Latest news with #Topgolf
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Seventy-two Special Olympics UAE athletes participate in Topgolf Tournament for People of Determination
26 July 2025 22:15 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Seventy-two Special Olympics UAE athletes represented the nation in the first-ever Special Olympics Topgolf Invitational Tournament for People of Determination in the region, a one-day virtual competition, held on July 26 at Topgolf venues in each participating country. Special Olympics athletes from the US and UK also event marks a significant milestone for inclusive sports in the UAE, especially for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By leveraging innovative technology and purposefully designed golf environments, the tournament aimed to expand participation and create more accessible sporting competition followed an eight-week national training programme that began in May, made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Special Olympics UAE and Topgolf Dubai. Athletes from across the country participated in structured training and national qualifiers, with 72 individuals ultimately selected to represent the UAE in this international were chosen based on time-based performance metrics, age eligibility, and consistent attendance; each athlete was required to complete at least 80% of the training to the nature of the sport and logistical challenges associated with large in-person gatherings, the tournament utilised Topgolf's advanced technology to facilitate parallel play across multiple levels. This enabled more than 36 athletes to compete simultaneously per floor, allowing for broader inclusion and a more dynamic tournament athletes were registered electronically and evaluated using competition-specific benchmarks. For the majority, this marked their first experience participating in a Topgolf competition, making the UAE's strong representation especially Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, stated: 'This tournament represents a new chapter in international empowerment for our athletes, made possible by the continued support of our wise leadership. The UAE remains committed to promoting the full inclusion of People of Determination, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through meaningful opportunities in sport and beyond.'He added, 'Our athletes made us proud and carried the UAE flag with pride. The tournament strengthened their confidence and opened the door to further opportunities for growth and sports excellence.'Mike Walton, General Manager of Topgolf Dubai, commented: 'We are proud to have hosted this first-of-its-kind virtual event in partnership with Special Olympics International. The dedication and progress shown by the athletes over the past eight weeks were truly inspiring. We believe this initiative reinforces the inclusive potential of golf and our shared commitment to making the sport accessible to all.' The tournament was organised in coordination with a global working group comprising Special Olympics International, Special Olympics Texas, and Topgolf. Together, they developed a comprehensive virtual competition framework and technical standards to ensure fair and equitable play. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
UAE Special Olympics athletes take a shot at region's first Topgolf event to make sports more inclusive
More than 70 Special Olympic athletes in the UAE played with confidence as they competed in the region's first Topgolf tournament for people with development and intellectual disabilities. The athletes took part in the Special Olympics Topgolf Invitational Tournament in Dubai on Saturday after two months of training with coaches and trainers as part of an effort to make all sports more inclusive. The athletes took on other Special Olympics athletes at Topgolf venues in the US and the UK in a one-day competition. It was a day of excitement for the 72 athletes, all beginners in a sport that is not easily accessible to people with special needs. Emirati national Salma Al Salami, 21, described it as a 'great' feeling. 'I have been practising regularly and improving, now I really understand the game,' she said. 'In the beginning, I didn't know how to play but now I can.' The training helped her learn to control her swing and guide the ball to the target. 'It made me happy and I'm proud to represent the UAE,' said Ms Salami, who also runs, plays table tennis and represented the UAE in snowshoeing at the Special Olympics World Games in Turin in March. New chapter for UAE Talal Al Hashemi, national director of Special Olympics UAE, said the tournament strengthened the confidence of athletes and opened the door to further opportunities. "This tournament represents a new chapter in international empowerment for our athletes,' he said. 'Our athletes made us proud and carried the UAE flag with pride. The UAE remains committed to promoting the full inclusion of people of determination, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through meaningful opportunities in sport and beyond.' More than 90 UAE Special Olympics athletes including Emirati citizens and various nationalities who live in the UAE were part of the national training programme that began in May. They learnt the basics from gripping a club, taking a swing, playing strokes and were supported with training and coaching twice a week at Topgolf Dubai. Indian athlete Dinal Ekanayake, 19, said he enjoyed the energy of the sport. 'It was amazing, I loved every moment. There's a lot of great athletes here,' said Mr Ekanayake who also enjoys riding, tennis, cycling, swimming and basketball. 'I feel very happy here. I learnt how to swing from my coach.' Making golf accessible Watching the Special Olympics athletes play with fluidity and interact with others was heartening for Amr Badawi, head of sports and training for Special Olympics UAE. 'Usually it's hard to introduce golf to our Special Olympics athletes because of the nature of this sport and vast golf grounds,' he said. 'In Special Olympics UAE we have a limited number of maybe five athletes in golf. Now after impactful training we have 70 athletes and that's great.' Unlike traditional golf, Topgolf is played throughout the year. Microchips in the golf balls track the distance and accuracy of athletes who are required to hit targets scattered over multiple floors. 'With these vertical playgrounds, you can have 36 players on each floor so we had about 100 athletes playing in the same place for one hour. This was huge access for our athletes,' Mr Badawi said. 'They got technical support that gave them fundamental skills. But there is the other side of the story, which is building relationships, friendships and feeling part of the community. It was amazing to see their smiles and interaction with the Topgolf team and the golf academy members as friends.' Mike Walton, general manager of Topgolf Dubai, said they were proud to host a first-of-its-kind virtual event in partnership with Special Olympics International. 'The dedication and progress shown by the athletes over the past eight weeks was truly inspiring. We believe this initiative reinforces the inclusive potential of golf and our shared commitment to making the sport accessible to all,' he said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Heading for the Olympic Club: Five First Coast players are in the U.S. Amateur field
The U.S. Junior Amateur championship match is on July 26 and there isn't much of a turnaround before many of the participants will be traveling across the country to the Olympic Club in San Francisco for the U.S. Amateur Aug. 11-17. That includes Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach and Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, who went deep at the Junior Amateur and were already exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Am. Mawhinney is seeking a second USGA national championship. He and Will Hartman, who will be teammates at Vanderbilt in 2026, won the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in New Jersey in May. Four other area players are in the field through local qualifying: Carson Brewer and Ryan Nicholson of Ponte Vedra Beach, Ryan Gear of St. Augustine and Luke Balaskiewicz of Jacksonville. The U.S. Amateur was last at the Olympic Club in 2007, when future PGA Tour players locked up in the championship match. Colt Knost defeated Michael Thompson 2 and 1. Topgolf sponsoring contest for Dads Topgolf is sponsoring a nationwide contest to pick one lucky father who will be the a "Dadtern" with a series of perks from the entertainment center. One lucky father will get a free one-year Topgolf Platinum Membership that comes with unlimited practice time, a $2,000 gift card for Topgolf merchandise or meals and a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. Fathers can apply for the "Dadtern" through Aug. 8 by going to and giving contact information, date of birth and one reason why they should be the "Dadtern." Deerwood, Travis Fulton Golf partner The Deerwood Country Club announced a partnership with Travis Fulton Golf and will bring Fulton's "brand and visibility," according to a news release, to the Southside private club. Deerwood members will benefit from a year-round platform of private instruction, clinics, junior development, women's programs and golf schools. The program, which begins on Aug. 1, is tailored to a private club membership. Travis Fulton Golf has studios in Ponte Vedra and downtown Jacksonville, as well as the Forescore sports bar on Gate Parkway. Fulton was with Golf Channel, where he was the instructional host for programs such as 'On The Range' and 'Morning Drive." He is a regular contributor to Golf Digest and PGA Tour Entertainment. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miles Russell, Tyler Mawhinney lead First Coast contingent in U.S. Amateur
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Find Your Happy Place: Topgolf Celebrates the Premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 with a Limited-Edition Odyssey Hockey Stick Putter Giveaway at all U.S. Venues
DALLAS, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Golf fans, comedy lovers and Happy Gilmore diehards – get ready to channel your inner Happy. In celebration of the highly anticipated premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix July 25, Topgolf has partnered up with the global streaming service to tee up an epic giveaway. Topgolf venues across the U.S. will become the ultimate Happy Gilmore 2 fan zone this summer as Players have the chance to win a new, limited-edition Odyssey Hockey Stick putter made by Odyssey – the very same putter used by Happy in the new movie – Sunday, July 27, and August 1-3. How It Works:During game play on July 27 and again the weekend of August 1–3, Players who dispense a golden ball will win the Happy Gilmore 2 limited-edition Odyssey Hockey Stick putter and a tube sock headcover on the spot. Venues will give away two putters total – one per weekend – making this a seriously exclusive prize. That's just two Players per Topgolf venue that will be lucky enough to take home this epic piece of golf movie history! Crafted by Odyssey, the number one putter on every major Tour for over 25 years, the Hockey Stick putter was specifically for Happy Gilmore 2. The unique design is as bold as Happy's backswing – and there are only a limited number that exist. Note: While Topgolf is our happy place, Happy Gilmore-style swings are not permitted. For official rules, please visit: What They Said Rodney Ferrell, Topgolf's Vice President Global Partnerships: "Happy Gilmore is a cult classic that disrupted how popular culture views the game of golf. Similarly, Topgolf has been doing the same thing since day one – redefining the game to be accessible for all to play and enjoy. With the highly anticipated sequel on the horizon, this partnership is a perfect match for anyone who loves to swing big, laugh loud, and find their happy place on or off the tee line." Whether you're a die-hard Happy fan, a casual moviegoer or just someone looking for a good time, come take a swing. You just might go home with more than bragging rights. About Topgolf A Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG) brand, Topgolf is the ultimate instigator of play. Thanks to our 100+ venues around the globe, powered by industry-leading Toptracer technology, we're leading the charge of modern golf. We offer a variety of tech-driven games, a top-tier food and drink menu, space to host large events, and a vibe focused on more play for all. To learn more, plan an event, or make plans to come play around, visit About Topgolf Callaway Brands Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG) is an unrivaled tech-enabled Modern Golf and active lifestyle company delivering leading golf equipment, apparel and entertainment, with a portfolio of global brands including Topgolf, Callaway Golf, TravisMathew, Odyssey and OGIO. "Modern Golf" is the dynamic and inclusive ecosystem that includes both on-course and off-course golf. Learn more at ABOUT THE FILMHappy Gilmore returns!RELEASE DATE: July 25, 2025DIRECTOR: Kyle NewacheckWRITERS: Tim Herlihy & Adam SandlerPRODUCERS: Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Jack Giarraputo, Robert SimondsEXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Judit Maull, Kevin Grady, Dennis Dugan, Barry Bernardi, David Bausch, Dan BullaCAST: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Chris McDonald, Benny Safdie, Ben Stiller, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, John Daly, Haley Joel Osment, Jackie Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Philip Schneider, Ethan Cutkosky, Conor Sherry, Kevin Nealon, Lavell Crawford, Kym Whitley, John Farley, Eric André, Martin Herlihy, Margaret Qualley, Keegan Bradley, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jack Nicklaus, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Will Zalatoris, Verne Lundquist, Austin Post, Marcello Hernandez, Travis Kelce, Eminem, Blake Clark, Oliver Hudson, Reggie Bush, Nikki Garcia, Becky Lynch, Tim Herlihy, Nelly Korda, Nancy Lopez, Boban Mfarjanovic, Paige Spiranac, Dan Patrick, Stephen A. Smith, Ken Jennings, Cam'ron, Scott Mescudi press@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Topgolf Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Wall Street's summer status symbol
It's summer on Wall Street. Thus, enter the polo shirt. Thus, enter the golf polo shirt. Thus, enter the moisture-wicking technical golf polo shirt with the logo of the fancy schmancy golf course you've played at — the ultimate flex. In the realm of hoity-toity sports, golf is among the hoity-toitiest. Sure, anyone can golf at public courses, and there's always Topgolf, but the most sought-after courses are at private clubs, generally open to members only (and their limited number of guests). The elitist, exclusive nature of the sport manifests in fashion — at least among a certain type of guy. Golf bros are low-key showing off to each other all the time, via polos and hats and other gear with logos of specific clubs and courses. Men I spoke with for this story describe the logoed gear as a "head nod," a "badge of honor," a "talisman," being "part of a secret society," and "like porn for golfing men." Most insist it's about starting a conversation — guy A recognizes guy B's logo at work or the airport bar, and they chat. Vince Sampson, a 50-something attorney in Virginia, tells me he thinks the logos are a good ice breaker. "You end up talking about everything but the logo," he says. But these are subtle status symbols, and ones that sometimes spur some snark. They have a hierarchy to them and an unspoken set of rules for how and when they can be worn. Wearing too many logos at once is tacky, lest you become a "Bag Tag Barry." If you wear a golf polo to the office — which a lot of guys do — expect some eye rolls from the stuffier types. The most important rule: Under no circumstances can you wear a logo from a course you haven't played. It's stolen valor. There's a certain type of guy — often with a certain-sized bank account — who seeks out status symbols. Maybe it's something quieter, like a specific cologne. Maybe it's a little louder, like an Eames chair or a watch. Maybe it screams, like a Ferrari. On the status symbol decibel scale, golf club logos whisper. They're one of those things that nobody cares about unless they really care — or know enough about golf course rankings to get why someone would care. "Golfers, we're just really weird and kind of self-absorbed as a sport, and it's this entire subculture," says Todd Schuster, better known publicly as Tron Carter, who's one of the hosts of "No Laying Up," a podcast for whom he describes as golf "sickos" like himself. "This is all going on, meanwhile, the rest of society just has no idea." Logoed merchandise is a revenue driver for golf courses. According to the Association of Golf Merchandisers, golf shops generate annual sales of over $1 billion a year, thanks to a growing assortment of golf merchandise and gear (including clothing that sometimes doesn't even comply with the course's dress code). Forbes estimated in 2022 that Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the Masters, makes $69 million in merchandise sales from the tournament alone. Historically, course golf pros ran shops, but today more courses are running their retail operations themselves, given how lucrative they are. The merch is a marketing opportunity, too. It's a way to quietly advertise to a target group of customers and generate envy and buzz. "With a course, if they want to be known as being this prestigious course or even a well-known resort course, you almost have to do this logo that you can market with your merch," says Ben Palet, a 30-something operations manager in Wisconsin who golfs multiple times a week. He compares the logo-peeking among golfers to an inside joke. Under no circumstances can you wear a logo from a course you haven't played. It's stolen valor. Alec Emerson, a 20-something trader in Chicago who's an avid golfer, wears a golf shirt to work almost every day in the summer. "Given that most of the best golf courses in the country are country club private courses, it is seen as a measure of clout of places that you've been — either, if you're lucky enough to be a member at a top, call it, 150 place, or you swim in these sort of finance circles," he says. "There's a lot of old money at these courses, and so there's this sort of conservative sense of in-group, out-group type thing going on." As we chat, he ticks off the names of various courses and logos and their significance. A managing director at a high-end firm in New York might be a member at Winged Foot. A Sleepy Hollow logo translates to "big shot." Masters merch is so ubiquitous it could actually be a "negative status symbol," depending on who you're asking. The real juice is in the Augusta National logo, "a whole different ball game" that means the person played there — at least in theory. "The No. 1 crime you can commit," he tells me, is buying a shirt on eBay from a course you haven't played. "It's so egregious." The logo ladder makes some sense, given the nature of the sport. The fact that the clubs are hard to get into — unlike a baseball diamond or basketball court — leads to a sense of scarcity, and exclusivity brings status. That you've been to an elite club is a signal of who you know (sometimes more than of how good you are at golf or how much you even like it). Some courses differentiate logos between merchandise for members and guests, or create logos for special events and tournaments, establishing an ultimate in-crowd ranking. And because golf attire isn't especially thrilling, for men in particular, the logos are a way to spice things up. "There's a lot you can glean from someone about what logo they're wearing," Schuster says. "If you're going to wear something to the Hamptons, you've got Sebonack out there, which is the new money, a little bit more loud club. You've got National Golf Links, which is as old-school golfing as it gets. Or you've got Shinnecock, which is as high society, traditional as it gets." The etiquette can be as dizzying as it can be ridiculous. Lots of people have lots of differing — and borderline catty — opinions about golf merch. One 50-something insurance professional in Chicago tells me golf attire in the office has long been a pet peeve of his. "Golf shirts are for the golf course," he says, adding that he once called one of his charges out for sporting the look in the wintertime. "I was like, 'Are we going golfing this afternoon?' And he kind of looked at me with a blank stare." A 30-something private equity professional in New York jokes that he sees a lot of "clowns" sporting golf shirts around Midtown Manhattan during the summer, while also acknowledging he's sometimes one of said clowns. It's not so much the shirts that bug him; it's the conversations he gets forced into with guys who aren't even good at the game that get on his nerves. "I'm like, 'Dude, come on, let's talk about something else.' And it's people who suck at golf, too," he says. Both spoke with me on the condition of anonymity out of fear of being ostracized over their hot takes. It's people who suck at golf, too. Nick Ribeiro, who runs Preserved Links, a private club for golf aficionados, tells me the problem isn't the logos; it's the people who get jealous of the logos because they haven't played a round at the elite clubs. They'll make comments — in jest-ish — about people flaunting the logos, or they make fun of the "rules" and who is and isn't following them. A lot of the envy is unspoken, he says: "mostly a cry session between those without logos with each other." And in his mind, they should just try harder to meet members so they can get in. "They haven't put in the effort or the work in order to meet a member at any given club and build a relationship with that person to be one of the 20 guests he's allowed to bring in a year," Ribeiro says. "Younger people, they do to an extent believe that they should just be able to walk through the gate, play the golf course, order whatever they want to order, and the club should just roll the red carpet out for them." Big-letter hats — as in baseball caps with block letters on them that are abbreviations or acronyms for certain clubs — are a point of contention among golfers. They were partially popularized by G/Fore, a golf and lifestyle brand, and its founder, who's a member of the Bel-Aire Golf Course and made "BACC" hats — a play on blood alcohol content — because the stereotype is that people drink a lot on the course. Now, they're ubiquitous, with different acronyms for different courses. Sampson tells me he finds them "distasteful." Schuster says they're "tacky," "corny," and "obnoxious." "Golf tends to be somewhat understated," he says. There's some disagreement about how many logos are allowed to be worn at once, too. "If somebody's just logoed out head to toe, all right, probably that person either is just a douche or has a total inferiority complex or just doesn't get it," Schuster says. A few people sent me a link to a document called "the sacred code of golf gear etiquette." Among the list of rules are no two of the same logo unless you're a member of the course, no driver headcover from a nonmember course, and no Masters gear unless you're under 18, over 65, or doing yard work. These supposed rules come with a wink and a nod, or as Ribeiro tells me, they're "half joke but def true." But as the saying goes, rules are made to be broken. Anthony Polcari, a 20-something consultant and "vibrant masculinity" influencer in Washington, DC, who goes by Tony P online, doesn't seem to sweat these cultural golf edicts. He likes the big letter hats. He thinks it's fine to bring Bluetooth speakers onto the golf course. Perhaps most horrifyingly, Polcari — gasp! — would absolutely wear a logo from a course he hasn't played, especially if the shirt is nice. "A lot of folks take things very, very seriously," he says. "It's kind of like how people, a lot of my followers, will get on me for why I put ketchup on a hot dog." Everyone else tells me that wearing a logo of a course you haven't played is the ultimate faux pas, because what if someone asked you about it? "It's almost the, I hesitate to say, sort of embarrassment of saying that you haven't been there. It might be awkward to have that as a conversation," says Sam Jones, a golf fashion influencer who goes by The Golf Fashion Guy online. "You're risking looking phony," says Don Bostic, the executive director at the Friars Golf Club, a virtual golf society. "I'm just going to feel weird," Sampson says. If somebody's just logoed out head to toe, all right, probably that person either is just a douche or has a total inferiority complex or just doesn't get it. I have to admit that I'm on Tony P's side here. If a stranger asks about the cute little insignia on your shirt, it's totally fine to blow them off or say it was a gift and move on. If you can bond over it, that's awesome! If not, that's fine, too! Who's played at what golf courses is a kind of lame thing to base a social power ranking on — it's probably good that golf is loosening up a little. "It's become more of a, I would say, less stuffy game, where the game is actually more reachable to the masses from an accessibility perspective and just a cultural perspective," Polcari says. There's also no guarantee the cool kids will think the logo is cool, in finance, among golf bros, or elsewhere. "The only status symbol on Wall Street is your W-2 or K-1," says Josh Brown, a cofounder of Ritholtz Wealth Management in New York, in an email. "Everything else is Mickey Mouse."
