TFC Week In Review 03-06-2026

FIRST THOUGHT

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

▪️ What is your opinion of the Trump administration's involvement with Washington, D.C.’s three municipal golf courses currently being managed by National Links Trust? | Respond
> They rescued D.C.'s munys. Then Trump took over. Inside the fight between the president and public golf | Golf Digest | Read
> The National Links Trust’s Battle with the Trump Administration explained | Fried Egg Golf | Read
> Uncertainty and a new lawsuit swirl around the National Links Trust and Washington D.C. golf courses | GolfPass | Read

The Starter: Jon Rahm — equal parts hero, victim?

The Spaniard's travel gesture show a willingness to aid LIV peers, while his stance on DP World Tour's offer expresses defiance; John Daly II didn't fall far from tree; Did someone say playoffs?

READ

BUSINESS

Bird Golf Academy: Adds signature instruction model to Golf Summerlin

Academy will deliver its private instruction programs across the Las Vegas golf destination's three award-winning courses

Epson: Extends multiyear title partnership of Epson Tour

The partnership will continue to elevate the qualifying tour of the LPGA, including significant enhancements to the Epson Tour Championship

Five Iron Golf: Continues national expansion with Syracuse opening

New New York location reinforces demand for a performance-driven, data-backed indoor golf membership model

PGA Tour: Names Zyrtec as 1st allergy relief sponsor

Allergy brand launches 360-degree "Yes Season" campaign, empowering allergy sufferers to embrace spring adventures

PGA Tour: Technics named official audio of the Tour, PGA Tour Champions

Panasonic brand kicks off Tour partnership with the Technics Sound Deck, letting fans listen in on player and caddie conversations

PGA Tour | Supergoop!: Announce multiyear partnership

Supergoop! is named the official suncare of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions; Justin Rose joins as a brand ambassador

Revelyst Golf Technology: Announces new global headquarters in California

The move in Carlsbad marks a new chapter for the company

TGL: Names AT&T as founding partner, official connectivity provider

AT&T joins TGL to elevate the fan experience

The Indoor Golf Alliance: Gallus Golf becomes a sponsor, preferred vendor

IGA sponsors play a key role in supporting the indoor golf industry and advancing its cause and purpose

CLUBS / COURSES

GolfPass: 2026 Golfers’ Choice lists rank best public courses by state

Recreational golfers selected courses based on pace of play, value, course conditions, staff friendliness, and more; Newest edition of Golfers’ Choice joins previously revealed lists, including Top 50 Public Golf Courses in the U.S. and Best Warm-Weather Golf Courses

USGA: Selects Inverness Club for 2045 U.S. Open

Toledo, Ohio, club to also host the 2033 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2036 U.S. Women’s Amateur

USGA: Selects Old Barnwell to host 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

The South Carolina club will host its first USGA championship

COMPETITION

APGA Tour: Rookie Willy Pumarol claims his 1st APGA title

Pumarol, making just his second APGA Tour start, won a three-hole playoff victory over Andrew Walker to win at TPC San Antonio

LPGA: To offer 4 amateur exemptions to the 2026 Standard Portland Classic

Winners of four amateur championships will receive an exemption into the tournament

DESTINATIONS

Marriott Golf: Setting up for success at Marriott Golf Academy

Orlando, Florida, destination offering exclusive golf school promotions

Marriott Golf: Showcases the Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon

Florida destination features two Greg Norman-designed courses

Marriott Golf: Showcases the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

Secluded Mexico destination features plenty of amenities and two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses

EVENTS

KemperSports: Honors its finest at KemperSports Leadership Conference

The event at Medinah Country Club recognized the top facilities and people of the past year

Reading CC: To celebrate 103rd anniversary with open house

The free, April 11 event is an opportunity for the Reading, Pennsylvania, community to tour the newly renovated club, its golf course and multiple dining and event venues

GEAR

Dunlop Sports America: Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic

Echavarria played a bag full of Srixon and Cleveland Golf equipment en route to third PGA Tour victory

Srixon: Hannah Green wins HSBC Women’s World Championship title

Green played a full complement of Srixon equipment, including the ZXi5 iron, ZXi7 irons, RTZ Tour Rack wedges and the Z-Star Diamond golf ball

Srixon: Introduces Q-Star Ultispeed with Trackline alignment system

The ball delivers a blend of visual performance, increased distance and greenside control in a bold, modern look

Srixon: Launches Q-Star Tour Series

The series is built to deliver tour-caliber performance with a softer feel, longer distance and greenside control — all while taking a step toward sustainability

SuperStroke: Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic

Colombian-born pro won for the third time on the PGA Tour using a Zenergy Pistol Tour putter grip

SuperStroke: Releases St. Patrick’s Day “Pot O’ Gold” putter grip

New limited-edition leprechaun-themed grip with gold coins, clover and a rainbow leading to a pot of gold debuts March 2 in Zenergy Pistol 2.0 and Tour 2.0 models

WMX Grips: Introduces Hyper+ Midsize, Jumbo grips

The additions build on the Hyper line and deliver a larger lower-hand profile while utilizing lightweight material science

MEDIA

Golf Channel: Arnold Palmer Invitational headlines week's live coverage

Jim Furyk joins the Golf Channel booth as analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Terry Gannon; Puerto Rico Open, Blue Bay LPGA, James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational and Joburg Open will also air

PGA of America | NBC Sports | USA Sports: Extend media rights through 2033

Extension includes 2033 Ryder Cup at the Olympic Club in San Francisco

PEOPLE

B. Draddy: Partners with Cameron McCormick, Altus Performance

McCormick is the 2015 PGA Teacher of the Year, longtime coach of Jordan Spieth and founder of the performance academy Altus Performance

Full Swing: Adds Miles Russell as brand ambassador

Record-breaking 17-year-old, who is the reigning AJGA Player of the Year, joins Full Swing’s roster of major champions and PGA Tour winners

MGI Golf: Partners with 4 Epson Tour players for 2026

Electric caddy manufacturer signs agreements with Jackie Lucena, Jillian Hollis, Nicole Lorup and Su Oh

New Jersey Golf Foundation: Elects Tom Flatt as president

New Jersey Golf Foundation, the charitable arm of the New Jersey PGA Section, also announces new additions to the Board of Trustees

USGA: Announces 2026 Elite Amateur Program roster

The Elite Amateur Program is a pillar of the U.S. National Development Program, which was established in 2023

USGA: Kevin Hammer elected organization's 68th president

He is joined by two new members on the executive committee, Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina and Suzy Whaley of Florida, each beginning a three-year term

USGA: Honors Tiger Woods' amateur legacy

Nine-time USGA champion joins esteemed list of influential figures with USGA medal in their names as U.S. Amateur champion’s medal, U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy are names for Woods

TECHNOLOGY

Foresight Sports: Unveils reimagined app

A redesigned interface debuts the Digital Training Facility, a purpose-built environment designed to make practice immersive, competitive and measurable

The Indoor Golf Shop: Recaps the best of indoor golf from the PGA Show

AI, improved launch monitors and golf simulator tech were on full display at the 2026 PGA Show

INDUSTRY NOTES

BUSINESS

Thompson Golf Management: Began management of St. Cloud Country Club in St. Cloud, Minnesota, effective March 1. Founded in 1920 and located along the banks of the Mississippi River, St. Cloud Country Club features an 18-hole championship golf course, along with pickleball, tennis, outdoor pool and other amenities. Thompson Golf Management is part of Thompson Golf Group, a multi-state ownership and management company with properties in Minnesota, Arizona, and Texas.

COURSES

Old South Golf Links: Bluffton, South Carolina, course will host the first stop of World League FlingGolf’s 2026 New Swarm Tour, March 13-15. The event will be filmed for a planned ESPN2 airing this summer. Old South Golf Links was among the earliest golf courses to adopt FlingGolf, which is played with one stick (similar to a lacrosse stick) and offers a faster pace of play. FlingGolf has been played on over 3,000 golf courses in 43 countries, and has hosted tournaments across the U.S. and the U.K. through the FlingGolf UK Chapter since 2022, with multiple ESPN airings already completed.

GEAR

Tite Eyewear: Launches its new performance eyewear brand that debuted at the PGA Show in January. The brand's lens technology helps reveal the contours, breaks and subtle details of a course, and was developed with input from elite players and tour caddies. The performance lens is offered across multiple frame models and colorways. The collection is available online at TiteEyewear.com and at select golf retail locations.