Orlando Golf News
Arnie's Army was established in 1959 during The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, when an "army" of US soldiers followed the defending Champion, Arnold Palmer, around the course. Today, 58 years later, Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation (AACF) has announced the creation of a Legacy Program to support late golf legend Arnold Palmer's lifetime mission of philanthropy, as the centerpiece of a nationwide re-branding campaign for the organization. The first three founding Legacy Partners in the new AACF program include longtime Arnold Palmer allies Hertz, MasterCard and Golf Channel/NBC Sports.
Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation was established in 2015 to help fulfill Mr. Palmer's lifelong passion of investing in the well-being and development of children and youth, supporting health and wellness initiatives and strengthening both communities and the environment. Today, the AACF has been entrusted to carry on the legacy of Mr. Palmer in marching toward a better tomorrow. While the iconic Arnold Palmer umbrella logo will still have a place within the organization, the refreshed logo, which features a reflective silhouette, captures Mr. Palmer as a golfer, and as the giving humanitarian he was for more than six decades.
PGA TOUR Champions and Diamond Resorts International announced the second annual Diamond Resorts Invitational benefiting Florida Hospital for Children will feature Champions Tour professionals competing alongside sports and entertainment celebrities for separate purses totaling $1.25 million. All three rounds of the January 13-15 event at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort will be nationally televised on Golf Channel.
Southern Dunes Golf Club in Haines City, Florida has reopened after an extensive greens renovation. Southern Dunes Golf Club renovated and resurfaced all 18 greens to enhance playability and course conditions.
Originally opened in 1993, Southern Dunes Golf Club continues to receive numerous awards from the golf industry. The charm and appeal of the club, comes from the friendly staff and unique characteristics of the course. The course offers players of all abilities the opportunity to play and enjoy one of the most challenging and beautiful Florida golf courses.
North Florida PGA Members, family and friends rallied around a great cause with a Birdie A Thon for Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation. The Birdie A Thon was tied into the North Florida PGA vs South Florida PGA Challenge Cup Matches at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Pledges for birdies for players and teams raised $100,000! The North Florida Section solicited the entire Membership to get involved and raise valuable funds that will help children and families in need. The players also went to their members, families and friends to get pledges for support as well. The Challenge Cup Matches concluded with the North Florida Section team making 154 birdies and the South Florida Section team making 139 birdies! North Florida retained the Challenge Cup with a 13 ½ - 10 ½ victory over the South Florida Section.
Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and current golf course owner Ron Jaworski will keynote the opening session of the NGCOA's 2017 Golf Business Conference in Orlando
The GOLFUNITED Fore Pulse charity golf scramble is scheduled to be played on Friday, August 26, 2016 at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. The organizing committee has confirmed the attendance and support of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in addition to PGA Tour Champion Stewart Appleby and LPGA Tour Champion Charlotta Sorenstam. The GOLFUNITED Fore PULSE charity scramble is being held to raise donations, increase awareness, honor the 49 victims, and support the ongoing needs of the 53 injured and the families impacted by the horrific mass shooting that occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando June 12, 2016.
Accomplished golf instructor Mike Bender, one of Golf Digest magazine's Top-5 Best Teachers in America, is scheduled to appear as a guest instructor on Golf Channel's Morning Drive on Tuesday, August 9th. The popular daily morning show airs from 7-9 a.m. Eastern.
Bender, owner/operator of the Mike Bender Golf Academy in Lake Mary, Fla., is one of the inaugural coaches in Golf Channel Academy (GCA), a dedicated network of teaching facilities. Select Golf Channel Academy coaches also are being invited to appear on the network's news and instruction shows, including The Golf Fix and School of Golf. Bender has made multiple appearances on Morning Drive; he was one of several PGA Professionals to take part in National Instruction Day on Golf Channel in early May.
Kevin Kremer has been named the new Head PGA Golf Professional at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes. In his new role, Kevin will be leading the golf operation and outfitters team, caddie program, golf shop retail operation and guest engagement, while supporting F&B, instruction and membership initiatives.
A Class A PGA Professional, Kevin has enjoyed leadership positions at a collection of premier Marriott Golf and Ritz Carlton facilities, which include serving as the Associate PGAGolf Professional/Tournament Coordinator at The Westfields Golf Club (2011-14), First Assistant at the Club at Creighton Farms (formerly Ritz-Carlton - 2009-2011) and Assistant Professional at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Jupiter (2007-2009).
On the heels of its recent announcement that the Company's Hit the Green for HOPE campaign generated more than $26,000 for PGA HOPE - golf programming for United States military Veterans with disabilities - Marriott Golf, one of the world's premier golf operators, today announced the re-launch of Fairway Furloughs, an initiative that provides active, reserve and retired military personnel with discounted green fees/carts, ranging from just $29 - $69.
Fairway Furloughs is available after 3 p.m. any day of the week, year round, at participating Marriott Golf courses. Tee times can be made up to three days in advance, and a valid military ID card must be presented. In some cases, select Marriott Golf properties will even extend the hours that the special offer is available, further enhancing the value of the program and enabling eligible military personnel to experience the Company's prestigious collection of championship golf courses.
Marriott Golf, one of the world's premier golf operators, in collaboration with PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, today announced the recent Hit the Green for HOPE campaign generated more than $26,000, with 100% of the proceeds supporting PGA HOPE - golf programming for United States military Veterans with disabilities.
Approximately 2,000 golfers at 17 participating Marriott Golf properties nationwide participated in the promotion which included the opportunity for golfers to win prizes/golf shop discounts by hitting the green on a designated par 3 at each respective facility. Marriott Golf manages operations at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Hawk's Landing Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.
