Dotch First African-American Woman PGA Member to Serve as GM of a Golf Facility

March 8, 2021

Maulana Dotch, PGA was named General Manager at Hermann Park Golf Course in Houston, becoming the first African-American woman PGA Member to serve as a General Manager of a golf facility.

A native of Irving, Texas, Dotch, 40, earned her PGA Membership in 2010. At the time, she was the second-ever African-American woman to become a PGA Member, following in the footsteps of her inspiration, golf trailblazer and PGA Hall of Fame Member Renee Powell. Dotch spent the past 12 years at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas and served as PGA Head Professional since 2014.

In 2018, Dotch was selected for PGA LEAD, the Association’s leadership development program created to identify, mentor and progress PGA Members from diverse backgrounds into volunteer leadership positions in the Association.

Our Job is Your Game

The most comprehensive blade putter test of 2021 is complete.

At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased and objective testing so you can make more confident purchasing decisions. Our 2021 Most Wanted Blade test is an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for insight before their next fitting.

As always, we don’t want you to spend a dollar unless what you’re buying outperforms what’s in your bag.

If you’re in the market for a new putter, this test is for you.

It was -- largely -- business as usual early in the week last year at the Players. A concert. A new TV deal was announced. Packed bleachers. Then it all stopped.

Phil Mickelson fell out of the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since 1993.

Bryson DeChambeau is going to do things his way. That style, he believes, is one the namesake of the Arnold Palmer Invitational would have endorsed.

Bryson DeChambeau holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the front nine and a 50-foot par putt early on the back nine, before closing with a nervy 5-foot par putt for a 1-under 71 and a 1-shot victory over Lee Westwood at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Austin Ernst won the Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala on Sunday for her third LPGA Tour title.

Tracey Stewart, the widow of PGA Tour golfer Payne Stewart, is selling more than 200 items from her late husband's personal collection.

A strained right knee has forced Brooks Koepka to withdraw from next week's Players Championship.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker said he hopes Tiger Woods can be part of the September competition in some capacity.

Bryson DeChambeau said he "gave the fans what they wanted" when his drive on Bay Hill's 555-yard par-5 sixth hole cut across a huge lake and ended up 50 yards to the right of the green.

Lee Westwood, who turns 48 next month, posted his lowest score ever at Bay Hill on Saturday with a 7-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau and Corey Conners in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Jennifer Kupcho made a 12-foot eagle putt on the final hole to cut Austin Ernst's lead to a stroke Saturday in the LPGA Tour's Drive On Championship.

PAYNTR golf shoes?

Never heard of them? Neither had we until a few weeks ago. 

They are the brainchild of a former British professional cricketer and an American footwear expert who has worked with some of the most notable players in the game. The PAYNTR X 001F Golf Shoes pack a technological punch and bring a technology that could make these the “fastest” shoes in the sport. 

TRANSATLANTIC START

Even as an Englishman, I don’t really understand cricket. You wear a lot of white, you whack a red ball around a field, you stop for tea and sandwiches midway through the afternoon and you get to down a dozen pints after the game. It’s kind of like baseball without the hotdogs but it’s played over five days. Whatever. Cricket is where PAYNTR started.

David Paynter is a former professional cricketer who was frustrated by the dearth of quality footwear. He started modifying sneakers and adding spikes to existing footwear. Other players wanted him to modify their shoes. Eventually, he created his own shoes and launched PAYNTR in 2017. 

Corey Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot advantage at Bay Hill.

Jennifer Kupcho and Austin Ernst each shot their second straight 5-under 67 to share the second-round lead in the LPGA Tour's Drive On Championship.

A man who walked to the crash site after hearing the accident told deputies that Tiger Woods would not respond to his questions and was unconscious, an affidavit says. Law enforcement has not previously disclosed that Woods had been unconscious.

Peter Millar

In the world of upmarket golf apparel, Peter Millar is a household name. It counts PGA TOUR players such as Brandt Snedeker, Chez Reavie and Harris English – and dozens of others – among its cadre of brand ambassadors. But what separates a $100 golf polo from less expensive alternatives? It’s a reasonable question and one we tend to hear a fair bit – particularly when we venture into any conversation with equipment or apparel that reasonably qualifies as expensive.

A good bit of the answer is a preference, though there are some substantive stylistic and material differences to highlight. Now, whether those distinctions make any difference to you – is well, entirely up to you. Score one for consumer demand and free choice.

This brief overview focuses on several pieces in the 2021 line. However, its luxury performance sportswear division is a relatively recent add-on for the brand that started as primarily a semi-formal menswear company. But we’re not here to talk about blazers and cardigans. What’s clear is that Peter Millar’s golf apparel maintains continuity with its decidedly luxe approach to the apparel and accessories market.

Stylistically, I’d classify Peter Millar’s approach as bold but not loud. It’s clean and classic but with enough variation to stand out. Just enough. It’s a fine line when you want to be noticed but not exude obnoxiousness. It’s a bit of a tightrope act, which Peter Millar handles with admirable dexterity. If you’re looking for wild patterns, neon colorways and something to match your Aunt Elda’s curtains, Peter Millar ain’t it.

Included in its 2021 collection is a series of lightweight apparel, which Peter Millar believes gives golfers a more robust menu of choices for a variety of playing conditions.

Scobee sees kicking and hitting golf shots similarly -- from the preparation to the focus.

Rory McIlroy ran off five straight birdies for a 6-under 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Corey Conners at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bryson DeChambeau is one shot back after a 67.