THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Which current play-by-play announcer would you like to see succeed Jim Nantz as CBS Sports' lead at the Masters? 

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.

> Last week's question: What are your thoughts on the upcoming Masters? Who do you expect to win and what do you believe will the biggest storylines? | Read

BUSINESS

Hurricane Junior Golf Tour: Names Bushnell Golf as the official rangefinder of the HJGT. As part of the agreement, Bushnell Golf will receive extensive visibility across the HJGT’s over 300 multi-day tournaments, including to on-site activations, product displays and sponsorship of three premium HJGT events. 

DAOU Vineyards: Announces a three-year partnership as the exclusive wine partner of LIV Golf beginning with the 2025 season. The partnership debuted at LIV Golf Miami, where DAOU’s Bordeaux-style wines were poured throughout the tournament. DAOU Vineyards will also serve as the official wine partner of 4Aces GC, one of LIV Golf’s 13 teams.

The Hagen 54, GMS: Announce a strategic North American communications partnership for the 54-hole golf event to be held at Prince’s Golf Club, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St. Georges, July 23-24. GMS will provide public relations support and enhance brand awareness and market presence across North America. The Hagen 54 honors the legacy Walter Hagen and Jim Barnes set in 1920 as they completed a custom routing of the three Open Championship venues in a single day.

Himalayas Golf: To collaborate with Nick Faldo and his design company, Faldo Design, to launch ‘Golf in Small Spaces,’ an initiative designed to make golf more accessible and enjoyable by developing compact, purpose-built golf facilities suitable for urban environments and areas with limited land availability. The range of solutions includes single or multiple short holes with central tee boxes; premium putting course designs that offer enhanced playability and additional revenue opportunities; compact 3, 6, 9 or 12-hole layouts; and indoor practice areas that have simulators, putting greens and short-game zones for year-round practice and instruction.

COMPETITION

Toptracer: Announces an exclusive competition taking place at its partner ranges featuring St. Andrews Links' Old Course Reversed through April 30. St. Andrews Links brought back the reversed routing for three days earlier in April. To celebrate, Toptracer has recreated the course virtually and it's accessible to 1,250 Toptracer-powered range sites worldwide. Players can compete in the virtual golf game mode. The player with the lowest gross score will win a tee time for two on the actual Old Course Reversed in 2026. Visit any Toptracer Range to register and play The Old Course Reversed.

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.

PHILANTHROPY

Folds of Honor: Partners with PGA Tour player Patrick Cantlay and his caddie, Joe LaCava, to establish three Folds of Honor scholarships. In collaboration with the Patrick Cantlay Foundation, Folds of Honor will establish three scholarships that will be given to qualified recipients from first responder families in the name of Cantlay and LaCava. One scholarship will be awarded to a first responder family in California where Cantlay grew up, a second to a family in Connecticut where LaCava resides, and the final to a family in New York.

Smash GC: Launches the 2025 edition of its community impact initiative, Smash for Success — a program that uses golf to empower growth, opportunity and mentorship. In its first two years, the Smash for Success program welcomed over 75 junior golfers and 15 coaches from underrepresented communities to LIV Golf events across the U.S. and established two honors, the Smash for Success Scholarship and Mentor of the Year Award. Applications and nominations for both honors run through June 30, 2025, and forms can be found at the Smash GC section of the LIVGolf.com website.

TECHNOLOGY

Blue Tees Golf: Introduces the PlayMaker+ GPS golf watch, a wearable that delivers data and insights without disrupting a golfer's swing. PlayMaker+ comes preloaded with 42,000+ courses and includes advanced shot tracking and scoring, real-time weather updates and activity tracking, and syncs with other Blue Tees devices. The watch is available for pre-order for $299.

Uneekor: Launches three new products — the Eye XR launch monitor, AI Trainer, and GameDay Software, which will be available starting April 14. The Eye XR features dual high-speed cameras that track balls with visual clarity and precision and Club AI detection and a rear-mounted design; the AI Trainer provides real-time coaching insights powered by artificial intelligence and requires the use of Uneekor’s Swing Optix cameras; and GameDay Software, a cutting-edge simulation platform that offers 4K course play, online play and dynamic practice modes.

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