Orlando Golf News
North Florida PGA Executive Director and CEO Rich Smith announced the culmination of an 18-month search with the selection of Reunion Resort as the new home site of the NFPGA. Smith was joined at the event by Salamander Hotels & Resorts Founder and CEO Sheila Johnson, and World Golf Hall of Fame Member Annika Sorenstam.
The partnership with Reunion, which is located just outside Orlando and is managed by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, creates a series of milestones within the PGA Sectional structure, including:
• It is the first time any of the PGA's 41 sections has chosen a resort as its home base
• Reunion is now the largest home site of any PGA section at 2,300 acres and with 54 holes of golf
• NFPGA members enjoy privileges at the only resort in the world with golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Reunion is also home to the ANNIKA Academy, an innovative instructional facility designed by Annika Sorenstam, and the Frank Thomas Putting PAD.
The ANNIKA Intercollegiate, a new college golf tournament co-founded by the ANNIKA Foundation and Golfweek, will be held September 27-30, 2014 at Reunion Golf Resort.
The 54-hole, stroke-play event will take place on the Reunion Watson Course and feature 12 teams from the top Division I women's programs. Also scheduled for the tournament weekend is a gala reception during which Annika will present the inaugural ANNIKA Award to the nation's best female player in college golf.
Edwin Watts Golf Shops announced that six Edwin Watts Golf Shops were honored among Golf Digest's America's 100 Best Clubfitters, including the Turkey Lake Superstore in Orlando, Florida.
In addition to the six locations that received the America's 100 Best Clubfitters distinction, the clubfitting operation remains a priority at all 90+ Edwin Watts Golf Shops throughout the U.S. In fact, to further enhance the in-store club fitting experience, customers can now take advantage of the new ARC (Advanced Robot Certified) Club Matching System, powered by Robofit Technology. Expert clubfitters utilize the Company's in-store launch monitors and swing analysis software, and this system enables golfers to quickly and easily choose clubs that best match their swing and will optimize their performance.
Little Linksters Association for junior golf development has recently announced the 2013 schedule for their 100-Hole golf marathon fundraisers in Orlando, Florida. The "Little Golf, Big Purpose" 100 Hole Marathon had its inaugural event in 2012 at Orange Lake Resorts Legends Walk course. For 2013, the fundraising effort will grow to a six event "series" which will benefit the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development.
"We are very excited about our upcoming 100-Hole marathon series and scholarship fundraiser program" says PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott, Founder of The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. "In our first year as a 501c3 we made some tremendous strides forward" Elliot says.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary and presented by CenturyLink/Prism, Golfweek's Golfest at The Villages invites golfers to try and buy the latest golf equipment, apparel and accessories, all while enjoying a weekend full of golf-centric activities. Highlights include "The Villages Golf Entertainer of the Year" competition, the CenturyLink/Prism Par-3 Challenge, the Columbia Par Car $1 Million Hole-In-One Challenge, special pricing on select equipment and much more.
Celebration Golf Management has promoted Chad Poling to Director of Golf at Redtail Golf Club in Sorrento, Florida. The management firm also promoted Chris Brown to Director of Golf at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Sam Phillips was also promoted to head golf professional at Eagle Creek Golf Club
Eagle Creek Golf Club is now offering complimentary lunch on tee times booked on the Golf Orlando Florida tee time booking engine. Lunch will include 1 lunch entrée, side item and a soft beverage in the Eagle Creek Golf Club restaurant. Gratuity not included. Lunch will be redeemable between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm on day of play. Offer not valid on twilight golf rounds. With Golf Orlando Florida, it is quick and convenient to book tee times at Eagle Creek.
Eagle Creek Golf Club earned designation in 2011 as one of the Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Orlando 2011. Located in the southeastern section of Orlando, Eagle Creek received this award for course conditions, playability and good value for a top tier Orlando golf course.
Great news coming out of Orange County National! The greens renovation at Orange County National has been completed and the Crooked Cat course is open for play. The new Champions Bermuda Ultra Dwarf Greens surface provides optimal putting conditions.
Combined with the greens renovation of the Panther Lake course completed in the summer of 2011, Orange County National has now finished the greens renovation of all 36 championship holes at the highly acclaimed golf facility.
Fred Griffin, Director of Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, is to be one of the featured speakers, as well as the "host pro" for the second annual Science of Golf Instruction and Club Fitting convention hosted by FlightScope on September 23-25 at the Villas of Grand Cypress Orlando.
The conference - which attracts many of the leading golf instructors, club fitters, industry professionals and swing enthusiasts - is designed primarily as an educational seminar, centered on FlightScope's 3D technology for golf. Key speakers at this year's event include Henri Johnson, founder and inventor of FlightScope, as well as fitting experts, application specialists and GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers Mitchell Spearman and Griffin.
The ANNIKA Foundation and SPARK™ announce video entries are now being accepted for the nationwide Healthy School Makeover Contest, with the winner receiving an unprecedented grand prize worth $45,000 in educational materials, training and equipment.
Individuals can nominate a school by submitting a short video explaining why their school needs a healthy school makeover and how they'll use the grand prize award to improve the health of their students. Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam will present the grand prize to the winning school.
