Welcome to the pre-US Open edition of the Pellucid Perspective. Beyond the Perspective facts and figures in each issue, our Publications subscribers and Golf Market Research Center (GMRC) have seen the May Essential 8 KPI scorecard covering: Golf Revenue, Rounds Played, Avg. Rate/Rd, Capacity Rounds, % Utilization, Golf Revenue-per-Available Round, Avg. Peak WE Greens Fee (rate card changes) and % Effective Greens Fee (discount levels and change); see below for links to “be in the know.” Publisher Jim K. channels Larry Ellison’s business advice of always operating in a healthy state of paranoia looking at likely avenues to finding the next growth phase as we see some natural leveling of the post-COVID era.

Chris Cote’s Golf Shop, a longtime fixture on the Connecticut golf scene for 17 years, continues to elevate the player experience at their award-winning facilities in Southington and Portland through their ongoing investment in Power Tee automatic teeing systems. The Southington facility of Chris Cote’s Golf Shop features 30 Power Tee bays, establishing one of the most advanced and efficient practice environments in the region. The Portland location includes 20 outdoor Power Tee bays.

The Traveling Golf Diva Podcast, hosted by Doris Muscarella, is seeking strategic sponsors and brand partners interested in connecting with an engaged audience of women golfers, travelers, entrepreneurs, and lifestyle enthusiasts. Launched with the mission of empowering and inspiring women to explore the world, embrace the game of golf, and express their unique style on and off the course, The Traveling Golf Diva Podcast has quickly become a destination for conversations centered around golf, luxury travel, fashion, wellness, business, and unforgettable adventures.

I GOT THIS Foundation® has been selected to receive a 2026 Make Golf Your Thing Grassroots Grant, a nationwide initiative supporting organizations that expand access to golf and create opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented communities. Administered by the American Golf Industry Coalition and supported by industry partners, the Make Golf Your Thing Grassroots Grants Program is distributing $500,000 to 69 organizations in 2026. Since launching in 2021, the program has awarded $3.5 million in grants to 200 organizations nationwide.

The National Alliance for Accessible Golf (the Alliance) announces the historic inaugural 2026 class of inductees into the Adaptive Golf Hall of Fame. Established in December 2025, the Hall of Fame was created to recognize individuals with a career of exemplary and selfless service and commitment to creating pathways to the game of golf for individuals with disabilities; including players who, beyond competing at the highest levels, advocated and brought golfers to the game.

For those considering a launch monitor for both home and the driving range and are looking for something that’s affordable and high-quality, the new Omni from Square Golf might be the perfect fit. At around $1,600, it is priced far less than many competitors’ compatible launch monitors, which can be thousands of dollars more. And unsurprisingly, the Omni delivers significantly more performance than most launch monitors that cost less. Our resident expert on such matters, Jon Sherman, says that the Square Golf Omni launch monitor is a compelling and cost-effective choice for anyone looking to build a simulator-first setup.

ARETERA Golf expands its newest line of performance woods shafts: the AO2, with the globally anticipated ultra-light profile. Engineered for stability first, players looking to maximize their speed can now experience the best of both worlds: velocity and control. The new AO2 35 Blue is available in three flexes, 2, 3, and 4, boasting best-in-class torque (5.2º, 5.1º, and 4.9º, respectively). A high resistance to twist translates to improved consistency and forgiveness from off-center contact.

McLemore Resort announces both of its championship golf courses, The Keep and the Highlands Course, were recognized by Golfweek in their latest rankings of the “Best Courses You Can Play, State-by-State” and “Best Modern Courses” in the country.The Keep received additional acclaim in the publication’s “Top 200 Modern Courses” rankings, as it was tabbed 80th in the nation. Recognizing the best public and private courses built in or after 1960, this ranking placed The Keep in an elite class alongside courses such as Desert Forest in Arizona, the Sedge Valley Course at Sand Valley in Wisconsin and Secession in South Carolina. 

Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona has initiated a significant enhancement project focusing on its practice facilities and water storage systems, aiming to elevate the member experience and improve resource management. Construction began on May 1, 2026, and is being led by golf course architect Phil Smith, the late Tom Weiskopf’s design partner. The $4.3-million-dollar project is expected to take six months to complete. The redesigned practice facility will feature expanded tee space on the practice range, a larger putting green mirroring slopes found on the golf course, and a 50,000-square-foot short game practice area. 

The PGA of America, KPMG LLP and LPGA Tour announced today the field for the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to be played June 25-28 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship annually delivers one of the strongest fields in women’s golf. The 2026 field features all of the top 100 players in the current Race to CME Globe Rankings.

An inside look at COBRA Golf’s stunning HQ…   In this episode, COBRA’s Chad DeHart and Andrew Lusty walk Mitch and Joe through their newest driver family — the OPTM LS, OPTM X, OPTM MAX-K, and OPTM MAX-D — breaking down who each model is built for and how they’re designed to perform. From factory insights to real-world fitting perspective, this is a behind-the-scenes look at OPTM straight from the source. WATCH

PGA Professional Heidi Richardson from Encinitas Ranch GC explains how a simple ball toss can teach better weight shift. Be sure to check out @TheSCGA on YouTube for more SCGA Swing Tip videos and visit pga.com/coach/heidirichardson to learn more about instruction from Heidi Richardson. WATCH

We knew we had something special with the VZN.1i, but would a two-time PGA Tour winner agree? Watch as Garrick Higgo gets his first look at the VZN.1i. WATCH