Friday Jan 16, 2026
FIRST THOUGHT

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

▪️ In LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler's first full season, what do you believe should be his main objectives? | Respond

BUSINESS
Under the agreement, Ahead will serve as the primary official headwear licensee for the major championship
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Golfers using Golfzon simulators will have access to Arcis Golf’s portfolio of courses
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Company will implement culture-based staff training and development, along with BJL standard operating procedures for the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, club
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Using data-driven insights, Golfstix helps golfers save money and find the right clubs
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Doug Friess is named general manager of the Woodridge, Illinois, course
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Club, course and destination operator reached multiyear agreement with Bel-Wood Country Club (Morrow, Ohio), Falmouth Country Club (Falmouth, Massachusetts) and Fox Hollow Golf Club (Branchburg, New Jersey)
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Nathan will offer fresh data and insight on the health and momentum of the U.S. golf economy
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Job applications are now open for the 2026 PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
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Agreement designates LevelBlue as the official cybersecurity advisor of the PGA of America, PGA Championship, and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship through 2028
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The regionally based sales team to service green-grass and independent golf retailers across North America
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"Obsessed With It" marks a "powerful reintroduction of the brand’s voice, identity and vision worldwide," the company said
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True Spec North Georgia has moved from its original location to Acworth, Georgia, and is now open to the public and booking appointments for fittings
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Record-breaking growth in membership and rounds played mark two decades of impacting youth experiences through access to golf
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Investment group includes roster of business leaders — Linnea Roberts, Jenny Just, Susan Lyne, Jen Mackesy, Ellie Rubenstein, Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach
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Whoosh will integrate its tee sheet platform with the Pace Technology GPS fleet management system to give course operators a more efficient workflow and clearer operational insights
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CLUBS / COURSES
David McLay Kidd design is chosen as "Best New Public Course of 2025" and "Best New Resort Course," respectively
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Recreational golfer reviews throughout 2025 determined the best courses of the year, including Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, as the top public golf course in America
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Heritage membership opportunities are now available for the Midway, Utah, destination
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Teams to compete for conference title, NCAA Regional bid
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COMPETITION
Seventh annual event set for Jan. 24-25 at Torrey Pines Golf Course with the champion receiving a sponsor exemption into the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open
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Five-time champion Bernhard Langer and former world No. 1 players David Duval and Tom Lehman also in 78-player field for PGA Tour Champions event, Feb. 13-15 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida
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The 15-18 champions at the FCG International and FCG Callaway World Championship will earn entry into the 2026 event
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2026 FCG National Tour Series launched with 137 junior golfers competing at Southern California's Twin Oaks Golf Course (San Marcos) and Pala Mesa Resort (Fallbrook)
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The American squad will be named following the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open
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Over 80,000 junior golfers experienced team-based golf in 2025; New 9U age division expands playing opportunities
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Aon Swing 5 begins at Sony Open in Hawaii; 750 FedEx Cup points awarded to winners of first two FedEx Cup Playoffs events
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PGA of America renews as presenting sponsor of the Adaptive Golf Championship for 2026-2027; Registration open through Feb. 3
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DESTINATIONS
Los Cabos, Mexico, destination pairs its amenities with Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club, which features 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman
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The Bahamas destination's "Say Yes to Atlantis" package features 35% in savings for a limited time.
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The latest episode highlights the Georgia mountaintop destination
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EVENTS
Registration for booth space is open for the event, scheduled for July 7-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada
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GEAR
New irons' weighting system transforms adjustability
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This partnership continues Sqairz's expansion into softball
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Brand-agnostic clubfitter breaks down what’s new from the upgraded VeloCore+ construction to the refinements behind its stability, feel and speed
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MEDIA
The series will spotlight Epson Tour players throughout the 2026 season as they pursue their respective LPGA Tour cards
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The show will premiere Jan. 14, leading into "PGA Tour Live"
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2026 coverage kicks off with this week's Dubai Invitational; Nearly 600 hours of live DP World Tour coverage to air on network annually
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The Friday segments will return to select PGA Tour events, debuting at this week's season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii
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2026 PGA Tour season opener to air live at 7 p.m. ET Thursday-Sunday; ‘Happy Hour with Smylie' returns for 2026 season on Friday during tournament coverage of Sony Open
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The latest episode highlights the Georgia mountaintop destination
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Series launches with Bud Cauley episode across all Tour channels on Jan. 15
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PEOPLE
Carpenter will oversee the golf technology company’s expansion beyond Europe
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Europe’s No. 1 push cart and golf bag manufacturer, taps the former Wilson global commercial director to head its operations in the U.S. market
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The multiple tournament winners were voted by members of the Golf Writers Association of America as 2025 players of the year of their respective tours — the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions
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The deal is MGI Golf's first with a professional American athlete
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The company adds Reid Gorman as senior vice president of business intelligence and operations and Bill Golden as senior vice president of strategic services
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Trio won the PGA Professional, Women’s PGA Professional and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Awards, respectively
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Penge will open the 2026 season playing the PXG Lightning Tour Mid driver, PXG Secret Weapon mini driver, PXG 0311 Gen8 iron and PXG 0317 ST irons
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Lucas will oversee company operations, drive strategic growth initiatives and work to strengthen Tournament Solutions’ market position
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PGA SHOW
Innovative wellness technology helps golfers recover faster, stay active longer
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Iconic brands mark historic milestones with performance-driven designs and timeless style
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The brand will give an exclusive first look at its 2026 Summer / Fall Collection
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The ball, which features embedded electronics to track putting metrics, will debut at the 2026 PGA Show
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Company will welcome attendees at Booth No. 2392 and Demo Day space, and has two featured speaker events
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Brand to introduce Ibkomfortable and Ibtravel lines at the 2026 PGA Show. Jan. 21-23 in Orlando, Florida
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The complete Icon X-Series will include the i20X, i40X and i60LX, alongside the debut of the Epic E20FX and Epic E60FX
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The companies are Runner Putters, Blue Tees Golf, Stitch Golf, Makefield Golf and Shot Scope
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Scandinavian apparel brand will launch its new lifestyle-driven collection
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The accessory manufacturer will debut an updated version of its flagship product, The Purist, along with The Pilgrim, a new organizer for golfers who approach golf with a minimalist intentionality
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Artifact putters and modular system will be showcased at the PGA Show
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Cutting-edge design will be on display at Demo Day and booth #3201
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Brand will showcase new Fast Motion fairway and hybrid shafts, new Motion hybrid shafts, and refined driver and fairway models across both families
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Company to spotlight program at the PGA Show for clubs looking to maximize trade-in value
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Company will showcase the Range Picker, Inrange and ball management technology
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Drive for Show Live will bring together media personalities, celebrities, creators, PGA of America Golf Professionals and brand leaders through a series of original live events and activations, starting with Demo Day on Jan. 20
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This year’s schedule will feature programming from leading golf organizations, business experts and top PGA coaches, offering insights and innovative strategies to attendees
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Roboranger will be demonstrated live during Demo Day on Jan. 20
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LM1 Launch Monitor, H50 GPS Handheld device and LoopOne GPS speaker are the company's latest innovations
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Footwear design features featherlight feel with serious performance
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Platform runs tournaments, leagues and games to heighten the player experience
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A delegation of 17 businesses will be in attendance, while the Scotland Pavilion will be a hub for attendees to connect with Scottish golf businesses and explore opportunities for collaboration
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The company will demonstrate the latest advancements in wireless charging technology for golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles and personal transportation vehicles
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PHILANTHROPY
The total prize purse will increase in 2026 from $10,000 to $78,000
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INDUSTRY NOTES

BUSINESS

International Network of Golf: Will host the Hal Sutton Makefield Putters presentation and reception at the PGA Show, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center. 

DrinkTanks: Appoints Read the Greens, Golf Media Inc., as its public relations agency of record. Read the Greens will initiate a targeted public relations and media campaign for the Drink Tanks at the PGA Show, Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, Florida. DrinkTanks specializes in beverage products such as vacuum-insulated growlers, CO2dispensers and drinkware accessories.

Majesticks Golf Club: LIV Golf League team partners with Genesys ahead of the 2026 season. With Genesys' global AI expertise, the collaboration will allow Majesticks to explore ways to make more informed decisions and build more connected, modern experiences with its fan base. Genesys will assume prominent brand placement on the back of Majesticks Golf Club’s shirt. 

Silva & Johnson Ltd.: Course architect Brian Silva invites longtime colleague Brian Johnson to partner in the new design firm whose roots, ethos and client list reach back to the golden age of course design. Three high-profile renovations will dominate the 2026 calendar. Silva & Johnson broke ground in December at San Antonio Country Club, laid out 112 years ago by Alex Findlay; are underway on a similar refurbishment at 27-hole Old Westbury Golf and Country Club; and in the spring will begin the transformation of Boca Raton Golf & Country Club.

Bernhard and Company: Supports of the Soil Scout Grandmaster Program, a global ambassador initiative designed to recognize professionals shaping turf management's future. The first four confirmed Grandmasters are Brent Downs, Otter Creek Golf Club and Harrison Lake Country Club; Andrew Northeim, Columbus Crew; Rodney McKeown, Sentosa Golf Club; and Janne Lehto, Golf Hirsala Golf. Participants in the program commit to long-term collaboration, allowing Soil Scout to work with them to track data, gather insight and amplify authentic customer voices through global channels.

2K: Announces two new editions of PGA Tour 2K25 are available now on PlayStation5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Also, new bonus content will be coming soon, including the 2026 major championships, three new seasons and new Clubhouse passes. The digital-only PGA Tour 2K25 Legend Edition Year 2 and PGA Tour 2K25 Pro Edition offer new, premium versions. On Jan. 21, 2K will add the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with the release of Season 5, which will also feature two new equipment upgrade tiers and a focus on the shot-shaping Sculptor archetype. Seasons 6-8 will be releases later this year. 

CLUBS / COURSES

Laguna Phuket: Retains its position in the Golf World Top 100 World Resorts ranking, listed at No. 74. Laguna Phuket, located in Phuket, Thailand, features an 18-hole championship course and a PGA Golf Academy, the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. A recent highlight of Laguna Phuket is the opening of Rava Beach Club, which is the largest beach club in Thailand. 

McLemore Resort: Receives three honors for The Keep, the Bill Bergin and Rees Jones designed amenity of the Lookout Mountain, Georgia, destination. The Keep ranked No. 25 in Golfweek's Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. ranking; Sports Illustrated named The Keep the Best New Course for 2025; and The Keep also finished runner-up as Golf Digest’s Best New Public Course for 2025. 

Myrtle Beach National: Reopens King’s North after completing a sweeping, two-year renovation led by architect Brandon Johnson. Completed in two phases — front nine renovations in 2024, followed by the back nine in 2025 — the transformation included the restoration of fairway corridors, the reimagining of greens and surrounds, and sharpening the strategic intent. King's North was originally designed by Arnold Palmer.

The Club at Mediterra: The North Naples, Florida, club earns Elite status by Distinguished Clubs, for the 13th consecutive year. It's a designation awarded to just 132 private clubs nationwide and representing fewer than 3% of clubs globally. Distinguished Clubs by BoardRoom magazine recognizes private clubs that deliver exceptional member experiences through a rigorous, merit-based evaluation process. 

COMPETITION

LIV Golf: Stinger Golf Club rebrands as Southern Guards GC, marking a significant new chapter for South Africa’s team. Inspired by the principle of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Southern Guards GC is anchored by a collective strength built through shared purpose and national identity. The design is shaped by South African textures and patterns.

LIV Golf: Iron Heads Golf Club will officially compete as Korean Golf Club for the 2026 season, unveiling a rebrand that reflects Korea’s growing influence on global golf culture. The club’s new visual identity is anchored by the White Tiger, a revered figure in Korean history and folklore symbolizing strength, protection and resilience, and features the national flower of South Korea, the Rose of Sharon that represents Korea’s resilient spirit and enduring beauty.

 

DESTINATIONS

Emilia Romagna Golf: Publishes its 2026 Golf Catalog, which showcases 19 golf courses and 27 selected hotels, all located within the Emilia-Romagna, Italy, region. Emilia Romagna Golf provides a fully integrated service, allowing golfers and tour operators to organize complete golf getawys through a single office.

MEDIA

Sky Deutschland: Secures live rights to LIV Golf and the Asian Tour, covering all distribution channels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As part of the agreements, Sky Sport will broadcast all LIV Golf events and significant Asian Tour events live in 2026, totaling at least 30 events and nearly 600 hours of live coverage.

TNT Sports: Announces a multiyear agreement to add the LIV Golf League to its sports offering across its channels and platforms in the UK and Ireland, beginning this month. TNT Sports and its streaming platform Discovery+ will broadcast all 14 global events, commencing Feb. 4-7 at the Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh. 

Viaplay Group | LIV Golf: Announce a multiyear broadcast partnership that will see Viaplay deliver comprehensive live coverage of LIV Golf across its platforms to audiences in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. Coverage began with last week's LIV Golf Promotions and will continue with the season opener, Feb. 4-7.

PEOPLE

RangeGoats GC: Agrees to extensions with players Peter Uihlein, Matthew Wolff and Ben Campbell for the 2026 LIV Golf season. The team is led by captain Bubba Watson, whose 11th-place finish in the season-long points race was his career-best in LIV Golf. The team's best finish in 2025 was T2 at LIV Golf Riyadh. 

Ripper GC: Signs Australian Elvis Smylie for the 2026 LIV Golf League season. Smylie, 23, arrives after a breakout 2024-25 professional run that included a win at the Australian PGA Championship. He will join a team that includes captain Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert.

Balsam Mountain Preserve: Appoints Gayle Starke as the new club general manager for the Sylva, North Carolina, destination. Starke, who most recently served as the general manager at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, will oversee all aspects of operations, including equestrian, food and beverage, golf, fitness and wellness, membership, capital planning and integrated governance.

4Aces GC: Signs captain and two-time major champion Dustin Johnson to a multiyear extension and European rising star Thomas Detry ahead of the LIV Golf League's 2026 season. Johnson had five top-10 finishes in 2025, highlighted by a third-place finish at LIV Golf Indianapolis. Detry joins a 4Aces core also comprised of 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and former Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters.

Johnnie-O: Signs PGA Tour players Jake Knapp and J.T. Poston to multiyear endorsement contracts. Johnnie-O will outfit Knapp and Poston, who have a combined four PGA Tour victories, throughout the 2026 PGA Tour season. The partnership begins this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Knapp favors Johnnie-O’s Cross Country Flex pants and performance polos on course, and routinely wears the Hoppin’ Hoodie off the course; Poston will wear Johnnie-O’s Carmel 5-Pocket Pants during competition as well as versatile layering pieces such as the Sully and Crosswind Vest.

East West Matches: Names USGA champions Trip Kuehne and Paul Simson as the respective team captains for the 2026 Matches at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, Nov. 6-8. Kuehne, 53, of Westlake, Texas, who will captain the West squad, won the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur; Simson, 74, of Raleigh, North Carolina, who will captain the East squad, won the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Senior Amateur. Simson was the co-captain of the East in the inaugural 2020 Matches. The Matches, played every two years, is a three-day amateur golf competition that features a Ryder Cup-style team format for American mid-amateur and senior competitors.