TFC Week In Review 04-04-2025

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Masters? Who do you expect to win and what do you believe will the biggest storylines?

Send replies on this question or other topics and questions you would like to have asked to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For a response to be published, you must include your first and last name, along with the city and state of residence.

> Regarding professional golfers and the media, should players be obligated to speak to reporters during a tournament week? Or does a player's communication via social media suffice? | Read

The Starter: Talking PGA Tour and LIV Golf, a bit of Masters, and Max Homa

Mike Purkey begins the weekend pondering the golf world with nine questions.

BUSINESS

FIBO, PGA Show: Announce strategic partnership

The collaboration further links the worlds of fitness and golf, delivering innovative solutions and fostering growth across both industries

Forest Preserves of Cook County, Troon: Renew management agreement

The 10-year management agreement renewal with Forest Preserves of Cook County is to manage the Illinois county’s 11 golf facilities

Gila River Resorts & Casinos: Named sponsor of 2025 Grass Clippings Open

High stakes par-3 tournament is set for April 30 – May 3 at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona

Golfzon: Opens showrooms on east, west coasts

Golf simulator brand opens state-of-the-art facilities at Golf Envy in Irvine, California, and its renovated Golfzon America headquarters in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Chantilly, Virginia

KemperSports: To manage Swansea CC

Swansea is a semi-private club in Swansea, Massachusetts, that features an 18-hole golf course and nine-hole par-3 course

PGA of America: Names Airshare as official private aviation provider

Agreement includes the 2025 and 2029 Ryder Cup, and the PGA and PGA National Club championships through 2029

PGA of America: Names ShipSticks as its official golf club shipping partner

More golfers are shipping their clubs to avoid airport logistics and escalating fees

Troon: To manage Salt Pond GC in Delaware

Indigo Sports, a Troon company, will oversee golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, and sales and marketing for the daily-fee course in Bethany Beach, Delaware

Troon: To manage Schaffer’s Mill

Troon Prive, the private club operating division of Troon, will oversee club operations, agronomy, food and beverage, and membership sales and marketing for the private Truckee, California, club

True Spec Golf: Opens 1st location in Washington, D.C. metro area

Little Bennett Golf Course in Clarksburg, Maryland, will be home to the brand-agnostic clubfitting company’s location

Williams Athletic Club: Aligns with Metropolitan PGA Section as a sponsor

The lifestyle brand commits to Metropolitan PGA Section Sponsorship Program and will participate in the Spring Meeting at Brae Burn Country Club on April 3

CLUBS / COURSES

Four Bridges CC: Unveils multimillion dollar transformation

Family focus and robust lifestyle amenities are the hallmarks of Cincinnati-area private club

GolfPass: Unveils Golfers’ Choice lists of Best Courses internationally

Golfers can find which public-access golf courses their peers have determined as the best to play in Canada, Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales

Heathrow Legacy CC: Fazio Course earns Audubon International recognition

Course superintendent John Kopack celebrates 50 years of service to the golf industry by leading course to Signature Sanctuary Certification

Lake Monticello GC: Recognized among Virginia’s best by GolfPass

The Palmyra, Virginia, course, designed by Buddy Loving, is named to GolfPass’ Top 25 Public Golf Courses in Virginia — Golfers' Choice 2025 rankings

Mauna Lani: Sweeps top honors in Golfers’ Choice 2025 for Hawaii

Auberge Resorts Collection's South and North courses were first and second, respectively, on GolfPass’ Top 25 Public Golf Courses in Hawaii list

Pinery CC: Completes multimillion-dollar transformation

Denver, Colorado, area private club dramatically enhances member experience

USGA: Taps Barton Hills CC for 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Open

Ann Arbor, Michigan, club will host its first Senior Women’s Open and third USGA championship

COMPETITION

APGA Tour: Michael Bradham wins sudden-death playoff

Bradham tapped in for par on the fourth playoff hole to win the APGA at Magnolia Grove, his second career APGA title

Black Desert Championship: 6 of the world’s top 10 set to compete

Early player commitments include major championship winners as LPGA Tour prepares to return to Utah, May 1-4

JM Eagle LA Championship: 5 major champions commit

Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Stacy Lewis, Anna Nordqvist and Minjee Lee headline latest entries, while UCLA All-American Caroline Canales to compete as a sponsor exemption

LinksVideo.net: Golf360 recaps inaugural Chicago Adaptive Open in 2024

Cog Hill Golf and Country Club hosted the first-time event

USGA: Yuka Saso among 8 champions exempt for U.S. Women’s Open

USGA accepts second-most entries ahead of 80th edition of the championship at Erin Hills in Wisconsin

DESTINATIONS

Boyne Golf: Earns pair of USA Today 10Best honors

Northern Michigan destination recognized by USA Today as No. 1 among the 10BEST Golf Destinations in the U.S., while The Highlands was ranked No. 2 in the 10BEST Golf Resort category

Marriott Golf: Promotes golf immersion at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

A five-night golf package for two at includes instruction, golf on the resort’s Greg Norman-designed nine-hole course and a 90-minute massage at the award-winning Ritz-Carlton Spa

Marriott Golf: Williamsburg, Virginia's Gold standard

The destination, which features the Williamsburg Lodge and Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, is what Golf.com describes as 'Augusta Elsewhere' this Masters season

EVENTS

Upper Deck Golf: Plans 20-25 events for 2025

Golf entertainment company adds features, partners to enhance participant experience

GEAR

Srixon: Unveils new Q-Star Ultispeed golf ball

Ball is Srixon's first since Q-Star Tour, which was introduced in 2017

Stix Golf, Nicklaus Companies: Release first club sets in new collaboration

New initiative blends the Nicklaus Companies' legacy of excellence with Stix’s commitment to simplicity

LIFESTYLE

Malcolm DeMille: Crafts Galleri Classic trophy

Steve Allan emerged victorious at the PGA Tour Champions event, held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California

PEOPLE

Magellan Jets: Adds PGA Tour's Will Zalatoris to professional golf staff

One-time PGA Tour winner joins Claude Harmon III and Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces Golf Club as ambassadors

PHILANTHROPY

GCSAA: GCSAA’s Rounds 4 Research online auction to offer 1,000-plus rounds

Bidding is open April 21-27

INDUSTRY NOTES

BUSINESS

Fairway Advisors: Golf course brokerage and advisory firm celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since its founding in 2005, the company has closed numerous high-profile transactions, including the sale of nationally ranked top 100 courses, venues that have hosted PGA Tour events and three clubs that have hosted the PGA Championship.

RangeGoats Golf Club: LIV Golf team announces a partnership deal with Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers through the remainder of the 2025 season. The partnership focuses on cross-promotion amongst brands, helping drive both consumer sales and brand awareness through creative content and storytelling. RangeGoats GC players will wear Freddy’s branding this week at LIV Golf Miami, as well as at future events in select markets.

Cleeks Golf Club: European LIV Golf team announces a partnership with renowned mixed-media artist Jacob Fellander. Debuting at an exclusive exhibition at Superblue Miami, the collaboration launches a cultural initiative that reimagines golf through the lens of contemporary art and immersive experiences. In partnership with LIV Golf, the trio unveiled a bespoke art installation symbolizing the 2025 LIV Golf League journey — a single image blending every host city on this year’s schedule, with Miami featured prominently as the kickoff location.

GEAR

Breakthrough Golf Technology: Introduces the Paradox putter, a zero-torque putter that was designed using Swing Balance Technology. It achieves swing balance through Principal Axis alignment, which optimizes performance dynamically through the golfer’s stroke, and acts like alignment does on a car to keep it straight and smooth. The putter retails for $699.99 with a Stability Tour shaft.

LIFESTYLE

Golf As Life: Announces the launch of a weekly e-card series, curated by renowned photographer Mike Klemme. The series offers subscribers access high-quality images of a course, accompanied by a story that delves into its history and includes anecdotes from Klemme’s visit to the property. Golfers and enthusiasts can subscribe to the free weekly e-cards at GolfAsLife.com.

TECHNOLOGY

Arccos, Titleist: Partnering to bring new analytics, content and special offers to Team Titleist. Members of the brand's loyalty program can visit Titleist.ArccosGolf.com to claim a free Arccos Smart Sensor and a complimentary trial.