GUELPH – Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., has announced Jeff Mingay has signed on as a consulting architect.

Mingay will review the course and work the club’s superintendent, Bill Green, as well as its Course and Grounds committee to create a long range master plan. There is currently no timeline or plans to make any major changes to the golf course.

The course and grounds committee set out to develop a long range master plan that encompasses all aspects of golf including, playability, safety, agronomics, financial and environmental sustainability. Requests for proposal were sent to five Canadian architects, all specializing in restorations and educated on the architectural design and philosophies of Stanley Thompson.

Since establishing Mingay Golf Course Design (MGCD) in 2009, Mingay has worked on golf course design and construction projects throughout Canada and the United States. He worked with fellow Canadian golf architect Rod Whitman for nearly a decade and assisted with the design and construction of Edmonton’s Blackhawk Golf Club, Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club in Merritt, B.C., and Cape Breton’s Cabot Links. He currently serves on the board of directors with the Stanley Thompson Society.

Cutten Fields has a long history of hosting Golf Canada championships. In 2015, the club hosted the Canadian University / College Championships and later this summer it will host the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

OAKVILLE – When professional golfer Steve Alker climbed the steps to enter the Glen Abbey clubhouse upon arriving at the 2000 RBC Canadian Open, he didn’t know it, but he was a marked man.

“They knew I was from New Zealand,” Alker said with a cheeky smile, referring to Gordon and Nancy Dooley, the married couple who were volunteers welcoming competitors and their families at the main entrance to the clubhouse that has played host to the RBC Canadian Open 27 times in its 112-year history.

At the time, the 29-year-old Alker was traveling with Tanya, whom he had met nine months earlier and had given up her job as a cruise ship director to travel with him and caddie for him. The Alker’s, now married and have two children, currently reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Steve and Tanya asked us to keep an eye on his golf clubs while he went to register for the tournament,” Gordon Dooley said while recalling their first meeting. “We got to talking and while following him around the course during the week, Nancy mentioned our intention to travel to New Zealand.”

Alker could have said ‘great, thanks for your time and see you later’, but that’s not really his personality. As Gordon and Nancy continued to seek advice about New Zealand, it opened his eyes as to what his country really had to offer.

“I think the fact that they had the courage to approach me in the first place – many volunteers would be too shy or overawed to do that,” he said. “You’ve got to respect that. They were generally interested in my country and I was enthusiastic to tell them about it.”

Alker was at Canada’s premiere PGA TOUR event having qualified after winning the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit. Like most Kiwi’s, he’s proud of his country and took the opportunity, when asked, to share all the wonders of the spectacular island nation where he grew up. The Dooley’s, from nearby Clarkson, and in their 60s at the time, listened intently to Alker before inviting him and Tanya to dinner.

Later that week, after accepting the Dooley’s invitation to dine with them, the young couple got to know the older couple and a friendship was formed. Alker felt comfortable enough to make the Dooley’s an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“Steve offered his home and car for the period we were planning to be in New Zealand as he was going to compete on the Asian Tour at that time,” Gordon said. “We accepted his kind offer, and since he was aware that we played golf, he organized guest playing privileges for us at his home club.”

“I just told them they were welcome to stay at my house in Hamilton,” Alker added. “It was helping them out and I wasn’t going to be there anyway so it made sense for them to use it as a base.”

Hamilton, in the central North Island of New Zealand, was where Alker learned the game. He spent hours honing his well-envied short game on the practice facilities at the St. Andrews Golf Club alongside the Waikato River under the watchful eye of his dad, Bill, who was an accomplished amateur golfer himself. Alker felt the city’s central location made it a good jumping-off point for the Dooley’s.

“It’s easy to get to the incredible geothermal activity in Rotorua, the lakes and mountains near Taupo, or the popular beaches at Mt. Maunganui,” he said. “It’s all within a couple of hours drive.”

The Dooley’s five-week trip to New Zealand in 2001 was all they’d dreamed of and their relationship with the Alker’s snow-balled from that point. Steve and Tanya stayed at the Dooley’s home the following year when he competed in the RBC Canadian Open. The Canadian couple returned to New Zealand for a second vacation the next year, this time renting a beachside condo at Mt. Maunganui as they wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the popular holiday destination. The avid golfers even became temporary members at the Omanu Golf Club during their second visit.

The two couples stayed in contact and became family friends, exchanging Christmas cards each year. Sometimes they don’t talk for five or six months but they easily pick up from where they left off, like good friends do.

After missing the cut in his first RBC Canadian Open, the same year he first met the Dooley’s on the steps at Glen Abbey, Alker made three more starts in the tournament, tying for 55^th in 2001, posting a tie for 42^nd in 2003 and making the cut in 2015 but failing to advance to the final round after a 54-hole cut.

“They were still volunteering each time I played,” Alker said.

While reflecting on his relationship with the Dooley’s, Alker was asked why he thinks his bond with the Canadian couple is so strong.

“They are nice people, they are genuine,” he said. “Perhaps it’s the Commonwealth bond of Canada and New Zealand. Right from the start they were very interested in us. My wife is the chatty one. She got to know them really well.”

Alker admits that others may find the relationship that he and Tanya have with tournament volunteers like the Dooley’s is a little unusual.

“It’s kind of unique I guess, but I’m not sure if it’s just volunteers,” he added. “It’s no different than getting paired with people in pro-am events and exchanging cards and staying in contact. I think, deep down, the game of golf and what it offers, the bond with people, that’s the key here.”

Gordon thinks this year will be the 14^th he and Nancy have volunteered for the Toronto tournament. His favorite moment during that time was watching Tiger Woods hit the epic 6-iron from the fairway bunker on the final hole to win in 2000 by a single stroke over New Zealander Grant Waite.

“What we like most about volunteering is the proximity to the professionals,” he said. “Sometimes they will engage in chatter with us if they are so disposed.”

Alker will see the Dooley’s again at this year’s RBC Canadian Open. Tournament staff confirmed the couple registered as volunteers well in advance. Alker will be in the field, with the 2016-17 season his third full stint on the PGA TOUR. He was also exempt on TOUR in 2003 and 2015 and has bounced around the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Web.com Tour and the European Tour since turning professional in 1995. Along with 10 professional wins (four on the Web.com Tour, four on the Australasian Tour and two on the Canadian Tour), Alker has posted six top-25 results in 63 PGA TOUR starts before the 2016-17 season began. His claim to fame, and a guaranteed statistic to win you a bet, is defeating South Africa’s Dawie van der Walt on the 11^th playoff hole to win the 2014 Cleveland Open, a Web.com Tour record for longest playoff.

Regarded by his peers as one of the nicest guys on TOUR, Alker has made many friends through golf. He’s appreciative of the times he’s played in the RBC Canadian Open and says meeting the Dooley’s has influenced the way he reacts to volunteers at other tournaments.

“Not that I had disrespect for volunteers before, but it’s amazing what they do and how they give up their time to do it,” he said. “I definitely feel a responsibility to volunteers, especially on Sunday when you are playing your final nine holes. I make a point of saying ‘thanks guys, for your help this week’. I think just doing that goes a long way.”

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Jason Dufner took more than a solid showing away from the Masters last week. He took inspiration from winner Sergio Garcia.

Dufner finished 33rd in the year’s first major, things getting away from late in the final round a week ago. But he took something from Garcia managing his expectations and letting his game show through. And Dufner believes that’s why he had got a one-shot lead heading to the final round of the RBC Heritage.

Dufner had two eagles on the way to a 6-under 65 to move in front of Canadian Graham DeLaet (69).

Dufner, at 13 under, said he entered Harbour Town Golf Links with low expectations, deciding that he gone through too many tournaments over-thinking how he was supposed to play or whose expectations he was supposed to live up to.

“That really gets in the way of playing well to be honest with you,” said Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner. “So I think I maybe learned a little bit from the champion last week, where he kind of lowered his expectations, and got out of his way, so to speak, and let his talent and his game plan take it from there.”

Dufner’s talent was on display, particularly on Harbour Town’s par-5s.

He blasted a 215-yard approach on the second hole to 11 feet for his first eagle. He was short of the fifth green in two, then chipped in from about 100 feet for his second eagle. On the 15th, the course’s final long hole, Dufner settled for birdie, part of three in a row on the back nine that took him into the lead.

Dufner plays Harbour Town often, but without much success. His best finish was a tie for 14th and only once in seven previous fourth rounds has shot in the 60s. He is chasing his fifth PGA Tour title – and just the second since winning the Wanamaker Trophy at Oak Hill four years ago.

Get ready for the final round @RBC_Heritage with yesterday’s highlights. pic.twitter.com/hgqK0SKNAb

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 16, 2017

Dufner said he took confidence from his Masters performance and has carried that into this week.

“I feel like this golf course has always been a good set up for me,” Dufner said. “I haven’t had amazing results here, but I’ve been pretty consistent. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

DeLaet was tied with Dufner heading into his final hole, but three-putted No. 18 from 35 feet to fall back. Still, it was the Weyburn, Sask., native’s third straight sub-70 round after having just five in five previous appearances here.

DeLaet is seeking his first tour win and knows it will take a mental effort to keep him straight.

“Obviously, this is the one thing that’s kind of missing,” DeLaet said. “So there’s going to be some battles (inside) that I’m going to have to deal with.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 70 for an 8 under total. Adam Hadwin, also of Abbotsford, was tied for 20th after a 71 and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., was tied for 31st after shooting 69.

Kevin Kisner and Webb Simpson were at 11 under. Kisner shot a 66, and Simpson, the former U.S. Open champ, had a 68.

Kisner followed up his 64 with a second straight bogey-free round at Harbour Town. The last of his five birdies – a 30-footer on No. 17 – pushed him into the tie with Simpson.

Simpson was the hottest player on the course when the round began, going 4-under over his first six holes including an eagle-3 at the par-5 fifth. Then Simpson cooled off, with 11 pars and a bogey on the 16th that dropped him two shots behind.

Ian Poulter, in a chase to stay on tour, shot 69 to stay in fifth. He had three birdies on the final five holes before the turn to share the lead with Simpson for a time. On the 10th hole, however, he hit his drive left in the water, then landed his second tee shot along the water line where an alligator – perhaps miffed by the first water ball – stared down the Englishman known for his colorful outfits. Poulter tried to set up, but the gator would not relent until the caddie of playing partner Simpson charged the reptile.

The alligator retreated to safer waters and Poulter took double bogey.

Poulter, playing on a medical extension, needs to earn $145,000 of 117 FedEx Cup points over the next two weeks to keep his playing privileges intact. He’s in good because fifth place pays $260,000.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to announce the qualifying format for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for July 24-30 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

A two-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship will feature three regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, followed by a final qualifying event on Monday, July 24^th.

The first regional qualifier will take place May 9^th at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. The second regional qualifying event will be hosted by Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont. on May 15^th. The third regional qualifier will take place June 5^th at Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu – Rouville Course in Sainte-Julie, Qué. The final qualifier will take place Monday, July 24^th at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont.

Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes of stroke play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open field (provided the starting field is a minimum of 100 competitors at each site). The top 15 per cent of finishers, beyond the low qualifier, at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at final qualifying.

Participation in final qualifying is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have advanced through regional qualifying. The event will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots available for direct entry into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open field.

The qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers (with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0) who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, and other golf professionals.

In all, a total of 24 exemptions, including the seven (7) awarded through regional and final qualifiers are available for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Toronto, Ontario – Levelwear, a global sport and lifestyle apparel brand, announced today it has been named official golf apparel and headwear sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open, beginning with the 2017 Championships.

Sponsoring both of Canada’s National Open Golf Championships, Levelwear deepens its presence in the golf industry in Canada and provides a platform to demonstrate the company’s golf and licensing apparel expertise.

Levelwear becomes the exclusive provider of RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open volunteer uniforms as well as branded apparel and headwear both on the event grounds and at select off-site retail locations. The product offering will include its polos, mid-layer and lightweight outerwear garments, as well as pieces from their lifestyle collection of casual cottons and their wide assortment of premium headwear. Known for innovative design and treatment, each piece of apparel will be carefully crafted by the Levelwear in-house design team to create memorable pieces of commemorative merchandise for the spectators and fans.

Levelwear’s investment in these two quintessential properties further enhances its commitment within the golf marketplace in Canada. In January, Levelwear signed ‘Mr. Northern 59,’ Adam Hadwin as a global brand ambassador for its golf and lifestyle apparel. In addition, Levelwear also sponsors fellow PGA TOUR member and Canadian, Brad Fritsch as a Global Brand Ambassador. Levelwear has established business relationships with roughly 80 of the top 100 golf courses in both Canada and the U.S.

Golf Canada owns and operates the RBC Canadian Open, set to run July 24-30, 2017 at Glen Abbey Golf Club, as well as the CP Women’s Open which takes place August 21-27, 2017 at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

The RBC Canadian Open is the third-oldest national open golf Championship next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. Golf Canada will also be bringing the CP Women’s Open back to the nation’s capital in Ottawa to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations.

“We have a deep heritage in golf and in Canada. These are the two most iconic golf Championships in Canada. With the history, heritage and connection these properties have with golf fans, we are excited to leverage that equity to build some truly unique Levelwear offerings,” stated Hilton Ngo, President of Levelwear.

Levelwear has established enduring business verticals in licensed and team sports, golf apparel, and men’s and women’s lifestyle wear, with core strengths of innovation, decoration and industry leading service.

“We are extremely excited to have Levelwear as our new apparel and headwear partner this upcoming season,” said Brent McLaughlin, Tournament Director for the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open.  “Levelwear’s depth of innovation, decoration and service will be able to provide consumers with quality licensed merchandise to commemorate Canada’s most historic golf championships.”

Levelwear holds licensing partnerships with some of the top global brands, including the NHL and NHLPA, NBA, 150 US Colleges, the CFL, Hockey Canada and various soccer properties globally. At the PGA Show in Orlando, Levelwear unveiled its fall 2017 collection featuring a new women’s transitional activewear line –  Levelwear Verve, a modern collection of men’s polos, and the Insignia Program, a highly innovative logo treatment collection, that gives a rich gloss metallic like finish with custom embellishments. For more information, please visit www.levelwear.com.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Brandt Snedeker, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion, was all smiles as he recalled the opportunity he had to spend time with Arnold Palmer. It was 2009, Snedeker was a struggling tour professional, and Palmer met with Snedeker for two hours in his office, had lunch with him, and then played nine holes.

“In typical Arnold fashion he hit 5-wood on No.17 and took $20 of me,” said Snedeker with a smile, flanked by Mastercard chief marketing officer Raja Rajamannar and Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation chief executive officer Kevin Bingham at Bay Hill in Orlando. “It was unbelievable for him to open up to a struggling tour pro like me. Every year I came here and talked to Arnold about life, and that’s something I’m going to miss dearly.”

Although Snedeker told GolfCanada.ca that if he was to win this week at the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational presented by Mastercard it would be his most ‘memorable’ victory – despite winning eight times on the PGA Tour including $10 million in the 2012 FedExCup – he’s also looking forward to this year’s RBC Canadian Open, back at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

“I can’t wait,” said Snedeker, a Team RBC member. “I love Glen Abbey. I think it’s a great golf course. For whatever reason it just suits my eye and I play really well there.”

It was quite a run for Snedeker in 2013 on his way to victory north of the border, as he also won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and spent the whole year in the top-10 of the Official World Rankings.

He thinks part of his success has to do with his Canadian-born caddy, Scott Vail, from Pickering, Ont.

“Anytime I get back to Toronto I’m kind of on a home base, because (Scott) is from there. It’s as close as I can get to feeling Canadian,” said Snedeker. “The crowds are great that week too. It’s a fun week.”

Snedeker was in the final pairing a year ago at Glen Abbey with Canadian amateur Jared du Doit. Although Snedeker fell back into a tie for fifth (and du Toit into a tie for ninth), he said it was a cool experience being paired with the young amateur.

Jared du Toit & Brandt Snedeker (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)

“I sat in the booth on Saturday and I was with the CBS guys and I remember watching Jared make eagle on 18 and I saw the crowd go crazy,” recalls Snedeker. “I was high-fiving Jim Nantz in the booth, and seeing this young Canadian amateur do what he was doing was so much fun.”

“My job on Sunday was to make sure he had a great time,” continued Snedeker. “He played really good. He had some chances but just couldn’t get it going. Under those circumstances it was phenomenal, and it was just really fun to be with him.”

And while Snedeker will of course be competing at the RBC Canadian Open in July, don’t be surprised if Brooke Henderson makes an appearance that week as well, according to President of Mastercard Canada Brian Lang.

Lang, who spent some time overseas working for the credit card giant in both Dubai and the Czech Republic, was eager to return to Canada (he was born in Toronto). He’s been Mastercard Canada’s president for nearly two years exactly, and was over-the-moon when the Mastercard locked in Henderson as their newest ambassador.

“We had eight ambassadors on both the (Champions) Tour and the PGA Tour now, and they were all males. This past year we brought on Annika Sorenstam (who won the 2001 CP Canadian Women’s Open) but decided we needed another. Brooke Henderson was an easy target for us,” said Lang. “Henderson is effervescent, she has a wonderful personality. She’s figured things out very quickly as a young woman. We’re super happy that we’ve signed her up and now, frankly, we’re going to try to find a neat way to bring that all together at the Canadian Open.”

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Parents can credit the imagination and artistic creativity of a 3^rd grade student this summer when their children, ages 17-and-under, gain free admission to see the stars of the PGA TOUR.

The RBC Canadian Open has unveiled its new Junior Ticket design for this year’s event which takes place July 24-30, 2017 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The ticket design was selected from entries received from five local elementary school classes who signed on to participate in the first-ever RBC Canadian Open Ticket Design Contest.

“I’d like to thank and congratulate all the students who took part in our RBC Canadian Open Junior Ticket design contest,” said Brent McLaughlin, Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open. “We were thrilled with the creativity and quality of all entries we received.”

The winning illustration was selected out of more than 100 entries received. Eight finalists were identified by the tournament’s marketing team and then Golf Canada staff voted the winner. When the pencil crayons were put away, the design of Emma Hapelt, a 3^rd grade student from St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School in Oakville, Ont., was selected the winner.

The contest is a new initiative that reinforces the tournament’s commitment to being an event for fans of all ages.

“Family and junior engagement is very important to the RBC Canadian Open and we’re proud to be considered among the PGA TOUR’s most fan-friendly events,” McLaughlin added. “We pride ourselves on making sure the entire family can enjoy themselves onsite. It’s about bringing everyone together to celebrate community and Canadian golf.”

Last year, nearly 45,000 free RBC Canadian Open Junior Tickets were printed and distributed. Free Junior Tickets were also available online for download and printing.

Emma’s contest-winning submission earned her entire class a pizza party. As well, her family received two VIP Passes for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Emma and her family are also invited to take part in an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the golf tournament.

Complimentary Junior Tickets, applicable to kids 17-and-under, are ideal giveaways for sports teams, schools, golf tournaments and summer camps. They are available for download online here. They can also be ordered through Golf Canada’s sales department at to 1-800-263-0009 ext. 320 or via email at rbccanadianopen@golfcanada.ca.

Information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open can be found at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

FJ is giving a radical upgrade to the iconic Contour Series line of golf shoes. Recognized as the best selling shoe franchise of all time, Contour was created with the singular focus on comfort, and that dedication continues with the latest innovation, ContourFIT.

Building on the successful heritage of the Contour Series franchise, FJ re-imagined the entire category from a blank sheet of paper. From the last to the laces, ContourFIT was born from an obsession with comfort so the golfer could experience Comfort That Never Quits.

New ContourFIT TV commercials introduce you to one player who just “never quits playing” now that he has his new ContourFIT golf shoes. You also hear from some of the people in his life and how they feel about this constant playing, including his priest and several people from his home course.

Loyal Contour customers will still experience the same consistent fit and reliability they expect from the Contour franchise, greatly enhanced by significant and noticeable upgrades from top to bottom that result in a lighter, more flexible and more comfortable shoe.

Starting from the ground, the new DynaFlex outsole – engineered with TPU- has been designed to flex naturally with the foot. Each flex groove is strategically placed to provide maximum flexibility and mobility.

Next is the FTF 3.0 midsole – our softest and lightest midsole compound – for underfoot comfort and cushioning while still ensuring the golfer has appropriate lateral support and stability.

Cradling the foot is a newly designed FitBed that is thick, soft and breathable to ensure all day comfort.

The top of the shoe features a new U-throat design to give the player a more generous fit and a new integrated Achilles heel pad that delivers support and comfort while also working with the connected comfort tongue to lock the foot into the shoe for a precise fit.

Finally, the entire package is wrapped in a contemporary take on a ‘contourian’ upper design utilizing soft, full grain waterproof leather in the vamp and performance synthetic material in the saddle and quarter that FJ warrants will be 100% waterproof in normal use for two years.

As with all FJ shoes, the customer should expect out-of-the-box comfort with ContourFIT. When properly fit, FJ shoes should never require a “break-in” period and should be enjoyed from the first wear to the last.

“With a very successful category like Contour, the tendency is to implement minor enhancements over the life of the product, but that’s not something we subscribe to at FootJoy,” said Doug Robinson. “From the moment a product is created, we start looking for ways to enhance absolutely every detail – from the overall design and materials, to every stitch and groove, to the laces and cleats.”

“ContourFIT, while inspired by the Contour Series family of shoes, is dramatically improved over the prior generations and we believe will excite not only the lifetime Contour wearer, but also any comfort-seeker who tries it on for the first time.”

Yesterday, Jordan Spieth’s first-ever signature Under Armour golf shoe, the Spieth One, made its global retail debut.

“I couldn’t be more excited to officially unveil my first signature shoe, the Spieth One, with Under Armour,” said Spieth, as he unveiled the shoe last month prior to embarking on a global tour which started in Tokyo and included stops in Seoul, Los Angeles, and Mexico City.  “I worked closely with the Under Armour footwear team to design an innovative shoe that is grounded in the details of my game.”

The Spieth One is being introduced as engineered “Down to a Science;” a nod to the concentrated level of detail by which the shoe was designed and mirrors Jordan’s precise approach to his game on the course. Jordan worked in close collaboration with Under Armour to meticulously craft this clean, bold and innovative shoe that features a number of technical design elements that were dictated by Jordan and his game.

The Spieth One has a breathable, waterproof upper to ensure performance even in the toughest golfing conditions—preventing water from entering the shoe, but allowing perspiration to escape. It also features groundbreaking Rotational Resistance Traction, which prevents the rotation of the foot during the swing from load up to impact.

The upper of the Spieth One is composed with a single seam, reducing layers and weight while enhancing the overall fit and feel. The outsole has a softer forefoot for flexibility, paired with a firm heel for stability and support.

These precise specifications are depicted in the Under Armour brand’s new golf campaign entitled “Down to a Science.”

The shoes are available at SportCheck, online at www.ua.ca and at many pro shops across Canada starting at $239.99 CDN.

Incredibly proud to help build the #SpiethOne alongside @UnderArmour & @UAGolf. Get yours here: https://t.co/em6VIuR3yn #IWILL pic.twitter.com/BdA8v9TYdO

— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) March 1, 2017

Acushnet is billing their new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls as their most advanced, best performing golf balls ever stamped with the Titleist script.

Precisely engineered using the most sophisticated golf ball technology, the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x provide performance for every player and promise to deliver unmatched quality and consistency.

The uber-popular choice of players at every level of competitive golf and best-selling models around the world, Pro V1 and Pro V1x continually set the standard for golf ball performance through relentless research and development innovation and an industry-leading manufacturing process. Advancements for 2017 include new core and aerodynamic designs.

The longest Pro V1 ever, 2017 Pro V1 has been re-engineered with a Next Generation 2.0 ZG Process Core that delivers longer distance on all shots through lower long game spin and faster ball speed, while maintaining the very soft feel and superior short-game performance that Pro V1 players demand. A new spherically tiled 352 tetrahedral dimple design produces a penetrating trajectory with even more consistent flight.

The extraordinary distance of the 2017 Pro V1x, featuring a ZG Process Dual Core, is enhanced by a new spherically tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design that produces a high trajectory with its most consistent flight ever.

The 2017 Pro V1 and Pro V1x continue to deliver superior short game scoring performance. The soft Urethane Elastomer cover system used on both models is precisely formulated to deliver Drop-and-Stop greenside control with soft feel, providing golfers with the performance and confidence to hit it closer to the hole. The soft Urethane Elastomer cover, created by a chemical reaction that takes place during the casting process, also provides long-lasting durability throughout the course of play.

Choosing between the total performance of Pro V1 and Pro V1x, golfers will notice differences in flight, feel and spin. Pro V1 flies lower with a penetrating trajectory and feels softer. Pro V1x flies higher, has a slightly firmer feel, and spins more on iron shots.

Every Pro V1 and Pro V1x is manufactured by Titleist associates in the company’s state-of-the-art golf ball manufacturing facilities, to the highest performance and quality specifications in the industry. This investment in quality control ensures the most consistent performance from ball to ball, and dozen to dozen. This is critical to allowing golfers to consistently execute the same types of shots, round after round.

“Every time we set out to develop new Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls, our challenge is to set an even higher benchmark for golf ball performance,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “We are constantly in the field talking to golfers of all skill levels about what we can do to help them shoot lower scores. At the same time, the Titleist Golf Ball R&D and Operations teams are working together to develop new golf ball technologies that deliver performance golfers may not yet realize they need. It’s because of this ownership and commitment at every step of the process that we’re able to deliver meaningful performance improvements and make the best golf balls in the game even better.”

“No matter their playing ability, golfers have a simple choice when it comes to choosing the best golf ball for their game,” said Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball R&D. “Either Pro V1 or Pro V1x will give you the best opportunity to shoot your lowest score. The decision purely comes down to flight, feel and spin. As we’ve told the pros, while you may consider yourself a ‘V’ or an ‘X’ player, we think this is a great time for you to reevaluate both Pro V1 and Pro V1x to see which 2017 model is the best fit for your game.”

New Pro V1 and Pro V1x have achieved immediate validation and success across the worldwide professional tours. Jordan Spieth, playing new Pro V1x for the first time in competition, won the Australian Open in mid-November. Two weeks later, Brandon Stone played new Pro V1 in his victory at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.

In total, more than 100 players worldwide have put the new models in play – including Adam Scott (Pro V1), Jimmy Walker (Pro V1x), Kevin Kisner (Pro V1), Webb Simpson (Pro V1), Charley Hoffmann (Pro V1), Ian Poulter (Pro V1x) and Thongchai Jaidee (Pro V1x) ­– since the tour seeding and validation process began on the PGA Tour in late October.

The aerodynamic improvements of Pro V1 and Pro V1x result in a more consistent trajectory.

New dimple designs on both 2017 Pro V1 and Pro V1x feature improved dimple placement and produce even more consistent surfaces.

During the manufacturing process, mold cavities are used to the form the Urethane Elastomer cover and dimple pattern on each ball. Tens of thousands of mold cavities are needed to supply the Pro V1 and Pro V1x urethane casting lines. In order to achieve ball-to-ball consistency, it is crucial that every mold cavity produces the same result. To guarantee this level of precision, the Operations team has always manufactured the cavities and the tooling used to make the cavities (called “hobs”) in-house. An investment in new equipment to make the master hobs provides even tighter tolerances.

These advancements in both dimple design and hob production combine to produce new Pro V1 and Pro V1x models that deliver a more aerodynamically consistent flight.

“If a golfer hits a number of golf balls, they will fly through a ‘window’ in the air. What we’ve done with 2017 Pro V1 and Pro V1x is make that window smaller, which is the result of a more consistent flight,” Morgan said. “We go to great lengths to ensure that Pro V1 and Pro V1x are precision equipment. We know golfers depend on that consistency on every shot in their round.”

The new 2017 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are now in golf shops and by all golf retailers across Canada.