Adams Golf has announced its new Blue line of products – a uniquely designed set of clubs featuring a driver, fairway, hybrid and combination iron set. Each piece in the Adams Blue set was created to help golfers get the ball in the air more easily and more consistently.

Blue delivers an aesthetically-pleasing and confidence-inspiring lineup of clubs, with each product featuring Adams’ new, proprietary Easy Launch System.

Adams’ Easy Launch System is comprised of three key performance features that work together to give golfers more air. These features combine with an internal draw bias and a pleasing, inviting shape at address in hopes of making the game more fun and less intimidating.

The Velocity Slot Technology on the soles of the clubs delivers more flex from the clubface and produces more consistent ball speed at impact.

All metalwoods and irons in the Blue lineup feature a low centre of gravity positioned as far back as possible to allow for higher launch, more spin and ultimately more air time on all shots. Blue’s CG placement is designed to help many swing speeds and swing styles achieve optimal launch conditions.

The new Adams SlimTechTM shafts have been integrated into Blue, utilizing narrower shaft tip diameters to promote lower kick points and high launch conditions from any lie on the course.

“Quite simply, Adams Blue is engineered to help golfers hit higher, straighter shots more consistently,” said Brian Bazzel, Senior Director, Product Creation. “Through a sophisticated, simple design, Blue matches an aesthetically-pleasing look with proven performance technologies to make the game more fun for more golfers.”

The entire Blue line is available at retail beginning April 3.

The Blue Driver will be available in three different lofts (9.5°, 10.5° & 12°) with a 55g Aldila SlimTech shaft at an MSRP of $349.

Blue Fairway is offered in three lofts (15°, 19° & 22°) with a 55g Aldila SlimTech shaft at an MSRP of $229 CDN, while Blue Hybrid is available in four lofts (19°, 22°, 25° & 28°) with a 55g Aldila SlimTech shaft at an MSRP of $199.

Blue Irons are sold as a combination set including a 3 and 4 hybrid along with the 5-iron through pitching wedge at an MRSP of $799 CDN for steel (True Temper Dynalite SlimTech 85g) and $899 CDN for graphite (SlimTech by Aldila 55).

Additional information is available at AdamsGolf.ca.

Released ahead of the first Major of the season, the Spring 2015 apparel collection from Nike Golf features a colour palette of neutrals with pops of volt.

The collection is designed to keep athletes cool and comfortable by regulating body temperature, to help eliminate distractions so they can focus on performance.

Engineered Knit, a material found throughout the Spring 2015 line, features a natural-feeling polyester and provides ventilation through intelligent layering. The advanced construction allows for full range of motion to benefit the golf athlete.

Five Nike athletes have qualified for the Masters: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Russell Henley and, for the first time in his career, Seung Yul Noh.

McIlroy was quick to praise when asked about the new collection. “Nike has done a great job of eliminating excess fabric. The shirts fit really well. They’re modern, relevant and allow me excellent freedom of movement when I’m playing. Knowing that my clothing looks and feels good means I only have to concentrate on my game when I’m out on the course.”

Here is what the Nike athletes are expected to wear during the Masters:

Tiger Woods

Woods will starts the week in the white Nike TW Vapor Trail Polo with hints of wolf grey and university red, and the TW ’15 golf shoe in the metallic silver colourway. His TW Adaptive Fit Pant features a perforation in the back yoke and behind the knee for breathability. The lightweight TW Ultralight Tour Cap will remain constant through the week. Friday and Sunday, Woods will sport the TW Glow Polo in black and university red, respectively. On Saturday, Woods will wear the TW Bold Stripe Polo constructed in a four-way stretch Dri-FIT fabrication.

Rory McIlroy

Sporting a clean collection of white with volt, the World No. 1 will feature athletic looks throughout the week. He will begin in the Major Moment Polo and will wear that same polo in the reverse colourway on Saturday. Friday, McIlroy will compete in the Major Moment Launch Polo, which pays homage to Nike’s heritage with the Windrunner-inspired 26-degree angle design on the upper chest. On Sunday, he will wear the Nike Afterburner Polo with a volt-to-white gradient topped with the Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap in volt. McIlroy will wear the Nike Modern Pant in white for every round, which features a stretch woven for more mobility and breathability in the back below the waistline. Each day McIlroy will rely on the Nike Lunar Control 3 shoe that he helped design.

Charl Schwartzel

The 2011 Masters champion will wear a white Major Moment Polo on Thursday and the Nike Tech Vent Stripe Polo on Friday. He will open the weekend with the white Nike Tech Tipped Polo before wearing the black Major Moment Ace Polo on Sunday. Additionally, he will wear a grey or black Nike Dri-FIT Wool Tech Sweater each day. The South African native will pair the sweater and polos with the Nike Modern Pant, Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap and Nike Lunar Control 3 shoe.

Russell Henley

Henley will suit up in the Nike Plaid Pant on Friday and Saturday, while bookending the tournament in the Nike Flat Front Pant on Thursday and Sunday. His Sunday look will feature the volt Nike Engineered Polo, made of a poly-wool. He will wear the Nike Tour Tall Visor, Nike Dri-FIT 1/2-Zip Top and Nike Lunar Control 3 shoes throughout the week.

Seung Yul Noh

Noh will compete in various spring colours of the Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap, Nike Dri-FIT 1/2-Zip Top, Nike Modern Pant and Nike Lunar Control 3. He will be clad in black from head to toe on Friday with the Nike Engineered Polo while wearing a volt Major Moment Mach Polo Saturday. The native of South Korea will begin the week with the Nike Tech Ultra Stripe Polo before ending it with the Major Moment Commander Polo.

The majority of the looks for the Masters are now available on nike.com. Please note that some styles are not available in Canada.

Ida Pieracci grew up beside the San Jose Country Club and considers it her second home.

At 102 years of age, she holds the record for most holes-in-one at the club, with 11, and continues to play golf four or five days per week.

When asked what the key to living a long and happy life was, she replied, “Just being a good kid!”

Watch Ida’s video below, and if her story doesn’t get you excited first day of spring, I’m not sure what will.

TORONTO – Nike Golf will debut a new 30-second television spot (they are calling it a film) which features the Nike TW ’15 shoe and showcases Tiger Woods’s desire to always improve on his golf game.

The commercial will start running on Golf Channel March 16 and on ESPN on March 19.

The spot depicts men and women socializing in a stereotypical golf clubhouse setting, as Woods bypasses the revelry and makes his way to the practice range.

“To get better in anything, it takes drive. You have got to want to do it,” said Woods. “If you look at the greatest athletes or the people who have accomplished the most in life, they have always taken the initiative themselves.”

The Nike TW ’15 integrates Dynamic Nike Flywire into a Flyweave upper with a Nike Free outsole. Flyweave enables the creation of a woven one-piece upper that provides great strength-to-weight support where it is needed most based on the demands, or movements, of the sport. While strong and supportive, Flyweave is also incredibly lightweight and flexible.

The Nike TW ’15 is available at select retailers.

Here’s the commercial…

Following the debut of the AeroBurner™ Driver in January, TaylorMade Golf Company has announced the launch of the AeroBurner Irons, the AeroBurner Mini Driver, and the AeroBurner Pro Golf Ball. The additions – which complete the 2015 AeroBurner collection – are designed for speed, distance and power from tee to green.

AeroBurner Irons

The AeroBurner irons follow in the footsteps of the AeroBurner metalwoods. Built for distance through speed, the Aeroburner iron features an up-to-the-limit COR face design. A low center of gravity (CG) generates high launch and great feel throughout the set. The high-MOI head design provides enhanced forgiveness and stability on balls hit across the clubface.

Aesthetically, the AeroBurner irons feature a dark, matte head finish found most recently in the SpeedBlade irons. The darker finish reduces glare off the clubface. The set boasts a longer blade length, more offset and thicker topline.

The 8-piece set will be available at retail on Wednesday, March 18.

AeroBurner Mini Driver

The 253cc metalwood equipped with a 43.5” shaft Mini Driver is a new category from TaylorMade, delivering golfers 2 club options in 1; a driver alternative or a 3-wood replacement. Many of the same features engineered into the other AeroBurner metalwoods are now part of this new category. Like all of the AeroBurner metalwoods, the AeroBurner Mini Driver is “Made of Speed”.

The Mini Driver features a new aerodynamic shape, shallow face, raised center crown. Its new hosel fin was created to maximize clubhead speed during the downswing. With emphasis placed on low-forward CG, the Mini Driver is designed to deliver driver-like launch conditions off the tee. The Mini Driver’s open channel Speed Pocket is designed to increase the size of the sweet spot while reducing spin.

Aesthetically, engineers developed the crown of AeroBurner Mini Driver with a new matte white finish, a black PVD face and a linear crown graphic – features implemented to facilitate easy, accurate face alignment. The TP model is designed with a longer hosel, flatter lie angle and more open face angle.

The AeroBurner Mini Driver’s two models – standard and TP – will be at retail on March 27.

AeroBurner Soft and AeroBurner Pro Golf Balls

The Aeroburner Pro is a three-piece ball engineered for high ball speeds off the clubface. The spin control and soft feel come from the interface of TaylorMade’s SPIN MANTLE™ and proprietary IOTHANE® cover. The AeroBurner Pro will be available at retail on March 6.

For more information, please visit www.taylormadegolf.ca.

Take a look at 10 of the best shots from LPGA pros throughout the month of February.

Bubba talks accuracy, distance off the tee

How does PING make the longest hitter on tour even longer? Watch this video with Bubba to find out…

Callaway Golf partnered with Dude Perfect to create a golf trick shot video featuring the speed of its new XR clubs.

In the video, Callaway ambassador and 2-time World Long Drive Champion Jamie Sadlowski of Alberta takes his speed, power and trick shot talents to San Diego where he smashes a ball through various fruits, birdies a par 3 with just a putter and drives a ball off the USS Midway into the flailing fishing nets of Dude Perfect 400 yards below on jet skis.

Give it a watch…

Here’s a look at some of Rory McIlroy’s best shots on the PGA Tour (excluding majors) courtesy of the PGA Tour.

During the past few days, I was fortunate to be a part of the Annual General Meeting of Golf Canada.  It started on Wednesday the 10^th and finished with an awards dinner on Saturday the 14^th.  I am on the Investment Committee and the Competitions Committee and am really impressed with the professional execution of the organization’s Committee and Board meetings.  Governance is adhered to explicitly, due in part to the need for Golf Canada to report to and follow the policies of Sport Canada.

During the meeting, a new membership model was proposed – one which will be implemented in stages over the next three years.  I am in favour of this model and I strongly recommend that all golfers in Canada get connected with Golf Canada, with at least the free version of membership.  Today we have 300,000 members out of an active golf population of over 1,500,000, in addition to approximately 3,000,000 “interested golfers.”  There will be more on this membership model in the next couple of months as a new website will be developed.

Every profession has a governing or regulatory body that has its members’ interests at heart. To be part of these organizations, one must pay annual fees.  Accountants, lawyers, investment professionals, doctors, teachers and unions all have fees they must – and expect – to pay.  In the same way, all sports need funding to handle rules, compliance, growth, archives, championships, player development, and the organization itself.  Golf is no exception.

Did you know that Golf is the highest participation sport in Canada? 

Hockey is second.  More info here.  And yet, only 10 per cent of golfers provide funds for its governance – this needs to change…and it will with the new membership model. The link below is a summary note from Scott Simmons CEO of Golf Canada.

Annual General Meeting Golf Canada – Click Here

Congratulations to Doug Alexander on a wonderful year of leadership. Paul McLean has some big shoes to fill and I’m sure he will have a fabulous term. If you wonder what the Governing Body of Golf in Canada is doing, please click on the committee report link for a list of Committees and a list of the volunteers who work countless hours for the betterment of the game. There are also 2014 highlights and 2015 objectives for each committee.  I am WOWED at the dedication these volunteers and staff members show in making golf such a great lifelong sport.

Committee Reports – Click Here.

Golf Canada is helping to create heroes.  Corey Conners form Listowel, Ont. and Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., both made it to the finals of the U.S. Amateur in 2014.  Nick Taylor won on the PGA Tour and Graham DeLaet is ramping up his PGA career.  Below are just a few of the accomplishments from our players in 2014.

Golf is now an Olympic sport and will be in the Pan Am games in Toronto this summer.  Cheer on our heroes and support Golf Canada – the organization that sets the stage for fun and achievement in our sport.

Kelly Roberts is Senior Vice-President, Portfolio Manager with National Bank Financial Wealth Management. He is a member of both the Investment and Competitions Committees with Golf Canada. The London, Ont. native is a two-time winner of the Ontario Amateur Championship (1972, 1973). Roberts was elected to the Golf Association of Ontario’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

BoardRoom Magazine has named three presidents of Canadian private clubs to its 2014 list of the world’s Top Private Club Presidents. Scarboro Golf and Country Club’s Brenda Tilley, The Glencoe Club’s Doug Mair and The Glencoe Golf and Country Club’s Joanne Hruska were among the 22 honourees to be recognized for their outstanding work, knowledge and contributions to the golfing industry.

Tilley – entering her second year as Club President in 2015 – led  Scarboro through several initiatives in her first year, including a historic change in membership as the club became the first private golf club in Canada to transition from an equity stake to a more traditional non-equity membership model. Under Tilley’s leadership, the club’s governance model underwent significant changes as the board went from 12 to nine members and the number of committees was reduced to four. She was instrumental in altering the leadership structure by bringing aboard a chief operating officer to take the reins of the club.

Neil Rooney, COO of Scarboro Golf and Country Club’s COO, spoke highly of Tilley, who joined the board in 2010 as Chair of the Membership Committee before serving as Club Vice-President in 2012 and 2013. “Brenda’s commitment, vision, and stewardship of the club’s resources have made her an extremely valuable member to the board and the club. Scarboro is extremely proud of her accomplishments and excited for her second year of term.”

Scarboro Golf and Country Club, located in Toronto, first opened in 1914. Its original course was designed by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member George Cumming. Across the nation, Doug Mair and Joanne Hruska’s work as the presidents of their respective arms of the famed Glencoe Golf and Country Club earned them places on BoardRoom’s exclusive list.

Though their times at the Calgary club’s helm have come to a close, their tenures and accomplishments exemplify the leadership and dedication for which the BoardRoom recognizes in its honourees. Working with the 11,000 members of The Glencoe Club and approximately 1,100 principal members of the associated Golf and Country Club is no simple task, yet this pair of outgoing presidents guided Glencoe’s path and left the club in a strong position for their successors.

Two main undertakings of Mair’s and Hruska’s were the restructuring of the executive management at the Golf Club and the successful return of The Forest Course after an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation. The 18-hole continuous loop course, the first by renowned designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. in Canada, has received rave reviews since re-opening last August.

The BoardRoom’s 2014 list consists of 22 individuals from five countries (Canada, Italy, Spain, Thailand and the United States) who demonstrated a love for the game, a dedication to their clubs and the uncanny ability to lead with determination, fairness and a clear vision.