Golf Business News January 31, 2025

In golf business news this week are items from Bobby Jones Links, Penfold, Superstroke, NGF, Srixon and more.

Note that these are all abbreviated press releases, and I am posting them largely because I am generally curious about the business side of the industry. I decided to start posting these to act as a personal central reference for future consideration.

Bobby Jones Links to Manage Meadia Heights Golf Club

For more than a century, this classic Lancaster, PA club has been a haven for golf and social enrichment.

ALPHARETTA, GA – Bobby Jones Links (BJL), one of the industry’s fastest growing club management companies, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to manage Meadia Heights Golf Club, a historic private club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For more than a century, Meadia Heights has been home to a renowned 18-hole, 6,197-yard golf course known for its challenging shot values and excellent conditioning. The club has served as a proving ground for great players and some of the region’s top competitive events. 

For more information, visit BobbyJonesLinks.com and MeadiaHeightsGolf.com.

Penfold Golf Welcomes Professional Golfer Matt Wallace as Brand Ambassador for Bags and Accessories

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND; JANUARY 21, 2026: Penfold Golf, one of Britain’s most storied golf brands, proudly announces the signing of professional golfer Matt Wallace as its newest brand ambassador for bags and accessories.

This partnership brings together a leading player in modern British golf with a brand that has shaped the nation’s golfing heritage for nearly a century. Founded in 1927 by legendary British ball maker A.E. Penfold, whose innovations revolutionized golf equipment, Penfold became a symbol of precision, performance, and style — proudly carried by generations of golfers from the club level to the world stage. Today, the brand continues to honor that tradition of craftsmanship while reimagining classic British design for the modern game. Matt Wallace becomes the first Penfold ambassador on tour since Seve Ballesteros won his first Open Championship in 1979.

SuperStroke Names TV Host and Former Tour Player Blair O’Neal a Brand Ambassador 

Popular golf personality will actively endorse the brand and its club and putter grips.

Wixom, MI – SuperStroke, the No. 1 Putter Grip in golf and the leader in innovative Tour-proven golf grip technology, welcomes popular golf personality, television host, and former tour professional Blair O’Neal as a brand ambassador. O’Neal will play the brand’s Zenergy putter grips and REVL club grips, create video and social media content, offer game-improvement tips to bolster her relationship with the top grip company.

National Golf Foundation Announces Yamaha and Pinehurst Executives as New Board Directors for 2026

Jupiter, Fla. (January 7, 2026) — The National Golf Foundation (NGF) has announced the election of Stephen Donnell and Tom Pashley to its Board of Directors, effective at the start of 2026. The additions further diversify NGF’s board and strengthen the organization’s mission to support the growth and vitality of the golf industry through data, research, and strategic insight.

Donnell has been the President of Yamaha Golf-Car Company since 2022, expanding its presence as a global supplier of golf cars and mobility solutions, and strengthening its reputation for innovation, reliability, and customer service within the golf and resort markets. Donnell has nearly three decades of golf industry experience, with an extensive background in golf operations, club management, and multicourse operations, and is a trusted vendor partner to golf facilities and organizations nationwide.

Pashley has overseen significant developments across the resort’s golf and hospitality operations, including the opening of The Cradle short course, the buildout of Pinehurst’s new Sandmines property, and the partnership with the USGA that positioned Pinehurst as the first anchor site for future U.S. Open Championships.

National Golf Foundation Announces Key Executive Hires to Advance Strategic Services and Business Intelligence

Jupiter, Fla. (January 14, 2026) — The National Golf Foundation (NGF), the only trade association serving every sector of the golf business, today announced the addition of two highly respected industry leaders—Bill Golden and Reid Gorman—to its senior leadership team. The new hires strengthen the NGF’s ability to support the golf industry by expanding its research, strategic insight, and enhanced services, delivering greater value to the industry and its businesses.

Gorman joins NGF as Senior Vice President of Business Intelligence and Operations, overseeing the Foundation’s research, content, membership, and operations departments. With more than 30 years in the golf industry—including over two decades in senior leadership at major companies such as Callaway Golf, a term as president of MacGregor Golf (one of the NGF’s six founding members in 1936), and roles with high-growth startups like SwingU and in strategic advisory—Gorman brings deep expertise in business strategy, data analytics, and AI transformation.

Golden joins NGF as Senior Vice President of Strategic Services, leading marketing services, agency, sales, and consulting. As the former CEO of Golf Tourism Solutions – previously Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday – and a past NGF board member, Golden brings decades of experience in destination marketing, revenue strategy, and industry partnerships. In his new role, he will focus on expanding NGF’s advisory and revenue-generating services, helping golf businesses convert insight into measurable growth.

Brian Lucas Appointed Managing Director of Tournament Solutions

Danvers, Mass. (January 14, 2026) — Tournament Solutions announces the appointment of Brian Lucas as its new Managing Director. In this role, Lucas will oversee company operations, drive strategic growth initiatives, and further strengthen Tournament Solutions’ market position.

Lucas brings extensive experience from leadership roles at Callaway Brands and Acushnet Holdings Corp., with a proven record in business development and operational excellence. His expertise will guide Tournament Solutions through its next phase of innovation and expansion.

He served as Senior Director, Callaway Performance Gear & Accessories Worldwide (2020-2025), where he grew the Golf Bag, Glove, Travel Gear, Headwear, and Accessories categories to all-time record high market shares and revenues. As Vice President of Sales for Titleist Golf Gear, Lucas grew the Global Golf Gear categories and led various sales initiatives during his 23-year tenure representing Titleist.

PRO SHOP Enters Licensing and Right Agreement With LGPA To Expand Women’s Golf Storytelling Across Digital Platforms

Partnership provides licensed access to LPGA highlights, archival footage, and on-site events to drive deeper coverage and original content

PONTE VEDRA, FLORIDA | DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA (JANUARY 28, 2026) – Pro Shop, the innovative golf media and commerce company today announced it has entered a media and licensing partnership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The move significantly expands Pro Shop’s coverage of women’s professional golf across players, tour storylines, and marquee events.

Through the agreement, Pro Shop and its digital media arm, Skratch, will receive licensed access to LPGA Tour highlights and archival footage for use across editorial content, similar to Pro Shop’s existing media rights partnership with the PGA TOUR. The deal also provides expanded on-site access at LPGA Tour events, enabling Pro Shop to produce short-form and long-form storytelling, player-driven features, event coverage, as well as develop serialized content in collaboration with the LPGA spotlighting the world’s best women golfers and the narratives shaping the Tour.  

Content produced under the partnership will primarily live across Skratch’s digital platforms, with Pro Shop’s broader media portfolio also playing a key role. GolfWRX will deepen its best-in-class industry coverage and expert gear insights around the women’s game, expanding analysis and storytelling tied to LPGA players, equipment trends, and performance at the highest level.

Srixon Continues LPGA Momentum, Adds Brooke Matthews and Jenny Shin to 2026 Tour Staff

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Jan. 28, 2026 – Building on recent success and looking ahead to the future, SRIXON® is expanding its LPGA Tour roster by welcoming Brooke Matthews and Jenny Shin to the team. The signings come off a breakthrough 2025 campaign, where Srixon athletes combined for seven LPGA Tour victories, including two major championships, reinforcing the brand’s growing presence at the highest level of women’s professional golf.

Representing the next wave of LPGA talent, Matthews brings a young, fiery energy to the Srixon team. A standout collegiate player at the University of Arkansas, she set an NCAA record with a 25-under 54-hole performance at the 2021 Cougar Classic and has emerged as a player to watch on the LPGA Tour. After earning her LPGA Tour card in 2022 and facing early setbacks the following season, Matthews responded with resilience. Playing on the Epson Tour in 2024, she recorded seven top 10 finishes to graduate and earn a spot back on the LPGA Tour for 2025. Last season, she made over 70% of her cuts, recorded two top 10 finishes, and ranked inside the top 60 in the Race to the CME Globe points, underscoring her upwards momentum and commitment to getting better every day.

Earning her LPGA Tour card in 2011, Shin brings a veteran presence to Srixon’s roster, backed by more than a decade of experience competing at the highest level. She captured her first LPGA Tour victory at the 2016 Volunteers of America Texas Shootout and has remained a consistent force on leaderboards ever since, compiling more than 40 career top 10 finishes, highlighted by five top 15 results in major championships. In 2025, she made 85% of her cuts with two top 10 finishes.

Brooke Matthews WITB:

• Srixon ZXi LS 9.0° Driver
• Srixon ZXiU Utility Iron (3i)
• Srixon ZXi7 Irons (7i-PW)
• Srixon ZXi5 Irons (5i-6i)
• Cleveland Golf RTZ Tour Rack (50° MID, 54° FULL, 58° MID)
• Srixon Z-STAR XV Golf Ball

Jenny Shin WITB:

• Srixon ZXi 10.5° Driver
• Srixon ZXi7 Irons (5i-PW)
• Cleveland Golf RTZ Tour Rack (50° MID, 54° FULL, 58° M/L)
• Srixon Z-STAR XV Golf Ball

P53 Acquires Golf Club Manufacturing and Chroming Assets from Arizona-based The Iron Factory, Inc.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Precision53 LLC (P53), the world’s only maker of authentic, American irons™, has announced that it has acquired substantially all assets relating to club machining, refinishing, and chroming of The Iron Factory, Inc., a company based in the USA.

This asset acquisition includes heavy industrial equipment for lathe turning, CNC machining, roll-stamping, polishing, chroming, and other processes, as well as assets including trade secrets and unique production, process, and materials knowledge. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

This acquisition represents another milestone for P53, a small, luxury golf equipment company catering to a select, invitation-only clientele. These assets are part of P53’s long-term vision to bring an increasing number of material processes in-house, a concept inspired by some of the world’s rarest, apex luxury brands.

For 50 years, Jim Kronus and The Iron Factory were the go-to names for the highest-quality club refinishing and chroming, including white label work over the years for some of the biggest brands and players in golf. More importantly, thousands of passionate amateur golfers from around the world have sought out the unique chroming processes of The Iron Factory to refinish their sets of vintage and historic irons over the years.

Veteran Global Golf Industry and Mobility Sales Executive with $1B+ Revenue Leadership Joins Hughes to Accelerate Commercialization of Breakthrough Movement-Driven Energy Technology

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Announced today at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, Hughes Tool Company (HTC) has appointed Mark Rickell as President of Global Sales, marking a major commercial milestone as the company accelerates global deployment of its eMpower™ Retail-Ready Golf Car Energy Platform.

Most recently at Club Car, Rickell brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in global mobility, small wheeled vehicle markets across the commercial, and industrial markets, with a proven track record of building and scaling international sales organizations, launching new platforms, and developing high-performance dealer and distributor ecosystems worldwide.

Throughout his career, Rickell has worked closely with enterprise customers, OEM partners, engineering teams, and global distributors to introduce innovative products, expand market share, and strengthen international commercial operations. His experience spans golf, hospitality, government, industrial, and enterprise applications, making him uniquely qualified to lead Hughes’ next phase of growth.

Hughes Tool Company is redefining how the world generates and deploys power. Through its patented eMpower™ platform, Hughes delivers sustainable, movement-driven, software-defined energy solutions that operate independently of traditional infrastructure. The company’s scalable ecosystem supports applications across mobility, industrial operations, logistics, residential energy, and defense environments. Learn more at www.hughestoolcompany.com

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