Partnership

PGA Golfer Justin Lower Partners with Society Brands

Ted Odorico July 24, 2025

Golf News

Society Brands Announces First-Ever Athlete Partnership with PGA Tour Golfer and Canton, Ohio Native Justin Lower

Lower is promoting Society Brands as well as its product portfolio in 2025 and 2026; Partnership reinforces Society Brands’ commitment to its Northeast Ohio roots

Canton, Ohio – July 22, 2025 – Society Brands, a tech-enabled consumer products company built for and by founders, has announced a partnership with PGA TOUR Golfer Justin Lower to promote Society Brands and its product portfolio as the company looks to expand its awareness on a national basis. Lower, a Canton, Ohio native, is a rising star in the golf ranks, with twelve Top 10 finishes on the PGA TOUR and ranked in the top 125 by the Official World Golf Rankings. In late April, Lower finished in 8^th place at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

“Society Brands is deeply rooted in the Northeast Ohio community, and it was natural for the company to establish a partnership with Lower given he is from the area,” said Michael Sirpilla, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Society Brands. “This partnership is the first step in a strategic initiative to partner our brands with athletes and celebrities. Through these partnerships, we will be able to drive awareness for our portfolio brands on a national scale. Simply put, this was the perfect deal for Society Brands as it reinforces our mission to support our local community, while driving success for our brands on a national level.”

As part of Society Brands’ partnership with Lower, he will continue to support Society and its portfolio brands’ logos on his hat to give the company world-wide exposure during PGA TOUR tournaments. The partnership with Lower paid dividends in its very first week as Lower finished in a tie for third at The American Express golf tournament in La Quinta, Calif. At the tournament, Lower’s hat featured the Society Brands logo as well two of the company’s portfolio brands, EarlyBird and Vitality Now. Since then, Lower has been sporting a hat with the Society Brands logo in major national PGA tournaments such as the Players Championship in March, PGA Championship in May and the U.S. Open in June. In addition to the on-course recognition, Society plans to use Lower for paid marketing efforts and is currently exploring additional ways to leverage the partnership this year and beyond.

“I am thrilled to work with the Society team and help promote a company based in my hometown of Canton, Ohio,” said Justin Lower. “Michael and his team have done an incredible job of building great brands and bringing jobs to the local community. Together, I’m looking forward to being part of the company’s success.”

Society Brands currently supports 12 e-commerce brands, with an emphasis in the health and personal care sector, and businesses with a strong DTC presence in addition to revenue across other marketplaces. This sector represents nearly 75% of Society Brands’ revenue, which is currently over $100 million annually. Society Brands and its unique acquisition model that is built for and by founders, has continued to make progress not only in terms of acquisitions, but growing the revenue of acquired brands.

About Society Brands

Society Brands is a tech-enabled consumer products company that acquires e-commerce native brands that primarily sell on their own DTC sites and marketplaces. Society Brands was built by founders, for founders™, providing entrepreneurs meaningful liquidity while at the same time affording them an opportunity to stay on board, build their brand and roll equity into Society Brands’ platform. For more information, please visit www.societybrands.com.

Society Brands Media Contact: Kelly Law, The Brand Amp – email: societybrands@thebrandamp.com

Justin Lower Contact: Drew Carr, Fidelity Sports Group – email: drew@fidelitysportsgroup.com

Knockaround Partners With Golfer Danielle Kang

Ted Odorico June 25, 2025

Golf News

Knockaround Continues Strategic Growth in Golf with First Women’s Golf Partner

SAN DIEGO (June 25, 2025) — Knockaround, the San Diego–based eyewear brand known for durable, approachable performance and lifestyle sunglasses, is proud to announce its newest athlete partner: professional golfer Danielle Kang.

Known for her fiery competitive spirit, magnetic personality, and genuine connection with fans, Kang embodies the Knockaround ethos—bold, original, and authentic. As one of the most prominent American golfers of her generation, she brings a unique blend of passion, creativity, and charisma to Knockaround, joining a roster that thrives on individuality and a love for the game. A longtime fan of the brand, Kang’s partnership with Knockaround is a natural fit, rooted in shared enthusiasm and a mutual commitment to standing out on the green.

A six-time LPGA Tour winner, 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion, four-time Solheim Cup team member, and Olympian for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Danielle Kang has been a force in women’s golf for over a decade. Off the course, she brings an equally dynamic energy and multidimensional mindset—artistic, musical, and innately creative. Her background in martial arts and early aspirations of becoming an Olympic athlete are a testament to her deep-seated athleticism, discipline, and drive.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Danielle to the Knockaround family,” says Ed Rainey, Chief Marketing Officer at Knockaround. “Much like Joel Dahmen, Harry Higgs, Mark Hubbard, and Peter Malnati, Danielle brings a unique combination of personality, authenticity, and competitive edge that aligns with who we are as a brand. As the Official Eyewear of the PGA TOUR—and as we continue to bring a fresh perspective to the game—we’re excited for Danielle to be a key part of our momentum.”

“I’m incredibly excited to partner with Knockaround — a brand that reflects so many things I care about: fashion, style, giving back, and a commitment to performance at the highest level,” says Danielle Kang. “The Knockaround team has been amazing to work with, and I’m truly looking forward to representing the brand on tour alongside their talented roster of PGA TOUR ambassadors.”

About Knockaround
Knockaround is a leading eyewear brand known for offering high-quality, stylish and affordable sunglasses. Started in San Diego in 2005, Knockaround has built a reputation for blending durability and design, providing customers with practical eyewear that doesn’t compromise on performance. With a wide range of frame styles, colors and ongoing special releases, Knockaround offers something for everyone, including a comprehensive line of golf and sport-focused sunglasses.

Available at leading retailers such as REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Topgolf and specialty stores nationwide, Knockaround continues to expand its reach while staying true to its laid-back California roots. Founded in 2005 by Adam ‘Ace’ Moyer, the brand will mark its 20th anniversary in 2025. Knockaround has been featured in GQ, Men’s Health and Forbes, and its sunglasses have been worn by countless celebrities and athletes. For more information, visit Knockaround.com or follow @knockaround on Instagram, Facebook and X. [www.instagram.com/knockaround, www.facebook.com/knockaround, www.x.com/knockaround

MEDIA INQUIRIES AND REQUESTS: Justina Rapala Nielsen | FORTE MARE

justina@fmare.com, +1.310.845.6892

National Golf Foundation Partners with KONETiQ

Kevin Frisch June 24, 2025

Golf News

National Golf Foundation Partners with KONETiQ, Transforming Golf Marketing Capabilities

JUPITER, FL – The National Golf Foundation (NGF), the industry’s leading authority on golf research, data, and consumer insights, has announced a strategic partnership with KONETiQ, a leader in digital marketing innovation known for its data-driven and precision-targeted marketing solutions.

This landmark collaboration aims to enhance golf marketing capabilities by merging the NGF’s unmatched golfer data and behavior insights with KONETiQ’s direct-access media expertise. The result is an unprecedented ability to deliver custom-built, hyper-targeted campaigns across all digital media platforms, empowering golf brands and businesses to maximize engagement and ROI.

“This partnership takes NGF’s existing best-in-class marketing services and unlocks unprecedented digital ad targeting for golf companies. KONETiQ will leverage NGF’s proprietary consumer and facility databases across a gamut of marketing platforms,” said Greg Nathan, President and CEO of the National Golf Foundation. “This partnership further positions NGF as golf’s data-driven marketing leader, now supplemented with the media buying power, expertise and custom audience capabilities that KONETiQ brings to the table.”

According to the NGF, 47 million golfers represent a high-income, high-spending demographic, making them an attractive target for various industries beyond golf, including automotive, financial services, luxury brands and travel destinations. Reaching a perfectly targeted segment of the golf population is a key to marketing success.

“The National Golf Foundation brings unmatched depth to its golf industry research — the organization understands everyone who steps foot on a golf course in the U.S. or participates in the game in other ways,” said Josh Goodin, Managing Director of KONETiQ. “We specialize in direct media buying, with access to platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Disney, Hulu, and more — no middlemen. By combining NGF’s audience insights with our ability to target them precisely, we’re enabling golf brands to reach exactly the right people. That means we can integrate data about golf with the ability to buy media. So, for example, do you want to reach female golfers older than 25, who live in America’s top 25 DMAs, have a household income of more than $150,000, and have been shopping for clubs in the last 60 days? That’s what we’re bringing to the data.”

The partnership began through a joint initiative supporting the “Make Golf Your Thing” campaign led by golf’s governing bodies (including the PGA TOUR, PGA of America and United States Golf Association), which focused on engaging underrepresented demographic cohorts and encouraging people to experience the game at grassroots golf facilities. By utilizing custom audience segments based on real-world behavior, KONETiQ and NGF successfully reached nearly 3 million minority non-golfers in just six months. These efforts resulted in 250,000+ unique course visits, a notable success story in expanding the sport’s inclusivity.

In another campaign with a popular State Tourism Bureau, the duo created and executed high-impact campaigns targeting affluent and travel-prone golf consumers. With custom segments such as “Resort Travelers” and “Trophy Course Players,” these campaigns generated click-through rates nearly 3X the industry standard.

KONETiQ’s direct-buying access across various platforms allows for campaign execution without third-party intermediaries, ensuring a higher media value and unmatched efficiency. The agency is one of the few in the U.S. with direct access to Amazon’s media inventory, setting it apart in the crowded marketing space.

“This partnership eliminates wasteful marketing by delivering exact matches to client goals,” explained Goodin. “Golfers are valuable sports consumers but also high-value targets across sectors like travel, tourism, and home improvement, making this partnership a game-changer for brands seeking ROI-rich engagement.”

This partnership also benefits small and medium-sized golf businesses, which can now access marketing capabilities typically reserved for the largest advertisers and those with the most extensive budgets. Meanwhile, larger companies can access better audience data that’s not available through their typical partnerships or third-party data providers. All companies will benefit from more competitive rates, given the large volume of media KONETiQ buys annually.

“Our long-term vision is to elevate the standard of marketing performance across the golf industry,” said Nathan. “Putting your message in front of the perfect audience is data-science in today’s world. By making NGF’s data-enabled custom audiences accessible to companies of all sizes via KONETiQ, we aim to empower smarter decision-making, greater efficiency, and measurably higher returns on marketing spend.”

With both organizations deeply rooted in their respective areas of expertise, the NGF-KONETiQ alliance marks a new era in golf marketing—one that is data-enriched, digitally sophisticated, and deeply inclusive.

About KONETiQ

KONETiQ is a major player in the media purchasing arena, offering services across every relevant digital channel. With deep expertise in how advertising mediums contribute to business success, KONETiQ delivers performance that exceeds expectations. Their unique value lies in specialization, audience-based marketing, direct seats on Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs), integration of client-based data, actionable insights, and a comprehensive media strategy that includes search optimization, social media, streaming video and audio, and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) methods. KONETiQ has successfully partnered with a wide variety of companies, from startups to Fortune 500-level organizations, including Pella, JobsOhio, South Carolina Department of Tourism, The Center for Internet Security (CIS), and many more. For more information about KONETiQ, visit www.KONETiQ.com.

About NGF

Founded in 1936, the National Golf Foundation is a dynamic membership organization supported and trusted by thousands of golf related businesses and individuals who rely on NGF to provide the most up-to-date, accurate and objective insights on the state of the game and business of golf. It is the only trade association for everyone in the golf business, advocating for growth by educating and connecting its members. NGF is also the leading marketing services provider in golf, leveraging a database of 2.5 million golfers and the definitive comprehensive worldwide database of golf facilities. Additionally, NGF’s research team works with individual companies to help them better understand their markets and grow their businesses. If you’re not among the hundreds of businesses that help support NGF’s ongoing research efforts through membership, we invite you to join the community.

Press release by: Kevin Frisch PR

College Golf Experience Names Circles Official Player Analytics Platform Through 2026

Kevin Frisch June 18, 2025

Golf News

Expanded Partnership to Deliver AI-Powered Analytics to Junior Golfers and College Golf Coaches

LOS ANGELES, CA — College Golf Experience (CGX), the leading college golf camp company exclusively endorsed by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), has announced an expanded partnership with Draw More Circles (Circles)—a performance analytics platform powered by curated AI insights and data-led coaching strategies.

Under the new agreement, Circles becomes the Official Player Analytics Platform of CGX through February 2026, with category exclusivity across all CGX Development and Academic Series Camps.

“Analytics are essential to elite player development, and Circles has emerged as the leader in data-driven golf improvement,” said Joshua Jacobs, CEO of CGX. “At CGX, we are focused on creating transformational value for our players, parents, and College Coaches — and Circles is a perfect partner to help us do just that.”

All CGX camp participants will receive a complimentary three-month Circles membership, giving them access to the Circles app and its suite of performance tools to track, analyze, and elevate their game. Players will be encouraged to enter their data before camp, allowing participating College Coaches to review performance metrics to better engage with and improve each athlete’s game.

The partnership will also include integrated Circles branding and content across CGX communications, events, and digital platforms—reinforcing the shared commitment to player development, insight-driven training, and preparation for college golf.

“Our mission is to unlock every golfer’s potential using powerful, personalized data,” said Hamish Mitchell, CEO of Circles. “Partnering with CGX helps us connect with players at a critical stage in their development — and provides them and their families with the tools and clarity to improve, prepare, and make smarter decisions about their golf journey.”

Circles is already trusted by top collegiate programs to develop smarter, more effective players.

“The future of recruiting is not just going to be about rankings, it is going to be about statistics,” said Rich Mueller, Men’s Head Coach at Columbia University. “Come to camp, learn about how to make your stats stand out, and learn about college golf.”

CGX camps are designed for boys and girls ages 11–18 and connect junior golfers and their parents with College Coaches through educational seminars, college golf practice sessions, and course management and strategy lessons. The experience provides both players and families with invaluable insights into the college golf landscape and how to get there, and game improvement.

About Circles

Circles delivers advanced performance analytics for junior, college, and professional golfers, blending seamless shot tracking with AI-powered insights and predictive modeling. Built by a team with experience coaching world No. 1s, Olympic athletes, and top tour professionals, Circles empowers players and coaches to make informed decisions that lead to measurable improvement. With intuitive tools and elite-level intelligence, Circles is redefining how data is used to unlock golf performance. Visit https://www.drawmorecircles.com.

About College Golf Experience

College Golf Experience (CGX) was founded in 2021 with the exclusive endorsement of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). CGX connects junior golfers and parents with College Coaches through immersive camp experiences focused on exposure, education, and preparation. Camps feature college-style practice and play, interactive seminars, and one-on-one time with college coaches. CGX is committed to helping players and families better understand the college golf landscape—and what it takes to find the right fit. Visit https://collegegolfx.com. Follow @CollegeGolfX on Twitter and Instagram.

Press release by: Kevin Frisch PR

MGI Golf Announces Partnerships with Epson Tour Players for the 2025 season

Ted Odorico April 30, 2025

Golf News

Four Epson Tour athletes have teamed up with MGI Golf, which continues to strengthen its support for the women’s professional game

Las Vegas, Nev. (April 30, 2025) – MGI Golf, global leader in technology for the walking golfer and maker of America’s No. 1 electric golf caddy, is proud to announce partnerships with Savannah Carlson, Hailee Cooper, Jillian Hollis, and Su Oh for the 2025 Epson Tour season.

MGI’s partnership with the Epson Tour initiated a pivotal rule change earlier this year for the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA, allowing the use of electric caddies in competition, which creates competitive equity and opens the door to new performance possibilities. The sponsorships underscore MGI’s growing investment in competitive golf and ongoing commitment to empowering players through innovation, performance and access.

“We are so proud to support and partner with Savannah, Hailee, Jillian, and Su as they compete on the Epson Tour and pursue their dreams,” said Miranda Turner, CEO of MGI Golf Inc. “These four women represent the passion, dedication, and talent that define the future of professional golf, and this partnership goes far beyond providing a product. It’s a reflection of our belief in their journeys and in the power of walking golf to elevate performance at every level of the game.”

This marks MGI’s first official partnership of competitive golfers in the U.S., expanding upon its long-standing relationships with PGA professionals and golf clubs around the world. In addition to sponsoring four ambassadors, MGI will offer exclusive pricing on its electric caddies to all Epson Tour athletes throughout the season. The partnership with the Epson Tour is designed to increase access to electric caddy technology and empower more players to walk the course with confidence and ease.

“The caddy has made my life easier. It allows me to focus on my golf game and not stress about getting my heavy clubs to the next shot,” said Hailee Cooper.

As the 2025 Epson Tour season continues, MGI Golf remains committed to championing its ambassadors on the leaderboard and in broader conversations around innovation and opportunity in golf. This partnership is a testament to MGI’s belief in the walking game as a pathway to both peak performance and meaningful progress in the sport.

About MGI Golf

MGI Golf is the premier global authority in electric golf caddies, integrating cutting-edge technology with ergonomic design. Since its inception in 1993, the Australian owned and operated company has a formidable reputation built on experience, innovation, and quality of design. MGI Golf revolutionized the electric caddy industry through patented Gyroscope Straight Tracker technology, automatic downhill speed control, and durable lithium-ion batteries. MGI Golf successfully expanded into the North American market, beginning with the U.S. in 2018 and followed by Canada in 2023, and was named America’s No. 1 electric caddy by independent research. For more information, visit mgigolf.com.

About the Epson Tour

The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 45th competitive season in 2025. With the support of entitlement partner Seiko Epson Corporation, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best female professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to $5 million awarded across 20 events in 2025. In all, 402 LPGA Tour titles have been won by Epson Tour alumni, including 49 major championships. Follow the Epson Tour at www.epsontour.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Press Release by: Olivia Nastala, Manager Buffalo Groupe

Visit: buffalogroupe.com