The 2025 PGA Show may be in our rearview mirror, but a new year of golf merchandising is just getting going across the country. If you’re looking for some inspiration in your retail operations, check out 2023 PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year for resort facilities Grace Hurley’s appearance on The Coach Mo Golf Show. The video podcast, hosted by PGA of America and LPGA Professional Mo Gesualdi of St. Johns Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida, focuses on Hurley’s career and thoughts on merchandising and mentoring staff members. Hurley, now the Vice President of Brand and National Sales at Catapult, details her journey from the PGA Golf Management University Program at the University of Idaho to working at Titleist and green grass positions at facilities such as Florida’s Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Hurley and Gesualdi also discuss coming trends in merchandising, such as the role AI is likely to play – sooner than later – in the golf business.
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The new year has also provided a chance for the new leadership of the PGA of America to introduce itself to the sports world. PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague and PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. recently made a joint appearance on Golf Channel for a 15-minute interview covering a variety of topics concerning the Association and the game of golf over the coming years. Damon Hack and Eamon Lynch conducted the interview, which included Derek and Don’s thoughts on bringing the shareholders of the sport together to build upon the game’s boom in recent years. Be sure to check out the video to learn more of what the two high-profile PGA of America Golf Professionals and industry leaders expect from 2025 and beyond.
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The new season of tour golf is well underway, which means that players from the U.S. and Europe are working to accrue points toward making their respective 2025 Ryder Cup teams. SBNation recently ran a primer on how the qualification process works in case you need a refresher, or want to explain to your members and guests how the teams are built. As the story explains, the top six U.S. players on the points list after the BMW Championship in mid-August will qualify for the U.S. squad, with the other six spots on the team chosen by U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley to play at New York’s Bethpage Black in the 2025 Ryder Cup after the TOUR Championship concludes.
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The golf media community is mourning the loss of Steve DiMeglio, who passed away on Dec. 31, 2024, after a battle with cancer at the age of 63. DiMeglio, known for his popular and respected work for USA Today and Golfweek, had just covered the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, where tournament host Tiger Woods made a point to check in on the ailing writer. Sports Illustrated ran a poignant obituary for DiMeglio written by his friend, Bob Harig, which recounted some well-known stories about the writer’s sense of humor and relationships with players like Woods, Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley. We join the golf world in mourning Steve’s loss.
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