News

Golf Channel, Rory McIlroy launch GolfPass. Will you subscribe, GolfWRX Members?

Published

7 years ago

Feb 5, 2019

Today, Golf Channel solicited the help of Rory McIlroy to launch GolfPass. The subscription service will offer customers instructional videos, a bevy of discounts, and one round of golf per month for $9.99 per month or $99/year.

“It’s sort of like, for me, like Golf Channel 2.0,” McIlroy said at the launch press conference. “If you’re going to start a golf business, you probably wouldn’t do a 24-7 TV station or network like what happened 25 years ago.”

The service draws inspiration from Amazon Prime, which, in addition to streaming video, offers free delivery on goods and other benefits. Will McIntosh, Golf Channel’s executive vice president, hopes GolfPass will help hobbyists make the jump from watching golf to playing the game and offer a nice perk for avid golfers.

With respect to playing, more than 7,000 golf courses are available. Not surprisingly, GolfNow, also owned by NBC, is the facilitator of this element of the service. TPC Sawgrass, PGA National, Pasatiempo Golf Club, and Royal Portrush are among the course offerings.

While GolfPass won’t include any live tour events, the service will offer on-demand instruction videos (more than 4,000), including several featuring McIlroy himself. Original features, such as “My Roots: Rory McIlroy,” will also be offered.

Subscribers will also get a dozen TaylorMade balls and assorted discounts on apparel, accessories, and golf resort stays.

“I’m really trying to carry the torch that Arnold lit 25 years ago,” McIlroy said. “I know I have very big shoes to fill and I’m not trying to compare myself in any way to Arnold, but I was able to forge quite a good relationship with Arnold in the later years of his life and I know how much the game meant to him. I think he would be very proud that I’ve taken on this role to try and give golfers a better experience of playing the game and living that golfing lifestyle. I couldn’t imagine my life without golf.”

Rory McIlroy will co-host (along with Carson Daly) a monthly podcast via the service.

GolfPass+, a premium membership, will be offered for $199 per year. The “plus” version will include cancellation protection and waived convenience fees on GolfNow.

McIlroy discussed GolfPass on an appearance on Morning Drive.

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So, what do you think, GolfWRX Members, will you be signing up for GolfPass at any of the subscription levels?

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18 Comments

Jim

Feb 6, 2019 at 12:06 pm

If it’s associated with GolfNow, I wouldn’t trust this deal! GolfNow is not a good product, too complicated by excessive rules and conditions supported by lousy customer service!

Reply Report comment
Randy

Feb 6, 2019 at 11:07 am

Not happy with Golf Now’s no refund policy. Looked for a Sunday tee time on a Tues. night. The time I selected was then not available so it said search a new time. Instead of staying on Sunday times it sent me back to Wed. (which I didn’t notice until booking a Wed. time). Called the course first thing Wed. am and cancelled. Golf Now gave me a credit only good for Hot Deals after 12 Mon-Thurs. Thanks for nothing! Double bogey service. Will use Tee Off or call. No more Golf Now.

Reply Report comment
Tom Grady

Feb 5, 2019 at 5:37 pm

Lindsey Vonn is c oalburning m udshark. She has betrayed her race dating dirty n iggers.

Reply Report comment
c

Feb 5, 2019 at 4:21 pm

this is weird considering Rory has said he doesnt care about growing the game

Reply Report comment
Clancy

Feb 5, 2019 at 3:49 pm

I’ll hold off to see the list of participating courses.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Feb 5, 2019 at 3:42 pm

Golf Channel’s Morning Drive has become like the “View” a bunch of people with opinions that I don’t care to listen to. Not much substance from GC anymore, they basically went off the air from mid Dec thru early Jan….running old shows and tournaments.

Reply Report comment
Tmack

Feb 5, 2019 at 3:12 pm

As a cord cutter if it included the actual golf channel live golf coverage I would be interested.

Reply Report comment
- Scott Francis
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 3:31 pm
  
  Exaclty like someone else menioned if included a Pga Tour live subscription I would but $200? pass on Golfpass.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike Knights

Feb 5, 2019 at 1:50 pm

I dont understand why tour pros promote going to a website to watch a video to fix your swing when we all know they spend 100’s of hours with their coaches working on their swings. why in the world would you tell and Amateur to go watch a video and they will get better. Ugh!

Reply Report comment
- youraway
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 6:30 pm
  
  Plenty of videos on Youtube
  
  Reply Report comment
Gunter Eisenberg

Feb 5, 2019 at 1:47 pm

Doesn’t the Golf Channel also own Revolution Golf that offers that same instructional video content?

Reply Report comment
- JJ
  
  Feb 6, 2019 at 11:25 am
  
  That’s where the 4000 videos will come from
  
  Reply Report comment
Scott

Feb 5, 2019 at 12:46 pm

Is there a place to find out what 7,000 courses are playable with the free round each month, and what restrictions there will be on that? I can’t seem to find that information on the GolfPass website.

Reply Report comment
Stixman

Feb 5, 2019 at 12:39 pm

Sorry, Rory is not the torch-bearer you seem to think he is, he just isn’t, he’ll let you down and send you the memo.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Feb 5, 2019 at 11:45 am

Carson Daly? WTF

Reply Report comment
Thunder Bear

Feb 5, 2019 at 11:45 am

Wait, so for $9.99 per month, I can play TPC Sawgrass or one of their other elite courses once a month? That seems too good to be true even if you have to play on Monday thru Thursday.

Reply Report comment
- Simms
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 12:44 pm
  
  Guess again, it will be the same as with all their “Hot Deals” specials..it will be afternoons Monday thru Thursday..and many courses will be exempt..In California you will be playing after 12 in months you cannot finish because of time change. You have to think about the fact also there are only so many “HOT DEALS” after 12 in your area..Hot Deals do not bring any money into the golf course and are only given out by the course to Golf Now for advertising and use of computer scheduling programs….and many course look down on that “HOT DEAL” tee time and treat you like your cheating them…..and notice with the $99 price there is no mention of waved fees or free cancellations that comes at the $199 price….
  
  Reply Report comment
Joshua

Feb 5, 2019 at 11:24 am

The free golf seems enticing into you read the fine print. If I didn’t have a job and could golf Monday thru Thursday afternoons…

Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase