TFC Week In Review 03-13-2026

FIRST THOUGHT

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

▪️ Considering how men's professional golf's majors have evolved through the years, why should The Players Championship not be considered a major championship? | Respond

The Starter: PGA Tour change is blowin' in the wind

While not offering specifics, CEO Brian Rolapp indicated how different the Tour will look in the coming years; Should we view Akshay Bhatia in a new light after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational?; Bryson DeChambeau seeks to find a form that may not exist.

READ

BUSINESS

iFit | Arcis Golf: Expanding partnership

Agreement to include exclusive fitness equipment installations and new content production rights across Arcis Golf’s collection of lifestyle clubs

Indoor Golf Alliance: Power Tee joins advisory board

Newly formed board of advisors seeks to support the continued growth and innovation of the indoor golf industry

PGA Tour: Launches PGA Tour Pass, a free-to-join fan membership program

The program is available on PGATour.com and the official PGA Tour app

Troon: Launches the Access golf rewards program

Access is a fully integrated golf ecosystem that brings together tee time booking, subscription savings, loyalty rewards and e-commerce into one connected platform

USGA: Partners with Sun Cruiser, maker of ready-to-drink cocktails

National partnership will debut during the USGA’s 2026 championship season as it becomes the official ready-to-drink cocktail of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open

CLUBS / COURSES

Bobby Jones Links: Woodlake CC among 'Friendliest Courses in America'

North Carolina club puts culture and elevated service at its forefront, and is named to GolfPass list for its efforts

Curley-Wagner Golf Design: The River Club gets reimagined look

Construction is underway on all 18 holes at the Boise, Idaho, club

Saddlebrooke Two: To host MountainView Collegiate Tournament

Master-planned community near Tucson, Arizona, will host the event March 20-22 at The Preserve Golf Club

USGA: Awards Champions GC with 3 USGA championships through 2040

Houston club to host the 2029 U.S Senior Women’s Open, 2034 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2040 U.S. Senior Open

COMPETITION

JM Eagle LA Championship: Ingrid Lindblad, Hannah Green commit

JM Eagle continuing LA wildfire rebuilding efforts, rebuilding homes for five firefighter families in 2026

The Players Championship: Announces field for 2026

The 123-player field features 47 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking

DESTINATIONS

Lansdowne Resort: Offers spring getaway options

Kid-friendly golf, multi-sport camps and seasonal packages are among the features

Marriott Golf: Focus turns to Sawgrass Marriott

At Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, guests can secure exclusive access to TPC Sawgrass, home of the famed island green and the annual The Players Championship

Marriott Golf: The historic charm of The Williamsburg Lodge

Guests can enjoy 45 holes at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club with the exclusive Tee It Your Way 5K package

EVENTS

Indoor Golf Alliance: Announces upcoming World Indoor Golf Forum

Open format webinar is scheduled for March 18

Troon: 25 Bay Club locations to host series of events to support ALS research

Fairbanks Ranch Country Club to host Augie’s Quest Classic Golf Tournament on March 16

GEAR

Ahead: Collegiate headwear business accelerates as March Madness nears

Growing campus partnerships, the launch of the Playbook Collection and expanded direct-to-consumer offerings highlight Ahead’s continued momentum in collegiate headwear

Miura Golf: Introduces PI-402 irons

The manufacturer's newest iron is designed for players of all skill levels, bringing modern launch, forgiveness and distance to its classic Miura profile

PXG: Introduces forged PXG Stick’em wedges

The wedges are designed with a clean, tour-inspired profile and incorporate high-toe weighting, progressive center-of-gravity placement and optimized groove spacing

True Spec Golf: Tests out the L.A.B. Golf DF3i putter

The DF3i keeps L.A.B.’s zero-torque performance but adds a steel insert for enhanced feel and feedback

SuperStroke: Akshay Bhatia earns 3rd career win at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Bhatia claims playoff victory while playing a Zenergy Tour 1.0 two-piece putter grip

LIFESTYLE

Malcolm DeMille: Showcases craftsmanship

Zach Johnson won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational and received a handcrafted winner's trophy, while Malcolm DeMille also created the exclusive pro-am participant player badge money clips for the Arnold Palmer Invitational

MEDIA

Golf Channel: Surrounds The Players Championship with week-long coverage

Golf Channel to air nearly 65 hours of tournament and on-site studio coverage including “Golf Central Live From The Players” throughout the week

PEOPLE

Bobby Jones Links: Promotes Emzi Wewers

Wewers, who previously served as general manager at Hope Valley Country Club in Durham, North Carolina, has been named vice president of revenue management

Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel: Appoints director of strategic initiatives

Rod Centers to guide property growth strategically, operationally

Firefly: Appoints Aaron Levinson as director of golf

Experienced golf professional to lead the launch of the Spring Hill, Tennessee, course this fall

GCSAA: Names Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winners

Golf course superintendents Ryan Standifird and Kurtis Wolford are honored for advocacy efforts, advancement of association priority issues and congressional outreach

KemperSports: Announces new appointment for KemperSports Venues

Jillian Dowden is named director of sales and marketing and will lead integrated sales and marketing strategies designed to drive growth, partnerships and event activity across nearly 15 facilities.

TECHNOLOGY

AM Golf: To power AMPTour with live scoring, leaderboard functions

AM Golf to provide live scoring and leaderboard functions across multiple, two-day Florida tournaments in 2026

Platform Golf: Adds TruePR experience to the GameAbove Golf Invitational

College golfers engaged in skills challenge before tournament using dynamic terrain shifts and real-world slope simulations

INDUSTRY NOTES

BUSINESS

Golf Business Technology Conference: The event returns to Belfast, Northern Ireland, May 5–7, and will focus on sustainability, revenue generation, golf entertainment, operational efficiency and AI-driven club management. Speakers will include Karen Lyttle (director of technology, The R&A), Sarah Stirk (golf commentator, Sky Sports), Simon Elsworth (global head of professional solutions, Syngenta), Gina Rizzi (president, Radius Sports Group), Danny Campbell (general manager, Royal Portrush Golf Club) and Bob Morse (president / COO, Invited Clubs).

COURSES

Long Cove: The lakefront community in Malakoff, Texas, announces The Old Mine Club, an invitation-only private club on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake, and its centerpiece, The Canary — an 18-hole championship course designed by architect Beau Welling that is set to open in 2027. Spanning over 7,400 yards from the back tees, The Canary will boast striking elevation changes, bold contours and water features that come into play on 10 holes.