
Andre Agassi Among Investors in DUPR Pickleball Rating System
The proposed international rating system for pickleball has engaged a new board, ownership, investors, and an influx of $8 million in funding to advance DUPR’s mission to unify the growing sport with technology and a global rating system.

Fitness Ventures Picks Pittsburgh for 48th Crunch Fitness Location
Crunch Pleasant Hills, a 45,000-square-foot fitness facility in Pittsburgh, PA, will take the place of a former LA Fitness facility.

GearJunkie Parent Acquires Pack Hacker
Pack Hacker’s focus on travel gear reviews and buying advice is expected to complement AllGear Digital’s brand portfolio covering outdoor sports, cycling, surfing, and other outdoor pursuits.

Life Time to Open in Boulder
The 40,000-square-foot space will be renovated as Life Time Boulder, replacing the former Colorado Athletic Club. The site joins Life Time Denver West, opening in Wheat Ridge in the first half of 2024.

Report: Nearly 8 of 10 Online Chargebacks Originate from Consumers, Not Fraud
Based on anonymized data obtained from Chargeflow’s merchant database, the company’s 2024 report found that 79.03 percent of chargeback cases result from friendly fraud, driving the need for businesses to adopt automated fraud detection solutions and educational initiatives.

Ashworth Golf Names Sales Rep of the Year
Ann Johnson’s hard work and determination proved instrumental in opening new doors, securing green grass accounts and delivering significant growth for the company.

Golf Datatech Sees 2023 Golf Equipment Sales Trend Flat to 2022
On- and off-course specialty golf equipment sales were up 6.6 percent year-over-year for the month of December and up 39.3 percent from December 2019.

Marine Products Corp. Sees Q4 Boat Unit Sales Sink 34 Percent
The parent of the Chaparral and Robalo boat brands said Q4 net sales came in at $70.9 million, down 35 percent from Q4 2022, primarily due to a 34 percent decrease in the number of boats sold during the quarter.

Report: Camper’s Preferences Could Mean More Business, New Employees
KOA created its 2023 Odds and Ends report to bring quirky and intriguing findings that showcase travel’s diversity and evolving nature. Many could mean more business for outdoor brands, retailers, campgrounds, and RV dealers.

Pard Optics Names 2023 Rep Group of the Year
“The Odle team has demonstrated professionalism, dedication and a focus that helped Pard enjoy significant market growth.the company.” —Derick Cole, VP Sales, Pard USA.

MyFitnessPal Appoints Tech Leader as New CEO
Mike Fisher succeeds Dinesh Lathi, who will remain involved with the company as a member of its Board of Directors.

Lumin Fitness Inks First Franchise Partner to Fuel Brand Expansion
The first franchise agreement with Verge Fit Holdings closely follows the brand’s launch in late 2023 and outlines expansion plans for key Texas markets over the next three years including Austin, Houston and Dallas.

Soleta Golf Club Appoints General Manager
Soleta Golf Club, the new luxury golf and lifestyle community slated for the Sarasota/Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch markets, hired Mark Rummings as General Manager.

Phantom Glide Expands Sales Team in U.S. and Europe
“With the launch of Phantom Glide Nordic and the strong momentum we’re seeing with Phantom Glide sales, we jumped at the opportunity to add two veteran sales managers to the team.” —Steve Kropf, Senior Vice President, Sales, Phantom Glide.

Circana to Acquire Golf Datatech
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to be completed by March 2024. Under the terms of the agreement, Golf Datatech will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Circana.