Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Sean Fairholm

Sean Fairholm is the managing editor for GGPWomen and a senior writer for Global Golf Post. A graduate of North Carolina State University’s PGA Golf Management program and a former writer at PGA Magazine, he has covered golf for more than 10 years. Sean now writes on several topics for GGP, focusing mainly on amateur golf. He and his wife Anja live in Gainesville, Fla., with their dog Hogan.

Articles by Sean Fairholm

Annie Vanzant: Oakmont’s unsung merchandising hero

A squirrel can carry a golf club's sales only so far. It takes a passionate merchandiser such as Oakmont Country Club's Annie Vanzant to market and elevate that squirrel – and sales – to impressive heights.

Selling enthusiasm

Annie Vanzant is Oakmont’s unsung merchandising hero

A squirrel can only carry a golf club's sales so far. It takes a passionate merchandiser like Oakmont Country Club's Annie Vanzant to market and elevate that squirrel - and sales - to spectacular heights. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Behind the scenes 

Emily Palmer serves USGA, state golf associations in variety of roles

Emily Palmer took a chance on herself when she applied for an internship more than 20 years ago. That roll of the dice has paid off, as she has become one of the most invaluable voices at the United States Golf Association. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Forever young

Cheryl Rogers, 83, discovers passion for golf late in life 

For most of Cheryl Rogers' 83 years, she lived a life that included almost everything except golf. A love match at 78 changed all that. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Keeping in touch

Aubert, Ringsby stay close through Women’s Four-Ball

Shannon Aubert, from France, and Calli Ringsby, from California, share a bond that has lasted well beyond their time helping Stanford win its first national golf championship. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

The disappearance of Heron Bay

How the Honda Classic’s former home faded into oblivion

Its rapid descension feels impossible, but Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, is saying goodbye after just 23 years. Our Sean Fairholm writes a memorable recount about losing the former Honda Classic host course – the place where, as a child, he fell in love with game.

Data Gold

Canadian Brothers At Forefront Of Advanced Golf Statistics

From their shared workspace in Toronto, Matt and Will Courchene are a two-man show running Data Golf, one of the most intriguing and informative websites in golf. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

A Shrinking Divide

Elite Amateurs Take On Increasingly Professional Personas

Walking out of Ridgewood Country Club after a dramatic 36-hole championship match in the U.S. Amateur final between winner Sam Bennett and runner-up Ben Carr, our Sean Fairholm offers a few thoughts on the amateur season that was.

Changing The Tide

The Man Behind Pepperdine’s Revival

Ordinary is the best description for what Pepperdine was before Michael Beard accepted the head coaching job in 2012, but Beard stunned the college golf world by slowly creating a juggernaut – including a national title last year. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

With Rare Exceptions, NIL Money Yet to Flow Into Golf

We’re about seven months into the name, image and likeness era that allows college golfers to profit off of their abilities, and we’re nearly a month into that same freedom officially being afforded to all other amateurs through the modernized Rules of Golf. The opportunity is there, but few players have taken advantage of it.

Don’t Follow The Leader

Earlier this year, there were 14 consecutive events — starting with Jason Kokrak overtaking Jordan Spieth at Colonial and ending when Patrick Cantlay won the BMW Championship in a playoff over Bryson DeChambeau — where the 54-hole leader or co-leader didn’t win the tournament. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Pittsburgh Field Club An Uplifting Hidden Gem

Pittsburgh Field Club is memorable for historic and aesthetically pleasing reasons, but no description of the golf course is complete without what could be the oddest landmark most have ever seen on a golf course. An elevator. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Golf Becoming Strictly A Numbers Game

Scott Fawcett, a former player who now informs Will Zalatoris, Bryson DeChambeau and others, has devised a system called DECADE that takes Google Earth photos of courses paired with a player’s shot patterns to figure out optimal aiming points and decisions. Sean Fairholm has the story.

Despite Calls for Change, Walker Cup Needs No Altering

We’re obsessed with tinkering and perfecting, but maybe in the case of the Walker Cup we can take time to admire something that needs to be left alone. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Mr. 56: Maccario Rides Momentum As Mid-Am

It's clear that Nick Maccario, who won the 2019 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur by 15 strokes and has added impressive finishes since, has the game to be in the conversation with the top mid-ams around. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

A Surprize View of Tee Time Booking

Golf Surprize is a value-added tee-time revenue generator that puts a clever spin on what golfers have become accustomed to from other third-party services. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.

Burke, Champions Bring Storied Past To U.S. Women’s Open

Jackie Burke Jr. still displays the enthusiasm that has marked his storied career in golf as the U.S. Women's Open comes to his Champions Golf Club. GGP's Sean Fairholm profiles Burke and his aptly named club in Houston, Texas.

The Many Sides Of Firethorn

What Augusta’s Deceptive 15th Hole Gives, It Often Takes Away

The 15th hole at Augusta National – Firethorn – has cemented itself as an ideal representative of the nebulous line between ecstasy and agony at the Masters. Our Sean Fairholm has the story.