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| Wednesday Jan 22, 2025 |
Of the 701 respondents to The First Call | Extra poll question "Jon Rahm recently said he believes 'we’re living in a golden era right now for golf.' Do you agree?" 86% answered "No."
IN THIS ISSUE
> Design Notes: Fazio Design’s Tom Marzolf reopens Sabal at Bonita Bay | Read
> TFC Inbox: Is the game of golf really growing? | Read
POLL
> Does LIV Golf's new media rights deal with Fox Sports give the 3-year-old league more legitimacy? | Vote
> Previous: Do you believe golf’s leaders have done well in growing the game? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What are your thoughts on LIV Golf's new media rights deal with Fox Sports?
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 previous question: Have golf industry leaders done a good job "growing the game" of golf, and in what ways would you expand the sport? | Read
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Omni Orlando at ChampionsGate is enticing more guests to stay on site thanks to Eagles Edge, a facility that offers indoor / outdoor bar, dining and event space, along with 30 hitting bays featuring Toptracer for gaming or practice
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MGI Golf goes high-tech on its electric caddie; Bridgestone's Tesla Cybertruck creates a buzz
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A social media look at opening day of the golf industry's largest gathering
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Evnroll: Introduces its 2025 V-Series and Carlsbad Series putter lines. Designed by Guerin Rife, CEO and chief designer, the V-Series line features the V2 mid-blade, V5.1 mallet, V5.2 winged mallet, and the V12 high MOI players mallet. The Carlsbad line features the B1 classic heel-toe weighted blade and the M1 sleek mallet.
Club Car: Announces its lineup of events and contests for the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. The following will be held at the Orange County Convention Center: Coffee & Conversations (Today, 8:30-9:30 a.m.), Celebrating Solheim Cup's Team USA (Today, 3-5 p.m.), Ryder Cup Spotlight (Thursday, Jan. 23, 1-2 p.m.), Tommy Bahama Happy Hour (Thursday, Jan. 23, 4-5 p.m.). Club Car is also holding a Tommy Bahama X Club Car social media contest, and an African American Golf Expo and Forum Exhibit and Contest.
PGA Tour, Servpro: Announce a multi-year extension of their marketing partnership that designates Servpro as the official cleanup and restoration company of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Servpro will grow its support of first responders and military personnel at select PGA Tour events. Servpro recently renewed its agreement to be the presenting sponsor of the PGA Tour Champions' Chubb Classic through 2028.
ReelGolf: Enters into a marketing partnership with online sportsbook BetMGM. ReelGolf, an on-course video system that captures shots for players on signature holes and runs automated Par 3 challenges, will leverage the partnership to enhance its closest-to-the-pin and ring-of-fire games. ReelGolf is currently installing its Par 3 Challenge technology at Gold Canyon Golf Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, and Carter Plantation Golf Course in Springfield, Louisiana.
Women’s Golf Day: Announces the recipients of its 2025 Inspire Action Awards. Created to recognize people and places that are driving positive change in the golf industry, the 2025 awards celebrate three individuals and three locations for their promotion of women in golf. The winners are: Sarah Bennett, former captain of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, tour professional and coach; Sandy Cross, a member of the PGA of America staff since 1996 who drives the PGA’s diversity and inclusion strategy; Marlon Weir, who spent his career promoting golf in developing countries; Keya Golf Club, in Fukuoka, Japan; Bonanza Golf Club, in Lusaka, Zambia; and Golf Club Ada, in Belgrade, Serbia.
PGA Tour: Announces the 16-member Player Advisory Council (PAC) for 2025. The PAC advises and consults with the PGA Tour Policy Board (Board of Directors) and commissioner Jay Monahan on issues affecting the Tour. The PAC includes Sam Burns, Eric Cole, Trevor Cone, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Charley Hoffman, Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, Max McGreevy, Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, Seamus Power, Scottie Scheffler, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland. Cole, Cone, McGreevy and Woodland will serve on the PAC for the first time. The PAC chairman election and the PAC subcommittees will be announced at a later date.
RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed
> PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague answers the tough questions in first sit-down interview
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]
> YouTube golf sensation Micah Morris signs with Titleist
[Dave Dusek | Golfweek | Read]
> Justin Thomas calls PGA Tour players to action with impassioned letter
[Sean Zak | Golf.com | Read]
> Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman and CBS execs weigh in on Justin Thomas' TV memo
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]
> Jim Nantz is starting his 40th (!) year broadcasting golf at CBS with this bold prediction for the 2025 PGA Tour season
[Dave Shedloski | Golf Digest | Read]
> Greg Norman reveals future with LIV Golf and his willingness to bury the hatchet with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy
[Brad Clifton / Rohan Clarke | Australian Golf Digest | Read]
"We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours."
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Olazabal Design charts a new course for coastal Bahrain; Craig & Coyne get to work on South Dakota’s Lazy J.
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While participation is up, readers of The First Call offer their opinions on what industry leaders have done and what they should be doing
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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]
Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic
Site: The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Great Abaco, Bahamas.
Television [ET]: Today, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
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November 10-17, 2025 | Andalusia, Spain
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JANUARY
22: NGCOA Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Florida | Info
22-24: 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.
