The First Call 01-07-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

If you're watching coverage of the Sentry Tournament of Champions this weekend, pay particular attention to The Plantation Course's par-5 fifth hole as it does not get any easier than that on Tour. Relative to par, the hole was the easiest on Tour last season, with an average score of 4.095 (-0.905) and had the lowest average score relative to par of any hole on Tour since the 2005 Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Question of the Week: What do you believe is the top issue facing golf in 2022? Send replies to shall@morningread.com and please include name, along with city and state of residence.

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READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Take note of the PGA golfers who play in Saudi Arabia. They’re accepting blood money.
[Barry Svrluga | Washington Post | Read]

> Why Jordan Spieth thinks Saudi League threat has been good for PGA Tour
[Golf Channel | Read]

> Talk about going balls to the wall, my collection of autographed golf balls numbers 768 ... and counting
[Gary D'Amato | Wisconsin Golf | Read]

Inverness Club to host 2027 U.S. Women's Open

Solheim Cup, Monday, September 6, 2021, Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio

According to The Toledo Blade, the course that hosted the Solheim Cup in September will be announced on Friday as the site for its 5th different USGA championship

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW?

Between Florida and Louisiana there are 11 golf courses that have some area below sea level.

Source: Longitudes Green Grass Database, National Elevation Dataset

THE INDUSTRY

PGA Show rings in new year with new look

Industry readies for return to in-person PGA Show, Jan. 25-28 in Orlando

World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay commits to The American Express

Cantlay, last year's tournament runner-up and PGA Tour Player of the Year, will be joined in the field by Jason Day, Justin Rose, Abraham Ancer and Sungjae Im

Troon to manage Boca Grove

Troon Prive, the private club operating division of Troon, will manage golf, tennis and operations for the Boca Raton, Fla., club

Named: By BDO USA, a professional services firms, Billy Horschel as the firm’s first golf brand ambassador. The three-year partnership will include BDO logo placement on Horschel’s left collar of golf apparel and outerwear during all professional golf tournaments, appearances and activities beginning at this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. Horschel is a six-time PGA Tour winner.

Announced: By PopStroke Entertainment Group, Kenneth R. Kennerly as president of PopStroke Productions and Shane Robichaud as president of PopStroke Greens. Both subsidiary companies are based out of PopStroke’s corporate headquarters in Jupiter, Fla.

#QOTD

"A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying."

— B.F. Skinner

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Increased rainfall and colder temperatures over the past week, compared to last year, resulted in rounds played down -25% vs. 2021.

> The new year started out with significantly increased rainfall vs. 2021 (+116%) and cooler temperatures, both of which impacted play across the country.

> Florida finished as the top performing region for the past 7 days vs. 2021 due to decreased rainfall to start the new year.

> Positive performance is expected from Florida and Central Valley regions. Both areas are on pace to finish up vs. 2021 by over 15% for rounds played over the next five days.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Sentry Tournament of Champions
Site: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Hawaii
Television: Today-Saturday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 4-6 p.m. (NBC), 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel)

CALENDAR

JANUARY
25-28: PGA Merchandise Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

FEBRUARY
5-10: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, Calif. | Info
18-20: Toledo Golf Show, Toledo, Ohio | Info
19-23: CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, San Diego, Calif. | Info
25-27: Colorado Golf Expo, Denver, Colo. | Info

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.

LAST CALL

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