TFC Week In Review 08-29-2025

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What were the best moments of the 2025 PGA Tour season?

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> Last week's question: With the U.S. Ryder Cup team's six automatic qualifiers determined, who should round out captain Keegan Bradley's 12-player squad? | Read

The Starter: Let the armchair quarterbacking begin

Being second-guessed goes with being a Ryder Cup captain; Tommy Fleetwood wins FedEx Cup, but what does Scottie Scheffler get?; Mike McCoy makes USGA history.

BUSINESS

Five Iron Golf: Completes 5th acquisition

Company takes over Golf the Green in the Chicago, Illinois, neighborhood of Bucktown, making it the fourth Chicagoland location

Golf Tourism Solutions: Releases economic impact study for Myrtle Beach golf

Study shows golf supports 13,340 jobs generating more than $482 million in wages and benefits, and produces more than $134 million in state and local taxes

Golfzon Social: To open 1st Chicagoland location in September

The Oak Brook, Illinois, location will feature Golfzon's TwoVision NX golf simulators, along with a chef-driven menu and bar for a complete social experience

LIV Golf | Fever: Announce global ticketing partnership

Multiyear agreement will see Fever become the official ticketing and experience platform for LIV Golf events, which include 14 international markets in 2026

LPGA Tour: Names Fortinet as title partner of Founders Cup

The 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup will be played at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park, California

Payntr Golf: Secures full intellectual property ownership of Payntr brand

Strategic move solidifies Payntr Golf’s position as the exclusive owner of all Payntr trademarks, technologies, product innovations and brand assets within the golf category

PGA Tour Superstore: To open new facility in St. Petersburg

The new Florida location will be a 29,600-square-foot facility that offers lessons from certified teaching professionals, clubfittings and repairs, and interactive simulators for practice and play

PGA Tour, Trackman: Renew agreement that started in 2006

The partnership is now scheduled to run through 2030

CLUBS / COURSES

Curley-Wagner Golf Design: Completes major bunker renovation

The Plantation Club, located in Indio, California, received upgrades to the bunkers of its Fred Couples-designed course

Cutalong at Tributer Resort: Holds grand opening of golf clubhouse

The clubhouse is the first building to open at the resort, located on the shores of Lake Anna in Mineral, Virginia

El Macero CC: To unveil renovated course on Sept. 1

The four-month, multimillion-dollar project of the El Macero, California, course included work around the greens to provide multiple shot options and newly designed collection areas

Harbor Shores: Opens Wee Course

Unique pitch-and-putt course is the latest amenity for the Benton Harbor, Michigan, destination

COMPETITION

Bridgestone HBCU Invitational: Announces field for 3rd annual event

Celebrity Culture Cup to return for second consecutive year as part of tournament week, Sept. 1-4 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia

Jackson T. Stephens Cup: Announces individual invitations for 5th tournament

Collegiate event offered special invitations to 12 players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and United States Service Academies to compete in the Sept. 15–17 event in Lake Bluff, Illinois

DESTINATIONS

LinksVideo.net: Golf360 showcases Donegal GC

Ireland destination, also known as Murvagh, has undergone a transformation thanks to former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley

EVENTS

ASGCA: Design Boot Camp set for March 2026

Golf course architects to offer instruction and unique experiences for design aficionados during Pinehurst, North Carolina, retreat

GCSAA: Give thanks to course superintendents on Sept. 9

Organization is giving golfers an opportunity to leave a personalized message ahead of international "Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day"

Upper Deck Golf: 5 players make aces in PXG Challenge

Prize includes PXG custom golf club fitting, a full bag of PXG golf clubs, and a year’s supply of PXG balls for one winner

GEAR

Cleveland Golf: Introduces CBZ wedges with Z-Alloy

The proprietary Z-Alloy material is being featured in a cavity back design for the first time

Cleveland Golf | Swag: Collaborate on RTZ wedge

The rare limited-edition release fuses Cleveland Golf’s performance heritage with Swag's bold, signature style and is currently available

GolfForever: Announces Labor Day savings

Company offers 20% savings plus free shipping on most popular items

Golfforever: Top PGA teacher helping golfers unlock potential

PGA Teacher of the Year Jason Baile uses the Golfforever platform to help golfers overcome their physical limitations

SuperStroke: Tommy Fleetwood wins Tour Championship

European Ryder Cup stalwart’s breakthrough win, with Zenergy Tour 2.0 putter grip, yields $10 million FedEx Cup title

LIFESTYLE

Malcolm DeMille: Showcases custom player money clips

Exclusive pieces are more than just accessories, but a celebration of craftsmanship, competition and legacy

MEDIA

FM Championship: To have featured groups coverage on ESPN+

Second of three LPGA Tour events on ESPN+ in 2025 to have approximately 40 hours of live coverage over four days begin on Aug. 28

GolfPass: Sky Sports personalities join Blair O’Neal's 'Glam Golf'

Di Stewart, Henni Zuel and Inci Mehmet are part of a foursome with the host at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland

NBC: Debuts 'Tales From The Ryder Cup' on Aug. 31

The three-part docuseries produced by Golf Channel Films features interviews with Ryder Cup participants along with New York sports legends and villains; Chapter two debuts Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock; Chapter three debuts Sunday, Sept. 14, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

PGA of America, Omaha Productions: Announce Ryder Cup morning show

"T-Mobile Breakfast at Bethpage" will air live from the Ryder Cup's first tee each morning on RyderCup.com, the Ryder Cup app and Peacock

PEOPLE

Epson Tour: Yana Wilson secures LPGA Tour status for 2026

Wilson won the Dream First Bank Charity Classic to mathematically lock in a top-15 spot in Race for the Card standings

Landscapes Unlimited: Appoints Ty Arndt to leadership position

Arndt becomes senior program manager of the company's project development group

Miura Golf: Names Anthony Newville as president

Newville most recently served as chief operating officer at True Spec Golf

PGA of America: Announces 2025-26 PGA LEAD class

Fifteen PGA of America Golf Professionals have been selected for leadership development program

Reynolds Lake Oconee: Photographer honored for images of Richland course

Bill Hornstein earns three gold medals in European Photography Awards

Ryder Cup: Names Dan Mulheran as general chair for 2029 Matches

Mulheran will lead the Ryder Cup executive committee, working closely with the PGA of America to oversee all volunteer and operational efforts in preparation for the 47th Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club

Ryder Cup: U.S. captain Keegan Bradley makes final 6 picks

Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Cameron Young round out the squad that will compete at Bethpage State Park's Black Course

USGA: Selects 2025 USA World Amateur teams

Men’s and women’s teams will compete at Tanah Merah Country Club's Tampines Course in Singapore, Oct. 1-4 (women) and 8-11 (men)

World Golf Village: Hires Pace Anderson as director of agronomy

In new role at St. Augustine, Florida, destination, Anderson will oversee agronomy operations for the resort’s championship courses — the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire

TECHNOLOGY

Shot Scope: Conducts amateur Ryder Cup

Company uses on-course data from European and American amateur golfers to determine which team fares better in 12 statistical categories

The Indoor Golf Shop: Helping Hurricane Creek CC keep members engaged

As club's course is being renovated it has turned to putting simulators in its clubhouse to help offset the disruption

INDUSTRY NOTES