Monthly Archives: February 2025
PGA of America Partners with Global Media Firm Dentsu and Producer John Cohen on Animated Sports Movie Franchise
FRISCO, Texas —The PGA of America announced today a partnership with dentsu, one of the world’s leading advertising and marketing firms, and Producer John Cohen on an animated feature film franchise in which golf is a hero in a multisport story based in the fictional world of “SportsCity.” Dentsu Entertainment, the specialist entertainment division within dentsu, will play a key role in the development of the initial movie, as well as leading commercial strategy and brand engagement.
The highly engaging animated franchise will feature the PGA of America’s nationally acclaimed PGA Jr. League program for boys and girls, with the guidance and support of a PGA of America Golf Professional as the coach. Since its formation over a decade ago, PGA Jr. League has introduced more than 500,000 boys and girls to the game of golf.
PGA Jr. League brings families and friends together around fun, team golf experiences for kids ages 17 and under, with expert PGA of America coaching. In 2024, a record of more than 77,000 players participated. PGA Jr. League is also the flagship youth pillar program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Association, with efforts focused on making the program accessible to every child everywhere, with nearly 5,000 scholarships awarded in 2024 to children who qualified for financial assistance or were from a military family. PGA of America proceeds from the franchise will be used to make sure every interested child has the opportunity to play.
“The PGA of America is excited to partner with dentsu and John Cohen in the development of this animated multisport film which highlights the great qualities inherent in the game of golf and the important role our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals play every day in the sport,” said PGA of America Chief Commercial and Philanthropy Officer Jeff Price. “Our mission is to serve our Members and grow the game of golf, which this project delivers against in a truly meaningful way.”
John Cohen has signed on as Lead Producer of the film franchise. He brings an amazing ability to breathe life into animation that captures the imagination of both young and old alike. Cohen’s producing credits include blockbuster hits such as Despicable Me, The Angry Birds Movie and, most recently, The Garfield Movie, among others. Cohen is currently in production on The Angry Birds Movie: 3.
Dentsu Entertainment is a specialist global division of dentsu, an integrated growth partner to the world’s leading brands. Dentsu will play a vital role in the development, production, marketing and distribution of the film. Geneva Wasserman (Gnome Alone; Spiderhead; Charming; Trouble), Global EVP of Film/TV Development & Financing for dentsu entertainment will serve as a Producer on the film.
“Entertainment presents such a unique opportunity to create and shape culture, while driving important outcomes for clients – whether that is attracting new communities to the great game of golf, or designing co-branded experiences which lead to commercial impact,” said Geneva Wasserman, Global EVP of IP Development & Financing for dentsu entertainment, and Producer of the new franchise. “Partnering with John again makes total sense for a feature like this, as the PGA of America and others, come together to engage audiences through an exciting new story.”
Scott Dmitrenko, the creator of the original story and a Producer on the project, said, “One of the main goals of the film is to expose the game of golf to the next generation of players and fans in a manner that is engaging, inclusive and fun. The creative team have crafted a classic sports story that culminates with a drama-filled sports showdown. In true sports-film fashion, the story will pull at your heartstrings, inspire your soul and provide hilarious entertainment.”
The partnership and film was introduced at the 2025 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, during the Golf Leadership Summit organized by the PGA of America. The film is scheduled to enter production Q4 of 2025.
The Path to Oakmont Country Club Begins
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that online entry applications are now available for the 125th U.S. Open Championship, to be played from June 12-15 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
Thousands of golfers are expected to qualify for the championship through a two-stage process, with a final field of 156 players advancing to Oakmont, where a U.S. Open champion will be crowned. Non-exempt players will compete in one of 110 local qualifiers (108 in the United States and one each in Canada and Mexico) between April 16 and May 19.
Nearly 1,000 players will then compete in 36-hole final qualifying, scheduled at 13 sites worldwide. Final qualifying is set to be contested in England and Japan (May 19) and Canada (June 2) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 19 and nine on June 2, which also is known as Golf’s Longest Day.
There are 25 categories for exemption into the U.S. Open, including the following: The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19, the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s individual champion (must be an amateur) and the top 5 players in the 2025 FedEx Cup standings as of May 19, who are not otherwise exempt. Players can also gain access by being among the top 60 points leaders (and ties) in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 19 and those who move into a second OWGR top 60 on June 9. The top player in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai as of May 19 who is not otherwise exempt also will gain entry into the field.
Entry applications, along with a list of qualifying sites, can be accessed at champ-admin.usga.org, and entries will be accepted through Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m. EDT. To be eligible for 2025 U.S. Open qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4, or be a professional.
Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in the United States, as well as the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Association, Golf Canada and Mexican Golf Federation, are working with the USGA to provide thousands of entrants from all backgrounds with the opportunity to compete for a spot in the year’s third major championship. This collaboration with AGAs allows for an open qualifying process in all five USGA Open Championships. Since 2004, an average of 78.3 players (virtually half) in the U.S. Open field has advanced through one or both stages of qualifying.
Entry applications for four other USGA Open Championships are also now available. The 80th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally will be played May 29-June 1 at Erin Hills, in Erin, Wis. The 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be contested June 26-29 at The Broadmoor’s East Course, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the 7th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship will be held Aug. 21-24, at San Diego Country Club, in Chula Vista, Calif. The 4th U.S. Adaptive Open will be held from July 7-9 at Woodmont Country Club’s South Course, in Rockville, Md.
The U.S. Open was previously contested at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007 and 2016. World Golf Hall of Famers Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Tommy Armour, Larry Nelson and Johnny Miller are among the champions. As an anchor site, Oakmont will also host the U.S. Open in 2033, 2042 and 2049.
Charles River Country Club to host 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
The Massachusetts club will host its second USGA championship
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – Charles River Country Club, in Newton Centre, Mass., has been selected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the host site of the 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. The 69th edition of the championship is scheduled for Sept. 6-11, 2031, and will be the second USGA championship held at the club.
“We are thrilled to bring the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur to Charles River in 2031,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “With its timeless Donald Ross design and classic New England setting, this golf course will serve as the perfect stage for what promises to be a challenging test and an unforgettable championship.”
Located 10 miles west of downtown Boston on the east bank of the Charles River, the club’s 18-hole golf course was designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1921. In the mid-1990s, Ron Pritchard led a restoration of the course to its original characteristics, removing a significant number of trees, reconstructing bunkers and returning the greens to their original sizes. Recently, the club concluded an extensive renovation of its bunkers and surrounds under the supervision of Eric Iverson.
“Our membership is proud to be selected as the host site for the 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur,” said Club President Jim Connor. “We have long been committed to promoting amateur golf and look forward to hosting some of the world’s best senior golfers as they compete for a USGA title.”
Charles River hosted its first USGA championship in 2003, the Men’s State Team Championship, won by a Tennessee team that included nine-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker, 1999 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Danny Green and two-time U.S. Mid-Am champion Tim Jackson. The club also served as the stroke-play co-host of the 1982 and 2013 U.S. Amateurs, where Jay Sigel and Matt Fitzpatrick went on to claim their respective titles at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Additionally, Charles River has hosted the Massachusetts Open five times and the Massachusetts Amateur six times.
Among some of Charles River Country Club’s early bond-holding members were 1913 U.S. Open champion Francis Ouimet and his caddie Eddie Lowery. Ouimet was the club’s first honorary member and remained a member until his death in 1967, while Lowery, an accomplished amateur in his own right, was a two-time club champion (1933 and 1936) and won the 1927 Massachusetts Amateur held at Charles River. Marion Maney-McInerney, the 1992 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, was also a member at the club. In addition to her USGA title, Maney-McInerney won the 1987 Massachusetts Women’s Amateur and the 1992 Mass Women’s Open.
The 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will be the 64th USGA championship contested in Massachusetts, which most recently hosted the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, won by Hana Ryšková, at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton.
First played in 1962, the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur is open to any female amateur golfer who has reached age 50 on or before the start of the championship and whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 14.4. The field of 132 players will compete in two rounds of stroke play, resulting in the low 64 scorers advancing to match play. Five 18-hole rounds of match play determine the finalists, who square off in an 18-hole championship match.
Last year, Nadene Gole became the first Australian to win the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, defeating 2023 champion Shelly Stouffer, of Canada, 3 and 2, in the final match at Broadmoor Golf Club, in Seattle, Wash. The 2025 championship will be played Sept. 13-18 at The Omni Homestead’s Cascades Course, in Hot Springs, Va.
