College golf programs could be headed for an expansion in scholarships – but with a catch – under a historic settlement among plaintiffs in three lawsuits and the NCAA.
A $2.78 billion agreement, which still requires federal judicial approval, was disclosed Friday that would benefit current and former Division I athletes in their quest to share in college sports’ increasingly lucrative economics. Though the proposal would largely affect the revenue-generating sports of football and men’s basketball, the effects would be felt throughout the top division of American college athletics.
In golf, the agreement would lead to the elimination of scholarship caps – currently 4½ for men’s programs and six for women’s – but come with limitations on roster sizes. Men’s programs would be allowed nine roster spots, and women’s teams could have eight players. All could be fully funded, depending on the budgets of each school. Essentially, the walk-on – e.g., non-scholarship student-athlete – would be eliminated.
“College athletes will finally be able to share in the billions of dollars their compelling stories and dynamic performances have generated for their schools, conferences and the NCAA,” the filing read, according to an Associated Press report.
According to an analysis by Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine, who covers college golf for the network that airs the NCAA men’s and women’s championships, golf could face fewer potential roster spots as well as the possibility of some programs being eliminated. The agreement is not expected to be approved before next year, with implementation in the 2025-26 academic year. READ MORE
Richard “Dick” Helmstetter, regarded as the brains behind Callaway Golf founder Ely Callaway’s showmanship, died Thursday in California, according to Golf Digest’s Mike Stachura. Helmstetter was 82.
Helmstetter started with Callaway in 1986, four years after the company’s founding, and played a key role in the equipment manufacturer’s rise. He was instrumental in developing the modern driver, including the evolution of the club’s size, materials and playability properties. One of his most influential products was Callaway’s revolutionary Great Big Bertha. He also is credited with developing a pipeline of research-and-development experts for the modern industry.
“Richard Helmstetter was a legend and a true innovator in the golf industry,” Chip Brewer, the president and CEO at Topgolf Callaway Brands, said in a statement. “He was so passionate about his work and for making the game more enjoyable for golfers. More importantly, he was a great man; he cared deeply about the next generation of club designers, mentored so many colleagues, and treated everyone warmly and with respect.” READ MORE
Tour Edge announced in a social-media post that Tim Clarke will become president of the Batavia, Illinois-based equipment manufacturer, effective August 5. Clarke recently had been the executive vice president of Perry Ellis International’s golf division, managing the apparel operations. He had spent 25 years with Wilson Golf, including 17 as president. READ MORE
Eddie Langert, a teaching and club professional for more than 50 years in Minnesota’s Twin Cities who headed marketing in the rise of TaylorMade Golf, died July 21 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He was 88. Langert won state opens in Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota in a playing career that also included 48 starts on the PGA Tour. READ MORE
Hunki Yun was named executive director of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Yun, a former golf journalist who had worked for the U.S. Golf Association, replaces Chad Ritterbusch, who had been with the ASGCA for 20 years. READ MORE
TAP-INS
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a historic luxury resort in Jasper, Alberta, with a century-old Stanley Thompson-designed golf course that is regarded as one of Canada’s finest layouts, was heavily damaged by wildfires in the region, according to media reports. READ MORE
PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, will host three PGA of America championships next year: PGA Professional, PGA Senior Professional and Assistant PGA Professional. READ MORE
Suzy Whaley, a former president of the PGA of America, has been named captain of the 2025 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The American boys and girls will play their European counterparts at Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black on New York’s Long Island on September 23-25, ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on the following weekend. READ MORE
Youth on Course entered a three-year agreement with Pebble Beach Company to establish the Careers on Course internship program at the California site and add Spyglass Hill to the network of courses that provide youngsters access to golf for $5. READ MORE
Compiled by Steve Harmon