Low Bounce K and the SM9 K Grind?: Both grinds feature a wide, high-cambered sole and are great out of the bunker. The SM9 K Grind has 14 degrees of bounce and is great for steep swings and soft conditions, while the WW Low Bounce K has 6 degrees of bounce and is great for shallow swings and firm fast conditions.
What is the difference between the WW Low Bounce K and the SM9 L Grind?: Both are low bounce wedges, and required precise delivery, but the WW Low Bounce K features a wide, high-cambered full sole. The SM9 L Grind has a narrow sole, with heel, toe, and trailing edge relief. Players looking for the ultimate bunker club in a lower bounce option will like the WW Low Bounce K Grind.
Cobra Golf has introduced the fourth generation of the King Forged Tec line including a model for mid to high handicap players, the King Forged Tec X. A One Length version is also available.
Fast Facts King Forged Tec Irons
Player’s distance category
Hollow foam-filled body
Tungsten toe weight—20 grams
Five-step forging 1025 carbon steel
PWRSHELL Face
Lofts: 5-iron 23°, pitching wedge 44°
Stock shaft: KBS $-Taper Lite
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline
Available April 29, 2022
Set of 7 irons $1,199
WYNTK
A reshaped head with a thinner topline and less offset change the look at address compared with the previous Forged Tec model. The Forged Tec X is a game-improvement category iron and has a thicker topline and lower CG. Lofts for the X model (priced the same as the King Forged Tec) are stronger with a 5-iron 21° and a pitching wedge 42°.
The X model with 65 grams of tungsten is more forgiving than the regular King Forged Tec. A One Length version all with 7-iron length shafts and head weights is constructed similarly to the Forged Tec model with the same lofts.
As you make your way around the layout, you’ll encounter a variety of hole styles; woodland framed holes with rolling fairways, wide-open holes that let you bomb away off the tee, blind tee shots, and challenging greens. Although the course winds its way through a golf community, the course is not crowded with home sites; in fact, the houses that you do see sit well back from the fairways.
For me, the par 5, 8th hole is the most memorable on the course and at only 464 yards from the White tees, it’s not going to overpower anybody. A good drive to the top of the hill sets up a risk/reward opportunity if you want to go for the green in two. Once you get to the top of the hill, you’ll find that the hole plays downhill and doglegs to the right. Fronting the right side of the green is the only water hazard on the course and the small, narrow green only adds to the difficulty of the hole and requires a very accurate approach shot to score well.
The course’s best par 4 is followed by my favorite par 3. The 161-yard second hole requires a well-struck, accurate tee shot into a long, narrow green protected in front by bunkers on either side and another on the right side.
In addition to having an active membership, Pine Ridge is a great place to host family get-togethers, prom nights, anniversaries, or other special occasions. Whatever you have in mind, the professional staff at Pine Ridge is committed to helping you make your event a success. They offer a variety of hassle-free event packages to choose from or they can customize one to fit your specific needs.
Ultimately, the new Heritage Harbour Golf Resort will include 74 villas and a 100-suite golf lodge and will be the only full-service golf resort in Manatee County. It will include a resort-style pool, fishing excursions in the nearby Manatee River or Gulf of Mexico, corporate meeting and event spaces, and various other amenities.
