Golf News – October 3, 2024

COBRA Golf™ Introduces King™ Black Edition Tour and King™ Black Edition CB/MB Players Irons With Unmatched Durable Black Finish

CARLSBAD, CA – COBRA Golf™, a leader in golf club innovation, today introduced the new KING™ BLACK EDITION TOUR and KING™ BLACK EDITION CB and MB irons. Aimed at more advanced players, the three ultra-premium forged iron designs cover the full spectrum of advanced golfers who value premium feel and shot shaping ability.

All three models, which were initially introduced in a chrome finish, now feature a black DBM (Diamondized Black Metal) finish. COBRA’s most durable, DBM is a visually appealing, black satin finish that diffuses sunlight, helping to maintain a sleek look over a long period of time, while offering extreme resistance to wear for longer lasting, better-looking irons.

Like their chrome counterparts, the KING Black Edition irons are constructed from 1025 carbon steel using COBRA®’s 5-Step Forging Process. While other forged irons have traditionally used a four-step process, COBRA® utilizes a fifth forging strike to deliver unmatched soft feel and precise shaping.

The forging process begins by heating carbon steel billets to 1200-degree Celsius. The billets are then Rough Forged three times (steps 1-3), a process in which the metal is bent and forged to form the rough shaping of an iron head. Step Four involves applying 1200 tons of pressure at 800-degrees Celsius to each rough clubhead, refining the shapes and placing detail lines and logos. During the final fifth step, each iron head is subjected to 2000 tons of pressure at 700-degrees Celsius, forming an extremely uniform grain structure. After cooling, each clubhead is polished and made ready for the faces and grooves to be precision milled using a CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) machine.

Benefits of COBRA®’s 5-Step Forging Process include: More precise shaping, tighter weight tolerances, improved consistency of loft and lies, improved face thickness consistency, improved aesthetics and reduced glare, as well as significantly enhanced feel at impact.

The KING™ BLACK EDITION TOUR irons ($1399/7-piece set) blend soft feel and playability with enhanced distance and forgiveness. A key to the enhanced forgiveness and overall performance of COBRA®’s KING BLACK TOUR irons are CNC undercuts in the back cavity of each iron, which allow weight to be repositioned from high center to lower center and heel and toe areas of the clubhead, creating improved launch conditions and more forgiveness on off center hits. These cavities progress from deeper in the long irons for enhanced stability to shallower in the short irons for enhanced control. To improve feel, each CNC undercut is filled with a soft TPU material and topped with an aluminum co-molded medallion, which dampens vibration for a more pleasing sound and feel at impact. The TOUR model also features 2-degree stronger lofts than the CB & MB irons for more explosive distance off the face. The TOUR irons are available in 3i-GW (RH/LH), with the stock set offered in 4-PW in RH only. LH sets are available in custom. Limited edition all-black Lamkin Crossline grip and limited edition KBS $-Taper steel shafts with black PVD finish in Stiff flex come standard. Chrome finish available through custom order.

The KING™ BLACK EDITION CB/MB irons ($1299/7-piece set) feature the most compact shapes in the KING™ lineup and are built with attributes that better players typically desire including thinner toplines, minimal offset, thinner soles, and shorter blade lengths for enhanced shot-shaping ability. Due to the precision of the 5-Step Forging Process, the CB and MB irons feature perfectly centered CG locations without the need for added Tungsten. The CB irons, which possess a more forgiving cavity back shape with slightly more offset, can be mixed with the traditional MB muscle back irons for customizable set configurations to fit gapping and aesthetic preferences. The stock set is available in a flow combo that comes with the CB model in the 4-6 irons and the MB model in the 7-PW. Both CB and MB right-hand models are also available as full sets in 3i-GW through custom (Left-hand is only available in full MB and flow set). Limited edition all-black Lamkin Crossline grips and limited edition KBS $-Taper steel shafts with black PVD finish come standard. Chrome finish available through custom order.

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All three KING BLACK EDITION irons are eligible to receive complimentary Arccos Smart Sensors and a free trial of the award-winning Arccos App.

Visit COBRA golf HERE

Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort Completes Multi-Million Dollar Ocean Point Golf Links Renovation

FRIPP ISLAND, SC – Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort today announced the completion of an extensive multi-million dollar renovation of its acclaimed Ocean Point golf course, led by the Dye Designs Group (DDG) to modernize the original George Cobb layout. The course is now reopen for member and Resort guest play.

Since opening in 1964, Ocean Point Golf Links has long stood out as a premier seaside course, featuring five holes with unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and celebrated for its small, well-bunkered greens and sweeping Lowcountry vistas. To deliver an elevated playing experience, every hole on the course was given a significant design upgrade. The result has dramatically improved the visual appeal and playing experience, further elevating its attraction for members of the Fripp Island Club and stay-and-play Resort guests.

The completed vision of the acclaimed mother-son architect team, Cynthia Dye McGarey and Matt McGarey involved the reshaping of more than 50 bunkers, including adding 11 new greenside bunkers. DDG also incorporated new fairway bunkers, added 5.5 acres of waste area, and added and or leveled multiple tee boxes and constructed native dunes to increase both play and visual appeal for members and Resort guests alike.

The final phase of the renovation will see more than 13,000 native plants added to the course – a testament to both the Resort’s and DDG’s commitment to sustainable course design, a key driver in the selection of DDG for the project. 

The completion of the renovation marks another milestone for Seascape Hospitality Group since its purchase of the Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort in 2023. 

“We are delighted to work with the world-renowned Dye Designs Group team to bring our shared vision for Ocean Point to life,” says John Scappatura, Chief Operating Officer of Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort. “The end result has exceeded our expectations and we are confident that our members and guests will enjoy this refreshed layout that offers a fun and rewarding experience through our beautiful Lowcountry surroundings.” 

“Ocean Point epitomizes the best of the Lowcountry golf, something my family knows well,” says Matt McGarey, senior design associate, Dye Designs Group. “We enjoyed partnering with the Fripp Island Resort to bring about a more modern playing experience that capitalizes on the unique Lowcountry elements – all with an eye toward the intent of Mr. Cobb’s original design.”

Golf Course Services Inc., a leader in golf course construction and maintenance, served as construction partner on the project. Since its founding, Golf Course Services Inc. has constructed some of the finest resorts, public, private and municipal golf courses and facilities in the Southeast and collaborated with architects such as Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones and Greg Norman. 

Ocean Point was recently named one of the Best Classic Courses in South Carolina for 2024 by the members of the SC Golf Course Ratings Panel. The refreshed layout further capitalizes on the stunning coastline of the island, which was already named a top five golf course in South Carolina by GolfPass. 

The Fripp Island Golf & Beach Club Resort is also home to the Davis Love III designed Ocean Creek course, host of the Big South Men’s and Women’s golf championships. The course features a modern design, with five holes edged by marsh, and another six holes incorporating interior wetlands, preserved and connected to the course through a network of wooden walkways and bridges.

Fripp Island is the perfect destination to play golf, family style. Resort guests can explore the best of Fripp Island with the stay-and-play service, combining a diverse selection of vacation rentals with premier Lowcountry golf on both courses. In addition to great golf, guests enjoy full access to all Resort amenities, including restaurants, bars, pools, marina, tennis/pickleball courts and equestrian facilities.

Visit Fripp Island Resort HERE

Nippon Shaft Player Wins Japan Women’s Open

CARLSBAD, CA – The winner of the Japan Women’s Open used N.S.PRO MODUS³ Tour 120 steel shafts in her irons and wedges enroute to a 2-shot victory, Sept. 29, at Ohtone Country Club in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture.

It was the seventh JLPGA victory this year for the up-and-coming 21-year-old star, who shot 10-under par and earned 30 million yen ($213,000). A few years ago, while still in high school, she was low amateur in the same event. Earlier this season she won the JLPGA Championship, giving her two JLPGA major championships, and she now sits 26th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

“Nippon Shaft would like to congratulate the winner of the Japan Women’s Open,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft. “We are thrilled that she trusts our MODUS³ Tour 120 model shafts to give her the kind of feel she needs to go out and play championship golf.”

More than 300 players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour and Korn Ferry Tour use Nippon Shaft’s MODUS³ series steel shafts to help gain their desired distance, accuracy, and trajectory.

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands.

Visit Nippon Shafts HERE

Michael Feland
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