JumboMax®, the industry leader in oversized and counterbalanced golf grips, today announced that major champion and Ryder Cup icon Sergio Garcia has officially joined Team JumboMax. known throughout his career as one of golf’s greatest ball strikers, Garcia’s decision to partner with JumboMax reflects a shared belief that grip fitting plays a critical role in performance, both technically and mentally. Garcia discusses grip fitting and the importance of trust in his equipment in a full video conversation with JumboMax here.

Arcis Golf—a premier operator of 88 private, resort, and daily-fee courses in the United States—has signed a strategic partnership with GOLFZON America, a global leader in golf simulator technology. The company’s courses will be added to GOLFZON America’s worldwide library, allowing them to be played on state-of-the-art simulators. Initially, 10 Arcis Golf courses will be showcased.

Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) is hosting the annual WE-Connect in-person meeting at Orange Tree Golf Club (Orlando, FL) on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, at 5 p.m – 7 pm. WIGI’s annual meeting includes the successful “Getting To Know You” social event.  The event is complimentary.  

As the golf industry embraces rapid innovation, trade-in programs are emerging as a critical strategy for golf professionals managing pro shops. Golf Stix Value Guide is leading this evolution with advanced tools and integrations designed to enhance member experiences and maximize shop profitability.

Welcome to 2026 and the start of our 17th year in publication; hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday period and a fun, safe celebration to ring in the New Year. We’re now only a week away from the unofficial start of the industry ’26 business cycle represented by the co-located and adjacent timing PGA Merchandise Show and the Golf Business Conference in Orlando. We’ll be speaking on the ’25 State of the Industry (SoI) at both GBC (short version, Tue 1/20 at 9:45AM for attendees) and in our perennial date/time slot for the PGA Show, which is Thu 1/22 from 1:30-3PM (full Monty (content, not clothes), version. You can register to attend the latter here or, if you’re not going to be in Orlando, we’ll also be webcasting it live as well and you can register here for that. The PGA of America has once again agreed to crediting 2 PDRs to members who attend either way and provide us their member number for us to submit to Frisco.

Live Forever Golf, the Florida-born golf apparel brand built on the philosophy of celebrating life’s moments on and off the course, has partnered with RepSpark to drive its wholesale growth and streamline its B2B operations. Live Forever Golf aims to expand its reach into pro shops, resorts, and specialty retailers.

As anticipation builds for the 2026 PGA Show, DrinkTanks®, the premium beverageware brand known for uncompromising performance and design, is preparing to showcase the Travel Keg Pro™, a portable personal tap system designed to elevate how beverages are enjoyed across the golf experience. At the heart of the Travel Keg Pro™ is DrinkTanks’ 64-ounce Craft Growler paired with the brand’s Kegulator™ Cap dispensing system. 

Motocaddy, the world’s top-selling electric caddy brand, has announced the appointment of Joe Finemore as its second full-time U.S. sales representative, covering New England and Connecticut. In his new role, Finemore will work closely with Motocaddy retail partners and golf facilities, delivering hands-on product support, organizing demo days, and helping golfers experience the performance, reliability and convenience of Motocaddy products firsthand.

Clarity.Golf today announced Cicero, a new initiative that will be introduced during the 2026 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Cicero is being created specifically for PGA Members and qualified golf practitioners. “Cicero is built around a simple belief,” said Bill Bales, founder of Clarity.Golf. “As technology advances, the role and value of the golf professional should increase—not be eroded by cost, complexity, or abstraction.”

Golf Genius today announced record 2025 sales for CoachNow, the golf industry’s most comprehensive and capable coaching platform, and for Operation 36, the only golf program that combines a custom technology platform with a proven coaching curriculum and progression system for advancing beginner golfers. CoachNow experienced record growth in 2025, fueled by the launch of CoachNow Academy, a ground-breaking new offering that unifies advanced video analysis (including AI-enabled skeleton tracking), instant athlete communication via dedicated “Spaces” and “Groups,” and business tools like scheduling, facility calendars, registration, billing, and roster management — all in one platform.

Proponent Group, the golf company that coined the term “BVGI”—for Business Value of Golf Instruction—continues to expand the sharing of its findings with management companies, PGA and LPGA sections along with industry vendors, as interest in this data continues to grow. Lorin Anderson, Proponent’s founder and president, has accepted speaking invitations from a half dozen PGA of America and LPGA Sections wishing to learn more about the benefits to golf facilities and the industry overall from golfer engagement through professional instruction.

Jim  Beatty, founder of the African American Golf EXPO and Forum announced that Malachi and Essie Knowles will be the 2026 Co-chairs of the 2026 African American Golf EXPO and  Forum “Sock Drive!”

Awesome Golf, the market-leading simulator software company, today announced outstanding customer satisfaction results following a recent survey of its customer base. The survey revealed a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70, placing Awesome firmly in the ‘world-class’ category for customer advocacy. This is made all the more impressive as the business achieved 30% growth over 2025 – primarily driven by home users across the United States – whilst still maintaining strong customer loyalty.

Golf Business Network (GBN) is delighted to announce the renewal of its partnership agreement with Donald Ross Sportswear, a premier provider of premium men’s golf apparel, for 2026. This renewal marks four years of successful collaboration, continuing to deliver exceptional, timeless golf attire to GBN members while fostering a mutually beneficial vendor relationship that enhances club pro shops and member experiences.

Smart2Move AG, a Swiss sports-tech company and the global reference for wireless, portable dual force plates used to measure Ground Reaction Forces (GRF), today announced its strategic merger and acquisition of Bio Force SAS, a company renowned for its cutting-edge ground reaction force and sports science solutions. Smart2Move is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with a U.S. headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.

Whoosh, Inc., a leading provider of modern operations software for golf, racquet and hospitality facilities, and Textron E-Z-GO LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company and provider of the innovative Pace Technology platform to optimize golf-car fleet management and operations and enhance the golfer’s on-course experience, are pleased to announce that their systems are integrating to better serve their customers.

The first episode of UNLOCKED: The PGA Show will premiere Friday, January 23, marking the launch of a highly engaging, shoppable video series that brings the industry-only PGA Show to golf fans and consumers worldwide via online access. Created by PGA Golf Exhibitions and NBTV, the innovators behind the patented Buy Bar™ video commerce technology and premium entertainment productions, the series continues with Episode Two airing Saturday, January 24, and Episode Three on Thursday, January 29, with all episodes available by midnight EST.

Pro Golf Weekly, a digital golf newsletter and website that has been delivering in-depth coverage of the pro golf world since 2016, is pleased to announce that acclaimed journalist and golf travel writer Klea Armstrong has joined its team of writers. Klea Armstrong, a Philadelphia native living in Saratoga Springs, New York, has written for scores of golf publications over a 10-year career.

Founder and CEO of AiSensor Inc., Terry Hashimoto is pleased to provide all BodiTrak owners software that is compatible with all working BodiTraks. The AiSensor.Live golf app is now available at the apple store; version 1.0.8 includes innovative new features not seen on any other Pressure Mapping platform plus everything the modern golf pressure mapping instructor could ever dream of. The new AiSensor.Live golf app includes a free 7-day trial to insure compatibility.

Brendon Elliott, PGA, announces the launch of his completely reimagined Full Virtual Private Coaching Program for 2026. The enhanced program leverages cutting-edge technology and expanded services to provide competitive teen golfers worldwide with unprecedented access to elite-level instruction. Students receive 2 hours of live virtual lessons via the Golf Live app, unlimited swing video analysis and messaging through CoachNow and Golf Live platforms, advanced performance tracking with SwingU, six monthly SportsBox AI analyses, and significant discounts on equipment from Cleveland Golf, Srixon, Paynter Golf, PrimePutt, and other premium brands.

Alphard Golf the company that brought the golf industry the “award winning electric caddy, (Cybercart) has partnered with PGA Magazine as a sponsor and even participant. We are excited to partner with the PGA Magazine team at upcoming events the 2026 PGA Show. Cox adds, “Rick Summers and Howard Derky have done a tremendous job in customizing a program that matches Alphard’s growth plans and distribution goals”.

‘In His Grip,’ a Nashville-based ministry, has partnered with Holman Bible Publishers to create a beautiful edition of God’s Word designed specifically for golfers. The easy-to-carry softbound Bible has a durable Smyth-sewn lay-flat binding, gilded page edges, and a special devotional section with helpful analogies for golf and life from a biblical perspective. Most impressively, this Christian Standard Bible is filled with full-color golf-themed inserts that connect the golfer to scripture through the game.  

The Breakthrough Golf Alliance, formerly known as the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, announces the opening of its online auction held in conjunction with the inaugural Alliance Cup Charity Scramble. The auction runs from Friday, January 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern through Monday, January 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern.

The International Network of Golf (ING) Spring Forum is headed to a new, exciting destination for the group, The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in beautiful and historic Savannah, GA. The event, scheduled for June 1-4, will be headquartered at the Thompson Hotel.

1️⃣ Imperial headwear and apparel manufacturer acquired Winston Collection, a distinguished accessories brand headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Imperial will continue to operate the business under the Winston Collection name.

2️⃣ COBRA Golf’s 3DP Iron family grows to three sets that cover the full range of handicaps. The two new models joining the 3DP TOUR are the 3DP MB and 3DP X.

3️⃣ Golf Live and Topgolf, the modern golf entertainment leader, announced a strategic alliance. Together, aim to create a unified, tech-forward ecosystem that seamlessly blends in-person instruction, virtual coaching, community and breakthrough performance technology.

4️⃣ Tour Edge announced the launch of its new Hot Launch golf balls, expanding the company’s growing presence in the golf ball category. At the center of the Hot Launch golf ball is a high-speed AccuSonic™ Core engineered to maximize ball speed at impact.

5️⃣ ECCO GOLF announced the addition of PGA TOUR star Aaron Rai to its tour ambassador lineup. Rai joins a diverse and world-class group of ECCO GOLF ambassadors, including Thorbjørn Olesen, Thomas Bjørn, Erik van Rooyen, Lydia Ko, Lin Xiyu, and Freddy Schott.