The Scottsdale, AZ-based Tradition at Desert Mountain, one
of the Senior PGA Tour's four major championships, has announced
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. has signed on as its new presenting
sponsor starting in '97. Terms of the four-year deal were not
disclosed. The Tradition also announced the tournament will be
broadcast on network TV for the first time. Jack Nicklaus
Productions will produce for ABC (The Tradition)....HiPPO Inc., a
new manufacturer and marketer of golf equipment, apparel and
accessories, announced the appointment of Neal Cohen and James
Henley to the posts of VP/Apparel Operations and Apparel Design
Dir, respectively. Cohen was VP/Operations at Benetton
Sportsystem Active and Henley was Golf Apparel Designer for Tommy
Hilfiger's Golf line (HiPPO, Inc.)....BOSTON GLOBE golf writer
Paul Harber writes that the PGA of America should always play its
annual championship at Louisville's Valhalla. The PGA of America
has a 25% ownership stake in the course and is reportedly
planning to increase its stake. Harber notes it would be a
"financial boon," and the PGA would not have to share "so much of
the tournament revenue with the hosting club." He add the TV
audience would "become more familiar with the golf course ... one
reason why The Masters is so successful" (BOSTON GLOBE,
8/14)....Corporate chalets at the NEC World Series of Golf next
week in Akron, OH costs $20,000 a week, villas are $37,000 (Akron
BEACON JOURNAL, 8/16).
