TFC Week In Review 05-30-2025

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you believe golf clubs should be checked for conformity either before or after all professional tournaments?

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> Last week's question: What were your impressions of the 2025 PGA Championship? | Read

The Starter: Is Ben Griffin the real deal or just on a hot streak?

The long and short of USGA par-3 holes; Of drivers and zero torque putters; Is Angel Cabrera making up for lost time?

BUSINESS

ClubsHelp: Finishes up Golf Pro Shop Vocational Lab

The first phase of the project at The Els Center of Excellence, a fully functioning stock room, has been completed, allowing Els for Autism students to train in a realistic retail environment

GCSAA: Launches Video Training Series

Online video series helps superintendents teach the necessary skills all golf course maintenance staff need to know

Golfballs.com: Celebrates 30th anniversary

Online retailer has become known for its personalized golf products and being a pioneer in golf e-commerce since 1995

GolfNow: Sets Memorial weekend record for golf rounds

Online tee time reservations service facilitated more than 538,000 rounds of golf sold through its platform May 24-26,surpassing the previous mark set in 2023 by more than 43,000 rounds

GT Golf: Acquires the Clicgear Golf pushcart brand

Strategic move strengthens GT Golf’s portfolio and ensures the continued legacy of Clicgear’s innovative pushcart designs

Landscapes Unlimited: 16 courses make Golf Club Atlas rankings

Courses in which Landscapes Unlimited is involved in development, construction and irrigation work are named to the “Custodians of the Game” list

MGI Golf: Named official electric caddy partner of Hurricane Junior Golf Tour

Two-year partnership brings technology and on-course access to junior golfers

Platform Golf: Adds Yas Links Abu Dhabi to portfolio

Venue becomes first in the region to adopt Platform Golf’s immersive performance technology and installs three platforms in its new academy

R&A: Partners with Stephen Curry’s Underrated Golf European Tour

Curry and Henni Zuël will become global golf development ambassadors for The R&A

Rocket Classic: Announces AlumniFi as new local presenting sponsor

Tournament debuts updated branding to reflect AlumniFi's involvement in the PGA Tour event, June 25-29 at Detroit Golf Club

Sqairz: Partners with High School Baseball National Championship Series

Company becomes the official footwear partner

CLUBS / COURSES

Arcis Golf: Completes multimillion dollar investment on 2 courses

Separated by less than 10 miles in northern Ohio, Fox Meadow and Weymouth country clubs combine for one membership with a focus on family, experiential dining and a full slate of year-round programming

Carlisle CC: Announces plans for clubhouse, golf course renovations

New ownership group plans significant multimillion dollar investment, positioning the 100-year-old Carlisle, Pennsylvania, club for the next generation

Carrollwood CC: Completes comeback after Hurricanes Helene, Milton

Tampa, Florida, club restored its three nine-hole golf courses by early 2025 and installed a new bunker complex

Reynolds Lake Oconee: Announces Fenmoor GC as 8th course

Course architect Steve Smyers to design new private course in central Georgia

COMPETITION

American Century Championship: 2023 champion Stephen Curry commits

NBA all-star returns one year after winning an Olympic gold medal in men's basketball; Tournament is scheduled for July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course

Intersport: Announces The John Shippen Women’s Invitational field

Winner of the June 3-4 event at Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield, Michigan, will earn exemptions into the LPGA Tour’s Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and the Dow Championship

PGA of America: Bob Sowards earns low PGA Professional honors at Senior PGA

Sowards is director of instruction at The Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio

PGA of America: Inaugural PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open set for Dec. 6-7

Co-branded tournament for collegiate club golfers will take place at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club through 2027

ShopRite LPGA Classic: Field features No. 1 Nelly Korda, No. 2 Jeeno Thitiku

Tournament is scheduled for June 6-8 at Seaview in Galloway, New Jersey

Sweetgrass GC: Readies for Epson Tour's Island Resort Championship

Tournament, set for June 20-22 in Harris, Michigan, will be held for 14th consecutive year

The Monster GC: To host Legends of the LPGA Celebrity Charity Tournament

The three-day event will be held at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, New York, and will bring LPGA Hall of Famers, celebrities and amateur golfers to raise money for the Grateful Hearts Foundation

USGA: Provides more ways to follow the 80th U.S. Women’s Open

Innovative digital offerings provide unprecedented access to championship at Erin Hills

DESTINATIONS

Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel: Receives SBC Americas honor

The Worley, Idaho, hotel was named Tribal Gaming Operator of the Year on May 14. The SBC Awards Americas honor the outstanding companies representing the gaming and betting industry in North and Latin America

EVENTS

Five Iron Golf: Celebrates dads, grads with summer gift experiences

Summer of offers and milestones brings new ways to play — including premium golf instruction and advanced club fitting

GEAR

GolfForever: Announces Father’s Day sale

Company offers 20% savings sitewide, June 3-17

PXG: Launches XP1, XP2 pickleball paddles

PXG expands its high-performance equipment lineup into fast-growing sport

True Linkswear: Unveils the All Day Knit Four golf shoe

The shoe is the fourth generation of the All Day Knit line and is ideal for on- and off-course activities

MEDIA

Golf Channel: To air 10 hours of live U.S. Open final qualifiers coverage on June 2

Coverage of “Golf’s Longest Day” begins at noon ET, spanning 10 final qualifying sites and U.S. Open host Oakmont Country Club

GolfPass: Aaron Hicks, Hailey Ostrom to appear on ‘Glam Golf with Blair O’Neal’

Hicks and Ostrom pair up as a team to compete in a new Birdie Challenge format on the streaming show

GolfPass: Docuseries chronicles Cobbs Creek GC renaissance

Three-part "Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons" series premieres on June 5, streaming exclusively on GolfPass, and tells the rebirth story of the historic Philadelphia course

NBC Sports: 80th U.S. Women’s Open headlines this week's golf coverage

Coverage begins Thursday morning at 8:40 a.m. ET with featured groups on Peacock and noon ET on USA Network; Weekend coverage on NBC and Peacock; "Golf Central Live From the U.S. Women’s Open" on-site pre- and post-round analysis on Golf Channel

NBC Sports: Announces coverage for 80th U.S. Women’s Open

Championship coverage begins Thursday, May 29, at noon ET on USA Network; Weekend coverage on NBC and Peacock; NBC Sports to utilize drone tracing technology in partnership with Rolex for first time at women’s major

PEOPLE

First Tee: Names broadcaster Jim Nantz as honorary chair

The renowned CBS Sports voice will help further First Tee's mission of empowering youth through golf

Inkster Award: Selects Wake Forest's Carolina Lopez-Chacarra as 2025 recipient

Lopez-Chacarra receives sponsor invitations to the LPGA Tour’s Meijer LPGA Classic and The Standard Portland Classic, and will participate in a two-day mentorship retreat with Juli Inkster

Kawonu GC: Names David Barrett as director of agronomy

Golf course veteran to head maintenance and operations at Greenville, South Carolina, club under construction

The Grass League: Paige Spiranac joins in strategic front office role

Social influencer to work with league leadership to shape the long-term vision and growth strategy for the high-stakes par-3 golf league

PHILANTHROPY

GCSAA: Colorado Golf Association donates to First Green

First Green is a STEAM education program from GCSAA

Malcolm DeMille: Supports First Tee Central Coast with handcrafted awards

Based in California’s Central Coast, Malcolm DeMille partners with nonprofit to help empower youth through character-building programs

TECHNOLOGY

Full Swing: Offering Father’s Day pricing on KIT launch monitors, KIT studios

KIT promotion available direct to consumers; KIT Studio through national retail partners

INDUSTRY NOTES

CLUBS / COURSES

Piza Golf: Continues phase one of Zitara Ciudad Residencial and Golf Club, the 200-hectare master-planned community in Aguascalientes, Mexico. As summer unfolds, construction progress includes cobblestone roadways and premium paving now defining the internal pathways, while perimeter walls are being constructed from natural rolita stone. Also, mature olive trees, alongside native species such as live oaks and mesquites, are being integrated into the landscape.

COMPETITION

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, The Club at Castiglion del Bosco: Partnering to host an exclusive tournament for amateurs and international club players, Oct. 3-5. Players in the inaugural Rosewood CdB Golf Cup will enjoy a two-night stay for two along with two days of competitive play at Italy’s only private golf course. For information, visit RosewoodHotels.com.

EVENTS

Fujikura Composite America: Announces the Battle at Bethpage Sweepstakes, which runs June 2 – July 31. Fans can enter for free at FujikuraGolf.com/battle-at-bethpage for a chance to win the grand prize of two hospitality tickets to the 2025 Ryder Cup Matches. The prize includes access to the exclusive Samuel Ryder Club (Saturday / Sunday), a $2,000 Visa gift card, two Ventus with VeloCore+ 2025 Rivals Edition driver shafts, one TaylorMade Qi35 limited-edition driver and two Fujikura merchandise prize packs.

GEAR

SkyGolf: Celebrates its 25th anniversary with special Father’s Day pricing on several of its rangefinders. From May 30 through June 17, the company is offering $50 off its Pro 5X handheld rangefinder, and the LX5, LX5C with ceramic bezel, and LX2 smartwatches.

ProtoConcept Golf: Launches the RR Forged Wedge, a Tour-driven soft-forged line of wedges that vary in bounce effects and playability — NT (Neutral) loft 46-58 degrees; AG (Aggressive) loft 56-60 degrees; and SP (Sweeper) loft 56-60 degrees. The wedges can be purchased at an exclusive ProtoConcept Golf dealer.

MEDIA

Jondo: Introduces a collaboration with Hall of Fame golfer Ernie Els, the "Your Game with Ernie Els’s Eye Training Blueprint." This downloadable eBook features 50 tips to help golfers sharpen their visual focus and build better habits. Once registered, participants will also receive one additional tip every month for the next 50 weeks.

PEOPLE

Balsam Mountain Preserve: Appoints Allison Macke as the Sylva, North Carolina, club's new merchandiser. Macke honed her abilities through merchandising and golf operations capacities at several private clubs in Florida including Quail Creek Country Club and West Bay Club, as well as Mountaintop Golf Club in North Carolina.

Heritage Resorts and Golf: Introduces 2012 European Ryder Cup member Nicolas Colsaerts as its newest brand ambassador. The Bel Ombre, Mauritius destination is home to La Reserve Golf Links and Le Chateau Golf Course.