LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Feb. 17, 2021) – The USGA announced today that Mike Whan will join the organization this summer as CEO, and will become the eighth top executive in USGA history. Last month, Whan announced his intention to step down as LPGA Commissioner in 2021, after his organization completes a search for the next Commissioner. His transition follows an impressive 11 years at the helm of the LPGA, during which the organization experienced historic growth in virtually every aspect of the business. As USGA CEO, Whan will be responsible for leading all aspects of the association’s operations, including its core functions, essential programs, and human and financial resources. He will also represent the USGA on a variety of national and international boards.

“Mike Whan is a proven, successful and transformative leader, not only in the golf industry but throughout his entire career,” said USGA President Stu Francis, who oversaw the CEO search process. “He has shown a unique ability to understand how the environment is changing in global golf and how to quickly and thoughtfully adapt an organization to meet those changes. Importantly, Mike is already a trusted peer for so many key stakeholders in the industry, and his existing relationships will not only help the USGA, but will also help advance the game.”

Whan started his career at the Procter & Gamble Company in 1987, where he rose to Director of Marketing for Oral Care before leaving to pursue a passion for sports. Whan’s sports business career began at Wilson Sporting Goods as a Vice President and General Manager in the golf division. He joined the TaylorMade Golf Company as Vice President of Marketing in 1995 and later served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Executive Vice President/General Manager for Taylormade-adidas Golf. In 2002, Whan became the President and CEO of Mission Hockey, a hockey equipment company.

Since joining the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 2010, Whan increased the number of tournaments on the LPGA Tour’s schedule to 34 from 24, increased purses from $41.4 million to $76.5 million, and grew television hours from 125 hours per season, to over 500 hours. Under his leadership, the LPGA became a truly global business – with players, tournaments, sponsors and fans coming from all over the world. Currently, the LPGA Tour is televised in over 170 countries each week. Whan’s leadership resulted in the expansion of the LPGA to now include both the Symetra Tour, the recently announced joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, as well as a nearly 50% increase in LPGA’s teaching division. Whan’s focus on growing the game for junior girls has led to a significant expansion of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program, which had 5,000 members when he joined the organization to 90,000 girls now engaged in the program.

“As someone who grew up loving this game, I have always had huge respect for the USGA and its role in leading our sport,” said Whan. “The game has given me so much throughout my life, both personally and professionally. I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m truly excited about this role, as it gives me the opportunity to not only give back to the game, but to also work hard to leave it stronger.”

Current USGA CEO Mike Davis, who joined the USGA in 1990 and became the Association’s seventh executive director in 2011 and first CEO in 2016, will depart later this year to team with Tom Fazio II in a new course design venture, Fazio & Davis Golf Design.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Whan for many years and I view him as a trusted, strategic leader who has a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships,” said Davis. “I know the USGA will be in great hands, and I look forward to partnering with Mike to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the USGA.”

Fairly early on in the pandemic there was an evident need for facemasks, says Saunders, so Levelwear started by creating masks by reengineering existing garments, like some of its t-shirts. The demand continued to grow so Levelwear used its sourcing channels to product high-quality face coverings and began to sell them, says Saunders, and created an initiative.

Thanks @levelwear for helping keep everyone safe! 3 packs of reusable washable now available!
Special masks that fit a N95 inserts. DM us if interested, doorstep dropoff available. @daviemarsh pic.twitter.com/Tdij0MN3Dd

— Brampton Golf Club (@bramptongc) May 6, 2020

It donated roughly 40,000 facemasks, all-told, and raised more than $200,000 for various charities, organizations, and small businesses.

“Talk about a sense of pride,” says Saunders. “That was a whole other level. “We had this realization that doing some of the little things… you can have a bigger cause.”

With some early success with the NHL and its Toronto bubble, Levelwear has become the Official Face Covering of the league – no small feat for the Toronto-based business, which still considers itself medium sized.

“There’s that sense of pride again for us, and another opportunity. All coaches, players, all training staff, all in-arena and not on ice are to be wearing the product. We’re seeing a lot of exposure and recognition,” says Saunders of the teams rocking its Guard 3 face covering.

ON-COURSE PERFORMANCE

Even with the impressive business pivot through 2020, Levelwear is going to shine even brighter on the golf course in 2021 thanks to some renewed commitments to quality. There are two distinct style approaches for men and women in 2021, but both are rooted in a couple of key philosophies – modern athletic and premium leisure.

“We are now able to make better quality products and better fitting products,” says Saunders.

“You’ll notice Levelwear, who has always been strong in the pullover category, has made marked improvements in its polos. There is more attention to detail – cleaner collars with stays, extra button details, and laser-fusing instead of stitching. It’s an elevated polo,” Saunders says. “That same effort for men’s polos will be reflected in women’s golf stuff as well. You’ll see a lot of impressive prints, modern colour selects, and closet-staple pieces that will enhance any golfer’s wardrobe.”

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Some of Canada’s top male golfers are all Levelwear ambassadors, including Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Michael Gligic, and Taylor Pendrith. On the LPGA Tour Levelwear counts Sandra Gal, up-and-coming star Kristen Gillman, and last year’s U.S. Women’s Open runner-up Amy Olson as ambassadors.

OFF-COURSE COMFORT

At home – where most of us are spending most of our time these days – you’ll see Levelwear has continued to lean into developing its fabulous athleisure lines for both men and women even further. People are choosing comfort over everything, and Levelwear has a nice offering that compliments its golf-specific gear for both men and women.

“Traditionally a lot of people have just thought about ‘casuals’ as t-shirts and sweatshirts, but we’ve taken a more sportswear approach to this kind of product category. We’ve elevated product. It’s stuff you’ll feel comfortable in if you go out. It doesn’t feel like you’re sloppy, it feels like you’re well-prepared,” says Saunders of the Levelwear line that actually started, conceptually, three years ago.

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“We were starting to see it on the professional athlete side… now for the everyday person, it’s trickled down to them.”

For women, Saunders says the Verve by Levelwear line is hitting a fever pitch in terms of popularity. It’s a transitional line – think going to the gym, home from the gym, and working from home – with more prints, premium fabrics, and attention to detail.

EVENTS EXCITEMENT

While Levelwear has golfers covered both on the course and off – whether you hit them like Corey Conners and Sandra Gal or just a weekend warrior – it’s also trying to ride a ton of momentum from 2019, when it made a hearty impression on some of the biggest golf events in the world. Levelwear has partnered with 17 PGA Tour events, and assuming fans will start to return to courses in the near future, Levelwear will be in the retail experiences of the championship management division of the PGA Tour. It took on a sponsorship of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, too, and it has a brand-new, state-of-the-art mobile marketing trailer. Look for that trailer hitting member-guest events and clubs between the Ottawa-to-Windsor corridor in Ontario. It will likely be deployed as a pop-up shop on wheels and Saunders, like tournament organizers, are aiming to have it set up at the RBC Canadian Open, too. Its partnership with Golf Canada, the RBC Canadian Open, and CP Women’s Open, Saunders says, has also been an idyllic one.

Excited to announce that our Levelwear Caddy Lounge won the @LPGA Award for Best Sponsorship Activation!! ? pic.twitter.com/FX1Uwx7SHs

— LevelwearGolf (@LevelwearGolf) November 21, 2019

Levelwear and Golf Canada has just renewed a multi-year extension of its original partnership agreement, and Saunders says despite 2020’s challenges, the teams have been able to use the extra time to really hone-in on productive ideas for Canadian golfers.

“Golf Canada is in such an incredible position and they’ve just got everything in order from the quality of field to the quality of champions to the addition of concerts and spectator increases… they have everything you would want in a successful event,” says Saunders of both the national professional championships and the amateur events that Golf Canada puts on. “They just seem to be riding this rocket ship, and it’s fun to be along for the ride.”

The R&A and the USGA have re-engaged with the golf industry on the Distance Insights project, which aims to help achieve a more sustainable long-term future for golf.

The governing bodies are issuing specific Areas of Interest to help mitigate continuing distance increases and three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits. The delivery of research topics related to hitting distances and golf’s sustainability was delayed in 2020 to allow the golf industry to focus on the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Areas of Interest notice, sent yesterday to golf equipment manufacturers, follows the conclusions of the Distance Insights Report delivered last February. It is the first step of the established Equipment Rulemaking Procedures, which give the opportunity for golf’s stakeholders to provide research and perspectives on topics that might lead to equipment rules changes.

In addition, three proposals related to equipment standards were also sent to the manufacturers yesterday and have been published – two to modernize equipment testing protocols and the other to consider the adoption of a Model Local Rule that would provide flexibility for committees, if they so choose, to limit the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches. Notice and comment periods have begun immediately to invite feedback on each of the three proposals from golf industry stakeholders. Research Topics/Areas of Interest Download Here (Research due by 2 November 2021)

The Areas of Interest notice addresses two specific Areas of Interest:

• The potential use of a Local Rule that would specify the use of clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances. This would enable committees conducting competitions to stipulate whether such equipment should be used. It could be available at all levels of play and would also allow golfers playing outside of competition to choose for themselves.
• A review of the overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. This review would consider whether any existing specifications should be adjusted or any new specifications created to help mitigate continuing distance increases. It would not consider revising the overall specifications to produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the sport. A list of club and ball specifications to be reviewed can be found in the official notice.

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the process by sharing any data or perspectives they might have on these topics by 2 November 2021. The topics are purely areas for research. No solutions or decisions are being proposed at this stage. Any proposals for Rule changes that might result from this research will be communicated in accordance with the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures.

Proposed Equipment Standards changes

Download Here The R&A and the USGA are addressing the effectiveness of current equipment testing processes, protocols and standards with respect to distance limits. As a result, the governing bodies are seeking comment from equipment manufacturers on three proposed Equipment Standards changes, as follows:

• Proposal 1: Club length – reduction to 46 inches available as Model Local Rule (MLR) (Original proposal delivered in 2016 and paused in 2017 due to the Distance Insights project). Comment period ends on 4 March 2021.
• Proposal 2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on 2 August 2021.
• Proposal 3: Change to testing tolerance – Characteristic Time. Comment period ends on 2 August 2021.

The 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report

The R&A and the USGA also today released the 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report. The full report can be found here.

The R&A and USGA comments

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are now able to progress with the work on this critical topic and are beginning the next phase as expeditiously as possible. The research topics and the proposed changes we have announced will be the focus of our attention in the coming months and we look forward to gaining insights from the golf industry and fully understanding their perspectives on these key areas. We remain fully committed to conducting this hugely important exercise for the sport thoroughly, efficiently and collaboratively.”

Mike Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the USGA, said, “The research conducted through Distance Insights clearly shows that hitting distances have consistently increased through time and, if left unchecked, could threaten the long-term future of our game at every level and every golf course on which it is played. This is the first forward step in a journey and a responsibility the USGA and The R&A share with the worldwide golf community, to ensure that golf continues to thrive for the next hundred years and beyond.”

Updates Since February 2020

During the pause in distance-related research caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, The R&A and the USGA completed their regular review of equipment testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits.

The proposals detailed above are the outcome of this regular review of equipment testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness. As such, these proposals were not conceived and are not intended to be solutions to the distance issues identified in the Distance Insights Report. All notices related to golf equipment follow the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures adopted in 2011 by The R&A, the USGA and golf equipment manufacturers, which provide an open process of dialogue for all involved. The procedures can be reviewed here.

The Distance Insights Report released last year highlighted the impact of long-term hitting distance increases on some of golf’s essential elements, including changing the strategic challenge of the game, altering the variety of skills needed to be successful and risking courses becoming less challenging or obsolete. Further, the report states that the overall trend of golf courses becoming longer has adverse consequences that ultimately affect golfers at all levels of the game. The governing bodies are working with the key stakeholders in golf to address these issues in a way that brings the game together and which ensures it continues to thrive for many years to come. Work is also currently being conducted to develop industry-wide recommendations and best management practices on course design, set-up and course conditions related to distance for all golf courses and golfers, as detailed among next steps in the Distance Insights conclusions document delivered last year.

The USGA is currently conducting field testing and research, with outcomes to be delivered throughout 2021. For more information visit www.RandA.org and www.usga.org.

Increasing performance through every single layer of the golf ball, the new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x models are designed for longer distance, even more greenside spin and control and softer feel – with the unmatched ball-to-ball consistency and quality that golfers expect from Titleist.

2021 Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the result of new core, casing layer, cover and aerodynamic technologies – including proprietary 388 (Pro V1) and 348 (Pro V1x) dimple designs optimized for extraordinary distance and consistent flight – that combine to make the most trusted and best performing golf balls in the game even better.

2021 PRO V1 & PRO V1x PERFORMANCE

 From the best players in the world to amateurs of all skill levels, new Pro V1 and Pro V1x are designed for golfers who prioritize performance  above all else. Both new 2021 models deliver longer distance, increased Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control, softer feel and long-lasting durability – while maintaining their differences in flight, feel and spin. New Pro V1 offers the greatest combination of speed, spin and feel in the game, providing the best fit for the majority of golfers. Pro V1 flies lower than Pro V1x with a penetrating trajectory and has a very soft feel. 2021 Pro V1x has a fast, high flight and delivers spin when and where a golfer wants it. Pro V1x is designed for players who want a higher trajectory and increased spin relative to Pro V1, with a slightly firmer feel.

“When a golfer chooses Pro V1 or Pro V1x, they are choosing absolute performance,”

said Jeremy Stone, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “Our R&D and Operations teams have spent years engineering new technology into each and every component of 2021 Pro V1 and Pro V1x. When it comes to the performance and quality of these products, we will continue to go to every length possible to help golfers play their best and shoot their lowest scores.”

2021 PRO V1 AND PRO V1x TECHNOLOGY

Advancements in Titleist’s industry-leading multi-component technology are precisely designed to work together, providing total performance and extreme consistency on every shot:

• Reformulated 2.0 ZG Process Cores deliver increased distance in the solid core Pro V1 and dual core Pro V1x.

• Faster High-Flex Casing Layer adds speed and lowers long game spin. This highly-resilient, high-speed ionomer was initially developed for and validated by Pro V1x Left Dash.

• New, Softer Cast Urethane Elastomer Cover – the softest cover formulation ever used on a Pro V1 or Pro V1x – increases greenside spin for more control in the short game.
• New Spherically-tiled Tetrahedral Dimple Designs– featuring a 388 dimple layout for Pro V1, and 348 for Pro V1x – are optimized to each model to maximize distance and flight consistency. Pro V1 maintains its penetrating trajectory while Pro V1x will fly higher than the prior generation.

AERODYNAMIC BREAKTHROUGHS

The new dimple designs on 2021 Pro V1 and Pro V1x – the first entirely new patterns since 2011 – are the result of Titleist’s unparalleled commitment to understanding and improving the flight of the golf ball.

Since the original Pro V1 debuted 20 years ago, Titleist R&D has designed, manufactured and tested more than 1,900 aerodynamic patterns. That includes more than 60 different iterations of 2021 Pro V1’s 388 dimple layout, and more than 30 versions of Pro V1x’s 348 dimple design.
“When we find a pattern we like, the next step is making sure we find the best possible version of that pattern by building and testing different variations of dimple depths, diameters, shapes and surface coverages,” said Mike Madson, Titleist R&D’s Director of Aerodynamics & Research Engineering “It takes years of work – we’ve been working on these new packages for almost a decade – but it is that commitment to research that ensures each golf ball is optimized to fly at its longest and most efficient trajectory.”

PRECISION MANUFACTURING

 The continued investment in advanced technology and quality control at Titleist Ball Plants 3 and 4 – where every Pro V1 and Pro V1x are manufactured by Titleist associates to the industry’s highest performance and quality specifications – ensures that every new generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the best performing and most consistent models ever. Consistency from ball to ball, and dozen to dozen is critical to allowing golfers to consistently execute the same types of shots, round after round.

PLAYER VALIDATION

 Since their October 2020 introduction on the PGA Tour, many of the world’s best players have teed up new Pro V1 and Pro V1x in competition including Adam Scott (Pro V1x), Justin Thomas (Pro V1x), Tony Finau (Pro V1), Ryan Palmer (Pro V1x), Scottie Scheffler (Pro V1) – and Cameron Smith, who became the first player in the history of The Masters to finish with all four rounds in the 60s while playing new Pro V1x.

“When I first tested it, it was a bit hotter off the driver, which was great,” Smith said. “The ball flight and windows were great. But the biggest thing that stuck out was the control coming out of the rough and around the greens. I can control my shots – especially those difficult, soft shots – so much better.”
The new 2021 Pro V1 and Pro V1x White (play numbers 1-4, 5-8) and High Optic Yellow (play numbers 1-4) golf balls will be available in Canada beginning Jan. 27, 2021. Custom play numbers (00, 1-99) will be available beginning March 15.

FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf, has been trusted by the greatest golfers in the world for a singular dedication to the game of golf and relentless commitment to innovation performance, style, comfort and quality. In fact, FootJoy has been the #1 shoe chosen by players at every PGA Tour tournament for 75 straight years.

As part of their continued commitment to performance innovation, FootJoy introduces the all-new HyperFlex, tuned specifically for golf to deliver crazy-soft comfort and performance along with support that returns energy to the golfer.

HyperFlex features an advanced midsole/outsole combo that includes two new technologies that provide unrivalled comfort and performance where you need it out on the golf course.

• STRATOFOAM CUSHIONING: FJ’s StratoFoam cushioning is a proprietary foam blend that provides optimal support and comfort in any conditions. This midsole design provides the perfect blend of cushioning which helps absorb shock while maximizing energy return to reduce foot fatigue.

• OPTIFLEX™ OUTSOLE: The all-new OptiFlex outsole design features dual flex grooves that flex naturally with your foot for comfort as well as a thin, semi-rigid TPU flex plate that promotes multidirectional flexure and traction where you need it in the golf swing.

“When you take the first steps in HyperFlex, you’ll notice that the shoe moves in unison with the foot,” said Chris Tobias, Vice President, FJ Footwear. “This new outsole technology is designed to mimic the natural flexure of the foot, so not only are you getting a great walking shoe, but a shoe that will maximize the ground force throughout every movement in the golf swing.”

WRAPID, powered by the BOA® Fit System

HyperFlex features breakthrough performance fit technology, delivered with athletic-inspired styling and materials in both a laced version as well as the all-new WRAPID, powered by the BOA® Fit System. This innovative new system features an asymmetrical configuration that ensures a dialed-in, precision fit with a reduction in pressure on the top of the foot. It enables the shoe to move with you, wrapping your foot in complete security, all while providing powerful support through the swing.

Tour players have already made the switch to incorporate HyperFlex in practice and in play at tournaments around the world, including Rafa Cabrera Bello and Bernd Wiesberger.

“They look and feel so athletic,” said Rafa Cabrera Bello. “Super comfortable the moment you put them on.”

“It’s a great looking shoe that you can just slip into,” said Bernd Wiesberger. “You get that great stability without sacrificing on comfort.”

Launching in unison with the HyperFlex footwear is the all-new HyperFLX® glove and HyperFlex Pullover, featuring the same commitment to innovation performance, style, comfort and quality.

“As the leader in gloves and apparel, we have a commitment to enhance the golf experience through golf-specific innovation, which is evident here with these new product launches,” said Whitney Trimble, Vice President, FJ Apparel, Gloves and Accessories.

The new HyperFLX glove features a Premium Cabretta Leather Palm that provides a super-soft, comfortable feel, and a lightweight MicroVent™ FiberSof™ material on the back of the hand for added breathability. The Powernet™ Mesh along the knuckles is placed with purpose, increasing moisture control and fit consistency.

Designed to deliver where it matters most, the new HyperFlex Pullover features a lightweight stretch woven fabric that is windproof with a DWR finish, engineered to best protect you from the elements. The lower back pocket acts as a self-stowing pocket that easily stores in your golf bag, providing easy on-the-go removal as conditions change.

FJ is the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf and the leader in on-course apparel, founded on a heritage of innovation and focus on delivering the ultimate in performance for golfers around the world.

Learn more at www.footjoy.ca or follow on Facebook or Instagram.

The HyperFlex shoe (starting at $219) and HyperFLX glove (starting at $25) are available in Canada February 1, 2021

FootJoy shoes have been trusted by more professional golfers than any other brand through an uncompromising commitment to quality, unrivaled design, and a single-minded focus on golf performance. In fact, FJ has been the #1 shoe on the PGA Tour for 75 consecutive years, an impressive streak in any sport.

That same pioneering spirit of innovation continues today, driving FootJoy to elevate the standard of performance and style in golf footwear.

As part of FootJoy’s continued brand innovation, FJ is excited to introduce you to The Premiere Series, a modern representation of the classic golf shoe for men and women.

INSPIRED BY THEN

Designed in collaboration with several PGA Tour players, The Premiere Series will feature three new upper designs, inspired by the past but made relevant for today. Influenced by the discerning taste of the modern golfer, each collection uses soft, supple premium leather uppers and ultra-lightweight materials, as well as exquisite detailing that deliver distinctly modern classic styling.

THE TARLOW

The Tarlow collection is inspired by Bill and Dick Tarlow, who bought the FootJoy business in 1957 and focused the brand primarily on golf. The Tarlow collection, a modern interpretation of the timeless cap toe design, uses a natural grain leather in the vamp and the quarter, complimented by a coordinated croc print in the heel, cap toe and eyestay. The midsole is complimented by a natural leather welt and contrast stitch.

THE PACKARD

The Packard collection is inspired by Frederick Packard, FootJoy’s founder and a shoe pioneer who drove the adoption of many modern manufacturing and design innovations still employed today. The Packard collection features exquisite detailing and a pebble grain leather in both the vamp and the quarter. The collection uses a calfskin croc print accent in the saddle area, complimented by a natural leather welt and contrast stitching.

THE FLINT

Inspired by Perley Flint, a young Harvard graduate and avid golfer who designed FootJoy’s first golf shoe in the 1920’s, this collection is clean and refined. A smooth ChromoSkin leather is used in the upper, highlighted by a nice embossed detailing on the saddle area, a refined FJ ornament as well as a nice piping on the side. Inside the shoe, you will find premium lambskin linings and a new fitbed for exceptional comfort.

SUPERCHARGED FOR NOW.

While timeless in design, the Premiere Series is infused with performance innovation, led by the all-new VersaTrax+ outsole. This revolutionary anti-channeling tread pattern is engineered to provide grip for any lie or angle, providing total traction coverage, reducing any slippage. VersaTrax+ utilizes multiple TPU compounds to grip any surface – a harder TPU for on-course grip and a softer TPU for traction on harder surfaces.

“We saw a terrific opportunity to completely reinvent the classically inspired golf shoe from the ground up,” said Chris Tobias, Vice President, FJ Footwear. “And to accomplish that, we leveraged every ounce of innovation, as well as direct input from the world’s best players, to deliver next-level performance with a distinctly modern take on classic design.”

The Premiere Series also delivers on comfort, featuring a Ortholite EcoPlush FitBed® that delivers perimeter stability in the heel as well as super-soft and comfortable custom underfoot cushioning.

Tour proven, The Premiere Series will be worn by more Tour players in 2021 than any other golf shoe, including Justin Thomas, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, Webb Simpson and many, many more. In fact, even during testing, the Premiere Series was the shoe chosen by more players at the 2020 Masters Tournament than any other.

“I was lucky enough to work with the team over the last several years to talk about what’s needed for the best golf shoe out there,” said Adam Scott. “My big belief is that FootJoy should have the best golf shoe out there and I believe they’ve achieved that with The Premiere Series.”

“I love ‘em,” said Webb Simpson. “They are a bit classic, which remind me of what I wore growing up, but definitely have a super modern twist while keeping that FootJoy look.”

“They feel super comfortable the moment you put them on,” said Ian Poulter. “They don’t need breaking in which is a massive plus, and I also obviously love the fact I can customize them!”

For those looking to design their own golf shoes, The Premiere Series is available on MyJoys. Create custom MyJoys with millions of possible combinations of colours, prints, laces and more, available for both Men and Women in both Laced and BOA.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Soft, supple, waterproof Pittard’s leather uppers featuring patterns that are modern interpretations of classic style
• Estane® TPU, provides enhanced traction on all surfaces
• Ortholite EcoPlush FitBed® for enhanced stability and comfort
• Featuring Pulsar Low Profile Cleats by Softspikes
• Luxurious, soft and supple sheepskin linings inside Tarlow and Packard. Flint utilizes super soft microfiber linings in order to achieve a distinctive pop of color
• Laser Street Last (Men): Full rounded toe character, standard forefoot and instep with a slightly narrow heel. Refined toe shape for a classic profile
• Performa Last (Women): Full rounded toe character, fuller fit across forefoot, narrower fit in heel
• Two-year waterproof warranty
• MyJoys customization available

The Premiere Series is available in Canada on March 1 starting at $299.

Just how busy were golf courses across Canada in 2020?

Early one morning at the beginning of the season, Stephen Jardeleza positioned himself in front of his computer at GreyHawk Golf Club. On his screen was a blank tee sheet for the Ottawa club where he is the Director of Operations.

In a few minutes, the computerized tee-times reservation system would open for members to begin booking tee times for the upcoming Saturday. Up for grabs were 130 tee times across the club’s 36 holes, which, if fully booked, would work out to 520 golfers.

At 7 a.m., the tee sheet came alive. “In 40 seconds, our tee sheet was fully booked,” Jardeleza said. “And this happened every day.”

The 2020 golf season—and the year—will go down in infamy as one of the strangest that most of us will ever experience.

Faced with a mysterious and deadly nemesis, golf provided a beacon of badly needed joy amid fear and frustration. We were smitten. We couldn’t get enough golf.

“It didn’t matter that there was a worldwide pandemic,” said Simon Bevan, General Manager of Riverbend Golf Club in London. “Golf was like a drug. We all wanted to hit the little white ball.”

Now that the season has ended, the golf club industry in Canada is celebrating a record year in which rounds skyrocketed to historic proportions. Thousands of people took up golf—some for the first time, and some came back to the game—and veteran golfers played more than they ever have.

But right out of the be-careful-what-you-wish-for playbook, the industry faced the challenge of how to mollify established golfers frustrated that they could no longer get to the first tee when they wanted.

Back in April, with cities around the world looking like ghost towns, and major league sports and the PGA TOUR shut down, golfers held on to a slender thread of hope that a golf season might be possible.

By early May, golfers in Ontario and Quebec had endured two months of a gruelling lockdown, made worse by a tantalizingly warm spring that screamed golf. Golfers ached for their game. A friend said, “Golfers can distance. I play golf with people. I don’t dance with them.”

After weeks of consultation with the golf industry on safety measures, the Ontario government said courses could open May 16. Quebec set May 20 as its opening day.

Golf clubs had only a few days to finish their preparations in order to keep golfers safe. Staff removed ball washers, water coolers, benches and outfitted flagsticks with doo-hickeys that allowed you to extricate your ball without having to touch the stick.

Held back from their usual start to the season, golfers were ravenous. On May 15—the first day that tee times could be booked—thousands of ClubLink Members went online to reserve their tee times at 7 a.m., causing the system to crash.

Many technology platforms serving the golf industry were overwhelmed. When Golf Ontario opened its online tournament registration on June 24, 17,000 people visited its site in a matter of minutes, causing it to crash for the first time in its history, according to executive director Mike Kelly.

On those first wonderful days of the 2020 golf season, golfers were over the moon to play and golf club personnel were cautiously nervous.

“We were hoping that members wouldn’t contract the virus just from touching things,” said Paul Carrothers, Director of Golf at Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Thousands of golfers wanted to play the game—not just because they are an extremely obsessive bunch—but also to escape the same four walls at home. Without having to travel for work or commute, working from home also afforded many golfers the freedom to play when they wanted. More or less.

With offices and schools closed, and nearly every other option for having fun shut down, golf became the ‘it’ activity. Spouses, friends and kids who had not tried golf, and those who had given up the game, were playing.

“Almost all of the guys that I played slow-pitch with every Tuesday for 20 years were now playing golf,” said Kevin Thistle, CEO of the PGA of Canada. “The way we play golf, work, watch sports—it’s all changing, and forcing us to adapt.”

From the once-a-year golfer to the 100-rounds-plus player, everyone played more—and wanted more.

“Players who would normally play 30 to 40 rounds played 70 to 80 rounds,” said Adam Tobin, Director of Golf at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge.

Even with most corporate events cancelled at most clubs, tee times became a precious commodity.

By the end of June, Canadians had played more than 1.5 million rounds during the month, an increase of 17 per cent over June 2019. And that’s a monumental feat folks when you consider June is THE busiest and best month to play. For an industry that faced media reports a few years earlier that it was declining, business was booming.

But for avid golfers who routinely play three or more rounds a week and were used to convenient tee times, it was not all sunshine and rainbows.

“There was a lot of frustration,” said Jason Wyatt, Head Professional at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club in London, where demand shot up 52 percent over 2019 with the same number of members. “There were people who wanted an 8 a.m. time but had to settle for hours later.”

Even playing ‘executive’ or nine-hole courses was a challenge. “There were times that we had six groups lined up to play our nine-hole course,” said Dennis Firth, Head Professional at Royal Montreal which experienced a 30 percent increase in rounds over 2019. “It was unprecedented.”

As a golfer, and the fellow in charge of tracking golfers across the country for Golf Canada, Adam Helmer said he could no longer just head out to play. He had to become organized in scheduling his golf.

“A downside of golf being so popular was that not everyone was able to get the tee time they wanted,” said Helmer, senior director of Golf Services for Golf Canada.

The problem was simple. Demand for tee times appeared limitless, but every course has a finite number of holes and daylight. And to keep golfers from getting too close to one another, most clubs spaced out tee times, which meant fewer golfers on the course.

John Finlayson, Chief Operating Officer of ClubLink, says that—as a general rule of thumb—a private golf club with 18 holes carries about 400 full dues-paying members to sustain its business.

But even in June when the days are longest, there’s only enough room to accommodate about 225 golfers. “If 300 people want to play that course that day, you have a problem,” said Finlayson, whose ClubLink courses saw a 29 percent increase in rounds in 2020 compared with 2019.

Many private clubs responded by restricting the number of guests that members could bring, and restricted access for certain classes of memberships.

“To make room for our full members, we had to restrict our legacy and out-of-town members,” said Ian Leggatt, General Manager of Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill. “We had to communicate to them that these are unusual times,” said Leggatt, who has since moved to the same position at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Initially, Leggatt and other senior club managers wondered if golfers would “drift from the game” because they couldn’t socialize in the clubhouse restaurant afterwards,

and the on-course experience was altered.

But with fewer golfers on the course, no need to rake bunkers, and single riders on carts, the speed of play improved dramatically.

“The measures were taken for safety, but it provided a better experience,” Finlayson said. “Most golfers expect to play 18 holes in 4 to 4.5 hours, but this year a 4-hour round was considered a bit slow.”

Nonetheless, many golfers were frustrated about access, and many golf clubs stepped up their communication efforts to help their members adapt.

“You couldn’t over-communicate,” Leggatt said. “This whole thing was shifting, and there was no template on how to make it work better.”

It affected everyone, including ClubLink Member and CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, Jeff Calderwood.

“I’d jump on the computer five days in advance at 7 a.m. this fall, and there were often no times at Eagle Creek (his Home Club in Ottawa),” he said. “It illustrated the dilemma we had.”

Industry leaders such as Calderwood are thankful golf provided a silver lining during a pandemic, but they are also mindful that the industry is challenged by how it satisfies core golfers while retaining new players.

“I don’t claim to have all the answers. You could restructure and find that, perhaps with a vaccine, demand doesn’t stay so high, and then you’re not sustainable if you got it wrong.”

Mike Kelly of Golf Ontario was among the industry leaders who consulted with the Ontario government to allow clubs to open this season, and he’s grateful golfers turned a possible disaster into a banner year for golf.

As a golf administrator who represents the sport in Ontario, as well as players who want to play and have fun, Kelly says he can’t lose focus on what’s truly important.

“Our job is to provide a safe environment. That’s our No. 1 priority during this pandemic. We can’t screw this up. The game has grown and the industry will evolve, but the priority must be safety.”

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Tim O’Connor is a golf and performance coach, writer and author of four books, co-host of the Swing Thoughts podcast, and webinar presenter. He is the 2020 winner of the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award given by Golf Ontario. tim@oconnorgolf.ca

Faster from the tee and turf, the new Titleist TSi fairway metals are engineered with advanced speed-tuned technologies – including Active Recoil Channel 4.0 – to drive faster ball speeds and higher inertia for longer distance with incredible accuracy.

Available in golf shops Nov. 12, with fittings beginning today at locations nationwide, the new Titleist TSi2 and TSi3 fairways are the longest, straightest, best looking and best sounding Titleist fairway metals ever – taking after the breakthrough performance of the new TSi drivers, which have quickly become the most-played driver models on the PGA Tour.

From the top of the swing, TSi’s player-tuned aerodynamics propel the clubhead fast toward the golf ball. At impact, Active Recoil Channel (ARC) 4.0 creates greater face flex, launching the ball with increased speed. High inertia properties produce an extremely stable clubhead, providing players with more consistent speed and spin across the face for longer, straighter shots:

• TSi2 launches high with incredible speed and forgiveness across the face, with a deeper, lower CG to maximize distance.
• TSi3 is for players looking for added workability or requiring more precise control over CG placement, with a new SureFit CG Track
• Design for advanced speed-tuned performance and shot control.

“Our metalwoods engineers continue to find new ways to generate speed and distance in our fairway designs without giving up any of the performance characteristics that players demand from a Titleist golf club,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “TSi fairways are faster, straighter and easier-to-hit than ever – and deliver an experience at impact that many golfers would never expect from a fairway wood.”

TSi FAIRWAY TECHNOLOGY & PERFORMANCE

The superior speed and performance of TSi fairway metals are driven by several key innovations:

• Active Recoil Channel (ARC) 4.0 launches the ball off the face with high launch, low spin and more speed. The improved design of ARC 4.0 – featuring a shorter channel wall – produces greater face flexibility for higher ball speeds. The more compact geometry also provides weight savings (5 grams) that are redistributed for higher inertia properties.

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— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) October 15, 2020

“The fourth generation of Active Recoil Channel continues to drive incredible speed performance for us in our fairway designs,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Director, Titleist Metalwood Development. “It is such a key technology in fairway metals because of where the impact happens, low on the face. Typically those strikes from the turf would come off the face much slower, but ARC keeps the face flexing through impact to preserve the speed players need to reach their target.” 

• High-Speed VFT Face works in concert with ARC 4.0 to maximize ball speed and forgiveness across the face. A new high-contrast graphic face design highlights the face center for easy alignment at address.
• Player-Tuned Aerodynamics allows the clubhead to move fast through the air – from the top of the swing to the ball – and deliver a powerful impact. The improved head shapes feature a tour-requested softer toe profile that looks square at address. TSi feels fast in a golfer’s hands and is complemented by meticulous sound engineering that manages vibrations within the club head to deliver a Tour-Quality Sound.
• Optimized Weight Distribution with refined crown and face thicknesses creates a low CG for high launch and low spin. The high-MOI design delivers a powerful combination of speed and stability.
  • SureFit CG Track Technology in TSi3 models offer three unique positions – Toe (T), Neutral (N) and Heel (H) – to adjust clubhead CG and fine-tune ball flight. After adjustment, the new track design disappears into the sole of the club to allow for smooth turf interaction through impact.

Both TSi2 and TSi3 feature Titleist’s patented SureFit hosel with 16 independent loft and lie settings, plus headweight adjustability (in two-gram increments, ranging from -4g to 4g) to create a more consistent and optimized ball flight through precision fitting.

TSi2: PURE DISTANCE

For players seeking incredible speed and accuracy across the entire the surface of the face.

• Maximum distance and forgiveness
• Improved Active Recoil Channel 4.0
• Adjustable swingweight, fixed CG location
• High launch, mid spin
• Improved aerodynamic modern shape (175cc)
• Available lofts: RH: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 21°; LH: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5°, 18°

TSi3: DYNAMIC DISTANCE

For players who create more consistent contact and require more precise control over CG placement.

• Precision performance and dynamic forgiveness.
  • Improved Active Recoil Channel 4.0
• Three-setting SureFit CG track and adjustable swingweight
• Mid/high launch, low spin
• Improved aerodynamic traditional shape (175c)
• Available lofts: RH: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5°, 18°; LH: 15°, 16.5°

FEATURED AND PREMIUM SHAFTS

The TSi shaft selection has been assembled to offer world-class options for every swing speed and profile preference. Golfers can choose from four high performance featured shafts or upgrade to one of three premium shafts available through Titleist’s new partnership with Graphite Design.

The TS fairways featured shaft lineup features four new aftermarket models – KURO KAGE Black DC (High launch, mid spin), TENSEI AV Series Blue Raw (Mid launch and spin), HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX (Low/mid launch and spin) and TENSEI AV Series White Raw (Low launch and spin) – developed by the game’s top shaft manufacturers using insights from Titleist’s industry-best motion capture and consumer testing.

Graphite Design’s premium offerings include three of the most coveted shaft models on tour and throughout the golfing world – Graphite Design Tour AD DI, Graphite Design Tour AD IZ and Graphite Design Tour AD XC (Xtra Carry) – engineered with aerospace-quality carbon-fiber materials for incredible stability, consistency and feel.

In addition, Titleist offers an industry-leading number of custom shaft choices.

INSTANT TOUR ADOPTION

More than 150 players around the world have switched to new TSi2 and TSi3 fairways since they debuted on the PGA and European Tours in September.

Top players include Ben An (TSi2), Lanto Griffin (TSi3), Charley Hoffman (TSi3), Charles Howell III (TSi2), Mark Hubbard (TSi2), Matt Jones (TSi2), Patton Kizzire (TSi2), Peter Malnati (TSi3), C.T. Pan (TSi2), Ian Poulter (TSi2), Davis Riley (TSi3), Robby Shelton (TSi3), Cameron Smith (TSi2), Jimmy Walker (TSi2) and Will Zalatoris (TSi3), among many others – several of whom play them without an agreement.

FREE TRIAL & FITTINGS

Beginning Oct. 15, golfers can experience the speed and performance of TS metals by attending a Titleist Fitting Day (including Titleist Thursdays) being held at locations across the Country. To find an event, golfers can visit https://www.titleist.ca/fitting/golf-club-fitting/experience.

AVAILABILITY

Titleist TSi fairways are available in golf shops beginning Nov. 12 at $399 CAD.

Titleist TSi Premium Fairways at $699 CAD.

This golf season will be one for the books.

But despite unprecedented schedules, navigating a global pandemic and extreme heat in the country’s two biggest provinces, golf’s superintendents were there as they’ve always been – solving problems and giving golfers an opportunity to play the sport they love.

That’s why International “Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day” means even more in 2020.

On September 23, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, in concert with other global superintendent groups, recognized those who keep the game going and enjoyable. All together the global groups represent more than 31,000 golf course management professionals. Look for a commercial to run on the Golf Channel and other media outlets, along with social media content.

Golfers and others are encouraged to join in the conversation online using the hashtag:  #ThankASuper.

“Supers aren’t just people who grow grass. They’re an integral part of a team at any golf course,” says Kathryn Wood, chief operating officer of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

Just as most superintendents were gearing up for their season, that’s when COVID-19 really spread aggressively worldwide, with sports leagues – including the PGA TOUR – pressing pause. Luckily superintendents were able to maintain an essential, minimal level of maintenance at golf courses (British Columbia was different insofar as courses were not mandated to close).

Wood says she has been so impressed by the resilient, smart, group across the country.

“Looking back, there have been challenges presented for every person in the pandemic, but golf course supers are pretty ingenious, proactive and flexible and can come through any type of challenge pretty well,” says Wood. “They are very flexible and able to deal with the different challenges they’re faced with.”

At Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., head superintendent Bill Green tells a story of adaptability – a key for 2020, more than ever, he says.

He says he had one-person work for him this year – Ashton DeBello, a second-year chemistry student – who last summer worked in the halfway house at the club. Her bosses loved her and wanted to her back in 2020. But when the course opened, there was no halfway house due to COVID-19. She joined Green’s team – along with a chef and a clubhouse maintenance worker, who pivoted gigs to help keep the course in top shape – where DeBello learned construction skills.

Now? She’s operating an excavator, installing drainage and building bunkers.

“It’s brought the entire club, staff-wise, closer,” says Green about having people from other parts of the club’s business see what it takes for superintendents to get their jobs done. “Even if it’s just a few people, they understand what we’re doing on the golf course a little more. The members know my staff. Usually we’re in the trees and no one sees us.

“I think anybody in any business or any walk of life… everybody has had to adjust and change their life in many ways in a lot of cases and we’re no different.”

In Manitoba, Darren Kalyniuk is president of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and the superintendent at St. Boniface Golf Club. He, like Green, says the staffing and budget issues were the biggest challenges they had to face in 2020.

Still, superintendents did what they always do – persevere.

“A lot of superintendents put on their rally caps and really did whatever they had to do with limited resources to get the courses back up and running properly,” says Kalyniuk.

“Everyone was asked to work with limited staff because there were so many uncertainties with revenues at the beginning and it put a little bit of a challenge on the courses and supers to do more with less.”

Doing more with less has been demanded of so many across Canada. Combine that with the increased safety measures installed at workplaces, and you’ve got a challenging season – not to mention there were record-breaking numbers of people coming out and playing golf, too.

But David Hunter, the superintendent at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s Hoot and North Courses says he’s seen his staff embrace the challenge.

“We’ve been really excited to provide great course conditions for the whole season,” says Hunter. “It’s been a banner year for our staff and we’re incredibly proud of this group of people.”

As Canadian golfers, we should all be incredibly proud of superintendents from coast to coast.

And to them, on September 23 and every day, we say thank you.

 

TORONTO – The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) announced on Monday that Kim Locke is the recipient of the 2020 Dick Grimm Award, the association’s highest honour.

A committee of past GJAC Presidents selected Locke, whose leadership in founding and publishing SCOREGolf have contributed richly to the discourse and coverage of Canadian golf for four decades.
Named in honour of Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Richard “Dick” Grimm, whose legendary service to the Canadian Open and the Canadian golf industry is unparalleled in Canadian golf history, the Dick Grimm Award is presented annually to those who have made a significant lifetime contribution to Canadian golf.

“It’s truly an honour to be this year’s recipient of the Dick Grimm Award,” said Locke. “When I first broke into the golf media business 40 years ago Dick was extremely influential as a mentor and trusted advisor. He was also a dear close friend who epitomized the game’s values the entirety of his long distinguished career. My sincere thanks to the Golf Journalists Association of Canada for bestowing me with an award that embodies what Dick Grimm meant to golf right across Canada.”

Under Locke’s leadership since launching as SCORE, Canada’s Golf Magazine in 1980, SCOREGolf has made countless contributions to Canadian golf media including editorial coverage in print, TV and radio, course rankings and platforms for diverse voices across the Canadian golf industry. In January, SCOREGolf was awarded the PGA of Canada’s George Cumming Distinguished Service Award.

“Over the course of his career Kim’s work has contributed immensely to the Canadian golf community,” said David McPherson, GJAC President. “We’re proud to present him with this award in the name of Dick Grimm, whose tireless efforts to promote the game of golf in Canada had so much in common with what SCOREGolf has achieved over the past 40 years.”

Grimm, who passed away in 2014, was a true giant of the game in Canada, and in the world of golf. He was an energetic supporter of GJAC, and the association’s highest annual award is named after him.