TFC Week In Review 08-15-2025

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What has been the most surprising story in golf in 2025?

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> Last week's question: What do you think of an idea where the PGA Tour does not end the FedEx Cup Playoffs with the Tour Championship, but a revamped Players Championship? And either eliminating the Tour Championship or changing its format and dates? | Read

The Starter: Justin Rose may be Europe's x-factor

The Englishman's gritty win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship solidified his spot on captain Luke Donald's squad and will make Europeans that more formidable on foreign soil.

BUSINESS

Bobby Jones Links: To manage Saddle Creek GC

This Nashville, Tennessee-area golf course has been an area staple since 1994

Five Iron Golf: Adds second facility near Boston

Indoor golf and entertainment company opens Aug. 14 with simulators, duckpin bowling and elevated hospitality

GolfNow: Enjoys best course growth since March 2023

Expanded GolfNow global footprint highlights 2025 momentum with six, month-over-month increases in golf course partners, boosting tee time availability and rounds sold

Golftec: Earns spot on Inc. 5000 list

Company makes list that recognizes the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. based on revenue growth from 2021 to 2024

Inrange: Back 9 partners with LIV Golf

The golf and entertainment brand is powered by Inrange's radar ball-tracking and software

LA Golf: Named presenting sponsor for Grass League’s Summer Grind

Tournament will be held Aug. 30-31 at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, California

MyGolfConcierge: Blending golf culture, history, luxury in Europe

Company designs custom itineraries that go beyond a typical golf vacation

Thor Guard: President/CEO claims lightning strikes are increasing globally

Lightning deaths and injuries in 2025 have surpassed any in the last seven years

True Spec Golf: Eyes Nashville location at Intown GC

Brand-agnostic club fitting company breaks ground with first location in Music City

Westin Kierland Golf Club: New home to Vision54

Vision54 will operate its signature golf coaching programs out of the Scottsdale, Arizona, facility

CLUBS / COURSES

Blue Cypress GC: Unveils 3 new golf holes

Jacksonville, Florida, 9-hole course now offers 12 golf holes

Kettle Forge: Introduces collective that is creating Wisconsin club

Landscapes Unlimited to serve as project manager, while Landscapes Golf Management will handle daily operations upon opening

COMPETITION

Epson Tour: Announces new tournament on the 2026 schedule

The LPGA's official qualifying tour will head to Tennessee for the first time since 1991

Island Resort & Casino: To host 6th Island Resort Intercollegiate

Harris, Michigan, destination to host men's tournament Aug. 31–Sept. 1 at Sage Run Golf Course

DESTINATIONS

Cragun’s Golf Resort and Conference: Announces fall golf packages

Offerings filled with value at Cragun’s legacy courses

Marriott Golf: Offering the TPC Sawgrass package

Stay at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and play a round at the Stadium Course

Marriott Golf: Showcases fall golf in Williamsburg

Virginia destination features accommodations at the Williamsburg Lodge and golf at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club's Gold Course

EVENTS

Jack's Bay: Hosts 15 Eleuthera Royal Youth Corps students

Eleuthera, The Bahamas, destination led an educational and empowering tour on July 31

GEAR

Payntr Golf: Celebrates 1st PGA Tour victory

Justin Rose wore the X Tour Proto RS en route to winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship

PXG: Expands Battle Ready II putter line with Torpedo model

The Battle Ready II Torpedo shifts mass to the perimeter of the head to deliver improved stability and forgiveness

SuperStroke: Justin Rose wins 12th PGA Tour title

The 45-year-old major champion claimed a playoff victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a Zenergy Claw 1.0 putter grip 

MEDIA

NBC Sports: FedEx Cup Playoffs take center stage on TV lineup

BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club will air Thursday-Friday starting at 2 p.m. ET with a weekend lead-in on Golf Channel, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET and Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

NBCUniversal, USGA: Extend media rights agreement through 2032

Partnership extension ensures ongoing airtime for 11 USGA Championships and more broadcast network coverage for the U.S. Open than any other major

USA Network, Golf Channel: To air USGA championships through 2032

Announcement marks the first sports media rights acquisition for Versant, a new independent media company set to be spun out from Comcast Corporation

USGA, NBCUniversal: New media rights agreement extends through 2032

NBC and Peacock to present live coverage of U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open; U.S. Open adds four hours of broadcast coverage across Thursday and Friday, including an additional hour of primetime coverage on NBC each day

PEOPLE

Audubon International: Ken Benoit joins leadership team

Effective Aug. 18, Benoit will become the organization's director of Signature Sanctuary Certification

Concert Golf Partners: Taps Don Smith for senior VP role

Smith, as senior vice president of operations for the premier division of upscale clubs, will oversee Concert Golf’s premier properties, such as The Club at New Seabury, Renaissance and Longview

NGCOA: Bob Parsons to attend Golf Business TechCon 2025 as special guest

Founder of GoDaddy and PXG will join NGCOA CEO Jay Karen and PGA of America president Don Rea for an on-location episode of 'Golf Business Live'

NGCOA: Old Tom Capital co-founder Evan Roosevelt to join Golf Business Live

Roosevelt to be a special guest on the Aug. 14 episode

PGA Tour: Neal Shipley secures first Tour card

Shipley earned his membership for 2026 off the strength of two victories, five additional top-10s as a Korn Ferry Tour rookie

USGA: Kiara Romero earns Mark H. McCormack Medal

University of Oregon rising junior and 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion earns 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open exemptions with the award

TECHNOLOGY

Golf.AI: Launches AI-powered tee time booking on web

New AI Tee Times and related features are now live on the Golf.AI website with a new mobile app scheduled for release in the coming weeks

Noteefy: Unveils Pro Shop Assistant

The generative AI-powered product to streamline operations, reduce call volume, and potentially drive more revenue

Shot Scope: The Ryder Cup from an average player's perspective

Shot Scope delves into statistics to see how difficult Bethpage State Park's Black Course is for the average golfer from the professional tees

INDUSTRY NOTES

COMPETITION

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: Major champions Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson commit to play the event scheduled for Oct. 2-5 in Scotland. The tournament will be contested at Carnoustie Golf Links, Kingsbarns Golf Links and conclude on St. Andrews' Old Course. This will mark Koepka's fifth appearance and Watson's first.