The recent bushfires in Southern Australia have almost been contained, but in their wake more than two hundred lives have been lost. The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and left 7,000 people homeless. It is the worst natural disaster to hit Australia in more than a century. Titleist Brand Ambassador and native Australian Adam Scott, is stepping up to help the victims of this catastrophe. Earlier this week Adam hosted a putting competition and golfing demonstration at the Sydney offices of Westpac Group, an Australian banking firm, in an effort to raise funds for the Victorian Bushfire Relief Appeal. Thus far, The Westpac Group has collected $9.3 million in donations from its customers. Early last week Westpac donated $1 million to the appeal, has matched employees’ donations to the appeal to the value of more than $570,000 and has offered victims of the tragedy a range of relief measures.

To learn more, visit the blog section of Adam's website at http://www.adamscott.com.au/.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Parker McLachlin is giving fans an inside the ropes glimpse at his life on Tour via the popular social networking service Twitter. According to Parker's website, ParkerMcLachlin.com (pictured below), beginning today he will be "periodically updating his Twitter "followers" on various items such as his scores, finishes at tournaments, special events, and his experiences and adventures on the PGA Tour." For more, be sure to visit his Twitter feed at Twitter.com/ParkerMcLachlin.

One of Parker's first updates references an article in today's Los Angeles Times regarding his recent pickup basketball game with then President-elect Obama. Click here to see the story.

Earlier this month, the first shipments of the New 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls left Titleist's golf ball manufacturing facilities in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The next generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls have already made a splash in 2009, trusted by winners on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours. Now you, too, can elevate your game with the longer distance, improved scoring performance and greater durability of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

Recently, Eric Barzeski of TheSandTrap.com conducted a podcast to investigate the technological advancements of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x, as well as discuss Titleist's ball fitting methodology, among other topics. His expert guests for the interview were George Sine, Titleist's Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, and Bill Morgan, Titleist's Senior Vice President, Golf Ball Research and Development. Listen to the podcast in the Golf Talk section at thesandtrap.com to learn more about the most advanced golf balls Titleist has ever produced.