Golf News Roundup January 16 2020

Here’s a roundup of random golf news from the week: Pat Hurst Named 2021 Solheim Cup Captain; Symetra Tour Adds Another Event; Lamkin releases new grips and more.

Pat Hurst Named 2021 Team USA Solheim Cup Captain

Pat Hurst, a six-time LPGA TOUR winner, and three-time Solheim Cup Assistant Captain has been named to lead the 2021 US squad.

Hurst was on five US Solheim Cup teams, including four victorious teams (1998, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2007). Her Solheim Cup record is 10-7-3 record

Hurst played college golf at San José State University and won team and individual NCAA titles in 1989.

Hurst described how she received the news in an open letter on LPGA.COm.

I was waiting alone in my car as my husband, Jeff, ran a few errands, [when] my phone rang. It was LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan. I’ve never been so nervous answering the phone. And when I did, my heart sank. Mike said, “I’m sorry to have to tell you this but I wanted to tell you first.” I think my breathing stopped until he said, “The job is there if you want it.”

Hurst then called Julie Inkster

Juli was the first person I called after I hung up with Mike. I’m certain she knew before I did. That didn’t stop her from being thrilled for me.

We’re two different people but we’re also great friends who love and respect each other. I want to bring the best of what Juli brought and do it with my own personality. I think I’ve built a lot of trust with the players. I’ll have my own assistant captains and we will make sure players know that we’re there for them. We’ll take care of the details. We want them to go out, play, have fun and make birdies.

Is that different from previous captains? No, of course not. But we all do similar things in different ways. I can only hope that my way will prove to be as successful and memorable as those who came before me.  

Mitsubish Electric Extends Partnership With PGA TOUR Champions

For at least the next five years, Mitsubishi Electric will continue to sponsor two PGA TOUR Champions events: the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Mitsubishi will also remain an Official Marketing Partner with the PGA TOUR.

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai has been held at the Hualalai Golf Course on Kaʻupulehu-Kona, Hawaii, since 1997, serving as the Tour’s season-opening event since 1984. The limited-field tournament features winners of PGA TOUR Champions major championships in the last five years; the last five Charles Schwab Cup Champions; winners of PGA TOUR Champions co-sponsored events in the past two years; eligible members of the World Golf Hall of Fame; and a number of select sponsor exemptions.

The Mitsubishi Electric Classic has been played at TPC Sugarloaf near Atlanta since 2013. Past champions include World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer (2013), Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2014) and Scott McCarron (2019), who used the victory as a springboard to win his first Charles Schwab Cup last season.

Copper Rock Championship Added to 2020 Symetra Tour schedule

HURRICANE, Utah — The Copper Rock Championship is the latest addition with the Symetra Tour set to venture to the Beehive State and Copper Rock Golf Course from Sept. 3-5.

A full field of competitors will battle for a purse of $200,000, making the inaugural event one of seven this year on the Symetra Tour offering (at least) that amount of prize money. Players will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share is $30,000.

The top-10 in the Volvik Race for the Card at the end of the season earn full LPGA Tour membership for 2021. Three cards were awarded from 1999-2002, then from 2003-07 that number increased to five before 10 were distributed starting in 2008. Since the first year, a total of 157 players have graduated to the big stage.

Gary Player Will Attend The Saudi Golf Summit

Golf legend Gary Player will lend his prestige to Saudi Arabia when he attends the inaugural Golf Saudi Summit. Others expected to attend are Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. David McLay Kidd, David Leadbetter and Troon CEO Tim Shantz.

The conference is designed to showcase the growth of golf within Saudi Arabia:

The inaugural event will allow delegates the chance to learn more about golf’s rapid growth within the Kingdom while evolving key business relations. Attendees will see first-hand how the nation has taken major strides in golf development through Golf Saudi’s commitment to creating a new ecosystem, which has focussed on Golf Saudi’s five key development pillars: Access and Infrastructure, Events, National Team and Academies, Mass Participation and Tourism.

Ridin’ With Rymer Web Series Promotes Myrtle Beach

Golf Tourism Solutions, MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com Launch “Ridin’ With Rymer,” A 12-Episode Online Series Hosted By Media Personality Charlie Rymer

Interview Show Will Feature Rymer and His Celebrity Friends at Myrtle Beach’s Best Courses

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Golf Tourism Solutions launched “Ridin’ With Rymer,” a new online show featuring golf media personality Charlie Rymer enjoying the best of the Myrtle Beach golf scene with a host of celebrities, on January 8.

The 12-episode series is presented by MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, and Rymer will be playing Myrtle Beach’s premier courses with his famous friends. Each fast-paced episode will be between six and 10 minutes long with Rymer’s down-home personality driving the show and  viewers can expect to enjoy a lot of laughs.

Each episode appears at www.RidingwithRymer.com.

Ridin’ With Rymer episodes will be released every Wednesday from January 8 through March 25, coinciding with peak planning period for Myrtle Beach’s always busy spring season.

The celebrity guests for the first four episodes are as follows:

Jan. 8 – Hank Haney, legendary golf coach
Jan. 15 – Damon Hack, Golf Channel star
Jan. 22 – Paige Spiranac, social media influencer
Jan. 29 – Javier Colon, winner of NBC’s “The Voice”

Lamkin Unveils New Grips, Technology for 2020

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Lamkin Corporation introduces several new grip models for 2020, including two grips in the new ST (Smooth Tack) family, as well as Calibrate Technology, a unique design feature developed to create the company’s most advanced reminder grips in its 95-year history.

The ST line includes the ST+2 Hybrid and ST+2 Hybrid Calibrate grips. Both include incorporate two distinct zones. The upper provides enhanced traction for the anchoring hand via infused cord, while the tacky lower section gives control and stability to the guiding hand. The midsized-plus profile (plus 2) has a reduced taper to meet the needs of a wide variety of players.

Beyond ST, Calibrate Technology features the most prominent reminder spine of any grip ever produced by Lamkin to help optimize hand placement.

Calibrate Technology will be available in two Sonar models – Sonar+ Wrap Calibrate, Sonar+ Tour Calibrate.

• Sonar+ Wrap Calibrate – The first wrap grip to incorporate reminder technology, it is the perfect solution for players seeking the style and feel of a wrap, but the performance benefits of a reminder grip.  In addition to Calibrate the grip benefits from Lamkin’s Genesis Material and Fingerprint Technology, which adds a consistent micro-texture surface pattern for slip-resistant control and omni-directional traction.
• Sonar+ Tour Calibrate – Also leveraging Genesis Material and Fingerprint Technology, the Sonar+ Tour Calibrate has been engineered to meet the needs of players with higher swing speeds. Calibrate Technology further enhances Sonar Tour’s reputation as a grip for those who place a premium on shot-making. The plus size taper shape is preferred by modern players.