#Sally J. Sportsman

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Bobby Weed Golf Design’s Restoration of Medalist Golf Club to be on Display in Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity

Bobby Weed Golf Design’s restoration of Medalist Golf Club, in Hobe Sound, Fla., will be on full display this weekend in Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity. The televised 18-hole match play event on May 24 will feature Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.

Bobby Weed, who was mentored by Pete Dye and enjoyed a nearly 40-year relationship with him, restored the 1995 Dye layout in its entirety. Living onsite during construction, Weed returned two cornerstones of the original design that will be conspicuous during the match: the revetted, stacked sod bunker faces and the nearly endless vistas over the surrounding freshwater marshes.

“The restoration of Medalist was a flagship project for me, a chance to recreate the flair and authenticity that only Pete could instill in a course,” said Weed. “I am excited to see that originality showcased by this weekend’s event.”

With spacious fairways that meander elegantly around and over the marshes, Medalist offers numerous strategic lanes and encourages players to hit driver. The low-profile green complexes were dropped back to ground level, as Dye had built them. Finished personally by Weed, the subtle contours in and around the putting surfaces allow players to create shots that fit their games. The perimeters of the holes are trimmed neatly with coquina shell and pine straw, enhancing the layout’s Audubon-like aesthetic, while the ever-present sea breeze offers a different challenge every round. Meticulously manicured to tournament-like conditions on a daily basis, Medalist is the home course of a number of PGA TOUR players. Woods, who frequents the club to practice and play, lent his approval to several new “Tiger” tees that Weed constructed during the project, and a number of them will be used during the match.

Fundraising associated with the event will support national and local beneficiaries aiming to assist communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Bobby Weed Golf Design

Acclaimed golf course designer Bobby Weed specializes in design, renovation and repurposing. His work features a balance of visual appeal, sustainability and playability, all informed by an environmentally-sensitive aesthetic and an exceptional hands-on, holistic approach.

Weed began his professional career with an extended apprenticeship with Pete Dye, launching a collaboration of over 45 years’ duration and a lifelong friendship. Hired in 1983 by the PGA Tour as the Golf Course Superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, Weed went on to become the Tour’s in-house designer from 1987-1996. He was responsible for the design of many of today’s best-known TPC venues, which continue as host sites for prominent Tour events.

Weed also was able to collaborate with many of golf’s most familiar names, including Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Jerry Pate and Chi Chi Rodriguez – a rare cross section of experience.

In 1994, Weed’s career reached an apex with the formation of his own design firm, where he continues to “handcraft” golf courses. Today, Bobby Weed Golf Design has amassed an impressive list of new and renovated courses that consistently are ranked at the top of their respective categories, including The Olde Farm Golf Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club, The Golf Course at Glen Mills, Medalist Golf Club, Timuquana Country Club, GROVE XXIII and Quail Ridge Country Club.

Bobby Weed Golf Design also is a leader in golf course repurposing – a means to update layouts through redesign and reallocation of partial acreage for higher value land uses. Repurposing helps clubs and communities preserve golf while surmounting economic and other challenges. Weed’s skill, vision and business acumen coalesce to result in successful, refined and durable golf course design.

Bobby Weed is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He also is a 40-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, was a former Certified Golf Course Superintendent and is a member of the Florida Turfgrass Association.

For information on Bobby Weed Golf Design, see www.bobbyweed.com

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Linda Hartough Golf Landscapes Introduces Enhanced Website  Linda Hartough Golf Landscapes (hartough.com) announces the introduction of its newly-designed website. While maintaining the features long appreciated by both collectors of Linda Hartough’s work and everyone who admires golf art as a fine-art genre, the enhanced site now includes updated elements that refine the user experience and highlight the beauty of the paintings by this world-renowned golf-landscape artist.

“The new website gives the visitor a feeling of strolling into a gallery to spend time enjoying the art,” Hartough said. “The depictions and organization of the paintings encourage viewers to identify places they’ve played and courses they long to play, not to mention finding prints or paintings they may already own and those they’d like to give as gifts to others.”

The updated site provides multiple options for purchased art, such as custom framing, sizing and texture; gallery wrapped prints; and signing by the artist. In the “Studio” section, the “Art Show” tab allows viewers to scan works at their leisure, and the “Work in Progress” portion offers a fascinating perspective into the progress of certain paintings as they took shape under the artist’s brush.

“We invite everyone who loves golf to explore the new site,” said Hartough. “It’s the next-best thing to being on the golf course.”

About Linda Hartough

Linda Hartough is a world-renowned golf-landscape artist. Her work is displayed in the permanent collections of such legendary clubs as Augusta National, Laurel Valley, Pinehurst and Pine Valley; in the personal collections of such golf notables as Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd and Rees Jones; and in the collections of the USGA Museum, in Far Hills, New Jersey, and the Morris Museum of Art, in Augusta, Georgia.

Known for extraordinary attention to detail in her recreation of some of golf’s most beautiful holes, Hartough imbues her paintings with admiration for the scenery’s natural beauty and respect for the game’s history and tradition, elements which seem to emerge from the canvas.

Hartough’s paintings of various holes at Augusta National Golf Club are prized by collectors the world over. In addition, Hartough painted the first of her U.S. Open series in 1990, commissioned by the U.S. Golf Association – a 25-year series she completed in 2014, as well as her British Open Championship series, from 1990-1999.

A confirmed artist since childhood, early in her career Hartough painted landscapes, portraits and horses. In 1984, Augusta National Golf Club commissioned her to paint its famous 13th hole, an event which propelled Hartough toward specialization as a golf-landscape painter.

Hartough, a 2017 inductee into the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame, has been honored with the Golf Digest Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a Founding Trustee of the Academy of Golf Art, a professional society of golf artists established in 2004 to create an awareness and appreciation of golf art as a valuable segment of fine art.

For information, see hartough.com

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Volvik Offers ViMAX Soft Special

Volvik USA (volvik.com), a rapidly-growing, premium high-performance golf ball company, is offering a special on its ViMAX Soft golf balls. Now through July 6, a bundle of two dozen balls can be purchased for $35. High-visibility matte color options include green, red, orange and yellow.

“This is a good opportunity for golfers to try the Volvik ViMAX Soft golf ball, which provides superior distance along with soft feel,” said Wes Whittingham, vice president of sales for Volvik USA. “Players will notice improved focus with the super-visibility matte colors that enhance concentration.”

Volvik ViMAX Soft balls have a 2-piece power core construction, a patented 322 dimple pattern, 75 compression and high launch with soft greenside spin. Providing fast initial ball speed and superior driver distance, the ViMAX Soft delivers optimal ball flight and excellent flight stability.

With an ever-increasing number of both tour and amateur players finding success with Volvik, the company continues to extend its recognition and presence throughout the golf industry.

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Volvik Offers Special to the Trade on 2020 USA Pack

Volvik USA (volvik.com), a rapidly-growing, premium high-performance golf ball company, is offering a VIVID USA 6-Ball Pack special to the trade just in time for Father’s Day and July 4th.  The VIVID USA 6-Ball specialty pack features USA-logoed balls and a Lady Liberty logo ball marker. Each sleeve includes one red, white and blue 2020 VIVID ball. Every ball number is “1776,” and the set comes in a USA Lady Liberty custom box.

“The 2020 USA Pack will be a fantastic Father’s Day gift or a terrific way to celebrate the 4th of July holiday weekend or the return of golf throughout the U.S., and we are pleased to offer this special limited-time product to the trade,” said Wes Whittingham, vice president of sales for Volvik USA. “The patriotic design and the high-performance quality of the balls combine to create a perfect, timely gift.”

While supplies last, golf shops and retail outlets can order the 2020 USA 6-Ball Packs with a minimum of 12 packs per carton. The retail price per pack is $24.99. Please reach out to your local Volvik USA sales representative or contact Volvik USA at 407 649-0013 or sales@volvik.com

The 2020 Volvik VIVID balls have the VAS Triple-line Volvik Alignment  System and a new-and-improved UV protected matte finish coating. The 3-piece construction balls feature 75 compression and a maximized ENERGY core.

With an ever-increasing number of both tour and amateur players finding success with Volvik, the company continues to extend its recognition and presence throughout the golf industry.

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Volvik Introduces Marvel Avenger Assorted Character 5-Ball Pack

Volvik (volvik.com) has introduced a Marvel Avenger Assorted Character 5-Ball Pack, part of its partnership with Marvel Worldwide. The new pack features Thor, Black Panther, Captain America, Ironman and The Hulk.

“We found that the Volvik 4-Ball Sets featuring Marvel characters were highly popular, so we are pleased to offer the new Marvel Avenger Assorted Character 5-Ball Pack for golfers of all ages,” said Don Shin, president of Volvik USA. “Volvik plays a vital role in growing the game by offering high-quality, attractive golf balls for players of every skill level, and the new 5-Ball Assorted Pack is part of that initiative.”

The matte-finish, three-piece Vivid high-performance golf balls feature Volvik’s new oversized energy core. Each five-ball set retails at $21.99. The Marvel balls are available for purchase at volvik.com.

Golf shops can place orders with their local Volvik sales representatives, at sales@volvik.com or by contacting Volvik at 407-649-0013.

Marvel Worldwide Inc. is a publisher of American comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide’s parent company.

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Volvik Offers 2020 VIVID Golf Ball Special

Volvik USA (volvik.com) is offering a special on its 2020 VIVID golf balls for spring and summer, in honor of golf’s welcome return. From May 22 through July 6, golfers can purchase a dozen world-class SF matte-finish 2020 Volvik VIVID golf balls for $32.99, or a bundle of two dozen for $55, with a variety of color options.

“We are pleased to offer our high-performance 2020 VIVID golf balls at this attractive price to help celebrate the return of golf nationwide,” said Wes Whittingham, vice president of sales for Volvik USA. “Players who are trying VIVID for the first time, as well as those who have been playing VIVID balls all along, will appreciate how these balls enhance their game.”

The 2020 Volvik VIVID balls have the VAS Triple-line Volvik Alignment  System and a new-and-improved UV protected matte finish coating. The 3-piece construction balls feature 75 compression and a maximized ENERGY core. Color options include: green, red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, white and purple.

With an ever-increasing number of both tour and amateur players finding success with Volvik, the company continues to extend its recognition and presence throughout the golf industry.

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Linda Hartough a Featured Artist in 2020 Issue of Catalogue 18

Linda Hartough, a world-renowned golf-landscape artist (www.hartough.com), is featured in the 2020 issue of Catalogue 18, an annual magazine highlighting the game’s most beautiful golf courses and landscapes as captured by its most talented artists and photographers. Hartough also was featured in the 1st issue, published last year.

“Linda’s feature on Pebble Beach is a highlight of the 2nd issue,” said Guy Nicholson, publisher and editor of Catalogue 18. “Her distinctive style and long relationship with one of golf’s best-known courses made it a perfect fit.

“Linda’s work always shines in Catalogue 18’s large, luxury print format.”

Catalogue 18 is golf’s first subscription art magazine. It features exceptional images of select golf courses around the world, in addition to artist biographies and editorial descriptions of the art.

“I am proud to be represented in this esteemed magazine again this year,” Hartough said. “It is a highly-respected publication, and it’s an honor to have my work within its pages.”

Hartough’s works in the publication include, in “The Front,” Pebble Beach images of the 5th, 7th, 8th, 17th and 18th Holes; and in “The Back,” paintings of the 17th Hole at Seminole, the 17th Hole at Old Tabby Links, the 17th Hole at Royal Dornach and the 1st Hole at Annandale.  

“This project wouldn’t exist without high-profile contributors like Linda Hartough,” said Guy Nicholson, editor and publisher of Catalogue 18. “Her name is golden and her work is unmistakable; she lends instant credibility to any publication she appears in.”

Catalogue 18 is a sumptuous compendium of photographs, paintings, illustrations, tours, articles and portfolios by two dozen award-winning photographers and artists. For information or to order a copy, see www.catalogue18.com.

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Volvik Tour XT Soft Golf Balls Earn Gold Medal Rating on 2020 Golf Digest Hot List Volvik USA (volvik.com) earned top marks on the 2020 Golf Digest Hot List. The Volvik XT Soft golf balls received a Gold Medal rating on Golf Digest’s “Best New Golf Balls” Equipment list this year, in the over $35 category.

“We take pride in the fact that Volvik XT Soft golf balls received a gold medal designation on the 2020 Golf Digest Hot List,” said Don Shin, president of Volvik USA. “XT Soft golf balls provide outstanding performance benefits to discerning players everywhere.”  

The Volvik XT Soft ball has received wide praise and recognition among professional and highly skilled amateur players around the world.

Golf Digest consulted scientists, retailers and everyday golfers to identify which balls perform best in all phases. This included a week in which 72 balls were tested at the Marriott Grand Vista Resort in Orlando, Florida. Golf Digest rated products based on four criteria: performance, innovation, feel and demand.

With an ever-increasing number of both tour and amateur players finding success with Volvik, the company continues to extend its recognition and presence throughout the golf industry.

For information, see volvik.com