Shangri-La purchased, renovations planned

Eddy Gibbs, owner of Ameristar Fence based in Owasso, has purchased Shangri-La Resort on Grand Lake from Peter Boylan III for an undisclosed sum.

Gibbs has announced plans to build a 6,000-square foot clubhouse and reopen at least nine holes of the Gold Course, which was closed by Boylan in 2009. The Blue Course, a 7,012-yard Don Sechrest design often ranked as one of the better public access courses in the state, remains open.

Boylan, who changed the name of the property to The Peninsula during his time as owner, had plans to build a four-star resort complete with hotel, restaurants and a conference center. The former conference center was razed, all that remains is the former lodge including 28 hotel rooms and it is gutted and ready for demolition. The new pro shop will on the course at an undetermined location.

OGA appoints Mark Felder as executive director

Mark Felder has been appointed executive director of the Oklahoma Golf Association by the board of directors.

Felder, who has been the OGA's tournament director since 2002, will continue to direct OGA championships in addition to his new role.

Felder, who also has a background in golf as a PGA professional as well as an OGA administrator, replaces Steve Eckroat, who was "terminated for cause" in December according to earlier OGA statements. SCG has learned that Eckroat was released for financial irregularities relating to his accounting duties with the OGA.

TaylorMade rolls out new Rossa putters

Carlsbad, Calif. - TaylorMade Golf has introduced three new premium Rossa putters, crafted by the company's in-house putter craftsman, Kia Ma. The new lineup consists of two blades (Daytona and Monaco) and one mallet (Fontana Tour). Each one is 100 percent milled end-to-end from 304 stainless steel, and is enveloped in a combination of high-polish and Silver Mist finishes. Designed with the input of numerous tour professionals, each putter is crafted to meet the discriminating player's need for exquisite form, feel and function.

In terms of technology, every Rossa TP by Kia Ma features a Titallium insert and patented AGSI®+ technology to promote true roll, negating back spin and promoting forward spin for great control. Each one also features Movable Weight Technology™ with Micro-Movable weights, which allow you to change the putterhead weight by fine degrees, allowing you to fine-tune the feel to suit your unique preference and stroke.

Acushnet sells Cobra line to Puma

Acushnet Company, the golf business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), announced today that it has signed an agreement for the sale of Cobra Golf to PUMA AG.  The sale includes the Cobra brand, as well as related inventory, intellectual property and endorsement contracts, and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Acushnet also announced plans to continue to provide services for an agreed upon period of time beyond the closing of the sale to facilitate a seamless transition.  Services such as production, distribution, field sales and customer service will ensure that Acushnet Company's Cobra trade accounts and golfers continue to receive industry-leading service during this transition period.

New Champions Tour event on Gulf Coast attracts star-studded field

Biloxi, Miss. - Twelve major golf championship winners and six members of the World Golf Hall of Fame have already committed to playing at the inaugural Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic April 28-May 2 at Fallen Oak.

If you're considering a golf trip to the Gulf Coast this spring and want to catch some of the greats of golf at the same time as well as see one of Tom Fazio's best courses, this is the time.

Weather worse than economy for golf

By Ken MacLeod

Golf has proven it can weather an economic storm. Real storms have a more dire effect.

The poor economy was a topic of much conversation throughout last summer, but public course rounds in the Tulsa area were flat or slightly ahead in many cases through September.

The weather turned hostile in October and public courses have been reeling since.

Typically a strong month for rounds in this area, October was the second coldest on record in Oklahoma and many parts of the state endured up to 21 days of precipitation. Rounds plummeted and - after a brief respite in early November - have been falling since.

Average temperatures in December were more than five degrees below normal and 2.7 degrees below normal in January, according to the National Weather Service. There were 10 days in December and 11 in January in which the high temperature exceeded 50 degrees, but on many of those days there was still snow on the ground or courses were closed from being too soggy.

At Bailey Ranch in Owasso, Director of Golf Corey Burd counts an open day as one in which 15 or more rounds are played, factoring in there are a few diehards who will play in about any conditions. The course was then "open" six days in December, nine days in January and four days in February through the 24th. There were 751 rounds played during that time compared to 2,045 a year ago and 3,066 as recently as 2006.

"Easily the worst stretch I've gone through since I came here in 1999," Burd said.