The Golftini company featured a startling new look at its busy booth during the 2024 PGA Show.
A large sign saying “Men Wear Pink” highlighted several nice-looking menswear options, including polos, sweaters and shorts.
Founder and CEO Susan Hess focused on women’s golf apparel when she founded the company in 2005. She said that segment is currently 20% of the total market. Golftini is branching out to the men’s side for 2024, but with a purpose beyond simply tapping into a larger customer base.
The Everyone Knows Someone collection includes a light-pink element in every piece, such as a two-stripe design on the navy crewneck sweater, or the entire polo, or a decorative stripe on a rear shorts pocket. There are four polo options, several shorts choices and two belts.
Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Hess, Susan’s son, explained the look and the goal. “One percent of our sales goes to support the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer initiatives. We wanted to show that everyone can be in the flight. Everybody’s affected. We’re keeping everything true to what we are,” he said.
Susan Hess has been an ACS supporter from the very beginning. Her mother succumbed to the disease at age 41.
Several elements of Golftini’s lines for 2024 continue the supportive pink element, but Hess has also broadened her overall aesthetic.
Golftini has long emphasized mix-and-match options based on solid tops and brightly designed prints for the skorts, skirts or pants. It now offers solid colors for both top and bottom, as well as its first dress, the smart-looking Tini Time, a white drop-waist design.
Ryan Hess said the company’s lines are sold at more than 1,000 green grass shops as well as direct-to-consumer at golftiniwear.com. About 25 sales reps keep their products moving throughout the year.
Recognizing real accomplishments
The beautiful, yet challenging course conditions at the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club earlier this month were a real tribute to the talents of LCC Director of Grounds Josh Saunders and the people helping him.
The work they did to prepare the property and keep it in top shape for the tournament also earned Saunders some well-deserved recognition.
As the tournament concluded, the United States Golf Association presented Saunders with its E.J. Marshall Platter. The award, first established in 2022, recognizes excellence in course management.
Marshall chaired the green committee at The Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, in 1920. His efforts eventually led to the creation of the USGA’s Green Section, which assists member clubs seeking expertise in course care.
I chatted briefly with Saunders during the tournament. The veteran superintendent is in his sixth year at LCC. He quickly spread the credit far and wide when I asked for comment on the uniformly positive reaction to LCC’s appearance.
“I’m just grateful for my staff that put in a lot of time and a lot of effort for this. You know, we were short-staffed to start the year. They put in a lot of hours, so it was very rewarding to see the volunteers come on Monday and have them tell us how great the place was. All those volunteers were members of the turf community. So, it was very rewarding,” Saunders said.
The course assistance came from near and far.
“There was a lot from my network – I’ve been doing this for 20-plus years. A lot of it was from the mid-Atlantic, friends that I have had throughout the years. I had nine years in Pittsburgh, so a lot of guys from Pittsburgh are here. Of course, being in the Philly region, that also helps. On top of that, we have the Women in Turf, which is a turf community of women that hold assistants’ or superintendents’ positions throughout the country. So, we have a great group,” he said.
Local club competition results
A passel of 52 members of the Kings Creek CC 9-Hole group played a scramble game June 25.
Linda Outlaw, Chris Piasecki, Polly Donaldson and Farah Englert won first place in the first flight. Marie Murray, Susan Julbe, Beth Andrews and Trish Galioto took second place.
Atom Irwin, Debbie Grant, Francie Young and Nancy Derrickson won first place in the second flight. Denise Sills, Deb Hinderer, Beth Cohen and Ellan Hylton finished second.
The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies league played a Criers Tournament June 25.
Diane Braver won first place in the first division, with Maxine Ansach in second and Karen Feuchtenberger in third.
Joann Foster took first place in the second division, followed by Donna Dolce in second and Pam Pichola in third.
The club played its Member/Member Tournament June 22-23. Kathy Hudak and Susan Shockley won the women’s event, while Denis Viera and Bill Swontek won the men’s event.
The Kings Creek Ladies 18-Hole group played a One Best Ball of Foursome game June 20.
Wendy Bunce, Sally McGovern, Margie Moore and Joanne Yurik won first place. Jackie Everett, Candy Robinson, Faye Slatcher and Joanne Yurik (blind draw) finished second. Lynn Sweeney, Sharon Denny, Shelly Conaway and Sue Griesemer took third on a tiebreaker.
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Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com.
Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com.
