The Troon Golf Experience for 2010 just got more rewarding with today’s launch of the “re-vamped” Troon Rewards program.

If you’re a long-time Troon Rewards Member, you’ll see little has changed about the program – but notice a lot has improved. Members still earn certificates towards free rounds, achieve elite status levels for discounts on golf and merchandise, and receive special offers and invites to exclusive member events.

What’s gotten better is the new “Play to Win” component, creating a chance to win free golf for a year, a golf trip to Turnberry, Scotland, Callaway Golf products & merchandise, and 200,000 more exciting prizes.

Play to Win

In addition to earning one point for ever dollar spent on green fees or merchandise at participating Troon Golf facilities, Troon Rewards Members will receive a game card for each paid round of golf.  Scratching the front of the card reveals either an instant-win prize or a collect-to-win opportunity. Collect-to-win prizes are earned by collecting all five letters to spell the word TROON. When all five are collected, you are entered into a drawing to win one of the 250 collect-to-win prizes.

Rewards Points

As a Troon Rewards Member, you earn one point for every dollar you spend on your own green fees or merchandise in the golf shop at participating, daily-fee facilities managed by Troon Golf.

Your rewards can add up quickly, so register in the golf shop or online at troonrewards.com and get started today. As an incentive, sign up for Troon Rewards and a one-year subscription to Golf Magazine (12 issues valued at $19.95) will be included with your first purchase of $20 - this is a refundable offer for existing magazine subscribers.

Member Rewards

Earn a certificate towards a free round of golf for every 750 points you collect

Reach elite status levels and receive additional discounts on golf and merchandise

Receive special offers and invitations to exclusive events

New for 2010 – receive a “Play to Win” game card

So, that’s all there is to it. The more you play, the more you save and the more chances you have to win free golf for a year or one of the instant-win prizes. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. As the prizes start rolling out, we’ll feature winners and their prizes – who knows, it could be you!

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Golf Magazine has named the “Best New Courses” of 2009 and three Troon Golf-managed courses made the list! The Jack Nicklaus-designed Red Ledges Golf Club in Heber City, Utah was named the No. 1 “Best New Private Course of the Year.” Sequoyah National Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones II in Cherokee, N.C. was named the No. 2 “Best New Course You can Play.”  On the global front, The Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki in the Dominican Republic was named the No. 2 “Best New International Course of the Year.”

(Click here for Golf Magazine’s complete list)

Here’s a short slideshow demonstrating why these three properties were named to the prestigious list.

Noted by Golf Magazine for its “typical” Nicklaus hallmarks that include visual intimidation and supreme challenges, the publication praised Red Ledges for its “atypical” Nicklaus touches – jagged edge bunkers, blind shots, carom-inducing contours and greens featuring false fronts. The course at Sequoyah National was praised for its hilly layout, carved out of the steep foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Faldo Legacy Course has earned a reputation for featuring some of the most dramatic holes in the Caribbean.

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In the spirit of Thanksgiving, what are you most thankful for about the game of golf?

Share your answer in 140 characters or less in the comment section of the Troon Golf Blog, on Troon Golf’s Facebook Page or in a tweet to @troongolf. Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing to win a free foursome at any Troon Golf daily-fee facility, a $50 Callaway Gift Card and one (1) dozen Callaway Tour ix golf balls.

Extra Credit (for those overachievers): Anyone who posts a 12-second video of themselves giving thanks for the game of golf on our Facebook Page will be entered into the drawing twice. Or, hit up all four channels to be entered four different times.

You have until November 27 to participate and express your thankfulness for the game. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Click here for Instructions on how to create a Facebook page and post comments to Troon Golf’s Facebook wall.

Details on the Troon Golf Insiders Club

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Here’s a chance to save some “green” on the greens. We’ve officially launched the 2010 Troon Card program with 9 new participating facilities. There are six different card options to choose from, all of which offer green fee discounts of up to 50 percent. We realize that value is more important than ever to our golfers, which is why we are offering cards priced lower than we’ve ever had before.

For example, the Arizona TwoSome card is priced at $375 until November 6, 2009, offering a $150 savings compared to last year’s price. The National Twosome card is priced at $500, saving cardholders $175 on purchases made prior to December 7, 2009. “Early Bird” pricing is available for purchases made before December 7 on additional card choices as well.

We’ve also brought back the “Unlimited Golf” offer that allows cardholders and qualifying guests replay rounds for just $10 per player. The card’s “Best Rate Guarantee” ensures that cardholders always receive the best rate by extending $5 off promotional rates at participating clubs.

Click here for a list of card options along with a list of the 40+ participating facilities.

2010 Troon Cards are good starting November 1 – Be sure to check in with us on Facebook to share about your latest round and how you’re playing. Have fun out there!

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As promised, we are excited to announce this month’s Insider Challenge, giving Troon Golf Insiders an opportunity to win some prizes. Remember, you qualify as an Insider by meeting two of three criteria 1.) Fan of Troon Golf’s Facebook page. 2.) Follow @troongolf on Twitter. 3.) Subscribe to the Troon Golf Blog. That’s all there is to it. If you qualify, you don’t have to sign up for anything - just start participating!

Your current Insider Challenge encourages you to be creative and have some fun by getting into the Halloween spirit a little. You’ve seen how Tour pros uniquely mark their golf balls – you might even have a personal mark to distinguish your own ball on the course. With the Halloween Insider Challenge, we’re taking this practice to a whole new level!

Your Insider Challenge for October

Transform your golf ball into a ghoulish jack-o-lantern, depict an eerie Halloween scene, or create a spooky Halloween creature. Get as creative as you like, but keep it suitable for all ages and use a golf ball as the main prop.

Take a photo of your creepy creation and post it on Troon Golf’s Facebook page along with a name that best describes the gory goblin.

The most creative ball that “makes our skin crawl” will be named the winner.

1^st Place receives a new Callaway Warbird X Stand Bag

2^nd Place receives a $50 Callaway Gift Card

3^rd Place receives one (1) dozen Callaway Tour ix golf balls

Click here for Instructions on how to create a Facebook page and post photos and comments to Troon Golf’s Facebook wall.

The DEAD-line for all entries is October 26 at 5 p.m. We’ll announce the winners on the eve of Halloween!

That’s all there is to it. May the ghastliest ball win!

1st Place Prize: Callaway Warbird X  Stand Bag

Troon Golf is proud to introduce the Troon Golf Insiders Club. 

What is it?

in-sid-er [in-sahy-der] – noun: a golf enthusiast who meets two of the following criteria. 1.) Fan of Troon Golf’s Facebook page. 2.) Follow @troongolf on Twitter. 3.) Subscribe to the Troon Golf Blog.

We all know you can’t argue a definition so if you meet two of these three criteria, then congratulations because you are a Troon Golf Insider! If you aren’t, then cheer up and do something about it! Visit Troon Golf on Facebook, Twitter, and the Troon Golf Blog to start following us.

OK, so… what’s the point?

The Troon Golf Insiders Club is a way to define our social media friends, giving them opportunities to share their golf experiences online by participating in different contests each month.

How does it work?

Troon Golf will post a monthly Insider Challenge on Facebook, Twitter and the Troon Golf Blog. Troon Golf Insiders will have the opportunity to participate in these challenges to earn different prizes. Each month, the Insider Challenge will be defined and directions on how to participate will be given.

Those who aren’t Insiders can still participate – no one’s stopping you. But only Insiders can win. (Sorry, same goes for Troon Golf associates too, but feel free to partake in the fun anyway.)

The October Insider Challenge will be announced soon, so stay tuned.

Golf Digest recently named the “75 Best Golf Resorts in North America.” We are happy to say that nine of the resorts on the list feature Troon Golf-managed courses.

Here’s a slideshow highlighting each Troon Golf facility.

So, what would your ultimate golf vacation look like? Would it include staying at a particular golf resort? 

“75 Best Golf Resorts in North America”:

No. 11 One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico

No. 25 Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Scottsdale, Ariz.

No. 27 One&Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas

No. 38 The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Ariz.

No. 45 The Golf Club at Equinox, Manchester Village, Vt.

No. 46 Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort, Biwabik, Minn.

No. 60 The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio, Texas

No. 71 The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage

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Before you plan your golf for this weekend, consider playing at a facility participating in the third annual Patriot Golf Day, being held September 4-7. Golfers around the country are asked to donate a minimum of $1 to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation at participating courses. The foundation provides post secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation. Patriot Gold Day has raised more than $3 million in the past two years, with 3,600 PGA-staffed facilities participating last year alone.

This short video, used to promote last year’s event, shares a compelling story of the people who are benefiting from the Fold of Honor Foundation.

Many facilities like Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. are coordinating special events to raise money for the cause. This Friday, Troon North is hosting a four-person scramble with on-course contests and prizes. The cost is only $59 + tax/person. Troon North will then donate $20/person to the Folds of Honor Foundation. The price also includes a buffet before the 1:30 p.m. shotgun start (click for more details).

Other Troon Golf-managed properties participating include: The Revere Golf Club and Conestoga Golf Club in Nevada; Sarasota National Golf Club, The Golf Club at Del Webb and The Diplomat in Florida; Poston Butte Golf Club, Golf Club of Estrella, Talking Stick Golf Club, Copper Canyon Golf Club and Southern Dunes Golf Club in Arizona; Classic Club and The Westin Mission Hills in California; Giants Ridge in Minnesota; Old Works in Montana; Branson Creek Golf Club in Missouri; Bridges Golf & Country Club in Colorado; Teravista Golf Club in Texas; The Golf Club at Equinox in Vermont; and Little River Golf & Resort in North Carolina.

For a complete list of courses participating in Patriot Golf Day around the country, click here.

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After 13 regional qualifiers, the field for the 2009 Troon Challenge National Finals presented by Callaway Golf is set and ready to go. Each two-man team earned their spot by competing in a series of amateur golf tournaments held at Troon Golf courses in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas.

The finals will be held on August 29-30 at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. The two-day event will determine this year’s National Champions in both the Gross and Net divisions.

Troon Golf wishes the best of luck to each team competing in the event!

2009 National Finals Field

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The following is a guest post by Tim Mahoney, Director of Education, Troon Golf.

A consistent question that I hear at all of our Troon Golf Academies is “how far from the ball do I stand?” Allow your arms to hang freely at address with no tension in the arms or hands. Soft and lightly hanging arms will allow the arms to swing up and down during the golf swing. The arms and club must swing up and down creating width and speed during the motion. The arm-swing is the direct result of the arm-hang at address. Allow your arms to hang freely and your golf swing and scores will improve.

 Tim Mahoney has been teaching in the national and international arena for more than 25 years and is recognized by Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Teachers in America.”

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