|
|
| Thursday Jan 16, 2025 |
Nick Dunlap had himself quite the 2024. Playing as an amateur on a sponsor exemption at the 2024 American Express, he won by a stroke over Christiaan Bezuidenhout and became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991. After turning professional following the win, Dunlap won the Barracuda Championship in July en route to claiming PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors — the second-youngest player to win the award (Jordan Spieth / 2013). This week, Dunlap seeks to become the second-youngest player to successfully defend a Tour title since John McDermott won the 1912 U.S. Open.
IN THIS ISSUE
> TGL's unlikely rising stars | Read
> ‘I had to at least give it a go’ | Read
> 'The Coach Mo Golf Show': Grace Hurley, vice president of brand and national sales, Catapult | Watch
POLL
> Do you believe golf’s leaders have done well in growing the game? | Vote
> Previous: Will Scottie Scheffler equal or better his 2024 PGA Tour season, which saw him win seven times, including the Masters? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Have golf industry leaders done a good job "growing the game" of golf, and in what ways would you expand the sport?
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 the last question: What are your opinions on the new TGL, which Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy helped create, that debuted on Jan. 7? | Read
|
Indoor simulator league is long on high-tech and star power, but the real attraction may be watching golf’s finest player navigate fantasy golf holes designed by high-profile course architects
|
Jondo: Golf eyewear brand will make its first appearance at the PGA Show, Jan. 21-24 in Orlando, Florida. Visitors to the company’s booth will be able to demo the brand’s eyewear and enter to win a South African Golf and Safari Adventure for four.
PGA Tour, FanDuel Group: Announce a multiyear extension to their content and marketing relationship that designates FanDuel as an official betting operator of the PGA Tour. Through 2027, FanDuel will become the official odds provider on the PGA Tour’s app and website. Additionally, FanDuel will work to enhance the storytelling of select broadcasts through live odds integrations.
LPGA: Names Mary Salter as chief financial officer and treasurer. Salter will oversee the LPGA’s global financial operations, including forecasting, reporting and compliance, while driving the organization’s strategic initiatives and financial performance. Salter joined the LPGA in 2017 as controller and has held several leadership roles, most recently serving as executive vice president of finance.
LIV Golf: Names Scott O’Neil as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately. O’Neil will drive the strategic vision, business operations and global growth for the league, its 13 teams and roster of golfers. Greg Norman, who was LIV Golf’s first CEO and commissioner, will hand off day-to-day management, but will remain involved with LIV Golf. Prior to being named CEO of LIV Golf, O’Neil served as CEO of Merlin Entertainments, responsible for overseeing the business operations and global growth across its 140-plus attractions in 23 countries.
LIV Golf, Coupang Play: Announce that the league’s inaugural event in Korea, taking place at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, May 2-4, will be officially known as LIV Golf Korea presented by Coupang Play. The multi-year partnership further establishes LIV Golf's presence in Korea, with Coupang Play, the streaming service of South Korea’s largest e-commerce company, serving as a principal partner for Iron Heads GC, a team with three Korean-born players, as well as a marketing partner and the exclusive broadcast partner for LIV Golf in South Korea.
PGA National Resort: Offering through April 30 a 20% discount on its bestselling Gold Golf Experience that showcases the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, destination’s $100 million transformation. The Gold Golf Experience package starts at $580 per night (based on double occupancy) and includes a morning round followed by optional replay rounds in the afternoon at reduced rates. The offer includes a daily round of golf on a choice of either The Fazio, The Match, The Estate, The Champion (with a surcharge) or The Palmer (with a surcharge) courses.
RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed
> ‘Rose-tinted glasses’: Rory McIlroy offers strong critique of Jon Rahm’s ‘golden era’ claim
[Josh Schrock | Golfweek | Read]
> Rory McIlroy advises Tom McKibbin against joining LIV Golf, saying it’s not worth the sacrifice
[Associated Press | Read]
> LIV Golf officially announces Scott O'Neil as league's second CEO, replacing Greg Norman
[Cameron Jourdan | Golfweek | Read]
> DJ Khaled teases upcoming Travis Scott x Cactus Jack Golf Collection
[Hypebeast | Read]
"Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
|
Iowa-based Jared Doerfler left a good job to start his own business, Hanna Golf, building putters. It hasn’t been an easy shift, but his new company is gradually building a solid reputation
|
VIDEOS
THE COACH MO GOLF SHOW
Merchandising mastery and mentorship
Grace Hurley, vice president of brand and national sales at Catapult, joins 'The Coach Mo Golf Show' to discuss leadership, branding and navigating a career in golf
[Watch | More "The Coach Mo Golf Show" episodes]
THE MODGOLF PODCAST
5 tips to help women get into golf
Birdies Babes Golf founder Courtney Campbell joins host Colin Weston to discuss ways in which the first-timer's intimidation factor can be mitigated
[Watch | More "The ModGolf Podcast" edpisodes]
PODCASTS
GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
The rise of Concert Golf Partners
Guest: Jordan Peace, Concert Golf Partners senior vice president of corporate development
[Listen | More "Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori" episodes]
PGA Tour: The American Express
Site: PGA West (Pete Dye Stadium, Nicklaus Tournament), La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta, California.
Television [ET]: Today-Sunday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
European Tour: Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Site: Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 2:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 2-8 a.m. (Golf Channel).
PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Site: Hualalai Golf Club, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
Television [ET]: Today-Saturday, 7-10 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic
Site: The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Great Abaco, Bahamas.
Television [ET]: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel); Monday-Tuesday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
Augusta National, USGA and R&A: Latin America Amateur Championship
Site: Pilar Golf Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 1-4 p.m. (ESPN2); Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (ESPN); Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN2).
JANUARY
20-22: NGCOA Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Florida | Info
21-24: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info
FEBRUARY
3-6: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, California | Info
5-9: Club Management Association of America World Conference and Club Business Expo, Tampa, Florida | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
