From Jordan Young, Director of Instruction at Fox Hills Learning Center:

2012 is well upon us and so is the golf season!  We have enjoyed over 1000 rounds in 2012 already.  Who would have thought we would have such a warm winter.  Needless to say, we have been very bust at The Fox Hills Learning Center!

Thank you for all of your support in the past five years.  We are excited to provide top level instruction at such a great facility.  2012 looks to be an exciting year.  In 2011, our Brian Cairns was Michigan’s PGA Player of The Year.  He also won the the MPGA Junior Leader Award.  I was lucky enough to earn two MPGA Awards in 2011; the MPGA Horton Smith Award (providing value/educational opportunities for our membership), and the MPGA President’s Plaque Award (promoting the game through program development).  2012 Award Interview are next week and we are again nominated in two categories; MPGA Teacher of Year and the MPGA President’s Plaque.

NEW - JORDAN YOUNG PERFORMANCE ACADEMY GOLF SCHOOLS
This season offers (12) 2-day golf schools.  Each school will consist of the following;
      - 8 hours of studio instruction and on course lesson time, play optional
      - 4:1 Ratio with video and swing analysis
      - Custom Fitting sessions
      - JYPA Gift Bag
For more details and applications you may contact Jordan directly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

JYPA Golf Schools with a 4:1 ratio will be offered on the following dates;

JYPA Pitch & Putt #1, 4/26 to 4/27, $599
JYPA Pitch & Putt #2, 5/10 to 5/11, $599
JYPA Pitch & Putt #3, 5/31 to 6/1, $599
JYPA Perform and Play #1, 6/7 to 6/8, $699
JYPA Junior Performance #1, 6/20 to 6/21, $599
JYPA Pitch & Putt #4, 7/5 to 7/6, $599
JYPA Perform and Play #2, 7/12 to 7/13 $699
JYPA Junior Performance #2, 7/25 to 7/26, $599
JYPA Perform and Play #3, 8/2 to 8/3 $699
JYPA Junior Performance #3, 8/8 to 8/9, $599
JYPA Perform and Play #4, 8/23 to 8/24 $699
JYPA Pitch & Putt #5, 8/30 to 8/31, $599

NEW FLIGHTSCOPE  
FlightScope will be present during lessons and available for training throughout the season.  FlightScope is a GPS ball tracking device. The X2 is the next generation 3D club and ball tracking radar that allows you to measure and see swing, club and ball data on your smart phone or tablet.  The X2 is the world’s most accurate and portable golf launch monitor.  Individual sessions $150/hr, training available at $75.
http://www.flightscope.com

NEW K-VEST
TPI 3D, developed by the Titleist Performance Institute, is a powerful 3D motion capture software platform that consistently and accurately analyzes the 3D motion of a golfer’s swing. The software captures swing efficiency, via the kinematic sequence graph, and allows users to view key biomechanical information including posture and dynamic movements. We can use TPI 3D during lessons to quickly give feedback compared to the world’s best PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour players.  Individual K-Vest lessons are $150/h, rented training available at $75.
http://www.k-vest.com/ktrainer_golf.php

NEW GAME PLAN
“My Golf Game Plan” is a instant way to see statistics and how best to attack your game.  You must have a plan in order to get better.  Log in and instantly see a summary of your most recent rounds and how it compares to your Goals. The Area of Focus gives helpful tips and drills that focus on the part of your game that you are furthest from your goal.  The fee is $10 for the entire season, limited time only!
http://www.mygolfgameplan.com/

2012 SMASH JUNIOR CAMP and WAVE JUNIOR CAMP
The Smash and Wave camps are based on FUN, the ability of your athlete and their skill development.  The Smash Camp is offered from 9-12 with an 8:1 ratio.  The Wave Camp is from 1-4 with a 6:1 ratio.  These camps are highly active with Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) and Functional Sport Skill development.  These are both key components to our program.  This is not your normal golf camp, nor do we want it to be.  Our camp instructors are highly trained; Level 2 TPI Junior Coaches and Level 2 TPI certified instructors.  We are experts in youth athletic development and our program works!  The dates for these camps are listed below;

Easter SMASH Junior Camp, 4/10 to 4/12, $245
SMASH Junior Camp #1, 6/25 to 6/29, $275, 9:00-12:00
WAVE Junior Camp #1, 6/25 to 6/29, $345, 1:00-4:00
SMASH Junior Camp #2, 7/16 to 7/20, $275, 9:00-12:00
WAVE Junior Camp #2, 7/16 to 7/20, $345, 1:00-4:00
SMASH Junior Camp #3, 8/13 to 8/17, $275, 9:00-12:00
WAVE Junior Camp #3, 8/13 to 8/17, $345, 1:00-4:00

TAYLORMADE FITTING DAY
Schedule your time slot NOW to get fit like a pro!  March 10th from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  We have 15 spots available if you are looking to purchase some of the hottest equipment on the market; NEW R11S Drivers and the NEW line or RocketBallz!  Email Jordan at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for your appointment.

PING FITTING DAY
Get yourself fit by the best fitting club system in the world on May 22nd from 2:00-6:00pm with the nFlight system from PING.  Book ahead for your slot, limited space available!

Get in for your lessons now before your spring trip.  The season is just around the corner.  We appreciate your loyalty and we look forward to providing more quality experiences in the near future!

Kind Regards, Jordan
Director of Instruction
Fox Hills Learning Center

Wine on the Links to Host Inaugural Event at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Orinda, California (February 1, 2012)  Brian Lamborn of Outdoor Wine Adventures recently announced the selection of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, OR to host the first annual Wine on the Links event.  Outdoor Wine Adventures is best known for their successful Wine on the Fly events for fly-fishing.

Lamborn made his decision after months of tough deliberation.  “There are so many terrific venues to choose from that I had a very difficult time making a decision.  I created Wine on the Links to combine my love of both golf and wine, and to provide guests with a trip-of-a-lifetime experience.  The core ingredients of the event are exquisite wineries and wines, outstanding golf, phenomenal service, and wonderful accommodations.  General Manager Hank Hickox and his Bandon Dunes team is one of the most highly-respected groups in the West, and the Resort was recently selected by Golf Digest as the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America.  I couldn’t be happier.”

Bandon Dunes’ Director of Marketing and Public Relations, B.R. Koehnemann, shares the enthusiasm.  “All of us at Bandon Dunes are excited about hosting Wine on the Links.  Brian has organized a terrific event, and we’re very much looking forward to this partnership.  At Bandon Dunes Golf Resort we are committed to offering a world-class golfing experience and Wine on the Links will be a great opportunity to deliver on that commitment.”

Bandon Dunes

According to Mr. Koehnemann, “Guests of Wine on the Links will be treated to a round on each of our four courses in addition to our brand new 13-hole Par 3 course, named Bandon Preserve.  These courses have a long-standing reputation as some of the best in the country, with challenging terrain and beautiful views.  In addition to all greens fees, the trip will also include individual caddies for each course.  Guests will enjoy four nights’ accommodations in our beautiful and private Chrome Lake Rooms.  With four full days of world-class golf and excellent wine and food, these rooms offer the perfect setting to relax; after a peaceful night’s rest, they’ll get back on the links for another outstanding day of golf.”

Brian Lamborn, also of third generation winery Lamborn Family Vineyards, has orchestrated a representation of wines from three outstanding boutique wineries.  Including his family’s winery, his three choices are the elite Napa Valley wineries of Bourassa Vineyards, Hendry Ranch Winery, and Lamborn Family Vineyards.  Bourassa Vineyards devotes much of the winery’s attention to the five Bordeaux varietals, each painstakingly hand-crafted in small lots.  Proprietor Vic Bourassa will be on hand pouring and describing many of these gems.  Hendry is a Napa winery rich in history and produces wines of even greater opulence. Mike Hendry will be at the event pouring his wines and sharing his knowledge.  Lamborn Family Vineyards produces just 1,600 cases a year of rich Howell Mountain Cabernet and Zinfandel, all crafted by cult “celebrity” winemaker Heidi Barrett of Screaming Eagle fame.  Brian Lamborn loves sharing his family wines and passion for them, and looks forward to doing so at Wine on the Links. Several thousands of dollars worth of wines will be poured over the course of the event.

Accommodations will be at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon.  Bandon Dunes is a golf lover’s dream come true with four distinctly different courses, all of which consistently place in the Top 25 of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 courses.  The cost of the trip is $4,750 based on double occupancy and includes: four nights’ lodging, four rounds of golf as well as a round on the new Par 3, all meals, four evening winery dinners, all wines, gratuities, and much more.  Reservations are limited to just 20 participants on a first come/first serve basis.  To learn more about this rare opportunity, please visit http://www.wineonthelinks.com, or call (877) 778-5663.

Callaway Golf Introduces the All-New HEX Black Tour

Greater Spin Separation for Optimized Performance from Tee to Green

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/—Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) today announced the March 2 nd worldwide availability of the all-new HEX Black Tour™ golf ball. The product of a multi-year Research & Development enterprise, Callaway’s HEX Black Tour features a host of new and proprietary technologies that differentiate this ultra-premium golf ball from every round, white, dimpled, 1.620-ounce ball in the game. The engineering advancements — including an innovative dual-core construction, an exceptionally durable cover material and revolutionary HEX Aerodynamics — combine to deliver a five-piece golf ball with better Spin Separation and all-around performance characteristics than any previous introduction from Callaway.

A golf ball that yields distance-enhancing low spin off the tee, while still providing the superior control that comes from generating more spin around the greens, has long been held as the “holy grail” of golf ball design.  The measured differential between the high spin generated on shorter approach shots into the green and the optimal low spin off the driver for maximum distance off the tee is called Spin Separation, and Callaway’s all-new HEX Black Tour has it in spades.

“I’ve had more fun working on my game with the new HEX Black Tour ball than I have in years because I’ve been able to hit shots around the green that I haven’t been able to hit since the ‘90s with wound balls,” said four-time Major Champion and Callaway Golf staff professional Phil Mickelson. “The amazing thing to me is the spin separation; how this ball spins so much from 40 yards in, and yet spins so little off the driver and goes so far. I’ve never seen a ball with that combination of short-range control and distance.”

“We took a unique approach in the design of our new HEX Black Tour golf ball and the investments we’ve made in new technology over the past few years have culminated in this innovative 5-piece construction,” said Dave Bartels, Sr. Director, Golf Ball Research & Development, Callaway Golf.  The level of Spin Separation golfers will experience can be attributed to our advanced i-Core technology and new DuraSpin cover material.  Our advanced dual-mantle system and optimized HEX Aerodynamic design produce the ball speed and flight characteristics to benefit all golfers.”

Offering complete performance from tee to green with exceptional feel, the HEX Black Tour golf ball’s construction includes various layers of innovative technology, all offering functional and meaningful advancements. These technologies and the benefits of each are outlined below:

i-Core Technology
This dual core construction maximizes the compression difference between the inner and outer core layers.  The extremely soft inner core helps reduce spin off the tee for more distance, while the high compression outer core creates higher spin closer to the green for more control with irons and wedges.  This relationship allows HEX Black Tour to achieve higher Spin Separation than any of our previous products.

Dual Mantle
Both the inner and outer mantles are comprised of ionomer blends in different ratios to affect the hardness and resilience of each mantle layer. In combination, the soft inner and firm outer mantles protect the high-tech dual core while producing powerful ball speeds across a range of swing speeds.

DuraSpin Cover
This proprietary cover formulation was developed using a unique thermoplastic urethane (TPU) blend with excellent mechanical properties and durability characteristics. Compared to previous materials employed by Callaway, durability has significantly improved to better prevent marks and scratches throughout the round. The new DuraSpin cover is also very soft and gives players the feel and exceptional short-game spin they seek in a high performance Tour golf ball.

HEX Aerodynamics
Callaway’s patented HEX Aerodynamics produce 100 percent surface area coverage on a golf ball whereas traditional round dimples typically cover only 88 percent of the surface.  HEX Black Tour has the traditional HEX appearance, but with an enhanced surface contour, a more consistent finish system, and optimized performance resulting from hours upon hours of aerodynamic development. This highly engineered pattern provides the best aerodynamic performance ever in a Callaway golf ball, reducing drag and promoting a stable, penetrating ball flight in all types of playing conditions.

HEX Black Tour will be available on March 2 nd at a New Product Introduction Retail Price of $45.99 per dozen.
About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf apparel, footwear and accessories, under the Callaway Golf®, Odyssey®, Top-Flite®, and Ben Hogan® brands in more than 110 countries worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.callawaygolf.com or shop.callawaygolf.com.

SOURCE Callaway Golf Company

JUMEIRAH GROUP TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY AND CATERING FOR THE OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

DUBAI, Feb 2 - Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, is working with ‘golf in DUBAi’ as the official caterer and hospitality partner for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to be held at the Emirates Golf Club from February 9 to 12.
Jumeirah Hospitality and Madinat Jumeirah will provide world-class catering and hospitality for the event.

World number two Rory McIlroy, who is also the global brand ambassador of Jumeirah Group, will be one of the major attractions at the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

With the 22-year-old golfing sensation Rory McIlroy, who incidentally won his first European Tour title in Dubai in 2009, as their global brand ambassador, Jumeirah Group believes that the development of golf is an essential ingredient in the growth of Dubai as a destination for international investment and tourism.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi’, commented: “The Omega Dubai Desert Classic provides a worldwide exposure to the city of Dubai, in general, and the sponsors in particular, creating interest for people to visit Dubai. Thanks to Jumeirah, the players always have a wonderful opportunity to savour the incomparable hospitality standards of the region,” he added.

‘golf in DUBAi’ is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Gulf News, Emirates NBD, Jumeirah Group, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons (in golf in DUBAi’s) drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.

Speed of New VR_S Technology Produces Longest Hybrid Ever
- VR_S Hybrids Add Even More Distance to Nike Golf’s Fastest Family -

BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 30, 2012) – Nike Golf’s fastest family of clubs ever, the all new VR_S line, has gained more speed and more distance with the launch of the VR_S hybrids.  This latest introduction from Nike Golf, the industry’s emerging leader in R&D, delivers a fast, long hybrid that promises to outdistance all others.

The VR_S hybrids share the same remarkable speed and distance attributes as the rest of the VR_S family with the incorporation of the exclusive NexCOR variable face-thickness technology.  NexCOR maximizes distance for the widest range of players through a new speed-expanding multi face thickness design.  The NexCOR infinity design creates a bridge for ultra-thin, ultra-hot faces and unmatched ball speed from every club in the bag.

By combining NexCOR with a compact aerodynamic design, Nike Golf engineers have been able to deliver in a hybrid the performance of a fairway wood, along with the accuracy and scoring ability of an iron.  As a result, the VR_S hybrids launch easier and fly further.  In addition, L Face technology positions the weld on the sole to allow for an expanded maximum COR zone from the middle to lower on the face, where the majority of fairway shots are struck.

“By taking a holistic approach to how we’ve designed every club in the VR_S line, we’ve been able to deliver more speed and more distance with every club in the bag,” said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf.  “These new VR_S hybrids are just like the VR_S driver, fairway woods and irons.  They are ultra fast so that they can play their role in getting you to the green more quickly.  The result is what every golfer wants – fewer strokes.”

Nike engineers conducted impact studies and were able to map where consumers hit the ball on the face at impact on every club.  Based on those results, the location of the NexCOR technology through the entire family of VR_S drivers, fairway woods, irons and hybrids differs from club to club.  The result is the fastest, hottest and longest family of golf clubs that Nike Golf has ever produced.

The VR_S family is an extension of Nike Golf’s Tour-proven VR franchise, which, since its 2008 introduction, has been the weapon of choice in 83 worldwide Tour wins, including three major titles.

Starting in March through May 2012, Nike Golf will be conducting VR_S Speed Trials at hundreds of participating golf retail shops and golf courses across the country. Nike’s VR_S Speed Trials will allow consumers to compare the speed of what’s in their current bag to the new Nike VR_S products on a launch monitor. Their accumulative distance will be tallied and recorded on a national leaderboard that will be featured on http://www.nikegolf.com. For a list of golf shops participating, go to http://www.nikegolf.com.

VR_S Hybrids
Availability: February 3, 2012
Specifications:
2H/18° (RH/LH), 3H/21°, 4H/24° (RH/LH), 5H/27°;
Nike Fubuki K HY: S, R, A;
Street Price: $159.99

American Artist Adriano Manocchia’s Expressive Golf Landscapes Available at St. Andrews Golf Art

St. Andrews, Scotland (January 19, 2012)—St. Andrews Golf Art (http://www.standrewsgolfart.com),  currently is showcasing six leading contemporary artists whose golf specific pieces are sought after by private collectors, clubs and enthusiasts.  The prestigious online gallery carefully selected respected and established talent for its introduction in 2011 to art connoisseurs.

Adriano Manocchia brings a rather unique perspective to his art from past professional assignments and experiences.  He began his career as a photo-journalist and ran his own photo/film agency in New York City.  Adriano spent 12 years traveling the world to cover news events for television and print media.  Many of his assignments were at the White House.

In the 1980s, Adriano turned to painting full time, concentrating on wildlife and the great outdoors. His fluid style, dramatic use of light and a fascination with water were reflected in works of varying moods and nuances.  Accolades and awards brought Adriano immediate recognition from art critics and collectors.  A Bald Eagle painting was selected to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Constitution by the U.S. Bicentennial Committee.  Through his distinctive art, Adriano has supported Ducks Unlimited, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, American Cancer Society and the Special Olympics.

Adriano’s mesmerizing landscapes (and waterscapes) brought him into the golf arena when the United States Golf Association in 1992 commissioned him to paint a series of oils of famous courses.  His first two efforts depicted the famous 8th hole at Pebble Beach and The Honors Course in Tennessee.  The two images were issued as prints and were sold to raise funds for the USGA/Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.  The success of this venture led to many more golf art commissions from private clubs in the U.S.  Most recently, Adriano created a major painting for the PGA TOUR that depicts the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass, site of THE PLAYERS Championship, with the Tour’s spectacular clubhouse in the background.  The work is on display in the clubhouse’s Champions Room.
“I paint landscapes that have come from encounters with nature, trying not to make the paintings seem ideal,” Adriano explains.  “The light in my work has a photographic but painterly quality to it.  There is little doubt that I am a visual person.  And it is that incessant search for the visually stimulating that makes this voyage exciting.”

Adriano’s paintings have appeared in numerous publications, including Gray’s Sporting Journal, Flyfishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Collector Editions, Outdoor Life, Premiere (Monte Carlo), Wildlife Art, Conservationist, Pescare (Italy), Flyfishing Quarterly, Bugle, U.S. Art, Sporting Classics and Flyfisher (Japan).  His work also is reproduced in several fine art golf books.

Adriano resides with his family in upstate New York in the picturesque and art rich community of Cambridge.

About St. Andrews Golf Art

St. Andrews Golf Art was established with the intent of “Celebrating Golf’s Greatest” and new works by contemporary artists, as well as rare collectibles, will be added in the future.  Collectors may register online to receive updates on new releases in the company’s informative newsletter, including the launch of a collectors club in the future. 

St. Andrews Golf Art also welcomes inquiries for special commissions from golf clubs, corporate clients or individuals who appreciate the appeal of acquiring a significant piece(s) of art from one of the world’s foremost golf artists.  This could include incorporating a series of relevant pieces for a themed area, room or corridor of a clubhouse or private residence.

For further information, contact Alasdair Busby at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by telephone 0044 (0)7757 358918.

Nike Golf Shakes Up Traditional Golf Style with the Introduction of the Nike Golf Sport Apparel Collection
-For Spring 2012, Nike Golf enables athletes to show their true colors and play irreverent golf-

BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 16, 2012) - To complement Nike Golf’s industry-leading Tour Performance line of apparel, the Nike Golf Sport Collection delivers new style choices.  With bold and statement-making styles, Nike Golf’s Spring 2012 Sport Collection empowers athletes to show their true colors and express themselves both on and off the course through the passion of sport.

Nike Golf apparel exudes high energy, but the 2012 Sport Apparel collection goes further in delivering youthful styling to golfers who want an exuberant, expressive look.  The Sport Collection features new designs for polos, cover-ups, pants, shorts and headwear that represent a vibrant and irreverent passion for golf as a modern and athletic game for all ages and attitudes.

The Sport Collection features playable, technical golf apparel that integrates Dri-FIT and cotton-blend fabrication to keep golfers cool and comfortable.  The materials signal a return to the comfort in performance Dri-FIT blends for a more relaxed and casual attitude, but are still designed and styled to be authentic to golf.  Silhouettes in the Nike Sport Collection are trim and tidy.  With a slightly slimmer fit and cotton-blend fabrics, the Sport Collection styles are bold and stylish.

Color is the noise in the Nike Sport collection with an emphasis on Safety Orange, an iconic Nike staple, in both body colors and details.  Notable among the new releases is the Jersey Swoosh polo (MSRP $75.00) and the Sport Heather Pant (MSRP $110).  The Jersey Swoosh polo has a sleek-fitting cut, a variety of bold seasonal colors and Nike’s patented Dri-FIT technology.  The Sport Heather pant is a new slim-fit cut that uniquely blends classic fashion with modern details for golfers who want to look stylish while maximizing their performance on the course.

“Our Men’s and Women’s Sport Collections provide an exciting new apparel line with a different point of view towards the sport of golf,” said Doug Reed, Global Category Business Director, Nike Golf Apparel and Footwear. “This collection gives consumers an alternate way to enhance their ‘expression of golf attitude and style’ both on and off the golf course.  The Nike Golf Sport Collection gives the athlete a new look and feel for golf apparel that moves beyond the traditional boundaries of golf.”

_____________________________

Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to ushering in the future of this great game by developing ground-breaking innovations that enable athletes to perform at their physical and mental peak.  For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at http://www.nikegolf.com. To follow Nike Golf on Twitter visit http://www.twitter.com/nikegolf and go to http://www.facebook.com/nikegolf to become a fan on Facebook.  Editors and journalists in the U.S. seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit http://www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.  For international journalists, please contact Nike Golf’s public relations representative in respective countries for information.