ARIZONA GOLF AUTHORITY

Category: GADGETS & GEAR

TRUE Linkswear Has a Double Win

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – October 7th, 2012 was a “double win” day for Scottsdale-based TRUE Linkswear.

Co-founder Ryan Moore won his second PGA TOUR event at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, while another TRUE co-founder, Rob Rigg, completed the Portland Marathon.

What makes this so special? The fact both athletes competed in the same TRUE Linkswear shoe.

“What a crazy and amazing weekend for our company,” said Moore. “I really thought the novelty of Rob running a marathon in golf shoes would be pretty unique and would generate some buzz for our brand. Winning a PGA TOUR event the same day just takes it to a whole new level. It really speaks to the comfort and versatility of these shoes.”

Running in his first marathon, co-founder Rigg completed the Portland Marathon in a time of 3 hours and 48 minutes. He’s registered for the New York Marathon next month and will run in the company’s “sensei” shoe.

“As far as I can tell, I was the only person running in golf shoes,” said Rigg. “I’ve been running in our shoes since we founded the company and completing the marathon was just a natural progression in my training. I’m really excited about this new sensei platform. I’ve been running in them and wearing them on the course all summer, and my feet have never felt better.”

TRUE became the first company to build a golf shoe on a barefoot platform. By removing the midsole of the shoe and providing a wider toe box, the foot is able to operate naturally throughout the swing. The sensei platform builds off of TRUE’s original sole design, but features a new spike configuration. The sensei platform provides durability and the thinnest sole in golf (only 2.5 mm), while maintaining slipper-like comfort.

The TRUE sensei is the first shoe by TRUE with a mesh upper, a result of listening to the many TRUE fans who were using the shoe both on and off the course. The TRUE sensei will be available in four colors at a cost of $99 beginning Nov. 4th at select retailers and online at www.truelinkswear.com.

The TRUE proto features the same sole platform as the sensei, but with a waterproof leather upper. The proto will be available in January of 2013.

To take a look at the entire TRUE Linkswear product line, visit www.truelinkswear.com.

October 11, 2012
Sunice Golf Shirt’s Silver Technology is Best in the West for Arizona Golf Weather

From the Arizona Golf Authority Golf News Desk

Want to play golf in a comfortable and stylish golf shirt whether the temperature is 58 or 108?

Ted Potter Jr. 2012 Greenbrier Classic Champion

Just slip into a Sunice Silver Polo, from their 2012 Collection, and you’ll experience the best performing “technical-fabric” golf shirt you’ve ever worn.

And while you’re at it, congratulate Ted Potter, Jr. on his first PGA Tour victory.

Ted charged to victory at the 2012 Greenbrier Classic sporting Sunice Silver golf apparel and a final round 64, thanks to his strong birde-par-eagle-birdie finish.

Ted secured his first victory, in a playoff against Troy Kelly, with a birdie at the third playoff hole on the Old White TPC Course at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Sunice Golf Performance Apparel

Why is the shirt so comfortable? Silver and simple science.

You see, Sunice has permanently bonded a layer of pure silver to the surface of each textile fabric of the shirt. And one inherent property of the element silver is that it’s the single most thermally conductive element on earth.

That means when it’s hot, the fabric carries your body heat away from you and delivers it to the atmosphere. And conversely, ambient heat in the atmosphere will be delivered to you when it’s chilly outside, especially when you layer up with Sunice’s selection of attractive outerwear garments.

Sunice calls this technology X-static Fabric® and it also accelerates evaporation, so moisture is transported away from you as well. And because the silver fibers won’t give bacteria and microbes a place to grow, odor can’t get a foothold here.

Science and technology have revolutionized every facet of the golf industry, from clubs and balls to GPS yardages and turf agronomy.

Ask any Champions Tour player why he’s driving it farther today than he did in his prime years and he’ll tell you, “Science and technology work.”

We concur, and the Sunice Silver X-static Fabric® Golf apparel line is more proof.

Sunice, the Canadian based industry leader in sport-specific technical fabrics, was founded in 1976 in Calgary, Alberta and quickly emerged as the dynamic skiwear “must have” brand.

The company grabbed the national spotlight when they outfitted Canada’s first Mount Everest summit team, and took the international center stage when named an Official Supplier to the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary.

When the golf industry turned to “sport-specific” fabrics, Sunice introduced their first golf product lines in 1992.

Sunice is now the Official Supplier of outerwear for the 2011 and 2013 U.S.A. Solheim Cup Teams. Sunice is owned and operated by Montreal based Fletcher Leisure Group, Inc.

Click Sunice.com to view their full golf and ski product lines.

Then visit the Arizona Golf Authority, it’s “All Things Arizona Golf.”

Our Arizona Golf Courses Reviews and Guide List Directory has an AZGA Player’s review for every golf course in Arizona, click www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

June 29, 2012
Dixon Golf Introduces New Spirit Ball Design for Ladies

From the Arizona Golf Authority Golf News Desk

TEMPE, Arizona — Dixon Golf, the nation’s leading eco-friendly golf ball manufacturer, announced the launch of its first ball designed especially for ladies – the Dixon Spirit.

This earth-conscience golf ball manufacturer already offers three other balls that cater to all levels of golfers: the Earth, suitable for all golfers; the Wind, an extreme distance ball and the Fire, a multi-layer tour-caliber golf ball. The Dixon family of golf balls is distributed internationally and conform to USGA standards.

The Dixon Spirit ball retails at $29.95/dozen and is engineered to help lady golfers get the most out of their game.

“It is the goal of Dixon Golf to offer its high performance eco-friendly golf products to all golfers. The Spirit ball has been in development for quite some time, and we feel we finally got it right. The Spirit was tested and developed specifically to suit the needs of lady golfers,” says Dixon Golf CEO William Carey.

The new Spirit ball features a 392 dimple pattern and the proprietary Crystal Pink Eco-cover™, as well as Dixon Golf’s high-velocity GreenCoreTM – for added distance. If you’re one of those gals who likes to make a fashion statement on course, the company is also making Spirit branded t-shirts.

The Spirit golf ball is designed for players with swing speeds below 100mph and ladies with a 10+ handicap. The ball has a soft feel and responds with a medium trajectory, rollout and spin.

Dixon Golf, a Tempe, Arizona based company, is the world’s only manufacturer of a high performance, eco-friendly family of golf balls. Born from a desire to limit its impact on the environment, Dixon also offers a golf ball recycling program through its retail locations that gives golfers credit for returning their old golf balls. Even the packaging is made from 100 percent recycled material.

For more information on the family of Dixon golf balls click www.dixongolf.com

Visit the Arizona Golf Authority, it’s “All Things Arizona Golf.”

Our all Arizona Golf Courses Reviews and Guide List directory has an AZGA Player’s Arizona golf course review for every golf course in Arizona, click www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

June 22, 2012
Martin Golf Apparel Readies Fall 2012 Collections

From the Arizona Golf Authority Golf News Desk

Dallas, TX – Golf industry icon Rick Martin, who returned to the business with his new company, Martin Golf Apparel, in 2011, is excited to announce Martin Golf Apparel’s new Fall 2012 collections. In keeping with Martin’s longtime philosophy of creating apparel that’s both traditional and timeless, the Fall 2012 Martin Golf Apparel collections will continue the company’s focus on not only natural fibers, but what Martin calls “natural colors” as well.

Maritn Golf Apparel

“The Martin Golf Apparel color palette is something I’ve developed over a lifetime of experience in the apparel business,” says Martin, “and I’m proud that focus on traditional colors, as opposed to trendy ones, is among the things I’m known for.”

For Martin, too much modern golf apparel has strayed from the traditional path to which he adheres. “I remember watching last year’s U.S. Open, looking at the tour players competing for the win, and being struck by the contrived look of their outfits,” recalls Martin. “The outfits had such a ’costume’ feel, and also a stifling uniformity. Each piece was clearly designed to be worn only with pieces from the same collection. It’s great for TV but not my foursome.”

“My idea of golf fashion is rooted in watching legends like Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan – gentlemen who always looked well put together, but never contrived. To that end, my goal is to create elegant, stylish but versatile garments that are related, but can be worn with anything. This, in addition to my commitment to using only natural fibers – no synthetics, no pieced-together garments – is one of the cornerstones of what Martin Golf Apparel is all about.”

Martin Golf Apparel’s Fall 2012 collections embody the philosophy that led Martin to launch the company. The Essentials Collection makes use of the company’s entire color palette, bringing to the golf apparel marketplace a variety of knits and sweaters that truly live up to the Martin Golf Apparel philosophy, “as Timeless as the Game.” The Timeless Elements Collection offers items in a more specialized, yet still broad, range of colors.

Martin Golf Apparel

The three remaining Fall 2012 collections are perfect illustrations of Martin Golf Apparel’s ability and commitment to blend timelessness and tradition. The British Regimental Collection employs a color palette inspired by vintage British military uniforms, backed up by and blended with distinctive clarifying colors and used in the service of modern yet timeless golf apparel. The Charcoal Classics Collection features many of the same colors as the British Regimental line, but highlights them with Light and Dark Charcoal shades to create the sort of bold yet natural contrast. Finally, the Vineyard Collection specializes in what Martin calls “earthy” tones.

Martin Golf Apparel is sold exclusively at golf clubs across in the country. In Arizona, you can find this line at Desert Mountain, Whisper Rock, Mirabel, Estancia, DC Ranch, Stone Canyon, Ventana Canyon and Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain. Visit Martin Golf Apparel

Click the Arizona Golf Authority, it’s “All Things Arizona Golf.”

Our all Arizona Golf Courses Guide List and Reviews directory has an AZGA Player’s Arizona Golf Course review for every golf course in Arizona, click www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

April 23, 2012
PURE Grips Now Available in Your Choice of Color

From the Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf News Desk

Tempe, AZ – PURE Grips, the innovative team who brought pure rubber grips and tapeless installation to the party is now doing their best to brighten up the golf course with their new line of color grips.

Made from the same proprietary rubber as the black models, every color grip from PURE provides the identical combination of tackiness, durability, weather performance and feel, they simply are brighter and more colorful.

“We all have our own preferences and individual tastes,” commented PURE Grips CEO Wes Brasher. “We’re just giving customers the choice to pick the color they prefer, rather than forcing them to go with basic black.”

The new color line of grips use the same tapeless installation process so changing them out is a snap. It takes about 1/4th the time, won’t slip or turn once in place and means you can take your new bright, colorful clubs straight to the first tee.

The AZGA reviewed this process earlier in the year, so if you want to know more about the process and watch their video, click here.

For more information about the color line of PURE Grips, visit their website at: www.puregrips.com

Visit the Arizona Golf Authority, it’s “All Things Arizona Golf.”

Their all Arizona Golf Course Directory features a Player’s Arizona Golf Course review for every golf course in the State of Arizona, click on www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory/ .

September 9, 2011
2011 U.S. Open – Ralph Lauren Style

The golf spotlight will soon turn to historic Congressional Country Club for the playing of the 111^th US Open. To commemorate the tournament’s return to Congressional for the third time, Polo Ralph Lauren has introduced three very special US Open polo shirts. These 100% cotton polos, are designed for comfort in a relaxed, classic fit, and might just be the perfect Father’s Day gift.

Congressional first hosted the U.S. Open in 1964, when Ken Venturi battled heat exhaustion on the final day and posted a 2-under par winning total for the tournament, marking the end of the traditional 36-hole final round for the event. Some suggest the emergence of the game’s popularity on television by this time, and the lucrative opportunity to televise an 18-hole finish on Sunday had as much to do with the change as the USGA’s concern about the field’s ability to deal with a 36-hole day in the June heat.

Ernie Els, recently enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame, posted a 4-under par total in 1997 to win the second U.S. Open held at Congressional. This was Els’ second U.S. Open victory as well, his first came at Oakmont in 1994.

Polo Ralph Lauren is the official apparel outfitter of the USGA and the U.S. Open Championship. As part of their unique partnership Polo Ralph Lauren will outfit all USGA committee members and staff, as well as more than 5,000 volunteers at the U.S. Open. The company will also help outfit USA team members in the biennial Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Matches.

Click on 2011 U.S. Open Apparel for more information and to purchase the perfect US Open commemorative gift for Dad, and while you’re there, treat yourself to one too.

May 18, 2011
LPGA and Antigua Extend License Agreement Through 2013

PEORIA, ARIZ. —The Antigua Group, Inc. and the LPGA Tour have reached an agreement to extend their license agreement through 2013. The Antigua Group, an Arizona-based company, designs and markets lifestyle apparel under the Antigua and Slazenger brands.

“Antigua is thrilled to extend our great relationship with the LPGA. This license extension, coupled with our U.S. Solheim Cup Team work, is a great milestone for our company and brand,” said Ron McPherson, president and CEO of the Antigua Group.

As a licensee of the LPGA, Antigua produces apparel with the LPGA logo for sale. Additionally, Antigua will design the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team uniforms including shirts, pants and skirts.

“Antigua is a global leader in golf apparel, so it’s only fitting that they continue to work so closely with the LPGA, Golf’s Global Tour,” said Jon Podany, chief marketing officer of the LPGA.

Members of the Antigua 2011 Tour Team include Brittany Lang, Stacy Prammanasudh, Alison Walshe and Wendy Ward.

The Spring Collection

The Spring 2011 season — as with all of Antigua’s collections since the Peoria, Ariz.-based Antigua Group, Inc. was founded 31 years ago — combines outstanding quality, style and value.

The new collection focuses on a sophisticated color palette, easy-to-merchandise color stories, classic styling with subtle feminine details, an expanded selection of lightweight and silky fabrics, excellent drape regardless of body type and a modern approach to traditional golfwear.

The Spring 2011 Antigua Women’s collection is merchandised as three innovative, opulent product groups — Dashing, Mischief and Dynamic.

DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE will be featured in the Dashing collection’s style illusion (nylon-mélange Polo) and Dazzle (Spandex yarn dyed Stripe Polo) style.

DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE fabric will also be part of the essential product offering such as the Women’s Exceed group, which consists of a Short Sleeve Polo, and Sleeveless and Long-Sleeve Polo styles.

Click on the AZGA link for more information about Antigua products online at shop.antigua.com

May 17, 2011
Antigua Fall Outerwear Line-up

"Hero" Long-sleeve Mock Base Layer

In the fashion business, you’re always a season ahead. So while it may seem odd to talk about cool weather wear just when it is about to reach 100+ in the Arizona desert, we wanted to move past the dog days of summer with this update from our favorite AZ-based golf clothing manufacturer.

Antigua’s fall line-up of outerwear is focuses on the “layering” trend – the idea it is more desirable to take off-and-add on layers to adjust for comfort and function. The Antigua layering line-up starts with base layers that can be combined with wind resistant or water resistant wind shirts and jackets as well as worn with fuller weight outerwear pieces to function against more inclement weather.

The base layer long sleeve mock called “Hero” uses Antigua’s proprietary Desert Dry moisture management technology and is constructed with a hyper-micro poly fleeced backing against a super soft interlock face which has enough weight to be worn alone and is light enough that it layers remarkably well. Add to that the next tier in style – ’Succeed’, consisting of a contemporary color block stretch jersey half zip shell with a micro fleece brushed back which can be worn on its own, under a jacket, over a base layer – or both depending on climate and preference.

To round out Antigua’s outerwear collection offering, the company has a great wind shirt and wind jacket in styles ’Rendition’ and ’Highland’. Antigua’s Desert Breeze wind block fabric serves as a guard against wind while offering warmth. Made with a four-way stretch laminated jersey bonded to a water resistant membrane, Rendition and Highland both offer water resistance as well as comfort against the wind and rain. Rendition, styled with contemporary color blocking details, is available as a traditional pullover wind shirt while Highland is designed as a full zip front wind jacket. The stretch aspect of these pieces allows them to be multi functional – on the course and off.

Explorer Golf Jacket by Antigua

Antigua also has a variety of great golf jackets. ’Style Motion’ is a full zip jacket constructed with a stretch jersey face bonded against a high-low fleeced ’wave’ pattern engineered for warmth while allowing breathability for comfort.

’Style Explorer’ is built for warmth while, yet is light-weight, making it ideal for layering. With its water resistant woven shell bonded against a micro-fleece inner core Explorer wears and travels well and is well suited for both cold and precipitation alike.

Antigua equally offers thin-layer micro fleece shells in both pullover as well as full zip styling as exceptional layering options in styles ’Frost’ and ’Sleet’ as well as traditional fleece hooded styles in both a pullover as well as full front zip styling. So, no need to let weather concerns factor into your round as Antigua has the right outerwear to get you into the clubhouse warm, comfortable and dry.

To learn more about the company and its product line-up, visit www.antigua.com. Or, if you’re in the mood to buy, you can place your order at shop.antiqua.com

April 20, 2011
World’s Best Golf Sock by KENTWOOL

In 1843, about the time Allan Robertson defeated Willie Dunn in the 20-round “Great Match” at St. Andrews (2 rounds/day for 10 days), Englishman Thomas Kent was busy, on this side of the Atlantic, establishing the wool-textile company KENTWOOL in Philadelphia.

Allan, the third-generation of the “feathery” ball-making Robertson family, secured the family’s place in golf history when he posted the first-ever sub-80 round at St. Andrews 15 years later, in 1858. Now, a new veteran player looks to make their mark in the game.

In 2010, after 167-years of family stewardship, the Kent family’s fifth-generation CEO (Mark) has led KENTWOOL into the golf business. “We love golf, and as the world’s leading textile innovator, we decided KENTWOOL should develop the premier golf sock for the avid player,” commented Golf Development Director Gil Patrick.

KENTWOOL calls their product the “World’s Best Golf Sock”. Crafted with “WINDspun” air-infused technology and proprietary blends of fine merino wool and high-tech fibers, KENTWOOL has created a new micro-climate system for moisture management and reduced abrasion and muscle fatigue. The socks feature enhanced cushioning at strategic micro-stress points along the foot to maximize comfort, increase energy levels and reduce the risk of injury.

"World's Best Golf Sock" by KentWool

All this – for a golf sock? “You bet,” says CEO Mark Kent. “Understand our company is family-owned, family-operated and founded upon 2 core principles; quality and our people. We manufacture products to be ‘best in class’, not to be faster and cheaper, and we choose to do it right here in the U.S. at our Pickens, South Carolina plant.”

KENTWOOL’s dedication to quality has hit its mark. Tour stars like Bubba Watson, Kristy McPherson, Jonathan Byrd and Peter Jacobson are all converts, as are Brendon de Jonge, Jane Park, Tom Gillis and Charles Barkley. But it’s not only professionals who love KENTWOOL. “I’m encouraged and excited by the passionate responses and glowing testimonials that our KENTOOL Tour golf socks are receiving from folks all across the world,” said CEO Mark. “Most humbling have been some of the letters and online testimonials received, in many cases from non-golfers, who are astonished by the therapeutic benefits they have experienced while wearing the socks.” This group of fans includes hospital doctors, critical care RN’s and mountain bikers.

KENTWOOL socks are available for men and women in a variety of styles, including the Tour Standard, Tour Profile, Low Profile, and Low Profile ‘Skinny’. Color options include black, navy, khaki, charcoal and natural. Ladies, who prefer a little more pizzazz, may choose lime green, pink, light blue or purple.

We’ve played several rounds in the Tour Standard, Tour Profile and the Tour Profile Skinny and are pleased to report that KENTWOOL’s tagline the “World’s Best Golf Sock” is no exaggeration. Or, as Bubba Watson posted, “Either I’m wearing KENTWOOL socks, or I’m not wearing socks at all. Rock the Socks!”

For more information and to order KENTWOOL Tour Golf Socks, visit www.kentwool.com/shop

April 14, 2011