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Gene Yasuda

Stories by Gene

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Tour lands NEC to back Latin American circuit

The PGA Tour Latinoamerica has gained NEC Corp. as an umbrella sponsor, a milestone deal underscoring the circuit's potential and the region's promise for golf and industry.

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Southwest Airlines, Adams create marketing alliance

Southwest Airlines and Adams Golf form mutually beneficial partnership to pursue their independent marketing objectives.

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A woman's touch: Johnson brings new perspective to USGA

Sheila Johnson, former co-founder of BET, now is a USGA Executive Committee member. She represents a potential catalyst who has the wherewithal to ignite interest among golf's most underrepresented constituents.

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Toy Box: Merrick enters winner's circle

John Merrick enters the winner's circle with Titleist and Phil Mickelson's search for a 3-wood continues in this week's Toy Box notes.

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FootJoy goes minimal with M:PROJECT

The minimalist footwear movement has gained another major advocate: FootJoy. The concept, which first gained popularity in running, preaches shoe design and construction that enables the foot to move as if it was essentially barefoot.

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Rounds up 6.1 percent through November '12

Rounds played in the U.S. increased 2.6 percent in November, helping year-to-date gains stay above 6 percent, according to the latest monthly figures.

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Nike Golf signs McIlroy as global athlete

In a global press conference from Abu Dhabi, Rory McIlroy introduced himself Jan. 14 as the Swoosh's next leading man.

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Preview: Building a foundation to grow the game

When PGA of America executives unveiled Golf 2.0 last year, they insisted their plan to increase participation would be different. Indeed, Golf 2.0 isn’t a single initiative, but a long-term strategy employing a variety of activities, each targeting different consumer groups.

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My Year in Golf: Gene Yasuda

Our Gene Yasuda reflects on a watershed moment in the industry's efforts to grow the game, golf's enduring appeal and capitalizing on a chance to fulfill the sport's growth potential.

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PGA Junior League Golf aims to attract youth

As a club manager for nearly 40 years, Dennis Johnsen has witnessed his share of grow-the-game initiatives. More often than not, he says, their hype outweighs their results.

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First Links: A blueprint for golf 'bunny slopes'

Placing the uninitiated golfer on the first tee of a course stretching 7,000 yards or more makes as much sense as letting a newly licensed driver on a German autobahn.

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Familial approach: Raven GC engages kids, parents

Phoenix’s Raven Golf Club engages parents, kids with creative programs.

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Lewis takes junior golf instruction straight to schools

What started as a way to complement his PGA duties now has PGA pro Troy Lewis managing as many as a dozen part-time instructors at nearly 40 golf schools annually in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Golf answers urgent call to grow the game

Golf 2.0. It’s a title that will become part and parcel of the game this year, lexicon that will roll off the tongues of Jack Nicklaus, U.S. Golf Association and PGA of America executives, TV commentators and just about anybody who’s anybody in golf. But what exactly is it?

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GolfTEC inspires more, and better, play

Joe Assell, co-founder of GolfTEC, which delivers 21st-century, technology-based instruction rather than Band-Aid swing fixes, is addressing a frequently overlooked aspect in the industry’s efforts to grow the game: poor player retention.

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Clubmakers fear restraint but don't anticipate big hit

The anchoring controversy reveals yet again the uneasy coexistence between governing bodies and manufacturers.

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CME Group signs Lincicome to sponsorship deal

CME Group, title sponsor of the LPGA's CME Group Titleholders tournament, is investing in another of the tour's assets – not an event, but one of its players.

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U.S. rounds played up 7.4% through September

Rounds played in the U.S. increased 5.2 percent in September and posted a more robust 7.4 percent gain through the first nine months of the year.

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Els turns to IMG for management

IMG, the management and marketing giant, announced today the signing of Ernie Els to a representation deal, marking a rebound for the firm beset by recent agent and player defections.

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The First Tee’s fundraising effort tops $106 million

The First Tee wants to impact the lives of an additional 10 million youth by 2017. Financing that goal is becoming a reality.

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PGA Tour to take control of Canadian Tour

The PGA Tour has announced that it will take operational control of the Canadian Tour, forming PGA Tour Canada.

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Shoe Month: Innovation leads to array of choices

In the final installment of "Shoe Month," Golfweek.com casts the spotlight on another sampling of the varied footwear options available today.

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Shoe Month: Action-sports heritage defines Oakley

Oakley aspires to become a major golf brand. But rather than court the masses, it'll target a young, contemporary audience that'll appreciate the technology Oakley brings from action sports.

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Shoe Month: Alternative traction becoming norm

Spikeless, hybrid or lifestyle shoes. Regardless of what golfers may call them, footwear without replaceable cleats is fast becoming an industry norm.

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Shoe Month: Tour-caliber to casual, choices aplenty

Golfweek.com's "Shoe Month" continues to showcase the latest and greatest. Here's another sampling of new offerings.

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Shoe Month: Puma adds fun with bursts of color

Puma is a relative newcomer to golf footwear. But bolstered by its pairing with Cobra Golf, the brand is shaking up the category with bursts of color and trendy looks.

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Shoe Month: The man behind Tiger's TW '13

Tobie Hatfield may not have been schooled as a shoe designer, but his innate ability to understand athletes' needs has made him one of Nike's top inventors. His latest project: Creating the TW '13 for Tiger Woods.

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Shoe Month: Options abound for style and function

Golfers' demands for footwear performance never have been higher. And shoemakers have responded by creating shoes that tackle just about every need. Here's another round of new offerings.

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Shoe Month: Street-savvy Ecco aims to build on success

Ecco transformed the golf footwear category with its Street Premiere shoe. Now, it's seeking an encore by taking hybrid shoes mainstream.

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Omega upgrades PGA marketing deal

Swiss watchmaker Omega upgraded its partnership with the PGA of America, timing the launch of new marketing initiatives with the upcoming Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club.

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Shoe Month: Natural motion set for big gains

"Natural-motion" or "minimalist" footwear has revolutionized the running-shoe market. With the promise of providing better balance, more comfort and smoother tempo, will it do the same in golf?

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Shoe Month: Spectrum of choices for golfers

Golfers' demands for footwear performance never have been higher. And shoemakers have responded by creating shoes that tackle just about every need. Here's a look at some of the new offerings.

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Shoe Month: MyJoys customizes style and comfort

Launched as an experiment in 2004, FootJoy's custom-design program has grown into a major consumer service that allows for more than 500,000 style, color and material combinations.

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Shoe Month: R&D transforms shoes into performance gear

Force plates, 3D-motion analysis and simulators. Footwear design has become a high-tech affair, and the result makes much more than a fashion statement. Golfweek.com's Shoe Month begins today and shows how footwear can change your game.

Northern Texas PGA teams with school golf initiative

Gene Yasuda says the partnership between TGA Premier Junior Golf and the Northern Texas PGA promises to build a "pathway" between schools and courses.

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U.S. rounds played dip slightly in July

Rounds played dipped slightly in July, but maintained a nearly double-digit percentage gain through the first seven months of the year, according to the latest participation report.

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Coalition puts dent in Chinese counterfeiting

A coalition of U.S. equipment makers battling illegal goods scored a victory when a Chinese court sentenced a counterfeiter to a four-year prison term.

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PGA of America, eBay launch online retail venture

The PGA of America unveiled The Pro Shops, an e-commerce venture with eBay offering consumers the opportunity to buy new and used golf equipment.

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On-course equipment sales top '11 pace

Spurred by increased play, equipment sales at on-course shops through the first half of 2012 trended well ahead of last year's pace.

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Rounds played up through first half of 2012

With only New England and the south-Atlantic region of the U.S. posting declines, rounds played nationally increased in June and maintained double-digit percentage growth through the first half of 2012.

PGA of America to support Sticks for Kids

Gene Yasuda says the PGA of America, in its full-court press to grow the game, is helping expand the Sticks for Kids program.

PGA of America's team golf targets youth, parents

Gene Yasuda says PGA of America's version of team golf for youngsters – replete with uniforms and jersey numbers – could be golf's answer to Little League Baseball.

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PGA Tour Superstore makes northeast foray

Continuing its aggressive expansion, PGA Tour Superstore announced July 30 its first foray into the northeast: a retail location to open later this year in Paramus, N.J.

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Web.com's deal comes with potential Tour business

Gene Yasuda says Web.com's sponsorship comes with Tour-driven opportunities to recoup its investment.

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Greenbrier and Shriners extend Tour sponsorships

The PGA Tour announced it secured long-term sponsorship commitments for two of its tournaments: The Greenbrier Classic and Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

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Midwest leads rounds-played gains in May

America’s Heartland led the nation in May with more than a 25 percent gain in rounds played, helping the U.S. sustain double-digit growth through the first five months of the year.

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Title IX's impact on society remains large

Forty years later, Title IX's impact on society as a whole remains large.

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Title IX's success offset by unintended results

Forty years ago, Title IX became law. The landmark legislation not only sparked women's athletics, but altered the business of college sports.

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First Links awards grow-the-game grants

The American Society of Golf Course Architects announced the inaugural group of grant recipients of its First Links program, which helps golf facilities create learning areas for beginners.

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Hilfiger nets sponsorship of Chelsea Piers

The Tommy Hilfiger Group, which relaunched its golf collection in 2011, has entered into a sponsorship deal with the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

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