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| Tuesday Jan 31, 2023 |
In a survey of various golf course / club personnel (superintendents, owner, director of golf, general manager, etc.) conducted by Golf Course Industry, 43% responded that they have handled increased play at their course over the past two years by working more hours and 50% said finding employees would be their biggest challenge facing their department in 2023.
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> Question of the week: A number of players who have yet to win a major championship are showing signs of taking the next step — Max Homa has two wins already this PGA Tour season, Tony Finau has three wins since July, Tom Kim has two wins since August. Will a player win his first major in 2023? If so, who do you believe that player will be?
Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For your response to be published, you must include first and last name, along with city and state of residence. Read last week's responses.
> Phil Mickelson on LIV Golf’s second year, his uncertain Ryder Cup future and the upcoming majors
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]
> Rory McIlroy overcomes Patrick Reed, wins Dubai Desert Classic by 1 shot
[Associated Press | Read]
> LIV Golf attorneys' request for communications from Condoleezza Rice, others at Augusta National as part of antitrust suit is denied
[Tim Schmitt | Golfweek | Read]
> Golf course or housing? A patch of green divides Hong Kong
[Joy Dong | New York Times | Read] ($)
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Greg Norman’s Avalon Links opens at Aurora Anguilla Resort in the Caribbean; Georgia’s venerable Valdosta transformed by Bill Bergin
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LPGA: Announces the creation of "Drive On: LPGA All Access," a multi-episode series that will air on LPGA platforms and give fans a beyond-the-course glimpse into the lives of some LPGA Tour players throughout the 2023 season. Approximately 10 episodes are planned for 2023 with the first debuting on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on YouTube and LPGA.com.
Clear Creek Tahoe: Private residential community located on the eastern slope of the Carson Range in Nevada recently announced its 300th residential sale, a milestone achievement as it approaches a full sellout. In 2022, Clear Creek Tahoe sold 31 homes and homesites, representing a total sales volume of more than $56 million. Clear Creek Tahoe currently has more than 185 homes in the design or construction process.
PuttView: Debuted its PuttView X, an Augmented Reality training aid system that reads greens, calculates distance, break, slope and speed, at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. With see-through displays, PuttView X overlays putt information such as start line, ball path, speed animations and contours onto the green, providing a holographic view of any putt. PuttView X costs $14,480 and will begin shipping to consumers in June.
Aramco Saudi Ladies International: Tournament confirms that 13 major champions will compete in the event that will feature a record $5 million purse. The major champions playing are In Gee Chun, Anna Nordqvist, Lexi Thompson, Georgia Hall, Ashleigh Buhai, Patty Tavatanakit, Kim A-Lim, Hannah Green, Jeong Eun Lee6, Danielle Kang, Lydia Ko, Hyo-Joo Kim and Ji Eun-Hee. The tournament is scheduled for Feb. 16-19 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
Asian Tour: Announces that the 2023 International Series will debut at Al Mouj Golf, Feb. 9-12 in Muscat, Oman. The 132-player field will feature major winners Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. In its second year, The International Series will contribute more than $20 million to the 2023 Asian Tour prize funds. Comprising of 10 events, an increase from seven in 2022, this investment ensures elevated purses of minimum $2 million per tournament.
LIV Golf: Announces the remainder of events for its 2023 LIV Golf League, including a return to five venues that hosted tournaments as part of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series — Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, England, July 7-9), Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (Bedminster, New Jersey, Aug. 11-13), Rich Harvest Farms (Sugar Grove, Illinois, Sept. 22-24), Trump National Doral Golf Club (Miami, Florida, Oct. 20-22) and Royal Greens Golf and Country Club (King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 3-5). Also, Orange County National Golf Center (Winter Graden, Florida, March 31-April 2) and Trump National Golf Club (Sterling, Virginia, May 26-28) will hold events. There will be 14 events in this inaugural season.
AHRC New York City Foundation: Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner will honor Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam, the first golfer to be selected in the benefit's 43-year history, on Feb. 7 at Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Also, New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka, New York Mets manager Buck Showalter and Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo will be honored. The "Thurmans," in honor of the former New York Yankees catcher, are presented to individuals for on-field excellence, community outreach and betterment of their sport. The AHRC NYC benefit has raised more than $19 million to help children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead more productive lives.
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal."
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The CW Network will air the upstart tour's entire 2023 schedule, but even that might not be enough for The First Call readers to tune in.
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GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Realizing the Azores' understated beauty
Pilar Melo Antunes, Azores Golf sales and marketing director, joins host Ann Liguori to tell the story of the nine-strand Portuguese archipelago — and why it's ideal for golf
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]
THE 19TH HOLE WITH MICHAEL WILLIAMS
65,000 and counting: Club Champion has a club for everyone
Casandra Bausch, Club Champion's director of marketing, joins host Michael Williams to discuss the company's explosive growth and the array of available club combinations it offers
[Listen | More 'The 19th Hole with Michael Williams' episodes]
BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
Power Tee is changing how golfers practice
CEO Martin Wyeth joins host Paul Liberatore to tell of his journey to create an automatic teeing system for indoors, driving ranges and country clubs — and, perhaps, golf's future
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]
FEBRUARY
1: Women Fore Hire Virtual Career Fair | Info
3-5: Philadelphia Golf and Travel Show, Philadelphia, Pa. | Info
6-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info
6-9: Golf Industry Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
