Dear NXXT Golf Community,
Every great journey begins with a single step, but our voyage over the past year has felt more like a full-throttle sprint toward a new era. NXXT Golf entered this season with ambitious goals: to champion women’s sport, to innovate the very nature of competitive golf, and to blaze new trails where others hesitated.
Along the way, we’ve defied the odds, stood by our values, and watched our players create some of the most memorable moments in the history of the game. Today, I’d like to share our story—one of courage, reinvention, and unwavering belief in the boundless potential of women’s golf.
Standing Firm on Women’s Golf
We began by taking a resolute stance on the integrity of women’s sports, addressing the delicate issue of transgender participation in the female category.
We knew the risks—lost contracts, legal ramifications, or being labeled “unwelcoming.” Yet, we believed preserving fair play for female athletes was paramount. With pride, we’ve seen the LPGA and USGA follow suit, reinforcing that the future of women’s golf will remain unequivocally focused on the extraordinary women who define this sport.
Team Golf, the NXXT Way
While controversy swirled off the course, we made waves on it by reshaping the competitive landscape. Inspired by LIV Golf’s high-octane style, we introduced a team-based format to the NXXT Women’s Pro Tour—an unprecedented move at this level of the women’s game.
By layering camaraderie and strategic teamwork into the mix, we injected a whole new level of excitement for players and fans alike. Our success paved the way for a partnership with the LPGA, creating exemptions for top NXXT competitors on the Epson Tour in 2025.
Battle of the Sexes: Breaking New Ground
Our determination to push boundaries took flight with the Battle of the Sexes, a pioneering event that united men and women in a single field, contending for one trophy and one purse. The result was nothing short of cinematic—a race to the finish that saw the top ten split evenly between female and male competitors.
Ultimately, Laney Frey emerged victorious, proving that when skill transcends gender lines, the possibilities are limitless. The success of this event has led us to blueprint an entire “Battle Series” in 2025, promising an exhilarating new brand of competitive drama.
Amelia Garvey’s “Unthinkable Trifecta”
No recap of our year would be complete without celebrating Amelia Garvey and her once-in-a-lifetime achievement—an eagle, an albatross, and a hole-in-one in a single round.
Not one professional golfer in history, man or woman, has ever recorded this trifecta. Statistically, the odds stand at a jaw-dropping 37.5 trillion to 1 for amateurs and 4.5 trillion to 1 even for top-tier professionals. Amelia’s feat will forever stand as a shining example of what happens when opportunity, determination, and raw talent collide on the NXXT Tour.
Rising Stars on the Global Stage
While we take pride in our innovations, it’s our athletes who breathe life into the NXXT mission—and this year, they’ve more than delivered on the global scene.
Two graduates in particular have showcased just how effective our tour can be in shaping future stars:
· Bailey Tardy captured national attention by finishing tied for fourth at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. She followed that breakthrough with her first LPGA win this year, illustrating the fierce competitive edge and skill she sharpened on our tour.
· Nataliya Guseva, a three-time NXXT champion, cemented her status as a newcomer to watch with six top-10 finishes in her rookie LPGA season. Her consistency and flair for the dramatic position her as a potential force for years to come.
And the pipeline shows no signs of slowing. Three recently turned pros—Annabelle Pancake, Laney Frey, and Alice Hodge—claimed NXXT victories in their debuts, signaling an even brighter horizon for our tour’s up-and-coming talent.
NXXTGen: Forging the Future
Our commitment to developing golf’s next generation extends beyond the professional ranks. This year, we introduced NXXTGen, our junior tour that offers young golfers the chance to learn from top-tier coaching, receive invaluable mentorship, and compete in inventive tournaments designed to stretch their skills.
As we look to 2025 and beyond, we’ll be investing even more in NXXTGen, confident that these rising stars will soon be making headlines of their own on the professional stage.
The Road Ahead: A New Kind of Golf Experience
Transformation is a journey, not a one-time act. As we peer into the coming year, our ambitions are clear:
Battle Series Expansion: After the resounding success of our first mixed-gender tournament, we plan to launch a multi-stop series that offers the best players—regardless of gender—a chance to compete on equal footing.
Reimagining Media Engagement: We’re crafting a cutting-edge media platform that blends interactive technology, on-demand highlights, and immersive storytelling. Our goal is to connect with a new generation of fans, offering richer and more dynamic ways to experience golf.
Elevating Junior Golf: NXXTGen will grow into a global gateway for aspiring golfers, reinforcing our belief that the sport’s future hinges on nurturing raw talent and fueling dreams from an early age.
By weaving these threads together, we reaffirm our belief in women’s golf as a boundless frontier. When vision, creativity, and a commitment to fairness converge, barriers dissolve, and history is made.
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this year’s achievements would be possible without our remarkable community. From the athletes who pour their souls into each swing, to our partners who share our ideals, to the fans who cheer us on at every turn—your faith in NXXT propels us toward greater heights.
As we conclude one extraordinary season and prepare for the next, our pledge to you is unwavering. We will continue championing fairness, igniting innovations, and celebrating those iconic moments that remind us why we love this sport. The future of women’s golf has never looked brighter, and we’re just getting started.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Stuart McKinnon
CEO, NXXT Golf
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