THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday |Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

On June 7, the PGA Tour announced that "progress was made" in a meeting with representatives of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and that the Tour wants "to get this right." In your opinion, what would be "right" for the PGA Tour in its negotiations? 

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.

> Read responses to last week's question.

Epson Tour: Partners with Upgame, a stat-tracking, performance-based app. All Epson Tour athletes will have access to an account to help collect on-course statistics through geo-linked course maps.

Uneekor: Partners with the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour and will supply its Eye Mini portable launch monitors for use at the driving range during Junior Tour events during the 2024 summer season. Competitors will have access to detailed data points to enhance their training sessions.

Stinger's Golf Club: To open its Chandler, Arizona, location on June 10. The state-of-the-art indoor golf club features six Golfzon TwoVision simulator bays, a 28-by-18 foot practice putting green and a high-top bar that serves elevated pub fare and a wide selection of hand-crafted cocktails and other beverages. 

PGA Tour: Announces that ISCO Industries, a total piping solutions provider, will assume title sponsorship through 2027 of the ISCO Championship, which will be played at Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, July 8-14, 2024. The ISCO Championship debuted on the PGA Tour in 2015.

Lohla Sport: Reports that since the start of 2024 it has increased by 50% the number of golf courses, country clubs and resorts carrying its The Very Pant, which features four-pocket, French luxe four-way stretch fabric that promotes a made-for-play aesthetic. The pant comes in core navy, black, white, red as well as other seasonal colors.

9 Yards Golf Lounge: Opens its Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, location that features six golf bays, including two private bays, each equipped with Golfzon’s TwoVision simulator. 9 Yards Golf Lounge also offers lessons and recreational play during afternoon hours, and dining and drinks from a curated menu of pub fare and cocktails.

Zynga Inc.: The wholly-owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. partners with LIV Golf to bring LIV Golf-branded content to Zynga’s mobile golf game, Golf Rival. Through June 16, Golf Rival players will be able to compete in a limited-time tournament and purchase special in-game LIV Golf-branded golf balls to aid them on the trickiest of holes. To further celebrate LIV Golf’s entrance in gaming, Golf Rival will host an additional in-game tournament from July 20-28.

Whoosh: Closes its $10.3 million Series A funding round, led by AlleyCorp. Additional institutional investors participating in the round include 8VC, Alaris Capital, Bienville, Craft Ventures, Eberg Capital, Operator Partners and Raptor Group. With this investment, Whoosh will continue its expansion into public/daily-fee clubs, alternative golf facilities, eater-tainment venues, resorts, and other time-based activity operators; further development efforts to improve its technology; and increase team capacity.

PGA Tour: Tour Championship officials announce that PGA Tour Superstore will sponsor the event’s newest, upscale shared hospitality venue, The Georgian, and a popular fan activation, Aug. 28-Sept. 1 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. The Georgian will be a climate-controlled structure with expansive patio seating set amongst a pivotal section of the course on Nos. 8 and 9, and include food and beverage, extensive views toward No. 1 tee and the iconic East Lake clubhouse. Also, the GSGA Putting Experience will give fans an opportunity to hit some putts on one of East Lake Golf Club’s replica putting greens. 

McLemore: Highlands Course has been recognized by Golfweek in its latest rankings of the Best Public-Access Golf Courses by State and Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Holes. The Highlands Course, part of the Lookout Mountain, Georgia, golf club and community, is No. 3 in the state, while the par-4 18th hole was named the 22nd-best hole in America.

Women's Golf Day: Celebrated record participation at global and online events. With the theme "Get Social," social media impressions were in excess of 241 million and engagement hit 733,000 — nearly double the total for 2023. Also, in collaboration with the Japan Golf Association, 125 events were held throughout Japan, which was one of 84 countries to host an event.

Bonfit America: Announces a Father’s Day promotion for tis Play Nine golf card game. Through June 17, 2024, Bonfit’s online retail partner, Amazon, will reduce the Play Nine cost from $17.99 to $15.99.

Evnroll: Putter line launches a Gift with Purchase Father’s Day promotion and drops a limited-edition Triple Black version of the 38 Tour Spec product line. Through June 16, any putter purchased on Evnroll.com will include a USA-themed towel, ball marker and tote bag.

The Net Return: Unveils a rebrand that features a new logo and website, along with the Bulletproof Series net, which is created with Dyneema, a patented material that boasts a 15 times greater strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel and is UV heat resistant. 

Blue Tees Golf: Introduces its customs program, designed to give companies, golf courses and organizations improved gifting options. Also, the Player+ touchscreen GPS speaker and Player Go audible GPS speaker have been added to the Blue Tees Golf custom products portfolio. The program allows for mixing and matching of products.

Presidents Cup: U.S. Team captain Jim Furyk announces Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and Kevin Kisner as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29. Furyk has the option to name up to two additional assistants prior to the competition. Cink has appeared in four Presidents Cups (2000, 2005, 2007, 2009); Leonard has competed in five Presidents Cups (1996, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2009); and Kisner played for the U.S. Team in 2017 and 2022. All three will be making their debut as a captain’s assistant.