Friday Oct 25, 2024
FIRST THOUGHT

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is your opinion regarding the ticket pricing structure for the 2025 Ryder Cupat Bethpage State Park's Black Course?

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.

Responses to last week's question.

BUSINESS
Each player will receive two Original Penguin polo shirts, an outerwear item and a hat, with scripted daily outfits
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Rees Jones-designed upscale golf club in Naples, Florida, is the 35th private facility to join the Concert Golf portfolio
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The automated tee time demand system is now available at all of Founders Group International's owned and operated courses along South Carolina's Grand Strand
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Youth on Course Drive Club members will receive complimentary coaching on the innovative Operation 36 platform
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DP World will provide logistics capabilities to ensure successful Ryder Cup competitions in 2025 and 2027
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Fiberbuilt Golf: Launches a new website design at FiberbuiltGolf.com. The site features easier navigation and allows users to search by the company’s key product categories or by its three unique hitting surfaces. Also, a new video series has been added that features a full set of instructions for how to maximize a golfer's game with the Fiberbuilt Grass Series Practice Station.

PGA Tour: Announces a multiyear marketing partnership with Knockaround, which has been named the official eyewear of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. The agreement, through 2029, will make Knockaround merchandise available starting in 2025 at PGA Tour Fan Shops throughout the FedEx Cup season as well as at select TPC Network facilities. Knockaround will also engage with fans through new content and ambassadorships with PGA Tour players in addition to activations at Tour events nationwide. 

Piza Golf: Unveils the company's rebranding, which feature three unique logos. At the foundation of each Piza Golf logo lies a butterfly, symbolizing change, freedom and natural beauty. Also, with eight letters in the company's name, the logo was intentionally crafted to resemble the infinity symbol with the aesthetic harmony and balance of the Golden Ratio, representing the concepts of limitlessness and eternity. On Piza Golf Signature projects, the designers integrated Agustin Piza's signature into the horizontal Piza Golf logo.

RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed

CLUBS / COURSES
Trio of global golf destinations have garnered certifications through Audubon International for their best practices
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Brewster, Washington, golf resort unveils name of its new 18-hole, David McLay Kidd-designed course that will be open for public and resort-guest play on August 1
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Golf course developer and construction company reports on major irrigation work done at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, and Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas
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The Cabot Collection: Announces a strategic investment in Lofoten Links, located on Norway’s remote Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle. Lofoten Links stands out as the world’s northernmost links-style golf course and is ranked No. 24 in the world by Golf Digest and No. 88 by Golf Magazine.  

Broomsedge Golf Club: Begins welcoming limited preview play of its course. Kyle Franz and Mike Koprowski co-designed the Rembert, South Carolina, course. The club also continues to build its onsite team as the latest addition is Trevor Murphy as head golf professional.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club: Announces a 50-acre land purchase that will be used to develop the Struie Course, which is ranked among Scotland's top 50 links courses. Work will begin on a new $1.945 million irrigation system, while a new par-3 hole with an infinity green overlooking the Dornoch Firth and after the ninth hole will be in play next season.

Piza Golf: Begins construction for the Zitara Ciudad Residencial and Golf Club project in Aguascalientes, MexicoZitara is a master-planned community developed by Grupo Plusvalterra and is created to provide a singular location for living, working and golfing. As the first expansive project in Aguascalientes, it covers 480 acres and encompasses residential, commercial, sports and cultural zones. The project is set to unfold in five stages across a decade, creating 1,700 direct and 13,500 indirect jobs.

Myrtle Beach National: Unveils its renovated front nine at King’s North following a comprehensive renovation. Founders Group International, Myrtle Beach National’s parent company, selected Brandon Johnson Golf Course Design to oversee the two-year, two-part renovation project. Phase 2, which will focus on the back nine, will take place in the summer of 2025. Johnson, who worked for Arnold Palmer Golf Design for 17 years, reimagined the opening nine at King’s North, expanding the greens to their original size and specifications and in some cases beyond.

U.S. Golf Association: Selects Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, to host the 2028 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and 2033 U.S. Senior Open Championship. Designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Donald Ross, Charlotte Country Club opened its first nine holes in 1910, with the second nine completed five years later. The club was first known as the Mecklenburg Club. Ron Pritchard oversaw updates to the course in 2007, while Andrew Green will lead a complete restoration of the course and practice facility over the next two years. The project will restore and retain the original Ross character and features while replacing aging infrastructure.

COMPETITION
Defending champion and Olympic gold medalist headlines field for tournament scheduled for Dec. 2-8 in Albany, Bahamas
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ESPN releases prime time schedule for ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+
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DESTINATIONS
Island features 18 courses that offer breathtaking landscapes, including several framed by the lush El Yunque rainforest
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EVENTS
First-ever Legacy Cup honors, supports military families
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Early bird registration discounts available until Nov. 4 at PGAShow.com
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Casa de Campo Resort and Villas: Caribbean destination will host a 50th anniversary celebration, Oct. 24-27. The four-day event will include Grammy-award-winning concerts in its Altos de Chavon Amphitheater; a fireworks extravaganza at the Minitas Beach Club; and a $50,000 Hole-in-One Competition on its Dye Fore and Teeth of the Dog courses. Rates for the 50th Anniversary begin at $750 (per day, per guest, double occupancy). 

GEAR
Payntr Golf customers receive 25% off Golfforever orders with training shoe purchase
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TW767 family is a high-level fusion of technology and design
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Callaway’s golf equipment and fitting systems will play a key role in the Texas resort's new state-of-the-art academy
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Pro L2 rangefinder headlines a list of seven gift ideas
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Performance technology brings shoes to a larger audience of golfers
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Green played a Srixon ZX5 LS Mk II driver to hit 47 of 56 fairways; also played the ZX Mk II Fairway, ZX5 Mk II (4-iron), ZX7 Mk II (5-iron-PW), Cleveland Golf RTX 6 ZipCore wedges and Srixon Z-Star Diamond ball
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Popular character in menacing stance featured on latest Zenergy Tour 2.0 grips
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ProtoConcept Golf: Japanese golf club manufacturer partners with Pro’s Choice Shafts to offer Graphite Design shafts as a premium custom option for its clubs.  

Breakthrough Golf Technology: Stability Tour and Stability One shafts, previously available in a blackout design, are now available in white. The premium putter shaft features a streamlined look that tapers to a 13% reduction in the shaft diameter and fits any putter, regardless of make, model or bend profile.

Hogan Golf: Introduces a comprehensive range of Junior Package Sets that have been designed for youth golfers from 3- to 12-years-old. The sets feature drivers with enlarged sweetspots and lighter shafts; over-sized, high-launching stainless steel irons; and forgiving mallet-style putters. Each of the three age-related sets (3-5, 6-8, 9-12) include a Hogan-branded lightweight stand bag.

Payntr Golf: Launches its Trainer Carbon X training shoe that was developed in collaboration with Carbitex, a maker of high-performance materials. The shoe features a 3D molded heel textile for improved comfort and a Caribtex OmniFlex upper to maximize power transfer while ensuring precision control and stability. The Trainer Carbon X is now available for direct-to-consumer purchase through the Payntr Golf website for $200. 

Blue Tees Golf: Introduces the Series 4 Ultra, the brand’s latest high-end laser rangefinder. The Series 4 Ultra features flag lock capabilities up to 350 yards, an OLED display and an IP54 waterproof and dustproof rating. The rangefinder’s Slope Switch Technology enables golfers to switch between slope-adjusted distances and standard measurements, providing accurate calculations across different terrains and elevations. The Series 4 Ultra retails for $299.

PEOPLE
Dunne is vice chairman and senior managing principal of Piper Sandler, an investment bank and financial services company, and serves as president of Seminole Golf Club
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Vineyards Country Club: Appoints  J.P. Leland as head golf professional for the Naples, Florida, club. Leland most recently served as head golf professional at Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, and will work directly with Vineyards’ Tom Metzger, director of golf and member of the PGA Hall of Fame.

Panther National: Announces PGA Tour player Viktor Hovland as its newest ambassador and club member. Hovland, a six-time PGA Tour winner and two-time Ryder Cup participant, will represent the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, clubs at a variety of club activations.

Country Club of North Carolina: Names Erica Prestigiacomo as director of events and catering for the Pinehurst, North Carolina, club. Prestigiacomo, who has more than 12 years of experience in catering, banquets and conferences, began her duties at CCNC in September. Most recently, she was the sales manager for Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina, from 2022-2024. 

PHILANTHROPY
Partnering with BayCare Health System, the tournament will donate $50 for every birdie and $100 for every eagle made during competition, Nov. 14-17
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LIV Golf: Agrees to a three-year partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to deliver innovative sport-for-protection programs for refugees and internally displaced people and their host communities. A $10 commitment will support up to one million people of diverse ages, genders and abilities in displacement settings.

Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation: Announces a 90-hole Junior Golf Challenge in honor of Gary Player's 90th year in 2025. The Challenge is open to all junior golfers across the U.S. at any golf course they choose. The top four fundraisers by the March 31, 2025 deadline will receive an invitation to join Player at his 90th-year celebration at Floridian National Golf Club, April 27-28, 2025. All proceeds from the Junior Golf Challenge will benefit the Foundation, which seeks in fighting childhood poverty in the United States.