News and people briefs

 

Year-over-year rounds played were down a pinch at 0.6 percent nationwide in July according to Golf Datatechs monthly report.

 

The largest gains were in Indiana, where rounds played in July were up 21 percent compared with the same month last year and North and South Dakota, where play was up by 18 percent. The biggest losses (nearly 12 percent) were felt in rain-plagued Louisiana. 

 

Despite the slight downturn, rounds played for the year are up 2 percent compared with the first seven months of 2015.

 

 

DryJect recently expanded its business operations with the addition of two new franchises in the western U.S. - Northwest DryJect and Four Fleming LLC.

 

Northwest DryJect Inc, which is owned by Boise, Idaho-based Doug Roberts, will serve customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana, while Four Fleming will handle Utah and Nevada under owner Jerry Fleming.

 

Both have several years of sales management experience, some of which has been in the golf business.

 

 

Rain Bird has named Carolyn Maloney as channel marketing manager for its golf division.

 

Maloney formerly worked as a product manager for Rain Bird Golf, leaving in 2013 to become a fleet sales representative for Textron, a global manufacturer of task-oriented vehicles for commercial and recreational applications, including golf. Maloney directed all aspects of sales, business development and customer management for over 200 accounts in Textrons E-Z-GO Golf Division. During her tenure, she received numerous accolades for surpassing sales objectives and developing a new territory management system. 

 

In her new role, Maloney will be responsible for managing marketing communications, segmentation strategy, data analytics and strategic marketing plans for Rain Bird Golf. She will also work with Rain Bird product managers on quality improvement and product design changes, as well as new product development for the golf irrigation market, and will oversee the division's social media presence.