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International Travel

Apes Hill designer Ron Kirby: “Make something that’s fair for the player”

Golf course architect Ron Kirby in an interview about his jobs on the golf course, his style as a designer, the influence of well-known architects, sustainability and the redesign of Apes Hill in Barbados.

Ron Kirby: “Get any job you can on a golf course”

What made you decide to get into golf design?

Ron Kirby: My career began with a talent I had for sketching when I was a teenager, just north of Boston. If you had the means, you could get to the Museum of Fine Arts for free art lessons on Saturday mornings. My brother and I would ride the subway to get my art lesson, so I knew how to sketch and handle a brush. Later I won a caddie scholarship, and I went to greenkeeper school.

When it snowed in the winters, I went to Florida – where my dad had a club pro job – and I realised that the movie stars in golf were the course designers. There was a centrefold in Sports Illustrated with two architects who were the flavour of the month: Robert Trent Jones and Dick Wilson. They were superstars.

Define Ron Kirby’s style…

Ron Kirby: I’m just looking for fun, different holes to build. I look for a chance to make the short holes more exciting and I always want to make something that’s fair for the player. Because I was a greenkeeper, I want to build things that can be maintained, kept neat and manicured.

Tell us about the people you’ve worked with over the years. Who were the most influential and why?

Ron Kirby: Trent Jones was a visionary. He could take any piece of ground and he would get the best layout – he knew how to put the holes in the right position for the wind, the sun direction, and his routings were very good. Another thing I learned from working with Trent Jones is that he didn’t do it all. He did the layouts, but he had a team of people working for him. You need good staff. And I had a lot of good staff.

I’ve also worked with Jack Nicklaus, who would always get the best sites and the best budgets. Nicklaus was a finishing school in golf design because of his strategy. He knew what a golf ball could and couldn’t do.

What advice would you give other designers from what you’ve learned?

Ron Kirby: Respect the ground. Try and make your golf course fit. It’s a lot of fun being a golf course designer, but you’ve got to be patient to get the right assignments. I’m proud that I got a chance to put my two cents in. The best thing to do is get any job you can on a golf course – even pulling the carts out. I grew up on a golf course, and I’ve never worked anywhere else.

Apes Hill Barbados: Stunning views and fun holes

You have just completed work at Apes Hill in Barbados – what hole there most reflects your style?

Ron Kirby: The second, for sure. It was a par three; now we’ve got a two-way hole. We extended the green and moved the tees back. It was almost an unplayable par three: into the wind, uphill… nobody would love this hole, so you’d play two holes and already you didn’t like the course. We turned it into a really fun, friendly par four. You have a chance to get out of there smiling. I didn’t have to go too far to find a hole I would love.

The idyllic par-4 2nd hole of Apes Hill Barbados. (Credit: Azalea)

How did you bring to Apes Hill what you learnt from designing Old Head?

Ron Kirby: Old Head is basically an island connected with a little isthmus at the gate. But you have almost 360° of cliffs, so you try to get as close to the cliffs as you could to use those features. When I saw Apes Hill, you’ve got some super vistas. You can look at two oceans in some places! So, I said, “all we’ve got to do here is make sure that players can take in the vistas”.

What is your message to everyone who is about to experience Apes Hill?

Ron Kirby: Well, if I could meet every one of them, I hope they would buy me a beer and say I did a good job. I want people to enjoy their game and want to come back again.

The 14th hole of Apes Hill. From the tee you have a great view over the east coast of Barbados. (Photo: Azalea)

Over the years, what’s changed with sustainability and what have we done here at Apes Hill?

Ron Kirby: Sustainability means don’t build anything that you can’t maintain. Number one was the bunkers – we couldn’t maintain those, so we’ve eliminated two thirds of the bunkers. That’s cut back on the maintenance of the bunkers, the sand and erosion, and of course the irrigation. Zoysia grass is tolerant to drought, so we don’t have to keep pumping water on to keep it green and alive, it will maintain itself. We’ve taken away around 1,000 sprinklers, reducing irrigation by a third. Supply here is from a huge lake, which collects the mountain rainfall instead of letting it run off into the sea, millions of gallons. There will also be a par 3 for kids and families.

Tell us a bit about that…

Ron Kirby: We’ve taken inspiration from some of the world’s most famous par-three holes. It’s great for the kids and the families to go out and have fun, but a lot of golfers will say, ‘I’ve never played the Postage Stamp, I’ve never been to Royal Troon”, so they can come here and try it. We also built a 19th hole similar to the famous 17 th hole at TPC Sawgrass, where it’s so dynamic because it’s an island green. You’re either on the green or in the water.

Was it a priority to make the holes diverse enough that people of different skill levels could play?

Ron Kirby: Yes. We only needed four tees per hole, but we put them in spaces where they could cover all types, of players, from guys who can hit it pure to the average guys and then the poor players like me. We have friendly tees for the ladies, challenge tees for the better ladies’ players. It’s fun for everyone. Pick your poison and see where you want to tee it up from.

How do you feel about the finished product?

Ron Kirby: What we’ve done here is the result of a lot of hard work and it wasn’t an easy job. The weather was hitting us hard with storms, Covid delayed us… but I’m proud to be part of it. I can sit back and say this is one of mine. I can say that about maybe 150 golf courses, but this is a special one.

Categories
PGA Tour

Players Championship 2023: Record prize money on the PGA Tour

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is the most important tournament on the PGA Tour. Accordingly, the US Tour pays out the most prize money at the so-called “flagship tournament” in Florida. This year, the prize money is – once again – at a record level and significantly higher than the financial contributions of the majors. The Players Championship 2023 awards prize money of 25 million US dollars.

Players Championship prize money: PGA Tour draws level with LIV

This increases the purse by five million compared to the previous year, when Cameron Smith took home 3.6 million US dollars. In 2022, the prize money had already risen from 15 to 20 million. The PGA Tour saw itself forced to distribute significantly more prize money in the face of threatening competition from LIV Golf. The Players is one of the new Designated Events, which are endowed with an average of 20 million US dollars. As the flagship event, however, the “fifth major” stands out once again and draws level with the competition.

The tournaments of the LIV Golf League are also worth 25 million dollars each. One fifth of the prize money is intended for the team ranking of the Saudi League, the rest is paid to all 48 players in the individual ranking. At TPC Sawgrass, however, as usual only the 65 best and tied players who make the cut after two rounds will receive a share of the opulent prize money (see table below).

Fifth place earns seven figures

The winner of the Players Championship 2023 will walk away from Ponte Vedra Beach with a massive 4.5 million US dollars, while the runner-up will receive even more prize money (2.75 million) than, for example, Scottie Scheffler earned at the US Masters 2022. Even the fifth-placed player can be happy about more than one million US dollars.

By comparison, the major tournaments awarded significantly less prize money than the Players Championship or the new Designated Events in addition to the prestigious trophies last year. The US Masters 2022 offered 15 million US dollars, as did the PGA Championship 2022. The US Open 2022 gave the players a total of 17.5 million, the British Open 14 million US dollars. The prize money of the majors is typically only announced shortly before the respective tournaments. This year, the pots are likely to be bigger as well.

Prize money breakdown of the Players Championship 2023

Rank Prize money ($)
1. 4,500,000
2. 2,725,000
3. 1,725,000
4. 1,225,000
5. 1,025,000
6. 906,250
7. 843,750
8. 781,250
9. 731,250
10. 681,250
11. 631,250
12. 581,250
13. 531,250
14. 481,250
15. 456,250
16. 431,250
17. 406,250
18. 381,250
19. 356,250
20. 331,250
21. 306,250
22. 281,250
23. 261,250
24. 241,250
25. 221,250
26. 201,250
27. 193,750
28. 186,250
29. 178,750
30. 171,250
31. 163,750
32. 156,250
33. 148,750
34. 142,500
35. 136,250
36. 130,000
37. 123,750
38. 118,750
39. 113,750
40. 108,750
41. 103,750
42. 98,750
43. 93,750
44. 88,750
45. 83,750
46. 78,750
47. 73,750
48. 69,750
49. 66,250
50. 64,250
51. 62,750
52. 61,250
53. 60,250
54. 59,250
55. 58,750
56. 58,250
57. 57,750
58. 57,250
59. 56,750
60. 56,250
61. 55,750
62. 55,250
63. 54,750
64. 54,250
65. 53,750
Categories
Apparel

Galvin Green equips golfers for most unpredictable weather

Leading high-performance golf apparel brand Galvin Green offers golfers its most all-encompassing rain wear line-up yet to help overcome the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns faced during a round of golf.

The latest fully waterproof range offers a first-class jacket and pant pairing in the uncompromising GORE-TEX stretch with C-KNITTM backer fabric; ten designs crafted using the lightweight GORE-TEX Paclite® technology; and five styles with mesh lining for added warmth. A total of eight functional models incorporate stretch fabric for added flexibility during the golf swing.

Galvin Green: Garments for demanding conditions

“Utilising the best-performing waterproof membrane on the market in the most fit-for-purpose rain wear pieces is testament to our never compromise approach to product design,” said Product Manager Sofia Ask Klason. “With our extensive offering using a number of different fabric technologies, serious golfers have a stellar choice of responsibly sourced designs that meet the requirements faced when playing in increasingly unpredictable and demanding conditions out on the golf course,” she added.

A decade ago, in 2013, the first Galvin Green GORE-TEX jackets and pants using bluesign® approved eco-friendly fabric were added to the range. All waterproof garments in the latest line continue to use these sustainable materials that maximise a golfer’s performance; while, at the same time seek to minimise social and environmental impact.

New flagship jacket

Leading the range is the striking new ALISTER jacket – offering the most premium performance-enhancing and reliable waterproof features on the market. The full-zip model is crafted using GORE-TEX stretch with C-KNITTM backer fabric and features a smooth ‘slide and glide’ interior and Superstretch inserts across the back and elbows for unrivalled freedom of movement in the swing.

The new Allister jacket from Galvin Green (Photo: Galvin Green)

The addition of reinforced TechsteelTM material at the shoulders delivers greater durability without compromising movement during the swing. It also features water repellent zippers, front pockets and a chest and collar width for extra comfort and protection in adverse weather conditions.

The matching ALPHA superstretch waterproof trousers with C-KNITTM backer are available in as many as 15 different size options across waist and leg lengths. The pant includes an elasticated waist and drawstring for the perfect fit; adjustable leg width; front pockets with fleece lining; a zipper fly opening and water-repellent zippers; plus an abrasion-resistant fabric on the leg hem.

Packable options

Suited to golfers with limited space in their golf bag, the award-winning ARMSTRONG men’s jacket in GORE-TEX Paclite® fabric with enhanced stretch capabilities offers great flexibility during a round of golf. The tri-blend design weighs in at just 300 grams (in size medium) and features shaped sleeves to allow for a full range of movement in the golf swing; an adjustable chest width and front pockets for increased comfort. It is available in as many as seven striking colourways and is designed to paired with the matching ARTHUR Paclite® pants.

A new addition to the women’s GORE-TEX Paclite® range is the sleek ALLY jacket with contrast detailing on the zipper and sides. It features shaped sleeves to deliver seamless movement in the swing; welcome details like front pockets and a two-way front zipper; as well as a repositioned side seam for optimum comfort. It comes in three stylish colours and is best paired with the ALINA pants also featuring GORE-TEX Paclite® stretch fabric in a number of sizes for the perfect fit.

Lined waterproofs for added warmth

The sporty ALBERT men’s jacket is a great option for those golfers seeking a fully waterproof style that stands up to the test on cold wet days. The lightweight mesh lining delivers an added warming effect by trapping warm air between the body and clothing pieces, while the use of stretch fabric in the design ensures golfers can continue to swing comfortably regardless of the weather. New colourways include White/Navy/Orange and Navy/White/Blue combinations.

The Albert jacket for men (Photo: Galvin Green)

Another popular model is the ARLIE jacket that can be paired up with layers underneath to ensure optimal performance in rain, wind and cold. It is available in three colours and up to 5XL in size.
Complimenting the two men’s lined jackets are the breathable ANDY pants with an elasticated waist and drawstring ensuring an optimal fit, plus strategically positioned abrasion resistant fabric at the leg hem.

For women golfers, the sophisticated ANYA jacket with mesh lining delivers a clean look when paired with the matching ANNA pants. The functional jacket incorporates useful features like an inner chest pocket and convenient two-way front zipper and is offered in four stylish colours including a new Blue/Reflex option.

New collection for women (Photo: Galvin Green)

Last year, the brand marked three decades of innovation using GORE-TEX fabric across its full range of waterproof garments. From the very first Galvin Green rain jacket to the full-featured ALISTER jacket of today, the brand has sold almost 1.3 million GORE-TEX garments. For details of the latest rain wear line-up, visit www.galvingreen.com.

(Text: Press release Galvin Green)

Categories
Panorama

Great Britain and Ireland: Golf participation continues to grow

“Sporting Insights” examines golf participation in the British Isles at regular intervals. For the year 2022, the second highest value of adult golfers since records began over 30 years ago is given. Golf in the UK continues to grow, according to the data.

Specifically, the data shows that 5.6 million adult golfers were on the courses of Great Britain and Ireland. The study, in cooperation with the R&A and the national associations of Great Britain and Ireland, only counted full-length courses of 9 or 18 holes.

Golf in the UK: 50 per cent growth

Golf participation in 2022 increased by 265,000 golfers, according to Sporting Insights, well above the 2021 figures (5.3 million) and only just below the record set in the 2020 pandemic year (5.7 million golfers). At the beginning of the corona pandemic, golf had experienced enormous growth.

The current figures also show a significant increase in the number of golfers compared to before the pandemic. In 2019, 3.7 million golfers were on the courses of Great Britain and Ireland. This represents a growth of more than 50 per cent in three years. This has included an increase in the proportion of female golfers: 20 per cent were female in 2022, up from 15 per cent in 2019.

“It is very positive to see the number of on-course adult golfers grow in Great Britain and Ireland last year,” Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer of The R&A, was pleased to say. “The sport remains very popular on full-length courses as large numbers of lapsed or non-golfers who took up the sport during the pandemic continue to enjoy playing.”

Participation initiatives highlight health aspects

Additionally, the number of rounds played has also increased slightly. Compared to the previous year, six percent more rounds were played in 2022 and even almost a quarter more than in 2019 (24 percent). This was also helped by various campaigns, for example the “Golf is Good” participatory initiative in Wales. The R&A’s campaign, featuring ambassador Gareth Bale, successfully highlighted the health and wellbeing benefits of golf.

“The growth has been aided by the important work of golf bodies to drive participation initiatives and increase awareness of the benefits of the sport for physical and mental health, including our pilot health campaign in Wales last year,” Anderton said. “There remains significant interest in golf and while we recognise that there are economic challenges due to cost of living pressures, it is important for everyone involved to do their best to keep existing golfers in the sport.”

Categories
European Tour

BMW International Open 2023 with star-studded field

The BMW International Open will be held for the 34th time this year. Once again a very interesting field will gather at BMW Group’s headquarters for Germany’s most prestigious and most tradition-steeped pro golfing event. The tournament loved by spectators and athletes alike, thanks to its special atmosphere, will be held at Golfclub München Eichenried from 21st to 25th June 2023. This year, the Ryder Cup, taking place in Rome (ITA) in autumn with Worldwide Partner BMW, will also play an important role.

With only a few months to go until the unique duel between the best golfers in Europe and those of the defending champions, the USA, at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the Ryder Cup teams will slowly take shape, and the captains will become clearer on who they want as wild card picks. Europe’s captain Luke Donald will have the opportunity to take a look at a wide range of aspriants in Munich. The former world number one and two-time winner of the BMW PGA Championship will also be reaching for his clubs himself. The tournament’s huge significance for the Ryder Cup’s Team Europe is highlighted by the fact that all three vice captains – Thomas Bjørn (DEN, two-time BMW International Open champion), Edoardo Molinari (ITA) and Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) – will be teeing off.

No doubt the quartet will be keeping a close eye on the many German players who have been attracting attention with excellent results on the two major world tours in recent months. Yannik Paul in third place on the “European Points List” would even qualify for the European team immediately as it stands. Paul won his first title on the DP World Tour (DPWT) last year, as did Max Kieffer, and both golfers will be in action in Munich. Matti Schmid, who made a splash on the PGA Tour when he finished in tied sixth place at “The American Express” in January, will also be teeing off in his home state of Bavaria.

In Marcel Siem, the player of the hour is returning to the golf club in which he grew up as the child of the then club restaurateurs. The 42-year-old not only recently reached the impressive milestone of 500 DPWT tournaments, he also won the Hero Indian Open last weekend, which saw him celebrate a title win once again, more than eight years after his last victory (BMW Masters). Alex Cejka, who has been enjoying success on the Champions Tour since 2020, has won two majors there, and is currently ranked seventh in the season standings, will return to Germany and the DPTW for the BMW International Open.

A range of younger European players who have increasingly attracted attention and will also be part of the field at Golfclub München Eichenried have good reason to hope for a spot on the Ryder Cup team. These include 21-year-old Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, who with two and three DPWT wins to their name respectively have already proved they have what it takes on several occasions. In Abu Dhabi, France’s Victor Perez won the first Rolex Series tournament of the year, and his third title on the DPWT. The interesting quartet is rounded off by Robert MacIntyre of Scotland, who so far on the DPWT has won the “Rookie of the Year 2019” award and two tournaments.

Last year’s winner Li Haotong (CHN), whose emotional reaction to winning the play-off will be remembered for many years to come, will be looking to defend his title in June. Last year’s third-placed golfer, Ryan Fox, will also be teeing off again. The New Zealanders was presented with the Seve Ballesteros Award for the best DPWT player of the year after an incredible 2022 season – beating majors winners Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) to win the award. Spectators can also look forward to seeing three players who are as successful as they are likeable and popular: the two Spaniards Rafa Cabrera Bello and Pablo Larrazábal (two-time BMW International Open champion) and Andrew “Beef” Johnston (ENG), who are also eager not to miss out on the BMW International Open.

Entry to the BMW International Open Pro-Am tournament is free on Wednesday 21st June 2023. Entry is free for children and young people up to the age of 16 on all days.

Day tickets and tournament tickets, as well as VIP tickets for the Fairway Club, are available to purchase online: www.bmw-golfsport.com/tickets

See the online ticket shop for further information on all ticket categories – and on concessions for young people over the age of 16, pupils, students, and people with disabilities.

(Text: BMW Golfsport)

Categories
LIV Tour

US Open and British Open will not exclude LIV Golf players

Quietly, the US Open and the 2023 Open Championship are allowing LIV golfers to participate. Back in December, Augusta National announced that it would not exclude LIV players from the Masters, and now the US Open at LA Country Club and the British Open at Royal Liverpool are following suit. The major tournaments announced their qualifying criteria in February and the lists of players who have already qualified include LIV players.

The qualified LIV players get their eligibility mostly through past major victories, for example Martin Kaymer is still qualified for the US Open after his victory in 2014. However, due to the lack of world ranking points and the exclusion from the PGA Tour, it will be harder and harder for LIV players to qualify for the majors as long as there is no separate LIV criterion. However, the way is open for them, especially for US Open and British Open, via the qualifying tournaments.

LIV players at the US Open

Prior to last year’s edition, a statement from the USGA said, “We are proud to be the most open championship in the world, and those players who have earned the right to participate in this year’s championship, both by exemption and qualification, will have the opportunity to do so.” The same is true for 2023. The following LIV players are currently qualified for the US Open: Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer (former U.S. Open winners for the past decade), Phil Mickelson (because of his 2021 PGA Championship victory), Cameron Smith (2022 Open Championship) and Joaquin Niemann (qualified for the 2022 Tour Championship).

In addition to major victories and the world rankings, there is the possibility of securing a place in the tournament via tournament victories, FedExCup and Race to Dubai, and for amateurs via various amateur competitions. In addition, the qualifying tournaments are open to all.

LIV players at the Open Championship

Also at the R&A and the Open Championship the motto of open competition is still valid. 13 current or former LIV players are qualified for the tournament in Royal Liverpool according to the current status:
Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Cameron Smith (former winners under 60), Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau (top 10 at the 150th Open), Thomas Pieters, Adrian Otaegui, Adri Arnau, Richard Bland (top 30 in the final Race to Dubai 2022), Brooks Koepka (US Open win), Patrick Reed (Masters win), Joaquin Niemann, Talor Gooch (top 30 in the FedExCup 2022).

In addition to the qualifying criteria, there will be the Qualifying Series. There will be 16 spots across a series of Regional and Final Qualifying, as well as a total of 34 spots at tournaments on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. Provided they are eligible to play on the tours, these tournaments are also open to LIV golfers in an attempt to gain a Major entry.

Categories
LIV Tour

405 Million Dollar – LIV Golf prize money reaches new heights

The sums involved can make your head spin. In its second season, the LIV Golf Invitational Series is handing out a whopping 405 million US dollars in prize money to individual players and teams. Even the last-place finisher in the individual rankings receives more for a tournament than the “average consumer” earns in a year. Four million dollars await the winners of the respective events.

25 million dollars LIV Golf prize money per event

The first of 14 events in the LIV Golf Invitational Series will start in Mexico on February 24, 2023. The Saudi circuit had already made no secret last year that the prize money would be lavish. If you add up all the prize money for the second year of the LIV Golf Tour, the total comes to 405 million US dollars. That this is significantly more than last year is due to the fact that there will now be 14 events instead of eight.

As is well known, the LIV Golf Events are played in individual and team format. Each of the 14 events will be endowed with 25 million dollars, 80 percent of which will go to the individual competition. A prize purse of $4 million awaits the winners of each individual format. By comparison, Scottie Scheffler received about $2.7 million for his victory at the 2022 Masters, perhaps the greatest of all golf tournaments. In the LIV Golf Invitational Series, there’s almost 1.5 times that for each “trade” tournament. Even 48th place, the last-place finisher in the individual standings, will receive a prize purse of $120,000 for every single LIV Golf event in 2023. In the team standings, the winning team will receive $3 million per event – so each player will get an additional $750,000 in hand money.

Bonus payments crown LIV Golf prize money

A team championship is also played out over the entire LIV Golf season. Whoever comes out on top at the end of the year will receive, who would have thought, another bonus: $16 million in prize money for the winning team – so that’s an additional $4 million for each of the four team members.

If you’re still not dizzy from all the money, you can take a look at the bonus payouts for the best individual players. Here, too, those responsible are making another 30 million dollars loose. The best player of the whole season will receive 18 million, the second best eight and the third best four. For Martin Kaymer, Dustin Johnson & Co., the new LIV season will bring a lot of money into the coffers.

LIV Golf Prize Money 2023

RankingPrize money in US-Dollar
1.4.000.000
2.2.125.000
3.1.500.000
4.1.050.000
5.975.000
6.800.000
7.675.000
8.625.000
9.580.000
10.560.000
11.540.000
12.450.000
13.360.000
14.270.000
15.250.000
16.240.000
17.232.000
18.226.000
19.220.000
20.200.000
21.180.000
22.172.000
23.170.000
24.168.000
25.166.000
26.164.000
27.162.000
28.160.000
29.158.000
30.156.000
31.154.000
32.152.000
33.150.000
34.148.000
35.146.000
36.144.000
37.142.000
38.140.000
39.138.000
40.136.000
41.134.000
42.132.000
43.130.000
44.128.000
45.126.000
46.124.000
47.122.000
48.120.000
Categories
LIV Tour

Fireballs, Crushers, Rippers or Torque: LIV Golf goes global

Munich in November 2022: Bavaria’s capital is in football fever. Seven-time Super Bowl winner and GOAT Tom Brady will be playing with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Allianz Arena against the Seattle Seahawks, who are enormously popular here in Germany. The hype is gigantic. For days, egg reigns on the streets and in the pubs. Three million tickets could have been sold; in the end, 69,811 spectators watch the first National Football League (NFL) game in Germany.

Four NFL teams share Germany

This year, the spectacle is to be repeated twice: again in Munich and in Frankfurt. The Kansas City Chiefs, led by wonder playmaker Patrick Mahomes, will be the reigning champions, along with the New England Patriots. Their opponents have not yet been determined, but these two names are already set. Because they are “designated teams”, they own Germany.

And now? The keyword is IHMA, which stands for International Home Marketing Area. The background to this is the complex franchise system under which the major U.S. team sports operate. The NFL holds the rights to the league, and issues licenses to operate and market a team. So far, all marketing has been limited to a radius of 75 miles around the location of the respective team, which guarantees a unique position on one’s own doorstep.

Kansas City, Patriots, Tampa Bay, Carolina

On January 1, 2022, the existing Home Area Marketing (HMA) rule was expanded to include an international component: The 32 NFL teams were allowed to apply to expand their activities to the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico and Germany. Kansas City, New England, Tampa Bay and the Carolina Panthers developed corresponding concepts and received exclusive permission to conduct marketing in this country.

“When we talk about international markets, Germany has always had the most passionate American football fans,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said at the time, pleased with the win. “The IHMA initiative creates many more opportunities to reach out and engage our international fan base,” said “Bucs” owner Joel Glazer in turn. “Now we can build long-term relationships with these international markets that will play a big role in the continued growth and expansion of our sport in the years to come.”

And what does that have to do with golf? A lot. Because those responsible for the LIV Golf League have looked beyond the game and copied a lot from the successful American football model. No wonder, since CEO Greg Norman’s team included two top managers with proven NFL DNA, Atul Khosla and Matt Goodman, who have since retired.

 
 
 
 
 
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Both are likely to have been important figures for the LIV business model and played a significant role in the development of the envisaged franchise system. The head office issues licenses and takes care of the big picture, the teams find their own owners, investors, sponsors, market themselves, even build their own venues and become self-sufficient in the medium term. Money is paid for participation in the LIV Golf product and for participation in the games organized by the league.

With that, the Saudis will eventually get their return on investment and a prospect of profit, after providing $2 billion in start-up funding and having “zero revenue” at least by 2022, according to LIV lawyers. So much for the plan to open a new, unprecedented chapter of commercialization for golf with this construct.

Market fixation instead of mother tongue coincidence

And when the twelve teams for the second season of the LIV League, which begins next week in Mayakoba, Mexico, and their protagonists are presented in tidbits, there are striking constellations that only superficially have something to do with friendships or compatriots and other ethnic similarities.

 
 
 
 
 
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Teams such as Fireballs, Crushers, Rippers, Stingers or Torque could be arranged on the world map in a similar way to the football franchises on the NFL chart shown earlier. This is by no means a native coincidence, but a clear market fixation. In their composition, they focus quite clearly on a specific geographic mode of operation; the captains specifically tailor the personnel constellation in the team to their own continent of origin or a desired target market.

LIV Golf: DeChambeau first to recognize potential

Bryson DeChambeau, for all his quirkiness undoubtedly a bright mind, was the first to recognize this and brought the Indian Anirban Lahiri into his Crushers crew as early as 2022 to join Paul Casey and Charles Howell III. For BDC is eyeing the golf potential of the subcontinent: “You don’t just bring in players as sporting reinforcements, but also to use their notoriety for commercial purposes,” the “Mad Scentist” pontificated months ago. “Anirban is a real force in India. With him, we want to help grow golf there by building driving ranges and maybe even courses.” With DeChambeau, the token narrative of “Growing the Game” at least takes on substance.

South Africa, South America, Australia, Latin America

The personnel portfolio can be declined at will with this factor. Louis Oosthuizen has currently secured the services of compatriot Dean Burmester and, with his all-South African stinger GC, naturally has his sights set on home. Chilean Joaquín Niemann is also clearly targeting South America with Torque and LIV newcomers Mito Pereira (Chile) and Sebastián Muñoz (Colombia), while Spain’s David Puig is back in fourth place. Cam Smith and his Aussie ripper combo with Marc Leishman and Matt Jones are looking to shake things up Down Under. The Fireballs around Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz (both Mexico) as well as Garcia’s Iberian compatriot Eugenio Chacarra, appeal – even in the literal sense – to Latin America.

Wiesberger at Kaymer’s Cleeks

Where Martin Kaymer with the Cleeks and Graeme McDowell, Richard Bland as well as recently Bernd Wiesberger and the three-captain team Majesticks of Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood (with Sam Horsfield) tend, need not be mentioned explicitly. The rest mainly divides the US market among themselves, first and foremost defending champion 4Aces GC with individual dominator Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Pat Perez and Peter Uihlein, who replaces the sorted out Talor Gooch. When Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na and Bubba Watson are the last to announce their tableau for HyFlyers, Iron Heads and the renamed RangeGoats today, the pattern is likely to continue.

Rumors about LIV-weary Brooks Koepka

That leaves Smash GC, where Matthew Wolff replaces the departing Uihlein, and the rumors surrounding team boss Brooks Koepka. The four-time major winner has never made a secret of the fact that he prefers the money of the LIV League to the merits of the PGA Tour merely because of injury-related sporting uncertainty, but he is now enjoying good health again and having corresponding fun with the game.

Categories
Equipment

Quiet please… OGIO launches All Elements Silencer Cart Bags

OGIO Europe has released its exciting new range of stand and cart bags in a selection of eclectic colourways, with the All Elements Silencer Cart Bag ensuring your choice of design will be the only aspect of your bag making a noise in 2023.OGIO’s patented Silencer Club Protection System returns to the 2023 All Elements Silencer Cart Bags range due to consumer demand, the unique technology having proven hugely popular among golf fans in previous ranges.

Fully waterproof fabric on the new bags


The premium 15-way moulded top – modified to work on oversized grips – delivers a more efficient way to organise your set by easily locking each club into place, preventing noisy rattling and damage.
The new cart bag also features fully waterproof fabric and seam-sealed pockets – protecting your valuables even in the harshest of weather – with lock-down trolley straps, an umbrella sleeve and cooler pocket.
Adopting OGIO’s ‘mild-to-wild’ approach, the bags will be released in seven patterns, including the blue and yellow ‘Bananarama’ design and bright orange and red ‘Day of the Dead’ inspired Sugar Skulls design, both of which have proven hugely popular on the recently-released Travel Cover range.

The 2023 All Elements Stand Bag – also released in seven patterns – is being produced in a fully waterproof and geometric rip-stop fabric, with full-seam seals to insure the contents of your bag remain dry all year round. 
Further features include an eight-way WOODĒ organisation top to ensure your clubs are easily accessible, lockdown cart straps, double-strap fit disc system, umbrella holder, valuables pocket and a ball silo.

The new OGIO golf bags (photo: OGIO)

OGIO’s golf bags are the latest new product to be launched by the company in 2023. In January, OGIO released a new range of vibrant, pioneering golf travel cover designs to make travel easier than ever for golfers in 2023. In total, seven eye-catching colour schemes are available across the three golf travel cover sizes – standard, mid and max – with colourways ranging from the ‘Bananarama’ design, the striking pink ‘Donuts’ cover and the bold ‘Navy Flower Party’ design.
OGIO has also brought its funky, stand-out, colour-option golf umbrellas to the European market, another ingeniously-designed and expertly-constructed product on the table for golf fans.

OGIO – a premium active lifestyle

Peter Finch, of the golf’s most popular YouTube and media influencers, has also recently joined OGIO as an official Global Golf Brand Ambassador, with the Manchester-based PGA professional now a central figure in the marketing and promotion of OGIO golf and travel product across the year.
Owned by Callaway Golf Company, OGIO is a premium active lifestyle title alongside a portfolio of global brands, including Callaway Golf, Odyssey, TravisMathew, Jack Wolfskin and Top Golf.
OGIO’s expertise extends into a vast range of expertly constructed luggage, backpacks, bags and accessories, which ensures it can cope with even the most testing of environments.
Founded in 1987, OGIO has become well established with its designs and technologically advanced personal storage products – making them a vital cog in the wheel across a wide variety of sports.
To shop the full range of OGIO products, please visit: www.eu.ogio.com

(text: OGIO)

Categories
LIV Tour

LIV Golf launches “12 Teams. You Choose” campaign ahead of LIV Golf Season

LIV Golf is launching a new fan-focused campaign and will unveil team rosters this week in the lead-up to the first truly global golf league that the CW Network will deliver to more than 120 million households across the U.S.

LIV Golf: “12 Teams. You Choose.”

The “12 Teams. You Choose.” campaign asks fans to pick their team ahead of the landmark season for the LIV Golf League that features 48 of the world’s best players competing in a 14-tournament schedule around the world. Set rosters for the 2023 season will be revealed this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with four teams announced each day. League play begins February 24-26 at Mayakoba’s El Camaleón Golf Course in Mexico as many of the sport’s biggest names begin pursuit of the LIV Golf League Individual Championship and Team Championship.

“12 Teams. You Choose.” is LIV Golf’s first global campaign featuring teams made up of international stars from the U.S., Europe, Latin America, South Africa, Asia and Australia.

At the heart of the multi-channel campaign is a TV spot featuring a young golf fan who asks the 12 team captains which team she should support. The players respond in turn with their own unique pitch and style in a game of one-upmanship to persuade the girl and fans across the world why they should choose their team.

“Anticipation for our league launch grows by the day as our global campaign engages fans ahead of a groundbreaking year for LIV Golf,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman. “The fans have spoken: There is excitement for team golf and for the league’s innovations that are challenging the norm in the sport. Our diversity in teams that feature elite skillsets and unique personalities will help build new rivalries and fresh ways to watch professional golf as the sport enters a new era.”

The campaign features an array of global stars who are leading their respected teams this season for the league launch, including: Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC), Cameron Smith (Ripper GC), Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC), Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC), Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC), Bubba Watson (RangeGoats GC), Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC), Kevin Na (Iron Heads GC), Martin Kaymer (Cleeks GC), and Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson (Majesticks GC).

The LIV Golf League will showcase its innovative format featuring shotgun starts, simultaneous team and individual play, and energetic tournament experiences that include live music and fan activities for all ages. Information for tickets, hospitality packages and Pro-Am opportunities are available at LIVGolf.com.

In addition, the CW Network announced today the upcoming 2023 LIV Golf League season will air in 100% of its markets across the United States, as part of the network’s previously announced multi-year exclusive broadcast agreement with the league. The first official full season of LIV Golf will air on CW affiliates, as well as Nexstar owned and operated stations in key markets including Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Beginning with the first tournament in Mexico, all 14 global LIV Golf League events will air exclusively from 1:00-6:00 pm ET on Saturdays and Sundays on The CW Network’s linear and digital platforms, with Friday rounds carried on The CW App. All eight U.S.-based tournaments and six international events will be delivered to more than 120 million households across the U.S. and streamed live to The CW App, which has been downloaded over 90 million times and is available on all major platforms. Details on LIV Golf’s event broadcasts in regions outside the U.S. will be announced soon.

LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.